It is known that the gods on Olympus from time to time would disguise
themselves into any form to come to earth. Some to see for themselves
what
it is like to be human; some to have fun; but some would come to take
women
for themselves. This is a story of three of those gods who came to
earth
to have some fun but ended up with much more.
Apollo had just bested Pan at the reed pipe, which was Pan's
speciality.
Apollo was one of those gods who liked to interfere in the affairs of
mortals. He would get in one of his impish moods and decide to pester
an
unfortunate mortal. He did have one good quality about him, he had the
ability to heal, which was something he rarely used. Apollo was one of
the
better looking gods; at least 6 foot, long golden hair, well-built,
blue
eyes, and a devilish grin.
He was sitting on his throne wondering what to do next. He hadn't
been to
earth in a while and thought it was about time to pay a visit. Since
he
could play any instrument, he thought about disguising himself as a
traveling musician. He didn't want to go alone though and wondered who
he
could bring with him. A smile came across his face. His brother Ares.
The two of them didn't exactly get along, they just basically tolerated
each other.
Ares was a man always ready to fight. He was rumored to have human
skins
on his throne and kept a blood-stained spear at his side. He wore a
suit
of armour and a helmet that covered over half his face. Ares was tall
and
not noted for being good looking. He had phenomenal strength which was
surpassed only by Hercules. When he got angry, he was frightening.
Even
Zeus and Hera, his own parents, did not care to be around him.
Apollo approached him cautiously, ready just in case Ares decided to
fight. He told Ares what he wanted to do and would he care to come
along.
Not too long ago Ares had lost to Hercules and was still feeling a bit
upset. At first he didn't want to go, but Apollo reminded him about
his
loss to Hercules. Ares, being prideful, decided to go as a man who had
phenomenal strength. One more was needed. Apollo grinned, Hades.
Of all the gods, Hades was the most feared for his realm was the
underworld, better known as the kingdom of the dead. Hades was always
looking for ways to increase the number of subjects in his kingdom and
those who did were rewarded. He lived in a very large palace that
could
accommodate many guests.
His kingdom was surrounded by a series of rivers; the Acheron (river
of
woe), the Cocytus (lamentation), the Phlegethon (river of fire), the
Styx
(river of unbreakable oath by which the gods would swear), and the
Lethe
(river of forgetfulness). There were many places that one could go in
the
kingdom depending on how one lived their life. When one was brought
before
the three judges, they decided where that person could go. There was a
place called Elysian Fields where only the very good could go. In
order to
get to the underword, one had to be buried with a gold coin on his
lips.
The coin would be the fare required to get there. The others who did
not
were trapped between the two worlds.
Many feared Hades and were very careful how they spoke about him.
Although Hades was not really handsome, he was not ugly. He was very
tall,
like his nephew Ares, with long dark hair and shining eyes. Every day
he
would constantly patrol the kingdom to see to it that it stayed dark
and
murky. Only occasionally did he make an appearance in the upper world.
He
was also the richest, as his realm contained all the precious gems and
minerals that the upper world required.
Apollo and Ares did not care to descend to the underworld. Instead,
they
sent a message to him with one of Apollo's arrows. In no time he was
beside them. As of late things were rather dull. He was bored as
there
had been no one to talk to. This idea was intriguing to him and said
he
would go as a magician.
The three of them formed a traveling troop; Apollo was now Balder the
musician; Ares was now Ammon, the strongest man in the universe; and
Hades
was Helios the magician, doing shows for whatever they could get.