posted 16 August 2007 08:09 AM EDT (US)
Jason was the son of the king of Iolcus. His uncle Pelias had stolen the throne. Jason's mother took him to Chiron to keep him safe from his uncle. Chiron taught him many things. Hera was mad at Pelias for not honoring her. She wanted to get back at him, so she decided to use Jason. She took the form of an old woman to test him. She asked to get across a river, and Jason agreed. He brought her across the water and lost his sandel. Pelias went to an oracle, and the oracle told him to beware of a man wearing one sandel. Anyway, Pelias told Jason that a true hero would go after the golden flece. So Jason packed his bags, and got a ship and crew of heros. The shipmaker, Argus, named it after himself, the Argo. Some famous crew abourd the Argo wer Heracles and Atalanta. One one island they stopped on, there were creatures called Harpies. These half woman half bird creatures prevented the king of that land, Phineus, from eating. Some of Jason's crew scared them away. As thanks, Phineus told them about the rocks that close on ships. Jason sent a bird out to the rocks to make them close prematurely. They passed through. The golden flece was in the possesion of the king of Colchis, Aeetes. Aeetes refused to give him the fleece, but Aphroditie made Medea, Aeetes' daughter, fall for Jason. She convenced her dad to let Jason have the fleece. Aeetes said he would give it to Jason only if he would harness the bulls in the field, plow the field, sow it, and reap it in a single day. The bulls feet were made of brass that was able to rip through man's flesh, and they could breath fire. Medea, who was a sorceress, so she made him able to withstand brass, and made him fire-proof. He plowed the field, but every time he dropped a seed into the ground, it would sprout up as a warrior with a sword and shield. Jason and his crew, called the Argonauts because of the name of the ship, fought these warriors, and Medea helped them. When night came, and Jason did what he promised, Aeetes had to say that he would give Jason the golden fleece, but he still had no intention of giving it to Jason. Late at night, Medea took Jason to the tree the golden fleece was hanging on, which was guarded by a dragon. Medea put a sleeping spell on it, and Jason took the fleece. He sailed back to Iolcus, were Pelias had to give him back the throne. Jason left Medea for another princess. And he lived happily ever after.
Odysseus took part in the Trojan War as commander. He started to set sail for home. He visited the island of the Lotus Eaters. Some men ate the plant, and didn't want to go, so they were carried off by force. Next, they went to an island, and found a cave where there was a pen full of goats. The goat hearder was a cyclops though, and he ate two of Odysseus's men. They escaped from him by hiding under the goats, and gougeing out his eye. Next they met the Keeper of the Winds. He gave Odysseus a leather bag. The crew opened it, and a hurricane appeared. It blew them all the way back to where they started. They ended up getting attacked by the Laestrygonians who were giants that eat some of Odysseus's crew and attacked them with boulders. Next they put in at the island of Circe. Odysseus's crew were turned into pigs, but Hermes had given Odysseus an herb that prevented him from being turned into a pig. Odysseus had to talk to Tiresias, a dead blind prophet that was killed in Troy. The souls of the dead could not talk unless they had drank blood. Odysseus sacrificed a lamb, and Tiresias drank the blood. He gave Odysseus warnings about what would come on his journey home, and how he could gain a happy death when he died. Next they came to the Sirens, whoose singing lured sailors to their doom, by making them steer into the rocks. Next they encountered the Scylla, who ate their crew. The crew sacrificed Zeus's cattle, so he sent a thunderbolt that destroyed the ship. Odysseus was the only one who survived. In his home though, there were many suitors for his wife Penelope. Everyone thought that Odysseus had died in the Trojan War. Telemachus, Odysseus's son, went looking for his father, and found out that Odysseus was being held captive by Calypso(no, not the person on Pirates of the Carrabiean). Telemachus asked Zeus for help. Zeus demanded that Odysseus be let go, and Calypso let him go. When he left the island, Poseidon made a huge storm, and destroyed Odysseus's raft. Odysseus barly stayed alive. He saw princess Nausicaa of the Phaeacians frolicking in the river. She told him how to get help from the king in getting home. He brought a gift to the queen, and the king promised to help him get home. Odysseus told him everything that had happened to him so far. The king had Odysseus taken to Ithaca (his homeland). Athena disguised him as an old man. Athena told Odysseus to find his swineherd, i.e. person who herds and takes care of pigs for him. Eumaeus, the swineherd, welcomed Odysseus, disguised as an old man, into his house. Odysseus didn't reveal his identity. Athena told Telemachus, Odysseus's son how to avoid the suitors. He went to Eumaus. Athena restored Odysseus's original appereance. They plot to get rid of the suitors. Odysseus, disguised as a begger again goes to the suiters. He beggs from them, and they refuse to give anything. A real begger shows up and threatens Odysseus. Odysseus starts a fight, and breaks the beggers jaw. Penelope takes kindly to him, even without knowing that it is him, and tells her maid, Eurycleia to take care of him. Eurycleia recognizes him, but Odysseus tells her not to tell anyone. A phrophet has a vison, and tells the suiters that they will be killed. Odysseus and his son Telemachus kill the suitors. The suitor's family tries to start a fight, but Athena interviens, and tells them to live in peace.
