#I can't wait to see who ends up doing Odysseus

[xwindboundxmagic]

Jorge having the chance to do the viewing party on the day he dropped the Ithaca Saga is a crazy good present to his supporters, friends and fam.

THOUGH MORE OVER WE'RE GONNA GET THE LAST ANIMATICS HE COMMISSIONED

[sammylkcho]

Hello

Heard you were doing epic requests...Telemachus x reader, if you already had ideas for this x reader go for it, if not, maybe the reader is a servant at the palace or it takes place after I can't help but wonder. No pressure to actually do this btw, I'm sure you getting too many requests to keep up with.

Have a nice day! <3

Howdy! I liked the idea of the request, and to make it less challenging for me to write, I decided to make Reader a personal (or close) servant to Telemachus

Warnings/Notes: none!

"Prince Telemachus, would you like me to bring up your dinner tonight? The suitors are still eating and helping themselves to numerous trays of food," you informed him in a formal tone, awaiting his response to see what orders he would give you.

Lately, Telemachus had opted to dine in the comfort of his room to avoid discomfort or any comments from his mother’s suitors. It wasn’t exactly proper, especially for him as the prince, since he was expected to accompany their "guests."

You had tried to gently persuade him, following his mother’s orders, not to be discourteous by leaving the suitors to dine alone. In the end, all those efforts were in vain. You understood that the prince had his reasons for avoiding the same table as them.

With your hands clasped behind your back, occasionally fidgeting nervously, you waited for the prince’s reply—even though you already had a good idea of what it would be.

"I'm not hungry, but thank you," the prince informed you, his tone clearly disheartened and subdued.

You made a visible grimace of displeasure and concern at his words. His demeanor didn’t sit well with you—not that you hated it, but his spirits hadn’t been the same since his argument with Antinous. Each passing day seemed to weigh on him more heavily, especially as the suitors grew increasingly impatient over the lack of a king being chosen.

You bit your lower lip, a tinge of doubt crossing your mind about what to do next. You didn’t want to simply fulfill your role as a servant this time.

Deciding to break that boundary, even if only for a moment, you chose to be Telemachus’s close friend—the one who had stood by his side all these years.

Without needing to say a word, you sat down beside him on the bed. That alone was enough to draw his attention.

The dim light of the two torches flickering in the room seemed to conspire in your favor, casting its glow over the prince’s face. You could see the bruises on his skin, now less swollen—a marked improvement from how they had looked just days ago—and the shadows forming under his eyes, the evidence of sleepless nights spent training or lost in thought.

You remembered those nights. The times you stayed up with him, watching him practice with his wooden sword when you were both still children, or when the two of you would sneak out of the castle. You thought of the moment he had cried in front of you, overcome by the helplessness of not knowing how to rid his home of the men who were taking everything from him—from his family’s food to their dignity.

Maybe it was instinct, or perhaps just muscle memory. As if your body already knew what to do, your hands rose gently to cradle his face.

Your thumb moved softly across his cheek, avoiding the areas where the wounds from his fight with Antinous were still tender.

“We’ll get those men out of here, and they’ll leave your mother alone, I promise.” You whispered, almost afraid that anyone other than him might hear.

Why were you the one making that promise? A simple servant of the castle, tasked with daily mundane duties, with no power except to stand by your prince. You prayed silently to the gods that your words would not be empty, that someday those men would be gone, and Odysseus would return to the home he’d left behind so long ago.

“That.. I swear by the gods, especially by the goddess Athena herself, they couldn’t have given me anyone better than you.” Telemachus murmured.

His voice was just a whisper, so soft that you almost doubted if you had heard him, but the weight of his words filled the space between you with a profound meaning.

Time seemed to pause as you felt his hand, warm and firm, resting over yours. It wasn’t scorching hot or uncomfortably cold; it was just the right warmth, as though it belonged there.

“That punch you gave Antinous must still be giving him a headache. Next time, land an even stronger one for me, but make sure you come out unscathed, okay?” you teased, trying to lighten the mood.

For a moment, something flickered in his eyes before a quiet, sheepish laugh escaped him. You couldn’t help but laugh along.

“With Athena’s strength on my side, I’ll make it happen,” he replied with a newfound confidence, his spirits slowly lifting.

Heat rushed to your face, crawling torturously to your cheeks, and you cursed inwardly, hoping the blush wasn’t too obvious to him.

“It better be. I’d rather not see your face battered again or listen to you complaining while I try to patch you up.” You joked, letting out a soft laugh as he groaned in mock protest.

You treasured moments like these. There were no suitors to humiliate him, no interruptions to break the fragile bubble of peace around you. It was just you and him.

And in your heart, you kept praying to the gods. For Odysseus to return soon. For a way to rid the castle of those men. For these fleeting moments of calm to last just a little longer.

[therandomfandomme]

We're all going feral over the whole "Mercy? Mercy?" which is so valid of us, but the way mercy comes back as a theme in this final saga is really interesting to me, because before this, Odysseus is asked for mercy, for forgiveness:

"Old king, our leader is dead

You've destroyed the serpent's head

Now the rest of us are no longer a threat

Old king, forgive us instead

So that no more blood is shed

Let's have open arms instead"

"No"

He has become Poseidon, the one that first forced him into believing that mercy isn't something he can afford ("Look what you turned me into"), which is made doubly poignant with Eurymachus echoing the open arms of Polites ("Greet the world with open arms"). Now I'm not saying he should have forgiven the suitors for what they were planning on doing, however, this interaction directly informs this one later:

"Throw down those weapons

And I ensure you'll be spared"

"After seeing what the king will do to us

We wouldn't dare"

Because Odysseus doesn't show mercy to Eurymachus, Melanthius doesn't want to take the risk when Telemachus extends mercy to them, which then leads to the starting interaction.

When extending mercy and creating a kinder world is discussed again, it's by Athena. She is the original god, who pushed him towards a lack of mercy, who found that a warrior of the mind is one that showed not mercy and Odysseus believed her during the war, even threw a baby of a roof about it, and it wasn't until after that he rebelled her teachings only to be forced into it by other gods (Poseidon and Zeus most specifically). To which this is said:

"If that world exists, it's far away from here

It's one I'll have to miss, for it's far beyond my years

You might live forever, so you can make it be

But I've got one endeavor, there's a girl I have to see"

"Very well"

"Father, she's waiting for you"

I especially want to highlight that Odysseus says it is beyond his years. He has become that monster and he can't undo that in the years he still has. If this is to happen, then it must be the future generations that Athena has to influence to make that world. Having her reply to that getting interrupted by Telemachus is very purposeful to me. Because he does still extend mercy, he is the new warrior she trained and she trained him differently because her belief changed.

But I also think having her show Odysseus her face with the lightning scar as she agrees is very telling. When she pushed Odysseus to be ruthless she had not been on the other end of no mercy, which is what makes Odysseus turn against her ("Unlik�� you, every time someone dies I'm left to deal with the strain"). She now has been on the other side of it by the hands of someone Odysseus also faced and they were both shown the same lack of mercy. For Odysseus that was his final turning point where he chose no mercy, while Athena did chose mercy.

And in the end, she did get some mercy from Zeus in response from it. Zeus also learned from her, from the lesson Odysseus taught her, which was taught to him by Polites. And that mercy gets paid forward allowing Odysseus to get home (yes, I'm emotional about Polites helping Odysseus get home in the end). Almost every time mercy is shown, his journey progresses (Lotus eaters, Aeolous, Circe, Zeus).

