Zeus

"Those in positions of power must project strength at all times, lest their power be forgotten, and they be forced to remind the world why they rule."

-Zeus, King of Olympus and God of the Sky

Zeus is the King of the Olympian Pantheon, and the God of the Sky, Justice, and Law. The youngest son of Kronos, Zeus was the only one of his siblings to escape being swallowed by his father as a newborn, and went on to free his siblings and usurp Kronos, eventually forming the mightiest godly pantheon in Creation, until the Angelic Legions brought them to heel. Still, even in the modern day, Zeus maintains a position of prestige and respect across Creation, for his skill as a leader, the power of his pantheon, and his own personal might, which is widely believed to be surpassed only by the great Primordials themselves.

Early Life
Zeus was the youngest of six siblings, and the only one of them to escape being swallowed by his father, Kronos. His mother Rhea gave birth to him in a border realm of Kronos's domain named Arcadia, and gave her husband a boulder to eat in place of her infant son, using her mastery of the Divine Dominions to shape it into a facsimile. Zeus was originally raised by his grandmother, the great Primordial Gaia herself, along with several nymph servants. Rhea would visit him on occasion, telling Zeus tales of his father Kronos, his cruelty and despotism, and how he had trapped his children within his own belly. Spurred by his mother, Zeus resolved that he would one day free his siblings from their captivity.

The Court of Ra
When Zeus was twelve, his grandmother Gaia delivered him to the court of her brother Ra, calling in a favor as she felt the call of her Primordial Slumber. Ra, power hungry as he was, sensed an opportunity in the young Zeus, a pawn which he could use to end Kronos's reign without making war against him, which he and his siblings had promised Gaia they would not do. As such, Ra instructed the young Zeus in an art that he kept close to his chest: The Dominion of Order, personally training him to a further degree than he had even with his own offspring. This, Ra told Zeus, would be a key weapon in overthrowing Kronos. Additionally, Ra gave Zeus access to a number of tutors, who would instruct him in more skills that he could use to help overthrow his father.

Infiltration of Othrys
Once Zeus was fully grown, he infiltrated his father's palace. He posed as a common servant, eventually securing his place as Kronos's cup bearer, personally serving drinks to the King of the Titans. Eventually, at one of Kronos's feasts, Zeus spiked the drinks of his guests with narcotics to knock them out, and brewed a powerful emetic for Kronos himself. Whilst the guests were unconscious, Kronos was made to disgorge his children, who had grown up completely undigested within his stomach. Whilst Kronos moaned on the floor and his party guests struggled to regain consciousness, Zeus and his siblings fled to his home in Arcadia.

The Titanomachy
After arriving in Arcadia, a brief moment was taken for those siblings who had grown up in Kronos's stomach to embrace their mother Rhea, before convening in council to decide their next course of action. After Hera called for them to go to war against their father, all siblings but Hestia unanimously agreed. They launched several attacks against the Titans, but were repeatedly defeated due to superior skill and numbers.

Expedition to the Pit
After several devastating defeats, the siblings arrived at the conclusion that they would be unable to defeat Kronos and the Titans alone. Thusly Zeus, along with his brothers Poseidon and Hades, and his sisters Hera and Demeter, ventured to Tartarus in order to free their uncles, the Elder Cyclopes and Hekatonkheires, in order to recruit them in battle. As they moved through the Abyss, the young gods battled against numerous monstrous fiends, with Zeus personally defeating Kampe, the powerful abomination Kronos had set up as the jailer for his brothers. In gratitude for their rescue, they agreed to join the gods in taking vengeance on Kronos, who had ordered their imprisonment. Furthermore, the Elder Cyclopes forged powerful weapons for each of their rescuers, with Zeus receiving the Master Bolt. Zeus and his new allies then returned to the Titan's home realm, where Hestia and Rhea had been visiting the other Titans, and convinced the majority of them to remain neutral in the conflict.

