Chojin Patriarch
Veteran Lurker
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2019
- Messages
- 2,381
- Likes received
- 36,129
Greenery in the Underworld? Persephone's work, of course. With... An artificial sun to keep it alive? I can't imagine she'd be satisfied with what few plants grow naturally in this shadowy realm.27th October 2012
06:49 GMT +3
As we travel, Canis looks northward, staring at the area of verdant growth and the near-blinding glow at the centre.
"What is that?"
Give him a minute, the family tree of the gods is twisting and interconnected in a way that the Summers and Grey families of Marvel only wish they could manage."Hades wife is a goddess called Persephone. She's the daughter of Demeter and loves living greenery."
"Is she related to your plant goddess?"
I mean, you only need look at yourself to see that, OL."Euanthe would be her aunt. And I don't think that Euanthe is technically a goddess. It's not just a measure of power, it's about how their metaphysique is structured." I frown thoughtfully. "Unless you're telling me otherwise?"
"If a god can be new and not be a New God, I can accept that power does not make a thing a god."
"Can they?"
"Can-?" He jerks his head around, frowning. "Yes, of course they can. A New God joins to an aspect of Darkseid's divinity. Old Gods arise directly from the Dream, and their spawn gain their power from much the same place."
Edit: Okay, Canis is probably just repeating what he's been told. After all, why would a God of Tyranny admit that his underling's power flows from a source other than Himself?
True, there does seem to be some repetitive patterns in naming and themes in some mythos."So there's no link?"
"There are some… Vague similarities, but no more so that there would be with some ancient sorcerers. Do you not know her?"
So, best leave her be, then."No. For plant life, I'd either go to Euanthe, Swamp Thing or Gaea herself. Do you need to speak with her?"
"I find inspiration in all places. But I have no special need to speak with her. Unless she has some relationship with Zeus we can avoid the place entirely."
Eh... She's almost as closely tied to the Underworld as Hades is. Closer, if some early myths are to be believed."She's Zeus's daughter. But… Ah, I don't think they're on good terms."
"Is that not good for us?"
...Riiight..."I also don't think she's powerful or influential enough to affect matters one way or the other."
He nods. "Glory to the weak, for in having no strength of their own they shall not be tempted to act aught but the will of Darkseid."
Yeah, that's about the best response anyone could give...
Probably for the best. Don't want to futz up your working relationship with him. Could make for an awkward session next time you die.I remember the typical version of the myth from Earth Prime, but Hades doesn't seem like the sort to slip a few pomegranate seed roofies in someone's drink. The Amazon version mentions the seeds, but dwells more on Hades's wickedness in not consulting with or appeasing Demeter. I still don't see how Demeter's response of 'starve the world' could be considered anything other than completely deranged, but I… Don't know if the mythological version is what actually happened. Hade admitted that he's changed a lot since the old days, but I imagine that it's a sore point with him and I haven't wanted to push it.
I bet more than a few of her followers are taking the chance to get more study in, learning things too dangerous to have worked with in life...Before us, there's a village coming up. Or possibly a town? Order of service gets a bit confused in situations where the locals don't need to eat and a temple would be redundant. Hekate used to live in a relatively modest home tended by bound shades of those who joined her cult in life. Now… Now they're all bound to Erebos and like its other denizens they aren't 'shades' in the traditional mindless dead sense any longer.
Given Hekate's threat potential and the fact that most Atlanteans are hostile to the idea of gods I haven't felt the need to make contact with her. I wonder-.
...Unexpected.
...Seriously, this is like... What even.I watch as a woman -an Amazon by the look of her hair and skin- grins with delight as she shoots out of the end of a water slide to the laughter of those already in the plunge pool below.
Okay…
...Where did they get the idea, though? New arrivals, speaking of fun things in the world above?Well, I… I imagine that it's all their own work. Erebos is actually well-served with rivers, it's just at the titan's magic tends to give them unpleasant arcane effects. I… Assume that the witches have learned to filter them. Which does leave the question of what's powering the pumps. The slides are made of wood, smooth polished, with metal scaffolding. Nothing plastic or synthetic. I guess that the wood comes from Persephone's woodland, and they… Mine the metal themselves?
