Inemis

# Inemis, Olympian God of Death and Disease

An Olympian artist's illustration of Inemis within Purgatory

Inemis was not considered one of the central deities in Olympian mythology. This was due to his behavior during Inemis' Rebellion. However, Olympians still feared him for his role as the god of death and pestilence. Inemis originally was deemed to release plagues only if Olympians had secularized and abandoned their daily offerings. Blasphemy was also considered an offense. Inemis followed Khathos' orders until he was banished to Purgatory. Following his eternal imprisonment, Inemis gained the ability to release diseases and other forms of death upon Elparia as he pleased.

Known colloquially as the Harvester of the Dead, Inemis received offerings filled with blood and cadavers. These were attempts to beg Inemis to end his wrath on the land and have mercy on those who still survived. However, Inemis rarely was pleased with such attempts and usually wiped out small numbers of families and single adults until he became bored.

Inemis is best known for his small rebellion against Khathos. However, he is also credited in mythology with the historical event, 'Last Breath of the Forgotten.'

## Name

The name 'Inemis,' comes from the ancient Calderian word for ignorance. His name is inspired by this word because he deliberately overlooks humanity's suffering.

## Mythology

### Inemis' Birth and Early Responsibilities

Inemis was constructed out of magma that hardened into a humanlike form made out of basalt rock. Once his form was completed, Khathos poured his anger for man's disobedience into him, which gave him life. Originally, this raw rage motivated Inemis to scream. This cry was so violent, that all of the plant life decorating the palace died. Khathos harnessed him by explaining to him his designated purpose. Inemis wholeheartedly agreed with Khathos that humans' temptations to embrace secularistic ideas were foolish and traitorous. Inemis initially believed this because of the deities' place as creators of the universe. However, this outlook soon transformed into a belief based on selfishness and his desire to preserve his role as a deity with destructive power and considerable influence on the actions of humanity.

### Inemis' Rebellion

Inemis' Rebellion occurred in three stages that took place over the course of three years. The first stage consisted of Inemis and his first doubts about the significance of his position under Khathos. The second stage explains the planning stages in which Khathos explained his frustrations and ideas with Itysus, Arus, and Yaldir. The final stage is the culmination of both of these two events: Khathos' stabbing and Inemis' banishment to Purgatory.

#### Inemis' First Doubts

At a certain point in time, the ancient Calderians began to offer sweet berries and herbs that enhanced their grain offerings. Khathos took delight in this new gesture of appreciation and decided to bless them immensely. Khathos planted creative ideas in their minds that eventually led to philosophical thinking, architectural inventions, and the creation of the first primitive village-like settlements. Khathos decided to show the ancient Calderians some grace so they could develop their newfound technologies and perspectives. Therefore, he instructed Inemis not to inflict severe disease or disaster on their population. His only responsibility was to maintain the natural life-death cycle. Inemis eventually came to resent Khathos for placing limits on his power. He begrudgingly continued to listen to Khathos' decrees, but began to hatch a plot when he was alone by himself.

#### Inemis' Scheme

Inemis' plan was initially developed in secrecy within the wine cellar of Ypsilós. It was known as the 'Blood Red Clubhouse', because Inemis famously had episodic drinking periods within that cove. Under candlelight, Inemis created a rudimentary plan that originally outlined an attempt at poisoning Khathos and withholding the antidote from him. However, Itysus rebuked this plan because Khathos would not be severely weakened by the poison's effects. Over the course of four days, Inemis vented his frustrations to Itysus, Arus, and Yaldir. His anger was so vehement that he almost strangled Arus to death in pure rage. However, his anger eventually subsided and the four decided that a violent stabbing would be a sufficient assassination attempt. For an entire year, Inemis and the three minor gods planned an elaborate scheme to get Khathos by himself at the proper time.

#### Khathos' Stabbing

When the time came to initiate the plan, Yaldir began to walk with Khathos for a solid hour around the palace gardens. After intensely discussing matters concerning the ancient Calderians' development, Yaldir mentioned that Inemis wanted to talk to him alone in the palace halls. Yaldir walked as far as the second marble colonnade and then quickly left the eventual scene of the crime. Unbeknownst to Khathos, Itysus was observing Khathos' slow walk down the hall and alerted Arus to hand the Valerian steel dagger over to Inemis. Inemis had no knowledge of how the three minor gods obtained such a weapon, but he knew better than to ask detailed questions. Inemis hid the dagger within his obsidian boot and proceeded to meet Khathos with a joyous greeting as he stood at the end of the hall. Walking towards him at a slow pace, Inemis bluntly explained his dissatisfaction at his position and relevance as the god of death. Khathos began to explain the humans deserved a period of grace as they continued providing the best offerings they had ever presented. He proposed Inemis could strike them down with double the typical amount of pestilence that Khathos usually permitted if they became severely unfaithful over time. However, Inemis did not even listen to Khathos' first words concerning this idea. He immediately pulled the dagger out of his boot and stabbed Khathos in the chest cavity. However, the stab attempt was shallow and Inemis was unable to properly kill Khathos. He quickly fled out of the palace with the dagger in hand.

Inemis sought refuge in a cave in the Kaldir Pass. Eventually, the three minor gods made their way to the location as well once three days had passed. This area was the rendezvous point once the assassination attempt had occurred. For three years, the four individuals survived off crow's meat and water from the river that flowed within the nearby chasm. Khathos eventually found them and slayed the three minor gods with no difficulties. However, he took a moment to bargain with Inemis once the god of death pleaded for his life. The two agreed on Inemis being banished to Purgatory as god of the underworld. Inemis' life would be spared, but he would not have access to roam Elparia ever again. Khathos made a rocky stairwell and rock door that allowed Inemis to journey into Purgatory. Inemis happily walked down the stone stairs and the door was closed behind him.

### Personality

Inemis is an easily angered deity who is often driven into fits of rage. However, he is cold and calculating when he is able to think in solitude. The god of death rarely allows himself to work with others unless they can provide significant assistance. His personal preference is to live alone and work alone, as he sees himself as the only dependable individual to get any job done. Inemis can be sly and charming when he wants to be. However, he uses wit and charm not to romance anyone, but to manipulate others' desires and make them align with his ideals.

### Appearance

Inemis has appeared to mankind on several occasions in the past before his banishment to Purgatory. He appears as a black bearded man sporting heavy obsidian armor. Inemis prefers to keep his black hair somewhat long and his beard unshaven. Inemis likes to appear slightly amused, his black eyes usually lighting up with satisfaction while his devilish smile curls into a grin.