Also might be getting a bit of myself here but I'm kinda picturing what happens after Taylor succeeds and ends up back in the realm of the living. Getting some pretty funny images of the freak out everyone would have at Khepri clawing her way out of (a) hell.
Given she seems to be a chthonic deity, the answer is "shortly afterwards, she dies, and winds up back in the Underworld".
There is no escape - and it's not just Zag who's affected that way. Hades is, too, and Thanatos mentions in passing that he can't survive too long in the surface world either.
Still, I wonder how Taylor's domain will play into this. I assume it's administration or something akin? Oh, oh, does she still have a connection to QA? Please tell me she does; if only so we can see the Underworld's reaction to now being connected to something like that.
Oh, oh, does she still have a connection to QA? Please tell me she does; if only so we can see the Underworld's reaction to now being connected to something like that.
Still, I wonder how Taylor's domain will play into this. I assume it's administration or something akin? Oh, oh, does she still have a connection to QA? Please tell me she does; if only so we can see the Underworld's reaction to now being connected to something like that.
She has already said she doesn't have her previous powers.
As for her domains, one of the prevailing theories is Rebirth/Reincarnation.
Why that is:
The dawning sun on the Stygian Sword when she invokes herself seems to be connected as divine symbol of Khepri, her final namesake, and represents Khepri's nature as a God of Creation and Rebirth.
The Description on the Stygian Sword once Invoked as ??? (Taylor) is that it is a blade seemingly made for crossing boundaries. One of the most famous boundaries being the boundary between life and death, and also plays into the Khepri connection.
The whole of Taylor's life is basically her remaking herself into a new person each time she takes up a new name, going from Skitter, to Weaver, to Khepri, her old life dying and starting again anew.
Taylor's dying wish/thoughts were basically around what she would/could do, if she could go back, do it all again, and try to be better.
So, the Unrelenting Prince of the Underworld and the Princess of Escalation......talk about a match made in Tartarus eh?
This goes right to The Chart.
In other news, how many references is her aspect going to make with the Infernal weapons is going to be fun.....wait, could she invoke aspects like Miss Militia's power if used on exagryph? Or Armaster's Halberd with Varata?
In other news, how many references is her aspect going to make with the Infernal weapons is going to be fun.....wait, could she invoke aspects like Miss Militia's power if used on exagryph? Or Armaster's Halberd with Varata?
She has already said she doesn't have her previous powers.
As for her domains, one of the prevailing theories is Rebirth/Reincarnation.
Why that is:
The dawning sun on the Stygian Sword when she invokes herself seems to be connected as divine symbol of Khepri, her final namesake, and represents Khepri's nature as a God of Creation and Rebirth.
The Description on the Stygian Sword once Invoked as ??? (Taylor) is that it is a blade seemingly made for crossing boundaries. One of the most famous boundaries being the boundary between life and death, and also plays into the Khepri connection.
The whole of Taylor's life is basically her remaking herself into a new person each time she takes up a new name, going from Skitter, to Weaver, to Khepri, her old life dying and starting again anew.
Taylor's dying wish/thoughts were basically around what she would/could do, if she could go back, do it all again, and try to be better.
Powers are just the form Shards manifest their presence around humans in. She may not have bug control any more, but that doesn't mean the Shard can't express itself in some other way. Or, if the connection is broken, reforge it.
The rest of what you said does, however, make sense. I do wonder what her domain would mean practically.
Possibly, but let me suggest an alternate hypothesis based off lore from Hades itself, which isn't so... mmm, tending-towards-the-self-congratulatory as something as grandiose as "Rebirth".
Article:
'...A multitude of worries decorate the brow of grim Lord Hades, whose nature is unknown to anyone but him. But there are some concerns that even he cannot suppress. Take for example, the dark movements of the satyr vermin-worshippers residing in the temple gateway at the surface of this realm. What they must want is yet unclear; but, their hatred for Lord Hades is not. Efforts to exterminate the goat-faced fiends have proven unsuccessful to this point, for they reside frustratingly even beyond the Master's influence. What can they do, in turn, except to desecrate the Master's halls? Yet, if the Master is uneasy, there must be a cause.
The satyrs in the temple of Styx worship vermin; unclean things of the earth. Among whose number is included worms. They hate Hades, which is to say, death and the underworld. They make even Hades uneasy. Even Achilles doesn't know exactly what's up with them.
