Demigods in a showdown!

Scion was heading into a hiatus, but there was still the issue of a mad swordsmith to deal with first.

The Hestia reconvened and asked to be shown to Masamune.  Instead we were delivered to a man named Shiro Yatsamura and asked to turn over oir weapons.  Though concerned about it, the team agreed, with Leander turning over his spear despite it being transformed into a belt buckle.  Yatsamura, though, was definitely armed with chained kama attached to his belt.

He suggested to the Hestia that it was wise we had decided to turn ourselves in, but Brock and Jessica quickly corrected him.  William and Leander laid out what they'd known of Muramasa's plans, including the ingredients he'd had the Hestia gather.  Yatsamura was immediately and obviously concerned, which prompted Leander to offer to draw the plans he'd seen and memorized while in Muramasa's workshop.

Leander drew up the plans and quickly the military commander and the Hestia reached an agreement to assault Muramasa's workshop and its Titan-sympathetic inhabitants.  Masamune arrived and beganto look over the plans, preparing countermeasures.  That done, the Hestia led the military forces to the workshop.

Rivkah quickly retrieved Nick, but not his gremlins, using a few quick excuses to get the Scion of Hermes out.  The Hestia quickly formed into three teams.  Rivkah, Jessica, and Brock would provide the frontal assault.  Lha-mo would attack from above, hoping to smash her way to the plans and artifacts.  Leander, Nick, and William, with their ability to bypass walls and doors would stealthily approach from the rear, avoiding the probable bulk of the fighting in their approach to the artifacts they'd gathered.

The assault began and the military forces quickly drew out Muramasa's Titan-sworn.  Rivkah's team travelled just ahead of them, smashing through the gates and straight in the front door of the workshop as the forces inside streamed out to meet the attack.  Lha-mo flew high above the building and dropped, growing in size as she descended, until she crashed mightily through the roof and into the central chambers of the workshop.  Leander's team had even fewer obstacles, approaching unseen and blinking through the walls and doors in their path.

From there it seemed to be a fairly straightforward snatch and dash.  The team gathered what they'd given Muramasa, meddled with his charts and diagrams and moved to leave.  Rivkah went up through the hole Lha-mo had made.  Leander used his ability to step through walls to pull Nick and Jessica out.  Brock, Lha-mo, and William began a climb outwards.  William was last and almost clear when Muramasa crashed into the scene in his giant mecha suit.

Unfortunately for him, the rest of the team hadn't gotten very far, meaning Nick's gremlin sidekicks hadn't gone far. At a word from Nick, the descended upon the suit, quickly disabling it.  The Demigods retreated as the military forces washed over the workshop.

In the quiet moment they had, the Demigods decided to hide the items they'd gathered in the pouch (with ship!) at Leander's belt.  That achieved, the returned to Masamune 's workshop to retrieve the armor the master smith had forged them.  Fully equipped, it was time to go after the God of the Last Whisper, the nascent Titan of radiation.

The Demigods took flight on Tak Me, scouting until they'd found a large square with an immense thrown filled with throngs of worshipful radiation ghosts.  There sat the new Titan.  The Hestia landed on a nearby skyscraper to talk over their plan.

In the end, the simple plan seemed best.  Brock and Nick would fire down into the crowd, thinning them while the rest of the team headed for the God of the Last Breath.  Leander would direct traffic as Rivkah and Lha-mo hit him with everything they had.  Jessica, William, and Tak Me would pitch in wherever they could.

They sprang into action.  Brock's first shot was a well-chosen one, wiping out a third of the Titanling's forces in an instant.  Rivkah dove off the building, carrying Leander.  She flew at high speed , dropping her compatriot into a crowd where he impaled on of the radiation ghost as she smashed through the huge stone throne.

Lha-mo landed just after them, having grown to immense size.  Her icy claws tore into the God of the Last Breath.  Nick took his shot, scoring a hit, and Tak Me let Jessica aboard and flew down.

The timing was just right as the young Titan launched an assault back into the sky scraper, bringing it tumbling down.  Nick leapt off, much to everyone's dismay as he seemed to have no plan of descent.  Meanwhile Brock jumped to another building, ready to resume his firing.

Rivkah used the God of the Last Breath's diverted focus to grab him and smash her knee into his tailbone.  Jessica followed that up, using her apples to distract him as William lashed out with his scarf (though missing) and Lha-mo sunk icicle claws into his face.  Meanwhile, Tak Me caught the plummeting Nick as if they'd had it planned.

Sensing his opening, Leander called forth thunder to echo his voice, his orders rumbling through the caverns of the underworld.  The team quickly capitalized.  Lha-mo sent crossing walls of ice slashing towards the Titanling.  Leander darted in, slashing at one knee as William closed and wrapped the young Titan's arm in his scarf.  The Hod of the last Breath struggled to be free, but it was too late.

Rivkah, taking those openings and the distraction probided by Jessica, to smash down the Titan's knee.  He dropped to a knee and Rivkah smashed a lightning wrapped fist into his head.  The Titanling was down for the count and the demigods dropped the nearby environs on him, seemingly ending his threat.

Next the Hestia would need to pay their debt to Agwe...

Demigods in the Yakuza!

Other posts on Scion and Leander.  Last recap.

At the end of the last session, the Void had retreated into the darkness to try and regroup from the onslaught of the Hestia.  His respite didn't last long, though, as Tak Me but him and dragged him back out of the shadows.

Rivkah, William and Lha Mo quickly capitalized on the opening and struck out at the servant of Mikaboshi.  Jessica mocked him mercilously.  Leander calculated his next likely attack, but the Void staggered his strike to try and avoid it.

That threw off the coordinated assault, but Brock was undaunted and still managed to put a bolt of sunlight into his foe.  Lha Mo took the moment to heal Jessica, who had been wounded in the last exchange.  The Void, and his minions, traded attacks with the Hestoa while Jessica took a moment to heal Leander.  Leander managed to guess the Void's plot and directed a new assault.

