#pantheonverse

"So how's human life treatin' ya?" Keith laughed as he watched Nick light a cigarette at the top of the radio building. They had to sneak around, couldn't let their friends know for varying reasons.

"I dunno, how's not having a regenerating prick been?" Nick retorted with as he let out a puff of smoke, "Gotta admit, nicotine's the shit." He offered one to his red-haired companion.

Keith took one and lit it with his thumb, "Not great then. Clearly we did som'thin' wrong here. Som' o' th' older ones say this is all yer fault."

"Ha! Quick to pin shit on me...Do I look like the type that enjoys working more than he should?" Nick shot back. "As if I'd unleash hell itself for the funsies."

Keith rolled his shoulders, "Ah've seen you be spiteful, Hades."

"Nothing like you, Zeusy. Really, you thought the others wouldn't find out about half the shit you pulled over the last few centuries? I've covered your ass so many times, I lost count and-"

The redhead didn't like that tone and immediately summoned a lightning bolt from that tone, threatening to fire it at the gambler's head, "Past is past, Nicholas. Everyone's gone an' Hera's with me. Last Ah checked, there were no demigods runnin' around an' y'haven't found yer dear Ella. How long's it been then, hm? A few centuries?"

Nick shut down for a moment, and muttered under his breath, "I'm close. I know she's here, somewhere." He knew he said that two decades ago, "She's Persephone made human, she'll be fine. I want her to be safe in this time...even if she doesn't remember me, I want her to be happy."

It hurt the deity turned man to say this, to say that he'd give up Ella again, even if she didn't want to be with him anymore. He knew what he did to deserve that fate.

"If you find her...what will you do?"

"I'll go home and get back to work. This world's gone to shit and I have to tend to all those souls. Charon must be working overtime," as Nick flicked his cigarette, he smirked, "Speaking of Hera…you might want to stop him before he tries something stupid."

"Ha, I'd like t' see 'im try! Take care o' Ellis for me while yer travelin' west, wouldya? Ah've grown fond o' th' boy, wouldn't wanna lose such a bright youn' spark t' whatever's causin' this," Keith snorted back, gone in a blink of an eye.

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Meanwhile, Dave sighed as he leaned over the dog, dying of starvation, "Thanatos won't find ya, though Ah'm sad t' say I can't heal ya, sweet baby." Even in ancient times, he had a fondness for dogs, creatures that were loyal to humans and gods alike. He had wondered about the American Experiment, democracy and capitalism at work, but now he saw it on its' last throws. Whatever shade of pestilence was unleashed into this land, Dave knew there wasn't a viable way to stop it.

Dave knew that he couldn't just heal the dog as he would've in the past. So instead of that..."D'ya mind becomin' a bird fer a week? Fly aware from here an' recover?" The dog merely panted and whined, wishing only to be free of pain.

"Good boy...Ah may have mah problems with humans, but not all mortals are made equal. He hovered his hand over the beast and allowed his light to change him into an eagle.

"Ah prefer peacocks but Ah make do," Dave smiled as he fed the new bird some jerky. "Go an' fly, yer mah huntin' partner now."

Keith shrugged and cocked his gun at the eagle, "Dave..."

"If y'shoot this bird, Ah will make you an' this entire state jus' wha' mah rage is," the raven haired man growled, "Issat clear?"

Keith breathed in and dropped his barrel, "Yer never gonna be over about Peloponnesus?"

"I've never been over that war...ya let Athens, your DAUGHTER'S city, surrender to the Spartans. Tell me again, who did ya promise? Who did ya bet on?" Dave hissed, "But we're not talkin' tha'."

The redhaired man watched as the eagle took flight and its' master stood in the ground. Hera was the strongest willed of his consorts, he always regarded her as the queen of Olympus. And now, Dave was the strongest-willed out of all Savannah. They were bound to find each other again.

