Pythus

„*The Ardoni… a species able to wield great powers: the Songs of war. Tell me, what benefit are these powers when still you die the same? Power does not reside in a weapon. Ingressus believed the Prime Songs would give him strength- but look at how they have served you both. Let me tell you what real power is: power is an illusion, constructed in the minds of those who fear it. And I… am the most powerful of all.*”
— Pythus↑
**Pythus** is the main antagonist of Songs of War towards the end, turning Ingressus into an anti-hero at the same time. He was the leader of the Nether armies and the son of King Chronos. He was killed by Ingressus Voltaris after he ordered his troops to kill the Voltaris. Pythus never seemed to want have conquered Ardonia, but was persuaded by Ingressus to do so.

## Lore

Pythus was born as the youngest son to Chronos and Pthelina and younger brother to Vulcannus. He is a Netheran warlord and the supreme enforcer of the Nether armies. He's one of the few Nether warlords and was King Chronos's right-hand man. It is later revealed that he was one of Chronos' sons, and other being Vulcannus.

## Personality

Not much is revealed of Pythus, as he has no speaking roles in Season 1, however more about his character is revealed in the scripts of Season 2-3. He seems to be a ruthless traditionalist, killing his own father for disgracing their lineage by retreating back to the Nether when the tide of the Great War turned. He demands respect from his subjects and fear from his enemies. Even though he is a skilled warrior, he backs down from Ingressus Voltaris when Pythus catches him sitting on his own throne, showing he is not confident enough in his abilities to take on the Deathsinger. Despite this, he is shown to be very capable of a fight, being able to match the Deathsinger in combat and trade his life for his own in combat, although Pythus was killed first. From this, it can be inferred his skills are around that of Achillean, just under the Deathsinger, and able to stalemate him in prolonged combat. Pythus was specifically written to be evil, yet have a point. Several times, David said Pythus would make a statement which held some truth, but with a wicked twist, such as boasting about how despite not being a rightful ruler, he was able to assume control and lead the Nether Army to victory, and claiming that power was an illusion created by those who feared it, and because of this, he was the most powerful of all, as all feared him.

## Appearances

### Episode 1

Pythus commanded King Chronos's forces of the Nether. During the ensuing battles, he wielded an iron battle axe, later using it to kill an Ender Knight showing just how powerful he is.

### Episode 4

Pythus appears in Abbigail's dream, wielding the Nether Blade and slowly walking towards her in an End castle.

Episode 17

Pythus was chilling on his throne while The Deathsinger came in and asked for an alliance. He agreed and the alliance was reformed.

Episode 18

Pythus meets the Necrolord after the Felora attack and Kiyoshi's death, he has a Wither and the Angel of Death alongside him.

Episode 19

Pythus talks to the Necrolord, saying that the alliance has been reformed and that the Nether will take control of the undead once more. He fights the Necrolord, eventually knocking him down, and killing him.

Episode 20

Pythus and the Nether arrive at Crown Peak, he meets with the Deathsinger at the throne. Pythus tells him to move aside, and says that now both the Nether and Ardonia is now his to control. He then tells the Deathsinger that he found out that the Enderknights have returned, and that he has to take over the End as well, then he'll help the Deathsinger find the Prime Songs. Later in the episode, he's seen sitting on the throne of Crown Peak.

Epsiode 21

Pythus is in the Great War flashback, and warns his father Chronos that if they retreat he will bring shame upon their people and draw question to his right to the crown. Chronos says to Pythus that he’d rather save the lives of his people and his sons: Vulcannus and Pythus. Pythus is furious, and back in the Nether, Pythus strikes down his father and kills him, then the flashback ended. In Crown Peak, Pythus is on the throne, now corrupted, he says that he now sits upon 2 thrones, and explains that once he has had his fun in Ardonia, he’ll take over the End and defeat Enderqueen Abbigail. The Deathsinger says that he’s pleased that Pythus has everything they agreed upon, but Pythus says that he has a lot more than what they agreed, then tells Ingressus that he still has 2 prime songs and that the sooner he gets the last primes, the sooner the Voltaris won’t need his help. But the Deathsinger assures Pythus that he has no desire on sitting on thrones. Pythus then tells Ingressus to not mistake the alliance as a form of friendship.

## Trivia

* When David R. B. published the SOW ASSET PACK, several character skins were found with names that were not mentioned in the series, including that of Pythus.
* Shortly after the Netherans returned to the Nether, Chronos was killed by Pythus and he became the unofficial king of the Nether.
* Pythus has an older brother called Vulcannus, who is the rightful king of the Nether.
* As revealed in the Songs of War Script, Pythus knows Vulcannus is rightful king the Nether, but takes the throne anyway.
* He spared Vulcannus even knowing he was the rightful king of The Nether.
* In the prologue for Episode 1 Pythus killed an Ender knight, showing that he is a powerful character that is not to be underestimated.
* Pythus‘s axe belonged to his great grandfather, who damaged it while battling an EnderKing a long time ago
* Pythus murdered his father, Chronos to take the thrown but Pythus never challenged his father to a duel. This can either be due to the fact that Chronos himself was an extremely powerful warrior, which is likely, or that he thought a coward did not deserve an honorable death. Or he did not want any interference in the murder, wanting it swiftly executed.