While waiting for the Void to reappear, the Demigods cleared up a few of the villain's minions as Leander and Tak Me prepared their defenses.  Lha Mo took the oppprtunity to further heal Leander.

The Void emerged as a giant hand, but the band was ready for him and launched their own attack.  Tak me bit him again, pinning him down as Lha Mo put a powerful punch into the Void's body.  Rivkah added a leaping punch as William lashed out with Foecutter.  Jessica twisted fate and used her apples to distract the Void's minions.

The team got another set of blows in against the Void who vanished for an extremely long time.  When he returned, he forced Lha Mo to protect him.  She was compelled to do so, but the Void quickly formed a whirlpool of shadow, disappearing back into the body of Mikaboshi.  As he did, he told the Hestia that he had been ordered to leave behind a skull as evidence of his defeat.  The Demigods took it reluctantly and mae sure to search the rest of the cave before heading back to the Market.

There they were quickly rounded up by the Yakuza and taken back to the tower headquarters.  The team hurried to discuss their plans of what to tell the ancient ghost they'd met before, revealing more of their secrets to Jessica in the process.  They settled on trying not to lie while not revealing their connection to the demands of Kane Taoka.

The talk began that way, but the ancient ghost used his ability to talk to objects to interrogate the skull, who confirmed that the band had defeated the Void.  It winked over the shoulder of the Yakuza leader at the Hestia, who quickly decided to tell the ancient ghost of the skull's treachery, despite the potential risk to the band.  In the end, the ancient ghost decided to award the Hestia the Ghost of Little Boy as per their bargain.  The Demigods disguised it as garbage and took it back to Muramasa, along with the Flame of Kagatsuki.  Muramasa was very pleased, saying that with what the Hestia had returned with he could make his weapon "even more destructive."

With his knowledge of Muramasa, this set off alarm bells in Leander's head.  He shared that worry with his fellow Demigods and they made hushed and hurried plans to find Masamune, who was renowned for blades which would only cut what must be cut, to try and make an alternative weapon.  Nick was asked to remain behind with his gremlins to distract and slow Muramasa's progress...

Demigods in the Black Market!

Other posts on Scion and Leander.  Last recap.

Having completed the first stage of the quest to find the materials to forge a weapon to kill the nascent Titan, the Demigods made plans to check back with the shopkeeper, and his granddaughter, about what the team could expect in the trade district.  He, with much disapproval from his granddaughter, informed the team of what he knew of the trade district and mentioned that he had heard that the Yakuza had many rare goods they kept safeguarded.

Satisfied, the Hestia climbed aboard Tak Me and flew to the trade district.  The moved through the streets looking for any obvious Yakuza and rather brazenly asking passsersby where we could find them.  That quickly resulted in the team being surrounded by members of the Yakuza and directed to a nearby alley.

Once there, the Hestia informed these low level Yakuza that they wanted the ghost of little boy.  The goons were briefly hesitant, but the smooth words of Nick, Brock, and Jessica managed to sway them and they arranged to take the Demigods to the Yakuza's tower headquarters.

Being ushered to the top of the tower, the Demigods were introduced to an ancient and powerful yakuza ghost, who appeared to be the head of their organization in Yomi and implied some ability to step into any power vacuum that might arise in the underworld.  In the negotiations for little boy, the team made a fortuitous statement in voicing their distaste for the servants of Mikaboshi (despite the arrangement with Kane), and mentioned their previous fight with Titan cultists in Yomi.

That drew a response from the ancient ghost that the team was in the right mindset for the task the Yakuza would require of them to gain access to the ghost of Little Boy.  The Hestia were to face down the general of Mikaboshi in Yomi.  The ancient ghost provided transportation in rickshaws to a cave on the far side of the mountain where the Demigods had previously met with the Dark Mother.

Leander, using his powerful relic glasses, saw through the illusion the general had placed on his lair.  There was a deep cave with intensely dark tunnels.  These tunnels were quickly revealed to be magically darkened, much like the warehouse the Demigods had previously fought in, as no one could see despite their divine talents.

Brock, not willing to let this stop the team, began to glow with a brilliant light which allowed some vision, though it was far less powerful than it should have been.  Leander, not sure he could feel comfortable with that source of light as the only one, used his glasses to "see" via sonar.  Inspired, William stomped a foot on the floor and felt the echos in the earth which revealed to him the layout of the deep cave.  There were several large chambers in either direction and the team decided to move towards the right fork.

In the very first large chamber down that fork, an ambush was sprung.  Dark figures, nearly invisible in the dark, struck from all directions at the Demigods and the team was pushed to defend themselves.  Certain that the fight in the warehouse was related to events in the tunnels, Leander set out to find Mikaboshi's rune which powered the darkness.

Meanwhile, Brock was hit incredibly hard, knocking him back and creating a sprinkling of bright light.  Lha mo, for her part, grew to immense size and scratched at the walls and ceiling, ripping the rune of Mikaboshi on the cave roof to shreds.  Suddenly, light filled the space.

Jessica, ready to do her part, tossed a glowing, golden apple into the room.  Suddenly, the inky creatures that had been attacking the team were drawn to it, scrabbling and fighting one another in their attempt to gain control of it.  One of them managed to actually eat its fellow, but its victory was short lived as Rivkah smashed it through the floor.  The final inky being was similar squashed by Lha Mo.
one eats the other and then rivkah punches the other one into the ground.

Pushing forward, deeper into the tunnels, the team found ornate doors, seemingly sealing out the light.  The general of Mikaboshi, calling himself "The Void," beckoned the Hestia to enter.  The Hestia opened the doors, readying themselves for combat, and stepped inside.  He briefly tried to bargain, but the team informed him they were here to put him down.  As Brock shot at The Void to act on the threat, the shadows spread, dropping the room into darkness.

