Chapter 1

"So you have fathered a bastard…" Zeus said, a harsh, disappointed gaze fixed on the man below him.

"With a Titan."

The man in question said nothing, apparently only having interest in the ground below him.

"Heracles!" Zeus demanded the attention of his son.

The man looked up with distasteful eyes. "Do not call me by that name."

Zeus shook his head and brought his hands to his temple. The man seemed to be aging by the seconds as the conversation persisted. It was likely that he truly was.

"So not only do you spite me and my wife behind our backs and have the courage to come here and admit to it afterwards, but now you renounce the name given to you to honor the queen?" Zeus's voice had lost its aggressive tone, now only sounding tired.

"That woman has no love for me, Father, and we both know it well. I doubt the Queen loses any sleep over the matter."

"Is that why you did it then? Out of spite?"

"You think poorly of me Father."

"No, no, Hercules." Zeus said his new name in a sarcastic tone. "I think I've given you too much credit.

You philander with the enemy while your expectant wife awaits at home. The wife given to you by the king and queen of the heaven's respectively, I must add. So yes, I think my opinion of you is quite well founded."

"You don't understand." Mumbled Hercules.

"Then explain it to me boy! Explain this madness!" The king's voice grew angry, and thunder boomed in the distance in correspondence.

The empty throne room went silent for a prolonged amount of time. Hercules said nothing, only staring into his fathers eyes.

Within them, he saw rage and anger, but also a hint of pity.

"I have a kingdom to run, in the midst of a war that has been waged before either of our times, and will likely continue on long past the both of us." Said Zeus after nearly an hour of quiet.

"I cannot do that and fight with my family at the same time."

"The Holy War is not yours to fight, Father. When you made the First Martyr and the Reigning Deity sign the treaty, you made sure of that, and ended the fighting."

Zeus scoffed. "I ended nothing. The treaty those two signed meant nothing more than the end of the crusade.

Be sure, the next is sure to come."

Hercues regarded his father coldy. "And what does that war have to do with my child."

"That bastard?" Zeus had grown tired of his son's antics. He could only tolerate such a young god for so long. "I don't know what Lady Orphelia's quarrel is with him, but it matters not. His mother is a Titan who sided with my father.

I remember the day she fled before my very eyes."

"The wars of your father are long since past, father. She is of no threat to Olympus."

"And what of her son."

"He is my son!" Hercules pleaded. He felt a mix of anger and frustration, yet he could not display those feelings before the king.

"Your son who has never once seen his father!" Said Zeus as he began to grow in size, looming over the lesser god, "A son who has only his mother's voice to hear, and knows nothing else.

I will hear no more of this! Be glad I don't have you bring me the boy's head yourself."

Zeus had already turned his back to his son.

"Lord Zeus,-" Hercules had begun with his voice unsteady, but Zeus did not let him speak.

"Enough, my son. I Said I shall hear no more."

He turned to face Hercules, his face solemn, but otherwise without any emotion.

"The century's end is nigh. Bring the boy to me before then, by your own accord. If that is not done, then I shall take action.

Do not make me do so, Hercules."

Zeus gave his son no time to respond, walking off out of eyesight, before disappearing in a brilliant bolt of lightning. Hercules was left alone in the throne room. Alone with only his thoughts for company.

The man had been a god less than a half decade, and had yet to see an improvement from his life as a demigod.

He remained in the spot Zeus had left him long enough for the sun to begin to set in the horizon, giving him a sudden shock back to reality.

The end of the century, he repeated in his mind. A little less than 20 mortal years, if he remembered correctly.

It was a decent amount of time, but still not enough.

His son would be on the island his mothers spirit had created. Delos. The island had once been cursed to remain afloat, until the twin arches of Leto had been born. At that point it had been rooted to the earth.

That's how it had been when Hercules had found it.

It was during the final years of his mortal life. He had been lost at sea and found himself ashore on the coast of Delos. The place was fertile, though Hercules had found it strange that there was not a single nature spirit to be found. He had not known at the time, but it was because the island was sacred, and only immortals could be born there.

As Hercules had seen it, it was a place to be alone. He had used the resources of the island and fixed a place for himself to stay. He had not planned to live out his days there, but could not bring himself to return home.

He had felt a connection with the island. He felt as if the place had a soul of its own, but thought it not possible due to the lack of spirits.

