The tale of Orpheus and Hades

For those of you familiar with Greek myths and legends, this is one story you'll find familiar.
The tale of Orpheus and Hades

Orpheus was a musician. But not just any musician. He was the best in the entire world.
He could play music and sing songs that could make anyone, commoner or noble, cry in sorrow or rejoice in gladness. Kings would pay huge sums of money, just to hear him play. Orpehus' joy was found in playing the lyre. But his true happiness laid in his newly wed wife, Eurydice.

The newly weds foun great joy in each other, be it from strolling through the streets of Athens, or gambolling in the countryside of Greece. The couple found immense joy in the little things they did with each other. With Orpheus' fame and talent with the lyre, they were to remain well fed and well clothed for the rest of their lives. But alas, such joy is not meant for mortals, and Eurydice would be taken away from Orpheus...

One day, while walking through the orchards, alone, a satyr spotted Eurydice and she, he. She ran as fast as she could, trying her utmost best to run away from this crazed creature. But in her haste she had ran further away from safety, and soon she was cornered by the satyr. She slowly backed away, never keeping her eyes of the creature. In doing so, she failed to notice a pit of venomous cipers behind her, and she fell in...

Orpheus, searching for his beloved, asked around town, and they pointed him in the direction of the orchards. He searched high and low, until he spotted a pit of venemous vipers, with his companion lying in it. Dead. He took her out of the pit and grieved her like no man had ever grieved before. Having lost his beloved, he turned to his lyre and played...

The gods on Olympus heard Orpehus' heart wrenching tale of his loss, and they too were moved to tears. And so they told Orpheus of an entrance to the underworld. The realm of the dead. If he could successfully navigate his way to Hades, king of the dead, he could get Eurydice back from the dead...

Heeding the advice of the gods, Orpheus took up his lyre, and made his way to the underworld. Upon arrival he saw the River Styx, awaiting on the shore was the ferryman, Charon. He begged Charon for passage past the River, but Charon was adamant, and refused to take him, unless Orpheus could pay. Orpheus, without money, sat on a boulder by the River, and started to play his lyre. As he played a crowd of souls gathered around him. Even Charon had gotten off his ferry, just so he could hear Orpheus' music better. As he plucked the strings, he regaled his story of loss to all who were around him, and finally, he managed to enchant Charon to carry him across the River Styx for free.

Upon arrival on the other side of the River, Orpheus came to the gates into Hades. But entrance was not for mortals, such as himself. To ensure that, Hades' pet, Cerberus, guards the entrance. The 3 headed dog was bigger than any dog Orpheus had ever seen, his fur was pitch black, and his teeth were as sharp as knives. Orpheus, relying on his skill as a musician, started playing his lyre again, and within moments, the great dog was fast asleep, granting him entrance into Hades.

After a short distance, Orpheus saw his last obstacle. The king of the dead, Hades. Seating on his throne, with his eternal wife, Persephone by his side. Knowing, by now, what was to be done, Orpheus started to perform for the king and queen. He deftly plucked each string, sending it reverberating of the walls of the cave. The sad, soulful melody enthralled all who heard. As Orpheus begain singing of his beloved, and his grief, even Hades, the never moving god of the dead, was moved to tears. As such, Hades allowed Orpheus to bring Eurydice out of Hades, on one condition. He had to trust that she was following him, and not look back, not even once, while they were still in the realm of the dead. Only upon passing through the River Styx and up to the world of the living could they look upon each other again.

Orpheus began his ascent to the world above once again, he passed through the sleeping dog, and got onto the ferry. But doubt began to plauge Orpheus. Had Hades tricked him? Is Eurydice just behind me? Could she catch up? As the doubts plauged him, the temptation to look back grew. As they got off the ferry, Orpehus continued to climb. But just as he was about to reach the surface, he could not take it anymore, and so he turned, to see Eurydice for the last time. Orpheus was shattered, Eurydice had indeed been behind him the whole time. An unseen force then dragged Eurydice back down to the depths of Hades. And Orpheus, from then on walked the wilderness, and telling his sad tale to all who would listen...