#Eurylochus critical

[teamfortresstwo]

Okay fair points . I’ll give you the lack of trust, but I do think his actions with the wind bag stem from his concerns for the crew and Odysseus . It’s in his job description to doubt Odysseus, and I think it’s actually a point for him. The fact that he’s able to call Odysseus out when nobody else does speaks to how close they are and how they’re on about as equal footing as one can get with their captain. That’s why I think Odysseus basically telling him to shut up and go with the flow shook his trust so much, especially when he was basically ignoring all his VERY RATIONAL concerns during storm. After something like that, I doubt I’d trust the captain’s judgement either, though the thing with the wind bag was definitely Eury’s mistake.

Also the thing with Circe’s island WAS reasonable, I would say. He didn’t know they would get support from Hermes, and he’s shown to be the most cautious and weary of gods. In his eyes, the men were beyond saving, so he decided to cut his losses, which is a lot more reasonable than keeping your crew in the dark just so you can sacrifice them to a monster.

In the end though, I can see where people are coming from, since they both clearly have trust issues around one another and are fundamentally very different people, who did grow apart because of those differences . However, I do think there’s still an undeniable intimacy between them that can only come from incredibly strong bonds of friendship. Like Eurylochus immediately trying to confess his opening of the wind bag is a huge show of trust from him. Odysseus is clearly wrecked as fuck when he has to sacrifice eurylochus (and also the other crew members I guess), getting super emotional .

And like, yeah they both do a lot of horrible shit to eachother, but I think they’re ultimately just both victims of circumstance and can recognize that. I think saying Odysseus ever just stops thinking of Eurylochus is a friend is kind of disingenuous since we can see he still cares for him enough after his death to be haunted by him afterwards .

[distracted-obsessions]

Ok, so I've been seeing some discourse around Odysseus and Eurylochus about who is the bad guy.

Odysseus is the bad guy because he gave his name, rank, and serial number to the Cyclops.

Eurylochus is the bad guy because he opened the wind bag.

Odysseus is the bad guy because he sacrificed 6 men.

Eurylochus is the bad guy because he killed the cow.

And I think a lot of you are missing the point.

Is Odysseus giving his name to the Cyclops, not knowing that would bring down the wrath of Poseidon, any worse then Eurylochus opening the wind bag, not knowing it would take them to Poseidon or vice versa? They didn't know it would end badly. They were both warned by someone they trusted that it would end badly if they took that course of action and they did it anyway.

Is Odysseus knowingly sacrificing 6 men to Scylla any worse than Eurylochus knowingly killing the sun god's cow? They both knew it would end in death. The only difference between these two actions is that Odysseus was trying to survive and Eurylochus couldn't live any longer.

Is Odysseus telling Eurylochus to light the 6 torches really any worse then Eurylochus telling Odysseus that he must carry all the blame or vice versa?

Neither of them are the bad guy. And if one of them is, then they both are. Then everyone, Circe, the Cyclops, Poseidon, everyone, is the bad guy too.

This is not a black and white story. There is no good guy, there is no bad guy, there is no clear answer. All it is is protagonists and antagonists and people pitted against each other in the desperate attempt to survive. Those stories are sad and not common in our current culture but this is one of them. Most of life isn't a black and white story and being able to understand that, both in fiction and reality, is important for every relationship, moral, and ideal you will ever have.

[dynasty889]

So I just listened to the Circe Saga. I didn’t listen to it on the Discord listening party, so I had wait until it was released onto Spotify haha. I literally kept checking Spotify over and over until it showed up. Should I be asleep? Yes. Do I care? No.

This is definitely like the dance party saga of EPIC. Like Puppeteer and Wouldn’t You Like are just begging listeners to get up and move I swear. And I can’t even dance lol.

With that being said, here are the songs ranked in my personal opinion.

1. Puppeteer - The entire part where Circe is singing is the best part. I don’t really know how to describe it because I’m tired, but I just liked this one a lot. I’d dance to this

2. Wouldn’t You Like - The Hermes Saga is required. That’s all I have to say. I would also dance to this one too.

3. There Are Other Ways - I liked it. I loved it when I heard Penelope’s little viola motif and stuff. I’m pretty sure it was the same one that was in The Horse and the Infant and at least the start of The Challenge. Odysseus’ verse reminds me a lot of Say No To This and Keep Your Friends Close for some reason haha. Also that ending like that is serious talent. Also when Circe goes “problem is this prophet is dead” and it just goes morbid lol. Like 👀😵‍💫

4. Done For - I’m gonna be completely honest. This one felt rushed. Not in a sense that Jay rushed the song, but the way the song conveys the events happening. That’s how it felt rushed. It felt like it went from the two fighting with their magical monsters to immediately Circe changing her tactics with no break. Like immediately after Odysseus goes “You’ve lost” Circe immediately starts her next tactic. I just felt like there could have been a pause there. Just a split second. I don’t really know.

Overall: Alright, so first I’m pretty sure by song length this saga is the shortest. Not at all bad, I just noticed that and I like to say what I notice. But I did feel like the saga was very quick and condensed, and this was kind of the first time I felt like the events in a saga were condensed. I feel like if these songs were performed live, there would be breaks in between the songs as scenes change, so it’d feel more natural I guess when the mood changes too.

P.S. Circe was def based on Madeline Miller Circe I feel like. Especially in the ending There Are Other Ways I feel. Idk, I get that vibe haha.

I know this review is pretty messy and rushed and obviously, these were my first opinions. They’ll probably change as I listen to the songs more so yeah. None of what I say is set in stone.

[whalehouse1]

I’m also enjoying all the Eurylochus defenders from Epic. I remember reading it and after they tried eating steak, going, “Finally this dick is dead. What a moronic pain in the butt. I would have thrown him overboard after the Cyclops.” He is much more likable in Epic. But literally, just, I can give him a pass on the Cyclops, Lotus and Lastrygonian islands, but “Let’s open this bag for the treasure.” Sir, you are in the middle of the sea, where are you going to spend it? Oh look it’s a hot lady who is enticing us to join her. Uhm, I’m sorry, but how is that not a red flag to anyone? Were you expecting a gangbang with food? Wait, Ancient Greece, probably was -shudder-. And then after surviving the Underworld, Sirens and Scylla, you ignore the dead prophet’s warning of “DO NOT EAT HELIOS’S CATTLE!!! YOU WILL BE SMITTEN QUICKER THAN IXION!!! DO NOT ANGER THE SUN!!!” And then get surprised when Zeus uses your boat at target practice?