Seriously, what is even happening? When did we stumble into the Anime 'Beach Episode' storyline?There are swimming pools, some for training and some for more casual swimming. Seven slides of various designs… No rubber rings-. Because no rubber. Wrong continent. A possible avenue for trade? They are wearing swimming costumes, which makes me somewhat more comfortable, styles varying between Victorian to modern. Ages range from-. Another Themyscira flashback, newly adult to mature adult with no children or old people.
"Hey!" A woman in a lifeguard chair points at us as we get closer. "Who ordered concubines!"
Heh. On her guard already, eh? Is that a new record for OL?Or men.
"I'm sorry, we're not concubines." She moues in pantomimed disappointment, but I see the purple glow-dust that gathers around her left hand. "Could you please point us in the direction of Lady Hekate? It's a bit urgent."
I'm sure there are one or two more interested in giving Brut all the cuddles a good boy can handle...We've attracted the attention of quite a few women, though we're only being watched because we're marginally interesting rather than with any real hostility. When you're already dead, personal safety is much less of a concern. Or maybe they're dog people.
"So you're not concubines, or you've already been hired?"
...And that is exactly what I picture Canis thinking is the best option. Certainly, with his godly physique and stamina, he won't leave the ladies wanting."So we're not concubines-"
Canis shrugs his shoulders. "I have no objection to being a concubine, if it aids the mission."
...I wonder if it's chlorinated, or if they're using magic to purify it. Then again, it's not like they'd have issues with shed skin, hair or sweat polluting the water."-and I need to speak with Lady Hekate on the subject of thaumaturgy and Olympian politics."
We reach her lifeguard chair, Brut taking a sniff at a puddle of water splashed onto the side of the pool. The woman on guard duty straightens up slightly now that's it's apparent that we're here for a serious purpose.
Well, that's certainly a useful gift."Do you have an offering?"
I raise my left hand and fabricate an inflatable obstacle course, depositing it in the middle of the fun pool.
Given everyone else is dressed, I'd say so..."Yes. Arcane knowledge, artefacts, and-."
"Hey Paul!" Eris waves as she heads in our direction, wearing a sarong. And nothing else. I bet she was wearing a swimming suit, saw me and then chucked it in the-.
I mean, what was his plan to locate her? Standing on a mountain-top yelling into the wind? Making an appearance at her temple? Burnt offerings of porn and weed?Yes, there it is.
"Eris, good to see you. This will save me time."
And don't you forget it!"Oh?" She raises her eyebrows. "I don't get a 'Lady' Eris?"
"You're not a lady."
Note that he doesn't say about what. Everyone already seems to know what he's talking about... I guess the Olympians like to gossip."Eh." She looks at Canis for a moment, the appears to dismiss him. "Are you up to something?"
"At the moment we're just gathering information."
Well, there's a good offering: something to make her roll of the floor laughing."So 'yes'. You know, I don't think I really committed last time."
"Your help may well be quite useful. Or we might end up resolving things peacefully and-."
...And put some pants on, at least."Bghhahaha!" Eris hunches as she splurts with laughs, the action clearly taking her by surprise. She then reaches up with her right hand and half pat and half slaps me around the face. "'Peacef-. Have you met you?"
"Are you going to take us to Lady Hekate or should I just ignore you?"
At least until she hears just what he's up to. That would be a turn-up: Something even she wants no part of."Oh, I'll take you. This feels like something interesting and I wanna get in at the ground level." She lowers her hand, grabbing hold of my robe in a surprisingly strong grip and she turns and pulls me towards the path. "And bring the art student and his poodle. I think this is the start of something funny."
Well, I doubt any of us expected to see that in the Underworld. I guess Hecate has more familiarity with modern culture than some of the Olympians. A pity Canis won't get to stay and entertain the ladies, though. And now I can't wait to see what Hecate's inner sanctum is like. A modern-style bookshop with coffee bar? An internet cafe and gaming lounge? Bring it on!
She looks at Canis for a moment, then appears to dismiss him.
Last edited: