Atroxa
New Member
The Mythology
Gods and Goddesses
The Pantheon – The most powerful gods, they are neither good nor evil, being just as selfish and near sighted as mortal at times
Zeus – Symbol: Lightning Bolt – God of the sky and weather – King of the Gods – Patron of Kings and Men – A vain and proud womanizer, but also a caring father and wise ruler – Husband to Hera
Hera – Symbol: Peacock – Goddess of marriage and revenge – Queen of the Gods – Matron of Queens and Wives – A jealous and vengeful goddess, she often punished the lovers of her husband, and mortals who crossed her, but she would also help mortals she deemed worthy – Wife to Zeus
Poseidon – Symbol: Trident – God of the sea and of horses – King of the Seas – Patron of Sailors and Riders – Unpredictable and easily angered, but could also be helpful and caring – Brother to Zeus
Hades – Symbol: Scepter – God of metals and gems, and the dead – Lord of the Underworld – Patron of Miners and the Dying – Quiet and passive, more concerned with maintaining the balance between the living and the dead than with Earthly affairs – Husband to Persephone and Brother to Zeus
Demeter – Symbol: Wheat – Goddess of harvest and motherhood (including Childbirth) – Queen of the Earth – Matron of Farmers and Mothers – Gentle and caring, but serious – Mother of Persephone
Ares – Symbol: War Dog – God of war and battle – General of the Gods – Patron of Soldiers and Fighters – Violent and aggressive, also a bit of a coward – Son of Zeus and Hera
Athena – Symbol: Owl – Goddess of wisdom and crafts – Scholar of the Gods – Matron to Scholars and Craftsmen – Intelligent and just, wise and gentle, but also a brave warrior – Daughter of Zeus
Hermes – Symbol: Winged Sandals – God of medicine and speech – Messenger of the Gods – Patron to Doctors and Travelers (especially messengers) – Quick and cunning, sometimes mischievous, but overall benevolent – Son of Zeus and Maia
Hephaestus – Symbol: Anvil – God of smithing and volcanoes – Blacksmith of the Gods – Patron to Blacksmiths and Cripples – Lame in one leg, even-tempered and strong – Son of Zeus and Hera, Husband to Aphrodite
Artemis – Symbol: Deer – Goddess of the hunt and wild animals – Huntress of the Gods – Matron to hunters and maidens – fierce and independent, wild and dangerous when angered – Daughter of Zeus and Leto, twin to Apollo
Apollo – Symbol: Golden Lyre – God of music and art – Musician of the Gods – Patron to Artists and Young Men – Vain, but kind, has his father’s weakness for lust, but finds both men and women attractive – Son of Zeus and Let, two to Artemis – Daughter of Zeus and Dione, wife to Hephaestus
Aphrodite – Symbol: Dove – Goddess of love and beauty – Lover of the Gods – Matron to lovers and young women – Vain and jealous, but could also be loving and kind – Daughter of Zeus and Dione
Minor Gods
Dionysis – Symbol: Grapes – wine, pleasure, festivities
Persephone – Symbol: Pomegranate – Seasons, life and death – Wife to Hades
Eris – Symbol: Golden Apple – strife and chaos, bringer of war
Harmonia – Symbol: Necklace – Unity, peace, mediator
Hebe – Symbol: Golden Cup – youth, cupbearer of the gods
Helios – Titan of the Sun
Selene – Titaness of the Moon
Nyx – Night
Hypnos – Sleep
Morpheus – Dreams
Kratos – Strength
Nike – Victory
Bia – Force
Zelus – Zealousy
Nemesis – Enemy
Eros – Sex
Apate – Deceit
Pan – Lord of Satyrs and Silenus
Titans – Primordial gods that were the children of Gaia and Uranus (though some are children of other Titans) they were overthrown by Zeus and his siblings, most being locked in Mount Tartarus as punishment, those that fought with Zeus became minor gods (such as Helios and Selene)
Oceanus – Male – Oceans
Tethys – Female – Rivers
Hyperion – Male – Sky
Theia – Female – Earth
Coeus – Male – Poetry
Phoebe – Female – Prophecy
Cronus – Male – Father/Power
Rhea – Female – Mother/Fertility
Mnemosyne – Female – Memory
Themis – Female – Justice
Crius – Male – Defense
Iapetus – Male – War
Leto – Female – Mother of Artemis and Apollo
Asteria – Female – Falling Stars
Atlas – Male – Carrier of the Earth
Prometheus – Male – Bringer of Fire
Others
The Fates – The Fates spun the Thread of Life for all mortals, deciding who did what, how long they lived, and when they died. They sometimes appear as old women, sometimes young. They could be asked about the future, present, and past, but were not always inclined to do so, and would reportedly eat mortals who annoyed them. They were said to share one eye between them, that could see into the past, present, or future.
