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"I was once your subject, now I'm your equal... and your enemy!"

―Velasca expressing her anger to Artemis, "A Necessary Evil"

Velasca, the self-titled Goddess of Chaos and the former Queen of the Telaquire Amazons is a character on Xena: Warrior Princess. She is the adopted daughter of the deceased Queen of the Telaquire Amazon tribe, Melosa.

Velasca became Queen temporarily, when she defeated and killed Melosa in what was ruled as 'fair combat'.  When Xena was killed in "Destiny", Gabrielle decided to return to the Amazons and take her rightful place as Queen, much to the dismay of Velasca. She and Xena (in Gabrielle's body) fight for possession of Ambrosia, known to mortals as the "nectar of the Gods" for its ability to turn mortals into Gods if consumed. Xena wins and Velasca is presumed dead. It is later discovered that she managed to eat a piece of Ambrosia while she was near death, which turned her into a Goddess.

She becomes hell bent on killing Gabrielle for stealing her royalty, and Ephiny, whom she disliked as a mortal. To defeat Velasca, Xena strikes a deal with Callisto, who is an immortal herself. Callisto gets her hands on Ambrosia and becomes a goddess so that she can fight Velasca on even footing. While they're distracted fighting one another, Xena cuts the bridge they're standing on, plunging both of them into a river of lava, where they are imprisoned.

She was played by Melinda Clarke.

Biography[]

Meeting Gabrielle and reluctancy[]

The Amazon Velasca was raised as the adopted daughter of the Amazon Queen Melosa. At one point in time, Velasca challenged Melosa to a duel for the role as Amazon Queen. Velasca lost and left the tribe to become a rogue warrior. Later, she returns and challenges Melosa again, this time winning. What she does not know is that Melosa's sister Terreis had previously died and had given her Rite of Caste to Gabrielle before death. Since Velasca did not possess Melosa's Right of Caste, that Gabrielle was actually the next in line to rule.

Velasambrosquest

Velasca with ambrosia in "The Quest"

When the Amazons discover that Xena has died, they come to Gabrielle and offer to give Xena's body a traditional Amazon burial as she was an Amazon in spirit. Ephiny, one of the tribe's most trusted members, then asks Gabrielle to return to the Amazon village to take her position as their queen. Before the official ceremony, Velasca speaks to Gabrielle and tries to convince her that she was not raised an Amazon and thus would not be happy leading them. She offers the opportunity for Gabrielle to pass the ceremonial mask of their tribe's queen to her when Gabrielle is offered the mask before the entire tribe. Gabrielle tells Velasca that she would think about it.

During the ceremony when Gabrielle is handed the mask, Velasca steps forward to receive it. Instead, Gabrielle begins to pull the mask forward to place it on her head. Enraged, Velasca throws her blade at the mask, causing it to stick to a post. Velasca then stands before the tribe and denounces Gabrielle as she is not Amazon born and has no real hold to the right to be queen. Gabrielle silences her and offers Velasca's blade back and puts the mask on, showing that she holds no ill will toward Velasca but that she intends to fulfill her promise to Terreis.

Death and rebirth as a Goddess[]

Later, when Velasca discovers that the thief Autolycus is attempting to steal Xena's body in order to revive it with ambrosia, Velasca battles the spirit of Xena in both Autolycus' and Gabrielle's bodies in order to steal the Ambrosia for herself to become a goddess. During the battle, Velasca falls on a row of spikes and is mortally wounded. Thinking her near dead, Gabrielle, Autolycus and the now revived Xena leave her to die. What they don't see is that a piece of Ambrosia fell to Velasca's side.

Velasca3

A newly Born Goddess

Returning to the village just after Gabrielle is officially crowned as the Amazon Queen, Velasca, bloody and bruised holds up the piece of Ambrosia and proceeds to eat it before everyone's eyes and is quickly transformed into a Goddess. She unleashes her new powers against her former Amazon tribe for protecting Gabrielle, but discovers that she is still weak from the severity of her rapidly healed injuries and the intense effort of using her powers for the first time. The Amazons and Xena take this opportunity to retreat and get their bearings. Resting for a moment, Velasca travels to a temple honoring the Goddess Artemis, who is the chief Amazon Goddess, and destroys it.

Eternal imprisonment[]

Callisto Velasca fight

Velesca and Callisto trapped in the lava pit for hopefully forever.

Meanwhile, Xena and Gabrielle ask the now immortal Callisto for help against Velasca. Callisto reluctantly agrees and the three attack Velasca but it proves to be no small task as Velasca's new powers continue to grow. Xena tells Gabrielle to give Callisto the last remaining piece of Ambrosia so that the immortal can gain enough power to challenge Velasca. During Velasca and Callisto's battle, Xena cuts the rope bridge they are on and the two of them fall into an enormous lava river.