From that darkness, The Void punched at Brock, but missed and smashed into the floor.  Lha Mo grew once more, filling much of the room.  Brock shot at the darkness, but The Void had vanished back into the shadows clinging to the walls.  A moment later, as Leander calculated and the team tried to track their foe, The Void sent a spear of dark matter shooting down at Brock.  Rivkah dove into the way, deflecting the attack as Brock dodged away.

Suddenly inky minions jumped into the fray, the first among them leaping onto Rivkah, who spun and smashed it to the ground.  Another minion launched into Jessica, who shed her skin in absorbing its attack.  A third attacked Leander, who swatted it casually away as he barked orders to his compatriots.  Jessica, sensing a place to insert her powerful speaking skills, distracted The Void and the team launched their attack.

Brock fired a shot into the heart of the darkness, with a mighty swing of Foecutter by William and a rocky fist from Rivkah accompanying it.  Leander missed, but most of the attacks hit, doing damage to The Void, who disappeared into the darkness to regroup.

Demigods in the Harbor

Other posts on Scion and Leander.  Last recap.

Seeing that they were flying into certain death thanks to his glasses, Leander told Rivkah to turn the plane around.  She began to do so, but suddenly the plane was struck with mechanical issues. Nick and Brock noticed something scuttling about on the plane, and the occult knowledgable members if the group realized they were probably Gremlins given that this was a WWII era plane.

Rivkah managed to get the plane back into the defensive areas outside the Poison Sun Ward.  Unfortunately, the plane was still going down.  Rivkah did her best to slow the descent, but Brock decided to bail out, using his divine abilities to reach the ground stealthily and safely.  With a boost from TaK Me, Rivkah got the plane down with everyone in one piece.

After a moment, the Gremlins emerged, spotted by the eyes of a few in the Hestia.  Nick quickly befriended them and they crowded about their apparent new leader.  Almost immediately after that was resolved, several Japanese military officials arrived.  These individuals called the Demigods foolish for almost attempting to enter the Ward without protection, and then suggested the Demigods hurry and follow them to others who sought to strike into the Poison Sun Ward.

Leander signalled to the still-hidden Brock, whom one of the soldiers declared a great love of.  The group descended into a tunnel system, which may have been the sewer, and eventually came to an underground complex.  The team was led to a room and asked to wait.

After a short time, they were informed that another of their band had arrived.  Confused, they asked for this person to be shown in.  It turned out to be a beautiful Demigoddess.  She introduced herself as Jessica and suggested that she had come after a new portion of the prophecy had been revealed.  She also revealed her heritage as a daughter of Aphrodite.  At first, she was suspicious of Lha Mo, but the explanations of the other demigods managed to keep things civil.

After a time, the soldiers returned and explained that their intention was to aid the demigods in their strike, as they were part of a faction that disagreed with the decree that the Ward was off limits.  To that end, they were crafting a weapon and defensive gear.  That said, they introduced the team to the weapon maker... Muramasa!

While most of the group was unimpressed, William and Leander knew this was a big deal. Muramasa requested the Demigods retrieve four difficult to obtain items for him so he could create his weapon that could kill the God of the Last Breath.  First would be the Flame of Katagumi, which was within a giant carp in the harbor.  Second was a scrap of iron from the wall holding the Poison Sun Ward.  Third was the blood of a pure dynast.  And fourth would be the Ghost of Little Boy, created when the bomb fell on Hiroshima, which was rumored to be held by the Yakuza in the Great Market.

The Band, as was in character, headed directly to the Harbor, avoiding the small towns nearby.  They'd discovered, just before they left, that there were Ningyo in the Harbor which worshiped the great carp, and prepared for the potential of a fight.  Tak Me, who had spoken to Jessica, introducing himself and shocking the Hestia, flew the team to the Harbor, but there was no clear way to reach the carp once they'd arrived.  As a result, they asked Tak Me to fly them back to the Harbor towns, much to the yak's consternation.

The team began their search for information at the library, looking for information on the Ningyo and the carp.  They also checked on ways in which they could reach the carp's preferred swimming depth.  After a time, they moved on to a nearby shrine where they encountered the spirit of a deceased Scion who flirted with Brock a bit before directing the team to a nearby salvage yard where the owner was a frequent diver and collector of submerged artifacts.

With some flirting (to the consternation of the show owner's granddaughter!) by Jessica and a promise loot from William, the shop owner allowed the team to take three suits for Leander, Jessica, and Brock so that they could survive the depths where the carp lived.  Not wanting to waste time, the Hestia moved back to the waters and dove down deep.

After a time, they began to hear what seemed like singing.  It was the Ningyo going about their daily prayers and communicating with one another.  William used his skill with spoken language to translate and Brock used his newly developed singing ability, aided by  Nick's ability to call forth music, to introduce us as children of Hestia and therefore related to the carp's progenitor, who had become an avatar of Muspelheim.  The Ningyo agreed to take us to their leader.

Once there, the Ningyo tried to deny the Hestia access to the carp and hinted that they did not believe our story, flashing aspects of sharks in fleeting glimpses.  Brock had a mighty plan, though, and cut himself, focusing his divine heritage and the gifts of Hestia to cause his blood to ignite into brilliant flame underwater, fully convincing the Ningyo leader and shocking Jessica, who had had no idea that Hestia had blessed the others in the band.  The team was granted access and descended to the carp's domain.

Finding the carp was relatively easy given the fact that it glowed a fiery red in the dark ocean.  It seemed not to notice the band at first, so Lha Mo attempted pulling a scale off covertly.  When that failed, Nick tried talking to the fish and ordering it to give him an audience, but the creature had no sentience and so couldn't communicate it.  The problem was solved, though, when Jessica and Brock, at Leander's suggestion, gazed deeply into the fish's eyes, mesmerizing it.  Leander then directed the rest of the team to work together to cut off the tip of one of the carp's fins, with Rivkah hurling William to Lha Mo who caught him and redirected him so that he could strike with Foecutter.  Nick, deft of hand, caught the fallen fin.

