Erinyes Game
You wake up, blinking away silvery lights, before getting out of bed.
“Hello, Hestia.” Hades’s voice. You think about ignoring him, but decide to humor him.
“Hello, Hades. What do you want?”
“Today should be rather interesting for you. Do your best.” He actually sounds…concerned? “You may want to take the little gift I’ve left for you on your couch by the fireplace.”
Out of curiosity, you head over to the couch. There’s a pomegranate there, along with a pair of gold daggers, intricately carved and studded with red gems.
"Hades--"
"Just...please. Take them."
Utterly confused, you pick up the twin sheaths that the daggers come with and strap them onto a simple leather belt before heading downstairs.
In the kitchen, Aphrodite is there, eating breakfast. She greets you and offers you a bowl of cereal, which you accept.
“How are you this morning, Hestia?” She asks.
“Could be better,” you reply. “I just don’t know how many Furies we’ve actually gotten rid of and how many are left.”
“Well, there are only the four of us now,” says Aphrodite, “so the numbers aren’t exactly great.”
“…Wait a minute. Four?” Including yourself, there should be Hera, Hephaestus, Apollo, and Aphrodite. Five, right? Unless Aphrodite is suddenly terrible at counting.
She instantly looks guilty, staring down at her bowl of cereal. “Oh, Hephaestus is dead. I saw his body earlier this morning.”
You stare her down until she finally meets your eyes. “Aphrodite. Be real with me for a minute. Are you really an Olympian?”
She bites her lip and all she can say is, “I’m so sorry.”
“Good morning, Olympians!” Hades’s voice comes across the loudspeakers. “During Hemera phase, normally the Furies would not be allowed to harm the Olympians. However, today I am changing the rules. The Furies now have full reign to do as they like. When Moirae phase starts, I will let you know what to do next, but for now, do as you will. Survive.” Then he falls silent.
“Oh, gods above.” You reach down and touch your belt, now realizing exactly why Hades gave you the daggers. “Aphrodite, please. What’s going on?”
She sighs. “It sounds like you need to defend yourself from the Furies. And I hate to break it to you, but I am one of the Furies you should be scared of.”
“I had the feeling, yeah.” You’re not as surprised as Aphrodite thought you’d be. “Even so, I still trust you. Will you work with me?”
“You what? But you should be running and screaming, far away from me…” She looks upset, and she dumps her empty bowl in the sink with a little more force than necessary.
You don’t want to go it alone today, but you’re not sure that Aphrodite will actually help you.
“Hello, Hestia.” Hades’s voice. You think about ignoring him, but decide to humor him.
“Hello, Hades. What do you want?”
“Today should be rather interesting for you. Do your best.” He actually sounds…concerned? “You may want to take the little gift I’ve left for you on your couch by the fireplace.”
Out of curiosity, you head over to the couch. There’s a pomegranate there, along with a pair of gold daggers, intricately carved and studded with red gems.
"Hades--"
"Just...please. Take them."
Utterly confused, you pick up the twin sheaths that the daggers come with and strap them onto a simple leather belt before heading downstairs.
In the kitchen, Aphrodite is there, eating breakfast. She greets you and offers you a bowl of cereal, which you accept.
“How are you this morning, Hestia?” She asks.
“Could be better,” you reply. “I just don’t know how many Furies we’ve actually gotten rid of and how many are left.”
“Well, there are only the four of us now,” says Aphrodite, “so the numbers aren’t exactly great.”
“…Wait a minute. Four?” Including yourself, there should be Hera, Hephaestus, Apollo, and Aphrodite. Five, right? Unless Aphrodite is suddenly terrible at counting.
She instantly looks guilty, staring down at her bowl of cereal. “Oh, Hephaestus is dead. I saw his body earlier this morning.”
You stare her down until she finally meets your eyes. “Aphrodite. Be real with me for a minute. Are you really an Olympian?”
She bites her lip and all she can say is, “I’m so sorry.”
“Good morning, Olympians!” Hades’s voice comes across the loudspeakers. “During Hemera phase, normally the Furies would not be allowed to harm the Olympians. However, today I am changing the rules. The Furies now have full reign to do as they like. When Moirae phase starts, I will let you know what to do next, but for now, do as you will. Survive.” Then he falls silent.
“Oh, gods above.” You reach down and touch your belt, now realizing exactly why Hades gave you the daggers. “Aphrodite, please. What’s going on?”
She sighs. “It sounds like you need to defend yourself from the Furies. And I hate to break it to you, but I am one of the Furies you should be scared of.”
“I had the feeling, yeah.” You’re not as surprised as Aphrodite thought you’d be. “Even so, I still trust you. Will you work with me?”
“You what? But you should be running and screaming, far away from me…” She looks upset, and she dumps her empty bowl in the sink with a little more force than necessary.
You don’t want to go it alone today, but you’re not sure that Aphrodite will actually help you.