"No we ain't but y'never let go o' how bitter Athena was when she came cryin' t' me," Keith whispered as he met up with Dave. He wrapped his arms around that slightly thin waist, "Y'became a beast t' me."

Dave chuckled at that, "Ah became a beast? Said th' man who turned int' a swan. Ah merely upped th' ante. An' yet, Ah didn't seek yer brother's comfort for long. Ella made sure o' that."

Keith grimaced, "Y'let Nick touch ya?"

"Touch me is an understatement."

The mere thought of Dave in someone else's bed made Keith simmer with rage, more when it came to that man. That man...technically was his older brother but it still irked the mechanic that he fooled around with his spouse. Even the goddamn Green Flu didn't make him feel as slimy as he did just now.

"Well, Ah can't blame ya fer bein' all vengeful an' stuff, but really? Him?" Keith tried to smooth talk out of his own indiscretions.

Habib was born in a small nomad community, and was sacrificed when he was young. He doesn't remember where he's from beyond that, his name, or anything really.

Sacrifices don't usually survive, but a parasitic-demon attached himself to the young boy. He manifests in the form of a large mouth, in Habib's stomach.

Neither of them had names, so they named each other. Habib means Beloved, and the demon was named Vaktaudara (which are the words mouth and tummy combined.), but he's mostly just called Udara.

Udara speaks for Habib, because the lack of tongue, and mouth being sewn shut hinders him speaking for himself yeah. Udara also has his own thoughts, and speaks for himself.

They have a symbiotic relationship, and it's pretty good for both of them.

The most fertile lands, the center having the most plentiful harvests. The farther outward, the less 'blessed' the land is, and the less plentiful the harvests are. The borders with the dry lands are plagued by Dry land tribes, demons and various beasts.

The bountiful lands are made up of forest, orchards, and farm lands. The populace are more farmers than livestock owners.

The Bountiful lands is the home to the largest temple to Layla, the second largest temple to Arevik, and various other temples. Notably, the seasons (who are demi-gods).

Areviria

A series of cities on the coast of the glittering sea, Arevik's most favored. Winter rarely touches these cities, the warm temperatures lasting year round. The city is modeled after the sun's reflection off of the glittering sea. Bright blues, greens, and golds adorn the city.

Areviria is equal part crop-based, and fishing-based. While it is Arevik's favored people and cities, they cannot depend on always having her on their side, and sometimes must depend heavily on fishing to feed it's populace.

The largest temple to Arevik is here.

The Glittering Sea - Nereida

A vast expanse of water, on which, Areviria sits on one shore. Nereida is a great floating city that follows the currents of the Glittering sea. They can map out, and predict where their city will be, and when, by using the stars.

The largest temple to Nereus is in Nereida.

Once a year, for a number of days, Nereida sits in the waters of Areviria. There is an extravagant festival, both on the water, and the land. Nereida trades the goods they accumulate over the year from far off lands, in their yearly cycle.

Nereida sits in the waters of Cadeyrna a few days of the year, and trades Arevirian goods, and others for precious stones, coal, and wood.

Mount Ieva

The largest mountain in the land, it rises above the other mountains in it's range. It also houses the city of Ieva, and is said to be favored by Ava. (It is home to her largest temple).

Ievan's are herders of small mountain-indigenous livestock, and masters of farming the steep rocky terrain of Mount Ieva and the surrounding mountains. They're more herders than farmers though.

Miltiaden

A small city, built into the earth. It's both above ground, and under it. Favored by Miltiades (Also known as Father Dagda).

They farm in a rather unique way, using caverns and sun storing crystals.

Community based, homes are communal, labor is communal and everyone is equal. Children are raised by the whole, rather than by the individual. Guests are treated with the utmost respect. "Everyone comes from the earth, and therefore, part of Father Dagda.