Clotho – Spun the Thread
Lachesis – Measured the Thread
Atropos – Cut the Thread
The Graces – The Graces represented and oversaw the charities of humanity
Aglaea – Hope
Euphrosyne – Joy
Thalia – Kindness
The Muses The Muses inspired mortals in all manners of art, appearing to those who were worthy and aiding them in writing poetry, songs, and plays
Calliope – Epic Poetry
Clio – History
Euterpe – Music
Thalia – Comedy and Pastoral Poetry
Melpomene – Tragedy and Effigies
Terpsichore – Dance
Erato – Love Poetry
Polyhymnia – Sacred Poety
Urania – Astronomy
The Gorgons The Gorgon sisters were the daughters of the sea monster Ceto and the primordial god of dangers of the ocean, Phorcys. The guarded the base of Mount Olympus, keeping mortals from approaching, and were beautiful but fierce warriors. They were cursed when the youngest sister, Medusa, was raped by Poseidon in the temple of Athena, which angered the goddess. She cursed Medusa and turned her into a monster, and then cursed her sisters when they defended her. They are described as having the torso and heads of women, with the tail of a snake and snakes in their hair.
Stetheno – The eldest sister, and most fierce warrior of the three, immortal but could not turn people to stone with her gaze
Euryale – Middle sister, the most cunning, immortal but could not turn people to stone with her gaze
Medusa – Youngest sister, the most beautiful, was not immortal like her sisters, but could turn people to stone with her gaze
The Furies – The Furies punished those who committed crimes against the laws of the gods, especially murdering one’s own family members. They are described as winged women carrying spears.
Alecto
Megaera
Tisiphone
Heroes – Ancient Greece was filled with many Heroes, whether they be leaders, scholars, warriors, or inventors.
-Heracles – Demi God son of Zeus and Alcmene – Strongest man in Greece, and a great warrior, he was most famous for his Twelve Labors, and was hated by Hera
-Odysseus – Kind of Ithaca – a great king and warrior, famed for his wits, was cursed by the god Poseidon for his arrogance and spent 16 years trying to get home to Ithaca from Troy
-Achilles –
-Ajax -
-Jason –
-Theseus –
-Perseus –
-Bellerophon –
-Hector –
-Pandora –
-Cassandra –
-Ariadne –
-Medea –
-Orpheus –
-Andromeda –
-Antigone-
-Agememnon-
-Helen –
-Psyche –
-Thetis –
-The Amazons –
-Electra –
-Chiron –
Creatures/Monsters
-Amphisbaena – A snake with two heads, one on each end, sometimes 20 ft long
-Automatons – humans, monsters, or animals crafted out of metal or wood, made to perform a specific task
-Centaur – The torso of a man attached to the body of a horse, Centaur are both savage and wise, they are fierce warriors but also have amazing skills of divination, often sought out to foretell the future and the will of the gods. They are especially fond of wine and partying, but can be prone to fighting when drunk
-Cerberus – A three headed dog that guards the gates to the underworld. Only Hades can command it.
-Charybdis – A sea monster who spawns giant whirlpools
-Chimera – Three headed monster with the foreparts of a lion, the hind parts of a goat, and the tail of snake, it has three heads of the three creatures as well, with the snake head attached to the tail
-Cyclops – Deformed children of titans and monsters, they are large and violent, possessing only one eye
-Dragon – winged serpent-like lizards able to fly and breath fire, fond of hoarding treasure in their caves
-Fauns – Nature spirits with the hind quarters of a goat and the head and torso of a man, often sporting horns as well. They love wine and music and sex, and are wild and unpredictable, though fairly harmless, companions of Pan and Dionysus
-Giant – standing around twenty feet tall, giant human-like creatures that are clever and dangerous
-Gorgons – Creatures with the torsos and heads of a woman, the tail of a snake instead of legs, and snakes for hair. Only the three Gorgon sisters have immortality or the ability to turn beings to stone
-Harpies – ill-tempered creatures with the torso and head of a woman, and the beak, wings, and legs of a bird. They feed on the dead and carry of those to be imprisoned in Mount Tatarus
-Hippocampus – sea creatures with the fore-parts of a horse and the tails of fish
-Manticore – Monster with a human face, body of a lion, and the tail of scorpion
-Minotaur – monster with the torso of a man, and the head and legs of a bull
-Nymphs – Nature spirits who inhabit streams, rivers, forests, fields, mountains, swamps, the sea, and every other natural formation. They often resemble their environment and are very beautiful. There are three types; Dryads (who live on land), Naiads (fresh water nymphs of rivers and lakes), and Nereids (Nymphs of the sea and ocean). There are many subtypes of these three. Nymphs are often the daughters of nature gods.