The Final Battle
Shortly thereafter, the gods then claimed Mount Olympus, the second largest mountain in Greece, as their headquarters, and began referring to themselves as the Olympians. From there, they would launch their assault on Mount Othrys, the seat of Kronos's power. Bringing the might of his newly forged Master Bolt to bear, Zeus channeled his power through it and blasted the peak off of Mount Othrys, obliterating the Titan's stronghold and hurling them to the earth below. Zeus then allowed the Titans to be bombarded with boulders launched by the Hekatonkheiries, before descending on them with his siblings. The resulting battle devastated the landscape around them, but ultimately, Zeus defeated his father in combat, tearing Kronos's scythe from his grasp and slicing him to pieces. Zeus then utilized the power of the scythe to open a portal to the Abyss, and alter the spell Kronos had cast to keep Ouranos from manifesting. He then cast Kronos's remains into the Pit, along with his brothers Hyperion, Krios, Iapetus, and Koios. Kronos's nephew and second in command, Atlas, was made to sustain the spell that blocked Ouranos by bearing an enormous weight on his back.

Ascension and Early Rule
After the defeat of the Titans, the Olympians proclaimed their supremacy over the world and crafted themselves a realm from which to rule, named Olympus, after their mountain. Zeus and his brothers, Poseidon and Hades, drew lots to divide up rulership of the world. Zeus gained dominion over the sky, and was elected King of Olympus, having already taken the role as leader. During this period, Zeus was charming and gregarious, quick to laugh and smile, though perhaps not as serious of a king as he might have been. Steadily, the stresses of rule began to take their toll on him, though at this stage, Zeus was still joyful and quick to laugh, largely due to the solace he found in his children, particularly his daughter Persephone.

Sins of the Father
Shortly thereafter, he took the Titaness Metis, who he had become enamored with while posing as a servant in Kronos's palace, as his wife. Or at least, he planned to. Zeus and Metis had consummated their affections for one another before they wed. When Metis learned she was pregnant, Zeus was initially overjoyed, and he planned to announce their union and wedding as soon as possible. His plans were cut short, however, by a prophecy from his aunt Phoebe. Perhaps spiteful at the imprisonment of her husband Koios in the Abyss, Phoebe foretold that any son Metis bore would be destined to overthrow his father. The news sent Zeus into a state of panic. He had just fought a terrible war to overthrow his father and secure a new order, and already, it was to be undone, by none less than his own son? He could not bear the thought of having to fight his own child, so in a frantic act of desperation, Zeus transformed Metis into a fly and swallowed her, to remove her and their child from the equation entirely. Done in a rash moment of fear and confusion, the act weighed heavily on Zeus's mind, and he regretted it deeply, the act haunting his dreams for many nights to come. In his anger at Phoebe for the prophecy she had delivered which poisoned his marriage to be, he allowed his uncle Arges, who had helped overthrow the Titans, to take her as a prize for his assistance, and to be his new wife, sending them off to make their own pantheon with little explanation for those who stayed behind.

The Arms of Demeter
For a while after his betrayal of Metis, Zeus was despondent. Crushed by guilt, he moped about the palace for weeks, hardly speaking to anyone. Hestia, kindest and gentlest of his siblings, attempted to provide him with comfort and consolation, but it was not the sort Zeus was seeking. That instead he received from Demeter. Like Hestia, she was compassionate, but she was very much interested in providing Zeus, who she had fought alongside and admired for a long time, with what he was seeking. Demeter brought out the happiness in Zeus again, and the young King of Olympus soon found himself falling in love with her. Yet before asking for her hand, Zeus confessed what he had done to his previous lover. Demeter was shocked, but she was understanding, and urged Zeus to explain what he had done to the rest of the court. So he did, and though they were surprised, even repulsed, many were convinced by Zeus that what he had done was necessary. Shortly thereafter, Zeus proposed to Demeter, but she refused him. Though he knew he probably could have charmed her into changing her mind, Zeus accepted her decision, and ended the matter. Or so he thought. Nine months later, Demeter gave birth to Zeus's first child: Persephone.

