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Post by Persephone on Dec 28, 2013 0:29:25 GMT -5
..:: Player Information ::..
Player Name: Anna
Age: 19
Other Characters Played: Anna and Ariel
How You Found Us: Jen is my Siamese twin
..:: Character Information ::..
Character Name: Persephone
Gender: Female
Type of Creature: Goddess
Rank: Elite
Movie/TV Series: Hercules
Home Island: Isle of the Mountain
Personality:
Earnest- Persephone is not entirely devoid of the self-centered attitude that most immortals have. She is, however, much more thoughtful than the average Olympian. Due partly to her experiences, and especially to her upbringing taking place primarily away from Olympus. Persephone is a very empathetic goddess, especially in regard to her husband. In most cases, she believes in mercy and forgiveness, and tries to embody those traits. Were someone to wish harm to Hades, or other loved ones of hers, she tends to be in a far less generous mood. Persephone is known to go to great, persistent lengths to do generous things for her husband and mother.
Stubborn- Though Persephone has been around for ages by human standards, she is still younger than most of the Olympians, due to her being the daughter of them. Because of this, she can appear almost juvenile in her stubbornness at times. When Persephone puts her mind to something, even the smooth talk of Hades cannot dissuade her. In some ways, the goddess' mulishness has set her apart from the elder Olympians. Were Persephone less stubborn, she may have swayed to the more general opinion of Hades, or - conversely - her husband's view of Olympus, instead of maintaining her position as a neutral party between the two.
Clever- Persephone is not intelligent enough in an academic aspect to make note of it. She is extremely clever, though. Growing up with an extremely overbearing mother, Persephone learned at a young age how to use her wit to navigate loopholes, both physically (to slip away from the "safety" of Demeter's domain to explore, and return before her absence was noticed) and conversationally (to avoid discipline, get the upper hand, or disconcert others as it suits her). Persephone's nimble mind keep even would-be omnipotent gods on their toes.
Counselor- Generally speaking, Persephone is able to keep calm when those around her are boiling over. When your husband is notorious for literally exploding in frustration, this is an invaluable trait. Persephone has assuaged the concerns or vexation of Hades and Zeus, in turn, over the years. She may not have the poetic, deep council that Athena could provide. Quite the contrary, Persephone is so capable a counselor because her advice is so simple and honest, usually stripping away all imagined complexities of a situation, and showing how easily they are.
Fiery- Persephone may regularly play the role of mediator and soothing voice, but that doesn't mean she's devoid of more toxic reactions. What more, now that she is the queen of the Underworld, Persephone's temper tantrums have much the same reaction as Hades' because of it. Which means that the groans of the deep may not always be Lord Hades' doing.
Powers, Skills, and/or Any Other Abilities:
o. Immortality: Persephone's status as a goddess means that she does not age, is not susceptible to disease or sickness, and cannot be killed.
o. Olympian Magic: Just as all the gods' possess, Persephone can marshal magic to suit her needs. This includes the conjuration of objects and creatures, teleportation, illusion-casting and so on. When Persephone is in the upper world during the warmer seasons, these aesthetically appear with golden light, vines and whirling pink and white flower petals. Conversely, when Persephone is in the Underworld, they appear through brambles, thorny vines, and distinctly more eerie-looking lavender flower petals.
o. Olympian Physiology: Persephone's physiology is much greater than any mortal. Her tissue is more dense, meaning that her skin is nearly invulnerable. She has superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina and so on because of this as well.
o. Goddess of Springtime Rebirth: This is the realm of power that Persephone is most known for. She is the catalyst for and personification of the power of spring. This gives her control over nature - especially flowering things - and plant life. As well as vitality and rebirth, enabling her to revitalize objects and people, and heal them thereby.
o. Queen of the Underworld: When Persephone married Hades, she became Queen of the Underworld, and gained special powers through this new title. Persephone has command over the dead, and authority in the Underworld, second only to Hades.