Athena has been through not receiving mercy, but she still believes, is still working towards that future. And while she accepts Odysseus words about him being beyond such a world, she doesn't agree with him. Her reply feels more like accepting a dismissal rather than an agreement. And Telemachus shows up as a reminder that she is more correct than Odysseus in this, and he leads them into Penelope.

God, I love Penelope. With her, Odysseus tells someone yet again that he has changed ("I am not your kind and gentle husband") and that he would understand if she did not love him anymore. And then we get this banger:

"Only my husband knew that

So I guess that makes him you"

Penelope shows him mercy in this. She has asked him what he has done and she is given the option to not want him anymore after hearing about the monster he's turned into, but she doesn't. She forgives him. He asks for forgiveness and she grants it. That is mercy.

Not only that, but she also affirms that he is still him. The usage of husband here is important to me, because he says he's not her husband, who was gentle and kind, and she tells him that he is. He believes him beyond that world where people are empathetic and kind, but the roots of that world he created in Ithaca and with Athena allow him to come home. He isn't a monster beyond redemption, he is also a part of that kinder world, regardless of what he has done.

And then you have the music echo the Just a Man melody when Odysseus sings:

"I'm just a man who's trying to go home

Even after all the years away from what I’ve known

I'm just a man who's fighting for his life

Deep down I would trade the world to see my son and wife

I'm just a man"

He is brought back to who he was when he was still just a man, before he became a monster. He did trade the world to see his son and wife and that makes him just a man.

The whole musical asks the question when a man becomes a monster and I think while it is never explicitly answered, that the answer is: when he isn't shown mercy. And that by showing someone mercy, you can reverse that. That it isn't permanent. I really love the moral question of mercy vs. ruthlessness in that Epic has, so it was really interesting to see how it came back in the end :D

[spoofymcgee]

She feels Hermes arrive more than anything; the flutter of his wings against her skin. He's picked her bad side to appear on, and she's not sure whether it's forgetfulness–doubts it, as Hermes is shrewder than he likes to appear, but usually more considerate as well.

He doesn't say anything, though, content to be a presence sitting next to her and another pair of heels kicking off the side of the cliff.

Ithaca has become something of a hotspot for gods these days, and she doesn't know whether it's because of herself or Odysseus. Telemachus, perhaps, finding wayward deities off on his journey and sending them home for her to deal with. If it is, she might have to shake him next time he comes back.

*He'd have been better as your student," Athena says, finally, once they've watched Odysseus fleece two more sailors cocky enough to challenge the king, and sneak four coin pouches, six hats and nine knives off the spectators in the process. He'll give them all back at the end, but he seems like he's enjoying the challenge, and Penelope sits a polite distance away chatting with the captains' wives and occasionally glancing over to grin at him.

"Who?" Hermes says, like the answer isn't obvious. "Oh, Odysseus? Darling, where in the world did you get that conclusion from? Does Persephone have a new sort of flower she's growing, and if so, where can I get some?"

"Don't be an idiot," Athena tells him, but it doesn't come out half as annoyed as she'd meant. Damn, she really is going soft. "I mean it. Look, he's perfect for you, and you wouldn't have led him astray like I did."

"Do me a favor and don't try and foist your pupils off onto me," Hermes says, checking his nails in the sunlight. He's been down in the Levant again recently, she sees; they're colored a faint orange with darker, intricate designs twisting up his knuckles.

"I'm not," she says, feeling the feathers framing her face ruffle in indignation. "He's mine for as long as he'll have me. I'm only saying, if things were different..."

"But they're not," Hermes says flatly, looking up at her. "We live here and now, dear. Besides, if he was my student he would have been even sneakier, and no one would have taken that well. He wouldn't have made it past the age of twenty, and he wouldn't have been brave enough or good enough to protect his family."

"You can't know that," Athena protests, though her hand drifts absently to the edge of her scar.

"And neither can you," he points out, pulling one foot up to tuck under the opposite thigh. "So stop trying. Odysseus is home, Athena. By the looks of it, you are too. You're not doing anyone a favor by living in the past."

She looks down at her hands, twisting in her lap.

"You're a warrior," he says, voice softening. "You've never given up in your whole life. Don't let yourself lose this battle just because you're fighting your own brain."

The breeze is cool on her face, and she grits her teeth as matching tears slip off her chin and land on her chiton. "Alright."

"Good," Hermes says, and hits the cliff with his heel hard enough to send him twirling into the air, sandals fluttering. "Now, take me to where the olives are, I'm positively starving." He holds his hand out like a princess waiting to have it kissed, the other wrist pressed to his brow with his head thrown back, and she can't help but laugh. He's kind enough to ignore how wet it sounds.

"We can't have that, can we?" she says, and launches herself past him fast enough to send him spinning, and doesn't need to look back to tell he's chasing her–the playful outrage is loud enough even for her to hear.

[wukyma]

yeeop hi, it’s me, the loser who’s writing fanfic for your ghost antinous au! i’ve got some vague and ideas and a decent amount of words done but i saw one of your posts saying you’re writing a document for the au?

i’m thinking i’ll be waiting for that before i make any other big writing decisions, i’m very excited for it :D

Ahhh sorry for the confusion, that was for another thing :'D

Regardless, I do have some ideas for ghost Antinous if you're interested!

(sorry for mentioning but u said u were interested too so @bb-bugspot)

Yappery under the cut 👇

You know that Hermes was also a guide for the dead? One of his "jobs" was bringing souls of mortals to the underworld – the 108 suitors as well, apparently, and whether they were buried appropriately or not doesn't really matter here

What happens? A certain ghosty someone (Antinous) spends the whole day trying to strangle both Odysseus and Telemachus (spoiler: he can't), missing Hermes' arrival to Ithaca like a loser ☆ﾟ⁠.⁠*⁠･⁠｡ﾟ

Hermes bringing a hoard of souls to the underworld: let's see... One, two, three, four... ten......... nah I'm too lazy to do that, bye idiots *flies away*

Now we have Antinous, stuck in the mortal plane where no one can see him, having to watch the happy and thriving family, annoyed, jealous, and alone. Like he deserves tbh

And since I was leaning into comedy in the beginning, Telemachus starting to hear (and later even see; idk maybe Hermes' heritage activated or smth) him is a source of all kinds of moments where he has to act like ✨ everything is fine ✨ while there's an angry dude screaming in his ear "PAY ATTENTION TO ME"

If we sprinkle it with sad vibes then Antinous is pestering Telemachus for two reasons:

he hates him and has nothing better to do anyway

it's the closest thing to human interaction he has now lol

Basically talking to (read: pissing off) Telemachus is the only entertainment, and as time passes he just becomes something of a voice of conscience but diametrically opposed, and by that I mean:

"Who does this prick think he is?! Kick his ass Tele KICK HIS ASS"

"Wow, loser (Peisistratus probably idk) actually likes you, what a moron. You too btw"

Probably the first thing Telemachus sees in the morning too,, poor boy; maybe Antinous even tries to trip him up from time to time (they can't touch each other but small things like these work), invades his personal space, swipes off random objects from their designated surfaces, talks shit during family dinners (Telemachus actually thinks some of it is funny but he won't say that out loud, nuh uh) Penelope and Odysseus are a bit concerned about the strange expressions he makes XD