[eggcats]

I've been listening to the Thunder Saga, and I wonder if Zeus is also asking a question with a right and wrong answer in Thunder Bringer like I think Poseidon did in Ruthlessness. (I have a post for that, but I think Odysseus wasn't supposed to apologize, but to instead acknowledge that he should have killed Polyphemus).

Poseidon had to teach him to be ruthless.

Zeus needs to teach him to stop being so prideful.

Like, yes - Eurylochus did stage the mutiny and killed the cow. But! That was because Odysseus decided not to tell any of his men that they would need to accept 6 deaths to get home and allow them to make the choice themselves - because Odysseus couldn't handle the idea that they might refuse going past Scylla and keep him from going home.

This is even present in the song Scylla. Eurylochus is moved to confess that it was him who opened the bag of winds, but Odysseus keeps his own secrets and guilt to himself. I think none of the men even knew they were going past Scylla at all until it happened, since all Eurylochus says is "something approaches," implying he doesn't know what that something even IS.

Scylla even compares Odysseus to themselves, with his full transformation from man to monster now completed.

You hide a reason for shame You know that we are the same Leaving them feeling betrayed Breaking the bonds that you've made There is no price we won't pay We both know what it takes to survive

But if you notice, once they kill the cow, they start following Odysseus again. Hell, Eurylochus calls him captain! They follow his orders to escape! This shows that their real desire wasn't to overthrow Odysseus, but rather their anger and betrayal at not even having the option to choose to fight over sacrifice.

And honestly, this happened because Odysseus has demonstrated time and again that he will not discuss anything with his men and instead makes decisions without their input (too much pride to ever consider anyone's opinion other than his own).

In Storm, he tries to force the fleets to keep going despite Eurylochus saying that continuing would sink them all. In the same song, Odysseus also decides to go to the wind god without any discussion beforehand, and completely ignores Eurylochus's advice in Luck Runs Out about the inherent danger of going to the gods for help. In this same song, Odysseus also completely ignores the deaths of his men by Polyphemus, and instead brags about none of them dying in the war. (Once again, the pride Zeus mentions, and that Eurylochus criticizes in both Luck Runs Out and Puppeteer).

This is why Eurylochus opens the bag of winds, because Odysseus has proven he can't be trusted to tell him anything that could be important or put their lives in danger. Despite Eurylochus being his second in command, he's never treated as such. Odysseus has never once discussed something with him, taken his concerns into account, made a decision with him together, or even taken his advice. (Even cutting him off as far back as Full Speed Ahead without even considering his opinion).

Odysseus continues to ignore what Eurylochus tries to talk to him about in Puppeteer, and instead unintentionally gets all his men trapped by Circe. He then goes against Eurylochus again in the same song to confront her despite neither of them knowing if she can be defeated. All of this comes to a head when Odysseus does the same thing again in Scylla, except his decision was to intentionally let their men die for his own desires - and Eurylochus had no idea until it had already happened.

And that's why Eurylochus mutinies. He does it because he cares about his men, seemingly more than Odysseus has demonstrated he ever has.

(I'm not saying that Eurylochus has been right this whole time, and honestly I doubt Eurylochus would say the same - but Odysseus won't even listen to what he has to say, is the problem. He has too much pride).

And then Zeus arrives and proves Eurylochus right.

Zeus gives Odysseus a choice - him or his men. Forcing him to come to terms with the very same decision he made during Scylla and expose him for only caring for himself and not the men under his command.

Zeus is criticizing Odysseus and claiming that he's too full of pride to sacrifice himself to save his men. His men of which he is their captain. Of which he is their king. Zeus points this out to him explicitly, leading me to believe that he wasn't supposed to choose himself here.

I think that by taking back command after they killed the cow, Odysseus had taken responsibility for his men's actions. Except, when confronted with those same actions, he refuses to. Much like how a boss gets in trouble when their subordinates do something wrong, a captain should do the same for his crew.

Except. Odysseus doesn't. He fails the test.

And now he must have his pride taken from him again and again until he learns the lesson Zeus was teaching him. Just like he did with learning ruthlessness from Poseidon.

I think the next saga will involve him being confronted with this decision he makes here, and how it was the wrong one, and then the saga after that (perhaps with the suitors? I'm unsure how many more are planned) is when Odysseus will reprise Thunder Bringer and finally be able to return home.

[amazingmsme]

odyssey trio (ody, polites, eurylochus) meeting og pjo trio (percy, annabeth, grover) WOULD GO HONESTLY CRAZY

BRO IT REALLY WOULD! Granted most of what i know about pjo comes straight from the lightning thief musical, so I can’t really speak for the true fans, but it would be so funny!

Like Annabeth had heard all about Odysseus & is ready to praise & criticize wherever necessary. I feel like she’s get along best with Eurylochus cause they’re both the voice of reason on their respective groups. Odysseus is ready to leave the moment he finds out Percy is Poseidon’s son, but then he’s like “no I get it, my dad sucks” & suddenly they’re on good terms & they have way more in common that they thought. & Polites & Grover are having the time of their life talking about nature & animals & chill stuff like that

[kirbybecomesastarwarrior]

NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED!

I know I've been hush-hush about who killed Sir Uther; now I'm ready for the grand reveal... it was Sir Nonsurat~

Like I said before, Nonsurat holds the title of betrayer (similar to his counterpart, Lancelot ) but for an entirely different reason. A.K.A the murder/assassinations of Sir Uther. But wait, shouldn't that be a good thing... kill the evil tyrant, and everything should be alright again... right? Wrongo~

Sir Nonsurat truly did not plan to kill Uther it was merely an act of impulse...in a moment of panic, an accident really (but very much deserved)... but Nonsurat still committed a crime, and there was one witness that he did not take an account of... SOL CLEAVER!