Heracles, know as Hercules by the Romans, was the son of Zeus. I will be calling him Hercules in this. Hera, Zeus's wife was very mad at Zeus, so she tried to kill Hercules by sending two snakes after him. Hercules strangled the snakes and played with them. When Hercules grew up, Hera drove him mad, and made him kill his own children. As punishment, he was made to do the 12 Labors. His uncle Eurystheus was the one that told him what the labors where that he was going to do.
1. Kill the Nemean Lion- Spears and arrows could not hurt the Lion. Hercules killed it with his bare hands. He wears the skin of the Nemean Lion as a cloak, and its jaws as a helmet.
2. Kill the Hydra- The Hydra, of corse, grew a new head every time one was chopped off. If you smelled the hydra, you would automatically die. The Hydra called the Cracanos to help it in the fight against Hercules. Hercules called his nephew Iolaus to assist in the fight. Every time Hercules chopped of a head of the Hydra, Iolaus would seal that head with fire, so Hercules killed the Hydra.
3. Capture the Cerynitian Hind- This was a female deer that was very quick. Hercules shot an arrow between the tendons and bones of the two forelegs, which pinned it down without drawing blood.
4. Capture the Erymanthian Boar- Hercules chased it into the snow, making it freeze, and he carryed it back.
5. Clean out the stables of King Augeas in a single day- He made two rivers flow through the stable.
6. Kill the Stymphalian Birds- These birds feasted on human flesh. Hercules mad a lot of noise to scare the birds into the air, and than he just shot them down with his arrows.
7. Get rid of the Minotaur- Hercules sent it away from Crete, and Theseus had a little adventure with this creature, but that is another story...
8. Capture the Mares of Diomedes- These Mares ate unwitting travalers. Hercules rounded them up.
9. Capture the belt of Hippolyte- Hippolyte gave Hercules the belt, but Hera made a battle go on, and Hercules escaped with the belt.
10. Capture the cattle of Geryon- These cattle had three heads, and the watch dog had two heads. Hercules killed the watch dog and Geryon.
11. Capture the apples of the Hesperides- The apples were guarded by a really tall wall and a many-headed dragon. It was near were Atlas was holding up the sky. Hercules couldn't get to the apples without the help of Atlas. Atlas agreed and got the apples, but he realized that it was pretty good not having to hold up the sky. Hercules had to hold it up. Hercules asked him to hold up the sky while he went to get a cushin for his back. Atlas let him go, and Hercules never returned.
12. Capture the guardian of the underworld: Cerberus- Cerberus had three heads, a snake as a tail, and many more snakes growing out of his back. Hercules dragged him back, and he received credit for all of the labors.
Hercules's wife, Deinara, had been attacked by a centaur. Hercules killed the centaur with an arrow. The centaur told Deinara to keep sone of his blood as a "love potion." She did, and put it on Hercules's shirt. She didn't know that the arrow had been poisoned with Hydra venom, so Hercules died in agony.
When Hercules died, he became a god, well half of him. His other half, his mortal half became a shade in the underworld.