That dynamic goes on until the moment Antinous says a particularly foul joke and Telemachus slaps him (not really hoping for anything since every time he tried his hand just went through); the hit lands, both are like wtf just happened??? That puts an end to random chaos because (1) Telemachus is older now and will/can beat the shit out of him (2) Antinous just doesn't find the same satisfaction in annoying the prince like before, for some reason

So they just....... come to accept the situation and stick together like the weirdest pair of mismatched socks. END

(one more crumb of comedy material: Antinous now drops random objects on people's heads when they disrespect Telemachus or some similar thing)

That's it! There's one important thing I wanna say tho,, what I wrote is just my vision, if you had something else in mind and it doesn't align with this don't worry too much!! I want to know your ideas as well, and honestly, there wasn't a lot of thought put in cooking up an actual plot on my side; write whatever you feel like writing, I'm already happy those sketches inspired somebody X)

(And! Guys!! A bit of disclaimer: it's not like I'm sticking fingers in ears and going lalalalalala when it comes to Antinous' canon jerk behavior, or justify him – this whole au retains ✨funsies rights✨, don't take it too seriously please)

[inspirationalucky]

EPIC: THE ITHACA SAGA PROMPTS & STARTERS.

of course, go ahead and change names/pronouns/words/etc as necessary to fit your muse or the situation! please do not add more lines/prompts to this post!

The Challenge

"I'm supposed to choose a suitor."

"They don't know that every night I unthread all the work I've done."

"I'd rather lie than allow them to think they've won."

"I never thought that I'd resort to this."

"I don't know much longer I'll last"

"Could it be some kind of sign that my world is all about to change?"

"Is it finally time for the challenge I arranged?"

"Though I never thought that it would come to this, just know I'll be here buying you time."

"Time is fleeting, it's running out."

"Time to be the man of the house."

"Let the arrow fly once you know that your aim is true."

"I'd rather die than grow old without the best of you."

"Though I never thought that this would be the lengths we go for love, I would not have it any other way."

"Though I never thought that it would end like this, just know I'll be here waiting."

Hold Them Down

"Screw this competition. We've been here for hours."

"No more delays."

"Can't you guys see we're being played?"

"This is how they hold us down while we slowly age."

"Where in the hell is our pride and our rage?"

"Here and now there's a chance for action."

"We can take control."

"Burn it down to ashes!"

"Channel the fire inside your soul!"

"Haven't you noticed who's missing?"

"I heard today he comes back to town."

"I say we wait 'till he arrives."

"When he docks his ship we can breach it."

"Let us leave now, today we can strike"

"Hold him down while I slowly break his pride, his trust, his faith, and his bones."

"Cut him down into tiny pieces."

"When the crown wonders where the prince is, only the ocean and I will know."

Odysseus

"For twenty years I've suffered every punishment and pain."

"I come back and find my palace desecrated, sacked like Troy!"

"I... have had... enough."

"Somewhere in the shadows lurks an agile, deadly foe"

"We have the advantage! We've the numbers and the might."

"You don't understand it, this man plans for every fight!"

"Keep your head down! He's aiming for the torches!"

"Our weapons... they're missing!"

"He's using the darkness to hide his approaches."

"We're empty-handed, up against an archer."

"Our only chance is to strike him in the darkness."

"We know these halls! The odds can be tilted!"

"You think I don't know my own palace? I built it!"

"You've destroyed the serpent's head. Now the rest of us are no longer a threat!"

"Forgive us instead so that no more blood is shed."

"Let's have open arms instead!"

"Damn, he's more cunning than I assumed."

"While we were busy plotting, he hid our weapons inside this room."

"I find it hard to believe that the sharpest of kings left his armory unlocked."

"Now that we have armed ourselves, let's make the bastard rot."

"Throw down those weapons and I ensure you'll be spared."

"After seeing what the King will do to us? We wouldn't dare."

"I don't want to hurt you, but trust me, I've come prepared."

"Your very presence has doomed the king, young prince. We don't fight fair."

"We've got company, and he's made a grave mistake!"

"There's a chance for us to win."

"We can still defeat the King if we all attack the Prince!"

"Capture him! He's our greatest chance."

"Make the King obey our command, and if he won't I'll break the kid's hands."

"Mercy? Mercy!?"

"My mercy has long since drowned. It died to bring me home."

"As long as you're around, my family's fate is left unknown."

"You plotted to kill my son!"

"All of you are going to die!"

"You have filled my heart with hate."

"All of you who have done me wrong? This will be your fate!"

I Can't Help But Wonder

"All my life, I'd have died to meet you."

"I thought about your name so much it hurts."

"For twenty years, I dreamt of how I'd greet you."

"Now you're here, and I can't find the words."

"All my life, I'd have died to know you."

"I never could outgrow you."

"I can't help but wonder what your world must be."

"All this time I've wondered if you'd embrace me as your own."

"For so long I've felt alone."

"Look how much you've grown!"

"Oh, my boy, sweetest joy I've known"

"Twenty years ago, I held you in my arms."

"Oh, how time has flown."

"I used to say I'd capture wind and sky for you."

"I held you in my arms, prepared to die for you."

"I can only wonder what your world has been."

"All I've ever wanted was to reunite with my own."

"For twenty years we've wandered, but today you're not alone."

"I'm finally home!"

"You were never one for hellos."

"I can't help but wonder what this world could be if we all held each other with a bit more empathy."

"I can't help but feel like I led you astray."

"What if there's a world where we don't have to live this way?"

"If that world exists it's far away from here. It's one I'll have to miss."

"I've got one endeavor: there's a girl I have to see"

Would You Fall in Love with Me Again?

"Is it you? Have my prayers been answered?"

"Is it really you standing there, or am I dreaming once more?"

"You look different... your eyes look tired."

"Your frame is lighter, and your smile torn."

"Is it really you, my love?"

"I am not the man you fell in love with."

"I am not your kind and gentle husband, and I am not the love you knew before."

"Would you fall in love with me again if you knew all I've done?"

"Would you love me all the same?"

"I know that you've been waiting for love."

"What kind of things did you do?"

"I hurt more lives than I can count on my hands, but all of that was to bring me back to you."

"I had built that wedding bed with my blood and sweat."

"Do you realize what you have asked me?"

"Only my husband knew that, so I guess that makes him you!"

"I will fall in love with you over and over again."

"I don't care how, where, or when. No matter how long it's been, you're mine."

"Don't tell me you're not the same person!"

"You're always my husband, and I've been waiting for you."

[l-bubee-l]

“600 miles of open sea”, and you telling me there wasn’t a single fish for you to catch🤨? I know you got those six torches back there pookie 🤨🤨, I know you can cook em if you catch em.

1.-

🎣

2.-

🐠

🔥

🪵

I think that when they left the Underworld, their brain cells failed to leave with them /j.

But fr, I've personally been thinking that it might be some sort of divine happening. Maybe something that's got to do with Poseidon? Dude just kinda making it so there's barely any fish for them to catch? Because honestly I have a really hard time believing the fact that Odysseus and crew have successfully been avoiding a god when they've literally been traversing his domain.

Especially since Odysseus has made it into said god's hit list. But rather than to just straight up attack them again, he's just been watching, bearing witness to the suffering and hardships that the crew went through. Content to just make life a bit harder for them all for the time being.

"But before you go I need to make you learn how Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves."

Because Odysseus managed to escape Poseidon the first time, he inevitably prolonged the lesson that Poseidon wanted to teach him. As the story goes on, we obviously see how effective the lesson was as Odysseus begins to abide by it.