Sol Cleaver did not have a problem with the act of killing it was how it was done... When Nonsurat killed him... it was not via duel but when Uther was having a fit of insanity... which was an act that Sol Cleaver did not like (it wasn't in a glorious battle)... not only that, but he used his (Sol Cleaver) and he did not take pride in his kill... and after tried to get rid of them (Sol Cleaver). Basically pissed off the weapon three times...

Sol Cleaver: NO, YOU DON'T YOU'RE USING ME, MF! (and curses him to only using him as a weapon, having his hands drip blood any time he uses something other than them (Sol Cleaver).

*there are a few more things I'm going to reveal a little later, but not right now...*

So basically, in fear, Nonsurant is hiding the murder weapon by hiding it in the axe he uses... while it may look like an axe on the outside, on the inside, it's Sol Cleaver...

Keep reading for some lore/spoiler-ish content.

Sir Nonsurat is very much the (if you are familiar with Epic the Musical Epic Eurylochus to Sir Arthur's Odyessusy) or (Hamilton) Aaron Burr to Sir Arthur's Hamilton)...

He makes mistakes that are well-meaning and seem like the right decisions at the time... (killing Sir Uther), leading to consequences he never foresaw would happen...

This reveals a critical flaw in Nonsurat's thinking: "Don't solve problems, eliminate them!" (Ironically, a philosophy taught to him by Sir Uther) This is also exhibited when trying to "expose Arthur's partnership with Merly(a.k.a Celestine). Which follows the same thought process of "getting rid of Arthur should solve the problem..."

There's no Guinevere affair like in the (OG Arthurian lore) & (sorry guys, I didn't know how to fit her in the sorry... complicated & needless mellow drama...)

So, instead, I made it "the exposing of Arthur's connection with Merlyn..." leading to Celestine framing herself to save Arthur but also leading to her demise (info in her bio) to replace that event... so either Nonsurat's screwing up Arthur's love life (LMAO... I'm so sorry Merthur/Celarthur there had to be a tragedy)

Okay back Nonsurat~

Also, it shows a pattern... the nature of these actions, he does not commit these acts upfront but rather in the shadows... anonymously... which I also wanted to show in how he endorsed Arthur for leader behind Morgans's back rather than telling why or giving her notice. - We understand why he did this (because she was on her way to becoming another Sir Uther. ) But still didn't have the heart to tell her upfront...

However, it is this act that brings forth the demise of Sir Arthur. (I know spoilers, but low-key, I've been lining death flags for that man since last December...) Morgan takes advantage of these actions... which leads to One Uncomfortable Family Reunion... (once I finish it, merely I just laid the groundwork for this...

~

Nonsurat is such an underutilized character in the fandom and is mostly characterized as the "strong & silent type," which I don't mind at all, but... we have so many different flavors of the other three (Sir Falspar, Sir Dragato, Sir Arthur...)

Also, the fandom never took advantage of the fact that he was supposed to represent Lancelot—you know, the one who betrayed Arthur in (the og Arthurian lore.) Which is why I really wanted to bring out the KBASW lore.

I suppose this is also a call to action to give Nonsurat some more rep & love out here. We need more variety, Nonsurat is an incredible canvas of a character.

The only other who has a unique take and uses Arthurian lore, amazingly for Nonsurat, is @galapathy, Another person who does such an incredible spin on the character @mercyillustrator.

Shoutout to you guys. I love you & please follow them!

And If anyone knows of another cool new interpretation (on Sir Nonsurat.), let me know! And that concludes the mystery of who killed Sir Uther & what happened to Sol Cleaver.

Stay tuned, hope you all have a wonderful day~

[phantomdecibel]

I havent named this either lmao whatever not my best work, but at least im done w it now lmao

uuuuuhhhhhhhhh yeah odys is dead here. definetly. poor lil ajax is left to pick up the pieces. ......here we go!

Ajax heard it second hand, at first. Of course he didn’t believe it – it seemed impossible! After ten years of war, after the cylcops, after grabbing Astyanax from the ashes of Troy. For his friends, for his crew, for his son. The Captain couldn’t be dead.

Because that was the rumor, circling the deck like crows over the battlefield. That Captain Odysseus was dead (the fuck?). No – not quite. That the Captain had been murdered, by none other than his second in command. Eurylochus (double fuck, there was no way). Or at the very least – that the man was hauling around his corpse (…at this point, Ajax was convinced he was being messed with).

It was absurd!

Ajax… well, he didn’t want to brag or anything but…

“You don’t know what you’re talking about – Eurylochus would never!” Ajax had been spending a lot of time around both the Captain and his second in command – mostly Eurylochus, admittedly – since departing from Troy for Ithaca. If there was one thing he knew for certain… “Him and Polites love the Captain; they’re his best friends. Plus – there’s no way the Captain’s dead. You’re just making shit up.”

“I saw it myself!” Elpenor exclaimed, throwing out his arms. The poor man looked to be on the verge of tears, with his glassy eyes and red, splotchy face. His outspread hands trembled, and that was the only reason Ajax hadn’t immediately decked him for even joking about something like that, consequences be damned. “When he saw me, he – he gave me this look and I booked it.”

“Then you can’t know for sure!” Ajax snapped back, leaping to his feet. “You didn’t even ask–”

“No, no –” someone else cut in. ajax turned his glare to them, but the newcomer wasn’t fazed. “I heard that too, from Perimedes this morning – he saw it too.”

“What – what about Polites?” Surely he wouldn’t stand for this – this slander!

“Perimedes said he was just watching, this morning,” the man Ajax now recognized as Demosthenes shrugged, wringing his hands. “Didn’t – didn’t seem concerned at all.”

“Then there you have it!” Ajax turned on his heel, stalking off towards the stairs. “If the Captain were dead, then Polites wouldn’t just be standing around!”