Marriage
Eventually, after several conquests, Zeus fixated on Hera as his bride. After making a bet with her that she would marry him if he could convince her to say she loved him, Zeus put a plan into action. Using his power over the weather, Zeus summoned a massive storm around Olympus, and took the form of an injured cuckoo bird, allowed himself to be blown into Hera's room. Hera nursed the "animal" back to health, which acted so affectionate towards her that she told it she loved it, upon which the bird immediately transformed into Zeus, and asked her to hold up her end to the bargain. Angered but impressed at Zeus's cleverness, Hera agreed to marry him, and they were joined in a splendid ceremony which invited beings from across the realms. Over the next few years, their union would result in Ares, Hebe, and Hephaestus.

Trouble with Betrothals
A few years into his rule, Hera proposed to Zeus that Ares and his eldest daughter, Persephone, be married. Zeus had no objections to the match, but wished to consult Demeter on the matter. Demeter refused to give her consent, thinking that Ares was too spoiled, mean, and aggressive for the sweet, demure, and gentle Persephone. Sensing Hera's fury, Zeus decided that the children themselves should be consulted on the matter, summoning the two of them in to hear their opinions. Persephone said she was unsure, as she did not know if she loved Ares, which caused the petulant prince to explode in anger, calling Persephone a stupid, ugly whore. When his daughter burst into tears, Zeus took her in his arms to comfort her, shocked at how rude Ares had been. As Hera and Persephone began an argument, each trying to defend her own child and heaping scorn upon the other, Zeus focused on Persephone, hoping their argument would die down. When they almost came to blows, Zeus had to intervene, taking Demeter by the arm as he carried Persephone out with her, leaving Hera and Ares behind.

Zeus assured Demeter that there would be no betrothal between Ares and Persephone, but beyond that, could do little to soothe her anger with Hera. Seeing that cause was fruitless, Zeus attempted to ease the fury of his wife, also telling her that there would be no marriage, and seducing her with an evening of pleasure.

Afterwards, however, the discord between the two sisters continued. For the first few weeks, they would not speak to one another. Eventually, arguments began, which Zeus often found himself trying and failing to mediate, consuming much of the free time he had when not busy ruling their domain. Hera and Demeter insulted each other, and grew notably cold towards one another's children. Eventually, things grew so bad that Demeter left Olympus, taking Persephone with her. Zeus initially refused to let her take his daughter, but Demeter convinced him that the present environment on Olympus was not good for her. Reluctantly, Zeus let them take their leave, but the loss of Persephone, the happy, sweet child Zeus had always found solace with, took a heavy toll on the King of Olympus.

The First Cracks
Following Persephone's departure, Zeus tried to spend more time focusing on his son, Ares, and being a better father to him. This did not prove as easy as with Persephone, for Ares was a wild, willful child, constantly indulged and pampered by his mother. Seeking an outlet for Ares's energy, Zeus pressed him into combat training soon thereafter.

Zeus was also delighted to learn that Hera was once again carrying his child, who had been concieved after the argument with Demeter. Thinking of a new child brought to Zeus's mind Ares's fate thus far. While he cared for the boy, Zeus was less than thrilled with the way he behaved. Zeus approached Hera, (recognizing that she spent much more time with him that Zeus himself), and suggested that she try being a bit stricter and less indulgent with Ares, he was met with an explosion of fury. Hera ranted that she would raise her son whoever she saw fit, that there was absolutely nothing wrong with him, and if Zeus thought there was, perhaps they should leave, and Demeter could be his queen in her place. Exasperated, Zeus summoned the energy to calm her down, and reassure her that was not what he wanted. He did not broach the subject with her again.

As Hera's pregnancy continued and she grew ever more moody, Zeus was in need of someone to vent his frustrations to, and take some advice from. He considered Hestia, but out of concern for her delicate nature, he decided against it, not wishing for her to be involved in the troubles of the family. Hades was never the sort to give good advice on these matters, and was distant besides. Poseidon might help, but Zeus did not want to seem weak in front of him. Hera, of course, was the subject of his troubles. Eventually, Zeus sought out Demeter. But when he got there, he found his pride would not allow him to confide in her. He did not want to appear weak in her eyes either. So instead, he tried to convince her to come home. Demeter refused, stating that she knew Hera would not yet have calmed down. Frustrated and unsure how to admit that he needed her and Persephone, Zeus instead made a desperate attempt at seducing her. Demeter rebuffed his advances, reminding him that he was married to Hera, and that they couldn't do such a thing to her, before asking him what had prompted this. Zeus refused to answer, unable to admit that he was struggling, and instead stormed off.

