#calliope devotee

[hellenic-gaelic-altar]

I know it's not New Years yet but here's a little Yule poem kinda?

[ravenandmoon]

🎶Apollon Mousagétês & Calliope⚔️

[mythicalmuseomine]

Lady Calliope

Muse of Eloquence and Epic Poetry.

Not a request. My own digital offering to the Lady Calliope

Taking requests

[artemis-potnia-theron]

Apollo and the Muses (John Singer Sargent)

[critterfloozy]

A Reflection or Molding

for @critter-genfic-events critter gen week day four - grief/mourning

Caduceus experiences a loss. Essek does his best to comfort him.

(1427 words, happens a few hundred years after campaign 2 so everyone you would expect to be dead is so, plus another character death)

Caduceus should clean up Caleb’s grave  - Veth’s sunflowers were encroaching again.

Not all of the Nein had been buried in the grove. In the end, Caleb had chosen to be buried near his parents in Blumenthal, where he’d spent his years after retirement. But they all had their own shrines. The corpses were the least important part of a grave, after a while. Caduceus would be shocked if there were more than a few stray bones left of Veth over a century later.

Even if there was no Caleb underneath, it still represented Caleb. Essek was coming, and would be the first non-Clay to see the newest grave. It was important that Caleb’s grave should be nicely tended.

If that meant he had less time to deal with the new grave, well. That’s just how it happened. It didn’t have to mean anything. 

Caduceus had finished up tidying up Caleb and was contemplating getting up off of his knees again (an act that he found required a lot more contemplation these days) when he heard Essek’s approach. Essek still looked maddeningly young to Caduceus’s eyes, though he knew even the drow must have some signs of age. The stylish clothes helped him look young, maybe. He adventured less, taught more these days, but was still a few centuries away from retirement.

The thought of having a few centuries more made Caduceus feel tired.

Essek approached the familiar graves and gave them respect, while Caduceus finally made his way onto his feet.

“You’ve done a great job tending to them,” Essek said as a way of greeting.

“Yeah,” Caduceus said in response. “Good to see you again, but sorry about the circumstances.”

Essek nodded and hovered closer, looking like he’s not sure whether or not he should touch Caduceus. Caduceus didn’t want to make it easier for Essek at this moment. 

Eventually, Essek decided upon retreat and cleared his throat. “Where’s Clarabelle?” 

Well, it was going to happen sooner or later. It was the reason Essek was here, after all.

Caduceus led them to a spot in the back of the cottage, next to the wall surrounding the graveyard. It was a freshly dug grave, even with the mushrooms that the Wildmother encouraged to grow there. No marker yet - Calliope was still working on it.

Caduceus gestured to the grave, not wanting to say it out loud.

He found that he didn’t have that much energy to do things he didn’t want to do these days. Nobody could really make him do them anymore, either.

Essek knelt at the grave, and said a few words in Zemnian. Caduceus wondered if Kryn high society didn’t really do rituals, so Essek adopted what he learned from Caleb, Or maybe he just preferred Zemnian mourning.

A question for another time.

“How did it happen?” Essek asked after he’d finished. He was looking up at Caduceus. A wide brimmed hat and sunglasses protected his eyes, but the horribly sympathetic tone of his voice came through loud and clear.

Caduceus cleared his throat and shifted more of his weight onto his staff. “Had something to do with growing up in the Savilirwood, near the rot. Got in her, and didn’t want to get out.”

They’d tried. A whole family of devotees, and Caduceus had been the Wildmother’s favored son, once upon a time. Or he felt like he’d been. Nothing they did helped, and no Divine Intervention arrived.

Caduceus spied a glint in Essek’s sunglasses. He’d narrowed his eyes, and his lips twitched like he’d figured out a puzzle and was trying to figure out now whether or not to voice the solution. “You’re not afflicted with the same rot, are you?”

Ah. Yeah. The rest of the Clays had wondered the same thing. He was the next closest in age to Clarabelle, after all.

“Nope. Just lucky.” He tried for a shrug, but it was hard when leaning on a staff.

Essek got to his feet, then resumed hovering. Caduceus looked on with a little envy at how fluid that motion was - maybe all those centuries of floating was easier on his knees. His lips twisted in thought for a second. “Or perhaps.. I wonder - have you ever been resurrected?”

“Veth blew me up one time.”

“Well, it is possible that when you came back, the resurrection took away the rot.”

“Hmm, maybe.” He didn’t really want to think about it, either way. Having a reason wouldn’t make anything feel more fair.

“Is this your first time dealing with something like this?” Essek asked.

“First funeral?” Caduceus gestured widely at the rest of the graveyard. If there was anything he knew, it was graves.

Essek looked at Caduceus from over the rim of his sunglasses. unimpressed. “You know what I meant. Is this your first death of someone that you were close to - First family member.”

“The Nein were family.” And he’d buried most of them. All except for himself and Essek, and some of their children,too.

