Zeus/Lore

When the storm clouds gather to darken the sunniest days and the clearest skies, the only illumining light in the heavens will be the lightning of Zeus, the almighty Lord of Heaven and father of gods. Divorced, banished, and depowered by his divine wife from his own pantheon to live a mortal's life after being caught laying with too many mortal women, he now fights in the war of the Ancients to prove himself worthy of his wife Hera and his long-lost divinity and immortality.

Descending from the Heavens and his mountain cloister, Zeus' arrival in the greatest battlefield in all of the Seven Planes and time and space heralds a forecast of heavenly lightning bolts with a chance of arcing electricity and global smiting, shaking the already fragile world of mortals and even the heavens above with such celestial powers contained in a single mortal vessel.

Biography
Zeus is the king and father of the gods, who also treats all Heroes as if they were his unruly children. Despite this title, he has taken an unhealthy liking to mortal women and he has been caught cheating on his divine wife for an uncountable amount of trysts with mortal women. Growing weary of his two-timing impulses, Hera finally came up with an ultimatum: "If you love mortals so much, go and become one. If you can prove yourself faithful, then return to me as my immortal husband. Otherwise, go and die among your creatures." Zeus found her logic and her magic irrefutable, and agreed to her plan.

Most of his divine power was stripped away from him and he was ultimately rendered mortal to walk among them on the mundane world. Ever since he was demoted, he has been on his best behavior for the first time in his life—controlling his impulses and being somewhat fonder of his old immortality than he is of mortals. But to truly prove himself worthy of his wife Hera and ascend back into the heavens, he must continue to pursue victory on the field of battle.

The Sundered Moon
Zeus was one of the many Heroes gathered in the Sundered Moon bar. He was on the bar's counter flirting with Medusa by telling her the tale (for the fifth time) where he entertained a den of the most enchanting creatures, which led to his divorce and depowerment.

Tired of talking about himself over and over again, Zeus encouraged Medusa to open up to him about any questions that she might have in mind for him and compliments her scarlet eyes, while rubbing the snakes on her hair. She accepts the compliment and asks if he has any children, to which Zeus replies with curiosity and pain from one of her snakes biting his finger. Medusa retracts the question, which assures Zeus that she has heard of the entire story. He also fakes being childless despite his potency and his many scandalous affairs.

With that being said, Zeus concludes their date with an invitation to his mountain cloister. But before his unenthusiastic lady could even reply, he gets interrupted by someone else calling him a talkative half-god from the back of the bar. Zeus confronts the mysterious figure, who is revealed to be the Arc Warden wearing a large cloak. Zet taunts the half-god with its superior origins, claiming that the Self came before the gods themselves. "Also before pronouns, by the sound of it." retorted Zeus, he interpreted Zet's words as an invitation to fight. The Self declares the half-god correct, stating that its purpose is to destroy the Ancients.

Zeus has had enough of this meaningless ebb and flow of talk. He points out Zet's ignorance to the bards' tales, saying that anyone it picks a fight with in this bar will be ready to tear down an Ancient tomorrow. Undaunted by his boldness, Zet corrects the half-god, saying that the Self will not destroy one Ancient, but both of them. Zet conjures a lore projection detailing the story of the Self and the Others.

In the world before the present world, there was only the Self, and there were the Others. The Others, Radinthul and Diruulth, were at strife with their dissonance to each other. They grew too powerful, compelling Zet to end the war, imprisoning them both in its lunar prison. But the Ancients have escaped, and with their power ever increasing, they have been accumulating an army of lesser creatures to battle their conflict for them. Should either Ancient win, their terrible power will end Zet's world and the current world. The Self gave him a scroll and told him to fulfill whatever mystery was inside it.

The story left Zeus with nothing but doubts on his story and an impression that Zet was loquacious. But Zeus mused on the story, and asked Zet if he had any stake in the fight against the "Dirthole" and "Radish" entities. Zet reassured him that if both of his "Ancients" are destroyed, the Self will make him whole again. Zeus still was not convinced plus it did not help that Zet still lived up to Zeus' impressions of Zet, so he told Zet to let him have a taste of this "wholeness" that he was talking about. Zet agrees, and the Self returns to him a very small fragment of his true power—a golden helm forged by the Hammers of Celestarr and imbued with the energies of the Ancients themselves.

