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The mythology of ancient Greece is filled with gods, goddesses, and beings of great and lesser power. Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes borrows extensively from that mythology. All of the original gods and goddesses of ancient Greece are part of the game. To gain certain favors, you can choose to align your character with one of the 14 major gods and goddesses.
Zeus
Zeus is the King of the gods and Lord of Olympus. His special weapon is the mighty thunderbolt. Zeus is the husband of Hera, the all powerful Queen of the gods, and the father of Hercules by a mortal woman (thus Hera's hatred for Hercules). Zeus is by far the strongest of the gods, if not always the wisest. Zeus' symbol is the lightning bolt.
Zeus favors training in the skill sets of Brawling, Weapons, and Rituals. He disfavors training in Mechanical Knowledge, and Arcane Knowledge.
Apollo
Apollo is the Lord of Truth and Light. He is a master musician and storyteller. Apollo is the twin brother of Artemis, and like his sister, is an excellent shot with his bow and silver and gold arrows. A musician, doctor, and prophet, Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto. His holy city is Delphi, where his oracle relates his commands. His symbol is a crown of laurel leaves.
Apollo favors training in the skill sets of Alchemy and Mechanical Knowledge. He disfavors training in Acrobatics.
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the goddess of Love and Beauty. It is said that she bubbled up out of the sea foam, and floated on a gentle breeze to the island of Cyprus (a place that is sacred to her). It is unclear who her parents are. The wife of Hephaestus and the mother of Cupid, Aphrodite can sometimes be rather shallow. Her symbol is a swan.
Aphrodite favors training in the skill set of Physical Development, but disfavors training in Brawling and Mechanical Knowledge.
Hermes
Hermes is the god of safe travel, good fortune, trickery, messengers, and truth. While due to an oath he swore for Apollo, Hermes can never tell a lie, he may not always tell the whole truth. Hermes escorts the dead to Hades. He carries the caduceus (a staff twined with serpents) wherever he goes. Portrayed with wings on his feet, Hermes is unequaled in speed by any of the Olympians; thus his role as messenger. The patron of thieves and heralds, his symbol is the caduceus.
Hermes favors training in the skill sets of Acrobatics and Physical Development, but disfavors training in Alchemy and Arcane Knowledge.
Poseidon
Poseidon is the lord of the ocean, which, it is said, reflects his mood. Temperamental and easily angered, he has also earned the named "Earthshaker" from the trident he carries. Earthquakes are said to be started when he strikes the trident against the ground. The brother of Zeus and Hades, Poseidon prefers his underwater palace of coral and gems to the lofty peak of Olympus for his home. His symbol is the trident.
Poseidon favors training in the skill sets of Weapons, Brawling, and physical development. He disfavors training in Acrobatics.
Demeter
Demeter is the goddess of harvest and agriculture, as well as civilization. It is Demeter who taught mankind how to sow and raise grain, thus ending man's nomadic existence. The mother of Persephone by Zeus, it is by Demeter's will that crops grow during the spring and summer. Winter is caused when Persephone goes to Hades to spend time with her husband. It is said that Demeter's grief is so great, she will let nothing grow during that time. Her symbol is a sheaf of grain.
Demeter favors training in the skill sets of Alchemy, Rituals, and Arcane Knowledge, but disfavors Brawling, Weapons, and Acrobatics.
Persephone
Persephone has a dual role as both the Goddess of Spring, and the Queen of the Dead. She is often an advocate for the unfortunate souls who face her husband, Hades, King of the Dead, and she cheers him up during the time she spends in his kingdom. A beautiful and glad goddess, her symbol is a wildflower.
Persephone favors training in the skill sets of Alchemy and Arcane Knowledge, but disfavors training in Mechanical Knowledge.
Iris
Iris, the goddess of the rainbow personified, is a beautiful winged woman and Hera's favored messenger. Iris, unlike the Queen she serves, is a gentle and kind divinity, even though she shares lineage with the hideous Harpies. Carrying a herald's staff and dressed in fantastic, multicolored robes, her symbol is a water pitcher.
