The Shepherd: Jay Quyen

Biographical information

Name: Jay Nomi Quyen

Gender: Male (he/him)

Age: 15 (born June 1st, 2026, 5:43 AM)

Hometown: New Argos, Georgia

Background: Vietnamese-American

Relationships

Close Family

Aras Quyen (twin brother): Jay is the older twin by a few minutes, and feels it's his duty to protect his brother. Aras is such a sensitive and sweet guy, and can be so reckless. Jay is his brother's keeper.

Aristaeus (divine father): Jay most consistently brings sacrifices to the twins' father. They've never met, but he feels his presence most when he shares a home-made meal with loved ones and offers his dad a portion.

Rosa Quyen (mortal mother): Jay and Aras' mom, a daughter of Aphrodite. Co-owner of Quyen Cuisine, and often tells the story of how Jay walked for the first time when he stepped into the kitchen to help.

Grace Anngrove (stepmother): A daughter of Zephyrus, and Jay and Aras' mama. Co-owner of Quyen Cuisine. Their family didn't have much space in their yard for it, but Grace's little vegetable garden is where Jay first dug fingers into soil.

Other Relationships

Finnian Talcott (family friend): "Uncle Finn". The Quyen family restaurant bought from the Talcott family's farm, and they had a friendly relationship. Especially Jay often spent time on the farm in the summer.

Aphrodite (divine grandmother): The twins didn't inherit much from Aphrodite, but Jay still gives a regular sacrifice for the fact that he didn't get acne.

Abilities

Hero Domain

Divine Inheritance (Apollonian Healing): Inherited from his paternal grandfather, Lord Apollo, Jay can restore minor wounds, clot bleeding, and ease more serious injuries.

Strength Sharing: Through his touch, Jay can impart mental strength, instilling calm and confidence in others and clearing away emotions induced by other powers.

Agriculture Domain

Summon Produce: Jay has the ability to summon agricultural products like fruits, vegetables, and dairy products so long as they're seasonally appropriate and able to be locally grown. Processed cereals, too, which is great for breakfast.

Soil Manipulation: A type of earth manipulation allowing the control of soil, compost, clay, and substrate. While it has obvious uses in agriculture, Jay also sometimes uses it defensively.

Aristaeus Minor Powers

Animal Pacification: The only divine power the boys both share, they can calm animals that have been aggravated. Bees will not sting, horses won't throw off their riders, and even shy animals won't be disturbed by their presence.

Pollen Manipulation: Jay's most dangerous in spring; in a flower field or a blooming forest there's a chance he'll just throw a cloud of pollen in your face. He's not very elegant with it, but it works. He also likes to help pollinate nice plants.

Major Power

Defensive Honey Manifestation: No one ever expects the honey shield. Jay's magical shields of golden honeycomb are sturdier than they look, and leave melee attackers needing to take a shower.

Innate Abilities

Animal Affinity: All animals of the land, sea and sky are friendlier to a child of the Best and Greatest.

Agriculture Proficiency: A natural green thumb is unsurprising for children of the god who invented all the arts of rustic life.

Gourmet Proficiency: Jay probably couldn't have turned out a bad cook, given how he grew up, but it didn't hurt that he was a natural.

Scent Perception: Jay possesses a very discerning sense of smell, and visualizes different scents as a form of synesthesia.

Mundane Skills

Horseback riding: An affinity for animals and farm life meant that Jay wanted to learn to ride from quite early.

Sewing: Jay learned to work with textile from his mom, and can mend clothes well, and do some basic other work too.

Violin: Another hobby Jay picked up on a whim. He definitely didn't inherit his grandfather's natural musical talent, but with his very own perseverance he's become a fair player.

Personality

The most noticeable difference in the twins' personality is that Jay is by far the biggest talker of the pair. When they were younger, he sometimes did the talking for both of them. He takes things easier than Aras as well, trusting that one way or another, they'll work out in the end. He's a little more naive, and firmly believes that any interpersonal problem can be solved with the application of the proper words and a good meal. He's easily distracted, and picks up new interests fast. On the other hand, Jay has trouble seeing other people's perspectives, and is quick to judge rather than empathize.

Jay is the…

…social twin.

…easygoing twin.

…judgmental twin.

Appearance

The twins are identical, but it's easy enough to tell them apart once familiar with them. They're both the same height — exactly 5'8 — but Jay is broader and heavier. Their faces look the same, and they have their mom's straight dark hair, but Jay prefers to wear it a little shorter, faded on the sides. Their eyes are the same deep brown but unlike his brother's inquisitive looks, Jay's are hardly ever not joining in with a smile.

