Birthing

Lots of ideas have been coming at me this past weekend and now that I have internet access again I can finally get them out there. Sadly, I will have to just write them out as I am still lacking scanner access.

I've been sketching out the individual pieces that I will have to model in terms of architectural details. Columns will line the walls and between each column will be a a decorative arch, such as those seen in Gothic architecture as well as a brass statue of a warrior or a decorative sword in a pillar of skulls with a torch above it. At the base of the throne the entrance to the inner room with have two brass statues of Adult Ancient Greek hunting dogs, as one of the customs in certain areas was to sacrifice puppies to Ares before battle.

Inside the throne will be an altar where such sacrifices could be held and decorative motifs of other sacrifices to Ares. There will be a doorway that leads to a set of wooden ramps, similar to those inside the statue of Apollo in God of War 2, that will lead the user up to the Seat of the Throne.

Along the balcony will be 2-3 other smaller rooms or enclaves that will be dedicated to Ares, his progeny, love interests, and great feats. One room I had considered being dedicated to the Goddess of Discord Eris who was one of Ares mistresses and as well as family. One of the more well known stories about Eris concerns a golden apple that she used to make mischief but ended up inadvertently causing the the Trojan war.

The apple in question was one she left at a feast as a gift, "For the Fairest", that Aphrodite, Hera, and Artemis fought over. To settle the matter they chose a shepherd to decide who among them was the fairest. The Shepherd, Paris, was bribed by Aphrodite with Helen's love and so chose her to receive the apple. Unfortunately Helen was married and the rest from there is history.

I may make the room dedicated to Eris an area for one of the mini games and have it be a type of scavenger hunt. The user would roam the area trying to find the pieces of her statue, such as the apple she would hold in her hand, as well as other decorative details. Another option I have been looking into is an area where an Olympics inspired mini game would be held but I have not decided just yet. There is a story about how Ares was kept trapped in a Jar by giants who wished to wage war on Olympus which makes me think of creating a room and mini game where the user has to
choose the correct jar from many to release the soul of Ares.

One of the rooms/enclaves along the balcony will be the store for the users to visit. The other links will be accessed from decorative shields that will line the temple walls.

In the center of the temple between the throne and the door will be a large, waist height looking glass that, when interacted with, begins a mini game similar to risk that involves the player trying to conquer foreign lands.

The temple concept started out as a circular design but I may change it so that it is more of a spiral design to lead the user where I want them to go.