The team emerged from Agwe's realm into a voudoun shop in San Francisco. The shop was mostly empty, which was odd as it was during the day, but it was quickly clear that that wasn't the only oddity. Outside the sky was alight with a bright orange glow. As the Scions stepped into the street, they discovered that through that bright orange sky flew enormous Stymphalian birds, chased by Valkyries on Valkyrie Horses. It was a pretty clear sign that even in the short time the team had been in Atlantis, things had gone from bad to worse. Leander, having formed a connection to the shield of El Cid in the sunken city, found that it had emerged for him and carried it at the ready. William carried the prone form of Pele.
After a quick discussion of our options for getting to Hawaii, we settled on sailing there and headed towards the wharves. Along the way, we encountered the forces of Muspelheim fought by the soldiers of the gods. Myrmidons, Einherjar, and Spartoi pushed the fire giants through the streets of San Francisco. The human citizens were not in evidence. When we reached the wharves, we finally found signs of human life. There were huge media gatherings all along the waterfront... Facing down gods carefully crafting stories which would convince the mortals that all of this was not as supernatural as it seemed. Among them could be see Hermes and Baldur. Further back, in what appeared to be a military area, Ares stalked and Athena issued orders.
As the Scions scanned the scene, they spied an old pirate ship docked at the far end of a pier. As we gazed at it, a skeletal crewman of the ship pointed to us and beckoned us on. Needing a ship and feeling this was a likely connection, we hurried on. As we reached it, the skeletal crew introduced themselves and explained that they had been sent on to help us reach Hawaii. Around this time, Leander slipped on the sunglasses he'd been carrying since taking them off the Titansworn Scion of Ganesha. He was rewarded with health readouts and pantheon information about his teammates and the others he could see. After a little more conversation, the team set out.
As they discussed the state of Hawaii while sailing, the team realized that they needed something to protect them from the intense heat of Muspelheim enveloping the islands. They recalled that they had the essences of the fire hounds from when they were still on the mountains near Lha-mo's monastery. They debated what god they could trust to ask for help in creating such a defense and eventually, they settled on asking Athena. Leander spoke to her through the shield and she chewed him out for not having prepared the trinkets earlier. She did, however, send several owl messengers with the defenses the team needed.
As the Scions scanned the scene, they spied an old pirate ship docked at the far end of a pier. As we gazed at it, a skeletal crewman of the ship pointed to us and beckoned us on. Needing a ship and feeling this was a likely connection, we hurried on. As we reached it, the skeletal crew introduced themselves and explained that they had been sent on to help us reach Hawaii. Around this time, Leander slipped on the sunglasses he'd been carrying since taking them off the Titansworn Scion of Ganesha. He was rewarded with health readouts and pantheon information about his teammates and the others he could see. After a little more conversation, the team set out.
As they discussed the state of Hawaii while sailing, the team realized that they needed something to protect them from the intense heat of Muspelheim enveloping the islands. They recalled that they had the essences of the fire hounds from when they were still on the mountains near Lha-mo's monastery. They debated what god they could trust to ask for help in creating such a defense and eventually, they settled on asking Athena. Leander spoke to her through the shield and she chewed him out for not having prepared the trinkets earlier. She did, however, send several owl messengers with the defenses the team needed.
And moments after that, the ship was rocked by the force of a great whirlpool. Worse, the whirlpool displayed a great deal of health on Leander's new heads-up-display. It was Charybdis, attacking the boat after apparently having sided with the Titans. The glasses reminded Leander that Charybdis was part of his own pantheon, as well, a goddess transformed into a beast. The ship's crew and the Scions fought to escape the pull of Charybdis, with Leander suggesting that they might have to wait until the former goddess belched up the water she'd taken in if they were caught, but ultimately they were swallowed despite their attempts.
Within Charybdis, they discovered a graveyard of swallowed ships, including a US Navy battleship, clearly recently swallowed. The pirate ship sailed toward it and the Scions called out to its crew. The crew answered but quickly retreated after voicing fears of "the things in here." Which, on cue, seemed to summon the beasts. They looked like a horrific cross between infants, goblins, and lampreys, which was a clear sign of why the battleship crew was afraid. They leapt aboard the ship and the skeleton crew retreated within the ship. William put Pele down and Leander stood guard over her. Lha-mo flexed her mighty claws and the Scions set to work. William smashed one of the lamprey-goblin-men into the deck and off the ship.