Not quite sure if that would be enough, Lha Mo also swam inside the incapacitated fish's mouth and took a vial of blood.  William scooped up some nearby salvage and it was time to head back to the surface.

Leander: Gear Journey

Generally my Scion characters tend to start off with a lot of Birthrights based on the legends of heroes and gods in the same pantheon.  Often this results in a lot of Birthrights named after those figures.  For Leander, this resulted in things such as the Armor of Odysseus, Shield of El Cid, a spear called the Pallas Lonchi.

Other times, failing a similar story, I'll simply rely on translation.  In Leander's case, this ended up as the Taktiki Michani (tactical machine).  Other items, such as the glasses Leander got, have similar naming schemes (Iaptah, in this case).

But as Leander's legend grows it seems appropriate that the items he carries become more about who he is and less about who he was empowered by.  Leander uses his spear as a tool more often than not, using it to signal and gesture.  So as his power grows it's only fitting that it transitions from being named for his mother to being about what it is for Leander.  The best translation to transliterated Greek I can find for this is Tha Strati̱gós Tou, meaning "Strategist's Will."  The spear has become the extension of Leander's ideas and needs and the new name of it reflects the way in which others see it.

Similarly the Iaptah and Taktiki Michani, as well as the lock of illusion-cutting hair and mana-bead of the Atua, will eventually transition.  They'll become the four pieces of a Corinthian-style helmet.  The lock of hair will be the crest of the helm.  The Iaptah (renamed Warrior's Vigilance), will be a clear shield for the opening of the helm.  The Taktiki Michani will become the main piece of the helmet, though still able to become the iPad it once was, and be renamed the Defender's Codex.  The mana-bead will be relatively unchanged, but will sit at the center of the helm's forehead.  My intention is that each of the pieces could still separate and work, but that this Leander's preferred form of wear for them so that he can have quick access to them all.

I think Leander would make it well known that he was not the first to carry the Armor of Odysseus and Shield of El Cid, but would work to make it clear that he carries them and continues to use those names in order to honor the warriors he respects and used as inspirations for his own strategic style.

Hopefully, this will help make it more clear why each of these items are important to Leander's legend while still allowing him to honor his heritage.

Some Musically Inclined Thoughts On Leander

Initially inspired by this post over on John's Scion Resources (which is a GREAT site to check out if you're playing Scion).

In thinking about music for Leander (and by extension Malena), I came up with a few things that would fit him pretty well and provide some insights.  One song that came to mind pretty quickly was AC/DC's Hail Caesar.  The lyrics remind me a lot of the potential intrigue happening behind the scenes for Leander with him being distrusted by Zeus.  After all, he's a piece of Athena... A male piece, which was also born of Zeus.  Which just might make him as much Metis' son as Athena's, and that might make him the son prophesied to overthrow Zeus the way Zeus overthrew his father.  Which Zeus is decidedly against.

Another clear choice for Leander is the Hyperion Overture from StarCraft II (well, more appropriately, from the trailers for StarCraft II).  It nods back to his hobbies and his strategic leanings.  It also has a rather triumphal and mythic feel to it, which is definitely more where Leander leans a lot of the time, given he's been on Olympus or acting as an agent of the Gods for a while.  I also think it has some tragic notes, which probably also fit well with Leander.

Madonna's Like A Virgin is also on the list.  If you've read the interaction between Leander and Malena, this is a fairly self-explanatory selection.

Celldweller's Hyperion fits pretty well, I think, with the battle between the Scions and Fafnir, with segments that match up with the different phases of the fight.  Similarly, Celldweller's Jupiter fits pretty well for those situations in which Leander steps up from the back lines and suddenly puts a lot of damage into someone.  It's rare, but the build in the music seems to fit so well with him suddenly blurring into action.

For Malena and Leander's relationship, I'd use Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's White Sandy Beach of Hawaii.  The lyrics speak of soothing dreams of a loved one, which I think is pretty much where Leander is at in that relationship right now.  I think Malena would probably be amused that I think the song that would work for her is Meredith Brooks' Bitch.  While I don't think of her as a stereotypical "bitch," I think her outspoken and forceful nature could easily get interpreted that way.  And she's rarely regretful or ashamed, but she's also very caring and kind when it's appropriate.

The game's theme song has long been the Russian cover of Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas, so both versions need to rate on this list.

`Ilio

The forest was quiet beneath the moon.  `Ilio leaned back on the koa wood throne he'd had made and gazed into the darkness, ignoring the whimpers of the girls chained to either side of his armrests.  His nostrils flared and his tongue darted out to lick at his muzzle.  Something was coming.  It stank of the Kin of Tāne...

Malena stalked through the darkened forest, cutting between ancient trees.  Two weeks ago, something had moved into this area, driving out the usual spread of hunters and tourists in the Molokai Forest Reserve.  A number of girls of all ages and young boys had disappeared from the towns on the island.  The two things were obviously related and Malena had decided to put it down with extreme prejudice.  Calls to past allies had yet to be returned, so she had set out on her own.

Her clothes, transformed to dark fatigues with an obsidian belt carved in the form of two eels biting the moon, rustled softly, but she moved slowly, trying to mask it with forest sounds.  It reminded her of the days she had Not that they were many; the birds and beasts had apparently cleared out, making it far more clear that the thing in the forest was not just a trumped up mortal.  Ahead, a twig snapped.  Malena froze.

A dark-haired girl rushed into view, crying breathlessly.  Not waiting a moment to consider, Malena broke her cover and sprinted to the child.  "It's okay, hoaloha, it's okay.  I've got you."

The girl sobbed aloud, then whispered, "But... My friends!  He let me go!  He has them!"

Malena grit her teeth in frustration.  "I'll come back for them.  I promise.  But you need to go home, now."

The girl sniffled and didn't move, so Malena scooped her up before retreating through the forest.  She headed for the hunter check point, where a ranger would be stationed.  He could take the girl and she could come back for the others.