Essek huffed in exasperation. “First person you’ve lost where you couldn’t sink into taking care of the other people grieving, because they’re too busy trying to take care of you.”

Caduceus didn’t respond. Calliope and Colton and Corus and Cait would all probably let them try to comfort them, but it didn’t feel right. Like they were just humoring him. They all needed to keep busy, too.

“You told me something when Caleb died. Do you remember what it was?”

Caduceus thought back. How long ago - two hundred years? Before Cait had been born. It had been an autumn day. “I told you that it would hurt, and that it might continue to hurt from time to time, but less often as time went on. I think I used the metaphor about a box and a ball and a target.”

Essek nodded. “I promised to tell you the same when the time came. Would you like me to?”

A wave of anger took Caduceus by surprise. “No,” he said, and then controlled himself. He knew it would be better, eventually. It didn’t help with the now.

He was so tired.

Oh. Huh. This might have explained some of the responses he’s gotten in the past.

Essek nodded and smirked briefly, his fangs poking out of his mouth. Then he stood next to Caduceus, looking at the grave.  One of Clarabelle’s old murals was painted on the wall - one with a mix of different flowers and swirls of color. One of the last things she had done was touch up some of the colors.

“Do you know a lot about those orchids?” Essek gestured to some of the purple flowers near the center, some strange yellow center around some complicated looking petals.  

“Seems like they’d be a challenge to grow.” In truth, Caduceus hadn’t known that the flowers Clarabelle had painted were orchids.

“They were made to be pollinated by - ah, I forget. Some insect that died when the gods fought in the schism. The name is not the important part.  It resembled that pistil in the center there. Long after the last of those insects died - the age of Arcanum and two Calamities have happened since - and we still know what they look like because of this flower.”

“Hmm.” Caduceus was sure Essek was going to get to a point eventually - he had his lecturing stance - but he kind of wished that Essek would get there sooner rather than later.

“There are people out there who will never know Clarabelle, but would still see the reflection she’d have on the world - through you, through Calliope and Cait and Corus, through all of those other people she’d touched through the years. They may not know her name, but they’ll know her shape.”

Essek searched Caduceus’s face again, and touched his elbow. It was a rather restrained touch, all things considered - but for Essek to initiate it, it was the equivalent of a full bodied hug.

“Someone told me something similar, back when Jester died. It helped me then. It may help you, and if not - I hope that the simple circumstance - that you still have a friend that cares and sympathizes - may bring you some solace.”

It did, in a way. Caduceus tried his best to hold onto that feeling.

“You should come inside. The rest of the family is here, and there is more food than we can ever hope to eat,” Caduceus said in response. It was the closest he could get to thank you in that moment.

Essek seemed to understand anyway.

[zoeysdamn]

The Sandman Masterlist

[MAIN MASTERLIST]

There shall be night | Morpheus x priestess fem!reader | Serie | [COMPLETE]

||Angst | Slow burn | Mentions of blood, death and religious themes | smut (*)||

Synopsis: There used to be a time where gods were worshipped by mortals, way more than the modern times ever could. Those times were the era of temples and devoted beings, of prophecies and offerings. Back then in Ancient Greece, even before Dream of the Endless married Calliope, he discovered his first devotees.

Part.1

Part.2

Part.3

Part.4

Part.5 (*)

Part.6

Part.7

Part.8 (*)

Part.9

Part.10

Part.11

Part.12

Epilogue

Bonus parts: 

There shall be art | Morpheus x priestess fem!reader | One shot |

||Established relationship | Fluff||

Synopsis: On a rare day-off, Morpheus, his wife and Death are visiting a museum, recalling all the centuries they went throught.

[Read it here!]

Forget me not | Morpheus x priestess fem!reader (minor) | One shot |

||Established relationship | Fluff | Minor angst | brother-sister dynamic||

Synopsis: When Lyra the young daughter and Morpheus and (Y/N) accidently wanders in an unwelcoming part of the Dreaming, she finds herself encountering the darkest creatures of the realm. Among them, a familiar blonde nightmare with dark binoculars and a knack for threatening child’s bullies.

[Read it here!]

Terrible thing | Morpheus x fem!reader, Hob x fem!reader, Morpheus x Hob | Serie | [COMPLETE]

||Angst | Slow burn | Poly relationship | smut (*)||

Synopsis: The way he kissed her reminded her of how soft and naive she had been when she became someone's other. Not in a bad way though, and she responded to his passionate and gentle affection with equal fervor. She had been seeking Hob Gadling's company out of a hurt heart and hateful tears. Yet, why was every single of their kisses a painful reminder of the confusion where her heart belonged? None of theirs was truly free, and at some point they both knew it. So she closed her eyes, and against her better judgment let the vision of starry eyes fill her mind as Hob's warm hands cradled her close to him.