o. Blessing and a Curse: Another boon that is Persephone's to bestow, as decided by the Fates. To those that she wishes to aid, Persephone can offer a blessing - usually related to her realm of influence, but not limited to it. Conversely, if Persephone dislikes someone, or wishes to hinder or punish them, she can cast a curse upon them. (See weaknesses for more specifics)
Weaknesses/Flaws:
o. Superior Magic: Persephone is not one for confrontation. However, the belief that just because she is a goddess she is untouchable is not true. Her magic can be defeated by superior stuff - either stronger magic outright (as most of the Olympians possess), or if several magics are combined to a rate that would outmatch her own. The only way that Persephone's magic is impenetrable is if she casts a curse or blessing. Not even Zeus could directly counter it - though, he could give a blessing or curse to counterbalance it (if she were to give someone the gift of prophecy, another god could strike that person blind, for example). Beyond that, the only realm in which she trumps every other god or goddess magically would be in things pertaining to spring, springtime, or rebirth.
o. Do We Not Bleed: Persephone is unable to be killed, but injury is definitely within her grasp. It would simply take a weapon or offensive that was in some way divine. The blade of a mortal would smash over her skin, but Apollo's arrows would strike true.
o. Capture: It is a little-known fact that, if a god or goddess is well and truly captured, they are at the mercy of their captor. As when Zeus caught Aphrodite and Ares in a net, and called all of heaven to come and mock them. Were Persephone to be caught - even if, technically, her power would be able to shred her prison - she would be helpless.
o. Stubbornness: Time and again Persephone's persistence has got her into trouble. That number would be far larger, if she were caught, or discovered every time she bent or disregarded a rule to do as she would.
o. Torn In Two: Persephone is the goddess of two things that are set starkly against one another. Because both of these polar opposite powers are within her, she can occasionally be struck by vertigo, confusion, and even occasionally split-personality disorder. Past this, Persephone is torn psychologically as well. She is part of two worlds who have enmity to one another. Hades hates Zeus, and Olympus resents Hades. She is hard put to not take sides, and though she always manages to keep both parties interests at heart, when it has come down to it, Persephone usually chooses Hades over Olympus - which could be exploited against her by someone very clever.
Canon History:
Persephone was considered the gem of Olympus from birth. Beautiful as the budding rose, gentle as the dew and joyful as the babbling brook. She grew up on Olympus with her mother, Demeter, ever-watchful over her. Never letting her out of her sight. Persephone did not mind. She loved Olympus, and was loved by it. All of her aunts and uncles treated her fondly, and she was raised alongside the other godlings, like Zeus and Hera's daughter Hebe, and Aphrodite's son Eros. Persephone was content with her life, because it was the only kind she had ever known. Not aware that Demeter's overbearing parenting style was different than most.
But Persephone grew older, and more quickly than her mother would have liked. In some ways, Demeter was glad for this, because with her nearing adulthood Persephone became a lesser goddess of nature beneath her mother. Learning the family trade, as it were. With this maturity came other, less cherished developments from Demeter's point of view. Most specifically in the realm of courtship and betrothal. Persephone was undeniably beautiful, as Demeter knew full well, and as such nearly every eligible bachelor in heaven was after her hand and heart.
Persephone was mostly unaware of these advances, only really marking that she was being treated more kindly than before. The advances by the other gods grew more and more insistent, to the point where Demeter realized she could not leave Persephone unattended on Olympus without fear of her being preyed upon. So, when Persephone was just yet a maiden, Demeter took her away from the realm of the gods, down to the wild. There Demeter assembled her most trustworthy nymph attendants, and arranged them as a carefully controlled group of friends for Persephone.
In this way, Persephone could delight in the grove and the wood, in the unexplored places of earth sacred to Demeter. No one but the nymphs she was with, and her mother knew where Persephone was. Or, so the elder goddess believed. Persephone grew into a young lady in this manner, only ever brought to Olympus for very special occasions, and never out of Demeter's reach during them. Persephone was not altogether content with her life, though. After years in the same area of Demeter's realm, she craved something new. Adventure, intrigue. Interaction with someone other than her mother, and the nymphs that were her friends.