-Lamia – small vampiric creatures who prey on children
-Hydra – Many headed serpent-like creature, often found in lakes or cave
-Orthus – Offspring of Cerberus, they possess two dog or wolf heads, and the tail of a snake or dragon
-Pegasus – Winged horses, more intelligent than the average horse and difficult to tame
-Phoenix – golden birds that can set themselves afire when threatened, they are wise and immortal, bursting into flames and then rising from the ashes reborn
-Silenus – Creatures with the torsos of a man or woman and the hind quarters of a deer, often have antlers, shy and elusive
-Sirens – Beautiful women with the wings of birds and the tails of fish, they often live on islands and lure sailors to their death with their beautiful voices
-Sphinx – A creature with the body of a lion and the head of a man or woman, very wise but dangerous, will answer questions in exchange for answering their riddles. But they will kill you if you answer wrong
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The air Damokles breathed was humid and thick with the scent of incense, offerings to the gods to please them, the smoke and the steam from the natural spring that bubble in the middle of the room made everything look hazy. The gauzy, opaque drapes that hung everywhere, did not help. He could occasionally see figures moving behind them, only able to make out the outline of their bodies. He felt naked without his sword on his hip, but weapons were not permitted when you came to see one of the Oracles.
The one that had come to answer his question was sitting across one of the bubbling springs from him. She was shrouded, from head to toe, by the same material that hung from the walls and ceilings, so that he could just make out her shape against the back light of a lantern, but nothing else. Her features were hidden from him. Her shroud was a soft red color, and it seemed to glow against the light of the lantern. “What knowledge do you seek from the gods?” She asked suddenly. Her voice was soft, if a bit hoarse, and though she barely spoke above a whisper, he heard her as if she were sitting right beside him.
Damokles licked his lips and tried not to look nervous. He was a devoted believer in the gods, which was exactly why he never involved himself in these sorts of things. He was not an overly superstitious man, and paid the gods their dues to be spared their wrath, but he did not seek them out for help or answers or favors. Until now that is. “I wish to know, what my child's destiny is,” he told the Oracle. A rather vague request, and a big one at that, wanting to know his son's future, but he had felt the burning desire to know since he'd held the wailing babe in his arms.
The Oracle quirked her head to one side, as if she heard something, and reached over, grabbing a hand full of some strange, blue dirt, and tossed it into the spring. It boiled and frothed a hundred different colors, and smoke rose, thick and colorful. “Brave Damokles, faithful servant to the gods, and warrior of Sparta,” The Oracle's voice was clear and strong. How did she know his name? And who he was? Damokles closed his eyes and sent a silent prayer to Ares to protect him from any witch craft she might cast on him. “You have given much for your country, and the gods, and asked for little in return. So now, I will grant your request,” she informed him. Despite hoe unnerving this all was, Damokles was relieved.
The colorful smoke began to swirl and dancing, seeming to take on shapes he couldn't quite recognized. “A great destiny awaits your child,” shivers ran up Damokles spine, it was not the Oracle's voice that spoke, but a hundred voices at once, whispering to him from inside his head, “Great glory and honor, for all of Sparta, will be delivered by your child's hands. The fallen queen will be restored, and the gods will praise her.” Damokles had been smiling, but it faltered and fell away at that last word. “Her?” He asked, blinking stupidly, “You must be mistaken, my child is a boy.” “WE ARE NEVER MISTAKEN.” Damokles fell back with his hands over his ears, eyes wide as the voices shouted in unified outrage. The smoke began to dissipate, he could see the Oracle again. “It is not your son that will bring glory to Sparta, Damokles,” She told him, “But your daughter. Guide her, prepare her, the gods have willed it, and you must obey.”