Thunder Saga happens, Odysseus loses his men and he ends up trapped on an island with a being who holds more power over him, seemingly no way of getting back home, all hope is lost, the sea god is still contently watching.

Odysseus manages to leave, but he's still not completely safe, trials and suffering and all that. Oh but yippee! He's managed to get through each and every single one, determination burning within him.

"I've been waiting, for this moment For the perfect time to strike."

And that's the exact moment he's been waiting for. He ensured that by that time, Odysseus had finally managed to grasp the full extent of his original point. Ruthlessness is mercy. He's finally learned, so it was time that he went.

Everything Odysseus had lost served as an example for him. But with home so close now, he once again had something. Hope.

That was what Poseidon planned to make him lose. Rip the opportunity of him finally reaching his one true goal at the very last second.

"I can't go letting you walk or else the world forgets I'm cold."

As a final end to the lesson, the sea god was going to make an example out of him.

So yeah, me thinks Poseidon actually had more of a hand in all of this than we thought. Lurking around and closely monitoring Odysseus somehow, making sure everything eventually led up to the perfect moment where he'd finally be able to take his long awaited vengeance.

After all, when Odysseus gets washed up onto Calypso's island, what was it that carried him there in the first place?

—

[somecheeseguy]

It seems I've forgotten to upload my opinion on the Ithaca saga, first of all, I would like to say that it is my favorite saga, second of all, all of the songs in the saga are absolute perfection, now let me list out why all of them are such perfection;

1) the challenge: it gives us all the build up we need, it truly showcases the love that Penelope has for Odysseus, she is risking her life by lying to the suitors just so that he has more time, and even when she gives up hope, she proposes one last chance.

2) hold them down: the suitors are getting angry and impatient, they understand the true meaning of the challenge and they are about to do something about it. The song builds up the tension, you know something horrendous is about to happen and you pray that someone intervenes.(Also I really like the end part with antinous singing alongside the suitors)

3) Odysseus: we finally get a ruthless, bloodthirsty Odysseus, willing to strike down anyone who stands in-between him and his family, he unleashes his pent up rage from 20 years of mistakes and losses. He will not stop until his family is safe from all source of harm. Also I would like to mention the open arms part, not only is it one of the best parts of the song because it sound good, you must also think about the thoughts ody is having while the suitors is talking, he is a living projection of polites, and having to strike him down, seeing your best friend for twice, once by your hands.

4) I can't help but wonder: Odysseus, finally done with his journey, and he is reunited with his son, finally after 20 years, he can be at peace. Also, the Athena part, just Athena truly understanding that there does exist a way to be peaceful, but for Odysseus, it is simply too late.

5) would you fall in love with me again: the climax we've all been waiting for, Odysseus and Penelope finally reunited. Odysseus who is now a monster in his own eyes, doesn't believe the love between them can be the same, note that when he explains his past actions he regrets we get to hear the melodies of Poseidon, Zues and Scylla, but in the end their love is eternal and cannot be faltered by the 20 years they have spent apart.

Thanks for listening to my long rant, and sorry I'm late with this.

[musicalfan78]

Every saga in a mf78 nutshell (pt 9, finale)

Warning: This contains some uncomfy mentions of violence, SA, and a bit of gore. Read this at your own risk. 🙏

pt 1, pt 2, pt 3, pt 4, pt 5, pt 6, pt 7, pt 8, pt 9

*THE CHALLENGE*

Penelope: ....the suitors have lost their patience, Telemachus is out. But hey, they don't even know that every night I unthread the work I did. From the storm, it was very harsh-

Penelope: Wait. That could mean something! I gotta announce that damn challenge!

[Penelope gets out of her room, and to the hallway where the suitors are]

Suitors: TIME'S RUNNING OUT! TIME TO CHOOSE A KING! TIME'S RUNNING OUT! TIME TO CHOOSE A KING!

Penelope: Alright! Whoever can string my husband's old bow, shoot through twelve axes cleanly, will be the one who rules with me! Now go on!

[The suitors all go off with the bow]

Penelope: Oh Odysseus, please hurry...I would never live without you, and I'd rather go away than love someone else..

*HOLD THEM DOWN*

[Each suitor tries to string the bow, but as they can see, they're unable to. Antinous moves away from the wall]

Antinous: Enough is enough. We all can't do it, lets face it.

Suitor: He's right!

Antinous: We're being played! A distraction! Where the fuck is our rage and our strongness? We gotta take em out so we'll rule!

Antinous: Oh, and I hear that a weak bitch of a prince was away on a mission, and he comes back today..

Eurymachus: So you're saying you got a plan?

Antinous: Hell yeah I do! We'll go by the beaches, wait till he arrives, then kill him! Chop him up into pieces, and drop them into the sea, the ocean and I's little secret..the birthday boy shall have his last birthday yet..

Suitors: FUCK YEAH!

Antinous: Then, the poor unfortunate queen won't have anyone left to protect her and breaking down that damn door. And I'll ..... get to see the end of the rainbow....feel her gold...and taste the JOYOUS sweetness.... And don't worry boys, im making sure we all get a chance, she'll be helpless at us once we're finished with her!

[All the suitors cheer with pride, all talking and adding onto the plan]

???: ...

Antinous: SO LET'S STAND UP BROTHERS! TAKE CHARGE, AND GET PAST THE LIMIT! NOW WHO'S WITH-

[An arrow is struck right into his throat, he coughs loudly]

Antinous: COUGH..! ..damn....well, im dead. *family guy death pose*

[All the suitors turn around to see who drew the arrow, it was no other than...]

ODYSSEUS

[The old king of Ithaca. He looks at all the suitors, not playing Mr nice guy anymore]

Odysseus: Well, well, well. Twenty years of suffering, pain, and wrath of gods, I come back to see every suitor go against me. It reminds me of troy.

Odysseus: But hearing you going to touch my wife and attack my son? Oh then you have crossed the fucking line. Say your prayers motherfuckers..

[Odysseus goes into the darkness, all of the suitors go and split up into different areas]

Suitor: I still can't question how he's still alive!

Suitor #2: He's been out for so long, he looks like he's been through hell, and more fierce!

Suitor #3: Oh, who gives a shit? We know how to fight back, we'll outnumber him!

The suitors: NO!

Suitor #4: You don't get it man, this king prepares for any fight! AND HOLY MOTHER OF GO-

[A arrow stabs right through the suitor, the rest look down in horror. As they try to run away, Odysseus kills them all, from the neck, to the chest, to the throat]

Suitor #5: WHERE ARE YOU, YOU BASTARD?!

Suitor #6: SHUT THE FUCK UP! HE SEARCHING FOR US THROUGH THE TORCHES.

Suitor #7: UH GUYS? WE GOT A PROBLEM

Suitor #8: THE FUCKING WEAPONS ARE GONE, PERHAPS HE'S TOOK THEM AND NOW IS USING THE DARKNESS TO STRIKE US.

Suitor #9: Well fuck. We're empty handed, he's got his bow. We'll have to kill him in the dark!

Suitor #10: Well that'll be a breeze! We know these halls, it won't be-

[A arrow stabs that suitor in the head as he falls down]

Odysseus: Are yall dumbasses? I BUILT THIS PLACE, IDIOTS!

[Another kill count happens to the rest that were found. Meanwhile, Eurymachus is in the middle of the hall, looking around]

Eurymachus: Hey king! We didn't mean all that shit! We were just playing around!

Odysseus: Are you sure about that...?

Eurymachus: Yes, yes! Ever since you killed the leader we're nothing but innocent now!

