| “ | Princess of the Underworld: I regret having to contact you at such a time. It's not my custom to intervene during moments of Doom, only to observe. | „ |
| ~ Moros |
Moros is the personification of doom, bad luck, and inevitability. A grim and rustic incarnation, he is the son of Nyx and is seemingly the only one out of his kin to maintain some connection or priviness to the designs of his older sisters, The Fates, due to his use of a large needle-like sword as his signature weapon.
He appears in Hades II, providing the Fated List to Melinoë in her fight against Chronos and becoming a permanent resident of The Crossroads.
Characteristics and Personality
Moros embodies misfortune, foreseeing the inevitable fate; even his name seems rarely invoked. However, his behavior contradicts this, as he personally exalts politeness, compassion, solemnity, and moderation. Despite his pessimistic role, Moros personally believes that Melinoë can herald a better future for all.
Being solitary, Moros is unaccustomed to others besides his sisters visiting him; he is socially awkward, treating everyone with formality and great cordiality, addressing Melinoë by the royal title of "princess". As his presence is undesirable, he even becomes surprised and timid in Melinoe's presence when she offers him her first Nectar, commenting that no one has ever paid him homage before.
Moros is a great fan of Odysseus, impressed with his ability to deceive fate; he was so skilled at it that Moros couldn't help but admire him. Though inwardly graceful, Moros is pleased when some defy fate, signifying more work for him when he needs to appear to deliver the new misfortune they suffer. Despite his admiration for Odysseus, he harbors no grudge. Moros remains analytical and calm, even when reminded of what happened to the Fates, maintaining composure by acknowledging the futility of holding resentment for the immutable.
Despite appearing responsible in his duties, Moros actually dislikes fulfilling them. As his sister Nemesis observes, Moros's appearance is never a good sign, a sentiment with which Moros unfortunately agrees. Nonetheless, he strives to be a friendly face, dignifying the lives of mortals in their last and often terrible moments. He notes that this gesture rarely occurs, but he perceives it, nonetheless.
Despite his reliability, Moros's words betray a sense of inferiority, placing his sisters, the Fates, on a pedestal and considering their functions more important than his own. He feels impotent and resentful for not having been able to save them from Chronos's clutches, imposing on himself the role of protecting them without trusting himself to do so. Moros's desire to be useful to Melinoe stems from his wish not to be a burden, but to assist in the fight against Chronos.
Physical description
Moros strongly resembles his younger brother and his mother in many ways; he has purple irises, grey skin, and prominent cheekbones. His long, white hair spills elegantly over an obsidian circlet, which is adorned with gnarled horns. He is bare-chested, and wears a black, patterned shendyt adorned with a gold cloth belt that terminates in multicolored tassels. There are numerous references to the Moirai in his design, most notably the giant needle he wields and the tiny pictures of thread-spinning tools on his belt. His gold armor is adorned with skulls, indicating his connection with death. Much like Thanatos, he wears a gorget around his neck and armor on his forearms. Both his portrait and his overworld model depict him as having very rigid posture, with his feet together and his arms folded behind his back.
Background
Moros, born of Night, is among her somber progenies. Nyx, with numerous offspring to tend, entrusted him to the guardianship of his elder sisters, the Moirai, who fashioned him into the herald of destinies.
Hades II
Moros appears to Melinoë when she fails a race for the first time, and this is how she must seek him out and be able to invite him to The Crossroads.
Appearance
Moros doesn't initially appear at the beginning of Hades II, due to being busy with his work. He will first appear after performing the Fated Intervention Incantation and only if Melinoë dies during a run but he will leave after giving Melinoë the Fated List of Minor Prophecies.
To summon him again, the prophecy Doom Harbinger from the Fated List of Minor Prophecies must be selected. This will cause the cauldron to have a new incantation: Doomed Beckoning (which costs 3 Fate Fabric and 1 Nightshade). When the incantation is performed Melinoë must die again during a run and Moros will appear. Melinoë invites Moros to The Crossroads which he accepts. Moros will now be permanently at the Crossroads next to the Fated List. Much like Dora, Nemesis, Eris, and Odysseus, he can be gifted Nectar, Twin Lures, Bath Salts and Ambrosia.
Affinity
As of Early Access, Moros' affinity gauge is maxed out at 9 hearts.
Book of Shadows Entry
Trivia
- If approached in regard to his aspect on Ygnium, Moros says he has never wielded them before and the existence of an aspect of his must be a prophecy of his sisters, who deem he shall wield the torches in a later time.
- When he's counting how much time he has left on screen, the same "DONG" bell that Thanatos used in Hades will ring.
- Achilles indirectly refers to him as "Doom" in the first Hades.
- His horns are not actually attached to his head; they are part of his circlet, and he is occasionally shown without them.
Gallery
-
Moros Book of Shadows entry portrait -
Icon of the Doom Harbinger incantation -
Year-end first illustration of HADES II, 2023 by ade_ri_00B
Additional notes
For additional information on Moros that does not pertain to Hades, see Wikipedia's article: Moros