It had been just short of the second month when Hercules had decided on returning home. That day also happened to be the first time the man had set eyes upon the mother of his son.

He had just gathered the things he wished to bring back to his makeshift raft when he spotted her. She was by the small pond, dipping her hands in lightly, and running the water throughout her hair.

Hercules had dropped his things when he saw her.

She regarded him with empty eyes.

She seemed neither alert nor kind, merely unbothered.

Hercules studied her. Her eyes stood out immediately. Dark pupils with bright gray irises that seemed surreal. Her hair matched the color, and reached down below her waist.

She wore white gown that came across her torso and dropped to her ankles. They were made of a fabric that Hercules had never seen before, and he realized that it was because they were slightly see-through.

In fact, the woman herself seemed to flicker, and at times Hercules could see the scenes behind her through a gray tint.

"Who are you?" The man had called out dumbly.

The woman said nothing, only turning back to the pond, staring at her reflection.

Hercules stared for a moment before walking forward. He had reached within a rock throw of a woman when she flickered harshly. Unlike the other times, the woman did not reappear to the man's view.

I'm going mad, Hercules thought to himself.

He took it as a sign to return to his wife who was expecting him back home.

Though, the woman looked nothing like his wife, he noted. She was beautiful. Unearthly. More like the gods of Olympus than any mortal woman.

Hercules shook his head. He was not going to get lost in his thoughts about imaginary women.

The man gathered his things once more and hauled them back to his raft.

He glanced at the horizon. Sea in all directions, but he was sure he would reach land if he sailed due north for half a day. After that, he should be able to find his way home.

Those were the man's thoughts as he began pushing the raft into the deeper waters. He had halfway climbed into his boat when his eyes had locked on to a figure in front of him. He brought the craft to a stop.

"You're real." The man said.

The woman was yet again in front of him, this time in a solid form like Hercules himself.

"You're leaving?" The woman's voice came like music to his ears.

He had to shake his head to right his mind. "I have to go home." He said, trying to sound serious.

"You didn't leave before."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I saw you."

Hercules raised his brow. He took a few steps out of the water to stop the small waves from crashing at his feet. This had made him closer to the woman.

"Who are you?"

"To you I am Delos."

"Delos? The island the twin archers were born on?" Hercules took a look around him. "This is Delos?"

The woman gave only a small nod.

"And you are the island?"

"I was more before the island." Said the woman, walking off away from the shore. "But this is what I am now.

I haven't seen anyone, not since my sister and her children. You are the first."

Sister? Hercules wondered to himself.

"You are a titan."

"I am Delos."

"Asteria, sister of Leto. Mother of Hecate, by Perses" Hercules' mind had not failed him. He knew of his fathers wars, and the enemies he fought.

"As I said," the woman turned back to the demigod. "I was more before the island.

But it matters not who I am or who I once was. You are leaving, demigod. I'm sure your life at home awaits you."

Hercules looked down at his things, and then once at his raft. His life at home.

He hadn't found himself missing that life as of late. Instead, he found himself intrigued with the woman in front of him, enjoying the life on this secluded island.

The man dropped his things to the floor.

"I'm not leaving. Not just yet., at least." Hercules grumbled the last part.

The woman looked back with curious eyes.

"I want to stay here a little longer. You intrigue me, woman." The man had a brutish way of saying things, yet the woman seemed not to notice, or mind. Instead she smiled in response.

And Hercules did as he said, he stayed for the night. And that night in turn, turned into a week, and so forth. The man had found that he had lost track of time while spending time with the woman, but couldn't find it in himself to care.

The two had spent many nights together, but Hercules had found it in himself to remain loyal to his wife at home, even if he had not spared the time to think of her. That said, he found himself admiring Asteria's beauty often.

Though he didn't quite understand the woman's own view on himself. Even after all that time together, her nature still evaded him. And he would never truly get the chance to find that true nature. At least not in that lifetime.

Soon the time came for Hercules to truly leave. It had only been maybe a year together, but on their island alone, it might as well have been a century. The day had been a heavy toll on the man's heart, but he brought it in himself to return back to his home.

It was the first time he had seen the woman weep. He had promised to return to her, and only then had she stopped.

"Right here." She said, her tone in need of reassurance. Hercules nodded in response. The star above them seemed to shine brighter among the skies.

