As the pointed end of the warhammer skewered through the serpent's skull, Mendel smirked at his own grandiose show in battle. It was by sheer gnomic luck that he managed to hold onto his weapon as the snakes body suddenly became taut and reeled itself back into the latrine, its skull shattering and flesh ripping as it pulled itself free of the spike. "Inconceivable!" exclaimed Mendel.
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Mendel's perplexion increased to even greater heights as the room suddenly vanished in front of his superior gnomic eyes. Between one moment and the next, Mendel found himself standing on the precipice of a vast and unending abyss. Across the gaping maw, Mendel beheld a monstrous figure -- reptilian in nature with a venomous ichor oozing along its gnarled hide. Rising to great heights above its squat truck were many heads -- far too many to count -- and their twisted, hideous faces reared downward onto a feast of heroes that had dared enter its domain.
Unbidden wisdom rushed forth, and Mendel knew that the creature before him was, in essence, the same as that which he had just vanquished -- yet unfettered by the ages and primordial in its power. Stepping back from the eidolic beast, the great gnome felt a hand grip his shoulder in a vicious, golemic grip. Startled, Mendel twirled his head to face his assailant, only to find himself facing a harsh figure draped in obscene attire, face coal black, eyes burning bright as furnaces and wielding an ivory oar.
With a soft rumbling voice, the man spoke to Mendel, "Child o' Gaia, and Our harbinger to lands unclaimed -- We bring to thee a spark o' enlightenment. The creature thou seest beyond the void is a force o' nature and brethren to all who prey upon the living. We have tamed this grandchild o' Tartarus and hath charged him with guarding one o' the gateways to Our realm. Beware acolyte o' Hades, for the scions of the Hydra art as numerous as their forebearers heads. Beware seeker o' Our Realm, for to enter the domain o' Hades is to face the visages of horror no man was meant to bear witness." As the ferryman's final word wafted from his lips, his mighty grip let up and he pushed Mendel into the abyss ...
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Faced with the empty latrine once more, Mendel turned to find that the two women were still breathing heavily from the attack of the Hydra, as if but mere moments had transpired. Gripping the warhammer that once more weighed gravely in his hands, the great Mendel's mind focused on one point: the beast guarded the gateway to Hades' riches, and his domain was a bottomless lake. Walking away from the scene of their petty brawl, Mendel stalked over to the central passageway once more. Looking to his right, he found what he was after: the southern passage that led to the sea serpent. Motioning to the women Mendel called to them with a bit of adianoeta to his words, "This way to the Father."
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