A Brief Trist
Having fled Demeter with a storm of emotions raging in his heart, Zeus went and sought out the nearest immortal woman that he could find: The Titaness, Leto. Sensing the king's turmoil, and not immune to his charms, Leto allowed herself to be seduced by him. For a brief night, Zeus allowed himself to be lost in her arms. Leto was gentle, warm, and wanted nothing but to enjoy his company. Afterwards, however, he was deeply ashamed, and soon returned to his wife to confess his guilt. Hera was infuriated, and her rage was such that it brought on an early labor. She refused any sort of aid with the birth, hurling lighting at both Zeus and the midwives, and not even using her magical abilities to make the birth easier for her. Though Zeus wished to remain at her side, he decided that it was better that he left her alone, and return after their child was born.

The First Great Rift
"Hades: Perhaps it is time that you seek Hera out, brother, and make peace-

''Zeus: Make peace? Make peace??!!! Look at what she did to my son! A BABY! LOOK AT WHAT SHE DID TO HIM!"''

-Hades and Zeus

When Zeus returned to Hera, thinking he had given her enough time to calm down, he was eager to meet their new baby. To his surprise, though, the child was nowhere to be found when he entered the birthing room. Hera informed Zeus that she had given birth to a son, and named him Hephaestus. When Zeus demanded to know where he was, Hera angrily told him that he was far away, like his unfaithful father had been the night before. She had cast him from Olympus.

The fury that woke within Zeus at that news shook the entirety of Mount Olympus down to the roots. He struck Hera a single blow that almost knocked her unconscious, only barely restraining himself, and shouted at her incoherently for several moments, before bringing his power over Order to bear, locking her into Temporal form, and having her confined to her chambers while he lead a search with all available forces for his son.

Hephaestus was found down on the island of Lemnos, having been fished from the sea where he had landed by a pair of Nereids, who Zeus rewarded handsomely for the return of his son. He found Hephaestus gravely injured, and to his dismay, found that his wounds were not healing properly. Still furious with his wife, Zeus would not allow anyone to speak to her for three days, until eventually Hestia convinced him to allow her to speak with Hera. In that time, Zeus's remaining siblings, Demeter, Poseidon, and Hades, all journeyed to Olympus to investigate the terrible rumors they had all heard. They found Zeus angry and brooding, refusing to be parted from his son. When they inquired as to what had happened, Zeus told them of how he had gone on a meaningless dalliance with Leto, of the resulting birth Hera's anger had brought on, and how she had thrown Hephaestus from Olympus. When Hades suggested that perhaps he ought to reconcile with her, Zeus exploded in rage, pointing out how Hera had crippled their newborn son.

Zeus did not speak to Hera for a full week, and only talked to her at the urging of his siblings, Hestia in particular. He was surprised when Hera collapsed before him, sobbing, apologizing and begging for his forgiveness, and to see her son. The sight of his wife in such a wretched state shattered Zeus's anger, and he allowed her to be free of the bindings he had placed upon her. When he brought Hephaestus to her, and tried to place him in her arms, Hera once more burst into tears, even as Hephaestus screamed at her touch.

Further Trouble
For the next several months, Zeus and Hera slept apart. Every now and then, Zeus made attempts to accentuate Hephaestus to his mother, but the baby would always wail when in her presence, which would always cause Hera to weep. Eventually, Zeus was forced to give care of Hephaestus to Hestia, whilst he was busy.

