The Vengeance Saga is the eighth chapter in EPIC: The Musical and serves as the third saga in Act II. It consists of 5 songs that continue the narrative from The Wisdom Saga. The saga was released on October 31st, 2024, and maintains the musical storytelling style of the earlier sagas. The saga has a runtime of 15:56, and, like the previous sagas, it was produced and written by Jorge Rivera-Herrans under the Winion Entertainment LLC label.
SONGS
Not Sorry For Loving You is the first song of The Vengeance Saga in EPIC: The Musical, during which Calypso says a heartfelt and emotional goodbye to Odysseus. As she releases him from the island where he has been trapped for years, the song captures Calypso’s deep love, sorrow, and acceptance of the painful truth that she cannot keep him by her side. Sung by Barbara Wangui as Calypso and Jorge Rivera-Herrans as Odysseus, the piece marks a poignant and bittersweet opening to the saga, blending emotional vulnerability with the resolve of letting go.
Jorge Rivera-Herrans wrote this song in a single night, inspired by a video about Uncle Iroh from Avatar: The Last Airbender—an emotional moment that struck him while he was using the bathroom.
[CALYPSO]
Someone arrived today
They said they're taking you away
That you're not mine to save
And soon I won't get to see your face
So I came by to say
You're unlike anyone I have ever known
Cause you're all I've ever known
And if I pushed you
Or if I came on too strong
Or if I ambushed you
For that, I'll say I was wrong
And if you hate me
Then I am sorry my love's too much for you
But I'm not sorry for loving you
[ENSEMBLE]
I'm not sorry for loving you
[CALYPSO]
I'm not sorry for loving you
[ENSEMBLE]
I'm not sorry for loving you
[ODYSSEUS]
Calypso
[CALYPSO]
Let me speak
I spent my whole life here
Was cast away when I was young
Alone for a hundred years
I had no friends but the sky and sun
So when you washed ashore
I thought for sure that you were my dream come true
I thought I knew
So if I pushed you
Or if I came on too strong
Or if I ambushed you
For that, I'll say I was wrong
And if you hate me
Then I am sorry my love's too much for you
But I'm not sorry for loving you
[ENSEMBLE]
I'm not sorry for loving you
[CALYPSO]
I'm not sorry for loving you
[ENSEMBLE]
I'm not sorry for loving you
[CALYPSO]
I'm not sorry
I'm angry and tired and restless and sad
I'm stuck in the moments I swore that we had
I wish you would chase me
Or try to embrace me
For once, I wish you would lie and say
[ODYSSEUS]
I love you
[CALYPSO, spoken]
You do?
[ODYSSEUS]
But not in the way that you want me to
[CALYPSO]
I hate that I fell in love with you
[ENSEMBLE]
Hate that I fell in love with you
[CALYPSO]
Why did I fall in love with you?
[ENSEMBLE]
Why did I fall in love with you?
[CALYPSO]
What do I do with this love for you?
[ENSEMBLE]
What do I do with this love for you?
[CALYPSO]
How am I supposed to get over you?
[ENSEMBLE]
How am I supposed to get over you?
[CALYPSO]
Why in the world won't you love me too?
Dangerous is the second song of The Vengeance Saga in EPIC: The Musical, where Hermes gives Odysseus instructions on how to safely make it home. The song highlights the danger and urgency of the mission ahead. It is sung by Jorge Rivera-Herrans as Odysseus, Troy Doherty as Hermes, and Diana Rivera-Herrans as the Winions.
There is a special Winion called the Princess Winion who appears in one of the animatics, voiced by Jorge Rivera-Herrans' sister.
The beginning of the song references Full Speed Ahead.
A reprise of Keep Your Friends Close plays when Hermes explains the Wind Bag to Odysseus.
The end of the song references Wouldn't You Like.
The Wind Bag featured here is the same one from The Ocean Saga.
Jorge came up with the idea for this song after breaking through creative block while looking at a colorful lamp.
[ODYSSEUS]
Six hundred men
Six hundred deaths under my command
'Cause I had one goal in mind
No fleet, no band
Only this raft that I made by hand
How will I reach my homeland?
[HERMES]
All you have to do is not open this bag
[ODYSSEUS, spoken]
Hermes?
[HERMES, spoken]
Ahahahahaha, hello old friend
[ODYSSEUS, spoken]
So you're the one who talked to Calypso?
Why are you here?
[HERMES]
You're being given a final option
Consider this your one last chance
To make it back home and abandon caution
Wash it away like the blood your hands have known
I know if you dance with fate
Then I know, I know you'll enhance your state
[ODYSSEUS]
If your plan's so great then why'd you wait to say it?
[HERMES]
Well it's a little bit dangerous, my friend
You'll need a mindset change for this
You cannot get away with playing safe for this
You wanna get home?
Put it all on the line
And put your whole brain in it
Remember every trick in your domain for this
You gotta treat it like it is the main event
You wanna get home?
Put it all on the line
Be dangerous
[ODYSSEUS]
Alright, I'm in, what do I do?
