abraxaslogs | March open

Entry tags:

March open

Who: Zagreus and you!
When: After the Eplum event
Where: Horizon (& Zagreus's Domain specifically)
What: Zagreus finally visits Horizon
Warnings: NA

Immediately upon his arrival to Horizon, Zagreus's appearance had altered to align much more closely to how he appeared at home: red and black exomis adorned with three canine skulls on one shoulder, a belt made of more skulls, arms adorned with golden bands. And around his head a crown of fiery, ever-burning laurels. The only difference was the now the symbol of the Chariot had been etched into the metal greaves he wore above his fiery feet.

Driven by the compulsion to create, he had also swiftly begun construction of his Domain: a space for which the most immediately notable feature was the river of blood surrounding it. Perhaps you will dare to attempt to cross it.

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It's bizarre to see what's supposed to be a hellish, intimidating beast react not unlike someone's pet as he's scratched by his... owner? Thancred looks between all three heads and the stranger's face, not quite sure where to let his gaze settle.

"Then... this is a recreation of the Underworld, is it?"

The Underworld, or some version of it, exists on Etheirys as well. Yet it's nothing like this, and Thancred has actually been there now, so he would know.

For a brief moment, he wonders what Emet-Selch would make of this, but quickly shoves that thought away.

"Part of it, yes," he says. "This is the House of Hades. Or my own recreation of it, at least. Not the real thing, of course."

He looks up at Cerberus, hand still resting upon his side as the massive dog settles into a comfortable, relaxed position. "I know he isn't the real Cerberus either. But I'd created him during my first amnesiac visit to this place, and...I couldn't bear to unmake him."

The House of Hades. So much for shoving aside any thoughts of Emet-Selch, then. Thancred cannot help but tense up just slightly at the name, though he doubts that this is the same Hades. Surely he would have heard something of all this from the Ascian himself, or through Himeka.

Emet-Selch's Horizon had been a recreation of Amaurot, not some den of bones.

"I don't think anyone would begrudge you the familiarity of a..." Thancred's gaze scans over the massive creature again, surprised still to see it so docile. "Pet. And yes, our minds do tend to play tricks on us when we don't have our memories here."

Thankfully he didn't create anything too troublesome during that time. No, he'd simply spent some time with Emet-Selch, unknowingly. Why does he keep coming back to him?

Still taking care not to disturb Cerberus, Thancred steps closer and bows his head in greeting to the other man. "My name is Thancred, and I suppose I should apologize for wandering into your place unannounced."

"Pleasure to meet you, Thancred. I'm Zagreus," Zagreus says, with a friendly smile. The young god might look like someone who should really be the villain of the story - one hellish red eye, feet that were perpetually aflame, a truly excessive number of decorative skulls - but his personality and demeanor is anything but.

"And no need to apologise! I'm glad for the company, and you're more than welcome. To be honest, it's a little surreal being in this place with just Cerberus and the Shades. I'm used to there being more residents of the House around."

There's quite a disconnect between Zagreus' appearance and his behavior, yes, though Thancred also knows better than to judge any book by its cover, people he just met included. Maybe this is just the sort of aesthetic he likes, though the flaming feet do earn Thancred's attention for a few seconds.

When Zagreus explains that this place is usually far more crowded, Thancred takes a few more steps into the entry hall and peers around. He sees the Shades he mentioned, little more than echoes from the looks of them, and then turns back toward Zagreus.

"Recreating whole people in the Horizon is not easily done, or recommended, but I understand the feeling. We can make these familiar places, but not populate them with any of the people who make them what they are."

He shrugs, figuring it's likely for the best. That would be too much power.

"What is this place for, then? In reality." Would Zagreus give a stranger a tour?

Edited 2024-03-21 23:46 (UTC)

"Yes, the Shades aren't like they are back home. They're not real souls, just...imitations," Zagreus agrees. "As for what this place it for...well it’s the centre of the Underworld. This is where me and my family live, and it’s where Father manages the administration of the dead.”

He doesn’t say who, exactly, is his father. But Thancred could probably make a good guess.

And Zagreus looks to have picked up on Thancred’s desire for a tour, because he says: “If you’re curious, I can show you around.”