He and Hera remained distant, neither of them having quite reconciled over what had happened. Hera seemed to regain some of her former vigor, and it became apparent why. Helios, the Titan charged with managing the sun across their domains, eventually informed Zeus that he had discovered that Leto had given birth to twins, and throughout her pregnancy, had been hounded by a terrible beast called Python, a monster that served Hera. Zeus's fury was once again roused, and an argument between him and his wife ensued. Hera demanded that Zeus's bastards be kept away, but Zeus informed her that these new children of his would be raised on Mount Olympus, reminding her who was king, and that she was in no position to tell him how to be a parent. Without any alternatives, Hera had no choice but to allow Leto and her children to come to court, on the condition that Zeus swore to her that his affair with Leto was done. Zeus agreed.

Three years passed, and Zeus's home situation seemed to have improved. Demeter had returned to Olympus in part, and now she and Persephone resided between there and the world below. Ares was not quite as troublesome as before. Hephaestus, though deformed by his injuries, was healthy, and Zeus's children by Leto, Artemis and Apollo, were both a delight to him. Yet another bout of trouble loomed. Leto come to him one day, and informed him that she planned to leave with their children, as Demeter once had before her. She could not raise them here, she said. Unlike Demeter, however, Leto had never truly held Zeus's heart. His children would remain with him, he stated firmly. Leto begged and pleaded with him, saying that their life would be better with her, that they needed their mother. Zeus was unmoved. He allowed her to say goodbye to the two children, and sent her on her way. Unfortunately, Leto later returned in secret, attempting to steal the twins away. She was discovered however, and for her crime, Zeus banished her from his domains, never to return.

War Against the Beznadi
When Svarog's forces attacked Olympus, Zeus convened the Olympian Council for an emergency strategy meeting. Whilst his son Ares rushed forth recklessly despite his father's commands not to, and was defeated in a duel against Svarog, Zeus mustered the forces of Olympus, and launched an overwhelming counterattack against the invading Beznadi. Zeus himself personally dueled against Svarog, utterly dominating him, ending the battle when he unleashed a blast from his Master Bolt that knocked Svarog off the mountainside. As his brothers Poseidon and Hades dealt with the attacks against their kingdoms, Zeus prepared to invade Zemja Bogov, the Beznadi home realm, but found that Svarog's son, Perun, had taken leadership from his father, and subsequently negotiated a peace with Zeus and the Olympian Council.

Siege of Olympus
"This battle was never yours. It's mine."

-Zeus to Uriel

When the Angelic Legions appeared upon Mount Olympus, Zeus initially remained in the palace atop the mountain, working with his daughter Athena to coordinate their forces and contributing to the maintenance of the mighty storm that had previously been conjured to prevent the assaulting Ynochim from attacking by air. As the armies clashed, however, and Zeus saw more and more of his family members broken and defeated, his fury began to grow. When Uriel, Seraph of the Fifth Angelic Legion, challenged him to a duel after brutally defeating his son Hermes, Zeus had enough. He answered the Ynochim's challenge, descending through the storm to meet the angelic warrior. Zeus let loose upon Uriel and his surrounding warriors with his full godly wrath, devastating the Fifth Legion and delivering unto Uriel the most crushing defeat he had ever known.

Before he could finish Uriel off, however, two of the Seraphim's brothers came to his aid: Michael and Mephiston, the Godbreaker and the Shadow of Judgement. He was defeated by their combined might and captured.

Physical Appearance
Zeus's standard form is that of a hugely powerful man who looks to be in his mid to late thirties, with wide shoulders, a deep chest, and strong limbs, his entire body rippling with muscle. His hair is shock white, and he typically wears it somewhat long, around the length of his ears. Zeus also cultivates a beard, which he sometimes keeps closely trimmed, and sometimes grows out to varying lengths. Zeus also possesses electric blue eyes, which spark with lightning whenever he is agitated. The trait of electric blue eye color always passes on to his halfborn children without fail, though some have contrived to change their eye color through magical means. Oftentimes, this distinctive trait is used to help identify children of Zeus, as though there are other beings with similar eye colors, all of Zeus's offspring inherit eyes that are exactly the same shade as their father's.

