The Dark-Hunters (860 page)

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.

H
AIR
/E
YES
: 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.

Demeter’s solution to every problem is time spent in the garden.

Demios
    Greek god of Dread.

Dikastis
    The Atlantean god of Justice, born after Isorro (Moderation) seduced the nymph Merina (Thought). Like his father, Dikastis is a deity of balance and prudence. Cold and unfeeling, he never allows his emotions to rule him. He is able to see straight into the hearts of mankind and gods, and to judge them instantly. Even the gods fear him, for no one can hide from the eerie eyes of justice. He is known to send out Dikisi (Vengeance) to punish wrongdoers as well as Amobia (Reward) for those who do good deeds. At banquets in the great hall of Chrysafi (the home of the gods), he sits to the right side of Archon.

Dike
    Daughter of Themis and Zeus, Greek goddess of Justice and Humanity.

Diktyon
    One of Artemis’s hunting nets. A diktyon can capture and hold a Dark-Hunter. It will also negate all powers, even those of a god.

Dimme
    Anu and Enlil’s final revenge. The Dimme are seven female Sumerian demons unlike anything even I can imagine. They are uncontrollable, even for the gods. They were locked away in a cell that, unfortunately, has a time release that weakens every few millennia. If the Sumerian gods are still alive, they reseal the seven demon sisters and life goes on as normal. But should something happen to the pantheon and there be no more Sumerian gods to reseal their tomb, the Dimme are unleashed on the world to destroy it and whatever pantheon is in charge. The Dimme were the Sumerians’ last laugh against whoever killed them.

Dionysus (Bacchus)
    Nickname: Dion. Cousin of Eros and Julian. Greek god of Wine and Excess; son of Zeus and the mortal woman Semele, who was burnt to death upon seeing the true form of her lover. (Later Dionysus brought Semele up from the Underworld, gave her the name Thyone, and ascended with his mother to Mount Olympus, where she was made immortal by Zeus.)

There was much chaos on Mount Olympus surrounding the birth of Dionysus; the pomegranate tree sprang from where Dionysus’s blood fell to the earth. Most great Greek plays were written to honor Dionysus during his festival every spring.

Forced into retirement, Dionysus now amuses himself as a corporate raider. He usually appears as a tall man with short hair and a neat goatee. Like many of his divine brethren, he is not a very good driver, especially when it comes to Mardi Gras floats.

H
AIR
: brown

Dolophoni
    Children of the Furies and assassins of the gods. Both male and female, they were the ones who originally gathered the Oneroi together for Zeus to punish. Their weapons are made by Hephaestus, in order to cause the most harm … and to kill other gods. Once they have been set on a death hunt, the order cannot be recanted. They don’t really have a set of rules; you just hope they abide by everyone else’s. It can be said, though, that they only kill for a reason justifiable to Themis. If they kill needlessly, they are executed. The Dolophoni can ultimately be controlled by the Furies.

Eda
    Atlantean earth goddess. Archon’s sister.

Elysian Fields
    Also called the Elysian Plains, this was the final resting place of the souls of heroes. It is the only part of Hades’s Underworld realm where good souls go to live out their eternity in paradise. They have everything their heart desires, and they can be reincarnated, if they so choose.

Enlil
    Ancient Sumerian god—and father of Sin—who possessed the Tablet of Destiny. Enlil was empathetic with the gallu, and reasoned with Anu that they not be destroyed.

Enyo (Bellona)
    Goddess of War. The Romans often worshipped her and Mars (Ares) in the same temples.

Eos (Aurora)
    Titan goddess of the Dawn, and sister of Helios and Selene.

Epithymia
    The Atlantean goddess of Desire, of unknown origin. Some claim she is sister to Agapa, in other tales she was born parthenogenetically, like Athena, from either Agapa or Archon. Beautiful beyond description, she can make all desires come true. To see her is to want her, to touch her is to be blessed by having your wishes granted.

Erato
    Muse of Erotic Poetry.

Erebos
    One of the Dolophoni, Erebos had spiked green hair, sunglasses, a spiked staff, tattooed arms, pierced ears and lip, and fangs. He was killed by Arikos.

Erebus
    Greek god of Darkness. Father of Wink.

