Achilles

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**Achilles** is a demi-god hero famed for his role in the Trojan War as both a peerless warrior and as the leader of his tribe, the Myrmidons. He was dipped in the Styx by his mother as a child to grant him immortality but was left vulnerable on the heel by which Thetis held him.

After he was fatally wounded when Paris shot his heel with an arrow, he descended to the Underworld as a Shade, where he was eventually hired by Hades to train a young Zagreus in battle and military discipline in exchange for allowing his lover Patroclus into Elysium. Since he was hired, Achilles has made an effort to be a source of support and encouragement for Zagreus in the face of Hades' often harsh treatment.

Achilles is responsible for authoring all entries in the Codex, which he gives to Zagreus to provide information and guidance about the Underworld and the Olympian Gods.

## Characteristics and Personality

A formidable semideus known for his role in the Trojan War. Achilles serves as a source of support and encouragement for Zagreus.

A modest hero, despite being a renowned Greek hero, Achilles is very humble and self-deprecating. He sees no reason to regale people with stories of his past. Unlike, for example, Theseus, he does not boast about the deeds that earned him fame. He seems content to guard the west wing of the House of Hades and teach Zagreus.

As Hades is so distant, Achilles acts as emotional support for Zagreus, and becomes the "older male role model" for Zagreus. Achilles is cool, caring, a wise and noble mentor, and one of the few genuinely heroic heroes. Achilles is in charge and provides information and guidance about the Underworld and the gods of Olympus. It is implied that in the past, Achilles was someone very different from who we know now, and he is ashamed of who he used to be, not interested in dwelling on the past. Much calmer in his afterlife, he was famous for his Unstoppable Rage and could be a proud and arrogant warrior, like Theseus, but he grew as a person thanks to his time for reflection in the Underworld.

Though not immediately apparent, it eventually becomes clear that Achilles is secretly tormented by guilt and self-loathing for the many atrocities he had both witnessed and committed while alive, especially when it came to the war with the Trojans, which also led to his death. Because of this, when questioned about the many battles he participated in, Achilles always refused to go into real detail. After accepting Zagreus as his student, he resolves to do everything in his power to ensure that Zagreus becomes a better man than he was in life.

Achilles can become comically serious. He hates onions, and the funny part is that he's dead serious about it. He even says that he would rather vanish into nothingness than be forced to eat an onion again.

An honorable sacrifice for true love, after his death, Hades approached Achilles with the offer to train a young man, Achilles agreed to become Zagreus' mentor, sacrificing his place in Elysium for Patroclus in return.

## Physical description

Achilles is portrayed as a well-built adult male with a height similar to Patroclus. He has curly, light blond hair that is combed to the left side and back, and he wears a braided headband as an adornment. He is often seen wielding his spear. His cloak, known as a chlamys, is green and matches the design of Patroclus', except for the motif on his cloak pin, which displays the symbol of the House of Hades. His silver chest armor extends into a belt adorned with a Greek meander pattern. Underneath his armor, he wears a white tunic, known as a chiton, covered by a green waist wrap that transitions into a long skirt called a himation. His left arm is adorned with a silver bracelet, while his right arm is partially covered by his cloak. Achilles also wears bracers with hand guards, presumably made of metal and leather strips, as well as golden shin guards. He is depicted as being barefooted.

## History

### Before Hades

A demigod hero known for his role in the Trojan War, Achilles is famous for his strength in battle. After his death in battle, his shade descended to the Underworld, where he ended up being hired to train Hades' rebellious son.

## Affinity

After your third escape attempt, you can talk to him to get the Codex.

If given Nectar, Achilles will give you the Myrmidon Bracer. After giving him 6 Nectar, you will not be able to give him any more gifts until you complete a favor for him. Doing so will allow you to gift him Ambrosia, and he will give you the Companion Antos in return for the first bottle.

Achilles' affinity gauge is maxed out at 9 hearts, requiring the gifting of 6 Nectar and 3 Ambrosia.

If affinity is maxed out with Achilles, there will be unique text above his keepsake. this text states: "from Achilles, you share an unyielding bond" as well as "Fated for glory, he shall forever be remembered, and remember you."

### Favor

Part of the Fated List of Minor Prophecies, Achilles' favor involves finding a way to reunite him with his lifelong partner Patroclus. As Zagreus grows closer to them both and learns of their relationship, Patroclus will tell him to pass on a message to Achilles, to "risk it all". Upon hearing this, Achilles will reminisce on the last time he heard the phrase. Progressing this favor further requires you to complete the favors of both Sisyphus and Orpheus & Eurydice.

Later, after having he will ask Zagreus to alter his pact with Hades to allow him to enter Elysium and see Patroclus. After Zagreus locates the pact with the help of Nyx, it will cost 5  to grant Achilles' wish at the House Contractor. He will then leave for Elysium, and Zagreus can find him by Patroclus' side in his resident chamber.

Upon his return to the House of Hades, his affinity gauge will be unlocked, and he can be gifted Ambrosia. He may also visit Patroclus again in subsequent runs.

## Codex entry

'*...I see no reason to regale you with stories of my past. Suffice it that I fought, as bravely as I could, alongside many of the finest men the world has ever known. I buried far too many of them, and sent many others to this place, where now at last we are all peers. I am fortunate that the Master of the House took pity upon me, and spared me from eternal boredom in Elysium with an existence closer to the times when I still lived, and had a job to do. Yet, I am unmade, unwhole, here in this place; alone, without the one with whom I shared my life when we were flesh and blood. He is somewhere within this realm, yet our time, I think, is long since passed. But, I have made mistakes before... So many! Surely, in believing this, I could be making yet another? The infinite awaits. Given limitless time... is anything truly impossible? Yet, our finite mortal time both limits us and spurs our actions. Thus, now, I am always of two minds.*'

## Trivia

* Purchasing the **Mirror/Rug, Guardpost (West Hall)** from the House Contractor will trigger a conversation from Achilles.
* There seems to be lock of hair above Achilles’ right eyebrow that has been unevenly cut and is shorter than the rest of his curls. If this was an intentional design choice, this could reference the Illiad where Achilles cuts off a lock of his hair to place it into Patroclus’ hand as he laid on his funeral pyre. *[see The Illiad, Bk XXIII:108-191 The building of Patroclus’ funeral pyre]*
* Being barefooted could underline Achilles not being at war or "indoors" at the moment.

## Additional notes

*For additional information on Achilles that does not pertain to Hades, see Wikipedia's article: Achilles*