Personality
Zeus is first and foremost a proud and stern being, as a result of centuries of a crown-weary head, having had to lead one of the most public and powerful factions in all Creation, all while preventing its petty internal squabbling from tearing itself apart. While during his younger years, Zeus was astoundingly charming and gregarious, those long years of hard rule have made him very stoic and prickly around his fellow gods. He does not tolerate slights of any sort to himself or his family, and will personally punish any who insult Olympus (although he will allow japes or snide remarks from his relatives in private). Whilst in public, however, especially within view of those he deems threatening, Zeus will respond with crushing retaliations to any sort of insult or attack. Most often, such retaliation involves the Lord of the Sky bringing his own tremendous personal presence to bear, preferring to use subtle threats to cow any sort of impertinence, and preferring to use obvious threats to violence. When Zeus is truly enraged by someone's impudence, he typically will employ a brief but painful show of force, only escalating into full attacks when absolutely necessary.

While he is known for his incredible cunning, Zeus upholds his position as god of law by always keeping his word. Still, Zeus has remained sly since the days of his youth, when he was an infamous trickster, and when making deals with enemies, always does his best to leave loopholes to exploit, though he does not usually do this with those he holds in high regard. Given his status as a lawgiver, however, Zeus reacts extremely poorly to any implication of insult to his honor. He reacts just as badly as those who deceive him, although he does afford grudging respect to those who effectively employ his own loophole strategy against him.

Despite his stern demeanor, he does have a soft side, and his strict rulership of his family is only to ensure that peace and order are upheld. He is a stern father on most occasions, frugal with his praise, and truly miserly with open displays of affection, typically showing the latter only in private settings. Whilst he loves his children deeply, he is generally more favorable to his daughters than his sons, punishing them less severely for their misconduct, with Athena being his most favored, followed by Artemis. Zeus is the most tender and caring towards his mortal lovers, showering them with gifts and affection, a sharp contrast to most of his divine children, which causes many of them who witness Zeus's interactions to resent their halfborn siblings. Truthfully, Zeus's womanizing among mortals is a coping mechanism, a method to allow him to relax and destress from the rigors of rule. He enjoys the thrill of chasing mortal women, and secretly takes great pleasure in the awe he inspires within his mortal children and lovers. However, given his tremendous pride, Zeus would rather have it be believed that he simply chases them out of lust then let it be known that his ventures are a coping mechanism and a method for him to let loose.

One of Zeus's other coping mechanisms is combat. As he prefers to comport himself with stoicism and dignity, rarely does Zeus get a chance to cut loose in battle. When roused to true anger, however, or called upon to defend his people, his fury is truly terrifying to behold. In battle, Zeus is utterly unrelenting, making it his goal to swiftly crush the most formidable of his foes, breaking their bodies and spirits. By doing this, it is Zeus's intent to shatter the wills of their allies, a strategy which often serves him well.

Kronos
Zeus's hatred for his father is absolute. Growing up, he was reared by his mother to despise Kronos for what he did to Zeus's siblings, and attempted to do to Zeus himself. Battling against his cruel and brutal father during the Titanomachy only deepened Zeus's loathing of him, though he feared Kronos for a long time, until he finally overcame him during the last battle of the war. Since then, Zeus still holds his father in contempt, and he is confident in his ability to take him on if ever he were to reemerge, as centuries of conflict have increased Zeus's power from when the two last fought.

Rhea
In sharp contrast to his father, Zeus cares deeply for his mother. Of all his siblings, the only one who has a stronger bond with her is Hestia, but Zeus is unique among them in that Rhea was present for his childhood, at least when she could be. The King of Olympus is quite protective of his mother, though his duties prevent him from spending much time with her. Back in his early days, he often sought her out for council and advice, relying on her support and encouragement above all others to see him through the Titanomachy. In the many centuries since, however, they have drifted apart.

Hestia
Zeus's eldest sister is someone that he has always felt protective of, despite being the youngest of Hestia's siblings. Zeus appreciates his sister for her kindness, gentleness, and warmth, and knows that in her is someone who is utterly devoted to their family. However, he also sees her as too gentle, as she has never been willing to engage in any sort of violence, which the King of Olympus views as a weakness, and as a result, he does not often heed her council. Still, while he does view Hestia as soft, he also has a soft spot for her in his heart, and is fiercely protective of her, like the rest of their siblings.