As Zeus relished on a morsel of his long-lost power, he truthfully told Zet that he doesn't actually believe in his nonsensical story. But if it does have the prospects of regaining his old power back, then he'd gladly count himself in. He then tries to flirt with Zet by offering him an ambrosia while he tells him the story about his divorce. Zet rejects his advances, telling him that the Self has much work to do tonight, revealing six other scrolls like the one he gave to Zeus.

Artifact
Hardly concerned with any mortal affairs (including the 3-way battle between the Bronze Legion, the Vhoul, and the Red Mist), Zeus found his own battle to fight when he heard of the Storm Spirit's mastery over storms. Not wanting to share the title and authority over his element, he travels to Roseleaf (on foot) to deal with him and show the world that Zeus is the one and only god of lightning.

Every time he and Storm Spirit have to meet, they always end up dealing with each others' posturing before having a serious conversation. Zeus also had a competition of power against Storm Spirit, with Zeus earning the first point by destroying a building. In response to Zeus' feat, Storm Spirit destroyed an entire army to settle the matter. Frustrated, the mortal god had a temper tantrum and reduced an entire city to a crater.

Personality and Mannerisms

 * Even in his mortal form, Zeus still retains his godly personality and mannerisms.
 * Much like his real-life counterpart, Zeus is a very lecherous man with a preference for mortal women. His attraction to mortals is his most basest impulse which he struggles to control in accordance to his oath to Hera.
 * With regards to his impulse, he has a very poor control over it, causing him to make bad decisions and have tantrums.

Family
Zeus' divine family remains mostly the same in the lore of Dota 2. His father is an unnamed Titan whom he overthrew alongside the other titans during his rise to power as the king of the gods. Before his father died, he may have warned him to slay his own son, for he too will repeat the cycle of patricide and overthrow him and his kin in time. Long after his father's death, Zeus has been looking for him.

He has been very unfaithful to his wife Hera after cheating on her with his many trysts with mortal women. Because of this, she may gloat on her husband when he finds himself in an unfortunate event. Over time, he has been slowly regaining his wife's trust and relationship.

and Zeus have a very complicated relationship. Poseidon and Hades are his only brothers.
 * Having disowned his divine family (and the name his father gave him ) Mars' goal is to destroy his father and his godly kin who judged him as despicable in a deadly cycles of patricide so that he can finally punish them for reviling him, their selfishness, and their poor authority as gods.
 * Mars doesn't want to reconcile with his father and he hates the stuff that he represents.
 * Mars feels ashamed to know that he didn't get to outlive his father and gets angry if he is slain by his father.
 * On the other hand, Zeus has a variety of feelings towards him, from reciprocated hostility, to fatherly affection. Zeus may feel a bit proud of Mars,  warn him of the inevitable cycle of patricide or forgive him for simply following the cycle of patricide   if he dies by his hand. Sometimes, Zeus will feel sad and mourn his son if he kills him.
 * We hear from Zeus that Mars inherited his traits from his mother. Because of this, he may blame his wife for the whole ordeal.

The forge god Vulcan might be his son if the real-life family tree of the Greek pantheon is to be used.

Acquaintances
The Omniscience knows Zeus and has something to say to him, and Zeus tells the All-knowing One's agent to send his regards to it.

When meeting, he is curious about her faith to Selemene. He also wishes to meet her personally.

Zeus knows Narcissus.

Allies
is one of Zeus' favorite drinking partners.

Zeus seems to be fond of 's brand of wisdom and he likes the taste of her baked cookies. When pitted against her, he tries not to fight with Beatrix and gets sad if he kills her.

has enlisted Zeus in its army against both Ancients. He even tried flirting with the Self with his divorce story and some ambrosia, but Zet kindly rejected his advances, because it was busy for the night.