`Ilio watched the Kin of Tāne go.  He delt sure he could take the woman, despite her blood.  She appeared unarmed and unarmored.  Her clumsy stalking in the forest would have given her away had he not been able to smell her from miles off. When she returned, he would take her.  He would eat her and return to the founding of his family.  The family that would rule Molokai and war on the Kin of hated Tāne.

Malena knelt over the spot where she'd found the girl.  The moon had begun its decent towards the west, which changed the shadows, but she was fairly certain she could make out the girl's tracks coming from the northwest.  She rubbed her fingers across them for a moment, trying to sense just what the girl had run from.

Rising, she stalked in that direction.  She shook her wrists, feeling the weight of the koa wood bracelets there hitting against the backs of her hands.  The night air was warm, making her clothes cling, and briefly she considered changing them to something more comfortable.

Ahead there was a clearing, moonlight pouring down on something polished and golden.  It look, for the most part, like a large chair, but two hooks protruded from the fronts of the armrests.  Malena paused a few yards back of the clearing's edge, watching and listening.

The Kin of Tāne pause, clearly afraid of entering the unprotected area of the clearing.  'Ilio snorted at her timidity.  He shifted his weight, creeping forward on the branch.  He hovered over her, waiting for her to look up at the sound of his breathing.  She didn't.

It dropped out of the trees at Malena, snarling maw descending towards her face.  Instinctively, Malena stepped backwards, letting her bodyweight shift and take her into a reverse tumble that brought her out from beneath the Titanspawn and back up into a crouch.  She smiled at it, toothy and wide.  It growled low in its throat and then spoke, "Kin of Tāne, I am the master of this place.  Leave and I will allow your bones to remain in your flesh for but a little longer."

She laughed in its ugly dog-like face.  "You've been watching too many Brock Landers movies, friend.  Where are the children you've stolen, hound?"

It growled again and darted forward, crouching low.  Malena leapt backwards, wrists coming forward in a snapping motion.  Her bracelets slapped against the backs of her palms and then flowed forward, forming into the familiar shark-toothed weapons she called Ukupanipo's Bite.  She spun, slashing out at the charging Titanspawn, who stopped short as it registered the weapons' appearance.

'Ilio circled, newly wary of the girl who'd come to face him.  He'd thought, given her relative clumsiness in coming through the forest, that she would be an incapable fighter.  Her sudden response to his attack had changed that perception for him.  He changed tactics.  "I've eaten all the children.  They were delicious.  Would you like to weep over their bones before I eat you, too?"

Malena grinned at the Titanspawn.  "Darling, the only way you'll make me weep is by your stench.  I know they're alive.  The girl you lost told me as much."

"Ah yes, the bait."

Malena pivoted as he stalked circles around her, keeping her right hand and the weapon there trained on the center of his chest.  "You're a descendant of Kaupe, no?  I heard your kind have no control, chasing after women like dogs in heat.  Trying to create more of your filthy kind."

"Are you offering to take their place?"  Malena danced right as he feinted towards her left.

"In your dreams."  She returned her own feint, watching as he guarded low as she took a sharp step forward.  And then all her tactical scheming ended as he doubled in size.  She backpedaled, her clothing twisting into a full set of tactical infiltraition gear.

'Ilio grinned, more like a dog's corpse rictus than any semblance of actual pleasure.  He lumbered towards the Kin if Tāne, clawed hands flexing.  I wonder, he thought, what a crossbreed of one of her kind and one if mine would be.  The strength of such a being...

Malena recovered, shaking herself to break fron the fear.  Boundibg forward and under the Titanspawn's outstretched arms.  Lightning quick, she struck at his solar plexus, driving the air from his lungs and ripping his flesh.

But it swatted her away like a fly and flex its midsection, revealing unbroken skin.  Malena's eyes widened in horror.  She scrambled for any inkling of a plan.

'Ilio laughed to himself as the girl turned and ran.  She bounded into the forest like a frightened rabbit and he was all to happy to oblige and play the role of hungry wolf.

Malena could hear the child of Kapue hot on her heels.  She dodged around trees and leaped a fallen trunk, all the while heading north.  A low hanging branch threatened to block her way, but a right cross burst it into a splintery explosion.  She pressed on.

'Ilio could smell the woman's fear.  It was aromatic and delightful, promising him months of enjoyment before her usefulness was expended.  He pounded on, focused, growing closer, ever closer, to his prey.

Malena heard rushing wind and water and pivoted abruptly to her left and sprang forward.  The Titanspawn was mere inches behind her, but with all his bulk, he couldn't turn as nimbly as she could.  He charged into open air, legs still pumping like a cartoon and begun to plummet.  Malena crept to the edge and looked down after him.

'Ilio howled at the Kin of Tāne as she gazed down at him.  He cursed her and her parentage.  And then all was black.

Malena watched the surf for signs of the Titanspawn surfacing, but after twenty minutes there was nothing.  Satisfied, she turned back to the forest to go and find the kidnapped children.

Malena Character Sheet

While Malena isn't likely to be played at the table beyond brief stints as an NPC, the fact that my fiction has likely made her GM plot hook fodder means I'd like her to have stats, so I'm taking a chance to do that and give a bit of a bio for her.