Prologue

Part.1

Part.2

Part.3 (*)

Part.4 (*)

Part.5

Part.6

Part.7

Part.8

Epilogue

Crack headcanons and thoughts

Dream of the Fab 

The Sandman x Hamilton crossover nobody asked for

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS OKAY

Cinnamon roll alignement chart 

Johanna, no 

Hob Gadling and the art of making immortal jokes

Confused™ Dream of the Endless

[rgraves1]

Source: The Collector

Orpheus

ORPHEUS, SON of the Thracian King Oeagrus and the Muse Calliope, was the most famous poet and musician who ever lived. Apollo presented him with a lyre, and the Muses taught him its use, so that he not only enchanted wild beasts, but made the trees and rocks move from their places to follow the sound of his music. At Zone in Thrace a number of ancient mountain oaks are are still standing in the pattern of one of his dances, just as he left them. (Orpheus, The Greek Myths by Robert Graves, pp 111-115)

Orpheus joined the Argonauts on their adventures and on his return married Eurydice. The unfortunate woman suffered a fatal snake bite while trying to escape an attempted rape, and so descended into Tartarus. The grieving Orpheus travelled to the Underworld to claim back his deceased love. His beautiful music charmed both Charon, ferryman over the River Styx and the three headed hound and guardian of the gates to Tartarus, Cerebus. He thus gained an audience with Hades and Persephone. His song charmed even these two sombre rulers of the realm of the dead and they agreed to the release of Eurydice to her husband. Hades promised the young man he would have free passage to the land of the living but if he wished Eurydice to be restored to him, he must not look back at her before she reached the surface. The young woman followed her husband faithfully, guided by the sound of his lyre, and at the last, as the bright sunlight of the mortal world burst upon them, Orpheus turned to see if Eurydice was still behind him and she disappeared forever.

Orpheus met an horrific end. Dionysus was enraged when Orpheus, who had become priest of the Sun God, Helius, refused to make obeisance to him when the wine god and his train invaded Thrace. The furious Dionysus therefore set the Maenads on the musician. The crazed women massacred Orpheus’s devotees and then tore Orpheus himself limb from limb. His head they tossed into the River Hebrus, from whence it floated, its mouth still singing, until it washed up on the island of Lesbos. The Maenads were punished for this murder when the Gods decided they must die for the crime, but Dionysus saved his female followers by turning them into oak trees.

Graves draws attention to the similarity of the singing decapitated head of Orpheus to that of the Welsh god, Bran, discerning a religious connection between the two myths.

[theic-manic]

Thanks Apollo and Hermes

I asked them for divine signs and help understanding them right?

So when a tiktok tarot reader who has typically been very specific and spot on with my life events on the odd occasion they appear on my FYP tells me that cicadas will be significant, exhausted me just filed that away last night.

Last night (2 nights ago when I post this) I had a very Melinoe inspired dream (no cicadas) and seeing this post I suddenly recall the tiktok right?

Now, after spending a few hours writing a very in-depth post on deity consent and devotee experiences as an Apollo devotional I'm too mentally fried to look up cicada shit just yet... so I outsource some of the effort.

[Saves post in drafts for when I have sufficient executive function to rabbithole bloody Cicadas]

Okay now that I have rested, let's resume this shall we?

Right before Melinoe reached out to me, I dreamt of Scarabs. As a child, I freaking loved collecting Cicada shells and I loved Scarab jewellery etc. So, imagine my pleasant surprise when i find that these two insects are linked since a number of articles on the spiritual meaning of cicadas tend to also reference scarabs given that both have many overlaps in how they were perceived in relation to death, transformation and the likes. So here we come to something a little Melinoe-coded with cicadas:

Monstrosity has always had a place in religion, across cultures and eras. Monsters elicit a contradictory affectivity characterized by simultaneous fascination and repulsion -- "sacred horror." Cicadas are particularly apt for arousing such affections, embodying a host of monstrous characteristics. Giants among insects, and gigantic in number; grotesque in appearance (with red eyes bulging from malevolent, mask-like "faces"); and endowed with a collective clamor that verges on a roar, cicadas fascinate even as they frighten. (1)

And then we get to Apollo and Cicadas.

Oh but it doesn't stop there. Why else would Apollo like cicadas? Because he's a horny prick (respectfully) aka "Erotic Mania"

Every seventeen years, these cicadas mate in a single-minded frenzy, their orgiastic abundance ensuring future fecundity. It is not only their collective amatory life, however, but their imminent death that bespeaks eroticism. (1) See also:

What do i do with this information?

No bloody idea yet other than "okay so Apollo mentioning that he has been watching me since my youth may be somewhat noteworthy to my personal practice" And also remembering my post on deity devotion and consent I wrote yesterday, I am reminded of the need to ensure that I don't allow Apollo (or any deity) to push me past my limits:

Cicadas used to be men; after song was invented, they delighted so much in music that they forgot to eat and died. The Muses turned them into insects who sing continuously without needing sustenance. (2)

And I am also reminded to continue playing Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical as a break from my spiritual studies..

