Ch.6: "Bob Oracle's Inferno" / The Underworld

[tbgg]

Ch.6: "Bob Oracle's Inferno" / The Underworld

Kell smiles at Alala, "That's good to know - I'm starting to think Athena might be a good choice for me. But why would you pray to Hera regarding Queen Hippolyta?"

"As for us nymphs, we hatch from eggs and there are no male nymphs, but we often marry humans. Thank you for saying I'm pretty, but I'm only average-looking compared to other nymphs. I have recently met a human man named Vin who I think might be the one I'm going to marry. He agreed to travel with us, but we had to leave him behind when we went to Sardis Forest. Nymphs can even have children with a human man, though we can only get pregnant once, the first time we make love, although many nymphs destroy their one egg when young because they want to sleep around. And you're not making me uncomfortable."

"As for Hera, the sensitive business we have with her has to do with getting her out of Zeus' clutches long enough she can start to heal from Zeus' abuses and decide what SHE really wants. I have a really awesome vision of what she might become, but I hate to share it in case she decides it's not what she wants. At the very least, we're going to try to persuade her to stop punishing Zeus' conquests. If she became anything close to the vision I have in mind, I might be in your same shoes, unable to choose between Hera and Athena." Her smile turns rueful. "I wonder if it bothers the gods when our loyalties are torn in this way?"





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[Legendary Sidekick]

"Oh…"

Alala seems disappointed with the truth of Hera's marriage. She listens intently as Kell elaborates.

"Well, I think as a queen, Hera might understand how a queen should act. Maybe she stays in a loveless marriage to show us mortals when our own lives are a mess, things could be worse? I don't know. Just thinking aloud.

"Oh, but you say… first time? For a lot of my sisters, the wedding night isn't the first time. Queen Hippolyta discourages marriage, actually. She says we meet men to make babies, so some of my sisters go on manhunts. I was invited to one when I was seventeen, and I prayed to Athena.

"Well, I'm not you. I don't get invited to Olympian homes and visit the Underworld." She says it with a smile. There isn't even a hint of envy in her words. "Oh, but I know Athena answered my prayer that night!

"Daphne said I'd enjoy the manhunts. A tall girl like me would find a tall man, and… she kept pushing the idea, so I agreed to go, but I went to an Athenian temple first. Sister Philothei must've heard me praying aloud—I always pray silently, but I guess that night was an exception—she heard everything. The nun introduced herself as a fellow virgin in a virgin's temple. I thought that was a bit personal, but… I never did go on any manhunts. I guess Athena didn't marry as a way of leading by example: not to marry or even mate unless you're sure it's a wise move.

"And Hera leads by example too: she sticks out her marriage no matter what. So if I follow both goddesses, I better make sure I'm damn sure Saboath is my Mr. Right! Right?"

Relaxing a bit she says, "I hope the goddesses don't mind me following both at once, because I'm still torn between the two. I don't know what vision you have in mind for Hera, but if you can really convince her to come here to marry the likes of me, I'll bet you can talk her into just about anything."

…

She looks at Kell inquisitively, but she seems hesitant. (That, or she's finally letting you get a word in!)

 

[tbgg]

Kell shrugs at the mention of hanging out with Olympians. "Hanging out with Olympians isn't all fun and glamor. While we *were* lucky enough to attend a glamorous impromptu wedding at a god's home, there are dangerous things going on that we're trying to help sort out. The last Olympian home we were at was attacked and part of the home destroyed. Before we arrived there, I nearly died. In fact, the reason we went to that home in the first place was to save my life. Trust me, you don't want something like that to be the reason you're invited."

"If you'd care to hold on a moment, I might be able to get an answer to you question about serving multiple gods."

Concentrating, she quickly thinks to Helix, 'Hey, sidekick, is there any chance you can find out how the average Olympian feels about having followers who feel drawn to serve two gods? Specifically, we're talking Athena and Hera, but if it will save time, just ask Aphrodite how she'd feel. A quick answer would be appreciated even if it's just off the cuff.'