Powers and Abilities[]

Velasca manifested the basic powers and abilities of all Gods but did not show any special ability. As an Ambrosian god, she was new to her powers and it took time for her to build up to them. At first, Velasca became quickly drained from using her powers, and her inexperience was her greatest weakness. The more she used them, however, the more powerful they became.

Amazonian Abilities[]

  • Acrobatics: As an Amazon, Velasca's fight techniques include many acrobatic skills such as high kicks, climbing, flipping, and jumping through the air. A time where she showcased this was when fighting on ropes against Xena (in Gabrielle's body) for the ambrosia.
    • Climbing: One of the most well known Amazonian skills is their ability to climb and jump from trees.
  • Combat: Velasca was a powerful combatant who defeated Melosa and Autolycus in battle. She even rivaled Xena's skill but eventually lost to her in the end.
  • Melee Fighting: Like most Amazons, Velasca was a talented with weapons. She usually had a concealed dagger on her person and was shown to throw knives accurately. She was also seen carrying chobos in her chambers which she probably used to fight Melosa. Velasca's primary weapon was the sword, which she used with great skill.
  • Tracking: On more than one occasion, Velasca took advantage of her impressive tracking ability to follow Gabrielle and Autolycus as a mortal then later on to find Gabrielle and Xena as a god.

Divine Powers[]

  • Elemental Control: Once becoming a goddess, Velasca showed most interest in her powers over the natural world. She used this to conjure destructive elemental forces.
    • Lightning: Velasca's primary power was to project bolts of lightning from her hand. This seemed to be able to drain her the fastest but also caused the most destruction. Her lightning bolts could crumble buildings, cause explosions, and electrocute people to death.
    • Wind: Velasca used the element of wind in a few ways. After being trapped in a pitfall, she used a gust of wind to blow back the Amazons and project herself out of the hole. She also enveloped herself in a tornado as a form of transportation. This tornado was also used to create even greater gusts of wind and to suck in anything that is nearby.
  • Enhanced Hearing: Velasca was able to focus her hearing onto the softest sounds across wide distances which greatly enhanced her tracking abilities. This was shown when she listened for the sounds of Xena, Gabrielle, and Callisto's heartbeats. She was even able to tell which one was Gabrielle's by how much faster it was beating.
  • Explosion: When catching up to Xena, Gabrielle, and Callisto at the ruins, Velasca bombarded the trio with explosions.
  • Immortality: The ability to become deathless from mortal wound, sickness, or age. Though Velasca was immortal, it is possible that she eventually did die some time after being trapped in tephra.
  • Invulnerability: No pain or injury can affect someone who is invulnerable. Velasca instantly healed from her deadly wounds she gained as a mortal, survived a rockslide, and brushed off both arrow shots and being stabbed.
  • Omnipresence: The godly ability to be anywhere and nowhere at the same time. Velasca showcased this ability at the ruins when disappearing and causing explosions seemingly from nowhere. Her voice also lingered in the air as this was done. The godly ability to teleport may also stem from this power.
    • Teleportation: To disappear and reappear anywhere they choose. Each god's teleportation ability seems to take the form of their favored element. As a goddess of Chaos, Velasca teleported in a tornado, causing destruction in her wake.
  • Super Strength: All gods have strength much greater than that of a common mortal. Velasca was able to pick men up with a single hand and snap their necks with little effort.
  • Telekinesis: To move matter with only a thought. Velasca used this ability to fling Xena away at the rope bridge.

Gallery[]

Videos[]

Velasca_and_Callisto's_Battle_Xena_Warrior_Princess

Velasca and Callisto's Battle Xena Warrior Princess

Background Information[]

Behind the Scenes[]

Mythology[]

  • Valasca is a woman mentioned in the History of Bohemia by Aeneas Silvius. She was also called Vlasta and was a supporter of the mythical Bohemian Princess Libuše.

Trivia[]

  • Velasca was the first character to undergo apotheosis (become a full God) on-screen.
  • There are some contradictions surrounding Velasca's fate:
    • Charon mentions in "You Are There" that Xena "sent" Velasca to him. A possible explanation for Velasca's death, may have been due to the effect of Dahak Crisis arrival in Greece, in the events of the season 5 of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Since as shown, Dahak presence weakens the gods to such an extent that they become almost mortal, Ares himself even has to run for his life from Dahak's followers. ([1])
    • If Velasca survived, the question arises as to why she wasn't freed when Hope unleashed Callisto. This was probably intentional on Hope's part: Callisto's personal vendettas made her easier to control than Velasca's more generalized misanthropy and misotheism.
Melosa | Queens of the Telaquire Amazon Tribe | Gabrielle




Appearances[]

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