The Dark-Hunters, page 679
A goddess of contradictions (I’m sure she’s a Gemini), Apollymi tends to be loving and kind in one breath and then brutal and cold in the next. No one is safe from her wrath, so Archon imprisoned her in Kalosis, where she can see the human world and other gods, but not affect them. She was sent to this realm while her natural son lived, and when he died, she escaped and went on a killing spree. The Greek gods put her back but no one knows how … or if they do, they’re not telling.
There are various legends that tell of her release. Some claim it is only by the sacrificial blood of an Atlantean that she can be freed, while others claim it is strictly the hand of her lost son Apostolos that can free her. Because of her imprisonment, she alone escaped death when Atlantis was destroyed. Now she sits in her prison, awaiting her release so that she can wreak her havoc across the earth and bring about Telikos—the end of the world as we know it.
She calls to the sensitive humans of the world, those with Atlantean in their blood, begging them to discover the sacred seal and release her from imprisonment. Her cry is like a beacon, interpreted by many as a mad obsession for the discovery of Atlantis. This call was heard by Megeara Kafieri, and other members of her family.
Apollymi protects and uses the Spathi Daimons as her army, keeping a group of around thirty Illuminati as her guards, in addition to Charontes and ceredons. She enjoys finishing off her victims with an iron hammer.
HAIR/EYES: white blond/silver
Apostolos (Acheron) Son of Apollymi, also known as the Messenger. Amorphous and ever-changing, Apostolos was conceived by Apollymi during a night of divine sex with Archon. He is the harbinger that will bring about Telikos—the destruction of the world.
Apostolos was destined to be his mother’s heart, and to aid her in her destructive ways. But when the Fates told Archon that Apostolos would be the destruction of the Atlantean pantheon, Archon demanded Apollymi kill the fetus in order to protect all of them. Apollymi refused. She hid her fetus away from the other gods and when they demanded his life, she offered them a stone baby instead.
Angered by her actions, the gods feared what she would do once her son grew to manhood. Combining their powers, they imprisoned Apollymi and cursed Apostolos to die. It is believed that he perished with Atlantis, yet there are others who claim the baby survived and was taken to Europe and hidden away. Some claim he is the mysterious founder of the region known as Basque. Arikos is positive Apostolos is alive and that he speaks to his mother, calming her down when she’s extremely irate and threatening to destroy the world. (In reality, Apostolos is Acheron, but you’re not supposed to know that. Don’t worry, you’ll forget that soon enough.)
Only black flowers grow in Apollymi’s garden in memory of her son.
Arachne The famous and unfortunate young woman who challenged Athena to a weaving contest. Either no one told Arachne that Athena never loses, or Arachne was too vain to care. Her loss. Literally. Arachne hung herself in shame, but Athena revived her … and turned her into a spider, destined to weave for all time.
Archon Also called “Kosmetas,” which means “orderer.” Atlantean counterpart to Zeus. He is the son of Chaos and Fegkia (Splendor), and mate of Apollymi.
It is said that Fysia spun strands of Archon’s hair to form Atlantis, and that she used her blood to fertilize the earth (and to create the bloodred Fysian lilies that could only thrive in Atlantean soil). Overwhelmed by the beauty of the continent his sister had created, Archon wept. As his tears fell, the race of the Atlanteans sprang up.
Archon held many epithets: Kosmetas (Orderer), Soter (Savior), and Theokos (the Divine One). He was a god of extreme patience and kindness. The exact opposite of his wife Apollymi, he was said to be the balance that she needed so that the order of the universe could be adequately maintained. He adored his wife and, unlike the other gods, was never faithless to her (at least that’s the story he tells). He watched over his children and people with benediction and care. When Zeus banished the Apollite race to Atlantis, Archon welcomed them in, thereby causing perpetual strife between the Atlantean gods and the Greek.
However, Archon’s wrath, when incurred, was every bit as ruthless as that of Apollymi. When the Deridians attacked Atlantis and sacked Kanosis (the capital city of Atlantis), he struck their country with his mighty thorn-hammer and destroyed every man, woman, and child who bore their blood.
He also ordered the death of Apostolos and trapped Apollymi in Kalosis. There are those who say that Apostolos, if ever found, holds the ability to raise his father from the dead and to return Archon to his throne.