The second part of the myth takes this idea further. On my reading, the cicadas represent the paradox of carrying the work of the voice beyond death and allow us to think about the very essence of vocality: mortal in its phenomenology, but immortal in its power. The passage gives the key to its own reading in the last lines, by putting Calliope (the-one-with-the-beautiful-voice, who lets out καλλίστην φωνήν) above all other Muses, and by concluding with Phaedrus’ injunction to speak (λεκτέον). (2)

Note to self; I may need to also ponder all the Dionysus content that I've been seeing...

https://divinity.uchicago.edu/sightings/articles/cicada-complex-jeremy-biles

2. https://classicalstudies.org/mythologies-voice-plato%E2%80%99s-cicadas-and-nature-voice

I am now going to go ponder Cicadas and their symbolism of death, rebirth, music and manic fuck frenzies.

ancient greek cicada epithets

ἀναιμόσαρκος (anaimosarkos), with bloodless flesh

ἡλιομανής (hēliomanēs), sun-mad, mad for love of the sun

μελεσίπτερος (melesipteros), singing with its wings

ἠχέτης (ēchetēs), clear-sounding, musical, shrill; chirping

λακέτας (laketas), chirper

λιγυπτέρυγος (ligupterugos), chirping with the wings

μεσημβρινός (mesēmbrinos), belonging to noon

[musamora]

❛ there's something so lonesome about you, something so wholesome about you! ❜

⟶ YOUR DEVOTED MUSE. she/her/they/them. nineteen. multifandom blog + [n]sfw content. your resident fyodor enthusiast and nihilistic romance author.

⨳┊STATUS: studying & drafting from eden.

please read the rules before you interact. requests are currently closed.

Ꮺ — navigation.

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Ꮺ — recently posted fics.

❛ aftercare ❜ ft. fyodor [1.1k+ wc, calliope's confectionary]

❛ stay the night ❜ ft. nikolai [1.2k+ wc, calliope's confectionary]

❛ the dreadful need in the devotee ❜ ft. fyodor [3.8k+ wc, sequel]

Ꮺ — works in progress.

❛ from eden ❜ ft. fyodor — scripting (currently 2.8k)

❛ calliope's confectionary ❜ collection — 50% completed (07/14)

❛ catch me, i've fallen too far ❜ ft. multiple characters — rough draft (est. 4k)

Ꮺ — directory.

#muses.mumbles | list of my rambles. #muses.exhibitions | list of my favorite art pieces. #muses.collection | list of my favorite fanfics. #☆.musings | list of my personal works.

© MUSAMORA 2024 — do not repost or modify my works for any reason. do not steal graphics w/o explicit permission. reblogs are appreciated.

[classicschronicles]

Hi lovelies,

So earlier I was listening to Hozier’s ‘Talk’ and the following lines have been stuck in my head all day:

“I’d be the voice that urged Orpheus When her body was found I’d be the choiceless hope in grief That drove him underground I’d be the dreadful need in the devotee That made him turn around And I’d be the immediate forgiveness In Eurydice Imagine being loved by me.”

So today’s post is about the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. (Also everyone go listen to Swan Upon Leda it’s so good and he’s back from the dead and it’s so slay). And without any further ado- the story of Orpheus and Eurydice.

Orpheus was known as the most talented musician of ancient times. There is some argument over his genealogy, with some claiming Apollo was his fathers and some claiming that the King of Thrace was his father. However, it is widely agreed that he was the son of a Muse (most probably Calliope, the patron of epic poetry). Orpheus had a divinely gifted voice that could charm everyone who heard him. When Apollo gifted him his first lyre as a young boy, he mastered it instantly. According to popular myth, it was said that Orpheus’ singing and playing were so beautiful that animals, trees and even rocks would dance at the sound of his music, and move to be closer to his sound.

According to some ancient texts, Orpheus taught agriculture, writing and medicine. He was believed to have joined the Argonautic expedition. He saved them from the deadly music of the Sirens by playing his own, and much more potent, music.

Orpheus would spend much of his early years in the idyllic pursuit of music and poetry. He had skills that no amount of fame or respect could match. By his late youth, he would have huge audiences that would travel from near and far to come and listen to his music. It was at one such gathering (I guess concert?) that his eyes chanced upon a wood nymph. The nymph was called Eurydice, she was beautiful and shy and she’d been drawn to Oedipus by his voice. Something beautiful pulled at the heart of the two and they fell utterly in love with each other. Their wedding day was blessed by the god of marriage, Hymenaios, and a great feast followed. The surroundings were filled with laughter and joy

However, nothing good thing lasts forever. There was one man (Aristaeus) who had always despised Orpheus and wished for Eurydice to be his own. Aristaeus plotted a plan to capture the beautiful nymph. He waited in a bush for the couple to pass, intending to ambush and kill Orpheus. But as soon as Orpheus saw the shepherd he grabbed Eurydice and ran. Eurydice, however, fell into a nest of snake eggs and was bitten by a deadly viper.