Interests
While he was at the Sundered Moon, Zeus flirted with. Even when she isn't around, he sometimes wishes that she saw his feats and accomplishments.

Zeus tried to flirt with by turning into a variety of animals, but she didn't care and rejected him anyways.

Rivalry
His main rival is the, because Zeus didn't want to share the title and authority of a thunder deity. On the other hand, the rebellious Raijin refused to bow to any sort of divinity nor did he wish to acknowledge him as the "God of Thunder" for he embodied every element of the tempest itself–and Raijin doesn't share what he believes is rightfully his.

It's interesting to note that, during the times they fought, both of them have some aspect of mortality. Raijin is a Celestial trapped in the body of a mortal, while Zeus is a deity turned mortal.

once waged a war against the gods of Heaven in their domain. Even after his redemption, he still dislikes the gods and he joined the war of the Ancients so that he can gain dominion over the elder gods that hold him in check.

Divinity
Just like his real-life counterpart, Zeus' power over the lightning bolt did not come to him naturally nor was it an intrinsic quality that he was born with. In the lore of Dota 2, Zeus and an unnamed race of beings worked together to help him capture the thunderbolt. As a god, he might have shared several other abilities with other gods just like him, such as the power to forge order from chaos, the ability to twist the forms of others, true sight, etc. Zeus claims that the gods can drive people insane if they attract their attention. It's implied that Zeus represents magic as well.

Half of Zeus' powers, which included his divinity and immortality, were taken away from him by his wife Hera in accordance to his oath to be more faithful towards her. According to Zeus, he only gave away the ones that he didn't use. Besides his signature lightning powers, he retained the ability to turn into a swan, which he usually uses to seduce any mortal women that he sees fit for his erotic escapades.

He would gain back a fragment of his old powers when Arc Warden restored them for him. The power came in the form of a golden helm that was forged by the Hammers of Celestarr and charged with the energies of the Ancients themselves. It's unknown what kind of abilities did Zeus recover, but he did regain his cloud chariot that grants him flight and his skin became stony which coursed with lightning. Although he was still diminished of his full power, he realized that he was not cut off from their source. If he could really resolve to be better, he might be able to draw the tendrils of divinity—infused into the endowments of Celestarr—back to his own hands once again.

Immortality
Long before his fall from the Heavens to the mortal realm, Zeus was an immortal god. Much like his boy Mars, he was ageless and immune to the Death Prophet's abilities over the deathly veil, likely because the gods possess a much more powerful version of immortality beyond resurrection and they may transcend the Underscape itself. It is also implied that gods like Zeus and Mars possibly existed before the spirit to some extent, which might support the previous statements.

Powers
The following powers are all based on Zeus' affinity to the sky and lightning element.

is Zeus' favorite magical spell to use against puny mortals, likely because of the way it dispatches them so quickly with its leaping lightning.

The is his signature weapon and the symbol of his power. First captured by himself with the help of an unnamed race in a daring task to capture the thunderbolt, he now wields it to smite any faithless rebels against him. When he isn't holding it, his thunderbolt wanders the skies and clouds, always ready to answer his call.

His mere presence can create a that permeates the surrounding air, shocking anyone unfortunate enough to be near him.

Gameplay-wise, simply summons a ward-like object that shoots lightning bolts. But in its lore, it describes how easily storm clouds can gather when Zeus simply gets angry.

The full brunt of his power, allows Zeus to smite anyone who opposes him with lightning, regardless of their distance.