Gods and Goddesses
The Pantheon – The most powerful gods, they are neither good nor evil, being just as selfish and near sighted as mortal at times
Zeus – Symbol: Lightning Bolt – God of the sky and weather – King of the Gods – Patron of Kings and Men – A vain and proud womanizer, but also a caring father and wise ruler – Husband to Hera
Hera – Symbol: Peacock – Goddess of marriage and revenge – Queen of the Gods – Matron of Queens and Wives – A jealous and vengeful goddess, she often punished the lovers of her husband, and mortals who crossed her, but she would also help mortals she deemed worthy – Wife to Zeus
Poseidon – Symbol: Trident – God of the sea and of horses – King of the Seas – Patron of Sailors and Riders – Unpredictable and easily angered, but could also be helpful and caring – Brother to Zeus
Hades – Symbol: Scepter – God of metals and gems, and the dead – Lord of the Underworld – Patron of Miners and the Dying – Quiet and passive, more concerned with maintaining the balance between the living and the dead than with Earthly affairs – Husband to Persephone and Brother to Zeus
Demeter – Symbol: Wheat – Goddess of harvest and motherhood (including Childbirth) – Queen of the Earth – Matron of Farmers and Mothers – Gentle and caring, but serious – Mother of Persephone
Ares – Symbol: War Dog – God of war and battle – General of the Gods – Patron of Soldiers and Fighters – Violent and aggressive, also a bit of a coward – Son of Zeus and Hera
Athena – Symbol: Owl – Goddess of wisdom and crafts – Scholar of the Gods – Matron to Scholars and Craftsmen – Intelligent and just, wise and gentle, but also a brave warrior – Daughter of Zeus
Hermes – Symbol: Winged Sandals – God of medicine and speech – Messenger of the Gods – Patron to Doctors and Travelers (especially messengers) – Quick and cunning, sometimes mischievous, but overall benevolent – Son of Zeus and Maia
Hephaestus – Symbol: Anvil – God of smithing and volcanoes – Blacksmith of the Gods – Patron to Blacksmiths and Cripples – Lame in one leg, even-tempered and strong – Son of Zeus and Hera, Husband to Aphrodite
Artemis – Symbol: Deer – Goddess of the hunt and wild animals – Huntress of the Gods – Matron to hunters and maidens – fierce and independent, wild and dangerous when angered – Daughter of Zeus and Leto, twin to Apollo
Apollo – Symbol: Golden Lyre – God of music and art – Musician of the Gods – Patron to Artists and Young Men – Vain, but kind, has his father’s weakness for lust, but finds both men and women attractive – Son of Zeus and Let, two to Artemis – Daughter of Zeus and Dione, wife to Hephaestus
Aphrodite – Symbol: Dove – Goddess of love and beauty – Lover of the Gods – Matron to lovers and young women – Vain and jealous, but could also be loving and kind – Daughter of Zeus and Dione
Minor Gods
Dionysis – Symbol: Grapes – wine, pleasure, festivities
Persephone – Symbol: Pomegranate – Seasons, life and death – Wife to Hades
Eris – Symbol: Golden Apple – strife and chaos, bringer of war
Harmonia – Symbol: Necklace – Unity, peace, mediator
Hebe – Symbol: Golden Cup – youth, cupbearer of the gods
Helios – Titan of the Sun
Selene – Titaness of the Moon
Nyx – Night
Hypnos – Sleep
Morpheus – Dreams
Kratos – Strength
Nike – Victory
Bia – Force
Zelus – Zealousy
Nemesis – Enemy
Eros – Sex
Apate – Deceit
Pan – Lord of Satyrs and Silenus
Titans – Primordial gods that were the children of Gaia and Uranus (though some are children of other Titans) they were overthrown by Zeus and his siblings, most being locked in Mount Tartarus as punishment, those that fought with Zeus became minor gods (such as Helios and Selene)
Oceanus – Male – Oceans
Tethys – Female – Rivers
Hyperion – Male – Sky
Theia – Female – Earth
Coeus – Male – Poetry
Phoebe – Female – Prophecy
Cronus – Male – Father/Power
Rhea – Female – Mother/Fertility
Mnemosyne – Female – Memory
Themis – Female – Justice
Crius – Male – Defense
Iapetus – Male – War
Leto – Female – Mother of Artemis and Apollo
Asteria – Female – Falling Stars
Atlas – Male – Carrier of the Earth
Prometheus – Male – Bringer of Fire
Others
The Fates – The Fates spun the Thread of Life for all mortals, deciding who did what, how long they lived, and when they died. They sometimes appear as old women, sometimes young. They could be asked about the future, present, and past, but were not always inclined to do so, and would reportedly eat mortals who annoyed them. They were said to share one eye between them, that could see into the past, present, or future.
