As Ariadne put the finishing touches on the portal, the intricate web of vines and magic humming with latent power, Gadriel's gaze was drawn to Antioch. She watched as he communicated with a raven.

The raven took flight, disappearing into the sky, and Antioch approached Gadriel. "I've sent a message to Reynard and your sister," he explained, "letting them know that you are safe and well."

Gadriel's eyes gave a hint of gratitude as she nodded in acknowledgment. "Did the raven bring any other news?" she asked.

Antioch nodded, sharing the information he had received. "Reynard couldn't see the identity of the third embodiment of the muses clearly," he explained. "It was obscured somehow. But my guess is that it's Melpomene who is keeping it hidden."

Gadriel's words carried a sense of caution as she remarked, "So, we have another potential prisoner or accomplice to deal with."

"The fun is always in the mystery, my dear disciple," Antioch said with a sardonic smile. He then glanced at her nun's habit. "Would you like to change before our next adventure?" he asked, a hint of jest in his tone. "I am sure I could conjure up something for you."

Gadriel, resolute in her decision, responded, "No, despite the colors, this attire is still linked to Soter, and we need all the power from all the gods we can get."

Antioch couldn't resist a sarcastic remark, saying, "Next thing I know, you're going to ask me to build you a convent."

Gadriel shot Antioch an annoyed look. However, before she could retort, Ariadne's voice rang out, drawing their attention.

"The portal is ready," Ariadne announced. The completed portal stood before them, a mesmerizing fusion of nature's magic and divine power.

Antioch turned his attention away from Gadriel and towards the portal, his expression becoming more serious. "Well, then," he said, his voice carrying a note of readiness, "let's not keep Erebus waiting."

As they gathered around the completed portal, a palpable sense of anticipation filled the air. Antioch, with a sly grin, reached into a small pouch at his side and withdrew the forest spirit figurine that Harahel had received during the trickster ceremony in Stormhold.

Harahel's eyes widened as Antioch handed her the intricately carved figurine. She couldn't help but recall the enchanting experience of the ceremony and the dreamlike vision that had accompanied it. In that moment, the figurine held deep and mysterious significance for her.

With a playful tone, Harahel asked, "I don't suppose you're going to enlighten me on how this little trinket will aid me on our journey?"

Antioch responded with a soft chuckle, "Well, my dear, where's the fun in revealing all the secrets?"

Antioch shifted his focus to Gadriel and admitted, "You know, I wasn't quite sure who this item was meant for until now."

From a pouch at his side, he retrieved another item that he had acquired in Stormhold – the Phoenix's Embrace. He then extended the item to Gadriel, who, familiar with the unpredictable nature of the god of mischief, didn't bother pressing for a straightforward explanation.

Antioch proceeded to unveil the Dagger of Angus, A blade with a captivating aura of mystery. With a sly grin, he confidently stated, "This one is meant for me," and then playfully winked at Harahel as he added, "Angus would have preferred it that way." In response, Harahel couldn't resist rolling her eyes, a blend of exasperation and amusement crossing her features.

Antioch carefully retrieved an ornate object from his belongings. It was a delicate, hand-carved wooden charm, intricately adorned with symbols of luck and protection. He recalled receiving this unique item from an old lady in Prophet Alley, a memory tied to the day when he and Harahel had been playing the roles of fools.

As he examined the charm, Antioch couldn't help but express his lingering uncertainty. "You know," he began, his tone contemplative, "I'm still not entirely sure how this little trinket fits into the grand scheme of things."

Skadi redirected her focus towards Ariadne and quipped, "Having satisfied our little brother's thirst for the dramatic, I believe we're prepared to move forward."

Ariadne turned her attention to Rosalind, who had approached her with reverence. With a kind smile, she bid her farewell. "May the blessings of the vine guide your path," she said softly, her words carrying a gentle touch.

Skadi, meanwhile, knelt down beside the deer. She spoke to them in hushed tones, as if sharing secrets of the forest. "You will keep Rosalind company on her journey home," she whispered, her voice a soothing melody that resonated with the woodland creatures.