Then she turns back to Alala. "Now we wait."


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[Legendary Sidekick]

Helix replies, I kinda learned about all this worshipping stuff from Aphrodite. She ain't the jealous type. But I think most Olympians are fine with mortals turning to different Olympians for different reasons.

Even Zeus has his moments where he just wants to be revered as king, but he expects hunters to turn to Artemis and Apollo, warriors to turn to Ares and Athena, lovers to turn to Aphrodite and Hera, and so on.

Hope that helps!

 

[tbgg]

Ch.6: "Bob Oracle's Inferno" / The Underworld

Kell nods slightly, then looks at Alala and says, "Apparently, it's not an issue, not for most of the Immortals. I don't know about you, but I feel better knowing that. I'd hate for whichever one I picked to feel I was being disloyal. That could get...painful."

She thinks to Helix, 'Thank you!'

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[Legendary Sidekick]

Alala is clearly grateful about the arrangements being made on her behalf. She assures Kell she'll wait to hear back from her—"Or Hera if she really…" The amazon giggles in anticipative delight, then adds, "We've got all eternity, so I promise you Saboath and I will wait!"

Hades keeps his distance, letting you wrap up the discussion if you haven't already done so. Bob is with him, and so is Icarus. It seems Hades is ready to move on, but then, his neutral expression is hard to read. For all you know, he might make the same face while watching the sun set (which, incidentally, will soon occur in his realm for the very first time).

 

[Ireth]

Sigrlinn is ready to move on as well, and waits for Kell to finish speaking with the Amazons. Now that she's down here, she's growing more and more curious about what the underworld holds, even aside from all the dead people.

 

[tbgg]

Kell tells Alala, "Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Now we have some other business to attend to, so I'm afraid I need to excuse myself. But it was lovely talking to you and with any luck, we'll be able to return for your wedding, if you'll allow us the honor."

She gives Alala a moment to respond, then regardless whether a response is given, gives a final wave and steps over to Icarus and Daedalus. Remembering Hades' request to allow Daedalus be the one to bring up his own demise, she smiles at Icarus and says, "It is good to see you caught up with your dad, although I could wish it were under much different circumstances." She then raises her gaze to look at Daedalus, and allows the smile to fade from her lips. It just doesn't seem right to her to smile at someone she killed, even if it *was* a matter of defending a friend's life. Unlike Zeus and many of those allied with him, she kills only for necessity, not pleasure or power, and she has no idea what sort of person Daedalus is. Maybe she could even have been his friend in life had circumstances been different. Gnawing her lip nervously, she waits for either Icarus or Daedalus to reply.


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[Legendary Sidekick]

Daedalus doesn't seem prepared to face his killer, but he says calmly, "I see you don't hold my actions against my son. Thank you for that."

He adds with a sigh, "I suppose my own mortal remains were used to create his body. I'm not sure if I was expected to survive this deal. Knowing I could bring my son back made me lose sight of... everything else. I never even asked if that knife could really take an Olympian's soul. I just... stuck to a plan."

Icarus says, "I told dad Heph is okay now. And you saved the spider lady." The boy smiles at his father. "Now she's a robot!"

Daedalus ruffles his son's hair. "I guess with Apollo here, I can still be his priest. But what about you?"

The winged man goes from Apollo to 'you' in the same breath. He seems to assume you know what the connection is, and is very curious about your answer. He seems genuinely concerned.

 

[tbgg]

Kell tilts her head curiously at Daedalus, then chuckles. "Me? I'm not a priestess, of Apollo or any of the other gods, either. I'm just a nymph who hasn't yet decided what god she wants to serve. And one who doesn't hold the actions of the father against the son. There's too much of that kind of thing as there is."