As a point of interest: Archon did not like many, but he liked Simi.
Ares (Mars) Greek god of War; the son of Zeus and Hera. Born in Thrace. Ares is not exactly what you would call a benevolent god … after all, not even his parents like him. He is a mercenary, fighting for any side no matter what the cause, reveling in the sound of battle, delighting in danger.
The Romans, who glorified war and battle, liked Mars (Roman for Ares) much better than the Greeks liked Ares (Homer had the cojones to call him a coward). He was never to them the mean, whining deity of the Iliad, but a magnificent and invincible warrior.
Ares has been defeated in battle by his sister Athena (twice), Heracles (Hercules), and the sons of Aloeus.
BIRD: vulture
ANIMAL: dog
Ariman Ancient Phoenician god who visited Atlantis while it was being destroyed and is now stuck in human form. Not to be confused with the god that follows.
Ariman Ancient Persian god, not to be confused with the deitically challenged Ariman in the above listing.
Aristaeus Demigod of Hunting, Husbandry, and Beekeeping. Protector of cattle and fruit trees. Son of Apollo and the nymph Cyrene.
Artemis (Diana) Daughter of Zeus and Leto, and twin to Apollo. Greek goddess of the Hunt, the Moon, Virginity, Childbirth, and Wild Animals; creator of the Dark-Hunters. She, like Apollymi, is a study in contradictions. A very possessive goddess, she does not easily give up what is hers. The Dark-Hunters are decidedly hers.
Also known as Amarynthia, Diana, or Cynthia (she is sometimes confused with Bastet and Selene … though trust me, after that bow-and-arrow mark, you’re not going to confuse her with anybody). Common epitaphs are: Potnia Theron (mistress of wild animals), Kourotrophos (nurse of youths), Locheia (helper in childbirth), and Agrotera (huntress). Her bows are made for her by Hephaestus.
When Apollo called upon Artemis for help with his cursed Apollites, Artemis turned to the Atlantean hero Acheron. She convinced him to help her hunt down and destroy the Daimons. At least … that’s how the story goes. No one’s really sure what the truth is behind Ash and Artie. But if you do look at her in a certain light, you can see her fangs.
And watch out for the crazy talk—our beloved goddess is not the most adept at colloquial slang. (My favorite is still when she says, “You’re baked bread!” instead of “You’re toast!” Kind of loses its edge, doesn’t it?)
HAIR: red
SYMBOL: double bow and arrow
Asag The demon who was used by Enlil to create the gallu demons. Sin’s brother Zakar battled him once; during the fight Zakar absorbed some of Asag’s powers, thus making him resistant to the bite of the gallu.
Asclepius Greek god of Healing. Son of Apollo and Coronis.
Asteros The Atlantean god of Heavenly Light: stars, comets, and fire. The eldest son of Chaos (who birthed the universe) and Fegkia (Splendor), Asteros was born to give light to the heavens. His tale is a version of the Greek myth of Prometheus: It is said that Asteros looked down out of his golden chariot one night and saw the Atlantean people huddled in the dark. Taking pity on the humans, he reached up into the sky and took a handful of stars and gave them to the people and showed them how to make fire—their own version of heavenly light.
Astral Blast (See Godbolt.)
Astrid Daughter of Themis, and youngest sister to the Fates. She is a justice nymph, an impartial judge sent down to earth to rule on possible Rogue Dark-Hunters. Since her eyesight becomes forfeit when she is sent to judge someone (in order to remain impartial), she turns to her Were-Hunter friend Sasha during these times for protection.
Astrid is married to Zarek of Moesia (bless her patient soul), the first Dark-Hunter she ever judged who lived. Her favorite book, given to her by Acheron, is The Little Prince.
HEIGHT: six feet
HAIR/EYES: honey blond/pale blue
FEATURED NOVEL: Dance with the Devil
Athena (Minerva) Virgin goddess of Wisdom and War; daughter of Zeus. She was the first to teach the science of numbers and all ancient women’s arts, such as cooking, weaving, and spinning. She never loses a battle, and does not bear arms in times of peace. But watch out, she often borrows weapons from her father, including but not limited to: the aegis, the buckler, and thunderbolts.