Zagreus implies that back home, these would be real souls, which makes sense if he lives in a place that is like the Lifestream. Not that most people live in what is essentially the afterlife, but Thancred gathers that Zagreus is no normal human.

"I wouldn't expect anyone to live in the Underworld, save for those who have passed on, but I also imagine this is something that differs between stars." It's all intriguing enough that he is in fact interested in a tour.

However, he also realizes he just wandered in here with no warning, and quickly speaks up to acknowledge that. "Only if you have the time and inclination. I'm well aware that I've shown up unannounced and pestered you with questions when you might have other matters on your mind."

"Oh, there's quite a few of us Chthonic gods in the Underworld," Zagreus says. "It might be the land of the dead, but they're not the only ones who call it home."

Although the dead were certainly the most numerous. They did out-number everyone else by...quite a lot.

"And please, you're most welcome! I assume you, it isn't any trouble," Zagreus adds, as he leads Thancred further out into the Great Hall. "Usually most of the shades who come here for an audience with Father aren't looking for a tour, so this makes for quite a nice change, actually! Speaking of which...this is the Great Hall. Father does most of his work from there."

And he gestures towards the truly massive desk - which also looks to be combined with a throne. Whoever sat there must be very, very big.

Chthonic gods? Thancred vaguely recalls that being a term from Ancient times, if only based on the recreation of a dying Amaurot that Emet-Selch made them witness. There remain quite a number of similarities, and yet he doubts that Zagreus is actually from the ancient world. Somehow, there can be an odd sort of mirroring between different stars like this.

When there are so many out there, perhaps it's inevitable.

"You're... a god, then." Just checking. Thancred isn't used to interacting with them, and certainly not quite like this. Then again, after learning Lucifer's true nature, maybe he shouldn't be so surprised.

The desk-slash-throne frankly makes him think of something he might find in Garlemald, and he tries to hide any disdain from the association, instead giving Zagreus another once-over as more questions form. "And what sort of work is that? Why do these shades want an audience with him?"

"Yes, of course," says Zagreus, who is actually most certainly a god from the ancient world.

"Father runs the Underworld. He's the God of the Dead, so...looking after them is his domain," Zagreus explains. "And it varies on the shade. Some want something changed in Asphodel or Elysium, others want to make a contract or come to work in the House. Sometimes those sentenced to Tartarus will come petition for a chance in their punishment. All sorts of reasons, really."

Of course, Zagreus says. Thancred can't help but raise one eyebrow, an incredulous smile forming on his lips. "You say it so casually."

It's not like Thancred hasn't fought his share of primals, but that's different, isn't it? Frankly, he'd rather not think of Zagreus as an Ancient or Ascian either. He's already been far too kind for that. Perhaps he'll settle on a kami then, based on what Himeka has told him of them.

As Zagreus explains, Thancred politely listens, though most of what is said is lost on him. "And these places you mention are all aspects of the Underworld, I assume? Your father is expected to handle all of these requests. Not unlike any other ruler, I suppose. Then that makes you a bit like a prince, does it not?"

"Well...it's what I am." To Zagreus, it was a casual fact. He'd been a god his entire life. It was just a fact of who and what he was.

"Yes, that's right. Where Shades live in the Underworld depends on what kind of life they lived when they were alive," Zagreus explains. "And Prince of the Underworld is my formal title, actually. So in that respect...I am a bit like a Prince!"

Or maybe exactly like one. But Zagreus seemed to have gotten a little chuckle out of the comparison anyway.

Fair enough. Thancred can't argue with that logic. It's just that this isn't what he would expect from any god, this sort of casual conversation. He would expect Zagreus to be much more pompous, lording his divinity over mere mortals, and yet that isn't the sort of impression he gives at all.

Which is quite refreshing.

"What sort of life they lived, you say." Thancred tilts his head. "How so?"

It's good to know that he was spot-on with the Prince bit. Thancred finds Prince an easier title to wrap his mind around than God, at least.

His question asked, he sweeps an arm forward to indicate that Zagreus can continue on in leading him around the domain as they chat.

That's Zagreus; forever surprising and confusing people with the fact that he isn't a complete arsehole.