Hercules lost his balance for a moment as the island itself began to shift.

Asteria looked upwards and Hercules's own gaze naturally followed.

"I shall follow the stars. To reach me once more, you need only the skies.

The island of Delos shall go afloat once more, dear Hercules, awaiting the day of your return."

Hercules had no chance to respond as the image of Asteria's body had faded just before her last words had reached the man's ears.

With a weight of emotions, Hercules pushed his raft off the shore with his great oar, and gave one more long look towards the island he had made his home for the past year.

Upon returning home, his wife had rightfully been suspicious of his possible affair, which Hercules truthfully denies. He had still held love for his wife.

Yet the myths had not forgotten his wife's response. Soon after his return, Hercules had been poisoned by his wife, and brought upon his own demise to end his suffering. Soon after, he ascended to godhood.

Hercules would never forget. His last good memories before his death were spent with a woman who he had just met.

Maybe that was his curse, however. To never forget. Even now as he left the throne room, the memory of how he met the woman came rushing through his mind.

He shivered at the thought. Follow the skies, he remembered. He would know where to find her. He had only seen her once since their initial meeting. He had promised to return, and he had done just that, though as a god.

That was when they had conceived Perseus. Hercules had left shortly after. There had been news of their meeting by the wind spirits. Hercules had been furious when he had learned that they had reported his affair to his father, but his mood had changed when he had learned of their additional news.

His son was being brought to Olympus as they spoke.

Upon hearing this Hercules had immediately rushed to his chariot, and Zeus himself was forced to restrain him. Hercules had been able to calm himself only because it was Zeus, but still argued with the king, and pleaded his case. They had been shouting for not even a minute when there was the sound of a brilliant blast unlike any either had ever heard before.

The two had stopped their quarrel to look to the skies, where a streak of white had stained the dark night.

Later those who had seen it had described the scene as a literal star falling from the sky onto the earth.

Before either god could acknowledge what they had heard, a spirit appeared before them. He brought news for Zeus. Upon hearing it, Zeus grew angry.

Whatever had caused the streak of white had also killed the spirit delivering the boy. The boy however, lived.

Whatever had fallen returned the boy to Delos.

"Then why have you not returned to the damned island!" Zeus demanded of the spirits.

"My lord… the island is no longer there."'

And after that Zeus had been livid. That too, Hercules remembered all too well.

Once news of his affair had hit the streets, the residents had been quick to tie the falling star to Hercules's new bastard, to the annoyance of the queen. Once they had learned of his name, they gave him his new moniker. Perseus Starborn.

Thankfully, the boy remained unseen.

Zeus and his army had never ended up finding the island of Delos. Hercules knew they wouldn't, only he ever had. But now he was tasked with doing it again.

Nine years, it had taken him to reach the island for the first time. If he was lucky, that could barely be enough time to get him there and back before his father's deadline. That was assuming smooth sailings.

It wouldn't do.

He would need a crew, he figured, and a small, reliable crew. The island Delos was not meant to be found, by god or mortal alike. It would do him no good to search for it on his lonesome.

The man gave one last look to the sky from the view atop Olympus. He could see the stars best from here.

Soon, he would find his son. Soon he would meet him for the first time. And then he would have to bring him right back here to Olympus.

His life on Delos was over, he remembered.

He turned away from the throne with that bitter thought in mind.

3 Months Later

Hercules's eyes were fixed on the waters in front of him. He had been working towards finding a vessel that could make the journey ahead of him, and now he finally had just that, and the men to handle it.

It would be tomorrow when they would set sail. The rest of the crew, including the captain, had already gone home to rest. They would leave at first light. But Hercules was a god now. He didn't need sleep, though he did find it soothing.

But now, he couldn't sleep even if he tried. He had argued that they should leave tonight, but Calister, the immortal who owned the ship, had persuaded him otherwise.

"It's a beautiful ship."

It really was, Hercules thought to himself. It took him a moment to realize he had heard the voice aloud.

Hercules turned to his right to see a man staring at the ship close behind him. His face read of no emotion, and he paid Hercules no mind.

"What's her name?"

Hercules noticed something unusual about the man's teeth as he spoke, but he knew not what it was. His tone as well, he spoke like a foreigner, almost. Like the words were unnatural coming out his mouth. A sarcastic tone, almost.

