The Emperor's Story

Chapter One - Exposition

Many millennia ago, in the heart of Greece, the great gods of Olympus were preparing for a wondrous celebration succeeding their victory over the earth mother and her brood of gigantes.

The council of twelve, alongside certain minor gods that had played a major role in the war, sat together in the throne room to discuss amongst themselves concerning what to do with their victory and the awards to offer the mortal heroes that aided them.

However, like most council meetings, the gods had devolved into senseless argument regarding hubristic concerns.

Interrupting their wasteful debate, the doors to the throne room blew open at the behest of powerful winds. The loud voices instantly died, heads turning curiously towards the entrance. The king of the gods stood, a javelin of blue lightning crackling in his clenched fist.

"Who dares interrupt the Olympian Council!" He roared, eyes narrowed suspiciously on the trickling mist in the doorway. Almost immediately, his expression softened into one of fearful surprise when a mighty goddess entered.

She had luscious brown hair that hung to her shoulders and radiant green eyes that reflected the conifer forests. She was draped in robes of browns and violets, with a crown of leaves and gemstones adorning her forehead.

She looked towards the god king with an arched eyebrow, as if questioning if he truly spoke to her in such a way. "I am Rhea, Queen of the Titans. Do you dare speak to me like that, Zeus?" She retorted, folding her arms over her chest.

Zeus fumbled over his words as he returned to his seat, shrinking under her gaze and shaking his head in reply. She nodded, satisfied, before turning to observe the other occupants of the throne room.

The other gods stared at her blankly, unsure what to think of the titaness in their midst. Though, many of them calmed down considerably when Hestia, their most senior council member, ran up to Rhea and tackled her in a tight hug.

A brilliant grin spread across Rhea's face, returning the hug with similar energy to her eldest daughter. "Not to be a downer," a god cloaked in darkness started. "But, you're always a downer," his brothers retorted under their breath, which didn't go unheard.

The god glared at them briefly, before turning back to Rhea and continuing. "What brings you here, mother?" He asked. Hestia glared half-heartedly at the god over her shoulder, silently telling him to "just enjoy the moment."

"I do not know, Hades. One moment, I was lounging in my cell in Tartarus," she explained, eliciting shocked sounds from her children. "The next, I was standing before all of you," she finished, smiling despite her clear confusion.

As if in response to her explanation, the mist cloud in the doorway spread rapidly into the throne room; filling the space not occupied by the gods. When the mist cleared, there were multiple beings filling the throne room to the point of almost being too crowded.

The doors leading out of the chamber instantly shut, followed by the sound of gears locking into place. The sky light in the center of chamber seemed to become veiled with a translucent sheen of mystical energy. For many of the deities in the chamber, they could feel a powerful suppression on their abilities and domains.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Four massive beings shouted at once, towering over everyone else. "What's going on? Where are we?" Questioned others.

The chamber became a deafening pit as everyone shouted over each other to have their questions be heard and answered, almost everyone confused as to why they were here in the first place.

"Silence!" A pair of voices announced, louder than anyone else's. Much to the war god's disappointment, everyone quieted and stilled, though some did so reluctantly.