After the death of Eurydice, Orpheus was no longer able to take pleasure in anything that excited him. His life without Eurydice was bleak and he could no little other than grieve for her. Amid his sorrow he conceived a plan, to travel to the underworld and bring his wife back with him (“I’d be the voice that urged Orpheus when her body was found. I’d be the choiceless hope in grief that drove him underground.”).

Orpheus descended to the underworld, armed with his lyre, voice and weapons. Orpheus approached Charon and demanded entry into the underworld, and such was the sound of his voice, that no one challenged him. Standing in front of the lords of the Underworld, Orpheus states his purpose, his voice both beautiful and alarming. He played his lyre, singing to both Persephone and Hades, and begged that Eurydice be returned to him.

It is said, that his voice was full of hurt that Hades openly wept and Persephone’s heart melted. Even Cerberus began to howl in despair. The voice of Orpheus was so moving that Hades promised him that on his journey back to the world of the living, Eurydice would follow him. However, he warned Orpheus that he was absolutely not allowed to turn around to look for his wife in the dark, for then she would fall behind and he would never see her again.

With faith in his heart and joy once more returning to his song, Orpheus began his katabasis (the act of a living man travelling and returning from the Underworld). As Orpheus neared the exit of the underworld, he heard the footsteps of Eurydice behind him, and despite the urge to turn and look for her, he calmed his racing heart. He waited until he took his first step out of the Underworld to turn around a look at her, but the glimpse he caught was short, and she fell back into the darkness.

You see, when he turned his head to look, Eurydice was still in the dark and had not seen sunlight. With waves of anguish, he approached the Underworld again, but this time he was denied entry, the gates remaining firmly shut. Guys also I’m like a terrible person for saying this, but if he was so unsure that she was behind him why didn’t he just ‘Marco/ Polo’ her.

Anyways I hope you all enjoyed that heartbreaking story to help finish off your weekend! If you haven’t already, I would recommend listening to Hozier’s ‘Talk’ (I’ll link it here). Enjoy what’s left of your weekend!

~Z

[hellenic-gaelic-altar]

I've planned out a full devotional day tomorrow (hopefully I can stick to it...) starting with my morning prayer and insence to Lady Hestia and Lord Apollon. Followed by deep cleaning, some Greek practice, finally starting to learn the ocarina, doing some writing and handmaking some Greek alphabet rune pieces👌🏻if I have time, I might try and start drafting some of the songs for the musical I'm writing too...

[khaos-thegoddess]

~ They lean on Skydios, still sobbing. ~

I’m sorry, I could not protect your devotee, your favorite follower.. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry..

~ Calliope continues to hug Fuse, and squeeze Thetis’s hand. She’s distraught already at the death of her friends, one of which was like a child to her as well as Thetis, but also distraught at the distress of Fuse and Thetis. ~

~ Sobs can be heard echoing through the halls, as two pairs of footsteps make their way through the manor. A voice of comfort tries to soothe the weeping, but it is to no avail. ~

- @thetis-thegoddess & @calliope-themermaid

*the second Fuse is inside his quickly fill the air too. But amongst his sobs a repeating “I’m sorry” can also be heard…*

[ravenandmoon]

As a fantasy writer my devotion for Apollon and my worship of Calliope almost always involve making tbr list with only epic fantasy in it.

[chika-nyan]

*crawls out of cryochamber* More potato facts…….

- Of the Zeus sibs Poseidon and Demeter are probably the easiest to deal with as they’re the most sincere of the bunch.

- While all the muses are equals they do look to Calliope and Polyhymnia as the de facto leaders of the group since they’re the “most responsible.”

- Other than perhaps Chaos, Chronos and Ananke are the hardest gods to reach as they usually stay on their own plane except for very special occasions because their powers are more prone to leaking from them. Their home plane mitigates the effects but outside of it they have to actively concentrate to not cause problems such as time distortions. That said, they love company.

- The golden apple incident was a polling attempt by Eris and Enyo to see where their most admired ladies (Athena, Hera, Dite) stood among the mortals and perhaps who they should devote most of their collective support to based on who won. They declared the data inconclusive due to things such as:

“It wasn’t really intended to be a single person decision but they relegated it to Paris.” “Paris technically chose for the reward rather than the option.” “There actually weren’t any incentives in the first place, it was just a rumor that took off. That said, we did honor it because it seemed like it could be funny at the time.” “Understandably, due to the war, Lady Athena devotees did surge which is great but also skews the data.” “It was very entertaining but also absolutely essentially useless.”

- While one of Heph’s legs did get very banged up from his fall from Olympus, Hera managed to get it almost fully restored when he returned by wheeling and dealing around Olympus.

- While my gods can go without sleep for quite some time, they do still require it to some degree as a kind of sanity replenisher. Those with more of a connection to people in the dream world such as Prometheus (Metis) and Melpomene (Morpheus) tend to sleep more as a means of connecting. Prommie tends to sleep mortal hours of 8 hours a day everyday to meet Metis.

