| “ | In the name of Hades... | „ |
| ~ Zagreus. |
| “ | Olympus, I accept this message! | „ |
| ~ Zagreus picking up a Boon. |
Zagreus is the main protagonist of the 2020 fantasy video game Hades and it's sequel Hades 2. He is the rebellious Prince of the Underworld and the son of the god Hades, who embarks on a quest in the first game to find his mother, Persephone. He is also the older brother of Melinoë, who takes the lead in Hades II.
He is voiced by the game's composer Darren Korb who also voices Skelly in the same game.
Biography
In the tale era antecedent to Hades’ reign, endeavors by Hades and Persephone to conceive were thwarted by the Fates’ decree, foretelling Hades’ inability to sire an heir. Zagreus met his demise at birth, plunging Persephone into inconsolable grief, leading to her departure from the Underworld. Unbeknownst to her, Nyx clandestinely resurrected Zagreus, persuading the Fates to grant him life. Nyx, thereafter, assumed the guise of Zagreus' mother.
Fearing Zagreus lacked direction, Hades enlisted the hero Achilles to tutor him in combat, sculpting his martial prowess.
His associations with Thanatos and his former partner Megaera soured over time, leading to estrangement by the time events unfolded in the game.
Convincing Hypnos to lull everyone but himself into slumber within the House of Hades, Zagreus stumbled upon a missive from Persephone in his father's bureau, unraveling the truth of his lineage. Attempting to confront his father led him to encounter Nyx, who divulged the truth and aided his quest to locate Persephone by enlisting support from the Olympians.
The chronicle of Hades unveils Zagreus’ narrative as he commences his escape from the realm, seeking refuge from his impartial father, Hades, endeavoring to reach Mount Olympus. Aid arrives from fellow Olympians, gifting him tools to combat the guardians barring the exit from the Underworld. Notable denizens such as Sisyphus, Eurydice, and Patroclus offer support on his journey.
Traversing through Tartarus, Asphodel, Elysium, and the Temple of Styx, Zagreus confronts myriad obstacles. While clashing with aggressive shades in his father's service remains a constant, encounters with the Furies, the remnants of the Lernaean Hydra, and the Elysium champion Theseus, alongside his companion Asterius, await him on the path to the Temple of Styx. These trials, set against the perilous Underworld terrain, inevitably halt Zagreus's escape attempts.
Unyielding in his defiance against his father's trials and unrelenting in challenging powerful adversaries, even amidst countless deaths, Zagreus persists undeterred. Unwavering in his pursuit, he faces his father's wrath with unwavering resolve. His tenacity earns Hades's respect, recruiting Zagreus as an underworld tester to prevent escapes. Embracing this role, Zagreus assumes the mantle of the "God of Blood."
Personality
Despite being the son of Hades and harvesting dark powers, Zagreus is quite magnanimous and affable, at least to those who haven't given him reason not to be. When Zag runs into the likes of Sisyphus and Patroclus during his runs, Zagreus is unfailingly polite to them. Likewise, he states that so far, he doesn't really hate anybody and will always do his best to get along with everyone, provided they don't annoy him too much. His desire to form good relationships with everyone he meets even becomes a defining trait of his character.
Trivia
- Zagreus' accent is meant to be "fantasy british" a la Lord of the Rings. It is considered an Olympian accent, which he has due to Hades insisting to teach him how to speak in his own way.