Odysseus: ... *Raises the bow*

Eurymachus: WA-WA-WAIT! How about you put that down, and like, relax. Let's hug with open arms!

Odysseus: Hmm, alright.

Eurymachus: REALLY?

[Before eurymachus could reply more, he was bolted down from the arrow towards his throat]

Odysseus: No one says the stuff my best friend says..

Ghost polites: GO KICK THEIR FUCKING ASSES!

[He walks off, feeling the support of every friend that died, away killing suitors left and right]

[Meanwhile, a group of suitors find the weapons room, Amphinomus opens the door..]

Amphinomus: Wow, for one king, he hid our weapons in the room where they usually are placed..no lock at all.

Melanthius: It's a bit fishy that the king who is tough leaves a room of weapons unlocked don't you think?

Amphinomus: That's bullshit. But now we got our stuff back, let's find that shitful king and kill him..

Melanthius: WATCH OUT!

[Out of nowhere, a double spear is stabbed into Amphinomus's stomach, he takes his last breath as the spear is out of him. From the shadows reveals someone, in new armor, and is somewhat looking like Athena....wait, it's-]

TELEMACHUS!

Telemachus: If you want to be spared, then put down the weapons, I ensure it!

Melanthius: So, the prince arrives! Well, unfortunately for you kid, we ain't doing shit, now that we know what the king is up to..

Telemachus: I really don't wanna hurt you, but if I have to, then I will...

Melanthius: Ha! You've doomed the king now, cause now that you're here, we'll make sure it's your last moment here in this world..

Telemachus: NO YOU WONT!

Melanthius: HEY BOYS! LOOK WHO WE FOUND, THE POOR PRINCE OF ITHACA! GRAB THOSE WEAPONS! ITS OUR TIME TO STRIKE!

Telemachus: DONT YOU DO THIS!

Melanthius: Oh we will, ONCE WE DEFEAT YOU, WE'LL KEEP YOU HOSTAGE! NOW ATTACK, BROTHERS!

[The suitors go and surround telemachus and try to attack him, Telemachus stabs them and follows Athena's instructions to make it and defeat them.]

Telemachus: STOP! GET OFF! GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME!

Melanthius: FIGHT TILL HE CANT FIGHT NO MORE! THE KING WILL HAVE NO CHOICE!

[Telemachus keeps killing, and killing, and looks around for more incase they're behind or nearby]

Melanthius: Because if he doesn't arrive, this kid will be like a dead animal...in half.

[After a while, Melanthius smacks telemachus to the ground, the double spear dropped. Melanthius points the sword at Telemachus's neck]

Melanthius: Say goodbye..

Odysseus(from behind): Goodbye..

[Melanthius is stabbed in the back by an arrow,, the sword dropped away from Telemachus. Melanthius was unable to make words]

Telemachus: OH FUCK!

[Telemachus has ran off as he got the chance]

Melanthius: Mer....merc...ple...

Odysseus: You? You beg for mercy?

[The arrow was out, Melanthius falls to his knees]

Odysseus: Your time for mercy has expired...

[He shoots at a suitor]

Odysseus: Mine has died so I could get back..

[He shoots another]

Odysseus: And as long as you're all living, my family's in danger..

[He keeps shooting, not stopping]

Melanthius: B..

Odysseus: Says the one who AGREED to slaughter my son..

Melanthius: WE-

Odysseus: SAYS THE ONE WHO AGREED TO RAPE MY FUCKING WIFE!

Odysseus: I HEARD YOUR SCHEMES, AND WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO TO MY FAMILY. YOU SHALL RECEIVE NO DAMN MERCY! YOU ALL ARE GOING TO DIE! HERE AND NOW!

[He shoots more, and more, and more...he then grabs Melanthius by the shirt]

Odysseus: You all lost my trust, every single one of you, and now that you've shown me your true selves, THIS IS YOUR FATE!

[Odysseus uses the exact arrow, and slashes Melanthius's head off, the rest of his body collapses towards the floor as he drops the corpse]

The rest or the suitors: OH MY FUCKING GOD!

[Odysseus turns the palace into nothing but a red, gushy, bodies, bloody, and smeared up place... All the suitors were dead, Tiresias's prophecy was true, he got home alive, but he was no longer himself]

*I CANT HELP BUT WONDER*

[Telemachus comes out, looking at odysseus, lost at words]

Telemachus: ....father? Is that you?

Odysseus: ...son...

Telemachus: You- and right here-?! Oh my-

Telemachus: ...I've been wondering, thinking, and imagining how I would be like you, rule in your honor, but I'm happy you're back....and to finally meet you, I haven't seen you in a looong while..

Odysseus: ...my son, my boy, you've grown so much, you even look like a soldier, warrior....20 years I held you in my arms, now I get to see you in person...

[The two continue to look at each other, on the verge of crying. After a while, telemachus hugs odysseus, holding onto him]

Telemachus: I MISSED YOU DAD! ;-;

Odysseus: I MISSED YOU TOO SON! IM FINALLY HOME!

[The two emotionally cry their hearts out as they embrace]

Odysseus: ....Telemachus? Do me one favor, and let your mother know I'm home, ill go see her in a few...

Telemachus: ...alright..

[He lets go of the embrace and starts walk off]

Odysseus: ...wait.

Telemachus: ...?

Odysseus: ...Happy birthday.

Telemachus: ....thanks dad. 🥹

[A few seconds later, Odysseus can feel Athena's quick thought signal]

Odysseus: I can feel your sense...something like, an old friend....

[A quick glance to the hour glass, athena is sitting near an edge of it, turned away from odysseus]

Odysseus: You were never the one to say hellos.

Athena: ....sometimes I feel like there was a fucked up moment I did, how this world crumbled down on you once I left.

Athena: If there's a world where everything would be just how it was planned, and not this way, would it be possible?

Odysseus: It'd be far away then. But, hey, your a goddess, and since you're immortal, maybe my son will learn from you more as he's becoming what you wanted, from generation to the next.

Odysseus: I never asked though, could you turn around for a second?

[She does turn around, her right eye has been struck blind, and blue]

Odysseus: Oh, it was zeus wasn't it?

Athena: Yeep..

Odysseus: ...wait, you were the one who fought for me?

Athena: I sure fucking was.....

Odysseus: Wow, I'd like to say thank you then. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have someone I have to see.

Athena: ...alright then, good luck, friend...

[Odysseus gets out of the quick thought, he then walks over to the room where he and her spent nights with..]

*WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH ME AGAIN*

Odysseus: ...My love, you won't have to wait fot me a moment longer...

[Odysseus opens the door, Penelope turns around]

Penelope: ...is it you? My husband? Am I blessed? You're actually here....but you look different.

Odysseus: ...I'm not the one you first knew, I was through hell and horror, and i had to do some consequences to pay the price...

Penelope: What did you do this time?

Odysseus: I killed all the suitors, stabbed a god, and had to lose the crew because of my stupid decisions....sorry I kept you waiting for a long time. Would...you fall in love with me again? Even if it's been a huge while?

Penelope: Hmm, well, if that's true, may I ask if you move our wedding bed and take it far away?

Odysseus: ...are you kidding me?

Penelope: What?

Odysseus: You're telling me to move our wedding bed, that was made from the tree we first met at! The only way to do that is...TO CUT IT FROM ITS ROOTS-

[Penelope raises her eyebrow, smiling while crying]

Odysseus: Oh...so it's a yes?