Full Name: Malena Haumea
Aliases: -
Calling: Defender of Children
Nature: Gallant
Pantheon: Atua
Divine Parent: Hina
Attributes

Physical		Social		Mental
Strength	•••••(x)(x)	Charisma	••••(x)	Perception	••••(x)(x)
Dexterity	•••••(x)(x)(x)	Manipulation	••	Intelligence	••••
Stamina	•••••(x)(x)(x)	Appearance	••••(x)	Wits	•••••(x)

Abilities

Academics •• Animal Ken ••
Art (Dance) •• Athletics •••
Awareness •••
Brawl •••• Command
Control (Car) • Craft
Empathy ••
Fortitude ••
Integrity •••
Investigation Larceny Marksmanship
Medicine ••
Melee ••••
Occult ••
Politics ••
Presence •••
Science Stealth ••
Survival •• Thrown

Languages

• English
• Hawaiian

Birthrights

Ukupanipo's Bite ••• - Paired koa wood beaded bracelets with a shark tooth inlaid on the largest bead.  They transform into Ku'eku'e Lei-o-mano, a sort of round knife which fits over the knuckles of each hand.  These provide access to the War, Water and Guardian purviews and enhance Malena's speed in combat and deal extra damage. Na`au holokū ••• - This garment, assumed to originally be a holokū style dress given its name, can change  its form to become any normal style of clothing.  However, there is a catch.  Somewhere on these clothes must be a representation of the moon and eels.  Malena frequently makes these prominent, but has been known to wear a long black dress with eels gripping the moon as the clasp at her neck.  This dress provides the stats of heavy clothing and access to the Moon, Animal (Eel), Illusion, and Prophecy perviews.  Anuenue puka • - An anklet of puka shells providing access to the Fertility and Health perviews, each shell in the anklet appears white on first glance, but each shimmers faintly with a different color of the rainbow. Hōkū Honu Isle ••• - This Terra Icognita was gifted to Malena by her mother upon Malena's ascension to demigodhood. It sits on the site of the Detroit Seamount and comprises the area that island comprised before it collapsed and sank into the sea.  Malena has a large compound just inland from the eastern shore of the island.  The compound never existed on the island when it was above the waves, but is built in the style of a 1940's military base and hospital.  Sea turtles frequently arrive on this beach to lay eggs.  Unbeknownst to Malena, the volcano on the eastern half of the island has a fallen star at its core.  The island is inhabited. Honukane •• - When sea turtle eggs on Hōkū honu hatch, they generally birth mundane sea turtles, but on the night of the full moon, they birth ethnically Hawaiian humans with green hair.  These individuals stay on the island to tend to its vegetation and protect the volcano.  While most operate independently, a group of them have adopted Malena as their leader and serve to maintain and protect her compound on the island.

Weapons

• Ku'eku'e Lei-o-mano - as hadseax ACC:1 DMG: 2L DEF: 0 Speed: 4

Boons

Know Tapu Warrior's Mana Animal Communication Animal Command The Subtle Knife Assess Health Blessing of health? Water Breathing Water Control Changing States Prophecy Warrior Ideal Green Thumb Toxic Thorn Hero's Mana Declare Minor Tapu Unseen Shield Heal/Infect Silver Blessing	Mana • Mana •• Animal • Animal •• Illusion • Health • Health •• Water • Water •• Water ••• Prophecy • War ••• Fertility • Fertility •• Mana ••• Mana •••• Guardian •••• Health ••• Moon ••

Willpower •••••••

Virtues

Conviction	•
Courage	•••
Expression	••••
Endurance	••

Knacks

• Holy Rampage (Str)
• Untouchable Opponent (Dex)
• Body Armor (Stam)
• Benefit of the Doubt (Cha)
• Subliminal Warning (Per)
• Armor Crusher (Str) (bonus points)
• Perfect Partner (Dex)
• Holy Fortitude (Stam)
• Omnidexterity (Dex)
• Under Pressure (Stam)
• Social Chameleon (Wits)
• Environmental Awareness (Per)
• Knockback Attack (Str)
• My Eyes Are Up Here (App)
• Spatial Attunement (Per) (bonus points)
• Widespread Appeal (Cha) (bonus points)

Combat

• DV: 20
• Join Battle: 8

Soak

9 Bashing

7 Lethal 3 Aggravated

Armor

3

B

1 L

Legend •••••
Legend Points: 25/25
Experience

• Total: 80
• Spent: 77
• Remaining: 3

Malena was born in the town of Kaunakakai, Molokai, Hawaii.  Her father, Ano, was among the last workers at the Kalaupapa colony working with sufferers of Hansen's Disease.  As a young man, he taught the children of the colony, and his own parents were doctors serving the colony.  So perhaps it was no major surprise that the goddess Hina was drawn to Malena's father.

She left not long after her daughter's birth, but a few days later a young woman called Nalani arrived at Ano's home.  She claimed to be Malena's half-sister, born a number of years earlier than the child and sent by Hina to care for the girl.  Despite his initial resistance, Ano consented and treated the girl like a daughter.  Nalani told Malena stories every night, recounting the history of the Atua and telling the child her mother was the goddess Hina and that she was chosen.

This gave Malena a rather driven personality, with the young girl never afraid to speak her mind and pushing boundaries.  She was a bit of a tomboy at times, but still managed to have many of the local boys wrapped around her finger.  None of them stood much of a chance, though.  Malena knew none of them was her equal.

At 15, Malena was Visited by her mother and tasked to do as Nalani had done for her.  She went to live with a man named Palani and his newborn child, Grace.  Nalani, feeling unprepared to move on, stayed to care for her adoptive father.  Malena cared for her sister as she had been cared for, teaching her to dance and to tell the old stories.  And on some nights when Grace was cared for by his father, a mysterious girl would be seen on the streets, saving children from those who would prey on them.  As she grew, Malena took on bigger and badder targets, breaking up child labor and catching predatory adults.  And 15 years later, Hina Visited once more.

Grace went to care for the next sister, continuing the cycle.  Ready to at last enter the next phase of her life, Malena threw herself into the war with the Titans. Wherever children were threatened with slavery, injury or death at the hands of Titanspawn, an avenging angel descended.  In whispers, they told their families of their fierce savior, like a Polynesian warrior woman of old.  And so Malena's legend grew.  She dated other Scions, finding them closer to her peers, but she never felt they quite measured up.  She ascended to demigodhood after defeating a descendant of Kaupe who had attempted to set up a barony in the forests of Molokai.

Darkness Warm and Sweet

(Warning: Adult, but not strongly so, situations to follow)

Leander sat near one of the torches impaled in the sand every few yards on the beach.  Before him tropical waves darted in and out of the edge of the firelight, twinkling.