Plucking up courage, Persephone finally asked her mother if she could go beyond the wooded areas that she'd been confined to. Demeter went into a temper at the thought, and for the first time in their lives the mother and daughter argued. And loudly. On a final, forbidding note, Demeter vanished, away to carry out her godly duties, and ordering the nymphs to make sure Persephone did not disobey her. The young goddess was distraught, and incensed. Not only by her mother, but because in Demeter's crescendo, she'd betrayed the fact that the nymphs - her would-be friends - were under her mother's control. That they had been enforcing Demeter's wishes all these years.
Persephone would not have it. She turned on the nymphs, and with a flourish conjured a million poppies whose aroma was so intoxicating it put them all to sleep. Thus unencumbered, Persephone fled out of Demeter's grove and far beyond anywhere she'd explored before. It was then that she met a man she had never seen before. At the edge of the wood, a chasm opened up at the edge of a pool which was fed by a waterfall. From the deep emerged a dark figure with flaming scalp, smoking robe and skin as blue as a forget-me-not. They spoke, and though Persephone was at first defensive, she quickly grew amused - even fond - of the man.
During their conversation, something happened. At Persephone's back nature rose in an uproar. Trees bent like they were caught in a violent gale. Birds took to the wing and the earth splintered. Persephone knew that it meant Demeter had returned, and found her daughter missing. The man she met knew that as well, and offered Persephone refuge in his kingdom. Persephone agreed. During her visit to the Underworld, the goddess was amazed, not reviled, at the realm of the dead. More importantly, she was entranced by the lord of it.
Hades warned her early on that she should not partake of any food in the Underworld, or she wouldn't be allowed to leave. The two quickly became close, and Persephone knew that it was only a matter of time before Demeter discovered where she'd gone. That was true. Several days after she descended into the Underworld, Hermes came to get her at Zeus' behest. Persephone had fallen in love with Hades, though, and knew that there was only one real way to ensure she would ever see him again. She rushed before Hades or Hermes could react, and bit into a pomegranate on the banquet table.
Afterwards, all of Olympus was called for a council. Demeter would not allow Persephone to be lost to her forever. Indeed, the other Olympians were against it. In Persephone's absence, Demeter had neglected her duties as a goddess, and inadvertently let loose plagues on mankind. The world would decay if Persephone was lost to the Underworld. Yet, the ancient laws couldn't be ignored. She had ate of the Underworld's bounty. A deal was struck, then. Persephone would spend one third of the year with Hades - when winter would descend on earth at Demeter's depression - and two thirds in heaven.
Her first visit to the Underworld after that, Persephone married Hades and became his queen. Since then she has had a lot on her plate, balancing her life on Olympus and in the land of the dead. She refuses to accept her family's belief that Hades cannot be helped, and just as staunchly defends her husband's hatred of Zeus. Even after Hades tried to overthrow the gods with the Titans' aid and was stopped by Hercules, Persephone maintained her faith in the good in her husband.
When Hades was bound to the Forever Stone in the Sleep of Ages, Persephone lamented. She still had to spend her time in the Underworld, but now she was alone, and felt just as desperate and forsaken as Hades must have. Her mourning would not last forever, though. Because, just recently, in fact, those souls bound to the Stone were set free. Hades returned to his throne in the Underworld, and Persephone rejoiced even as Olympus quailed and bellowed in outrage.
Persephone is now determined more than ever to take an active role in Hades' doings. Even if that role is not noticed. She's been going in behind her husband and smoothing over the wrinkles he creates to lessen the fault that would be his to bear.
Game Information:
Persephone is a much different mood in regard to the news of the Forever Stone failing. Because of this, she has gained her husband back. And she is determined not to have him taken from her again.
Anything Else:
Persephone's diet is like all Olympians. She drinks nectar and consumes ambrosia.
Persephone bleeds ichor - in appearance it is liquid gold, and has many magical properties.
When in Olympus, Persephone has bright pink skin, blond hair and wears a white dress with silver headdress. When she is in the Underworld, Persephone's skin is ghostly white and her she wears a silver, female version of her husband's toga. She retains her silver headdress and blond hair.
Persephone is beloved by the spirits in the River Styx, which is in direct contrast with Hades' loathing of them - and their resentment toward him.