Penelope: Yes, Ody, I will fall in love with you, every single damn time. Don't tell me you're different, or something else. You're my husband! And I've been...waiting for you, but now we'll love each other just like how we were back then..

Odysseus: ...Penelope..

[Penelope and Odysseus give each other a loving hug, holding onto each.other so save time for who knows what.]

Penelope: I love you, Odysseus...

Odysseus: ....I love you too, Penelope...

[The two look at each other, and they share a soft passionate kiss. Telemachus comes by and sniffles with tears of joy as Athena pats his back. All is right with the world]

.. . .

*BONUS*

[Everything pauses, the screen zooms away, the camera switches to Odysseus. He closes a book]

Odysseus: Well, and that folks, was my story. I went through war, fought a cyclops, went through a storm, defeated a goddess, went to the underworld, defeated sirens...maybe sacrificing 6 men to scylla, sacrificing my crew to Zeus, had to survive 7 years with the bad lady, stabbed a god, Slayed some naughty suitors, and got the girl.

Odysseus: And so..

[Jorge Rivera Herrans comes by and puts an arm around Odysseus, smiling]

Odysseus/Jorge: Was our journessy.

*THE END*

[polskasroka]

If we can't have ody's family in hades 2, let's at least have diomedes (more thoughts on "who are we gonna reunite ody with?" under the cut)

I can't wait for that hades 2 major update not only because of the big plot with chronos

I'm curious about what we're gonna be dealing with when it comes to odysseus

It's quite clear that odysseus-mel relationship is supposed to be the parallel of achilles-zag relationship from the first game. But while in the first game, the devs smoothly decided to reunite achilles with pat (as they should! The boys deserve it!), the situation with odysseus isn't too plain, as some have mentioned on here before.

The fact that it's said in-game that ody and his family went separate ways, kind of implying that things ended (did they? Did they really end?) in a friendly manner, makes me think that, sadly, we won't get to reunite him with penelope and telemachus.

Then we have circe. And if the devs go that way, I'm gonna cry. Just no. Supergiant, don't go that way, at least when it comes to anything romantic. Just no. I know they take their creative liberties when it comes to the iliad and the odyssey BUT idk if reuniting with someone who forced you to do certain things to save your crew is a good idea like ever

So I've lately come up with the idea that in order to fix the problem, the devs could actually go for putting diomedes into the game. Or maybe menelaus even. Why not reunite old friends (or whatever they had going on tbh, the iliad and the odyssey can be interpreted in certain ways iykwim)

Or idk, make him reunite with argos. Finally, the dog won't die at the end of the story

I feel like those things are rather impossible but hey! I wasn't expecting to see the man the myth the legend odysseus in my hades 2 game, so who knows?

[dagondelrio]

So I have been thinking about the Wisdom Saga, obviously. I had some thoughts that I wanted to share. Sorry for the angst. Spoilers for the Wisdom Saga.

So we all know that Hermes is going to be the one to get Odysseus off of Calypso's Island while Athena is recovering? dead?. After having begged Athena to help him at the end of Love in Paradise.

Odysseus must have some complex feelings towards that. No doubt, he is relieved to finally get the chance to go home or die trying after seven years of being trapped there, stuck with his own guilt and grief. On the other hand, he knows that Hermes is there only for his own amusement really. Yes, he helped with Circe, but he straight up told Odysseus that this might fail and he would die and made it clear he really couldn't care less. Not to mention, Hermes is a trickster god archetype. Odysseus likely will listen to Hermes despite all that because any chance, no matter how slim, is worth listening to Hermes. Also, he knows better than to piss off another god.

Odysseus also doesn't know that Athena got extremely hurt? killed? to free him as she didn't speak to him or any indication that she had heard and was going to respond to his prayer and help free him. Hermes might mention it to Odysseus, but based on what little I know about Dangerous so far, Hermes won't, and ultimately, it makes sense as Hermes has met Odysseus This isn't Apollo coming to help with a throw away line like "Oh, I wanted to see the mortal that Athena risked her life to help" that would at least clue Odysseus in on Athena being responsible for his freedom. Odysseus wouldn't even ask about Athena as, for as far as he knows, Athena is still pissed at him and ignoring him.

If Hermes did tell Odysseus, imagine his reaction. First, it will depend on how much he knows. Does he know that she went against Zeus for him or that she was just responsible. If he knew that she went against Zeus and suffered greatly? died? imagine what that would do to his survivors guilt. He has already caused so much pain to those he cared about. His son had to grow up without a father. His wife is running a kingdom and likely filled with grief. His mother died waiting for him to get home. He got his entire crew killed either directly or indirectly. Then his mentor, the one who scorned his friendship, put herself in danger for him and suffered/died for him. If Odysseus only knows that she was the reason but not what Athena did, he'll likely be both glad and hurt. He'd be glad that she had heard his prayers and that she chose to aid him. Hurt that she was too proud to face him and didn't come to him herself. I think this one would be the easiest version for their relationship to repair.

Now, if he doesn't know, he'll probably be mad at Athena for abandoning him when he truly needed her. Her would be resigned as he knows he screwed up by not listening to her and likely thinks that there is no repairing their relationship. There is also anger at himself for allowing himself to believe that Athena would come to his aid after she made it clear in My Goodbye that she didn't really care about Odysseus and wanted nothing more to do with him.

Now, in the Odyssey, Athena disguised Odysseus as a beggar so that he could kill the suitors. Epic of course, is its own work, and this moving forward part depends if Athena is dead. (I know Calypso says goddesses can't die but remember she is talking to a mortal who has no divine abilities or divine aid vs the king of the gods fighting hisi daughter) Hermes really could fit this role as he is a trickster god. If Athena helps well, that is where it gets interesting.

Odysseus wouldn't refuse her help. As he knows not to piss of the gods and he at least kind of knows Athena's intentions. I don't see Athena mentioning the risk that she put herself in for Odysseus. She is prideful. I doubt that she would be willing to admit that she had been beaten by Zeus for Odysseus. I don't see either of them bringing it up. I imagine that Odysseus would be bitter now that she is helping when he had previously begged her for her help, and as far as he knows got nothing from it. However, he won't have any allies, and Ithaca has changed since he has left, so he won't refuse her aid. I doubt their relationship would ever truly recover.

Now imagine when Odysseus finds out that Telemachus made friends with Athena. On one hand he would be relieved. He would be glad that at least someone was looking out for his son when he couldn't (also a little bitter that he couldn't be the one protecting Telemachus). On the other hand, imagine how it must feel to have his friendship with Athena dismissed, where as far as he knows, she only saw him as her student, not a friend. That his son got to have that relationship with her. That she was so quick to replace him with someone else. Imagine Odysseus wondering where he went wrong to not get that same relationship from her that he had wanted.

[crabs-with-sticks]

Okay, but I just watched The Return (2024), which is an adaptation of The Odyssey, specifically the part where Odysseus returns home to Ithica, and oooh boy its giving post-veilguard Solavellan vibes! And y'all are going to get a long ramble of my thoughts because I have classicist training and you can't stop me.

Because Odysseus (and Solas) have changed. They both went to war for 10 long and bloody years. Neither particularly wanted to go to war, even though the seeds of the war were unknowingly sowed by their hands (the Oath of Tyndareus and the creation of the fade), and Odysseus does his absolute best to get out of it (similar to how Solas was going to tell Lavellan everything). But he went anyway and the war was brutal. A 10 year long siege, of throwing bodies at a wall. And then, when the war is at its end, when they are finally winning (because of Odysseus' plan), the sack of the city is brutal. Like I cannot emphasise how fucking brutal it was. The reason why Odysseus takes 10 years to get back (like most of the greek heroes end up dead) is divine retribution for the sack of Troy.