With mischief dancing in her eyes, Rosalind couldn't resist approaching Antioch. She wore a playful smirk as she leaned closer to him, her voice laced with jest. "I'd say I'll miss you, dear Antioch, but I'd never lie in the presence of my goddess."

Antioch, always quick with a response, couldn't help but retort with a grin of his own. "Well, my dear," he quipped, "when I find myself in need of someone to be fooled into storming a temple, I'll be sure to pay you a visit."

Rosalind shot Antioch a glare, clearly unimpressed by his response.

One by one, Ariadne, Skadi, and Gadriel walked through the portal, disappearing into its shimmering depths.

With a sly smile, Antioch extended his hand to Harahel, who accepted it without hesitation. Together, they stepped into the portal, and as soon as they were through, it vanished, leaving no trace behind.

As they embarked on their journey back, Rosalind couldn't help but sigh. "I can only imagine the state of my tavern when I get back," she confessed, her worry evident in her voice.

Turning to the deer with a curious expression, she asked, "Do you prefer beer or wine?"

As Antioch, Harahel, Gadriel, Skadi, and Ariadne emerged from the portal into Erebus, they found themselves enveloped in an otherworldly mist that clung to their forms like a sinister shroud. The transition from their familiar realm to this foreboding land was marked by a palpable shift in the atmosphere.

The mist seemed to swirl and coil around them, as if reluctant to release its hold. It hung heavily in the air, obscuring their vision and casting an eerie pallor over everything it touched.

"Just like how we left it," Antioch remarked to Harahel, but his jest found no amusement in her.

For Harahel, the atmosphere of Erebus was nothing short of unsettling, and it triggered a rush of haunting memories from their previous journey through this foreboding land.

It was a harrowing adventure filled with perilous battles and near-death experiences. The memory of their fierce confrontation with the dragons. They had been formidable adversaries, their fiery breath and colossal strength testing their mettle in ways they could scarcely have imagined.

But it wasn't just the dragons that haunted her thoughts. The recollection of the water beast, a monstrous creature that had nearly drowned her in the depths of a dark, murky lake, filled her with a sense of dread. The memory of struggling for breath as the beast's tentacles constricted around her was etched in her mind.

And then there was the near-fatal battle with Malakar. Harahel remembered the desperation of their fight, the feeling of being on the brink of oblivion as they grappled with the malevolent force that threatened to engulf them.

These memories served as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked in Erebus, a realm where darkness reigned supreme.

As they took their first steps into Erebus, their surroundings slowly materialized through the dense mist. The landscape itself appeared barren and desolate, with no signs of life or vibrancy.

Amidst the desolate landscape of Erebus, they were met with a nightmarish sight as a horrifying creature emerged from the thick mist. Its grotesque forms seemed to defy nature, and it moved with a sinister grace. The creature's eyes gleamed with malice as it clamped its jaws down on the arm of a struggling man, who was desperately trying to free himself.

The man unleashed a barrage of obscenities at the creature, his voice filled with anger and defiance. He fought back fiercely, striking the abomination with his axe.

Antioch's response was laced with curiosity more than concern as he uttered, "Igor?"

Skadi, with a swift and decisive motion, pulled her bow from her shoulder, not wasting a moment as she notched an arrow and drew it with a practiced hand. Her eyes locked onto the nightmarish creature, and with steely resolve, she released the arrow, sending it hurtling through the thick mist toward the abomination.

Antioch, displaying his characteristic impulsiveness and daring, wasted no time. As the arrow found its mark, causing the creature to momentarily release its grip on Igor's arm, Antioch leaped into action. He withdrew his gleaming dagger and sprinted toward the grotesque form that had surfaced from the depths of Erebus.

With a swift and audacious movement, Antioch leaped onto the creature's back, his agile form landing with a surprising grace. He straddled the abomination, his dagger gleaming in the eerie light of Erebus, as he struck at the heart of the nightmarish adversary.

Antioch, perched atop the now lifeless body of the grotesque creature, watched as it fell to the ground, its malicious presence vanquished. With a wry grin, he dismounted and made his way over to Igor, who had been fighting the creature with fierce determination.

