Poseidon
Poseidon rules the oceans, quakes the earth, and birthed horses with his trident. Prone to tempestuous moods, he aids or wrecks sailors, contests cities, and sends monsters when slighted.
Story beats
- 1) After the Titans fall, Poseidon claims the sea; his trident stirs waves and springs.
- 2) He contests Athena for Athens (offering a salt spring), creates horses, and fathers heroes and monsters alike.
- 3) Offended by hubris, he curses Odysseus’ voyage and sends sea beasts against offenders.
- 4) Sailors invoke him for fair winds; earthquakes mark his tread as Earthshaker.
Context & symbolism
Poseidon embodies the sea’s dual nature—bountiful and deadly—and earth’s instability. His rivalry with Athena frames civil order versus raw force. Horses connect speed and power, tying sea foam to galloping waves.
Appeasing Poseidon meant wary respect for forces beyond control; slighting him invited long grudges.
Motifs
- Trident raising storms
- Salt springs and earthquakes
- Horses from sea foam
- Vengeful curses on travelers
Use it in play
- Appease Poseidon for a voyage; one insult risks a sea monster chase.
- Raise or calm an earthquake by bargaining with the Earthshaker.
- Recover a stolen trident fragment wielded by a pirate lord.
- Race sea-horses in a divine contest to earn coastal rights.