Clotho – Spun the Thread
Lachesis – Measured the Thread
Atropos – Cut the Thread
The Graces – The Graces represented and oversaw the charities of humanity
Aglaea – Hope
Euphrosyne – Joy
Thalia – Kindness
The Muses The Muses inspired mortals in all manners of art, appearing to those who were worthy and aiding them in writing poetry, songs, and plays
Calliope – Epic Poetry
Clio – History
Euterpe – Music
Thalia – Comedy and Pastoral Poetry
Melpomene – Tragedy and Effigies
Terpsichore – Dance
Erato – Love Poetry
Polyhymnia – Sacred Poety
Urania – Astronomy
The Gorgons The Gorgon sisters were the daughters of the sea monster Ceto and the primordial god of dangers of the ocean, Phorcys. The guarded the base of Mount Olympus, keeping mortals from approaching, and were beautiful but fierce warriors. They were cursed when the youngest sister, Medusa, was raped by Poseidon in the temple of Athena, which angered the goddess. She cursed Medusa and turned her into a monster, and then cursed her sisters when they defended her. They are described as having the torso and heads of women, with the tail of a snake and snakes in their hair.
Stetheno – The eldest sister, and most fierce warrior of the three, immortal but could not turn people to stone with her gaze
Euryale – Middle sister, the most cunning, immortal but could not turn people to stone with her gaze
Medusa – Youngest sister, the most beautiful, was not immortal like her sisters, but could turn people to stone with her gaze
The Furies – The Furies punished those who committed crimes against the laws of the gods, especially murdering one’s own family members. They are described as winged women carrying spears.
Alecto
Megaera
Tisiphone
Heroes – Ancient Greece was filled with many Heroes, whether they be leaders, scholars, warriors, or inventors.
-Heracles – Demi God son of Zeus and Alcmene – Strongest man in Greece, and a great warrior, he was most famous for his Twelve Labors, and was hated by Hera
-Odysseus – Kind of Ithaca – a great king and warrior, famed for his wits, was cursed by the god Poseidon for his arrogance and spent 16 years trying to get home to Ithaca from Troy
-Achilles –
-Ajax -
-Jason –
-Theseus –
-Perseus –
-Bellerophon –
-Hector –
-Pandora –
-Cassandra –
-Ariadne –
-Medea –
-Orpheus –
-Andromeda –
-Antigone-
-Agememnon-
-Helen –
-Psyche –
-Thetis –
-The Amazons –
-Electra –
-Chiron –
Creatures/Monsters
-Amphisbaena – A snake with two heads, one on each end, sometimes 20 ft long
-Automatons – humans, monsters, or animals crafted out of metal or wood, made to perform a specific task
-Centaur – The torso of a man attached to the body of a horse, Centaur are both savage and wise, they are fierce warriors but also have amazing skills of divination, often sought out to foretell the future and the will of the gods. They are especially fond of wine and partying, but can be prone to fighting when drunk
-Cerberus – A three headed dog that guards the gates to the underworld. Only Hades can command it.
-Charybdis – A sea monster who spawns giant whirlpools
-Chimera – Three headed monster with the foreparts of a lion, the hind parts of a goat, and the tail of snake, it has three heads of the three creatures as well, with the snake head attached to the tail
-Cyclops – Deformed children of titans and monsters, they are large and violent, possessing only one eye
-Dragon – winged serpent-like lizards able to fly and breath fire, fond of hoarding treasure in their caves
-Fauns – Nature spirits with the hind quarters of a goat and the head and torso of a man, often sporting horns as well. They love wine and music and sex, and are wild and unpredictable, though fairly harmless, companions of Pan and Dionysus
-Giant – standing around twenty feet tall, giant human-like creatures that are clever and dangerous
-Gorgons – Creatures with the torsos and heads of a woman, the tail of a snake instead of legs, and snakes for hair. Only the three Gorgon sisters have immortality or the ability to turn beings to stone
-Harpies – ill-tempered creatures with the torso and head of a woman, and the beak, wings, and legs of a bird. They feed on the dead and carry of those to be imprisoned in Mount Tatarus
-Hippocampus – sea creatures with the fore-parts of a horse and the tails of fish
-Manticore – Monster with a human face, body of a lion, and the tail of scorpion
-Minotaur – monster with the torso of a man, and the head and legs of a bull
-Nymphs – Nature spirits who inhabit streams, rivers, forests, fields, mountains, swamps, the sea, and every other natural formation. They often resemble their environment and are very beautiful. There are three types; Dryads (who live on land), Naiads (fresh water nymphs of rivers and lakes), and Nereids (Nymphs of the sea and ocean). There are many subtypes of these three. Nymphs are often the daughters of nature gods.