Friendships and rivalries
Allies meeting Zeus
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_227.mp3  Don't you go getting morals on me, Zeus.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_ally_228.mp3  Trust me, you're better off without the wife.
 * vo_dawnbreaker_valora_ally_243.mp3  I can relate to your story, half-god. I was once mighty, too.
 * vo_disruptor_dis_ally_03.mp3  Zeus, the great weatherman himself.
 * vo_disruptor_dis_ally_04.mp3  Zeus, you bring the lightning, I'll bring the thunder.
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_ally_107.mp3  Were your transgressions worth so steep a price, Zeus?
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_ally_108.mp3  Love leads only to suffering, Zeus.
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_ally_237.mp3  I don't care what you can turn into. The answer's always gonna be no.
 * vo_legion_commander_legcom_ally_11.mp3 vo_legion_commander_legcom_dem_ally_11.mp3   Nice mustache.
 * vo_luna_luna_ally_05.mp3  Ah, Zeus! The heavens are with us.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_128.mp3  Keep that thunder to yourself. I don't wanna hear it, Zeus.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_129.mp3  No, this isn't a chance to re-forge a broken bond. I'm not interested.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_130.mp3  Just shut up already! I know what I'm doing.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_131.mp3  It's been too long since you overthrew the titans, Zeus. Perhaps it's time for a new godly order.
 * vo_mars_mars_ally_132.mp3  I don't answer to that name anymore, you old fool.
 * vo_mars_mars_wheel_deny_02.mp3  Get out of my sight!
 * vo_medusa_medus_ally_11.mp3  You're here too, Zeus?
 * vo_medusa_medus_ally_12.mp3  Zeus on the loose!
 * vo_medusa_medus_ally_13.mp3  Zeus! You're here already.
 * vo_medusa_medus_ally_14.mp3  I should have known you'd be here, Zeus.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_ally_219.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_ally_219.mp3   It's no secret I don't like you, Zeus. Well, it isn't a secret now. That didn't go as planned.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_ally_220.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_ally_220.mp3   It's okay, Zeus. You're one of the good ones. Today.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_225.mp3  I've heard of your exploits, Zeus. Together we can do better.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_ally_226.mp3  Look, I understand all but one thing: Why a swan?
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_ally_242.mp3  Are your godly standards really low, or are we moving up in the world?
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_ally_243.mp3  I saw your boy. He looks a lot better.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_ally_53.mp3  Zeus, I must say your attraction to mortals is...puzzling.