"The White Robyn." Hercules said after a silence that lasted too long.

The man regarded Hercules for the first time. His eyes were cold and were unlike any Hercules had seen on any normal man.

"I'd like to sail on that ship with you, Lord Heracles."

"It's Hercules." The god half mumbled. "And how do you know of my business, strange man? Who are you?"

"You are the greatest hero born anew as a god, Hercules." The man dragged out the god's name. "All of Olympus knows of your doings."

"Then that is what you are, you would have me believe? A citizen of Olympus?"Hercules had begun to raise his voice. The man took a step closer.

The man advanced on the god, and Hercules got a better inspection of his features. He was young, he noted. His chin was sharp and his nose was pointed, but Hercules could see in his eyes that the boy could not yet be even half his age.

As he got close enough, the stranger extended his hand. "I don't know what you would like to call me, but it's best we start with my name.

Euplo. Euplo Tre." He said.

Hercules stared at him, and then his hand, all with a blank expression. He eventually slowly outstretched his own to meet the boy's.

"Hercules." He eventually said.

"Lord Hercules to me, I suppose." Replied Euplo with a sharp smile.

The god shook his head, not letting go of the boy's hand. Instead his grip tightened as his mind began to race.

"You are Tre Scarr's spawn." He said as he collected his thoughts.

Euplo frowned and pulled his hand back. "I suppose. Yes, I am a scion of the drakonis, if that is what you are asking, but I have yet to meet the man- or dragon- you speak of."

"Damn it all, you know what I mean!" Said the god, already growing tired of the boy's persona. "You are of his clan, so tell me boy, why do the likes of you wish to sail aboard my ship?"

"Why, you've already said the reason my lord." Said the drakonis, but now Hercules could easily sense the sarcasm.

"None of that, just Hercules is fine." Said the god with a wave.

The boy hardly regarded the god as he continued. "I am a drakonis, and I have family business with the one you wish to seek. Or more specifically, his mother."

Hercules tensed up. He had no weapon on him, but he had no need for one.

"What business do you have with the boy's mother?" Hercules said after a silence, his voice low.

"Family business, I told you.

Worry not, Hercules, I have no want for your woman myself."

Hercules had lunged forward in a near instant, his hand aimed for the boy's neck. The god's anger had hardly gotten better since his mortal life, and the boy had finally taken his already thin patience too far.

The dragon was quick however. He had ducked down out of reach and leaped back out of the god's range all in one graceful movement.

Hercules did not pursue, but stared at the man with rageful eyes. He remained still and tried to calm himself.

"Enough games boy!" Yelled the god. "Leave this place at once and never appear before me. Only then shall I spare your life. Your family can not save you now, dragon."

The god's voice rose with each passing word, until eventually it seemed to boom from every direction. Euplo's expression seemed to calm, but the display didn't appear to deter him.

"I apologize for the antics, Ser Hercules, I do swear to leave the fun for the land. But I must stand firm in my initial inquiry.

If you must know, I believe the Titanesse Asteria has something that once belonged to a cousin of mine. A drakonis as well. My father and others in my family are also looking for this same thing.

I myself would also like to find said item. Out of curiosity, I suppose."

The young dragon paused before taking a few steps forward. He halted halfway the distance between the two, but continued on when he saw Hercules make no hostile moves.

"The interest the Order of Saints has taken in your child. I believe it also is tied to the thing his mother possesses. Perhaps they believe she has passed it onto the child.

At the mention of the Order and his son, Hercules' expression made a change. His eyes darted down, and for a moment Euplo could not understand his thoughts.

When he raised his head yet again, the god placed a firm hand on the dragon's shoulder. This time Euplos had no chance to react. The god stared the boy in the eyes with a solemn look.

"These things you speak of, you should not know. And yet you do. Tell me boy, why is this?" Hercules used a tone Euplo hadn't heard before. He did what he could to remain composed.

"I mentioned my father before, Ser Hercules. He is an interesting man, one who knows many things. Being his son, I suppose I too have learnt some, though I don't believe quite as much."

Hercules had decided that the dragon did not mean to speak the way he did, yet the god hated it all the same.

"Though what I know and who my family should matter not, I believe. You are a god of Olympus, what is the harm in recruiting a capable drakonis onto your crew on a perilous journey. Our families aer allied, after all."