But now to Penelope (or Lavellan in this analogy), Odysseus' wife. She has waited for her husband to return for 20 years. She too has been under siege for three from the suitors who all want to marry her, and thus become king of Ithaca. She has been trying to keep her kingdom at peace. She devises cunning ways of putting them off and is in a fight (of a different kind) to regain her autonomy, but she cannot hold out forever.

Which brings us to the lead up to this scene. Just before this scene, Odysseus has murdered the suitors, as well as made their son into a murderer who has now left. And Penelope is horrified at what her husband has done. And she is angry, angry at the bloodshed and angry at being left alone for so many years. And when she asks him why, Odysseus responds "would you still love the man I had become?" And it is when he asks her for forgiveness that her anger breaks into tears.

But oooooh boy her helping him wash the blood off?? And seeing his new scars and saying "there is so much I do not know", him saying "you do not want to know" ahhhhhhhh and then "your past will be my past, and mine yours" its so perfect!

Because they've both changed they're 20 (or 10 for solavellan) older, and they've changed and they've both gone through so much trauma (I love the way this film portrayed Penelope), but they're choosing this. They're choosing to forgive and to heal together, literally washing the blood off him.

[that-tall-queer-bassist]

Live Reaction of my SECOND listen through of EPIC: The Musical

okay i want my Thoughts after finishing the first listen through today (over the course of a week) but i need to listen Again so here we fucking go peoples. Reblogging with each new saga to keep things organized a bit :)

The Troy Saga

we start!!

The Horse And The Infant

"little ajax stay back" 🥺

"You're not ready"

"I could raise him as my own" I WISH PLEASE

the whole section with overlapping dialogue of possibilities and the tragic ends they would lead to

i wanna know who that guy speaking was i don't remember

Just a Man

its so tragic how this infant reminds him of his own son like what the fuck thats so fucked up how could jorge do this to us. OW.

"close your eyes and spare yourself the view" Q^Q

this whole song gets me. especially paired with WolfyTheWitch's animatic to it. augh.

GOD knowing that all of these metaphors come back later and become Relevant i CANT OMG

"Forgive me" is probably the worst thing he could say because i do and i can't at the same time, but he's not asking me to forgive him, he's asking this INFANT who he KILLED AUGH

Full Speed Ahead

600 men. 601 with Odysseus

god this really is just setting the scene huh. and well!!

He really did wanna go home as fast as he could

OH MY GOD MY BOI I FORGOT ABOUT HIM AND HIS OPEN ARMS

his voice is like. angelic. wow.

"and if we don't return, then 600 men can make this place burn" i forgot about that woah

Open Arms

"My friend" my heart hurts

"This life is amazing when you greet it with open arms" oh sweet boy

the sound of a sword being drawn is so good omg

"600 friends are waiting for us to show our faces" XD bruh not subtle

EVEN LESS SUBTLE

Polites i love you

"My friend" you are friends yes please remember that please

Oh i forgot the lotus eaters sent them to "this food filled cave"

"I see in your face there is so much guilt in your heart" AUGH MY BOY

the repeating by odysseus...

"You can relax my friend" at the end like AUGH thats so GOOD and then the immediate next song being Warrior of the Mind !!! very good very tragic

Warrior of the Mind

immediately the music change raises the tension

the way Odysseus immediately knows who she is, hears or something, i love it so much.

"Have you forgotten your purpose? Let me remind you." AUGH hes not a man, but a tool

He seems like more of a conquest or trophy than a person to her, which is fair given he's a mortal and she's a goddess but damn this really does just keep happening to him, being a gods plaything huh?

THIS CHORUS GOES SO SO HARD THOUGH

"Maybe one day he'll follow me and we'll make a greater tomorrow" the way she sings this makes my brain so happy

the whole chorus just scratches my brain in such a good way omg

the slowness. "show yourself"

HIS LITTLE LAUGH

the whole exchange honestly

"nah, don't be modest, i know you're a goddess, so lets be honest-" YES YES YES

"YOU ARE ATHENA" WOOOOOOOOOOOO CLAPPING CHEERING

his description of her is great

"goddess and man, bestest of friends!" "We'll see where it ends" "okay" asdghkjsa im wheezing

THEIR DUET

I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

"ending on "don't disappoint me" is so mean

[beurkivol]

JORGE CANT HURT US MORE ISNT ? [WISDOM SAGA EDITION | SPOILERS]

at the end of the thunder saga I was crying my eyes out. But hey, I said to myself, as an unquestioning optimist. Now that all the crew are dead, no one's going to die, so no more emotional damage, it's DONE, and he can't do the pancake thing again, Jay! Ahhhh. I was optimistic and naive. I'd forgotten that Mr Jay was as crazy as I was. Or worse. So here we go, rewinding the traumas!

Legendary :

legendary spared us quite a bit at the beginning, at least all the sweet stuff with Telemachus playing Disney princesses. Only argos got me, but then argos is ‘only’ in the animatics. well, I'm going to count the animatics because I was at the livestream.

And then antinous. It's not so much the trauma as the distress of telemachus that was touching. And I jumped up when I heard antinous' words. I was expecting threats, vulgarity, in short, for him to be hurtful, but I wasn't expecting that.

little wolf

Little Wolf was also quite calm. What I mean by that is that the trio of songs shared by Athena and Telemachus can be touching, that Antinous is worrying, the songs aren't bathed in the same dark, worrying and pessimistic atmosphere as those in Thunder Saga. Athena brings light and hope to Telemachus and you think ‘that's it, a goddess against all this rubbish, it'll be over in no time’. Even if telemachus takes a beating against antinous, he's got an impressive level up and with just a little more help from athena he'll be able to beat everyone.

We'il be fine

when we'il be fine, i screamed, because ATHENA CHARACTER ARC. Because she calls odysseus her friend, she calls telemachus good kid, because you feel the chemistry between the two and it's incredible. you feel all the hope in this song, and telemachus is definitely the reincarnation of polites. And the reference to your light is sublime.

Love in paradise

the little recap at the beginning of love in paradise is nice, especially in animatic, I was riveted. I have to admit that for Love in Paradise I was really waiting for a slightly comic song where Calypso acts like a 2 year old fangirl. I totally underestimated Jay. Already. 1. the music grabbed me right in the heart. And…. sorry but the depressive part of the song? ‘ody, get away from the lenge’. I thought polites couldn't fool me any more. LOST. JUST LET ME CLOSE MY EYES, MY OPENS ARMS. odysseus's howl at the end broke my heart. You could really feel his despair. I couldn't even see ‘im a monster now’ (not the raw raw raw version the edgy version), I just saw a depressed, borderline suicidal guy. heartbreaking.

God games

god games. i was expecting a punchy, catchy, song. A great song. But i was not expecting the end. (i do a little post about, and 2 other about athena)

in other words, ZEUS STAGGERING HIS OWN DAUGHTER, HIS FAVORITE DAUGHTER. AND HER, WALKING IN THE LIGHTNING, MOTIVED BY A VISION OF THE FAMILY SHE IS FIGHTING FOR, FALLING ON THE FLOOR IN HER OWN BLOOD AND BEGGING HIS FATHER (WHO TRIED TO KILL HER) TO LET GO HIS FRIEND AND PASSED OUT OR DYING WE DONT KNOW.

do i really need to said more ? NO.

but im going to analyse all that more i swear...