Athena’s mother was Metis, a woman who spurned Zeus’s advances much as Daphne fled from Apollo. But Zeus was not as easily dissuaded as his son. Once she was pregnant, it was prophecied that the second child of Metis would overthrow Zeus … so he swallowed her whole. (Gods are so melodramatic.) Zeus later ran to Hephaestus with a splitting headache (sorry, I couldn’t resist). The smith opened Zeus’s head with a blow from his ax, and out popped Athena, fully grown and in full dress armor.
Athena was fond of many Greek heroes and assisted them in their quests, helping many of the Greek superheroes attain their goals. Those she helped included Perseus, Jason, Cadmus, Odysseus, and Heracles. While she could be tough, Athena was a modest, generous, and benevolent goddess. The Greeks built the Parthenon as a temple to her. Athens is also named in her honor.
Athena is lovely and wonderful, yes, but don’t ever let your guard down around her. Despite her benevolence, even Pallas Athena has succumbed to moments of petty godliness. (See Arachne.) Above all, never forget: Athena always wins.
HAIR/EYES: curly black/blue
BIRD: owl
TREE: olive
SYMBOL: aegis, helmet, shield, spear
Atlantia Ancient Atlantean goddess; the eldest sister of Archon. Her name means “graceful beauty.” Atlantis was named after her.
Atlantis An ancient island civilization with an advanced culture, and its own pantheon of gods. It sank into the Aegean Sea more than eleven thousand years ago, legends say, at the hands of a vengeful Apollo.
Atropos Nickname: Atty. Eldest of the Fates. Responsible for cutting the threads of lives. Atropos is the smallest of the Fates in stature, but the most feared. Atropos and Ash do not get along (really, none of the Moirae can stand him).
Badb Irish goddess of War often known to take the form of a crow or a wolf. Badb was the sister of Macha and the Morrigán. She also was reported to have prophesied the end of the world.
Basi The Atlantean goddess of Excess and Intoxication, Basi is the daughter of Epithymia (Desire) and Misos (War). She is said to have been conceived the night her father won a major battle against the Greek pantheon. Drunk on his own power, he ravished Epithymia. (In some more popular versions, it was Epithymia who ravished him.)
Completely hedonistic, Basi takes numerous lovers and is seldom seen sober. She is a mischievous goddess who loves to create havoc in mortal lives. Basi is often blamed for illicit affairs and for greed.
Bast Egyptian goddess whose name means “devourer.” The protector of Egypt, she is often depicted as a fierce lion. Bast was originally a goddess of the Sun (serving Ra), but was later changed by the Greeks to a goddess of the Moon: the source of her enmity with Artemis.
Blood-Bond The vampiristic (and very sexual) bond between two people where one has to drink from the other in order to survive. There is a blood-bond between Acheron and Artemis, as well as between Sin and Katra Agrotera.
Boreas (Aquilo) God of the North Wind, who brings the deadly winter. He also saved Athens from attack by the Persian King Xerxes. Fond of horses, Boreas lived in Thrace.
Bran Also known as “Bran Fendigaid” or “Bran the Blessed” in Celtic mythology, Bran was the son of the sea god. He can bestow upon souls the right to be reborn into the human world.
BIRD: raven
Brigid Daughter of the Irish god Dagda, and keeper of the sacred flame. Her powers and aspects are much like that of the Greek goddess Athena.
Calliope Chief of the Muses. The Muse of Epic Song. A great friend of both Meatloaf and Celine Dion.
Camulus Black-haired Gaulish god of War, forced into retirement. Runs with Ares, Kel, and Ara.
Caradoc Charonte demon.
HEIGHT: four feet
TRUE FORM: black wings, yellow eyes, skin marbled black and dark green
Cassiopeia Constellation; queen of Ethiopia and mother of Andromeda. In her vanity and pride, she boasted that she and her daughter were more beautiful than the sea nymphs, thus incurring the wrath of Poseidon. To thwart his curse, Cassiopeia chained Andromeda to a rock as a sacrifice, but she was saved by the hero Perseus. Poseidon’s punishment for Cassiopeia was to place her in the heavens, upside down on her throne in disgrace for all to see forevermore.
Catubodua Gaulish goddess of Victory, often synonymous with Badb.
Cerberus Three-headed snake-tailed dog who guards the gates of the Underworld. He keeps the living from entering, and the dead from leaving. And he does a good job … when he’s not drugged or magicked by someone who’s cleverer than his master.