And neither would Eurylochus, for that matter, but his point still stood. Still… the jittering anxiety still lingered from just how serious everyone had been – and the rumor had to have been born from something. Ajax would go find Eurylochus, and he’d tell him that the Captain wasn’t dead, where did you even get such an absurd idea? and everything would be fine.

Yeah, yeah. That’s what he’d do.

Go find Eurylochus.

…only Eurylochus wasn’t below deck. He wasn’t by the bow of the ship, or by the Captain’s cabin. He wasn’t even on this ship, by the looks of it which was… odd, but – not concerning! The man probably just needed a change of scenery or something – understandable with all the bullshit going on here.

That still begged the question of where was he, though.

“Hey!”

From the ship across, Nikomachos leant over the railing towards him. “What’s up, kid?”

“Have you seen Eurylochus?” Ajax eyed the distance between the two ships critically. He could jump that, probably, if he needed to.

“Yeah, e’s over here,” the other man lowered his voice, shifting from side to side and glancing over his shoulder. Ajax frowned – that wasn’t a good sign. “But… y’don’t want to be over ‘ere, right now. It’s…”

But Ajax was already backing away, getting a running start to leap the distance and cling to the other ship’s railing. The other man cursed, loudly and desperately, and Ajax felt strong hands wrap around his arm to help drag him on board.

“Fucking Hades, kid!” Ajax winced at the loud voice in his ear, but scrambled upright and gently shook off the steadying hands on his shoulders. “What were you thinking–”

“Where was he?”

“–what?” the man spluttered at the interruption.

“Eurylochus. Where did you say he was?”

“Kid…”

“Whatever,” Ajax glanced around. Where should he look first? “Thank you for your help–”

Leaving Nikomachos behind, Ajax darted off. He could guess why he was being warned away from the second-in-command but… Ajax needed to know.

They were wrong, they were all wrong. They had to be.

 Eurylochus wasn’t difficult to find.

Everywhere he looked, Ajax saw clumps of people, huddled together with hushed whispers and wary glances over hunched shoulders. They clustered at the edges of the ship, presences less frequent the more he moved inward, and so Ajax followed the trail they left through fearful, lingering glances and shoulders turned inwards, away, until there were no more than a handful of cautious lurkers all circling the deck like the rumors in the air. Everyone else avoided the center of the deck like a disease, and that was how Ajax knew he was close. Each step closer landed against the wood of the deck like thunder, and each impact sent lightning down his spine.

This was ridiculous. Ridiculous! Why was he so afraid? There was nothing to be so nervous about; there was no way the Captain was dead. If he was – if he was then there was no way Polites and Eurylochus would be as calm as Demosthenes had said they’d been. They loved the man too much to not… sink the entire fleet with the force of their grief, if the Captain really was… gone. If the Captain were to die it would be in a blaze of gore and glory, not some quiet covered up–

“Ajax!” a cheerful voice broke him from his thoughts making him flinch in shock even as he relaxed, recognizing the voice. Ajax shook himself out and blinked until he could recognize the wood beneath his feet again, before looking up to see Polites making his way towards him, smiling kindly. “What are you doing here, my friend? Last I heard you weren’t on this ship.”

“I need to talk to Eurylochus,” Ajax admitted, glancing back down. “I heard a… concerning rumor.”

“A rumor?”

“Yeah,” Ajax glanced over his shoulder at where another soldier lurked in the shadows, letting the concern in the older man’s voice sooth his fears. “People are – people are saying that the Captain is – is dead and–”

“Oh that,” Polites interrupted, chuckling.

Not an outright denial. With the way he said it, Ajax wasn’t sure if it was reassuring or not, but followed dutifully as the man steered him forwards. “Eurylochus! Someone’s here to talk to you, my friend!”

“They finally worked up the courage, huh?” Eurylochus’s voice echoed back, in a tone that could almost be amused. Ajax took a couple steps away from Polites, towards the voice of his second-in-command.

“Sir?” he called out, wringing his hands. “I–”

Eurylochus appeared, padding down from the Bridge, face as passive and unimpressed as always. It would have been a comforting sight – Ajax had come to get to know the man a bit, since that night with little Astyanax – but this time, his voice stuttered to a halt in time with the man’s appearance. Because–

“Ah, Ajax,” but he couldn’t focus on anything but the fucking body draped across the other man’s shoulders. “What can I do for you?”

“I–” he stammered weakly, choking on his own voice. “What–?”

“Hmm?” Eurylochus just raised one thick eyebrow down at him, ignoring the way Ajax was sure he had begun to sweat and tremble.

“I – I heard the Captain was..?” Ajax trailed off, blinking desperately but unable to finish the sentence. How do you phrase a question like that, when the person you were talking to had a fucking body flung over their shoulders? And not just any body, but the body of the person you were asking about? Dam the gods, this couldn’t be happening. Ajax locked his knees, praying to every god he knew for the strength to stay standing.

“Oh, that. Don’t worry about it,” the towering man shrugged, and Ajax cringed back as he reached up to grab at the arm slung over his shoulder, to stop its owner from slipping.

Oh. Oh gods–

Oh gods.

“Wh– what–” Ajax cleared his throat, eyes fixed on the way the Captain’s head hung limply. “What happened?”

Polites laughed, and the noise echoed sharp and piercing behind the ringing in his ears. The grating, sudden noise made him flinch, but Ajax couldn’t tear his eyes from the Captain. Was the man breathing? Could he see him move? Was he imagining the stillness from where he could see the man’s back – or was there really nothing to look for?

“Are you alright, kid?” The question stretched blearily into the all-consuming silence, and he realized that whatever noise had been tearing at his head was gone, nothing more than an echo. Instead, now, everything was too quiet – yet the voice was much, much too loud, too sharp, too–

Ajax turned and ran.

He – he wasn’t really… aware, of running, not really. One moment, Eurylochus had been frowning down at him, and the next each pound of his feet against the deck jarred his knees, and he could barely see, and he could barely breath and he could barely hear and –

Ajax found himself near the front of the ship – curled into his knees and spine pressed against the railing.

