Keruke

**Keruke** (sing. **Keruki**) are messengers who work under the commands of the Messenger Gods, Hermes and Iris.

## Summary

The Keruke are messengers of the Greco-Roman Pantheon, serving directly under the commands of the Messenger Gods Hermes and Iris. Unlike popular belief, a Keruki isn't a being but an occupation and people of various backgrounds can become a Keruki. They can be wind spirits, nymphs, satyrs, demigods, lesser gods, and even a few Hunters of Artemis.

Their first priority is to carry the messages to and from the mythical Greco-Roman world. In the modern era, they mainly work as employees of the Olympus Postal Service, though some also specialize in other fields such as diplomatic works or interpantheon warfare. As such, it isn't incorrect to say they are among the most important factors that contributed to the authority and influence of the Olympians.

## History

The Keruke are found sometimes near the beginning of the Archaic Greek period, circa 800 BC. After over three centuries of rebuilding itself after the Gigantomachy, the Greek Pantheon decided to open its borders and began to form connections with other pantheons and mythological factions within the Mediterranean Basin. To lighten Hermes' and Iris' workload, Zeus permitted them to form their own group of mythics to help with their duties as messengers.

## Types of Keruke

* **Keryx**: Messengers of the Gods. This is a title reserved only for Hermes and Iris for they are the only Messenger Gods within the Greco-Roman Pantheon.
* **Angelio**: Interpantheon/Diplomatic Messengers. They are Keruke who work for a specific god or carry messages between pantheons. Because of this, they're trained for diplomacy and war as they are most often needed during treaties and battles, but there are many who are also trained for politics and carry announcements between the realms of gods and humans.
* **Talthybios-Keruki**: Assistant Messengers. They might be working under an Angelio or Keruki, and their job is closer to a secretary or personal assistant in the Mortal World, but they are still essential. Their first priority is to assist a working Messenger in any way they can.
* **Voithos-Keruki**: Junior Messengers. Keruke-in-training, similar to interns as they are learning the trade. At a young age, they begin to learn how to work in the environment of the Keruke, often trailing a Talthybios-Keruki or Keruki so they can mimic and learn from them, they’re the younger generation of Keruke.

## Uniforms

Keruke usually wear Ancient Greek attires such as a chlamys or a peplos for easy mobility, though modern sportswear is coming into fashion with the younger generation of Keruke. All of them carry a kerukeion, a herald's staff with intertwined snakes, to show their status as an official Keruki. While under the Mist's influence, regardless if they're dressed for the occasion or not, the mundanes will see them as ordinary deliverers and/or mailmen.

Every Keruki wears bright-blue, a color that is easy to see against the battlefield and from far away so one doesn't accidentally shoot the messenger. Each sash is held up with a brooch depicting a winged sandal and is a different color depending on their rank.

* **Keryx**: Black.
	+ Hermes' is black with a golden trim.
	+ Iris' is oily-black that reflects rainbows like tar.
* **Angelio**: Black with bright-blue linings and stichings.
* **Keruki**: Bright-blue with black linings.
* **Talthybios-Keruki**: Blue with white stichings and a black trim.
* **Voithos-Keruki**: Green with blue linings and trims.

## Olympus Postal Service

The **Olympus Postal Service**, also called the **Olympian Postal Service**, **Greco-Roman Postal Service**, or just **OPS**, is an independent agency responsible for providing postal service in the Greco-Roman Cosmos, including its colonies and associated states. The OPS has a monopoly on "letter" delivery within the Greco-Roman Cosmos and operates under a universal obligation (USO), both of which are defined across a broad set of legal mandates, which obligate it to provide uniform price and quality across the entirety of the Greco-Roman Cosmos.

## Trivia

* The majority of Hermes' and Iris' demigod children work at OPS, either as Keruke or just non-messenger employees.
* No one's sure if the OPS inspired the USPS or it's the opposite.
* The Keruke has a rivalry with the Oneiroi of the Underworld.
* Due to the Olympus-Asgard Alliance, the Angelios have yearly competitions with the Valkyries.