[midsvmmars]

 CHARACTER NAME MASTERLISTS

under the cut are name ideas for your characters (with meaning) if you're struggling to find one that fits! there is a mixture of generic and odd names, but overall underused in the rpc! they will be seperated into female, male, and unisex!! i hope this helps, and if you need anymore name ideas don’t be afraid to send me a message for some more! i might make a part two if i find or remember more names that weren’t here!!

female:

joanna/johanna/joanne - gift from god

roxanne - dawn of the day

claudia - lame

suzanne - lily

nancy - grace

audrey - noble and strong

calliope - beautiful voice

paulette - small and humble

kiana - ancient

lorelai - to watch a cliff/ambush cliff

effy - well spoken

renata - born again

darby - free from envy

darcy - dark

greta - pearl

mellie - brave strength

veena - musical

brandy - flaming torch

shannon - wise river

sionna - possessor of wisdom

daisy - day’s eye

lara - famous, protection, and cheerful

margot - pearl

lynette - bird

alice - noble

edie - prosperous in war

rosemary - dew of the sea, bitter rose

nicolette - people of victory

lana - harmony

siobhan - the lord is gracious

helen - bright, shining light

helena - bright, shining light

yelena - shining one

natalia - birthday of the lord

enya - fire

anya - grace

samantha - told by god

felicity - good fortune

ramona - wise protector

matilda - battle mighty

bronwyn - white breast

laura - bay laural

blanche - white

cassandra - prophetess

bonnie - beautiful, cheerful

nadia - hope

colette - people of victory

alyssa - noble

sabrina - river severn

beverly - dweller near the beaver stream

heather - a flowering evergreen plant

elodie - foreign riches

melody - song

posy/posey - a bunch of flowers

zelda - dark battle

libby - pledged to god

luna - moon

adina - slender, delicate

rhiannon - divine queen

dolores - lady of sorrows

dorothy - gift of god

agatha - good woman

hannah - grace

cher - beloved

alicia - noble

mina - protector

vanessa - literary invention, butterfly

marcella - warlike

marisa - of the sea

nora - light

janine - god is gracious

valentina - strength, health

valencia - brave, strong

ada - noble

jasmine - flower

magdalena - of magdala

gwendolyn - white ring

sophie/sophia/sofia - wisdom

letitia - joy, gladness

nicole - people of victory

naomi - pleasantness

hilda - battle woman

katerina - pure

audra - noble strength

wendy - friend

viola - violet

tilly - battle mighty

bernadette - brave as a bear

birdie - bird

mara - bitter

imogen - maiden

eloise - healthy, wide

amaya - night rain

amara - grace, bitter

mya/maya - water

diana - divine

anastasia - resurrection

genevieve - woman of the race

angelica - angelic

celine - heavenly

chrissa - follower of christ

myrtle - a flowering shrub

odessa - wrathful

beatrice/beatrix - she who brings happiness

winifred - blessed peacemaking

marnie - rejoice

velma - resolute protection

eleanor - light

elizabeth - pledged to god

ophelia/ofelia - help

gemma - precious stone

greta - pearl

christine - anointed

daphne - laurel or bay tree

juliette - youthful

amber - jewel

dinah - god will judge

danika - morning star

esther - star

marisol - mary of sun or solitude

mariella - bitter or wished for child

mariel - bitter

muriel - of the bright sea

phoebe - radiant, shining one

winona - firstborn daughter

olivia - olive tree

jessica - rich

yvonne - yew wood

camila - young ceremonial attendant 

marcia - warlike

carrie/kerry - free man

victoria - victory

chloe - blooming, fertility

sabine - woman of the people

veronica - she who brings victory, true image

rachel - beautiful in form and countenance

wilhelmina - resolute protection

odeya - i will thank god

tabitha - gazelle

lacy - belonging to lace

willow - willow tree

charisma - charismatic

sarah - princess

sally - princess

cordelia - heart, daughter of the sea

jade - stone of the side

violet - purple

isadora - gift of isis

barbara - foreign woman

moxie - know how

brittany - from briton

dionne - divine

sonia/sonya - wisdom

sibyl - seer, oracle

mallory - unfortunate

male:

warren - park keeper

fitzgerald - son of gerald

fitzwilliam - son of william

tiago - saint james

gideon - hewer

clinton/clint - hilltop town

diego - supplanter

simon - the listener

charles - free man

zachary - the lord has remembered 

edward - wealthy guardian

trevor - from the large village

gregory - vigilant, a watchman

gerald - ruler with the spear

holden - hollow valley

richard - dominant ruler

ronan - little seal

roman - of rome

frank - free man

peter - rock

stanley - near the stony clearing

sebastian - revered

fletcher - arrow maker

steve - garland, crown

jimmy - supplanter

dewey - beloved

james - supplanter

michael - who is like god?