Demeter
Demeter is someone Zeus once considered worth marrying. Demeter was someone Zeus could unload his burdens to, yet also be passionate with. She was kind and caring, yet also strong, capable of great courage and ferocity. To this day, Zeus still loves and admires Demeter, even lusts after her to a degree, yet these feelings are all surpassed by those he feels for Hera, his wife. When he is alone, Zeus sometimes wonders how different his life would have been if he had married her instead of Hera, but such thoughts always evaporate when he enters Hera's presence. Still, Demeter does have considerable sway when it comes to her brother, and he is like to heed council she gives him. Furthermore, she is one of the individuals most capable of calming Zeus when his fury is roused.

Hera
Zeus's relationship with his wife is not a simple one. He is deeply in love with his wife, and she with him. He loves Hera for the fire in her soul. Her fierce wit, her unyielding strength of will, and that she always speaks her mind. In turn, Zeus knows that his wife respects his courage, power, intelligence, and the unyielding devotion to his family. Zeus deeply appreciates being able to share the burdens of his rule with her, as she serves to assist him in the governance of their realm and also serves as a confidant. Just the same, she shares her burdens and worries with him. They have had disagreements and arguments beyond count, yet always they reconcile.

Zeus's repeated infidelities are the chief cause of their many arguments. Truthfully, Zeus feels tremendous guilt over hurting Hera's feelings over and over again, even after she forgives him. He is never willing to explain that his dalliances with other women are but a means of stress relief he uses when he wants to escape the rigors of rule. His pride does not allow it. Hera's constant meddling in his affairs infuriates him like little else, especially her attempts to make his mortal offspring miserable. In the modern day, whenever he discovers Hera attempting to inflict suffering on his halfborn children, he does his utmost to put a stop to it, forcing her to be subtle in her methods.

Still, despite their differences, Zeus loves Hera like no other. None of his many lovers comes anywhere near the passion he feels for her. None has the amount of sway over him that she does, for Zeus truly does enjoy making his wife happy, and there is no one more in all Creation who he lusts after more fiercely.

Hades
During their youth, Zeus had respect for Hades due to the courage, honor, and diligence he possessed, but considered him a gloomy and stern loner. Hades was simply not very fun to be around. In the modern day, Zeus's admiration for Hades has grown considerably. All of Hades's qualities are qualities Zeus himself wishes to emulate, and in truth, he recognizes that he himself has grown far more stern and prickly than Hades ever was. In truth, Zeus envies his brother, as he has a vastly less tumultuous marriage, and does not have to constantly deal with their quarrelsome family. Hades's status as the eldest son of Kronos has also always been a subject of insecurity for Zeus, and as a result, he always seizes any opportunity to one up his brother. Still, he does appreciate Hades's intelligence, and is always mindful of his council.

Poseidon
In their youths, Poseidon was Zeus's best friend and fiercest rival. Both of them were powerful, boisterous, and charming, and much of the early reign of Olympus was spent one upping each other. Though Poseidon reigned as King of Atlantis, he never succumbed to the burdens of rule as Zeus did, and retained a more relaxed and fun loving temperament. Zeus believes that this is simply due to the fact that his brother's burdens were nowhere near as heavy as his own, which resulted in some resentment for Poseidon beginning to form. While he does value Poseidon's opinions, Zeus is quick to take even the tiniest sliver of disagreement from his brother as a direct challenge to his authority, which always raises his ire and bolsters his hidden insecurities about the fact that Poseidon is his elder. Despite that, the Lord of the Sky takes no pleasure in the conflicts he has with his brother. Deep down, he longs for days long past, when he and Poseidon were more friends than rivals, instead of the other way around.

