( video )

[heelies]

[The video feed begins on a close view of a face, revealing a stern set of eyes and a curve of nose but little more. Then the picture shakes as a new perspective is gained. The man who comes into view posesses a princely bearing and wears well the mantle of importance. His voice belongs to one who is accustomed to being listened to.]

I am told that this is the way that men call others to counsel in this land, and so as strange as it seems to me to address those whom I see not, I shall follow the local custom. I am Achilles, son of Peleus — Peleus who rules the fertile plains of Phthia, and who claims for his own worthy father Aeacus, judge of the House of Hades. New as I am to this land, which is farther from my dear native land than even the windy plains of Ilios, I bear many questions, but the first in my heart is this.

What deathless gods watch over the city of Lunatia? I have seen no temples built to honor Zeus who bears the aegis, nor bright-eyed Athena, nor Phoebus Apollo. Where are the priests who aid in the rituals of sacrifice, the seers who interpret the will of the gods in bird-signs? Surely, a city so rich as this, with precious silver trimming its houses, and all manner of riches I have never before seen — surely its people have the benison of the gods. Yet I see no practices that would suggest such reverence. Tell me, therefore, the ways to honor these gods who to me are so mysterious.

Comments

[video]

[hagrides]

[Achilles' video gets a video in return, so that Achilles gets to see a human-sized bug answering his question. Because adjusting wasn't hard enough on him already.]

Well met, Achilles. I am Grimm, vessel to the god that is known in my lands as the Nightmare King, and known in your lands not at all.

The powers that reside here may take even gods from their homes. Such mysterious forces may have no need of worship, or do not desire it.

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[bigredcheese]

Holy moley... Are you like the real Achilles?

[And now Solomon's telling him how weird and rude that sounded. Whoops!]

Sorry, I mean... you're a legend where I'm from. I don't know much about the gods around here, but I think you should be fine honoring yours still.

[foolishjustice]

[...Well, it's not like this is the first historical figure he's met.]

The gods worshiped here are connected to the moons. There are shrines on the third level of the city to pay respects, though I don't know what sort of offerings they prefer. I can tell you, though, that each god has three holy animals that people blessed by their moon manifest traits of when it's half full or more.

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[distort]

[ her selfie cam is flawless, with the perfect angle and moody lighting that leaves her cast half in shadow ... and looking kind of blue?! must be a trick of the light. either way, she looks ever so slightly amused. ]

Achilles. Are you really? Now there is a face to meet in a strange crossroads like this.

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[thedarkbond]

[Well, this is an interesting one to meet. Ren's seen a few historical figures here, but ancient Greece has mostly passed by his purview so far. So what Achilles gets is a man with long red hair and red eyes, pupils slitted akin to a snake, resting his chin on one hand with a gently curious air.]

I've heard there are actually some gods and immortals among the Moonblessed, but none of them are worshipped here. The gods of this world seem to almost be...embodiments, maybe, of the moons that bless us when we arrive. Which would explain where the blessings actually come from...

[Ren's tone is a little train-of-thought and meandering, but he at least sounds like he's familiar with how things go here.]

voice.

[courtmagic]

Just because you don't see doesn't mean it does not exist, Achilles, son of Pelus. Perhaps this land's gods are content to see their people flourish, and living good lives is the tribute they demand. No more formalities than that.

video;

[ciao]

[ excuse this one, he had opened up communication through a video response, but he kind of just had this dumb smile for a moment before finally snapping to with a very verbose greeting ]

Ciao, Achilles, ciao~!

I'm Venezia Italia and I'm a fan of your work, but more than that I'm so very glad to see you've been adapting well so far! As for the gods of this land, I'm sure that people have already explained the gods and their associations with the mooncycles.

It appears that if the adventure to tending to dragon eggs was any indication, that simply partaking in moonlacing is tribute enough for the gods and to keep this land flourishing. Of course if we don't partake we suffer in varying degrees, none of which I recommend experiencing.

As far as I've seen there doesn't seem to be much in the way of sacrifices thus far, but it could be that it's a special event we have yet to bare witness to. Every so often there are festivals where we celebrate and learn a little more about certain gods, so there's always a chance that there's something just around the corner.

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[eddas]

Behold— you shall see the one to whom you speak.

[ It is Sif, a maiden well-formed, with hair blacker than night. ]

I am the lady Sif, a goddess born, though little versed in the ways of the Olympians. [ She recognizes some of their names, and their divinity. Their emissaries sometimes traveled to the courts of Asgard. But Sif has ever cared for the songs of her own people, not those of far-off lands. ] Yet the powers of Lunatia are veiled, even to sight such as mine.

[mischiefandice]

[The feed Achilles gets in answer is a video too, but it's just a little too dark to clearly make out Loki's features. The light coming from the device he's using to film himself intermittently catches his eyes or his teeth, giving the sharp lines of his face an eerie look.

Is he doing this purpose to make a dramatic entrance? Quite possibly.

When he speaks up, the tone of his voice is low, and almost dismissive]

I believe a better question would be, are they gods at all? The Prismals revere many and have plenty of stories to tell about the various divinities supposedly ruling this realm. They will tell you if you ask, but what do they know? Mortals are so easy to fool.

[A grin, then, wide and toothy.]

I went to Earth once, told a few stories, played a few pranks. They have been calling me the God of mischief for centuries, now.

[Not that he hated that, mind you. It just goes to show how easy it is, to make primitive being revere you as a God.]