Iris favors training in Rituals and Arcane Knowledge, and disfavors training in Mechanical Knowledge.
Pan
Pan, the god of all things wild and untamed, is the ugly-faced child of Hermes. A shepherd and a musician, his pipes can cause insanity when he plays them (thus the origin of the word "panic"). Depicted as a satyr (half-Human, half-goat), Pan can be found in the wild woods, either dancing to his own music or chasing after the latest nymph to catch his eye. His symbol is a set of pan pipes.
Pan favors training in Acrobatics, but disfavors training in Mechanical Knowledge.
Artemis
Artemis the chaste goddess of the moon, hunting and (oddly) childbirth, is the aloof huntress of the woods. Eternally virtuous, she is the twin sister of Apollo and the patron goddess of the Amazons. Artemis guards women during childbirth, perhaps due to her own mother's trials while she carried the twins. Her symbol is the crescent moon.
Artemis favors training in the skill sets of Weapons, Acrobatics, Rituals, and Arcane knowledge, but disfavors Mechanical Knowledge.
Athena
Athena is the goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, justice and skill. The favored child of Zeus, she is also guardian of the city of Athens. Athena is honored among the Olympians by being the bearer of the protective Aegis. A strong and just goddess, Athena is, like Artemis, chaste. With her flashing gray eyes, long robe, and helmet fashioned by her mother Metis, she is a powerful figure among the gods. Her symbol is the owl.
Athena favors training in the skill sets of Brawling and Weapons, but disfavors Acrobatics and Alchemy.
Hestia
Hestia is the third of the virgin goddess of Olympus. Hestia tends the eternal hearth in the center of the great hall where the gods wile away the days. Originally one of the twelve ruling Olympians, she gave up her seat when Dionysus arrived, in order to avoid the unlucky number thirteen. Patron of domesticity and the hearth, she is the eldest sister of Zeus. Her symbol is a flame.
Hestia favors training in Ritual Magic and Arcane Knowledge.
Hephaestus
Hephaestus is the god of fire and blacksmithing. It is said that his features are so ugly, that his own mother, Hera, threw him out of Olympus when he was born. Consigned to walking with a limp ever since then, Hephaestus has a powerful upper body but weak and twisted legs due to Hera's harsh treatment. Hephaestus is the husband of Aphrodite and the patron of all smiths and clever inventors. His symbol is a hammer.
Hephaestus favors training in Weapons, Physical Development, Mechanical Knowledge, and Arcane Knowledge, but disfavors Acrobatics and Alchemy.
Hebe
Hebe is the goddess of youth, and is daughter of Zeus and Hera. Her special tasks are pouring the nectar of the gods, preparing Ares' bath, and helping Hera to her chariot. Her symbol is a cup.
Hebe favors Acrobatics and Physical Training, but disfavors Arcane Knowledge.
Other Gods and Goddesses
There are many other gods and goddesses in Greek mythology, and those gods and goddesses may show up in the game from time to time. However, player characters can only ally themselves with the gods and goddesses listed above. Some of the other gods and goddesses are listed below.
Hera
Hera is the queen of the gods, and has a reputation for being cruel and vindictive. Hera dislikes most humans, and requires absolute dedication and obedience from the few who follow her. Her symbol is the peacock or peacock feather.
Hades
Hades is the god of the underworld and the husband of Persephone. He is neither good nor evil, but judges the goodness of mortal lives in order to place them either in Tartarus or the Elysian Fields, after their death.
Cupid
Cupid is the son of Aphrodite and the husband of Psyche. He helps his mother by being the god of love. His magical arrows cause anyone hit to fall madly in love with the first person they see. He sometimes uses the power of his arrows to arrange marriages that the gods ordain.
Ares
Ares, a son of Zeus, is the god of war. He loves carnage and honors only those who perform well in combat. He is often capricious and unpredictable.
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