Hercules's body finally relaxed as he snorted, removing his hand off the dragon's shoulder in the process. Euplo had not realized how sore his muscle had gotten.

"The Order cares little for the faulty treaty between our families. Last I remembered I fought a bloody war against one of your own drakonis kin." Hercules said thinking back on the memory with a bitter taste. Euploe remained silent.

"If it turns out that this item you speak of has truly been passed down to my son, the fact that I have a dragon aboard my ship will give the Order, and my father, more the reason to persecute. And my child.

I will not have that."

Euplo's eyebrow gave an irritated twitch. He was growing impatient, but was wary now to test the god any further.

"But Ser Hercules,-"

"I shall not have it, I said." Said The god, cutting the dragon off with no regard. "But I shall have you on my crew.

If what I propose turns out to be the case, then whatever the cursed object is shall be given to you in my son's stead, and by extension whatever sentence he shall receive. If the Order shall have my son's head, then I shall hand you what you desire, and then hand the Order your head thereafter.

I shall only say this once. If you wish to come with me drakonis, then these are my terms. Your Holy War shall have not to do with my son." Hercules said with finality.

Euplo only stared at the god with a dumb expression for a moment. He could have thought of a million witful responses, yet he knew that Hercules would only take either one of two definitive answers.

Eventually, he smiled.

"Well, I would have it no other way, my good sir."

Hercules only gave a huff in response. "We leave at first light tomorrow. I will inform the captain of your inclusion before then. You are to respect him. He is a good man."

"Of course."

"And drakonis." Euploe cocked his head at the god.

"Any more jibes or jest about my lady or son, then be sure to know that I shall deliver your corpse to the Order myself."

And with that, the god disappeared in a brilliant light accompanied by a swirl of winds. The impression he had meant to leave on the young dragon had lasted just as he had meant it to, and the boy never thought to bring up the matter again throughout their journey.

They learned to have each other's back, along with the whole crew. Hercules had never admitted it, but he enjoyed this life at sea much more than back at Olympus. It reminded him of his life on Delos.

But Euplo had never failed to remind him of the true nature of their voyage. The name he had taken a liking to for Zeus final task for his child, "The 13th Labor of Hercules."


Contents

1. CONTEXT

Introduction - 3

Era - 5

Education - 23

Culture - 47

2. HISTORY

1. Origins - 64

2. Timelines - 82

Ages - 86

Battles - 95

Eras - 113

3. Transition - 148

3. POINTS OF INTEREST

Peoples and Figures - 155

2. Locations - 172

3. Legend - 194

4. Mythos - 221

4. TALES AND SONGS

1. Historical - 227

2. Unknown Authors - 236

3. Saints Order - 254

4. Dragons Order - 267

5. Miscellaneous - 293

3.1.3_2

Tre Scarr

Synopsis: Reigning deity of the Tre Scarr Clan and strongest known living drakonis; one of the 7 Dragon Gods. Began his rule as a usurper of Zu Uslo during the time of Ouranous, wiping out the remaining dragon clans in the process. Resulted into the becoming the sole pillar of drakonis society, allowing the first and only peaceful relation to be established between the Order of Saints and drakonis.

Has not been sighted since the Treaty of Parlia in the last three millennia…


Each chapter will be named afer where it could be found. in the book. For example:

3.1.3_2

3 - Points of Interest

1 - People and Figures

3 - 3rd Section

2 - Second Entry Within Section


This is the "revamp" of what was formally known as "The Champion of Artemis". this first chapter will seem drastically different, and it honestly is, but it more so fits the vision i had for the story/other stories in the same universe.

hope y'all can enjoy, and sorry for the inconsistencies too lol.

but brace yourself for something a little experimental. i enjoy writing OC's and AU's and this is going to be the start of the next step into really exploring what i can do. the little "history book" entries at the end of chapters will kind of help with that for this story specifically, as i try to introduce a lot of original stuff. if certain aspects seem confusing, i don't blame you, i'd say just go with the flow and hopefully things'll make sense as we progress.

i plan on being as transparent as possible as i'm getting back into writing some of these , without straight up spoiling/rambling. idk what other stories i'll pick up immediately, but expect a few chapters of this and son of thanatos, past that no promises

again sorry for inconsistencies, but here we go giving this another shot