#fields of mourning

[artbybunsprout]

Alone in stone

[skitterjitter]

a discussion of Asphodel in Supergiant's Hades, and a theory regarding a possible connection to Hades II (under cut due to length)

in Supergaint's Hades, Asphodel is described as "the vastest region of the Underworld, not dissimilar in ways from soaring surface planes", though as players, we know that it has been flooded by the River Phlegethon because we see it every time we reach it after defeating the Furies

we even see it in Hades II, when as Melinoe is descending through Oceanus, Chronos will sometimes stop her from continuing downwards and transport her to Asphodel as depicted in the first game:

Melinoe's Book of Shadows describes Asphodel as "Most of the dead used to gather in the meadows of Asphodel. One day or night, however, the meadows all were set ablaze, where the burning River Phlegethon boiled over. After that, even the dead had to move on. / Who can say how Asphodel fares now? To us it is but a dream of a different time"

and here's my theory regarding Asphodel in Hades II. I think we can guess how Asphodel fares, because it's one of the major regions Melinoe traverses to get to Chronos: The Fields of Mourning

this is the view that Melinoe is greeted to after defeating Scylla. both this image and the in-game area do a good job of showing just how big the Fields of Mourning are, dotted with ruins. notably, these ruins include arches and columns. this can be seen in parallel to the first game, which includes a large structure, reminiscent of both the Colosseum and a volcano

we can see similarities also in the resources available. for example: wheat and myrtle. the Book of Shadows describes how "mortals rely upon these to produce vast fields of grain" -- again the use of the phrasing vast fields, and direct association with the prior lives of the dead. this follows with myrtle, described in game as "an aromatic plant thought to represent love, or in some cases its absence", which fits with how in myth myrtle is associated with Aphrodite and Demeter

but if the Fields of Mourning are Asphodel, where did the Phlegethon go? the rock resource available in this region is known as glassrock, which is described as a "black, sharp, shiny rock formed from magma suddenly chilled". this description sounds quite like obsidian, which is a naturally occurring volcanic rock that is formed when lava is cooled rapidly, typically colored black

we can even compare glassrock (both how it looks on the map and in the Book of Shadows) to obsidian:

we can even see similar black glasslike material in some parts of the first game

I think it would be a fairly safe assertion to say that the "sudden chill" described in the Book of Shadows entry for glassrock was Oceanus' waters rushing in, given that the game goes out of its way to establish that Chronos opened the Underworld and the region directly prior to the Fields of Mourning is Oceanus

in fact, we can see a patch of the flowers from the Fields of Mourning growing in Scylla's room, in the rest area between defeating her and the Sirens, and descending into the Fields of Mourning

here, we can see the lily pads that grow in Oceanus, but next to it, tucked away under the beam, are vines, a red material and white flowers, which I would venture to guess are myrtle

what I find interesting about these flowers, however, is that throughout Asphodel, we can find similar, if dead, flowers, such as here in the arena for the Lernean Hydra

which brings me to my final point: Vow of Rival Cerberus' arena, which is, in my opinion, looks like a striking mix between the Fields of Mourning and Asphodel

as a comparison, here's the area for the Lernean Hydra itself:

I bring up the Hydra, because both she and Cerberus are children of Typhon that form a bond with the protagonist over the course of successive runs. Zagreus becomes fond of the Hydra, to the point of giving her the nickname "Lernie". Melinoe has no connection to Cerberus at first, but the narration makes it clear that Cerberus does recognize her after being beaten/soothed

there's also parallels in both Eurydice and Echo as nature nymphs (an oak dryad and oread, respectively) whose stories are about a former love (Orpheus and Narcissus) and reconciliation

[noxspost]

The fields of mourning

there is the background of the Constance art I am doing.

This is what she looks like before and here is the update sketch

So the next chapter is where the surface gods meet her. Constance has the same domains as Persephone and Anubis and some extra doamins. Those domains are family, food, warriors, Graveyards, gardens, Precious metals, rocks and ponds also kids.

She is called the grave mother similar to the reason why Persephone is called the pale queen or kore.

The basket has doll which are like the reborn dolls and she is holding one since in the story she lost both her newborn twins the twin kids only live for 30 minutes Zagreus was born last but died first but revived, last making him the youngest twin.

caduceus was born first and died last and born first.

Cornelius takes the role of hades in the story. Yet he runs after his wife and corrin It takes the role that is in the game as the overworked, mean and very distant family member of our protagonists. Hades and Colton has disappeared but latter and Persephone now lives in the underworld. They are the grandparents of Zagreus and caduceus. Macaria is their child. Melinoe is the older sister a twin to calliope. Clarabelle is older than caduceus and Zagreus.

Mel is at the crossroads looking for both her mom and her brother.

*sorry about the background it have to cut like that to fit.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[corpse-drummer]

Inquinok - Fields of Mourning

From album: Entranced by Twilight’s Gaze

[corpse-drummer]

Inquinok - Fields of Mourning

From album: Entranced by Twilight's Gaze

[theungratefulbiped-blog]

The Fields of Mourning came in view, so called Since here are those whom pitiless love consumed With cruel wasting, hidden on paths apart By myrtle woodland growing overhead.

Virgil, the Aeneid VI.595-598