Recently in the Underworld

[schneefink]

- I finally got Asterius' autograph for Hypnos. I'd heard that one needs to die to Asterius a certain number of times, but I died to Asterius many times and nothing happened. So after more than 200 hours I finally checked the wiki and then played one run without EM3, got killed by the heroes (not intentionally), and immediately got new Hypnos dialogue and then the autograph from Asterius on my next run. (I suspect it took so long because I waited quite a while to give Hypnos more than one nectar, and then I was already using EM3 most times.) And then the run after that:

Theseus: "Now hold a moment, fiend! Asterius made me aware that you recently asked of him an autograph. A tribute to his fame! As I am Champion, I am prepared to generously offer mine, as well."
Zagreus: "Oh! No thanks. Appreciate the offer, though. How about a fight, instead?"
Theseus: "Ah, pffsch, you…! 'Twas merely a jest! I'd not have given you the cloth about my loins, much less my name! But a fight you certainly shall have!"

Heh. So both Asterius and Zagreus forgot to mention that the autograph was for Hypnos? ^^ Poor Theseus.

- I finally beat 20 Heat today! On a five sack, no less, and without meeting Pat. On Zeus shield with a level 13 epic Drunken Flourish (20 Hangover damage), plus epic Phalanx Shot and Heartbreak Strike and Greatest Reflex and Greater Evasion (God's Pride doing some work), common Divine Dash, and Charged Shot and Pulverizing Blow. I used up five Death Defiances and had 39 of 365 HP left in the end, but I made it!
Then I got back to the House and got this fantastic dialogue:

Hades: "Explain to me something: How did you do it? I mean the Pact. For all of the conditions it imposed… you still surpassed me. How?"
Zagreus: "Plenty of practice, regular exercise, a positive attitude, the blessings of assorted family members you don't like, and your discarded Titan-slaying weapons I suppose. Nothing special. Why do you ask?"
Hades (looking away): "To think that you would squander such a talent on frivolous pursuit. You do not even realize what you have achieved, do you."
Zagreus: "Wait, wait wait wait wait, care to repeat that first part that you said back there? The talent part?"
Hades: "Would that you had a talent for listening. Begone for now."
Zagreus: Sure. Sorry about your Pact.

dfaäsldkfj the delivery was great too. I have so many feelings. Like: Hades, how the hell is he supposed to use his talent, then? What is his alternative?? He cannot survive on the surface, and what else is there to do for him in the Underworld that utilizes his talents? I am both surprised and glad about one of Hades' rare compliments for Zagreus, and completely unsurprised, but still sad, about how it was delivered. Zagreus sounds so disbelieving, and then ~disappointed at the end :(
I'm almost tempted to write a scene tag to this. Persephone wasn't here during this conversation (neither was Cerberus, or Orpheus), Thanatos left on an errand Nyx sent him on, and Megaera was in one of her less nice moods. Hmm.

- Numbers: I have made 272 escape attempts (ETA half an hour later: 273), escaped 111 times (huh, more than I would have expected), and my rank is Sigma Warden. My fastest time with god mode is 18:45 on Nemesis sword, and without god mode 23:53, on spear (forgot which one, and I can't check because the stats don't differentiate consistently between with/without god mode.)
I still use Antos as a keepsake pretty much all the time, not only because Achilles and Patroclus are very helpful but also because they are always encouraging and often a lot of fun when they show up (Patroclus complimented Zagreus on his choice of opponent when fighting Hades once ^^ ) I should try using the others more, I'm sure they have their own fun interactions.

Next goals: get to 20 Heat with every weapon, and then 32 Heat! The first I'm pretty confident about, but 32 Heat is a lot. I'm still struggling with Asterius on Forced Overtime (extra dashes from Hermes seem very helpful.) But if I keep playing I'm sure I'll get there eventually.
I also want to catch all the fish! I finally caught a Seamare, now there are only two undiscovered (from Chaos and Greece, unsurprisingly.)