Odunos

Odunos (OH-dun-ohs) is a necropolis of the Returned in Theros, located south of Phoberos. In contrast to Asphodel, their sister city, the Returned of Odunos are filled with greed and resentment, violently lashing out against the living.

History

According to myths, Odunos was a mortal city similar to the other human poleis. Before ascending to godhood, Phenax was the first mortal to escape the Underworld without drawing the notice of Athreos or Erebos. He then assembled a force of other Returned and conquered Odunos, slaughtering the population and binding their souls to the Black Oak. The only witness to Phenax's escape was Tymaret, who informed Erebos of the scheme. The god of the dead allowed him to leave the Underworld as a Returned to catch the god of deception. It is said that while his memories remained in the Underworld, his cruelty crossed over with him. He then infiltrated and overtook Odunos.

Geography

Odunos is located near the badlands of Phoberos on the coast of the Siren Sea. Tymaret regularly sends nightly raiding parties to attack minotaur bands and human settlements near Akros. Their reach sometimes extends to the holdings of Meletis and even the leonin of Oreskos.

Black Oak

Guarding the entrance of Odunos is a large tree supposedly made from the bodies of the city's original inhabitants. Phenax is said to have created the oak after the people begged to be spared from Erebos, which he swore he would do. Those who tell this tale point out that Phenax technically did not lie.

Bothros

At the northern edge of Odunos is a bottomless pit, which Returned raiders use to dispose of stolen spoils and living captives.

Crypts of the Lost

Located further inland, lost Returned often inhabit this large cemetery of unknown origin. The site is the source of several stories, including hidden treasures and the first path out of the Underworld discovered by Phenax.

Culture

Religion

Erebos is the dominant deity in Odunos, but Phenax is also worshipped openly, though not by those hunting him.

Inhabitants

Odunos is almost entirely occupied by the angry Returned (also called "Noston"), masked beings who forsake their identity and faces to escape the Underworld. Unlike other Returned found throughout Theros, those in Odunos are motivated by hate and envy to attack the living, carrying out raids on neighboring settlements. Their goal is to deprive mortals of the joys of life, including food and children, but also safety and comfort. Most of Tymaret's soldiers are palamnites, vengeful Returned from which most stories of the undead in Theros stem from. Citizens of Odunos are typically armed and members of roving gangs that fight amongst themselves.

Government

The de facto ruler of Odunos is the tyrant Tymaret, who acts more as a general or warlord than a political leader. Mortals refer to him as the "murder king". As part of his mission to slay Phenax, he commands his armies of Returned to endlessly raid and slaughter mortals in the vain hope of finding him.

Economy

Being former denizens of the Underworld, the Returned don't value gold and instead use ostraka, clay shards made from funerary masks. However, Odunos has the sole goal of destroying the figurative and literal wealth of the living, including gold and other valuable resources. As such, they have little desire beyond the water needed to sustain themselves. In addition, many Returned of Odunos keep ostraka as trophies and ornaments.

Notable Odunans

• Tymaret the Murder King

In-game references

References