He sighed, hearing the soft crunch of the fine sand beneath a light step.  For a moment, his hand went to his belt, to the buckle there that could be a spear with but a thought.  His other things were stowed in the provided bungalo the Atua had provided him; here, in the heart of Au-ruroa, there should be no need of them.  Without turning, he said, "No use trying to hide Malena.  I know you've been sent be Pele to bring me back."

"She's done no such thing, Lee.  I'm here for me," retorted the Atua demigoddess as she crossed into the Son of Athena's view.  A child of Hina, Malena was lovely.  She was tan and dark of eye and hair, and built along athletic lines moreso than buxom like some of her half-sisters.  Both graceful and forceful described her as she moved down the beach.  If Leander was honest, he thought he might be more than casually infatuated with her.

He smiled at her.  "Oh really.  I haven't seen you all night, but if I do, I'll let you know that you're looking for you."

She laughed, standing in front of him, hands on hips and head back.  Involuntarily, his gaze traveled up her bare legs, to the short sundress decorated with a stylized picture of the moon above a sea full of eels.  Leander wasn't quite sure, but he felt like it moved each time he didn't focus on it.  And then, suddenly, it was all he could see as she moved in close.  After a dizzying moment of the moon inches before his eyes, she dropped onto his lap, straddling his legs and face close to his.

"Now do you understand, you foolish Greek?" she asked, locking eyes with him.

"I'm really more of an American," Leander responded, not looking away.

She laughed again and leaned in, kissing him furiously.

When he was freed and had caught his breath, he asked, "What exactly are you looking for out of this night?"

She ran a hand through his hair.  "Well... you're leaving tomorrow.  I thought I'd give you something to remember your new family by..."

Leander smile, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.  "Oh really."

She nipped at his nose.  "Stop playing hard to get, foolish boy.  I know you're as interested as I am."

She wriggled atop him and he had no recourse to deny her words.  He sighed again, having known this moment was coming.  "You're right.  Absolutely right.  But I can't."

She frowned at him, leaning back.  "Why not?  We're both adults.  You've been adopted by my pantheon, so there's no political issue."

He looked at her, waiting until her eyes met his to continue.  "I've never told anyone this, before.  I've gotten to this very moment...  Well, more than once.  But I've never gone past.  I can't.  Because I'm leaving.  I'm always leaving.  Sometimes something comes in the way when I think I'm about to move past this moment; fate's way of reminding me, I suppose, that this isn't for me, yet.  I have responsibilities to more than myself.  I can't allow myself to form the attachments that would prevent me from fulfilling them."

"Leander Adrastos...  That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard."  She leaned in against him.  "And, in some ways, it just makes me more determined.  Let fate stop us!  Let it try!  We'll have our fun over its objections."

He breath was hot on his neck as she moved against him, clothes still separating them.  His hands clenched in her dress, pulling her closer, ever closer.  He buried his face in her hair, drinking in the scent of her, like seafoam and coconut.

And so he didn't see the wave coming until it washed over them.  The force of it pushed them apart and washed the torch away, quenching its flame.  She tumbled away, writhing and turning to rise up in a crouch, moon playing off her skin and hair.  He looked at her as if to say See?

She laughed again.  He loved the sound.  It was, perhaps, one of the largest parts of his affection for her.  She looked the skies above, calling, "Okay, fates.  You may claim him a little longer.  But soon or late, I'll be able to walk his path with him, and you won't stop my claim then!  He will be mine!"

She stalked back towards him, eyeing the waves as if she expected them to push them apart again. Leander laughed.  "And you mine."

She smiled, and knelt to kiss his forehead.  "Of course."

He smiled and kissed her hand.  "But tonight, we can at least sit together."

Other posts on Scion and Leander.  Related recap.

Demigods in the Underworld

Other posts on Scion and Leander.  Last recap.

A little retconning to follow up on last session...  Lha-mo has the ring and Nick didn't disappear,as his player was able to come back.  He hit on some Atua, which is as it should be.

When last we saw the Demigods now known as the Hestia, they had been asked to go into two different underworlds at the behest of two very different individuals owed favors by various members of the band.  Nick and  Brock filled in a few more of the details of the task set to them by Kane and the rest of the team discussed how they might need to delay their trip to rescue Agwe's daughter Genevieve.  Leander pointed out that it was likely that they could travel from Yomi to Guinee by finding a large body of water and diving straight down into it.

Ultimately, the band decided they needed to push on to Yomi first and informed Skulldug and the crew of Genevieve's ship that they'd have to stop there first.  They set out, following a compass that would lead them to Guinee until the ship suddenly turned and dove into the water (it's amazing Brock didn't talk about almost being in Pirates of the Caribbean) and emerged into Yomi.  On the horizon, there were several villages, some looking like ancient Japanese fishing towns and others like their more modern counterparts.  The Demigods directed the crew to bring them to one of the more modern ones, in particular looking for one that would have been built near the time that the atomic bombs would have been dropped on Japan.

When the Scions arrived at the village, they were a spectacle, not likely helped by the fact that once they were off the ship it transformed into sand which flowed into a pouch which had appeared on Leander's belt.  Quickly, they were confronted by a dignified ghost which began to yell at them in Japanese.  At first, none of the Hestia could understand them, but their divine heritage helped both William and Nick to learn the language quickly.  They discovered he was telling them that the Demigods don't belong.  Eventually, he stormed off.

Soon thereafter, the band was approached by another individual, younger and more modern.  He spoke to them in English and stated that he was a big fan of Brock's work.  He warned of the Shikome and invited the band to a place where they could discuss how thinks work in Yomi.  Unfortunately, he led us to a shady warehouse and after the band entered, they discovered the people inside were worshipers of Mikaboshi.

They discussed how the traditions of the ghosts of Yomi were keeping them from having a happy afterlife and how the Shikome would ravage them at any provocation, saying that Mikaboshi had promised them release from their pain.  Rivkah, speaking for most of her friends, told them they were fools and the fight was on.  Supernatural darkness flooded the warehouse and the Hestia went to work.  Unfortunately for the Titan-worshipping ghosts, they were rather weak and the Demigods were filled with divine righteousness.  They fell in droves as, outside, a high keening began.