[HERMES]
First stop, uncharted waters
When lost, look towards the sky
Follow the north star, no matter how far
You think you're going, you keep on rowing
When strangers lurk around the isle
When danger greets you with a smile
Fight your way through, do what you must do
But no matter what, keep moving
It's gonna be dangerous, my friend
You'll need a mindset change for this
You cannot get away with playing safe for this
You wanna get home?
Put it all on the line
And put your whole brain in it
Remember every trick in your domain for this
You gotta treat it like it is the main event
You wanna get home?
Put it all on the line
Be dangerous
[HERMES, WINIONS, ALL]
And lastly, the wind bag
We went through so much to get this
Keep this bag closed if you wanna get home, sir
You won't get another time to try
The raging storm inside won't let you get closer
It was meant to stop you by design
'Cause no mortal can pass Poseidon's storm
Open this bag, and you'll never make it home
You'll never make it home
[ODYSSEUS]
Don't you know that danger is my friend?
My whole life, I've trained for this
I cannot tell you how much I have paid for this
I have to get home, put it all on the line
I'm gonna use ruthlessness
Every trick, every skill put to use for this
I plan to put an end to all the foolishness
I have to get home, put it all on the line
I'll be dangerous
[ODYSSEUS, spoken]
Hermes!
Thank you
[HERMES]
Don't thank me, friend
I'm not the one who fought for you
[ODYSSEUS, spoken]
Then who?
[HERMES, spoken]
Good luck!
Charybdis is the third song of The Vengeance Saga in EPIC: The Musical, where Odysseus confronts Charybdis, the monstrous sea creature and his final challenge before reaching Ithaca. The song captures the intensity of this life-or-death battle as Odysseus pushes himself to survive one last trial after enduring countless hardships on his journey home. It is performed by Jorge Rivera-Herrans as Odysseus, with Charybdis also featured in the performance.
This song is in B♭ minor/D♭ major and has a 5/4 time signature.
It was the first time Jorge wrote a song in this specific time signature.
This is the first and only song in EPIC that is performed by just one character, as Charybdis has no lines.
The "ohhhh!" at the end of the second chorus shares the same melody as the word "storm" in the chorus of Storm.
In The Odyssey, Odysseus faces Charybdis twice: once while sailing between her and Scylla, and again after Zeus destroys his ship, just before he washes ashore on Calypso’s island. Both events are told in Book XII.
[ODYSSEUS]
You must be who Hermes mentioned
A monster here to block my way
I'd like to hurry up and end this
So if you don't have much to say
Then oh, bring it on
I'm not dying here, I'm still fighting here
I'm holding on
Til I see it through, til I've beaten you
I already know your tactics
When you swallow you attack with
whirlpools that attract prey
But I see a disadvantage,
cause I don't even have to kill you
I'll just have to avoid you
See, if you don't spit it out soon,
All that water will destroy you
Oh, bring it on
Til you're out of breath, til there's nothing left
I'm holding on
Til I'm in the clear, til I'm out of here, oh
There, I see it
The island I've been searching for...
Home,
I've reached it,
My wife and son are past these shores!
Holding on!
I am almost there,
My love don't be scared
Hold on!
I am on my way!
I'll be there today!
Penelope...
...What?
No...
NOOO!!!
"Get in the Water" is the fourth song of The Vengeance Saga, where Poseidon confronts Odysseus to settle an old score. The song highlights the god's wrath and Odysseus' struggle to face the consequences of his actions, especially the anger he has drawn from the gods. As Poseidon forces Odysseus to confront the divine powers he's wronged, the song delves into themes of vengeance, fate, and the inevitable repercussions of defying the gods. With powerful performances by Steven Rodriguez as Poseidon and Jorge Rivera-Herrans as Odysseus, the song reflects the tension between the two characters and the weight of Odysseus' past decisions.
Poseidon's God Move, "Shatter the Ocean," was based on the front cover of the graphic novel The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds.
The Crew singing Waiting to Odysseus is sung in the same way Anticlea sings "waiting" in The Underworld.
Before Get In the Water existed, there was a draft song called In Vain, where Poseidon focuses more on finishing the job of killing Odysseus, claiming his son no longer loves him and that he’ll ensure it wasn’t in vain.
When Jay posted a snippet of the song, the lyrics were "Aren’t you tired, Poseidon, it’s been 8 years." The number of years has been changed from 8 to 10 in the released version.
[POSEIDON, spoken]
There you are...
Coward
[POSEIDON]
I've been waiting for this moment
For the perfect time to strike
When your home's so close
And you've reached your coast
That's when our paths collide
I've got a reputation
I've got a name to uphold
So I can't go letting you walk or else the world forgets I'm cold
Now get in the water
Get in the water
Or I'll raise the tide so high, all of Ithaca will die
Get in the water
[ODYSSEUS, spoken]
Wait...
[POSEIDON]
Get in the water
[ODYSSEUS, spoken]
Stop this, please
[POSEIDON]
I'll make tidal waves so profound
Both your wife and your son will drown
[ODYSSEUS]
No!