"Ah, Igor," Antioch quipped with his characteristic sarcasm, "I must say I'm a tad disappointed. I thought you'd have no trouble handling this on your own. You’re slipping in your age my elder kin." His words were laced with humor, and he offered his brother a hand to help him up.

Igor, still catching his breath and nursing the wounds from the battle, couldn't help but roll his eyes at Antioch's jest. "Always the sly arse, aren't you?" he grumbled, though a hint of a smile played on his lips as he accepted Antioch's assistance.

Harahel's gaze fixated on the mangled and battered state of Igor's arm, her concern evident. She couldn't help but wonder how he could even lift it after the fierce battle they had just endured. As Igor's attention turned to Antioch, he gave his little brother a giant, bone-crushing hug that could have easily left a mortal with a few broken ribs. Antioch found himself lifted off the ground, his breath escaping him as he grunted in response to Igor's overwhelming embrace.

"It's about time you got your skinny arse here, you useless God of fools!" Igor bellowed with hearty laughter as he released Antioch from his embrace, causing the mischievous deity to tumble to the ground.

"My apologies, you graceless brute," Antioch managed to gasp between breaths, still recovering from the impact of Igor's embrace. "But I was delayed by our favorite sister," he added,

"Yes, she came here looking all pretty and possessed by one of your troublesome muses," Igor commented. "I fear she has gotten the best of our brothers."

"A half-blind Imp could get the best of our brother," Antioch quipped with a smirk.

"That is true," Igor agreed, bursting into laughter, and Antioch quickly joined in.

"That is enough foolishness from you two," Ariadne scolded her two younger brothers.

Ariadne approached Igor and extended her hands, her divine power flowing through her fingertips. Vines wrapped gently around Igor's injured arm, and a soothing warmth enveloped him. With a gentle touch, Ariadne began the process of healing, mending the damage and restoring his arm to its previous state.

With a hearty laugh, Igor expressed his gratitude. "You always had the magic touch, sis," he bellowed, his eyes filled with appreciation.

Ariadne regarded Igor with a loving smile and stated, "What are big sisters for, my beloved brute?" She was about to add more when Antioch chimed in, "You know, I got a little scratch on my hand when the creature fell. You might want to—"

Ariadne shot Antioch a stern look that silenced him immediately, the mischievous deity wisely choosing not to press his luck any further.

Skadi, Gadriel, and Harahel approached Antioch, Igor, and Ariadne. Harahel reached out, took Antioch's hand, and gently kissed the scratch on it, her voice laced with playfulness as she said, "All better."

Knowing all too well that Harahel's actions would only encourage Antioch's mischievous behavior, Skadi shook her head in disapproval. Ariadne let out a sigh, Gadriel rolled her eyes, and Igor couldn't help but chuckle.

As the group gathered around, Igor provided a layout of the lair where Taliesin was being held captive. He detailed the lair's twisted passages, eerie chambers, and the creatures and warlocks that guarded it. His descriptions painted a vivid picture of the dangers that lay ahead, and it was evident that the rescue mission would be no easy feat.

Igor extended a finger to trace a rough map on the ground. His eyes focused on Skadi as he offered his strategic insight. "You can use this rock formation as your cover" he explained. "From there, you can pick those creatures off one by one with your wee arrows."

Igor pressed on with his tactical plan, his enthusiasm shining through as he pointed at Harahel and Gadriel. "Ariadne can take those troublesome muses behind there," he then pointed to a specific spot, "and do their witchy thing."

Harahel, her eyes focused on Antioch, asked Igor “What will you and Antioch do?”

Igor, with a mischievous grin, responded confidently, " Will do what we do best. Run straight at them!"

As the group walked together for a while before it was time to split up, Harahel couldn't help but give Antioch a concerned look. Her worry was evident, but Antioch responded with a sly smile. He leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, offering reassurance.

After the brief exchange, Antioch and Igor walked into the mist together, disappearing from view. Harahel watched them go, her concern lingering.

Skadi approached Harahel, placing a hand on her shoulder. She offered words of solace, with a hint of jest, "Don't worry. When Igor and Antioch go into battle, three things are guaranteed: thunder, blood, and horrible songs."