-Lamia – small vampiric creatures who prey on children
-Hydra – Many headed serpent-like creature, often found in lakes or cave
-Orthus – Offspring of Cerberus, they possess two dog or wolf heads, and the tail of a snake or dragon
-Pegasus – Winged horses, more intelligent than the average horse and difficult to tame
-Phoenix – golden birds that can set themselves afire when threatened, they are wise and immortal, bursting into flames and then rising from the ashes reborn
-Silenus – Creatures with the torsos of a man or woman and the hind quarters of a deer, often have antlers, shy and elusive
-Sirens – Beautiful women with the wings of birds and the tails of fish, they often live on islands and lure sailors to their death with their beautiful voices
-Sphinx – A creature with the body of a lion and the head of a man or woman, very wise but dangerous, will answer questions in exchange for answering their riddles. But they will kill you if you answer wrong
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The air Damokles breathed was humid and thick with the scent of incense, offerings to the gods to please them, the smoke and the steam from the natural spring that bubble in the middle of the room made everything look hazy. The gauzy, opaque drapes that hung everywhere, did not help. He could occasionally see figures moving behind them, only able to make out the outline of their bodies. He felt naked without his sword on his hip, but weapons were not permitted when you came to see one of the Oracles.
The one that had come to answer his question was sitting across one of the bubbling springs from him. She was shrouded, from head to toe, by the same material that hung from the walls and ceilings, so that he could just make out her shape against the back light of a lantern, but nothing else. Her features were hidden from him. Her shroud was a soft red color, and it seemed to glow against the light of the lantern. “What knowledge do you seek from the gods?” She asked suddenly. Her voice was soft, if a bit hoarse, and though she barely spoke above a whisper, he heard her as if she were sitting right beside him.
Damokles licked his lips and tried not to look nervous. He was a devoted believer in the gods, which was exactly why he never involved himself in these sorts of things. He was not an overly superstitious man, and paid the gods their dues to be spared their wrath, but he did not seek them out for help or answers or favors. Until now that is. “I wish to know, what my child's destiny is,” he told the Oracle. A rather vague request, and a big one at that, wanting to know his son's future, but he had felt the burning desire to know since he'd held the wailing babe in his arms.
The Oracle quirked her head to one side, as if she heard something, and reached over, grabbing a hand full of some strange, blue dirt, and tossed it into the spring. It boiled and frothed a hundred different colors, and smoke rose, thick and colorful. “Brave Damokles, faithful servant to the gods, and warrior of Sparta,” The Oracle's voice was clear and strong. How did she know his name? And who he was? Damokles closed his eyes and sent a silent prayer to Ares to protect him from any witch craft she might cast on him. “You have given much for your country, and the gods, and asked for little in return. So now, I will grant your request,” she informed him. Despite hoe unnerving this all was, Damokles was relieved.
The colorful smoke began to swirl and dancing, seeming to take on shapes he couldn't quite recognized. “A great destiny awaits your child,” shivers ran up Damokles spine, it was not the Oracle's voice that spoke, but a hundred voices at once, whispering to him from inside his head, “Great glory and honor, for all of Sparta, will be delivered by your child's hands. The fallen queen will be restored, and the gods will praise her.” Damokles had been smiling, but it faltered and fell away at that last word. “Her?” He asked, blinking stupidly, “You must be mistaken, my child is a boy.” “WE ARE NEVER MISTAKEN.” Damokles fell back with his hands over his ears, eyes wide as the voices shouted in unified outrage. The smoke began to dissipate, he could see the Oracle again. “It is not your son that will bring glory to Sparta, Damokles,” She told him, “But your daughter. Guide her, prepare her, the gods have willed it, and you must obey.”