Bellerophon was a citizen of Corinth. He had committed a murder, and he could be purified of that murder. So, he went to King Proetus of Tiryns. The King purified him. The king's wife, for lack of a better phrase, "made a pass" at Bellerophon. Bellerophon rejected her, and she told her husband that Bellerophon had "made a pass" at her. King Proetus had revenge by asking Bellerophon to deliver a letter to King Iobates of Lycia. The letter said, "Dear Iobates, please do me a favor and kill the person who hands you this." He couldn't kill Bellerophon because he could not kill a guest as it would violate the rules of hospitality. So instead, he asked Bellerophon to kill the Chimaera. The chimaera had the head of a lion, the middle like a goat, and the tail of a snake. But in some versions, like in AoM, it is the heads of these three with random body parts. He looked at past attempts to kill the Chimaera, and all the attacks were by land. And every one of them had failed. He couldn't attack by sea because the chimaera lived on land. So, he decided to attack by air. Pegasus was the only way. Pegasus was born when Perseus cut of Medusa's head. He asked for advice from the seer, Polyeidus. Polyeidus suggested that Bellerophon should spend the night in Athena's temple. In a dream, Athena gave him a golden bridle. In the morning, Bellerophon found Pegasus at the spring of Peirene. Bellerophon put the bridle on Pegasus's head, which made him tame and rideable. So now Bellerophon thought about what he would use as a weapon. The gods suggested a lump of lead on the end of a spear. Put it in the Chimaera's mouth. When it was melted, it would cause the Chimaera heartburn. Bellerophon killed the beast in this way from the back of Pegasus. Iobates still tried to kill Bellerophon, and sent him to a fierce neighboring tribe, to the Amazons, and sent some of his best soilders after him. Nothing worked! So Iobates gave Bellerophon half of his kingdom, and his daughter's hand in marriage. One day, Bellerophon tried to get to Mount Olympus. Zeus was angered, and caused Pegaus to throw Bellerophon off. He fell a long way, and spent the rest of his life lame and alone, because no one dared to be friendly to him.
Theseus's mother told him that his father had something to give him. He had put it under a boulder, and Theseus could have it, if he could lift the boulder. Under the boulder were things that told Theseus to become a hero. His father was King Aegeus of Athens. He decided to go see his father in Athens. He took the route by sea. Theseus decided to do to bad guys what they did to others. First, he hit Periphetes with Periphetes's own club. Another, Sinis would tie peoples arms to trees, and when they got tired, they would let go, and go flying. Theseus did this to Sinis. Sciron had people wash his feet, than kicked them into the ocean below. Theseus kicked him into the ocean. Procrustes had a house where he offered hospitality. He would offer them a bed that would fit them no matter what. When they got in the bed, Procrustes would either, stretch them out if they were two small, or chop of their legs if they were too big. Theseus did this to Procrustes. When he arrived in Athens, he didn't tell who he was, but he was a celebrated hero for getting rid of bad guys. He was givin a banquet in his honor. Medea was the hostess, the king's new wife, and the same Medea from the Jason story. She was abandoned by Jason, for those who didn't read that story. She had become very bitter. She decided that Thesesus was a threat to her own son becoming king of Athens. Medea convenced her husband to serve Theseus posioned wine. He started to drink, but first, he pulled out his sword to cut his meat. Aegeus recognized the sword, and pushed the wine cup away from Theseus. King Minos had wanted to know if he had gods for parents. He asked Poseidon for a sign. Poseidon gave him a beautiful white bull from the sea. Minos should have sacrificed the bull, but he liked it so much that he didn't. Poseidon, as punishment, made Minos's wife fall in love with the bull. Thus, the minotaur was born. Theseus became one of the fourteen people who would be lunch for the minotaur. Theseus claimed to be a son of Poseidon. Minos said that, if that were true, than the sea gods would sponsor him. Minos threw his ring overboard, and challenged Theseus to get it. He got it. And he was givin a jewelled crown by one of the Nereids, daughters of the old man in the sea. Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos, gave Theseus the golden thread. The Labyrinth was a huge maze that was impossible to navigate. The more people walked around, the more of a chance they would eventually meet the minotaur, who would then devour them. We don't know why people would go in, if they would just simply be pushed in, and the door slammed shut, they would rather cower at the door, instead of go inside. Even if the guards thretened to kill them, they would much rather have the known death than the unknown death. Mabye there was a trap door in the roof, so they could be lowered in. Idk, we just don't know. Theseus used the thread to go through the labrinth. When he found the Minotaur, he killed it with either a sword, club, his bare hands, or one of the minotaur's horns. We don't know that either. In any case, he left the labryinth, and eloped with Ariadne. And, Theseus abandoned Ariadne (big supprise). She was rescued by Dionysus, god of wine and revelry. Dionysus made Ariadne his wife. When Theseus started for home, he forgot the signal that was to be used. A black sail was to be used only if the hostages had died. Theseus forgot this, and didn't put up a different sail. King Aegeus (Theseus's father) killed himself in despair. Theseus was now the king of Athens. On one ocassion he visited the Amazons. One one ocassion, Theseus had been to the Amazons with Heracles when he got the belt. (see my other story) The Amazon's leader came onto the ship with a gift. Theseus than kidnapped her. Thesus met a pirate that was taking Athenian herds. He came to the pirate, who's name was Peirithous. They thought that each other were good men, so they both became friends. Theseus kidnapped Helen, the same Helen of the Trojan War. But, this was before the Trojan War. She was rescued by her brothers, Castor and Pollux. Peirithous had agreed to help Theseus kidnap Helen, but only if Theseus would help him kidnap Persephone, wife of Hades! So Hades pretended to agree. He told them to take a seat, and when they did, they stuck like glue. Hades tormented them with serpents, furies, and cerberus, plus the waters of Tartarus that receded as someone tried to drink it. Heracles just happened to be passing by, and freed Theseus, but he wouldn't free Peirithous, so he sat there until he died.
