Pay the Ferryman was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description[]
On Hades' advice, Kassandra sought out the ferryman of the dead, Charon.
Dialogue[]
Kassandra continued past the bridge through the Passage of Souls into the underworld proper. Ikaros flew through the ravine and canvassed the banks of the River Styx as Kassandra's second trial began in earnest.
- Kassandra: The air is thick here. It's hard to breathe.
Kassandra traveled north through a tunnel towards the docks of the River Styx while talking to herself.
- Kassandra: "How was my day? Well, I killed a three-headed beast, got yelled at by Hades, and now I'm on my way to meet the ferryman of the underworld. How was yours?"
After leaving the tunnel, she found a long queue near the docks.
- Kassandra: The sun gives off no warmth.
Kassandra spots a boat arriving
Kassandra reached the docks, where she spotted a boat and a man docking.
- Kassandra: Are you the ferryman?
- Charon: A busy ferryman. Someone just had to kill the guardian of the gate, and now I'm up to my eyeballs in rotting newcomers. So unless some god sent you to plug all the holes and clean up the mess between the realms, I don't want anything to do with you.
Charon directed a couple to the boat.
- Kassandra: It just so happens that Hades sent me.
- Charon: What did a shiny, living fleshling like you do to end up in debt to the god of the underworld?
- Kassandra: I... may have killed Cerberos.
- Charon: Well, now that Hades' big dog is dead, rifts have opened all across the underworld. My passengers are being attacked by prisoners of Tartaros and all of his little dogs!
Kassandra first's meeting with Charon
- Kassandra: Listen, I have to find four guardians to protect the gates and close the rifts. Hades said you'd need my help.
- Charon: Unbelievable. He sends a fleshling through the underworld to fix a problem only the dead can solve.
- Kassandra: "Only the dead can solve"... So that's why I felt so weak when I fought those things.
- Charon: The last fleshling who worked for Hades wore a special suit of armor, but he's been torn to shreds. Now the armor's been scattered across the realm.
- Kassandra: My mother told me my path would be tough, but she never prepared me for this.
- Charon: And you're going to have to fight some pretty vengeful warriors to collect four of the pieces. The fifth, a set of gauntlets has gone missing.
Kassandra turned her gaze downward, contemplating the scope of her task. Charon clapped her on the shoulder in an attempt to encourage her.
- Charon: You'll... do fine.
(Asked "What's so special about this armor?")
- Kassandra: What makes this armor I need so special?
- Charon: Forged on the bronze anvil that fell into Tartaros, it allows fleshlings like yourself to see things they shouldn't see and go places they shouldn't go.
- Kassandra: Of course Hades never mentioned this.
- Charon: He's very selective.
(Asked "Who are the prisoner's of Tartaros?")
- Kassandra: You said something about prisoners?
- Charon: The underworld's most horrific offenders are locked away in the prison of Tartaros. Many have escaped through the rifts and are putting the rest of us hard-working, dedicated, passionate souls in peril.
(Asked "What are these "little dogs"?")
- Kassandra: What did you mean exactly when you said "little dogs"?
- Charon: The Hounds of Hades. Nasty little creatures who hunt and destroy the lost souls who weren't granted passage across the Styx by yours truly.
(Chose "Time to get to work.")
- Kassandra: Time to put this place back in order.
- Charon: All you need to do is collect some armor, defeat angry warriors, and find four guardians to protect the underworld.
- Kassandra: Right.
- Charon: Seeing as you're new here, I'll give you some advice. The Barren Pond, the Eternal Battlefield, and Hades' Palace are all excellent places to start.
Charon departs
Charon returned to his boat.
- Charon: And if you happen to have any spare time, I've got some work for you as well.
Charon set sail from the docks with another boat full of passengers.
Outcome[]
Kassandra sought out Charon based on the advice of Hades. The ferryman warned her about the hounds of Hades, the prisoners of Tartaros and recommended that she recover a set of armor that could help combat the prisoners of Tartaros.
Gallery[]