[POSEIDON & ENSEMBLE]
Get in the water
Get in the water
Don't mistake my threats for bluff
You have lived more than enough
Get in the water
Get in the water
I'll take your son and gouge his eyes
That is, unless you choose to die
Get in the water
[ODYSSEUS]
Aren't you tired, Poseidon?
It's been ten years, how long will this go?
We're both hurting from losses
So why not leave this here and just go home?
[POSEIDON, spoken]
...I can't.
[ODYSSEUS]
Maybe you could learn to forgive?
[POSEIDON]
No...
RUTHLESSNESS IS...
...MERCY UPON....
...OURSELVES!!!
DIE!!!
[Instrumental]
[POLITES]
You can relax, my friend
I can tell you're getting nervous
[EURYLOCHUS]
Look at all we've lost and all we've learned
[ANTICLEA]
I'll stay in your heart
[CREW]
Oh, woah, Odysseus
Waiting, waiting, waiting, oh
"Six Hundred Strike" is the fifth and final song of The Vengeance Saga in EPIC: The Musical. It portrays the intense and climactic final battle between Odysseus and Poseidon. This song serves as the culmination of Odysseus's long journey home, highlighting the personal conflict between him and the sea god. The song is sung by Jorge Rivera-Herrans as Odysseus and Steven Rodriguez as Poseidon, with the entire cast of EPIC: The Musical providing additional support. The track intensifies the stakes of the saga, marking a pivotal moment in Odysseus's quest for vengeance and his return to Ithaca.
The "Six Hundred" in the song title refers to the 600 men Odysseus lost over the course of his journey home.
When recording a snippet of this song to post, Jorge had to go to an empty parking lot to avoid getting a noise complaint.
This song is the only one to have an official animatic made in 3D.
At the beginning of the song, Odysseus' motif can be heard in the background, as well as Aeolus' motif to represent the Wind Bag.
Before Odysseus tortures Poseidon, the horn from "Different Beast" can be heard.
Towards the end of the song, Tiresias' motif is faintly heard in the background, symbolizing that his prophecy has finally come true.
The original torture scene was depicted in a different way and was later scrapped by Jorge. It was reused by the animator Gwendy for her own animatic of the song.
Odysseus stabs Poseidon eight times, and was about to stab him for a ninth time if it weren't for the sea god begging for mercy.
A popular fan theory states that Ares assisted Odysseus by giving him strength, though it is not canon to EPIC.
[ENSEMBLE]
Six hundred men, six hundred
Six hundred men, six hundred
Six hundred men, six hundred
Six hundred men, six hundred
[ODYSSEUS]
I don't think you seem to get it,
I can't afford to die,
'Cause I will get back to my son,
And I will get back to my WIFE!!!
For every comrade!
Every one of my friends!
Almost all of whom were slaughtered by your hand!
SIX HUNDRED STRIKE!!
[ENSEMBLE]
Six hundred men, six hundred
Six hundred men, six hundred
Six hundred men, six hundred
Six hundred, six hundred men
[POSEIDON]
You idiot...
Can't you see...
You sealed your fate,
Just to beat me.
You released my storm...
When you opened that bag,
Blocked your one way home!
Now you'll never get back.
[ODYSSEUS, spoken]
You're going to call off that storm...
[POSEIDON, spoken]
Or what?
You can't kill me!
[ODYSSEUS, spoken]
Exactly...
[ODYSSEUS picks up POSEIDON'S Trident]
[POSEIDON, spoken]
Wait...
WAIT!!!
AH!!!
[ODYSSEUS, POSEIDON]
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE HELPLESS?! (ARGH!!)
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO KNOW PAIN?! (UGH!!)
I WATCHED MY FRIENDS DIE IN HORROR! (AH!!)
CRYING AS THEY WERE ALL SLAIN! (UGH!)
I HEARD THEIR FINAL MOMENTS! (ARGH!)
CALLING THEIR CAPTAIN IN VAIN! (UGH!)
LOOK WHAT YOU TURNED ME INTO! (AH!!)
LOOK WHAT WE'VE BECOME! (UGH!)
[POSEIDON, spoken]
Enough…
[ODYSSEUS]
ALL OF THE PAIN THAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH!
[POSEIDON, spoken]
Stop!
[ODYSSEUS]
HAVEN'T I SUFFERED ENOUGH?!
[POSEIDON]
STOP!!!
[ODYSSEUS]
YOU DIDN'T STOP WHEN I BEGGED YOU!!!
TOLD ME TO CLOSE MY HEART!!!
[POSEIDON, spoken]
You...
[ODYSSEUS]
YOU SAID THE WORLD WAS DARK!!!
[POSEIDON]
MONSTER!!!
[ODYSSEUS]
DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT RUTHLESSNESS IS MERCY UPON OUR-
[POSEIDON]
ALRIGHT!!!
Please...
[ODYSSEUS drops POSEIDON's Trident]
[POSEIDON, spoken]
After everything you've done...
...how will you sleep at night?
[ODYSSEUS, spoken]
...Next to my wife.