History

The story of the Quyen boys actually happens to start at Camp Half-Blood. Their mothers met and fell in love there, and after they aged out, they moved to New Argos to make a new start together. The story is often told when the kitchen's closed and the day's being wrapped up in its afterglow, or when the family is sharing a meal and Jay encourages his mothers to bring up some memories from camp. At first, the restaurant was the only baby they needed – "takes about as much work as one", mama sometimes would grumble – but as business was good, and they settled well into the community, the idea kept coming to them, and eventually, they agreed to try. They'd barely started thinking about the logistics of it, the idea of finding a donor and maybe having to go through an expensive and complicated process, when another offer came. Aristaeus apparently approved of the couple's commitment to their kitchen and their ideas of a rustic life, and his way was a lot easier. And so, the next year, the two boys were born.

Jay has always enjoyed the stories about Camp, and though there was plenty of opportunity for community and education at New Argos, he's always wanted to go. The idea met with resistance from his mothers, who preferred having their boys safe under the wards of the city, and not somewhere it seems there's a crisis annually. Jay ended up winning the argument, but not the way he wanted to. He doesn't like to think about the battle of New Argos, even though, by a stroke of luck, the restaurant was largely spared. All the windows were blown out and the tables got thrown all over the place after his mama threw such a fierce wind at a monster that it was practically torn to bits by it, but everyone knew at least one resident who'd had it worse. With the safety of New Argos seeming more in question than that of Camp Half-Blood, a compromise was made. The boys would continue their schooling for a few more years, at least until they'd gotten a solid grasp on all their powers, and then they'd get to go.

Jay never really wanted to be a fighter, so his enrollment at the Techne Institute was mostly about developing his skills as a healer. Still, he took learning to defend himself seriously. After a few years for both the boys to hone their abilities, and with everything more or less back to normal, or as close as it would get, they finally were going to New York.

The Hunter: Aras Quyen

Biographical Information

Name: Aras Aggy Quyen

Gender: Male (he/him)

Age: 15 (born June 1st, 2026, 5:46 AM)

Hometown: New Argos, Georgia

Background: Vietnamese-American

Relationships

Close Family

Jay Quyen (twin brother): Even though Aras is the younger twin, he feels he's got a duty to protect his brother. Jay puts himself out there so easily, and he just wants to help, sometimes naively. Aras is his brother's keeper.

Aristaeus (divine father): Aras rarely talks about the twins' father. Though they've never met, sometimes when he is alone with nature, he feels like he's sharing that moment with him.

Rosa Quyen (mortal mother): Aras feels so lucky to have his mom. She's not perfect, but she's the closest thing, and it's like she can always read his mind when something bothers him, something that not even Jay is always successful at.

Grace Anngrove (stepmother): Aras often went on long hikes with his mama, talking all the while, and when he developed his power over wind, she's the one who helped him get it under control.

Other Relationships

Finnian Talcott (family friend): Once, Aras caught Finn beating up another ASNA student. He's never quite been able to forget it.

Aphrodite (divine grandmother): The twins didn't inherit a lot from Aphrodite, but Aras is much too smart to get on her bad side and pays her the proper dues.

Abilities

Hero Domain

Divine Inheritance (Legendary Sight): The twins' grandfather Apollo left Aras with a remarkably acute sense of sight. Though not quite as sharp as Apollo's own children, he can see as far as someone using binoculars.

Weapon Summoning: Aras is never defenseless. Though he's best at summoning his father's classic shepherd's crook, he is also fond of bows or long knives.

Agriculture Domain

Nature Camouflage: The natural world itself seems to be on Aras' side when he wants to stay hidden, as grass and trees and other features make him very hard to spot.

Nature Listening: Aras can extend his hearing through plants, and is only sometimes nosy about it.

Aristaeus Minor Powers

Animal Pacification: His shared power with Jay. Animals that are aggravated calm down when they want them to. Summoned animals can also be encouraged to return.

Honey Generation: Though Aras doesn't have the ability to shape honey into barriers, or the healing powers of his brother, he can generate mildly restorative honey. As a bonus, honey can be used as a natural disinfectant.

Major Power

Air Manipulation (Aerokinesis): A rarely pointed out aspect of Aristaeus is that he is a wind god. Aras inherited the ability to manipulate air.

Innate Abilities

Animal Affinity: Animals are all friendly to the sons of Aristaeus, and might do them a little favor sometimes.

Agriculture Proficiency: Aras has an instinctual sense of how agriculture works, and learns of it quickly.

Gourmet Proficiency: Aras is not the cook Jay is, but he's still remarkable. They both enjoy cooking for the other.

Scent Perception: An exceptional sense of smell, and the ability to visualize them, adds to the abilities that make Aras an exceptional tracker.