Brock fired into the advancing pack and picked off another of them. Lha-mo shredded and froze one of the beasts. Which was fortunate as we discovered they had acid blood. William pushed into the group, grappling and then strangling one after another. Leander stayed on the defense, giving direction to his teammates and the battle ended swiftly and decisively. The Scions crossed to the battleship, looking for the crew in the hopes that one of them might be able to help them arm the ballistic missiles they'd captured when they'd fought the kraken.
Within Charybdis, they discovered a graveyard of swallowed ships, including a US Navy battleship, clearly recently swallowed. The pirate ship sailed toward it and the Scions called out to its crew. The crew answered but quickly retreated after voicing fears of "the things in here." Which, on cue, seemed to summon the beasts. They looked like a horrific cross between infants, goblins, and lampreys, which was a clear sign of why the battleship crew was afraid. They leapt aboard the ship and the skeleton crew retreated within the ship. William put Pele down and Leander stood guard over her. Lha-mo flexed her mighty claws and the Scions set to work. William smashed one of the lamprey-goblin-men into the deck and off the ship.
Brock fired into the advancing pack and picked off another of them. Lha-mo shredded and froze one of the beasts. Which was fortunate as we discovered they had acid blood. William pushed into the group, grappling and then strangling one after another. Leander stayed on the defense, giving direction to his teammates and the battle ended swiftly and decisively. The Scions crossed to the battleship, looking for the crew in the hopes that one of them might be able to help them arm the ballistic missiles they'd captured when they'd fought the kraken.
When they knocked and proved that they weren't lamprey-men, the discovered that the crew had been wittled down to only a handful of members and the technician who could have likely armed the missiles had been gravely injured. The Scions descended to the bunks on the ship. Rivkah helped him by placing her "brass" knuckles on him and having him punch her. He healed, though was left with horrific scars. After a few disoriented moments, he agreed to help us and we set out towards the deck of the ship and the pilfered missiles.
But there were worse things in the belly of Charybdis. The fire giants had arrived and were circling the missiles. The crewman darted to the missile and William put Pele near him. Once more, Leander took up the guard. William, for his part, moved in and grappled one of the lead giants. It would later turn out to be not the best decision.
Lha-mo waded into the fray with her icy claws, scoring heavy hits to the giants she faced. Rivkah hurled mighty blows and the giants were hard pressed to advance on Leander or those he defended. Brock fought the fire with the sun, wittily telling the giants it was "lights out." The giants were slowly isolated and defeated. Leander charged one and struck it with his spear, but his blow was shrugged off. The giant decided to move in for the kill, but Lha-mo froze his head and the battle was won. The missile was armed and hurled by Rivkah at the far end of Charybdis' body.
Its explosion blew the goddess-monster open, allowing an escape for the Scions, skeleton crew, and Navy crewmen. And an immense swarm of Charybdis' brood, all tagged by the glasses as of the Dodekatheon bloodline, now that it had scanned them more frequently. It would have to be a fight for another day, though, as the Scions had to press on to Hawaii.
Once there, they raced to the volcano and descended. As they scanned for defenses, three became readily apparent one at a time. Reggie, still corrupted, descended from the sky. Down one wall came climbing the Spawn of Arachnae. And through another wall emerged the mud golem. The fight was on.
Its explosion blew the goddess-monster open, allowing an escape for the Scions, skeleton crew, and Navy crewmen. And an immense swarm of Charybdis' brood, all tagged by the glasses as of the Dodekatheon bloodline, now that it had scanned them more frequently. It would have to be a fight for another day, though, as the Scions had to press on to Hawaii.
Once there, they raced to the volcano and descended. As they scanned for defenses, three became readily apparent one at a time. Reggie, still corrupted, descended from the sky. Down one wall came climbing the Spawn of Arachnae. And through another wall emerged the mud golem. The fight was on.
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