THE TERROR THAT FLAPS IN THE NIGHT

The ancient explanation for winter – The god of the underworld yoinking down a girl to marry. Throughout the years, it’s been told and retold with new ideas, new twists, and new takes – and now is a chance to make new threads! Is it a romantic misunderstanding that blossoms into something sweet, or a darkly obsessive case of Stockholm syndrome? If you need ideas for how you want your story told, here are some details to consider!

THE SETTING

You can go OG with togas and tapestries, but don’t feel limited to times of old! Put it anywhere in this world, or out of it with space and stars! Make myths into metaphors – maybe a gangster takes a girl to make her pay a family debt? Remove the gods and make it modern day, or mix up the magic with other fantasy tropes like dragons or demons!

HADES

The ruler of the dead, who can be humanity’s enemy or just a dude stuck in a dull job. Did they choose this life, or was it forced upon them? Do they enjoy the responsibility, see it as a noble duty, or would give anything to hand the crown over to someone else? Maybe take the Disney route and have them evilly plot something beyond the ghosts, or go for more modern roles where they’re a soft, somber romantic. Don’t forget the big doggo Cerberus!

PERSEPHONE

Daughter of Demeter and the original damsel in distress – though gender-flips are more than welcome. Are they a naïve every girl/boy who could win over a heart of stone? Or a spunky adventurer who longs for a new life? Do they try to escape the Underworld, or are they pretty chill with their new surroundings? Do they try to implement new changes in their new home,  or want to take it over for themselves?

THE KIDNAPPING

Despite the title, no one says you have to grab and go. Perhaps Persephone headed down there willingly, out of curiosity or a vow they made? Or maybe another God booted them over, to help or hinder Hades. Perhaps Hades wanted to grab someone else and there’s an odd case of mistaken identity. Or maybe they’ve met again and again before that fateful day, building a bond before they went down below. But there’s nothing wrong with playing it straight – you wanted them so you snatched them.

THE OTHER GODS

There’s a whole Pantheon to play with if you want your characters to have friends to help, or obstacles to overcome. Maybe Zeus wanted to set up matchmaking and just went in the wildly worst way about it? Call over Aphrodite for advice about love or demand a spell to have what you desire. Then there’s mama herself, Demeter – how well are they taking their child is gone? Was she a good parent who struggled by themselves, or a smothering menace that drove their child away?