Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-25014849-20140627232456/@comment-1820614-20150526004846

The Fates can change the future and limit what is possible. If Zeus was telling the truth he confirmed that at the end by saying how they limited the possible outcomes and why the gods could not defeat Gaea. Gaea herself stated she could not kill Valdez when he was a child because of them. In a sense, in Greek mythology the universe created the gods instead of it being the other way around. The Fates, at least in Riodan's universe, appear to be some sort of natural check on the gods power to prevent them from doing whatever they want. Aside from limiting possible outcomes, iirc, Mars stated the Fates do not like the gods interfereing too much in mortal affairs which is probably why the Olympians let their worship die out. I cannot see beings with egos as big as Zeus or Apollo letting it happen willingly.

As for why the Fates themselves do not do more, it may be their very nature as embodiments of fate that limit themselves. They are the editors of a story, but not in the story themselves.

And the "ancient laws" I think is the universe itself as embodied by the Titaness Themis. There is a certain order to the universe the gods are supposed to uphold and not to screw up too much. The Fates themselves uphold the order of the divine/casuality to maintain the overall order of the universe. Screwing with this order too much is very bad which is why beings are hestiant to do it.