garfield - triangle field

ethan - strong, firm

clive - lives near a cliff

owen - young warrior

jackson - son of jack

christopher - bearer of christ

ernest - serious or resolute

jeffrey - pledge of peace

dean - church official

leonard - brave lion

romeo - pilgrim to rome

duncan - dark warrior

trent - the flooder

malcom - malevolent, devotee of saint columba

roy - red haired

ross - upland, peninsula 

bernard - strong, brave as a bear

jared -  he descends

enrique - estate ruler

axel - father of peace

zayn/zane - god is gracious

xavier - new house or bright

zander - defending men

vincent - conquering

duke - nobility

bo/beau - handsome

william - resolute protection

finn/finnegan - fair

clyde - river

hunter - one who hunts

benjamin - benevolent, son of the right hand

garrett - spear strength

hugo - mind, intellect

oscar - god spear, deer lover, champion warrior

dante - enduring

enzo - estate ruler

mateo - gift of god

wyatt - brave in war

seth - appointed, placed

jay - jaybird

carlos - freeman

logan - small hollow

ace - one, unity

henry - estate ruler

eric/erik - eternal ruler

timothy - honoring god

kent - edge

frederick - peaceful ruler

nicholas - people of victory

anthony - priceless one

asher - fortunate, blessed

dimitri - follower of demeter

sean/shawn - god is gracious

gabriel/gabe - god is my strength

timothy - honoring god

colin - pup

jameson - son of james

conrad - brave counsel

alexander/xander - defending men

harvey - battle worthy

oliver - olive tree

lance - servant

rupert - bright fame

johnathan - gift of jehovah

robert - bright fame

dustin brave warrior, thor’s stone

alberto - noble, bright

nolan - champion

marcus - warlike

elias - yahweh is god

fernald - from the fern slope

klaus - people of victory

jaques - supplanter

bertrand - magnificent crow

atticus - from attica

cole - swarthy, coal black

darian - kingly or possess well

andrew - strong and manly

joshua - the lord is my salvation

joss - the merry one

albert - noble, bright

felix - happy, fortunate

andre - man

maxwell - great stream

maximillian - greatest

willard - resolutely brave

raphael - god has healed

marius - god of war

scott - from scotland

kane - warrior

homer - security, pledge

caleb - devotion to god

alfred/alfie - wise counselor

randy - shield wolf

conner/connor - lover of hounds

unisex:

ashley - lives in the ash tree grove/meadow of ash tree’s

jordan - flowing down

rowan - little redhead

aspen - quiver in the lightest breeze

sutton - from the southern homestead

dylan - child of the sea

shaw - lives by the thicket

cody/kody - helpful, pillow

dakota/decota - friendly one

riley - courageous

reese - ardent, fiery

kendall - valley of the river kent

peyton/payton - fighting mans estate

taylor - tailor

blake - fair haired, dark

arden - valley of the eagle

rory - red king

mica/micah - who is like the lord

wren - spear

spencer - keeper of provisions

maddox - fortunate

lennox - elm grove

casper/kasper - treasurer

quinn - wisdom

casey - brave in battle

andy/andi - strong

drew - strong

jamie - supplanter

cameron - crooked nose

kolbey/colby/etc - from a coal town

regan - little king

aaron/erin - enlightened

max - greatest

gale/gail - my father rejoices

ty/tai - great extreme

kit - pure

morgan - sea born

renee - reborn

joey - jehovah increases

sloane - raider

andrea - strong

brooke - small stream

rooney - descendant of the champion

jackie - supplanter

shelby - estate on the ledge

harper - harp player

allison - noble

sandy - defending men

gal - wave

eman - belief, faith

miles - soldier, merciful

dashiell/dash - unknown

cooper - barrel maker

dale - valley

howard - high guardian or brave heart 

tyler - maker of tiles

mason/maysenne - stoneworker

rudy - famous wolf

ryan - little king

dorian - child of the sea

shane - gift from god

drew - descendant of the druid

[zoeysdamn]

There shall be night - Part.1 Morpheus x priestess! reader

Religious themes (Ancient Greece)

The Morpheus x reader doesn’t start right away, I’m not good at making things happening quickly lmao

Also, English isn’t my first language, I apologize deeply for the possible grammar mistakes!

Enjoy ♥

There used to be a time where gods were worshipped by mortals, way more than the modern times ever could. Those times were the era of temples and devoted beings, of prophecies and offerings. Some gods took pride in having so many signs of devotions in the followers and temples dedicated to their names. Some simply never answered the prayers, remaining silent and absent to their devotees’ words. And some of them had peculiar worshippers, who would gladly serve them through their own duties. Even though ageless, the young Dream of the Endless knew that his priestesses belonged to the last kind of worshipers. Back then in Ancient Greece, even before he married Calliope, he discovered his first devotees. 

The first one was already a middle-aged woman when he first met her in the Dreaming. Back then, lucid dreamers were still a relatively new phenomenon in his realm. When he saw the woman consciously wandering through his realm and interact with other dreamers, he said,

“Who are you, dreamer?”