Jorge, im watching you. If athena dies, im going to do something bad.

[talxe]

Reading the Iliad, Book 14 thoughts

This is my first time ever reading it and I know next to nothing abt greek mythology so if I interpret anything wrong by all means pls correct me

Im reading the Robert Fagles translation

Honestly not much happened

Nestor is still recouping, he's chilling in his tent drinking wine

NESTOR THE TROJANS ARE IN THE DAMN CAMP

He finally hears the cry of war and grabs a spear/shield while leaving his tent

When Nestor gets outside he's just met with a shitshow lol

He meets up with the heroes of the Greek side (Diomedes, Agamemnon, ppl like that)

And those guys are kinda just standing around

Agamemnon straight up admits that Hector scares him because he wants to burn their ships. He also fears the rest of the Argives hating him as much as Achilles does

Once again Agamemnon goes "Fuck it we should go home."

Odysseus DOES NOT TOLERATE THAT GOING HOME SHIT THO and scolds him bc the leader of their army probably shouldn't be talking like that

"My bad." - Agamemnon

Diomedes hops up and gives us another "My father, and my father's father, and his father's father" speech bc everyone in the Iliad has to list their entire family tree each time they speak

So Diomedes poses a that they should support others who are uninjured and can still fight since they themselves cannot

Poseidon pops up to tell Agamemnon that Achilles is probably jumping for joy at this moment bc the Greeks are losing and that makes Achilles super un-cool lmao

Sooooo Hera decided to seduce Zeus

Using the weakness of men against themselves I love to see it honestly

Hera gets all dolled up and enlists the help of Aphrodite

But she does this by lying to Aphrodite. Hera spins this story abt her needing to play matchmaker for another two gods so she needs Aphrodite to make her look really hot

She gives Hera a breastplate that will make Zeus sleep with her

Hera stops to talk to the god of sleep

Why is he just called sleep and not Hypnos?

Anyway she asks him to put Zeus to sleep so she can help the Argives

Sleep goes "Absolutely not, I played this game before and almost got my ass whooped if it wasn't for my mother."

Hera offers one of the three Graces to marry him and sleep folds

Sleep and Hera speed over to Mt. Ida which is where Zeus is

Her plan works and Zeus starts listing off all the women he's slept with during their marriage??????

And ends the list by saying "I've never felt such lust before but now I do♥️"

Thanks?

Can't believe Hera didn't lose her fucking mind

They end up banging inside of a golden cloud

Sleep makes Zeus fall asleep afterward. Ig he had to sit there and wait until they finished

Sleep speeds down to Poseidon and basically tells him that whatever move he needs to make to aid the Argives, now is the time to make them. So he ushers the Greeks into battle

Hector and Ajax (greater) start going at each other, Ajax throws a rock and Hector is described to be "sent whirling" when it hits him and he loses consciousness

The Greeks try to take this opportunity to kill Hector but his Trojan buddies drag him away

LMAO ig the rock made Hector spin so much that he vomits "Dark clots" (blood) when he wakes up

Peneleos (Idk he's not important) just full send charges and throws his spear at some guy

Which ends up striking him below the eye and popping it out of its socket

Im abt to fucking cry

Ajax (lesser) had the highest kill count of the day

[epicthemusical]

Too Late to Trust

The Underworld from Eury POV

the bracelet idea is from @awnrii designs thank you for letting me use them

Eurylochus stands firm even with the haunting moans of the spirits surrounding them. He oversees the crew making sure they do their jobs, refusing to show just how much the stale air and flickering of ghosts terrify him. He ignores the strange shapes and shadows in the corners of his sight. He watches as hundreds of souls stretch out from the river, eyes staring straight at Odysseus blaming him as chants of captain echo through the air. Odysseus stumbles back in shock and Eurylochus feels guilt smothering him. Those men may have died blaming Odysseus but the real blame lies with him. If only he had not opened that bag and actually obeyed Odysseus then they would not be dead. They would not be souls cursed to forever be stuck in the river Cocytus, never to find peace.

All I hear are screams, every time I dare to close my eyes.

I no longer dream, only nightmares of those who've died.

He heads over to Odysseus to try his best to comfort his Captain and brother. That is the least he can do since he can't bring himself to admit what he has done. Odysseus is sitting curled up on the deck clutching at his head, obviously struggling with something. He places a hand on Odysseus' shoulder and hears him mutter about the infant he had killed back in Troy. Before he can say anything he hears a familiar voice singing in the distance that makes his heart ache.

This life is amazing when you greet the world with open arms.

Polites pale and see through form floats next to the ship as it continues singing. Eurylochus has to blink away tears at the sight of his friend. He looked like he had never died but something is off somehow. That's when he realizes Polites didn't have his headband or bracelets. His hair is not held back and his wrists bare. The three of them had worn the bracelets throughout the war after Polites insisted on it, saying they had to match. After 10 years of war he had gotten used to the flash of gold whenever their arms move. His hand brushes against Polite's bracelet resting on his own wrist.

Whatever we face, we'll be fine if we're leading from the heart

No matter the place, we can light up the world

Here's how to start:

Greet the world with open arms

Greet the world with open arms

Eurylochus feels guilt well up inside as he hears Odysseus call out Polite's name again, his voice broken and filled with grief. How disappointed would Polites had been at him for not trusting Odysseus and opening the wind bag?

Another voice starts singing out and this one has him freeze. It can't be who he thinks it is… Did she really die? She can't have died before they had gotten home. He had promised to bring Odysseus back to her safely and if she died that means he failed.

Waiting

Odysseus, when you come home I'll be waiting

Even if you're the last thing I see, I'll be waiting 

I'm right here, mom

Waiting 

Can't you see? I'm

Waiting

We took too long… why did he have to open that damn bag? If he had just trusted in Odysseus then they would have made it home by now. They might have made it in time to see her in her final moments.

Bye, Mom…

The spirit fades away leaving them even more shattered than before. Once again grief and guilt rip at him at how broken his brother sounded as he watches Odysseus stares straight ahead, his mouth set firmly in a line with teary eyes. He is obviously trying to hold back his grief just like Eurylochus. He decides to try and comfort him later once they are safe and alone.

Odysseus orders everyone to stay on the ship as he heads off alone to talk with the prophet. Eurylochus can only nod and watch him walk away concerned for his friend. He can only hope he won't end up breaking. Prophecies are not something to mess around with and rarely ever end well so they can only pray Odysseus comes back with good news. who is he kidding the gods have long since abandoned them.

As he waits with the crew his mind starts to wonder to his beloved wife, Ctimene. He wants to see her so badly but it seems it will take even longer to get home to her. Is she safe and alive? He hopes so, the fact he didn't see her soul is reassuring at least. Once he finally gets back he will do everything he has missed out on while away.

Eurylochus is jolted out of his thoughts as Odysseus barks orders to set off and he can't help but notice how off he is. Even after all that had happened his friend had a spark of mischief in his eyes no matter how dull it had become. Now though that spark is gone leaving only steely determination. His movements are rigid and his aura cold as he barks orders. 

It scares Eurylochus at how detached and distant his brother seems almost like- he stops that trail of thought immediately, he refuses to doubt his captain anymore. If Odysseus thinks this new attitude is what will get them home then he will trust that judgement.

After all Odysseus has shown he will do anything he can to get them all home alive.