She then tells him, "I'm sorry about sending you here. If I'd understood you were just trying to help your son so you could be together, I might have tried harder to disable you instead of killing you. Heph is my friend. I saw you attacking him and I just...reacted to defend him. I'm not sure what the plans for your son are, but I feel I owe you a debt. If he returns to the mortal world, I will see he is cared for, since it is my fault he is without his father. Is his mother still alive, or are there relatives who would take him in? If there is no one, well, we know someplace safe he can stay. We are bounty hunters, and our work is dangerous. It's not a good thing to expose a child to, but fortunately, we have friends, and there is another child we share the care of, and our friends are known for taking in strays." She gives a wry chuckle. "That's pretty much how we met them - they took US in."


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[Legendary Sidekick]

"I'm at peace with what happened," Daedalus replies. "Icarus rather liked Hephaestus, so… frankly, I'm glad you managed to rescue him. And Apollo is at peace with his consequence as well. It's hard to explain, I suppose. But… I never thought…"

The man seems bewildered by something—but then his eyes widen with dawning understanding.

"I suppose you hadn't thought of… well, no. Why would you? You're not a priest of Apollo, as you said. So you wouldn't really think about it, would you?"

It might come off as a funny response. If you're not thinking about it, as the priest said, you might not know what the pronoun refers to. He's probably about to explain, but he hesitates—either because he's fishing for the right words, or letting you get a word in…

 

[tbgg]

Furrowing her brow, Kell tells Daedalus, "I'm afraid I really have no idea what you are talking about. Apollo is not a god whom I've felt drawn to, so I am unaware of his specialties, aside from the sun."


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[Legendary Sidekick]

"The sun! Yes," Daedalus replies. "And Apollo is here now, making it sunny here…"​

 

[tbgg]

Kell tilts her head again, eyes narrowing in thought. "Meaning it's likely NOT sunny in the mortal realm during normal daylight hours?"

She finds herself thinking of Vin and wondering how the darkness might be affecting his mission with Buck. 'No, Kell, focus,' she tells herself. 'There will be time for that later.'


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[Legendary Sidekick]

"Exactly," says Daedalus. "Apollo gave light to Helios. Now he's here, and the sunlight came with him. From what I've heard, the souls here in the underworld are quite happy with this change. My god—and you and your friends who defeated Apollo—all deserve credit for this.

"I suppose this is partly why I find myself at peace with how it all turned out. I did a terrible thing, but my son lives, Hephaestus lives, and I bear witness to a great change in the Underworld. Eternal darkness exchanged for eternal light!

"As for the Overworld, I believe there should be about six, maybe seven or eight hours left in the night. After that, people will notice the sun does not rise."

 

[Ireth]

Sigrlinn winces slightly at the thought of the sun not rising in the Overworld. "What will happen then? Without the sun, how will the world get enough light to live and grow? Will the moon be enough, or...?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"The moon reflects the light of the sun," Daedalus starts. But then he says, "Or maybe it doesn't. I'm a solar priest, so my beliefs may be biased. I'm sure a lunar nun would tell you Artemis' wake blazes Apollo's trail."

Icarus asks his father, "Am I gonna freeze or starve without the sun?"

"You cannot survive without the heat or light of the sun. But what the world lost is Apollo's mortal form. Olympians only have jurisdiction in the west. There are other suns, and there are other Olympians. I don't know if any aside from Apollo could dream up a second sun, but as I said, I only know Apollo's awesomeness."

 

[tbgg]

Kell tells Daedalus, "This sounds like something Sigrlinn and I need to speak further with Hades and Apollo about. It suggests certain...tactical advantages...it might be possible to take advantage of."

She then glances at Icarus, but asks Daedalus, "What are your plans for your son? We still need to know if our help is even needed to care for him once we return above."


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[Legendary Sidekick]

Daedalus says, "To be completely honest, I was so preoccupied with how the west would deal with the lack of a sun, I failed to consider my own son."

Icarus looks at his father as if to say, thanks a lot, Dad!

"I mean… I was just happy to give him a second chance at life."

The winged boy turns to you. "Do you think Hephaestus would let me crash at his place? Just for a while, I mean?"

 

[Ireth]

"I don't think it could hurt to ask," says Sigrlinn. "But that's up to Heph, and it might have to wait until we get back there."