Hippolyta was queen of the Amazons. The amazons were women warriors. They were desended from Ares. Sometimes they would meet with men from other nations to produce children, but every time they had a boy, they would kill him. The first mention of Hippolyta was when Heracles gets the belt. You remeber? It started a whole war. Next, she was kidnapped by Theseus. He married her, and they had a son, Hippolytus. But, of course, Theseus dumped her for another girl, Phaedra. Hippolyta was very mad, and she led an attack on Athens and Theseus's marriage. In the fight, she was killed.
Atalanta was abandoned as a baby in the forest, because her father really wanted a boy. She was raised be a bear, and some hunters. She was also the fastest runner ever. She was also on the Argo. She agreed to marry any man that could beat her in a footrace, even though an oracle told her never to get married. One man threw golden apples to distract her, which made her lose the race. They got married, and got a little to wild in the temple of Zeus. Zeus became very angry, and turned them both into lions.
Polyphemus was a son of Poseidon. He is in this game because he was the cyclops that Odysseus and party encountered (see above story about Odysseus). He asked Poseidon for help against Odysseus, and Poseidon agreed, harasing Odysseus with various things.
Ajax was the second greatest hero who fought in the Trojan War. Achilles was the greatest. Ajax also fought Hector in single combat, and neither died, although Hector got many wounds. Also, Ajax wanted the armor of Hector, but Odysseus got it because of his wonderful speaking skills.
Not much to say about Chiron except that he was a tutor to heroes including Theseus and Achilles.
Achilles was dipped in the River Styx as a child, but unfortunatly he was help by his heel, so only that part of him did not become immortal. After an argument with Agamemnon, Achilles refused to fight. Thus, the Trojans started winning. One of Achilles' friends wore his armor trying to inspire the soldiers, but he was killed by Hector. Achilles was enraged, so he killed Hector, and dragged his body around Troy. Paris hit Achilles' weak heal with a poisoned arrow, and Achilles died.
Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae, the daughter of the king of Argos. Perseus and Danae were banished because the king was afraid of the prophecy. It said that his grandson would kill him. Perseus grew up, and became a great warrior. A suitor to his mother sent him on a hopeless misson: to retrive the head of Medusa. Medusa was a creature who could turn any mortal to stone if he looked at Medusa. But, Athena and Hermes helped him beat Medusa. On his way home, he saw a girl chained to a rock. Her name was Andromeda. Andromeda's parents were told by the gods to sacrifce their daughter, if they wanted their kingdom to survive. The daughter was to be sacrificed to a sea monster. Perseus killed the sea monster by showing him the head of Medusa. He than took Andromeda as his wife. He returned home. When he got home, he saved his mother from the suitor, and turned him to stone, via the head of Medusa. He did eventually kill his grandfather, accidentaly, by hitting him with a discus. He started a family, and one of his descendents was Heracles.
King of Mycenae and leader of the Achaean army; brother of King Menelaus of Sparta. Arrogant and often selfish, Agamemnon provides the Achaeans with strong but sometimes reckless and self-serving leadership. Like Achilles, he lacks consideration and forethought. His tactless appropriation of Achilles' war prize, the maiden Briseis, created a crisis for the Achaeans, when Achilles, insulted, withdrew from the war.
See above
Amanra was raised by her father, a powerful man who led his tribe in battles to support the Egyptian people. She grew up with her father's fierce skill, and began to join in the battles in which her tribe fought. In time, Amanra became a legendary mercenary and a hero with the Egyptian people and servant of Isis and Osiris. She still has many loyal Egyptian followers today. Amanra's commander is a man of little competence and great girth named Fierce Mnevis. Mnevis rose in power largely through Amanra's skill in battle and her ability to speak the many Egyptian languages.
Arkantos of Atlantis was born during a time of great turmoil. His homeland was under constant siege by enemy armies and often seemed on the verge of losing not only the colonies it had fought hard to establish, but also the very home island of Atlantis. Arkantos took up spear and shield at an early age, and quickly earned a reputation as a great leader and one favored by Poseidon, the Father of Atlantis.