Skitter's origin was being pulled from a bloody, unclean place. And now as a goddess, she's reborn by being pulled from... a pool of blood. And my, does she have plenty of association with vermin.
Might I suggest that she is, in fact, the vermin goddess who the Satyrs have been worshipping when she was as-yet-unborn, awaiting her arrival? Goddess of the unclean things that dwell in the chthonic places of the earth; rats, bugs, and - yes - worms.
Might I suggest that she is, in fact, the vermin goddess who the Satyrs have been worshipping when she was as-yet-unborn, awaiting her arrival? Goddess of the unclean things that dwell in the chthonic places of the earth; rats, bugs, and - yes - worms.
Taylor-the-Skitter is the lord of terror by unclean. But she wasn't all that much in the grand scheme of things. Taylor-the-Kherpi on the other hand is feared for irresistible domination. This, actually, in part feeds back, since even as Skitter Taylor usually managed to wrestle things her way via terror and dirty play. Add in Doormaker and Clairvoyant. As for Taylor's personality aspects, we can remember that she was at heart a hero and was never truly coerces, though she readily bends herself for the greater good as she understand it, sacrificing whatever she needed.
So. Fanaticism, Duty, Sacrifice, Domination, Unescapable (Doom), All-seeing. Mix and shake in proportions you see fit.
Zag is interesting. He is very caught up in his whole attempt to escape the Underworld. But at the same time, he does take a few moments to chat with people, get to know them and so on. It really depends on how often Taylor heads out with him on escape attempts. I don't think she'll be a constant companion of his, she's smart enough to know when she has to play by the rules I believe. But heading out with him now and then will probably do a lot for her emotionally, since he might be the easiest to relate to.
That said, I think Taylor is going to eventually come out and say to Zag that it's not his father that is his final enemy, but the Underworld itself. At least, after he's managed to beat his father once or twice and is dragged back by the Styx. Taylor isn't the kind to sit on that kind of observation for too long, especially since Hades himself and the others do hint at it a few times that while they don't like the Mortal World, they don't quite stay in the Underworld by choice.
The Underworld keeps them there. And Taylor once she realizes won't hesitate to point out it out to Zag that as long as the Underworld has a say, he'll never be able to truly leave. He was born there, and it has a claim on him that it doesn't seem it will ever willingly let go. Especially since there are clues around that the Underworld can control how long the Chthonic Gods can stay in the mortal world in Thanatos, who can travel and stay in the mortal world for long periods of time. But because he rather dislikes the mortal world, he never intends to stay longer then absolutely needed to do his job he is rarely bothered by the Styx. That said, I do remember a few lines where he talks to Zag about this, saying that there have been a few times where the Styx has started to tug at his essence when he stayed in the mortal world for a little too long.
You know, I don't think I can ever recall Zagreus using the word "cool" in all his runs? Or really very much slang at all, he's always fairly formal, besides the near ubiquitous use of "mate" of course
Also instead of calling Taylor a godlet maybe use godling instead? Both Aphrodite and I think Alecto have referred to Zag as godling but I don't think anyone ever called him a godlet? But it is a very large game, with a very large amount of dialogue
Besides these minor nitpicks I quite liked it, and am looking forward to seeing where you take this
Possibly, but let me suggest an alternate hypothesis based off lore from Hades itself, which isn't so... mmm, tending-towards-the-self-congratulatory as something as grandiose as "Rebirth".
Article:
'...A multitude of worries decorate the brow of grim Lord Hades, whose nature is unknown to anyone but him. But there are some concerns that even he cannot suppress. Take for example, the dark movements of the satyr vermin-worshippers residing in the temple gateway at the surface of this realm. What they must want is yet unclear; but, their hatred for Lord Hades is not. Efforts to exterminate the goat-faced fiends have proven unsuccessful to this point, for they reside frustratingly even beyond the Master's influence. What can they do, in turn, except to desecrate the Master's halls? Yet, if the Master is uneasy, there must be a cause.
The satyrs in the temple of Styx worship vermin; unclean things of the earth. Among whose number is included worms. They hate Hades, which is to say, death and the underworld. They make even Hades uneasy. Even Achilles doesn't know exactly what's up with them.