Hermes
Hermes is among Zeus's most favored sons, holding an approximately equal position to Heracles in their father's eye. Whilst Zeus more openly praises and lavishes honors on Apollo, who is well known to be his favorite, Hermes is in fact the most trusted of his sons. Hermes is often entrusted with many important and clandestine tasks by his father, who trusts him above his other sons to be discreet and clever with his assignments, knowing that despite his jovial nature, Hermes is very serious about carrying out his father's orders. Among his divine children, only Athena shares more secrets with the King of Olympus.

In addition to the trust he places in Hermes, he also takes great delight in his son's wit, having allowed him to escape punishment for his various escapades on numerous occasions simply due to how amusing he finds him. Though Zeus does not laugh as often as he once did since the primacy of the angels, Hermes is one of the few who can consistently spark joy within him.

Halfborn Children
Zeus is often much more soft with his halfborn offspring than he is with his divine ones. He is quite protective of them, and relishes in the awe and adoration his presence often inspires in his mortal children. Zeus takes great pride in the deeds of his offspring, and often goes out of their way to grant them indirect aid in whatever quest they might be on.

Powers
Zeus is most renowned for his utter mastery of the Dominion of Sky, in which his command is surpassed solely by his grandfather, Ouranos. He is also an Archmaster of the Dominion of Order, having been trained personally in its used by Ra, the Primordial who created it. Both are his foremost weapons, used to devastate any who stand against him. Zeus also possesses considerable skill in the Dominions of Aura and Realms, as well as Beasts, all of which he frequently employs to covertly visit mortal lovers. Zeus additionally wields above average mastery of the Dominions of Life and Wild, which he learned from his grandmother, Gaia. In all other Divine Dominions, he possesses competence common to most higher beings.

Skills
Zeus is an incredibly gifted leader, having rallied his siblings to battle in the Titanomachy, as well as having lead his pantheon in countless battles against rival forces. His fierce determination and dominating personal presence are the key reason as to why the Olympian Pantheon has remained together. He is incredibly skilled in the art of public speaking, able to easily command the attention of a crowd, a gift Zeus often employs to command the Olympian council chamber. Zeus is also gifted planner and strategist, using his tremendous cunning both in battle and in order to find new and inventive ways to have affairs without his wife noticing. He also still retains the charm of his youth, and Zeus is able to make women swoon with his honeyed words and staggering presence.

The King of Olympus is also an absolute terror upon the battlefield, with his presence able to turn the tide of a conflict that even involves enemy gods. Zeus's combat style makes use of his overwhelming strength, and he wields his Master Bolt with expert precision, using it to conjure all manner of storms or as a blade to batter his foes into submission. Zeus also often makes use of armored fists in close quarters combat, with his blows being so tremendously mighty as to smash through even the heavily enchanted gear that other deities wear.

Master Bolt
When going into battle, Zeus always carries his Master Bolt, which was forged by him by the Elder Cyclopes in thanks for his part in freeing them. The Bolt is capable of unleashing devastating blasts of lightning and manipulating the weather, allowing its wielder to conjure storms, command the winds, or obscure a land with fog, and serves to amplify Zeus's already incredible power. The bolt is capable of altering its size in accordance to its wielder's will, and can serve as both a spear or a sword. Additionally, the bolt carries a defense feature, and will electrify any who touch it without its master's consent, which can prove fatal to a vast majority of beings.

Traits
Power Level: 12

Strength: 13

Dexterity: 8

Endurance: 12

Intelligence: 10

Charisma: 12

Perception: 9

Magic
Dominion of Aura: 11

Dominion of Chaos: 0

Dominion of Frost: 4

Dominion of Darkness: 0

Dominion of Death: 5

Dominion of Earth: 6

Dominion of Fate: 0

Dominion of Fire: 4

Dominion of Forge: 5

Dominion of Life: 10

Dominion of Light: 5

Dominion of Order: 12

Dominion of Realms: 8

Dominion of Sky: 12

Dominion of Thought: 9

Dominion of Time: 0

Dominion of Water: 5

Dominion of Wild: 7

Trivia

 * Despite being the ruler of Olympus, Zeus is the youngest of his siblings.
 * The same applies to Kronos, who is the youngest of the Elder Titans.
 * Zeus is the most powerful Olympian god.