Mundane Skills

Horseback riding: Initially Aras only joined up for Jay's sake, but he learned to enjoy it at least as much as his brother.

Climbing: Aras always loved to climb up whatever he could find, to the consternation of his moms, who sent him to a safe environment at a climbing gym.

Photography: Aras has a sharp eye for a good shot and enjoys taking pictures of places he goes.

Personality

Unlike his extroverted twin, Aras is more at ease being on his own. He's a lot better at talking than he used to be — not going to the same school as his brother kind of forced him to improve. And ultimately, he knows if he didn't have his supports, like his moms and his brother and his friends, he'd lose it. Aras has a lot more trouble mastering his feelings than his brother, and is more sensitive to them. Still, it's hard to grow up with Jay and be too serious. So long as Aras has the space to let things breathe, he can be nearly as sociable and friendly. He is even a little nicer than his twin, and loves to ask people about themselves, due to his curious nature.

Aras is the…

…introverted twin.

…emotional twin.

…inquisitive twin.

Appearance

The easiest way to tell Aras apart from his identical twin is that it seems like Jay is always leading him somewhere. The second easiest way is to look at clothing; Jay is stubbornly summery and likes shorts, tanks, and tees. Aras is more often seen in something loose and practical.

History

The story of the Quyen boys begins in Cần Thơ, in Vietnam, with their great-great-grandparents who gave their great-grandmother the opportunity to study in the United States, where she met their great-grandfather. This story's often told while Aras is sitting and letting his mom cut his hair, or when she is at some other chore, or while his mama's leading him up a trail. Then was born their grandfather, the man who caught Aphrodite's eye. The boys have never met this man, so they could not begin to guess why, and their mom rarely goes into detail about it. Aras has made his inferences, though. Their mothers went to New Argos because they didn't have another place to go. It was hard, fitting in as a new family, in a city that values lineage and tradition so highly. Still, they thrived there. Aras loves the place they have, his family, his own few spots that not many people know about, even turning a few shifts in the restaurant. The rest of New Argos, though, he's not too attached to. It'll always be home, but it feels like it's preoccupied with an argument that doesn't involve him.

This is why he loyally backed his brother's arguments for letting them go to Camp. He was a diligent student at ASNA to be prepared for it, developing into a promising tracker with a fair skill at fighting. The attack on New Argos filled him with drive to be a good protector, to not have that terrifying thing happen by surprise again. He remembers it too well; watching Jay who was watching their moms who were watching him. He also remembers the campers who were there defending the city. It was a brief impression, but enough to gain a lot of respect for the place. He wasn't just following his brother like usual anymore when he said he wanted to go; he also felt like it was at the same time something he owed to camp and something he wanted to be a part of.

Leaving was still harder than he expected, though. After a round of last trips to his favorite spots, and having to say goodbye to some people twice because he felt like the first one wasn't good enough, Aras and Jay were headed to Camp Half-Blood.

---

Now

Normally, Jay's excitement was tempered with Aras' caution; the two boys balanced each other out. Aras didn't mind being the brake, most of the time, but he really couldn't manage it right now. Where he was usually immune to Jay's infectious optimism, he appeared to have caught a breakthrough case, and it was getting worse the closer they were getting to camp. Jay bounced out of their taxi and Aras followed, sheepish but with a spring in his step, as they both shouldered their bags. They had exact instructions from their mom on how to get there, and it felt like he could see it, even though they'd never been.

The light broke through the trees and onto the famous Hill. Jay was already running up it, of course. Aras hadn't realized he missed this, but after going to separate schools, it felt like they were going on an adventure together again. They'd had close but separate lives for a while, and now they were entwining again.

"You're being such a tourist." He said, amused. Jay dramatically turned away from the Camp he'd been gawping at and rolled his eyes at Aras.

"Don't pretend you're so above it all. Come here, tell me what your elf-eyes see."

"They see a tourist, I can tell you that from over here."

Jay made a rude gesture and started on his path down the other side, which got Aras to follow. They both knew a lot about the camp's layout before coming, but the Aristaeus cabin hadn't been built yet when their parents were there, so they were going to have to go look for it.

"You see it yet?"

"Got a visual ID on a hexagonal cabin surrounded by beehives and wildflowers, captain. Think we have our target."

Jay laughed, which Aras always enjoyed. Jay was the funnier one when he wasn't completely geeking out, so it would always be the goal to make him laugh. Acting stupid when Jay asked him to use his vision was one of their running bits. The boys jogged down the hill, towards the cabin, and after confirming it was the one they were looking for, they dropped their bags off inside and went back out, on to explore the camp and meet some people.