Escaping the underworld is your primary goal in critically acclaimed roguelike Hades, but it’s not the only thing you can do in the game. Throughout the game, Zagreus can interact with various other denizens of the Underworld and help to bring them some degree of peace.
Many of these side quests are based on Greek Myths, and fittingly so. In his quest to escape the underworld, Zagreus will meet various figures from Greek mythology and help them, such as when he reunites the lost lovers Orpheus & Eurydice. Two other long lost lovers can be brought together, though it will take some time to complete. However, if Zagreus plays his cards right, he’ll be able to reunite Achilles and Patroclus before he’s able to escape.
The first step to reuniting the lovers is finding them within the Underworld. Achilles is easy. As Zagreus’ mentor, he’s one of the characters you can interact with in the House of Hades from the start of the game. He’s on the left side of the house, where he offers Zagreus advice and support. You won’t find Patroclus until you get to Elysium, where you’ll find him inside a chamber. Along with Eurydice and Sisyphus, he’s one of the few shades who won’t attack you but instead offers you items.
As soon as you’re able to, you need to start maxing out your relationships with them by giving them Nectar. That will unlock conversations with both characters, where you’ll learn details about their relationship and how much they miss each other. Eventually, Patroclus will ask you to repeat a phrase, “Risk it all,” to Achilles. When you pass that message on to Achilles, he asks you to alter his contract with Hades so that he can visit Elysium and see Patroclus. He’s emboldened to alter his deal with Hades because Patroclus has given him a second chance and because you did the same for Orpheus and Eurydice (assuming you complete that quest first).
This means you have a new hurdle to clear in facilitating the reunion; unlocking the Administrative Chamber Zagreus was barred from for being a terrible employee. This will take some patience, as it’s a random process. When Zagreus mentions resting for a bit between runs, a flashback where he enters the chamber can be triggered. Finishing the scene allows you to purchase the chamber for three Diamonds. The “easiest” way to obtain Diamonds is to defeat the Bone Hydra and to collect the bounty for escaping Asphodel.
Diamonds can be also be acquired by completing certain prophecies from the Fated List of Minor Prophecies and trading with the Wretched Broker. You might also get one in an extremely rare drop from Poseidon’s Sunken Treasure boon. If you’re the right kind of thrifty and wealthy, you can also buy them from Charon for 1,000 Gold.
Once you’ve purchased the chamber, you need to be able to find Achilles’ contract. In order to do that, you need to max out your relationship with Zagreus’ maternal figure, Nyx. Once you do that, she’ll tell you where to find it among the mountain of pacts stored in the chamber. After receiving the requisite amount of Nectar, Nyx will reluctantly tell you where Achilles’ contract is so he can leave his post and visit Patroclus.
Once you have access to Achilles’ contract, you can send it to the House Contractor for the necessary revisions. You’ll have access to it after your next run, but he’ll charge you five diamonds for the work. Once you purchase it, the pact will be altered despite Hades’ grumblings about it tarnishing the Underworld’s reputation.
Once you break the good news to Achilles and tell him where to find Patroclus, he teleports away from his post in the Underworld. You’ll find the happy couple on subsequent runs, standing side by side in Elysium. They’ll thank you for your help. Achilles will eventually give you a Chthonic Companion as a thank you gift. Achilles will go back and forth between the House of Hades and Elysium for the rest of the game.
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