Each fall of something wet striking rhythmically against his arm made him flinch, but the tears didn’t – wouldn’t – stop, not even when he pressed the palms of his hands against his eyes, scrubbed at them with his wrists.

“Breathe, Ajax,” he muttered to himself, forcing shaky breaths of air through his aching lungs. His ears were still ringing too much to really hear the words, but the way they rumbled in his chest soothed something that screamed in the back of his mind. He hummed, just to feel the way it reverberated in the back of his throat, on and off until he was breathing normally-enough again. Then, he forced a deep breath, tilting his head back to stare at the sky on the exhale.

It was… blue.

It was just, blue. Blue and bright, not a cloud in the sky, for as far as the eye could see. It was… surreal. Ajax didn’t know how to feel about it, if he could feel anything other than the all-encompassing numbness that had consumed him at some point during his flight.

It was too bright, that he knew. The Captain – Odysseus – was dead! Why hadn’t there been some sort of announcement, no, that would have just sparked panic but wasn’t there already panic? Everybody already knew not saying anything wasn’t helping this situation why hadn’t they had a funeral yet–

Ajax closed his eyes.

He forced himself to let go of his arms, let the blood rush back to them, stretched out his legs a bit, uncurling, still leant heavily against the rail. Wind and the occasional splash from a stray wave lashed at his back, and it was cold, but he couldn’t bring himself to actually get up and move.

He opened his eyes again, head still tilted back.

One thing at a time.

There should have been… clouds, or something. Rain, thunder. Nature – no Zeus himself should have been raging, grieving. Ajax should have been grieving.

Maybe he was, in some backwards way, but… truth be told, he just felt – blank. He was crying – but it was like he didn’t know why. The Captain was dead, but it didn’t feel real, like Odysseus would walk up any minute and ruffle his hair, ask him why so blue, kid? and drag him along with the man’s day until Ajax was laughing along with whatever trouble Polites and Eurylochus had started that day.

Polites and Eurylochus.

Gods – how were those two not in – in shock? They were the Captain’s best friends – Ajax would have thought they’d be tearing apart fucking Olympus for… however this had happened – unless…

Had… had they killed Odysseus..?

Sure – Ajax had heard that rumor, too, but–

No.

No.

That was something Ajax refused to believe. As… untouchable as he had always seemed… the Captain was just a man. A squishy, fragile human, just like the rest of them. The idea that Polites and Eurylochus could have had something to do with his death… that was just too unbelievable.

Ajax shook himself out.

His expression didn’t really change, and he couldn’t summon enough energy to pull himself together past climbing back to his feet, but determination still managed to worm its way under his skin. He would figure out what happened.

But first–

Captain Odysseus deserved a funeral.

______________________

Ajax knew he was hunched in on himself, but it was probably the look on his face that made people shrivel up when they saw him. Mostly everyone on this ship had seen Eurylochus and the Captain, knew the truth, but they must have still been… holding on to a sliver of hope, or something. Ajax was one of the closer people to the Captain and his inner circle and people knew it – if he was so… however he must have looked, then the rumor must have been true.

And it was.

“The Captain is dead,” he muttered at whoever had come to stand in front of him. Their hands froze before they could land on his shoulders, and Ajax slunk around their still form.

“What do we do?” someone – maybe multiple someones, but Ajax couldn’t muster up the energy to care who – asked quietly, and maybe a little desperately. A number of people turned towards Ajax, and he wanted to scream.

He was the youngest person here, for crying out loud, with the exception of Astyanax – oh fuck. Astyanax. Where was the kid, who was going to have to tell him–?

Ajax dragged a hand down his face. Leave it, don’t worry about it yet, there was nothing he could do for Astyanax right now. He could ask Polites where he was after…

“We need to… do something,” he muttered, voice muffled from where his face was pressed into his hand. Ajax let his hand drop back to his side, shaking himself out. People were looking to him right now, for whatever reason – he needed to be strong. For them. For Odysseus. “Give… give him a funeral, or something–”

“That’s a good idea,” a hand landed on his shoulder, and Ajax flinched. He didn’t recognize the voice – or maybe he did. Mostly he just… didn’t care. The hand slipped away, and Ajax glanced back at its owner. The man tried his best to smile at him, but – it fell flat. Ajax grimaced back weakly. “The Captain – the Captain is – was – a good man. If anyone deserves a proper funeral out here… it’d be him.”

Ajax nodded gratefully, shoulders dropping. He scrubbed his hands down his face again, trying to focus on the conversation fading in and out around him. Someone might have run off, off to gods knew where. Ajax watched them leave for a moment, before turning his attention back to the conversation at hand.

“We’ll… have to figure out how to get his…” the man Ajax had just been speaking to was saying. He glanced back towards Ajax, who caught his gaze with a dead-eyed stare. “…how to get his body. If we want to give him a funeral.”

“I’ll handle it,” Ajax volunteered. He didn’t want to be part of this conversation anymore. It was beginning to feel too real, beginning to chip away at his mask of numbness, and he… needed to talk to Eurylochus again, anyways. Polites, too – about Astyanax – if he could find the man again. “I can handle it.”

“…are you sure–”

But Ajax was already pushing past them. He – he needed to be doing something, not just, not just standing around. He needed to find Eurylochus again.

…maybe ‘find’ was the wrong word – he already knew where the second-in-command (…was he the new Captain now? Was that how it worked?) was, probably, but the sentiment was the same, and Ajax wasn’t exactly feeling poetic. He hadn’t left the ship, he didn’t think, so Eurylochus was probably still near the bridge.

While Ajax had expected the man to be… close to where he’d last seen him, Eurylochus looked like he hadn’t moved at all. That might have something to do with Polites, who was gesturing widely as Ajax slunk back towards the two of them. Ajax lingered off to the side, forcefully sorting through his scrambled thoughts, as Eurylochus frowned at whatever the other man was saying.

Neither of them had noticed Ajax yet – thank the gods, he had no clue what he was going to say – but the second-in-command kept glancing off, like he was looking for something. Ajax pointedly kept his gaze on the deck near their feet.

Ugh.

