Divine Retribution (ca. 1235-1170 BCE)

Divine Retribution begins over 200 years after the end of the final Titanomachy in Crete. The titan city of Knossos is a ruin, razed by war and stripped by looters in the post-apocalyptic dystopia that followed. The Knossos titans themselves have been imprisoned in Tartarus, subjugated by the new regime, or driven into diaspora, either seeking refuge in the wilderness or leaving Greece altogether in search of long separated relatives living in distant lands.

The Ancient Minoan civilization that dominated Greece under the rule of Knossos's titans has been reduced to a fading memory kept alive by the human survivors' oral histories; these stories have been passed from generation to generation, retold again and again by people who would have struggled to comprehend the events even if they'd been present for them. Zeus and his kin are now remembered as great liberators who freed the Greeks from the titan's abuses and brought peace to the Aegean. The human heroes, Typhon and Echidna, have become indistinguishable from Kasios and Tiamat, the ancient monsters who terrorized Crete. Hekate is remembered as a witch, evil in most people's minds, though still worshiped by a small cult of devoted students of the arcane. Prometheus is remembered as a mercurial mischief-maker, who gifted humankind with dangerous knowledge, and was sentenced to an eternity of torment for the transgression. Pandora's Box is remembered as a repository of all evil, unleashed upon the world when its heedlessly curious owner opened it despite all warnings, and the coin required to operate the box has been entirely forgotten.

Zeus and his kin have left Crete and relocated to the Greek mainland, using their powers and resources to build a new palace, carved from the cloud-shrouded peak of Mt. Olympus and inaccessible and seldom visible to the mortals who live below. From their new Constellar Palace, these 'Olympians' have spread their influence throughout the Mediterranean, worshiped as far west as Italy and as far east as Turkey. While the sons and daughters of Kronos reign supreme, their children also make their presence known; some are kings, some are heroes that carry out the will of their patriarchs, and some are worshiped as gods in their own right. With hundreds of religions worshiping everyone from the Olympian king, Zeus, down to the minor titans that protect specific rivers, order is maintained by a cadre of divine enforcers that punish hubris and heresy.

Among them, the relentless goddess Nemesis is doubtlessly the most feared of all.

Divine Retribution: Treachery of the Gods (1235-1220 BCE)*

2.01 - The Left Hand of Zeus
2.02 - The Compassion of Nemesis
2.03 - The Callousness of Hera
2.04 - The Long Dark Night
2.05 - Sunrise
2.06 - Power
2.07 - Regret
2.08 - Dead End
2.09 - The Kindness of Persephone
2.10 - The Goddess of Rhamnous
2.11 - The Gift of Athena
2.12 - The First Mission
2.13 - Argo
2.14 - Hazing
2.15 - Argonaut Orientation
2.16 - Lemnos
2.17 - Cyzicus’s Island
2.18 - Land of the Bebrycians
2.19 - ...

*The initial chapters of Treachery of the Gods were originally the beginning of Hubris of the Gods. I split them off to make a devoted origin story for Adresteia, but I have not yet finished the installment as it involves a number of themes outside my wheelhouse as a writer, making it challenging to write well. Nevertheless, I include the raw, unfinished content here, because chapters 1-12 could reasonably be read as a novella, and who knows? Maybe someone will leave me some constructive feedback.

Divine Retribution: Hubris of the Gods (1206-1205 BCE)

3.00 - The Invitation of Peleus, in which the gods decide to meddle in mortal affairs.
3.01 - The Prayer of Odysseus, in which our hero makes a pact with a goddess.
3.02 - The First Voyage of the Aegis (Part I), in which our hero learns secrets of astrogation.
3.03 - The First Voyage of the Aegis (Part II), in which our heroes explore a mysterious island.
3.04 - The First Voyage of the Aegis (Part III), in which our heroes combat a deadly enemy.
3.05 - The Footsteps of Heracles, in which our heroes arrive at the Strait of Gibraltar.
3.06 - The Lamentations of Ladon, in which our heroes confront the Hesperides' Guardian.
3.07 - The Trap of the Kishi, in which vile creatures prey on mortal flesh.
3.08 - The Duel of Thalassas, in which our hero fights for his prize.
3.09 - The Desires of Adresteia, in which our heroes grow closer.
3.10 - The Machinations of Athena, in which the Goddess of Wisdom reveals some of her cards.
3.11 - The Trust of Adresteia, in which our heroine makes a difficult and bold choice.
3.12 - The Love of Adresteia, in which our heroine considers her future.
3.13 - The Welcome of Larissa, in which our hero is reunited with his would-be wife.
3.14 - The Bath of Teucer, in which we join the party, in progress.
3.15 - The Politics of Sparta, in which we learn about the key players.
3.16 - The Plight of Helen, in which we're reminded that every face has a person behind it.
3.17 - The Games of Aphrodite, in which all is fair.
3.18 - The Aim of Apollo, in which the contest for Helen's hand begins.
3.19 - The Challenge of Dionysus, in which unexpected dimensions are revealed.
3.20 - The Arena of Ares, in which quite nearly everyone quite nearly dies.
3.21 - The Hunt of Artemis (Part I), in which the Greeks are game.
3.22 - The Hunt of Artemis (Part II), in which shots are fired.
3.23 - The Hunt of Artemis (Part III), in which a beast is conquered.
3.24 - The Hunt of Artemis (Part IV), in which secrets are shared.
3.25 - The Conspiracy of Agamemnon, in which alliances are made.
3.26 - The Goddess of Wisdom, in which truths are shared prudently.
3.27 - The Devotion of Penelope, in which love shows its strength.
3.28 - The Grudge of Cerberus, in which the guardian of the underworld is confronted.
3.29 - The Depths of Tartarus, in which two mortals see that which none were meant to.
3.30 - The Weapons of the Game, in which our hero prepares to do battle.
3.31 - The Betrayal of Heracles, in which a demigod turns.
3.32 - The Wrath of Night, in which a desperate prisoner hunts her prey.
3.33 - The Liberation of Prometheus, in which a brave damsel rescues her hero.
3.34 - The Mercy of Hades, in which our heroes find unexpected salvation.
3.35 - The Duplicity of Athena, in which a veil is briefly parted.
3.36 - The Celebration of Life, in which our heroes reflect upon their journey.
3.37 - The Judgment of Paris, in which old seeds bear poisonous fruit.


Divine Retribution: The Fall (1195-1183 BCE


(This book has a soundtrack, which can be found here.)




Divine Retribution: The Hero's Journey (1183-1170 BCE

- Planned but not begun.

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