Persephone's gift to the newborn Hercules was a flower-shaped sapphire the size of his infant head.
Few care to remember that Hades is also the god of wealth from the earth. Because of this, Persephone is often given gems and jewels as gifts. Her personal chambers in Hades' palace look like a kaleidoscope of them- a veritable "garden" in its own right.
..:: Sample Post ::..
All of Olympus was in attendance. Just like last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. She strode through their ranks, uncomfortable as ever. Looks of mournful regret came her way, if any could steel themselves enough to glance at all. They treated her as if she were going to her deathbed. To most of the Olympian's minds, she was. Why must there be a procession like this? Why must they make it such an event? A day of sorrow? The Muses even serenaded the masses with a woeful melody - a swan song they prepared just for this day - from a blanket of cloud above.
Persephone clasped her pale pink hands before her. She wished that this march did not start at her mother's palace, so close to the top of the mountain. Her path took her down the main road of nearly the entire city. Persephone bit her lip as she turned a bend, where various lesser nature gods wept openly. For her, or the end of the seasons she represented, she knew not. Next she forced herself to stare ahead while she drifted by a group of nymphs who were kneeling with quivering shoulders before their fountain, which froze smoothly at her passing.
Finally, the gates of Olympus were ahead. On either side of the descending stair beyond, in two long trains stood the Olympians themselves. The most formidable, powerful and noteworthy of all the Greek pantheon. Athena's keen gray eyes offered no consolation. Ares was furious, as always. Artemis was looking away in resentment of the situation. Aphrodite's head was buried in the chest of her husband, Hephaestus. Persephone proceeded between them, nervousness morphing into frustration now that her immediate family were around her, and not relative strangers.
Persephone's bare feet touched the base platform of the stairs. The Olympians on either side swelled into a wall of immortal flesh at her back. Before her, at the edge of the platform, where stone gave way to cloud that gave way to open air, were three last figures. Queen Hera stood slightly behind Zeus, whose imperious figure was more intimidating than ever. Every muscle in the king's body was tense with his vexation. His loathing at this unavoidable event that annually came. Then, beside him, the plump, emerald form of Persephone's mother stood, barely keeping tears at bay.
The young goddess stopped only when she stood between them. She looked to Zeus, whose anger-filled eyes turned soft at the contact. He reached down and cupped her cheek, then drew away to Hera. Lastly, Persephone turned to Demeter. "Awful," the elder goddess sniffled. "To think of you in that dark, despicable place, with that turncoat." Persephone gave her mother a tired scowl. "That turncoat happens to be my husband." Demeter flapped her hands in defiance. "Don't remind me! I'll miss you so." Persephone hugged her mother. "I know. And I'll miss you," she said in consolation.
"Why, oh why did this have to happen? Why did you have to eat that accursed pomegranate? Why did he have to trick you into his wretched den?" Demeter lamented. Persephone broke away from her then, and gave the goddess of agriculture a stern look. "Now, stop. You're getting worked up over nothing, like usual." Persephone drew her hands away from Demeter, and turned her back on Olympus. "Do you want to know a secret, mother?" She took slow, ceremonious steps toward the edge of the platform, gliding as if she were in a daze.
"All those ages ago? When the ground opened up, and he looked up at me with such wonder? When he promised me happiness, and love?" Persephone stopped at the edge of the platform and looked down. Mount Olympus fell sheer below her, all the way to the base. As the young goddess watched, a crack splintered the ground at the base of the mountain, showing only the darkness of oblivion through it. "I didn't fall," Persephone whispered. "I jumped." She stepped into the openness, and leaped.
Air tore around Persephone. While tears and wails of sorrow rose in Olympus, she fell with the autumn gales that roared as she departed the upper world. Persephone's pure white gown changed as she fell, turning to dead, parched flower petals that ripped away from her. Leaving behind a pale silver dress. Her fair pink skin turned a ghostly white. And when Persephone reached that yawning chasm that bore beyond the land of the living, she smiled with more radiant, gleeful light than she had since the coming of spring the year before.