"Well, Elysium is for the greatest of souls. Those who were heroes, and performed great deeds during life," Zagreus explains. "While Tartarus is for those who led hateful lives, the ones who sinned against others. The rest come to Asphodel - which is where most end up, really. The Shades there aren't great heroes, but they aren't the sort that deserve Tartarus either."

And with Thancred's gesture, Zagreus begins to walk into the next room. One which Thancred will see is a gallery of sorts, decorated with a wide array of portraits. "And this is the East Wing!" Zagreus says, with a sweeping gesture to the wall. "The paintings are a bit different at home, but...I wanted to have something to remind me of the people I care about. So, I changed it up a bit."

"I see. Where I'm from, the belief is that if one does good in life they will ascend to one of the seven heavens, whereas if they were a sinner, they will be cast into the pit of one of the seven hells. The sort of wrong-doing committed plays a part."

Which is worth mentioning now that Thancred understands that this Underworld is also split into parts depending on what someone did in their lifetime. He's not sure if it's surprising or expected that there are similar concepts in other worlds.

But now they're in a different wing, one decorated with a number of portraits. It's a clever way to remember those from back home without actually trying to recreate them here — which doesn't tend to end well. Thancred scans over the different faces, a hand braced on his hip. The people he finds in them have quite intricate outfits and otherworldly appearances, which isn't shocking given that they must also be gods... or god-adjacent.

"You have quite a few friends, Zagreus," he can't help but point out with a lopsided smile. But he does end up in front of the family portrait, which features Zagreus and Cerberus (just met) and then two others.

After a beat, Thancred glances back to the prince and nods to the portrait. "Your mother and father?"

"Seven heavens and hells?" Zagreus says, blinking. "That...seems rather a lot. And mortals certainly do go to heaven after they die. Only my Olympian relatives live there."

It was a way of structuring the world that seemed quite strange to Zagreus. Surely it made more sense to have the dead all reside in the same realm?

At the painting of his family, Zagreus nods. "Yes. My father is Hades, and Mother is Persephone. And you've met Cerberus, of course."

Thancred shrugs, mainly because he wonders more and more if the seven heavens and hells are even real. Surely everyone simply ends up in the Lifestream, their essence to eventually be born anew in some other form.

He's more interested by the gallery of paintings now, and takes a closer look at the family portrait.

"That's quite the lance you're holding in it," he can't help but notice. Of course he would take notice of the weapon Zagreus wields before any other specific detail.

He continues down the hall, reading the plaques and studying the images. Most of them have impressive titles — Death Incarnate, Primordial Originator, and so on — and then...

"... Training Dummy?" He tilts his head at the portrait of a skeletal figure. It doesn't exactly fit in with the rest.

"Gigaros," Zagreus explains. "Father's weapon. Not something I usually get to wield. Or, well, ever. But I got to hold it this time!"

Even if it was just got the portrait, and not to actually fight anything with. But that might indeed explain the size of it - next to Zagreus the weapon was comically large, but it was just right for Hades's massive stature.

"And would you believe that Skelly actually chose the title himself?" Zagreus says, giving a nod to the skeleton's portrait. "He takes the job of standing around and waiting for me to hit him very, very seriously."

So it was for the purpose of the portrait. That made some sort of sense, in that a father might only allow a son to hold their prized weapon in a controlled and limited situation. Zagreus seems quite pleased about it, even now, and Thancred can't help but smile. He still remembers leaving his gunblade for Ryne.

"And that's... the majority of his purpose?" he asks with a frown and a tilt of his head, still studying the skeletal figure that looks more like ashkin than anything else.

"I've heard of striking dummies, certainly, but those are inanimate," he explains with a dismayed shake of his head. "This is quite a different take on it."

"According to Skelly? Yes. Supposedly there was someone employing him to do so, but I never managed to convince him to tell me who," Zagreus sighs. That mystery was one he wasn't going to be solving any time soon. "If he did have any other purpose...he never told me."

It was certainly possible that he did, Zagreus supposed. Even after all this time, there was still much that was a mystery about Skelly. But Zagreus couldn't force him to give up his secrets.

"But if you are interested in weapons, I could show you the Infernal Arms," he suggests. "Or at least, the replica's that I've made. Not quite the same as the real things, of course. Bit hard to recreate their malevolent sentience properly."

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