The memoirs of Hera is a work of fiction based very freely on the Greek mythology. It's about the early years in the life of the goddess Hera, how she met the other gods including Zeus and what happened to her before she became part of the Olympos. The tale takes place in a kind of parallel universe not much unlike our own, and the backdrop is a kind of fantasy 19:th century, giving the story a steam-punk ambience with primitive computers and old-style steam-trains.
I've taken the liberty and made a lot of changes, like rooting up Olympic family trees and incorporating my own characters as well as gods and goddesses from other mythologies. The city of Ekarantanni is my own creations as well as the geography on the Central Continent.
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The memoirs of Hera
How to begin a story
- Run, Hera, Run, my father urged me and pushed me into the back with his right hand, pointing in the general direction of the forest where the setting sun was already painting the tree tops in an orange colour. Beyond the woodlands lay the blue, snow-capped mountains, and beyond them places I didn't know.
- But dad... what about you?
- I'll do al right. I'll stay here, stopping the Titans from finding you, getting you. And I'll finally get revenge over Aningari, my beloved. Your mother.
- But they're gonna kill you for sure! Let me stay and fight...
- And die too? That would be such a waste. You're so young, Hera! You must go on. Live. A new life is waiting for you beyond those mountains. Adventures! Honour! Love! Children! Dreams come true! Don't sacrifice them to stay here with me when I go down.
- Dad! I love you!
- I love you to Hera-kitten! Now please run! Get out of here before the Titans come!
I obeyed him this time, left the little town of Reldigon, where my dad was a minor, protecting god, and took off into the woods. Into the unknown. Into hopes and fears. I didn't turn back, and that was the last time I saw him...