The Valley Mot

The only people who live there are those who reside in the temple of Mot. Many make pilgrimages there. The Valley of Mot once used to be a vast lake, but the water receded until it was almost gone. The remaining lake is barely even 100ft across. In the time of the great civilization, it is said, that the cosmic river ran through what is now the dry lands, and emptied into the valley Mot. The valley is silent, not even animal cries seem to pierce the heavy veil of silence.

Mount Pyrrh

A dormant volcano that lays at the far end of the mountain Range from Ieva. It's about a three day journey on pack animal. It's the home to the largest temple of Pyrrhus.

The Dry Lands

Former home to a great civilization, centered around a great river and hundreds of natural springs. The civilization so angered Arevik that she destroyed them, and dried up all the springs, and the great river. All that remains are the shells of ancient cities, and small villages scattered about. Only the hardiest flora and fauna survive out there.

The people get their water from giant prickly plants. One plan can sustain an entire village. They eat the hardy plants, livestock, and wild game.

Large beasts and demons run rampant and prey on humans.

The dry lands have been forgotten by the Gods, or ignored, depending on who you ask. The people are considered barbaric, known to offer sacrifices to the demons of the dry lands.

They are slightly nomadic. Two or three tribes can live in the ruins of an ancient city without ever running into each other.

The Great civilization

The largest temple to Delicia was here, but Delicia and her people became corrupt and wicked. Delicia also corrupted Irfan, and this so angered Arevik that she destroyed Delicia's favored city, and banished Delicia, imprisoned her for his wickedness. And to make sure no group of people could rise up so big as Delician's did, Arevik closed the portal that connected the Cosmic river to earth, and dried up the great river.

Cadeyrna Cliffs

On a far off shore of the Glittering sea lays the fortified city of Cadeyrna. Built into the cliffs of one of the northern most points of the vast Glittering sea. The cliffs protect the city on one side, while massive walls of stone protect the other sides.

Outside the walls lay an ancient forest, immensely dense and seeming to go on forever. Dangerous beasts, demons, and barbaric nomads reside there, and will prey upon any poor soul they can catch unaware. This is the reason Cadeyrna is so heavily fortified.

Nearly six months of the year, the gates of Cadeyrna are shut tight, because the near constant darkness only serves to make beasts more restless, food more scarce, and the city more prone to be attacked. During the dark season, entering and leaving the city is near impossible. (The gates being one reason, and the other being the Glittering sea freezing over for as far as the eye can see.)

The other six months, the gates are kept open, and close for few reasons. It remains light out for nearly the whole day, and night time never gets very dark.

Because this is Cadeyrn's favored city, and home to his largest temple, prowess in battle is very highly valued. Most children are taught to fight, and to defend themselves from early childhood.

The light season is spent engaging or watching arena battles, competitions and observing Cadeyrnan festivals, and work is lax. The dark season is spent training, and working.

The games range from fighting wild beasts; and lavish spectacles of physical strenth, speed or talent; to fighting each other for sport. Death is rarely the goal. In fact, for a specific age group, of able-bodied citizens it is a competition to win the highest honor*.

Familial love and loyalty is also very highly valued, as a result of Cadeyrn and Esme's great love for each other.

During the light season, Cadeyrnans chop down ancient trees to burn during the dark seasons. They also sell the wood to Nereida. Many Cadeyrnans work in the mines below the city.

Esmen (pronounced is-mean)

This small city lays six days journey by sea down the coast from Cadeyrna. It is Esme's most sacred temple, built into the cliff wall. On the peak of the cliff is the small settlement of Esmen. It is barely a fraction of the size of Cadeyrna. This settlement is virtually impossible to reach by land.

Every year at the end of the light season, an elite group of warriors win the highest honor. That honor is to be the protectors of Esmen for one dark and one light season.

A procession of ships bring a years worth of supplies to Esmen, and the new group of warriors. They return to Cadeyrna, ferrying the past years group home.

The population of Esmen is made up of the priests/priestesses of Esme, and people who have made the pilgrimage to the temple. And the warriors.