Janus

* Elysium
* Imperial

*Though originally a member of a different pantheon, Janus earned his entry into the Halls of Olympus by aiding the Olympians with their transition to the lands of Rome. Janus continued to prove his worth as a cultural ambassador, helping not only the gods learn more about the Roman people but also helping the Roman people accept the foreign gods.*

*During the Exodus, Janus again made him essential. Though he could hold his own in the war effort on the frontlines, his true measure was in assisting Hecate, Hephaestus, and others find ways for the Olympians to adapt to the cosmology of the new world — or make the world adapt to accept its new gods, if needed.*

 Divine Lore

### Reign of the Titans - ~2900 OC

Not much is known about Janus before he first arrived at the court of Olympus — other than his name wasn't Janus. No, he was called Culsans when he first walked the Etruscan lands. He claims to have witness to the rule of the Titans, but he never saw fit to join the fight against their tyranny — instead concealing himself. At least once, he encountered Zephyrus, attacking him — only to be defeated and only allowed to live once he confessed he had ambushed Zephyrus as he believed him to be an agent of the Titans. Fortunately for Culsans, by this point, the Titans had been overthrown and Zephyrus served new masters.

Still, Culsans rejected Zephyrus' offer to take the god to Olympus. Instead, Culsans would join other gods in the Etruscan lands to garner worship as their divine neighbors in the east had done. However, the Etruscans would be one of the first people to submit to the rise of the Roman Republic.

Much as he and the Etruscans had built their cult off the Greek example, the Roman pantheon had done the same to the Etruscans. This was the Roman way. Conquer new lands and adapt by merging cultures and worship together. This meant that there were several gods within the Roman pantheon that were remarkably similar to the Etruscan gods, and if the Etruscans had a god who the Roman gods could see value in, they would allow that god to join them. Unfortunately for Culsans and his daughter, Culsu, the Roman pantheon already had a god, Janus, who saw to the purviews which Culsans and his daughter Culsu oversaw in the Etruscan pantheon. Though Culsans knew was about to happen and he had the will to abandon everything in order to flee from his impending execution, Culsu would not be so fortunate.

Once Culsans had the chance to take stock of what had occurred and realized that he had lost everything, he mourned his loss for a time before steeling his heart forever. Culsans was not going to surrender so easily. Hatching a plan, Culsans left Etruria and Rome behind to find other gods that would welcome him.

At first, no one did.

So, Culsans survived off meager portions of worship or by using his gifts to steal from other pantheons. It was not a pleasant existence for him, but he endured... until Rome stirred once more, desiring to expand its control across the sea to the lands surrounding Olympus.

That was exactly what Culsans had been waiting for.

Culsans came as a harbinger to warn the Olympians of the Roman threat. He explained that the Romans would conquer the Grecian lands in time and once they did, he explained that the Roman gods would come with them. Though the Twelve were skeptical that Rome could conquer the Greeks, with time, they realized they had not been what they had been before.

The collapse of the Bronze Age had struck the worship of the Olympians, leaving them weaker than they cared to admit. So, after several meetings to discuss Culsans' plan, the Twelve summoned Culsans before them once more to ask him what he needed of them.

The overthrow of the Roman gods did not happen all at once. The first to be removed was Janus, as Culsans suspected he had been the one to strike down Culsu. With a guile and speed only Hermes could achieve, the messenger god abducted Janus and delivered him to the Throne Room. It was there that his purviews and name were stripped from him by force before a trial found him guilty. After that, the Roman god was surrendered to Hades and sentenced to a torture chamber in Tartarus designed by Culsans personally.

Culsans then assumed Janus' name and likeness before he returned to Rome. The new "Janus" then began to survey the Roman pantheon for weaknesses to exploit. By careful selection, Janus made a list of the twenty gods most essential to the Roman pantheon. The Di Selecti, as they would come to be known.

Plans were made and carried out with precision. Hecate provided glamours that allowed the Olympians to infiltrate the Roman pantheon, one by one. As they did, efforts were made to sabotage the Roman gods' worship collection and other essential duties to keep their focus elsewhere — until the Di Selecti had been replaced in its entirety.

Once the Di Selecti was complete, the remaining Roman pantheon could did little else but surrender and accept defeat. By 2969, the Olympians had claimed all Roman worship for themselves, just as Rome finished conquering the Grecian lands.

## Role in NeOlympus

Appearances of Janus

 Abilities

### Ichoric Doctrine

* **Divine Physicality:** Deities possess the following abilities, though the exact levels may fluctuate or cease to function due to lack of Nektar and Ambrosia in their system. Generally speaking, Nektar is processed by the deity's body and converted into ichor which is required for replenishing lost ichor due to injury and channeling essence; while Ambrosia is processed by the body to heal injuries and sustain immortality. Deities do require some level of mundane food and drink, though a diet strictly made of Nektar and Ambrosia can sustain them (though they may become increasingly disconnected and 'inhuman' as a result).
	+ ***Enhanced Agility:*** Deities are more agile, coordinated, and dexterous than their physique alone may otherwise suggest.
	+ ***Enhanced Awareness:*** Deities are more closely attuned to the esoteric, arcane, and mystical than mortals. They can perceive ghosts, unmanifested nymphs, and other passively invisible patterns at work in the environment.
	+ ***Enhanced Durability:*** Deities are more durable, resilient, and resistant than their physique alone may otherwise suggest. Mystical weaponry, magic, concentrated essence weaponry, the natural attacks of other gods or divine creatures, and weapons forged of magical metals such as adamantine or orichalcum are the exceptions to this nigh-invulnerability. Most mortal weaponry cannot pierce divine flesh, though bladed attacks from incredibly strong mortals have left bruises or slight cuts on them and repeated blows can weaken them over time as their body burns through its consumed Ambrosia.
	+ ***Enhanced Might:*** Deities are stronger than their physique would otherwise suggest. Their punches are often dealt harder than a mule can kick. In conjunction with their enhanced durability, most deities can barehandedly punch through a brick and mortar wall without concern for harming their body.
	+ ***Enhanced Speed:*** Deities are faster, more reflexive, and all-around quicker than their physique would otherwise suggest. They can usually dodge arrows or even gunfire if they are aware of the attack and prepared to move.

### Inheritance and Birthright

* **Inheritance and Birthright:** Viridian gods come from another plane. Not born of mother or father, nor exalted, they have no inheritance, per se, but often a number of Endowments in addition to the unique ability called the Birthright.
	+ ***Endowment: Shapeshifting:*** Janus has the ability to alter his physical shape to assume that of another person or creature, both mundane and fantastic. Using this ability, Janus can alter his gender, height, weight, and mass. Though he initially retains his own memories, intellect and identity while transformed, long-term transformations may cause unpredictable side effects. Most often he uses this to take on a more mundane form — concealing his abnormal divine features, such as his green hair, horns, sharp teeth, and pointed ears.
	+ ***Endowment: Arete of Will:*** Janus' will cannot be tested. Mind control and illusions of any kind have no effect on him. He can also overcome a great deal of hardship by willing himself to ignore his emotions.
	+ ***Personal Birthright: Trickster:*** Anyone who have ever met Janus is not surprised to learn that he can bend and break the Sacred Laws with little risk or receiving consequences for doing so. He also has an affinity for games of chances — particularly those which should only have a half-chance of winning.

## Gallery

Janus
(Elysium)Janus
(Imperial)