Enemies killing Zeus
 * vo_antimage_anti_magicuser_06.mp3 Thy sorcery fails thee.
 * vo_axe_axe_killspecial_03.mp3 Catch some Z's!
 * vo_axe_axe_rival_17.mp3 You might have been a fancyman in Heaven, but down here you are nothing next to Axe.
 * vo_beastmaster_beas_killspecial_zuus_01.mp3 Calm your beard, Zeus.
 * vo_beastmaster_beas_killspecial_zuus_02.mp3 Zeus, calm your beard.
 * vo_bounty_hunter_bount_rival_05.mp3 The price on a god's head is immeasurable.
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_rival_227.mp3  That's the best a god can do?
 * vo_dark_willow_sylph_rival_228.mp3  I always wanted to defeat a god.
 * vo_disruptor_dis_rival_18.mp3 Thunderous applause! For me.
 * vo_disruptor_dis_rival_19.mp3 Your skill with lightning was impressive, I admit.
 * vo_grimstroke_grimstroke_rival_139.mp3  A god turned mortal is more helpless than a child.
 * vo_gyrocopter_gyro_rival_15.mp3 Ah keep your sparks to yourself!
 * vo_hoodwink_hoodwink_rival_237.mp3  Since you're not a god anymore, I feel like I can ask you: why are you so messed up?
 * vo_jakiro_jak_rival_10.mp3 The clouds are no longer your domain, Zeus! You should be more down to earth!
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_151.mp3  This isn't your pantheon anymore, old man.
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_152.mp3  I've been waiting a long time for this!
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_153.mp3  I thought that would be much more satisfying...
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_154.mp3  You're just as pathetic a mortal as you were a god...
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_155.mp3  Mother will be pleased!
 * vo_mars_mars_rival_156.mp3  I didn't come here to exchange pleasantries. It's time for you to die!
 * vo_mars_mars_wheel_deny_01.mp3  You call yourself a god?
 * vo_mars_mars_wheel_all_05_02.mp3  There's something beautiful to all of this.
 * vo_mars_mars_wheel_all_06.mp3  My father? Let me tell you about my father...
 * vo_mars_mars_wheel_all_07_02.mp3  You whine like a mortal fool.
 * vo_medusa_medus_rival_19.mp3 Mortality suits you, Zeus.
 * vo_medusa_medus_rival_20.mp3 What a failure of a god.
 * vo_medusa_medus_rival_21.mp3 Tell your brothers I said hello.
 * vo_medusa_medus_rival_22.mp3 Oh, Zeus.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_220.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_220.mp3   You should have turned yourself into swan and hid, you bastard.
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_221.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_221.mp3   As a god, Zeus, you were lacking, but this?!
 * vo_monkey_king_monkey_rival_222.mp3 vo_monkey_king_monkey_crown_rival_222.mp3   Zeus? Huh, never heard of him.
 * vo_omniknight_omni_rival_10.mp3 The Omniscience would like a word with you, Zeus.
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_227.mp3  Is that what they call a god where you come from?
 * vo_pangolin_pangolin_rival_228.mp3  From all the stories I'd heard, I expected something more…
 * vo_razor_raz_rival_03.mp3 Zeus, you handle lightning like a rank amateur.
 * vo_razor_raz_rival_04.mp3 Cheap lightning. He buys it by the bolt!
 * vo_silencer_silen_rival_04.mp3 Zeus, I'll steal your thunder.
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_243.mp3  The old ways are gone, geezer!
 * vo_snapfire_snapfire_rival_244.mp3  Looks like us mortals got the upper hand.
 * vo_sven_sven_rival_05.mp3 Gods were meant to be defied.
 * vo_terrorblade_terr_rival_23.mp3 vo_terrorblade_terr_morph_rival_23.mp3  vo_terrorblade_terr_shards_rival_23.mp3  Stole your thunder.
 * vo_vengefulspirit_vng_rival_11.mp3 I've heard enough from gods for two lifetimes.
 * vo_visage_visa_rival_13.mp3 Not even gods may interfere.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_wheel_all_05.mp3  Even a god is nothing set against the void.
 * vo_void_spirit_voidspir_rival_129.mp3  It would have been unlike you to start making good choices now.

Enemies dying to Zeus
 * vo_mars_mars_ability5_10.mp3  Impossible!
 * vo_mars_mars_death_17.mp3  No! Anyone but you!
 * vo_mars_mars_lose_01.mp3  Noooooooo!
 * vo_mars_mars_no_03_02.mp3  Noooooooo!
 * vo_mars_mars_lose_04.mp3  My empire is crumbling!
 * vo_mars_mars_wheel_all_04_02.mp3  This is what the fates give me?!
 * vo_mars_mars_anger_06.mp3  Arugh!
 * vo_mars_mars_anger_07.mp3  Grrr. Raah Grrrhuhg.
 * vo_mars_mars_anger_08.mp3  Urgh urgh!
 * vo_mars_mars_anger_09.mp3  Graagh!
 * vo_mars_mars_anger_10.mp3  Aaar!
 * vo_mars_mars_anger_11.mp3  Ruh grzg grgz gnk!
 * vo_mars_mars_anger_12.mp3  Grrrgghhh! Gaaah! Graaagh!

Others
 * vo_legion_commander_legcom_duelhero_15.mp3 vo_legion_commander_legcom_dem_duelhero_15.mp3  I do not fear gods.
 * vo_legion_commander_legcom_duelhero_16.mp3 vo_legion_commander_legcom_dem_duelhero_16.mp3  Thunderdome!
 * vo_legion_commander_legcom_duelhero_23.mp3 vo_legion_commander_legcom_dem_duelhero_23.mp3  Defend your mustache!
 * vo_monkey_king_mk_arcana_cloud_05.mp3  The difference, Zeus, is that I make this look good.
 * vo_oracle_orac_prophecies_113.mp3  A god descends from lofty peaks with but one aim in mind: to strike you down.

Trivia

 * Zeus lives alone atop a very high mountain.