By the twilight of these great wars, Arkantos had become so indisputably skilled in waging war that the Council of Atlantis named him admiral and placed him in charge of their entire military. With the homeland again safe, Arkantos embarked upon a campaign to search out and eliminate any enemies who still remained. Finally, there was no enemy capable of challenging Atlantis. In a time of peace, maintaining a large army no longer seemed necessary and Arkantos himself seemed a relic of a bygone age. Kept around largely for gratitude for years of service, Arkantos now commands only a token force to fight off the rare bandit or pirate, including those that killed his wife and left his son, Kastor, as his only heir.
It seemed that Arkantos' days of glory had ended. But fate had something different in mind.
Brokk is a smith, statesman and reluctant hero of the dwarves. Although the role of leader was not wanted, Brokk takes it upon himself to help maintain the Norse way of life for his people.
See above
Circe was a daughter of Perse and the sun god, Helios. She is reknown for her encounter with Odysseus and for her knowledge of magic and poisonous herbs. While she imprisoned Odysseus and his men for many years, she later purified the Argonauts for the murder of Apsyrtus.
Odysseus and Circe bore several children, among them Telegonus. According to some myths, Telegonus later tracked down Odysseus, but killed him with a spear made of a stingray spine before recognizing his own father. Odysseus' body was returned to Aeaea to be buried.
Ever since learning of his distant relationship to Thialfi, a servant of Thor, Eitri believes he is a true hero. Although timid by nature, Eitri will do all that is needed of him to help prevent Ragnarok from ever becoming a reality. Eitri is scared to death of trolls and anything with sharp teeth and pig eyes.
Gargarensis is a cyclops and a distant descendant of Poseidon. His great-grandmother, Amymone, was seduced by Poseidon for which Gargarensis has never forgiven him. Rather than try to exact revenge against the sea god, the cyclops figures Poseidon owes him. He wants nothing more than to be a god himself and will stop at nothing to achieve this.
Her name means "Heritage of the Gods." Once a powerful member of the sisterhood of the Valkyrie, Reginleif served Odin by capturing the souls of warriors for his armies in Valhalla. Reginleif fell from grace from unknown events and seeks to redeem herself in Odin's eyes by delaying Ragnarok.
The original Valkyries were Brynhild ("mail of battle"), Sigrun ("victory rune"), Kara, Mist, Skogul ("battle"), Prour ("power"), Herfjotur ("war fetter"), Raogrior ("god's peace"), Gunnr ("battle spear"), Skuld ("she who is becoming"), Sigrdrifa ("victory blizzard"), Svava, Hrist ("the shaker"), Skeggjold ("wearing a war axe"), Hildr ("battle"), Hlokk ("din of battle"), Goll ("battle cry"), Randgrior ("shield of peace"), Reginleif ("heritage of the gods"), Rota ("she who causes turmoil") and Gondul ("enchanted wand" or "Werewolf").
This cantankerous old man seems knowledgeable about his homeland and is at least willing to share his campfire with those who can protect him from rampaging giants. After meeting Amanra in Egypt, Arkantos was hoping to meet a Norse hero who was a little more impressive.
Seated among the High Council of Atlantis, the Theocrat is responsible for security of the island state and to make sure the fickle Poseidon, patron of Atlantis, stays mollified. The Theocrat is symptomatic of the old aristocracy of Atlantis that has become proud, yet soft after decades of dominating the other city states.
Theris was a bandit lord that Arkantos defeated many years ago. There may be some sinister connection between Theris and the Minotaur, Kamos, but the undead Anubite isn't one for sharing his secrets.
Kamos was a minotaur calf when he was taken off an Egyptian fishing ship, and raised by the goddess Bast. For reasons unknown, Kamos harbors great anger and uses his background to lead Egyptian pirates in thievery and murder. He has attacked Atlantean trade ships on numerous occasions, but always retreats to one of his many island strongholds before Arkantos can catch him. Kamos lost his hand attempting to tame a Leviathan by hand-feeding it.
Kastor, although very brave and skilled, is not quite the warrior he thinks he is. He would love nothing more than to fight a war, side by side with his father, Arkantos. Kastor's mother was killed by pirates raiding Atlantis when he was very young.
Worshipper of Set, desert shadow, poisoner and assassin - Kemsyt is a deadly enemy and a loyal ally. Kemsyt hungers for power but lacks the strength to inspire and lead others. Still, his network of information and resources more than make up for his wheedling nature and cowardice. Kemsyt and Amanra are old enemies who have fought many times, byt Kemsyt has always managed to escape.
[This message has been edited by lokiodin (edited 08-16-2007 @ 10:45 AM).]