Might as well get this over with.

Ajax crept forwards.

He couldn’t resist looking up as he approached, the worried tone of the older men’s voices drawing his attention from the deck. Whatever they where discussing must have been important – the Captain, maybe? What else was there to talk about? – because neither notice as he slunk forward, until he was left fidgeting a pace or two away from their huddle.

“Um,” Ajax muttered, tugging at the hem of his chiton. Polites and Eurylochus whirled towards him, both men relaxing as they realized it was just him. Ajax flinched slightly at the sudden movement, but Eurylochus was already talking before he could continue.

“Hey kid, you alright?” the large man tilted his head down at him, and Ajax glued his gaze back to the floor when it caught on the Captain’s limp form. “You kinda ran off, there.”

For a moment, Ajax didn’t respond. He pressed his tongue against the back of his teeth, cycling words through his tired mind to think up the right thing to say.

“We’re planning a funeral,” he finally settled on muttering, half-surprising himself at the flatness of his voice. The two pairs of feet in his line of sight shuffled back.

“Funeral?” That was Polites this time – tone soft and gentle and oh so confused as if he had no fucking clue as he took a step closer–

“Yeah. Funeral. For – for the Captain.”

Ajax’s head shot up as a strange noise reached his ears, brows furrowing as he frowned. Polites had a hand clamped over his mouth as he glanced off to the side, practically shaking.

What? Had they not known? That was impossible; Ajax had told Polites why he was looking for Eurylochus and the other man might as well be wearing the Captain’s body like a cape!

He turned from Polites – who was resolutely refusing to meet Ajax’s eyes, shaking more and more by the minute – to Eurylochus. The second-in-command was shaking too, albeit less so than Polites, but when Ajax squared his shoulders and built the courage to glance up at the taller man’s face…

Eurylochus wasn’t looking at him, either, but… was he–

“Are you smiling?” Ajax exclaimed, squaring his feet as he bristled. Wait– “Are you laughing?”

Polites made a noise like a dying whale.

What. The fuck?

…it really did sound like the man was trying not to laugh.

“Are – are you seriously laughing right now?!?” Ajax swiveled on his heels, glaring between the two of them. Their friend, their Captain, was dead, and they were laughing?

Apparently so – as if Ajax hadn’t seen them drag the man kicking and screaming to bed, as if Odysseus didn’t trust them so explicitly with his own safety and the safety of the crew, as if Ajax hadn’t seen Eurylochus take watch shifts for the both of them if they were tired, as if Polites hadn’t near-fatally wounded a cyclops because the other two were in danger, as if they hadn’t gone to war together, as if they weren’t the only reason the Captain had survived said war and vice versa. Ajax curled his hands into shaking fists, nails digging stinging cuts into the palms of his hands – as if it all meant nothing. Eurylochus shook harder. On his shoulder the Captain twitched, jostled by the man’s laughter, and Ajax watched, seething, as Eurylochus’s hand shot up again at the last second to drag the body securely back to its place.

“I–”

“Mwr?”

What–

…With a confused noise akin to something you’d expect after poking a sleeping cat, Captain Odysseus lifted his head.

The angle was terribly awkward with the way he was thrown over Eurylochus’s shoulder… but–

…

…

…

“Did – did you guys seriously think he was dead? Seriously?” Polites howled, bent over by the force of his laughter. Ajax spluttered, unable to deny just how absurd the concept sounded when put like that. Odysseus blinked blearily at the two of them. “I – I thought you were joking–”

How–

“I–” Ajax gaped. Closed his eyes. Took a moment to breathe in and bury his face in his hands – and turned on his heel. “I need a nap.” And also a minute to cry. And something to punch.

Make that two minutes to cry. Maybe three, even.

And definitely that nap.

…on his way back to his original ship, Ajax made sure to let everyone he came across know; the Captain was not, actually dead. Just didn’t know what fucking beds were, apparently, and enjoyed the crew’s fucking suffering.

…

…next time the Captain’s friends needed something he was going to shove them overboard.

 Bonus scene uwu:

“Let me get this straight,” Glancing between his two snickering menaces, Odysseus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “The vast majority of the crew somehow came to the conclusion that you’d killed me. and you both let them?”

Polites snickered unabashedly while Eurylochus avoided his gaze (though he was still smiling – bastards, the both of them). “I mean… it was pretty funny.”

“Plus, the kid ran off before we could actually say anything.”

Odysseus buried his head in his hands.

“Would anything either of you had to say have actually helped the situation.”

It’s not a question, and his friends don’t answer as if it were one. Polites snickered again, when Odysseus peeked up at him in despair through his fingers, and Eurylochus patted him on the head.

“…at least you had a good nap?”

Odysseus sighed, loud and heavy. Unfortunately, he did have a good nap.

 *euryl is just carrying him around bc odys fell asleep on a ship that’s not the one w his cabin lol, let the poor man r e s t– *TECHNICALLY visibility should be very good across these ships. They are boats. But just… pretend they’re constantly blanketed by Magical Fog or something whenever I need a character to actually search for someone else and it’s convenient for me uwu * return of the elpenor- *n o t happy w this one, but oh well. Didn’t wanna work on it any longer lmao

Shitty doodle :3 euryls gotta carry around his dumbasses lmao

They’re cats now–

…this? one?

I like the perspective even tho it’s not the best lol

AAANNND my favourite :D

This is wear that one poli doodle came from lmao–

OH AND thanks wiki for the extra names bc only like 4 ppl out of odys whole fucking crew are actually named w h y-

OKAY SO

B A S I C A L L Y

@ghosty-crow (once again he was a huge help for this, so thanks!!! :D) and I Decided that since euryl is the tallest of the trio, odys n poli will just fucking climb onto his shoulders whenever they need to see better or dont want to walk or r tired lmao, they’ll just walk up to him and climb onto his shoulders and fall the fuck asleep and thus it has concumsed my single braincell ever since uwu

the first time the crew sees this happen, after fighting the cyclops, they think odys is fucking dead bc none of them have any braincells whatsoever :p

this results in ajax... not having a great time. logically he knows that its really fuckin unlikely that odys is dead but he’s also an anxious lil bean and unfortuanetly the panic won out

I have any things to say abt this. unfortuanetly i cannot remember any of them in this moment.