Ceredons Creatures with the head of a dog, the body of a dragon, and the tail of a scorpion. Protectors of Apollymi. They are forbidden to leave her realm (at least, they’re supposed to be).
Chara The Atlantean goddess of Joy. It is said that Chara and her sister Agapa were born the moment Archon first looked at his half-sister Apollymi. His heart swelled to ten times its normal size and out of it popped Love (Agapa) and Joy (Chara).
Chara was the most favored child of Archon, and all the gods loved her. She was often seen in Atlantean murals walking or standing between Isorro and Basi.
As with many of her brethren, Chara could be capricious, giving pleasure one minute and then taking it away the next. The Atlantean people often sacrificed to her in the hope of keeping her goodwill and ensuring that they would prosper and be happy.
Charon The son of Erebus and Nyx, Charon is the ferryman of Hades, who takes the departed from one side of the river Styx to the other. He appears as an old man with a beard and dark brown clothes.
Ancient Greeks were buried with a coin under the tongue—or over both eyelids—so that their souls would have currency to pay the toll. It is custom to show Charon the coin, but not to pay him until he has delivered you to the other side. If you cannot pay, you are doomed to wait on the banks for one hundred years. If you pay Charon before you have crossed, he will dump you in the river, where you will suffer in eternal misery.
Not that Charon gets out much, really, so one wonders what exactly he does with all that money.…
Charonte Demon Ancient demon race the Olympian gods feared, but the Atlantean gods managed to tame. They can bond to gods, Hunters, and humans as companions. Once bonded, they can rest in the form of a tattoo on their bonded’s body. Charontes are the über-id, they love to shop, kill, and eat everything. Easy to annoy, dangerous when angry, and big-time fun to party with.
You do not, however, want to be killed by a Charonte. Charontes do not just destroy the body of their victim. They also destroy the ousia—the life force that exists beyond the body or soul. A Charonte can be killed by an Atlantean dagger.
Charontes normally sleep with their feet in the air (usually propped up against a wall), and they snore very loudly.
Chloe Female statue that guards the temple of Demeter on Olympus.
Chthonians The god-killers. A long-ago race of men and women who banded together as policemen for the gods. They were the check-and-balance system for the universe … until they turned on one another for reasons known only to themselves. Now the handful who have survived watch over mankind with a bitter eye and with no real leader. Because of their hostility toward one another, the earth has been divided among them for safekeeping. They are highly territorial.
Chthonic Pertaining to very, very ancient Greek gods of the earth, or spirits of the Underworld. Some chthonic cults practiced ritual sacrifice. Most of the chthonic gods and goddesses were often associated with fertility.
Circe Sorceress goddess from the island of Aeaea, famous for her exploits with the hero Odysseus. Circe turned his men into pigs after they gluttonously ate her food, but Odysseus had been warned by Hermes and had protected himself from her poisons. Circe fell in love with Odysseus, then turned the pigs back into men and helped him on his quest home to his wife … but not before she slept with him first and bore him three sons.
Clio Muse of History.
Clotho Nickname: Cloie. The youngest Fate. In charge of destinies; she spins the threads of lives.
Cronus Greek god of Time.
Cuchulainn The Hercules of Irish mythology, it was said that Cuchulainn could never be defeated in battle. He wielded a spear called the Gae Bolga.
Dagda Supreme benevolent god in Irish mythology, also known as the High King. He wields a club that can kill nine men with one blow, and has a magic cauldron that can feed an army from its contents.
Deimos Nickname: Demon. One of the Dolophoni; dark-haired son of Alecto and twin to Phobos. He was strangled by Sin when he would not recant his death hunt for the Dark-Hunter. (He still carries the scar.) He finally ended up sparing Sin’s life, because Sin put the welfare of an innocent human above both his own and Katra’s.
HAIR/EYES: various/blue
Demeter Greek goddess of the Harvest, Fertility, and Society. Daughter of Cronus and Rhea and sister of Zeus, she is the mother of Persephone, who became the sometime consort of Hades, the god of the Underworld. When her daughter is above-ground with her, things blossom and grow (spring and summer). When she is belowground with Hades, the earth withers and dies (autumn and winter). Demeter has also been referred to as Auxesia, Deo, Chloe, and Sito. The Romans equated her with their goddess Ceres.
