Brazil was effectively destroyed by the Sheeda, and the Accala took over most of the territory. The largest cities kept going as city-states, but they're pretty much gone now as well.
All of the Greek gods have left Earth entirely and are currently out of Paul's reach. Plus, I don't think Paul can see any way wherein Eris could give any meaningful help, both while the Anti-Life was around and in the recovery efforts now that its gone.
Eris probably would have been super useful against the Anti Life given it was Order based and she represents Chaos.
The Anti-Life was useable against gods, so she would've been infected if she exposed herself to it.
Maybe.
Yes it can. We've seen it infect Mister Miracle.
No, it tried to. Its didn't succeed. In attaching itself to him.
It was succeeding until Paul interrupted it with Doctor Mist's help.
Doctor Mist directly stated it was trying, not succeeding.
It seemed like what Doctor Mist was doing either wasn't helping or making it worse.
That's a good way to simplify Mannheim's situation to someone like Dorian.
Good to know he genuinely regrets what he did. Now I'm curious as to what happened to the rest of Intergang. Are they all dead? Are they still criminals?
It's also a nice bit when you remember that aside from the well-being of his loved ones, Paul genuinely can't empathize with the thought of using his powers to help individuals rather than as many people as possible.
No can do, friend. Your sister pushed herself hard getting to Themyscira's location looking for help for you. So I hope you'll excuse OL if he doesn't just take 'Go away' for an answer.
We still don't know what he did. I'm sure what seems onerous and monstrous to him may well be something simple to OL.
I don't know, exhausting herself trying to get help doesn't sound like lying to herself.
Is that all? Kid, thousands of millions of humans did the same thing.
Indeed. What makes him different? What experiences did he have that gave the Anti-Life a foothold?
Ah, OL. Direct as usual. Just ripping the plaster off.
Nothing wrong with that, I suppose. Everyone needs a hobby.
Would give an interesting spin on the situation that led to him first meeting the harpies...
A curious little man-bird. I'll bet the people he visited with were excited about it too.
It opens up places in the mind for it to attach to. Dissatisfaction. Longing. A secret desire for something else.
No, it just means you had... An interest outside the life you lived. Great things have come from less.
Since even if it was a single fragment, every person would have interpreted it differently.
That's what makes it so insidious, after all. The things it tells you aren't that different from things you might think deep down. It pushes them further, says them louder than you can ignore...
If nothing else, talking about it will pull those things into the light, where you can see them for the petty, pointless ideas they are.
Stasis through contentment and laziness. And a jealousy of those that were not trapped by it. Understandable.
But it can be overcome. Change can come to any community, though not without risk.
Some people just have certain drives. Some good, some bad. It's up to them how they use those drives.
Pfft. Boring. No, i suspect OL's offering a different possibility.
Kind of a typical teenage feeling, really. That moment when you realise you don't know what to do with your life, and the fear that everything thus far has been a waste of time...
Sitting around won't change anything. Movement is what you need. Doing something you want to do, not what the Anti-Life told you to do.
A grossly simplified version of the backstory, but I suppose those terms are easier for Dorian to understand. After all, how often has messing around with a god's stuff worked out well in myths?
No, the Anti-Life did it. It's Master did it through him. Like a rock cracking an oyster. Do you blame the tool or the hand wielding it?
And if he could do that, then why not you? Which means you can make up for anything you did, too.
Since the harpies would speak an old Hellenic tongue rather than modern Greek.
That was the Anti-Life doing the thinking for you, kid. That's what it does, making things like that seem perfectly reasonable.
A single voice can change minds. And sometimes that's all that's needed to change a culture.
Surprising. I assume that was a courtesy visit following the cruise liner thing.
Certainly, you can be famous for generations as the one that saw the world. Who knows perhaps other young harpies will go on to follow in your... Footsteps?
'ships'?
Thank you, corrected.
He's not been particularly enamored with the Thanagarians he's met.
Wingbeats?
There's a scaly coming up, if that's any help?
On the other hand, Kon's arguably OL's most intense emotional connection (admittedly I still ship him and OL than Cheshire) which started because OL felt the need to help him.
Ah, now for some deserved sisterly hugs, and then a bap around the ear or similar for making her worry. I do hope he plans to say goodbye to his family before he heads off, though. It's the least they deserve.
I'm guessing it's been a few days since he's bothered to preen himself.
Nothing like a Power Ring to give someone a good deep clean.
And nothing like a good shower (or the equivalent) to help shake off a funk.
...Aw, you haven't the heart to tell them yourself? I suppose he can only make so much progress with a quick pep-talk from OL...
Ah, good... I hope she can explain it to their family.
Hopefully OL doesn't expect him to fly by himself to wherever he plans to take Dorian. Still, it helps to see that he can get about fine.
Since the waters around it would have been a safe haven for mythological beings of the Hellenic region.
Really, the mermaid interpretations were kind of iffy. Mythologically, they were more like harpies than merfolk. Kind of a different strain, with a different vocal talent.
Ooh, that'd be trippy. Still, better to get a handle on their character before you go doing that.
Eh, I'd go. It's good to get to know your neighbours, after all. And if he hangs around here, he might get some visitors he's not in a mood to see right now.
Yet another first time transition. It's getting to be a bit of a theme these days.
A bit more industrious than their harpy cousins, I see...
...Or the sirens are just very good at leveraging their talents, yes. That would probably have been the easiest method.
To be fair, for all we know, Diana looks in on them occasionally, given their historical reputation.
Remote speech in some form. Likely a rarely-used trick they possess.
Ah, good, there's someone home. I assume she was the one to reply.
Huh. How worldly. I do like the image of a woman-bird in a T-shirt.
Sounds cute.Well, there was a whole thing the last couple of months, dear. Surely you noticed?
...I mean, I'm sure it's a big island?
...Huh. I'm guessing they had some manner of illusion or shapeshifting magic to hide their... More exotic features.
Well, that's a bit more impressive than the harpies, I suppose.
Seeking a familiar place, perhaps, during the Anti-Life event? A safe place to hide...
Ouch. No wonder she sought out home. I have to wonder what the other sirens have been up to, though.
...Wait, Statues of what?
...Ah. Stheno or Euryale, I wonder? Given that Medusa is still dead, most likely. The joy of her being the only mortal sister, though there were 'Wonder Woman' stories involving her revival now and again.
Because hotel stays are expensive, and with money being unstable, it could prove very costly...
...I wonder, have there ever been any harpy-siren relationships before?
I mean, I don't expect these two to hook up, but there must have been some...Which may get a little sidetracked as OL goes on a whistle-stop tour of Hellenic Mythology...
Well, that's one thing less for OL to have to deal with, I guess.
"And why is he mute?"