Skitter's origin was being pulled from a bloody, unclean place. And now as a goddess, she's reborn by being pulled from... a pool of blood. And my, does she have plenty of association with vermin.
Might I suggest that she is, in fact, the vermin goddess who the Satyrs have been worshiping when she was as-yet-unborn, awaiting her arrival? Goddess of the unclean things that dwell in the chthonic places of the earth; rats, bugs, and - yes - worms.
A goddess of plague, reborn again and again, surrounded by filth and the impure. A hero and villain and monster, killer of monsters, taker of an innocent life. Corruption of her morals, her faith, her humanity, in the end becoming something closer to a... Titan. And an ancient, immensely powerful being that hails from behind the stars.
To the satyrs who follow Dionysus, who himself was once a god of madness, such a goddess would be tempting. To those who have died and wallow in the darkness and muck... She would seem like their messiah.
I love the story, but the discussions are even better.
You know, I don't think I can ever recall Zagreus using the word "cool" in all his runs? Or really very much slang at all, he's always fairly formal, besides the near ubiquitous use of "mate" of course
Huh, you know I think you're right, which is rather interesting given that Zag is very much the stereotypical charismatic 'funny man' type, with a strong (and entirely justified) sardonic streak.
That's actually kind of impressive when I think about it; I can't believe that the devs didn't deliberately avoid modern slang in order to really sell the whole 'ancient Greek' theme.
You know, I don't think I can ever recall Zagreus using the word "cool" in all his runs? Or really very much slang at all, he's always fairly formal, besides the near ubiquitous use of "mate" of course.
That's actually kind of impressive when I think about it; I can't believe that the devs didn't deliberately avoid modern slang in order to really sell the whole 'ancient Greek' theme.
Unfortunately not, though I think they've done that for the most part.
I was doing a run yesterday, after seeing this mentioned on here, and one of his quips after getting a Demeter Boon is "Cool, cool". Suppose the pun must've been too obvious to resist.
Unfortunately not, though I think they've done that for the most part.
I was doing a run yesterday, after seeing this mentioned on here, and one of his quips after getting a Demeter Boon is "Cool, cool". Suppose the pun must've been too obvious to resist.
Possibly, but let me suggest an alternate hypothesis based off lore from Hades itself, which isn't so... mmm, tending-towards-the-self-congratulatory as something as grandiose as "Rebirth".
Article:
'...A multitude of worries decorate the brow of grim Lord Hades, whose nature is unknown to anyone but him. But there are some concerns that even he cannot suppress. Take for example, the dark movements of the satyr vermin-worshippers residing in the temple gateway at the surface of this realm. What they must want is yet unclear; but, their hatred for Lord Hades is not. Efforts to exterminate the goat-faced fiends have proven unsuccessful to this point, for they reside frustratingly even beyond the Master's influence. What can they do, in turn, except to desecrate the Master's halls? Yet, if the Master is uneasy, there must be a cause.
The satyrs in the temple of Styx worship vermin; unclean things of the earth. Among whose number is included worms. They hate Hades, which is to say, death and the underworld. They make even Hades uneasy. Even Achilles doesn't know exactly what's up with them.
Skitter's origin was being pulled from a bloody, unclean place. And now as a goddess, she's reborn by being pulled from... a pool of blood. And my, does she have plenty of association with vermin.
Might I suggest that she is, in fact, the vermin goddess who the Satyrs have been worshipping when she was as-yet-unborn, awaiting her arrival? Goddess of the unclean things that dwell in the chthonic places of the earth; rats, bugs, and - yes - worms.
I would be inclined toward this as probably the most elegant version of Taylor-The-Chthonic Goddess, but it doesn't match what limited symbols we actually have for her. So far her colors are orange and purple, and the sun and the moon.
The "influence" we've seen is for "traversal between boundaries."
I don't think she's about rebirth or anything along those lines, because frankly Taylor is not a being of renewal or reinvention or forgiveness or penance, or anything that could lead to a rebirth theme. It's just not who she is on any level.
But her iconography and powers seem to be liminal, not chthonic. Even rising from the Styx can fit into that. It's a place of foulness, but it's also a river.
Taylor's unflinching skepticism, to the point of her own detriment, was a fantastic choice which helped ground the fic among the crazyness of mythology, gameplay, and character design that made Hades great.