Erinyes (Furies)
    The three goddesses of Vengeance, said to be born from the blood of the ancient god Uranus when he was castrated by his son Cronus. They often appear dressed in black leather with black hair and lipstick. They have fangs, dark eyes, and snakes in their hair. (See Alecto, Megeara, Tisiphone.) They are the older sisters of the Meliae, and they draw from the power of the entire Greek pantheon to kill.

The Furies are also referred to as the Eumenides—meaning “kind ones”—because they are vindictive, but fair.

Eris (Discordia)
    Greek goddess of Discord. Sister to Ares, she often accompanies him on the battlefield. Eris has a knack for starting wars by spreading rumors and fueling petty jealousies. She is as beautiful as Aphrodite, and the most evil of any god.

One of the more famous Eris stories is that of the golden apple—when Zeus did not invite her to a party because of her troublemaking reputation, she inscribed a golden apple with the words “To the Prettiest” on it, and tossed it into the room. Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite immediately started fighting over it. Zeus decided to leave the decision up to a Trojan shepherd. Each of the goddesses tempted him, but it was Aphrodite who offered him what he could not refuse: the most beautiful woman in the world. So Aphrodite got her apple … and Paris got Helen of Troy.

H
AIR
: curly black

Eros (Cupid)
    God of Lust and Love, son of Ares and Aphrodite, and brother to Julian and Priapus. He appears in public as a biker with a youthful face and goatee. Can often be found playing pool at Sanctuary with his wife, Psyche. (See Psyche.) He wears his bow on a necklace, and carries a dagger forged by Hephaestus.

Eros’s bow wields two kinds of arrows: golden with dove feathers, and lead with owl feathers. The golden arrow causes the victim to fall in love. The lead arrow poisons the desire of a person and turns them away from their intended. It should be noted, however, that the lead arrow can only kill lust and infatuation. It cannot touch the love of soul mates.

The Romans use the image of Cupid as a symbol for life and death. The Greeks used Eros as a symbol for love and beauty.

B
IRTHPLACE
: Mount Olympus

H
EIGHT
: six foot seven

Eurus (Vulturnus)
    Greek god of the East Wind. Generally thought of as unlucky.

Euryale
    A gorgon who tries to steer Megeara Kafieri off her path out of Hades.

Eurydice
    A nymph; the wife of Orpheus who died when bitten by a snake. Orpheus had the chance to save Eurydice from Hades, but he did not pass the challenge and was doomed to live without her.

Euterpe
    Muse of Lyric Song.

Fates (Moirae, Parcae)
    Daughters of Themis: Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. Together they spin the threads of lives, weave their destinies, and cut the threads to end the lives. (Not surprisingly, they have a nasty way of dealing with people who alter history.) There is a great deal of debate over whether or not the Fates work for Zeus or with him … like any such debate, it depends on whom you ask. (See Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos.)

Ferandia
    Ancient Atlantean with a tale similar to that of Orpheus and Eurydice.

Four Realms
    Time, Space, Earth, Dreams. These are what the Pyramid of Protection guard. There is only a small group of individuals who can walk all four.

Freya/Frigga
    Norse goddess who hand selects warriors for Valhalla. In her own hall, she has a harem. It is Norse custom to be married on a Friday (the day named after her) in her honor.

She and Rafael Santiago had a thing once. At least, that’s what I heard.

H
AIR
: strawberry blond

Fysia
    The daughter of Eda (Earth) and Chaos, Fysia is the Atlantean goddess of Nature. She was born when Chaos covered the earth and spread his seeds along her shores. One of the oldest of the gods, Fysia is both gentle and violent. She has the power to change herself into anything, and it is believed that the seasons come from her ever-shifting forms. In the spring, she is a child, loving and sweet. In summer, a youth who frolics. In autumn, a grown woman who nurtures. In winter, she is an old shrew who punishes those who haven’t made preparations for her cold months.

Gaia
    Ancient Greek goddess, the second born after Chaos. Gaia was all-powerful and gave birth to the Titans, including Cronus, the father of Zeus. She is the Earth.

Gallu
    Ancient Sumerian demons created to combat the Sumerian pantheon’s enemies. (Specifically, they were created to battle against the Charonte demons.) The horrible demon Asag was used as the donator father in their creation.