Book 1: Underworld Quest
Find the Cave: You are going to be hunting monsters. Maybe you can find where that Cave Zagreus came from, and you can see if the Underworld can be of assistance to you.
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You recalled the cave from which Zagreus had emerged, how it was close to the shoreline. You glanced at the bag containing your supplies and, with a deep breath, securely strapped it to your back. With a sense of determination, you took your spear in hand, carefully positioning it within the strap on your shield. Feeling prepared, you began your journey toward the cave.
The path was unmistakable. Though the tracks left by Cerberus had long since faded, the scorch marks from Zagreus's fiery footsteps were still vividly etched into the ground. The searing heat of his divine presence had left a lasting impression, of tiny footprints on the rock and the beach, buried on the sand.
The entrance lay beyond the sea, requiring you to swim to reach it. The waters around Troy's coastline were treacherous, filled with dangerous crags and powerful undercurrents that could easily drag you beneath the waves. The risk of being pulled under and drowned was real, demanding your utmost caution.
You stood at the edge of the shore, watching the waves crash against the rocky outcroppings. The sea was both a barrier and a path to your destination. You knew that to reach the entrance, you'd need to navigate these perilous waters with great care.
Swim vs the Fates:
D10 + 4 => 14 vs
D10 => 4
You silently prayed that Poseidon would not seek to claim you with the sea's cold depths, though part of you wondered if such a fate might be a merciful end. Steeling yourself, you took a deep breath and leaped off the cliff, plunging into the water below.
The impact sent a shock through your body, but you were fortunate enough to miss the jagged rocks that loomed just beneath the surface. The cold water enveloped you, and for a moment, all was silent except for the muffled roar of the ocean. As you regained your bearings underneath the water, you felt the powerful current tugging at you, pulling you downward toward the ocean's depths. Panic flickered at the edge of your mind as you saw other, less fortunate divers and swimmers, their bodies at the bottom, having been consumed by the ocean, but you fought against the pull, kicking with all your strength.
Breaking the surface, you gasped for air, your lungs burning from the effort. As you steadied yourself, you scanned the coastline and spotted the telltale scorch marks—the unmistakable signs of Zagreus's passage. And while the water made it hard, you could see marks, and you swam, following them.
The cave served as a hidden passage to the underworld—a clandestine gateway that could be used for both entry and exit. It was a discovery that could prove invaluable, offering a secret route few knew existed.
Taking another deep breath, you braced yourself and dove beneath the current, pushing against the force of the water. As you swam deeper, the weight of the ocean above seemed to press down on you, and you understood why Zagreus had been drenched. The journey was longer and more strenuous than you had anticipated, the cold water sapping your strength as you struggled to keep your course.
After what felt like an eternity, your hands brushed against a solid surface above. You reached upward, finding the cave's ceiling, and propelled yourself forward until you found an opening. With a final burst of effort, you broke the surface and gulped in fresh air, feeling the coolness of the cave's atmosphere enveloping you.
You found yourself in a peculiar cavern. The dim light revealed a stone chamber unlike any you had seen before. Ahead, a massive door stood ominously, flanked by columns that seemed to be part of an ancient temple structure.
Where in the world—or rather, the underworld—had you surfaced? The place felt otherworldly, like a hidden temple of the dead. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and something else, something ancient and musty. The door before you, imposing and seemingly untouched by time, suggested that this was a place of great importance, a nexus between the realms of the living and the dead.
You stood there, water dripping from your clothes and pooling at your feet, as you tried to make sense of your surroundings. This place, with its eerie quiet and otherworldly architecture, was unlike anything you had expected to find. It was clear that you had stumbled upon something both secret and sacred, and the weight of that discovery hung heavily in the air.
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THE UNDERWORLD, LOCATION 1, The Forgotten Temple of Hades!
Status: Alive.
That was ominous.
What do you do now?:
[]Knock on the Door: You might as well be polite and knock on the door.
[]Look for another way in: The Doors cannot be the only way into the temple. Find another way in.
[]Rest: You need to rest for a minute, just so you can catch your breath.
[]Write in
