Hypnos

Hypnos is the embodiment of sleep. He is one of Nyx's many children, and the younger twin brother of Thanatos. He watches over the procession of newly-arrived shades coming before Hades, checking their names off his list. He is often seen sleeping on the job. He greets Zagreus most of the time when the prince is killed and returns to the House via the Pool of Styx, and often gives unhelpful advice and a quip about whichever enemy or natural force did Zagreus in. In a constant battle against sleep, Hypnos is found sleeping more often than performing his task of accounting for the newly arrived dead to the House while awaiting judgment. He is the physical embodiment of sleep and is much more powerful than he appears, as he can put the entire House to sleep. Hypnos is a serious case of immortal immaturity, constantly lounging around, and finding many ways to avoid his responsibility of accounting for the dead, from doodling to sleeping. Despite being lazy he is usually quite chatty. Achilles speculates that the reason he hasn't been fired yet is that Hades finds him very funny and considers him an "unofficial court jester." Despite the dark nature of his work, Hypnos is very cheerful, and although he does not have the best professional conduct, he is always very receptive. Some dialogues suggest that Hypnos may be bored at work, "being one sad clown" feeling lonely, and wanting someone to talk to. He will greet Zagreus and happily comment and jot down notes in his report about his latest death, and often give "advice" to the prince which is always met with sarcasm or outright rejection due to how blunt and obvious it is, making it almost seem as if Hypnos is mocking Zagreus instead of actually helping like he wants to. In sharp contrast to Thanatos, who does his job masterfully, Hypnos does not take his work too seriously. Hypnos cannot be found outside the House at any point in the game and will remain in the House, unlike Thanatos, who often moves to help Zagreus behind Hades' back. Hypnos clearly admires his brother and wishes to spend more time with him, despite Thanatos' cold rejection. At one point, he suggests that Thanatos "kill all the mortals at once" to make his job easier and thus free up more time together, and this may save his brother from his hard work, but Thanatos reprimands him for the "stupidity" of his idea. He's apparently powerful enough that he can put the entire House except Nyx to sleep, which Zagreus asks him to do when he goes to snoop around. But overall, he's not very good at his job and prefers lazing about and chatting to Zagreus when he appears from the pool from time to time. Hypnos flaunts a lazy expression and sports curly hair, with a pen feather resting on top. His silver hair and golden eyes are the only features he seems to share with his twin brother. His complexion is extremely pale, almost taking on a bluish undertone. Hypnos possesses an average stature for a god; when not hunched or stretching, he stands noticeably taller than Zagreus and has a height similar to that of his brother, boasting a slender physique. He is frequently observed lying face down during sleep. His attire comprises a long red tunic adorned with golden details, complemented by a long, velvety red coat with white trim that resembles a blanket. His belt is fashioned with poppies, which are often associated with sleep, and features a sleeping skull emblem. He always carries a clipboard and a feather, which he uses to read his reports. Much like his brother, he displays a pair of golden wings on his back, embellished with "four" ornaments on both shoulders. Furthermore, he wears a red eye mask to "feign" that he's awake when he's actually asleep. leter, Hypnos's curly hair has been straightened and grown. His face mask has changed from a red one to a light purple one. His clothes remain the same. Hypnos was born as one of the numerous children of the goddess of the night, Nyx, alongside his twin Thanatos, the god of death. Initially inseparable, the shared closeness between Hypnos and Thanatos gradually diminished, eclipsed by the incessant demands of Thanatos' vocation. His essence summarized the very essence of sleep, gifting mortals with serene and tranquil nights. Despite being born of Nyx herself, Hypnos never gained fame as an independent child, often labeled as careless and lacking in his other vocations. He had a reputation as the least somber of chthonic gods. Later, owing to the influence of his mother Nyx, Hypnos managed to secure a job as a receptionist at the House of Hades. At Zagreus’ request, Hypnos casts a powerful spell over the House, putting everyone to sleep to help Zagreus cause some mischief however, Zagreus discovered a letter from his true birth mother while rummaging through his father's desk, kickstarting. Hypnos appears as the receptionist and the first to welcome Zagreus, trying to comfort him when his first death occurs, but miserably failing and initially unsettling Zagreus. With Zagreus’ deaths, Hypnos continues offering guidance and grows closer to Zagreus and other residents, such as Megaera, eventually becoming Zagreus’ friend. Zagreus also helps Hypnos and Thanatos reconnect, while Hypnos becomes more productive and eventually earns a framed commemorative plaque as one of the best employees in the House of Hades. He falls asleep during the family meeting of the Olympian gods. Hypnos was rescued by Hecate and brought to The Crossroads after the Titan Chronos took control of Underworld but has since fallen into a deep slumber from which he cannot be awoken. During a flashback, a young Melinoë can interact with him but he still remains asleep. Years later, Hypnos still remains asleep with no way for him to be awakened. Interacting with him will only cause him to snore. When gifted Nectar, he only manages to mutter "Welcome to the haah..." before going back to snoring. Melinoë finally succeeds in awakening Hypnos after repeatedly using the Dream Vapors with Medea’s assistance and entering his psyche. Hypnos thanks her and quickly vanishes back to the House of Hades, so as not to be late for work, reuniting with Zagreus, Thanatos, Nyx, and the other residents.