[i-will-change-this-someday]

Honestly, I think it's a mix of both people taking everything from the original Odyssey as gospel and the fact that Calypso is a dark skinned woman of color that she's being treated as this evil being not deserving of any amount of nuance.

I saw the exact same level of hatred and vitriol towards Eurylochus immediately following Thunder Saga, and as far back as the casting of Ares. Characters and actors with darker skin either get harshly criticized, or in some cases, heavily fetishized (you would not believe some of the shit I've seen regarding Antonius). It's just that Tumblr isn't nearly as open about this as tiktok.

Jay has made it a point to only allude to certain elements of the myths. He has NEVER been explicit about there being actual assault like that in the musical towards certain characters on screen in the present time. It's only ever been implied threats or referenced in backstory. He's been good about avoiding certain topics when adapting the myth to his vision. Unless he comes out and says "yes, Calypso did that", we can't just assume she did in Epic the Musical.

I think the fandom really needs to chill and recheck their biases. They don't have to like Calypso. I certainly don't. But the level of hate I'm seeing towards her in comparison to the other gods? Seriously making me second guess being in this fandom.

I haven't read The Odyssey, but I know that EPIC made a lot of changes, so it's weird to me that people would stick so closely to that interpretation of Calypso, especially when people seem to really like Circe, who I think also assaults Odysseus (or at least coerces him?)

But yeah, it's also probably a lot of racism and sexism that has made her so hated. It is truly shocking sometimes how some people will be so harsh and critical to a character (or actual real life humans) just because of their skin tone, cause you know they turn the other cheek for the same actions or worse if they're done by someone pale and hot.

Yeah, I think Jorge does a good job at only alluding to things like that, not that those kind of things should be ignored, and I think if people want to analyze the original source material through a modern lens that's all fine and good. But that's not what EPIC: The Musical is about, and to try and handle that subject well would take too much time; it's just not the story that is being told here.

(Within the Musical itself, if people want to explore such things in fanfic, go off I guess? But also maybe if you're on the topic of someone forcing themselves onto an unwilling partner, maybe talk about some other characters than just Calypso. *Side eyes Antinous and Circe)

That's completely fair, but I'll be honest, if you don't want to be in a fandom with any racism or sexism (Or any kind of bigotry) then you'll basically have to never be in a fandom. There's always going to be hateful people about those kinds of things, so I just avoid them and try not to let it ruin the rest of my fandom experience.

(Also sorry, wasn't trying to lecture you, just saying that I don't think we should let those people drive us out of fandoms we want to enjoy) (also if you just decide to take a step back and only consume the source media, that's also fair)

[xjulixred45x]

Extras!

Basically, fandoms of which i WRITE but NOT take Requests .

English

OCS:

Soft Yandere! Yui Komori x Ema(oc from @nunezs-stuff )

BONUS: Soft!Yandere Yui x Ema: si Ema kills all the Sakamakis

Yandere Yui reacts to Yandere Ema

My opinion of Yandere Ema Type of yandere

Ema Yandere traits only come out in Bad Endings?

How My writing style works

Slugterra

Eli Shane/Junjie x Dancer reader

Diabolik Lovers(not really write, but critice)

Subaru Sakamaki thoughs

Reiji Sakamaki thoughs

Which Diaboy i hate the Most?

Transformers (mainly Prime)

SG!Optimus x Honerva/Haggar!Reader

Percy Jackson and the Olympyans:

Apolo in Percy Jackson and the Olympyans

LEGO MONKEY KID:

Sun Wukong's wife in Lego Monkey Kid

Azure Lion x Penélope! Reader

EPIC: THE MUSICAL

Eurylochus is the one who Open the bag of wings

_______________________________________

Español

OC's

Soft!Yandere!Yui Komori x Ema(oc de @nunezs-stuff )

Soft Yandere Yui Komori x Ema BONUS: Ema mata a todos los Sakamakis

Soft Yandere Yui reacciona a Yandere Ema

¿que tipo de Yandere es Ema?

Si Ema estuviera en los juegos

Mi informe del infierno de Dante/La Divina Comedia del año pasado

Bajoterra

Eli Shane/Junjie x Lectora bailarina

Diabólic Lovers

Que pienso de: Subaru Sakamaki

Que pienso de: Reiji Sakamaki

¿Que Diaboy odio más?

Transformers (prime principalmente)

SG!Optimus x Honerva/Haggar Lector@

Percy Jackson y los Olímpicos:

Apolo en Percy Jackson y los Olímpicos

LEGO MONKEY KID:

La esposa de Sun Wukong en LMK

Azure Lion x Penélope Lectora(epic the musical)

[the-golden-dragoness]

Not trying to be a hater or anything but I kind of have beef when people so easily criticize a piece of media or the actions of a character instead of trying to understand the character instead. Criticizing is literally the easiest thing you can do but trying to understand a person can be difficult. I finding trying to understand a piece of media is a lot more enjoyable and interesting than criticizing it and the characters in it because you get a much deeper insight.

My recent example is when people more or less call eurylochus a hypocrite in this new Thunder Saga. Yes he’s being hypocritical in some ways but are you even thinking about why that is? Are you thinking about the ways his character can be explained so that he’s not hypocritical? People will take things at face value rather than trying to actually understand the story and how the characters participate in the story and what is being said by the story that it just seems like a piece of media always gets dulled down so much that way.

I guess it’s kind of why I avoid that kind of talk in the fandom because it seems so boring to me. It’s like yeah you’re stating the obvious but I want to hear about things that are not necessarily obvious.