“A simple woman” she said 

“How come you interact with other’s dreams?” asked the Dream Lord, perplexed by such action.

“So they can go through their sleep as it was intended, my Lord”

Narrowing his eyes and still unsure of her intentions, he asked her “Are you here to try to change the course of those people’s dreams, woman?”

“That is not in my power, my Lord” she said humbly. “I am but making sure they carry on their sleep, for they need this place as much as the feeling of the earth beneath their feets when they have woken up.” 

A long silence hung in the air. The King of the Dreaming took a long look of this woman, already a long way through her lifetime, considering the era ; her kind eyes and strands of grey hair, the shawl on her shoulders and her hands humbly tucked together before her, reminded him somehow of the Hekate. Nothing made him believe she could be lying, although he still didn’t really understand why she wanted to make sure the dreamers stayed the planned time in his realm. 

“Why are you helping those dreamers, woman? Do you have any interest in doing so?”  asked Dream. 

“None but helping you through your duties, Oneroi” she answered calmly with a bow of her head. “Dreaming is a powerful thing that we humans may not always understand. I merely wish to help those who seek answers for this part of their lives. For I believe this realm is no less real than the grounds we’re walking on day by day” 

Dream inhaled deeply, quite impressed by the clarity of this mere mortal’s mind. For he knew every single creation of his has a purpose for dreamers, it was rare that someone else shared his opinion. 

“Very well” he stated slowly “If you wish to serve the Dreaming, then you shall. Help the dreamers, in your world or mine, woman.”

“I am at your service, my Lord”, bowed the woman in response. 

And thus, the first Priestess of Morpheus was created.

When she was a little girl, (Y/N) had heard her grandmother's story countless times. Her grandma may have been close to a hundred years old, she would always take time for her precious granddaughter if she asked for the story one more time. They would sit together on the temple’s stairs, the old priestess and the young child, talking for hours until the sun went down. 

“Grandma, what's Dreaming like?” asked (Y/N) while playing with the hem of her white robes. 

“It is a place where all became possible, my child” respond the eldery woman “You can feel everything and more if you open yourself to the land of Dreams”

“Is that why you go there so often? To feel things?” frowned the child, not entirely sure of what it meant. 

“No child, I already feel plenty of things in the Waking World. But the experiences in the Dreaming helps me to see things differently here, for we all have a lot to learn from our dreams” 

“Even…from our nightmares?” (Y/N) asked in a small voice. 

Her grandmother looked at her fondly and cradled her grandchild in her arms “Yes, even from our nightmares. That is why there is no use to deny ourselves from dreaming. Wonderful things can comes from it, however the Dream Lord has shaped it for us”

(Y/N) hummed pensively in response, like she slowly understood what her grandmother said. She knew that her grandmother was this old thanks to the Dream Lord’s doing. Her own mother once told her that some sand gave her a longer life, in reward for her duties. (Y/N) didn’t understand it yet, but it was alright: her mother and grandmother often spoke in mysterious terms to her, but she knew that it would make sense one day. All the other priestesses say so, too. 

“Did you have another dream, my child?” asked her grandmother as the setting sun rained his golden light on the temple.

“Hmmm” hummed the little girl. “I dreamt that Poeinos, the fisherman’s son, would find a rabbit behind Athena’s statue near the place. Argis’ nephews were there, too.”

“And what of it?” 

(Y/N) stayed silent a few seconds before answering “It happened this morning, just like in my dream”. 

Sensing the uneasiness of the young girl, the old priestess ran a soothing hand in her hair.

“Does it frighten you, my child?”

The young (Y/N) shrugged a bit “I don’t know. A little, maybe”

“You are gifted with a precious skill, young one. For premonitory dreams are quite rare, even among us priestesses”

“Will I make a good priestess, grandma?” she asked, looking up at her parents. 

The old woman looked at her fondly. She gazed at her granddaughter, remembering her smiles, the small frown of her eyebrows when she tried so hard to understand things, her willingness to always help those who visited the temple and seeked other priestesses’ help, and the devotion she already unconsciously helds for the Dreaming world. She was thankful and happy to have lived long enough to see her granddaughter grow, already becoming a better priestess than she ever was. 

“You will be, my child. That you will be”

(Y/N) smiled brightly at the older woman, and squeezed her into a tight hug. Before them, the sun was dying on the horizon, colouring the sky with red and orange hues. High on the celestial vault, dark shades of blue were already spreading ready to envelop the Waking world into the familiar embrace cherished by the two women on the stairs. 

“There shall be night” said the old priestess in a calm voice. 

(Y/N) nodded, already used to the Dream Lord’s followers' usual saying.

“There shall be night” she repeated.

[Part.2]

A/N: I literally haven’t write anything since 2019 lmao I have 0 clue of what I’m doing rn *sobs*

This was supposed to be a simple reader insert and now boom, I’m already writing part 3, plz help me