[tumblingghosts]

i don’t mind people criticizing eurylochus, but when it dips into slander?? blaming him for things he didn’t do?? just to absolve odysseus from fault when odysseus’s arc is literally becoming the monster?? smh at the unwarranted hate 😔

I am so sick of the Eurylochus slander, just saw someone legit say that Eurylochus intentionally gave someone the torch to save his own skin during Scylla while watching the livestream animatic. Even though the animatic made pretty clear he did not know at the beginning what the torches meant. Even though he only gave someone else the torch so that he would have his hands free to save another person and once he realized what the torches mean, he tried to run back to the dude he gave his torch to save him. Like, his face of absolute horror as he realized what was happening. Like, the animatic spelled it out so utterly clearly I didn't think it was possible for someone to misunderstand it.

And yet, people are actually accusing him of doing what Odysseus did, what the fuck.

[amazingmsme]

Trying to plan for tickletober, & my list is lookin’ real sparse. I’m mostly looking for prompts for the following fandoms:

Epic (even tho I already have a few planned)

Hatchetfield

Critical Role

Blood of Zeus

My Adventures with Superman

Slay the Princess

Villainous

Dungeon Meshi

The Amazing Digital Circus

The Magnus Archives

D&D: Honor Among Thieves

Game of Thrones (EARLY SEASONS, NO SPOILERS)

House of the Dragon

Deadpool & Wolverine

& some obscure ones that would really make my day

Wolf 359

Sinbad Legend of the Seven Seas

Night Film

The Last Days of Jack Sparks

Stoked

Prompt list under the cut

1. Anticipation- Fjord & Jester (critical role)

2. Chase- Heron, Hermes, & Apollo (blood of Zeus)

3. Prank- Elpenor & Polites (epic)

4. Hide & Seek- Pomni & Gummigoo (tadc)

5. Boo!- Bill & Ted ft. Paul (tgwdlm)

6. Cuddles- Steph & Pete (npmd)

7. Fidget- Hera & Eiffel (wolf 359)

8. Nuzzles-

9. Wake up- Eiffel & Minkowski

10. Spidering-

11. Hug- Ruth & Richie (npmd)

12. Mischief- Asterios, Elpenor, Odysseus, Polites & Eurylochus (epic)

13. Win-

14. Lose-

15. “Are you ticklish?”- Mark & Karen (Hatchetfield)

16. Cackle- Tinky & Ted (Hatchetfield)

17. Raspberries- Pomni & Jax (tadc)

18. Tickle fight- lords in black (Hatchetfield)

19. Secret-

20. Tease- Narrator, voice of the hero, & voice of the cold (slay the princess)

21. Costume-

22. Role reversal-

23. Sweet-

24. Joke-

25. New discovery- mermaid!odysseus & Penelope (epic au)

26. Ticklish kiss- Lois & Clark (maws)

27. Non-human parts- Asterios & Elpenor (epic)

28. Spooked- ghost!polites & Odysseus (epic au)

29. Magic-

30. Trick-or-Treat-

31. Aftercare-

[forestfullofberries]

i think i wanna leave it an open tag

I tag anyone who wants to do this.

[obtemporium]

Odysseus' caused the initial storm by leaving the cyclops alive and revealing his name but the guilt for the lives of more than 500 men that were lost in the land of the giants should rightfully rest on Eurylochus' shoulders, he was the one that send them there by opening the bag that contained the storm. Since everything else that happens is in direct effect of that I feel confident in saying that it is Eurylochus' fault that they spent so many years trying to return to Ithaca, as he was the one that opened the wind bag when they could already see Ithaca quite clearly from their ships.

"If you want all the power you must carry all the blame" is quite an ironic line, because he already has been carrying all the blame during the entirety of the journey, blame that in part was his but not completely, since the very person staging that mutiny already had evaded much blame that was theirs simply by virtue of not being the captain and not being in power. The moment he got to be in a position of power after staging the mutiny was when he too made the decision that most of those attending the tale through the songs see as comparable as Odysseus' error with the cyclops, however that is just the egregious error that makes it so Eurylochus' blame catches up with him, and thus he caused his own death alongside the remaining men, just as he caused the deaths of those 557 men during Ruthlessness by taking their fleet there after opening the wind bag.

Odysseus' has committed the initial error with the cyclops, however it is ignorance to say that he was the reason for himself and his crew to have spent so many years attempting to return home.

The only ones that I would even consider accepting saying this is wrong would be sourcemates of mine that were present through more of the story than I was, since I was only the one that took the six men with torches in source, so I would accept the criticism that I am missing information, but as is my thesis is solid as it is rooted in valid existing facts of this version of The Odyssey.

After "Ody we're never gonna get to make it home, you know it's true" Odysseus' line should have been "And whose fault is that?"

[stayasleepanddream]

THIS

Ok, so I've been seeing some discourse around Odysseus and Eurylochus about who is the bad guy.

Odysseus is the bad guy because he gave his name, rank, and serial number to the Cyclops.

Eurylochus is the bad guy because he opened the wind bag.

Odysseus is the bad guy because he sacrificed 6 men.

Eurylochus is the bad guy because he killed the cow.

And I think a lot of you are missing the point.

Is Odysseus giving his name to the Cyclops, not knowing that would bring down the wrath of Poseidon, any worse then Eurylochus opening the wind bag, not knowing it would take them to Poseidon or vice versa? They didn't know it would end badly. They were both warned by someone they trusted that it would end badly if they took that course of action and they did it anyway.

Is Odysseus knowingly sacrificing 6 men to Scylla any worse than Eurylochus knowingly killing the sun god's cow? They both knew it would end in death. The only difference between these two actions is that Odysseus was trying to survive and Eurylochus couldn't live any longer.

Is Odysseus telling Eurylochus to light the 6 torches really any worse then Eurylochus telling Odysseus that he must carry all the blame or vice versa?

Neither of them are the bad guy. And if one of them is, then they both are. Then everyone, Circe, the Cyclops, Poseidon, everyone, is the bad guy too.

This is not a black and white story. There is no good guy, there is no bad guy, there is no clear answer. All it is is protagonists and antagonists and people pitted against each other in the desperate attempt to survive. Those stories are sad and not common in our current culture but this is one of them. Most of life isn't a black and white story and being able to understand that, both in fiction and reality, is important for every relationship, moral, and ideal you will ever have.