As the Titansworn were routed, the  symbol of Mikaboshi was cracked in two and the darkness faded.  Then it became clear that the Shikome were coming to put down the fight with extreme prejudice.  Thinking quickly, Nick transformed himself into a visage very similar to his own, but with Japanese features.  He directed the Shikome towards the fleeing Titansworn and they passed by the Hestia without incident.

From there, the Demigods scouted the surrounding landscape, spotting the various villages and a large market city, as well as the Poison Sun Ward and Yellow Spring Mountain.  After considering for a moment, the Demigods decided to head to the Yellow Spring Mountain to attempt to gain permission for their mission to the Poison Sun Ward from Inzanami.

After a relatively short journey, the band arrived at the foot of the mountain, to find a great line arrayed before a striking woman, like a giant Shikome of both terrible visage and immense grace.  This, then was the Dark Matron of the Shikome.  Clearly, the line was avoiding approaching her, but when the Hestia voiced their intent to do so, those in the line, muttering about "her mood," pushed them to the front.

Leander hurriedly dredged up all he could recall of Japanese etiquette and briefed the team.  The Hestia decided to make a gift to the Dark Matron and Inzanami a gift of one of the fire-resistance charms they'd had made by Athena.  Nick prepared a speech to convince the Dark Matron of the team's need to head into the Poison Sun Ward.

The discussion went well, overall, because the Dark Matron did not decide to unleash her Shikome upon the Hestia and promises to "forget" that the band had approached her to ask permission.  The Ward was offlimits to all, including the soldiers of Yomi.  Inzanami remained distant.  As the Demigods left, the Dark Matron ordered her Shikome to slaughter the assembled crowd, so as to prevent there being witnesses to her "forgotten" discussion.  It took an act of will for Leander to turn his back on the slaughter.

The Demigods began, from there, the long walk towards the wall around the Poison Sun Ward.  After quite a few hours, including Leander riding Tak-me, they began to approach a large area with an airfield surrounded by military buildings and Edo period fortresses.  The Hestia hunkered down for a moment, to discuss their plan.  It seemed like the military would be unlikely to support their attempts to cross the wall, so instead, the strategy was to steal a WWII era bomber and fly over the wall to face off against the infantile Titan.

As the band discussed, a jeep with several Japanese soldiers emerged from the base travelling down the road toward the markets.  The Demigods emerged from hiding and Nick managed to bluff them into giving him their jeep, which the team turned around and headed towards the airfield.  Rivkah, driving, used her divine speed to breach the perimeter in the blink of an eye and then the Hestia hustled onto the bomber they'd sighted.  Rivkah got it airborne and provided it with the same divine speed enhancement as the jeep.

It was slow taking off, and the alarms of the base went off.  Anti-aircraft fire went off, tearing a hole in the plane as Leander gathered parachutes and switched his glasses to detecting radiation.  And then the team was over the wall and gazing down onto the poisoned streets of the Ward.

Scions in the Dragons Den!

Other posts on Scion and Leander.  Last recap.

In his rage at Reggie having "turned traitor" by coming to his senses and talking to his half-sister and the band, Fafnir dove at Reggie.  As he did, his body contorted, transforming into an enormous sabertooth tiger.  Reggie tried to pin him down, but Fafnir transformed into a hawk, soaring upwards and then further transformed into a large ape which began plummeting back towards the team.

Brock, acting with divine swiftness, put a shot into the Fafnir-ape, but it was apparently unharmed and smashed down into the ledge on which Rivkah and Reggie were perched.  Rivkah shoved her half-brother out of the way and the obsidian platform splintered under Fafnir's impact.

Quickly, Leander directed his team in their assault, but Fafnir was ready for that, summoning up damned souls to harry the Scion of Athena, as well as Nick.  The spirits attacking Leander coordinated their own attack, closing in on Leander, but he leapt up, doing a flip and landing on the wall, sticking there in a trick his divine essence had picked up from spider-bitch upon his apotheosis.

Below, enraged by the assault on his new companions and the torment he'd suffered at the hands of the Titans, Reggie spasmed, his body ripping and changing until he was a hulking beast of rage.  His focus, his white hot fury, fell on Fafnir.  Fafnir shrugged off the first assault, and transformed into an immense scorpion, threatening Reggie with a wicked stinger.

Brock, having watched Leander's new trick, did his own leaping flip and at it's apex shot Fafnir with pure sunlight.  Which is when the team discovered something about the dark elf-dragon-shapeshifter: he has an intense weakness to sunlight!

Leander followed up on Brock's assault, ignoring the spirits and darting along the wall to attack Fafnir.  With an electrified spear, he stabbed into the scorpion-dragon and in a moment of divine provenance, staggered the beast.  Lha-mo crashed in behind him, stabbing Fafnir with icy claws and further rocking the servant of the Titans.  Fafnir transformed again, seeking to rise above the swarming Demigods, but the new Roc-form of Fafnir was latched onto by William, who dragged at it, giving Rivkah an opening to smash her hand through the lava and into Fafnir's face.

Once more the spirits sought to put an assault onto Leander, but he evaded them by jumping onto the back of the plummeting Roc-Fafnir.  As he descended on the grappled beast, he saluted the ghosts with his spear, spurring their howls of fury.  The added weight pushed Fafnir down faster, allowing Raging Reggie to leap up and smash into Fafnir.  Leander hurtled out of the way and William rode out the blow.

For his part, Brock took aim again and with a quick "I'm going to pluck your feathers" but another blast of sunlight into the dark elf lord.  A moment later, Leander called out new orders, including a distraction for the spirits chasing him.  Rivkah obliged the attack by smashing Fafnir into the nearest wall.  Lha-mo followed by sinking her claws into his guts and causing ice to erupt from inside him.  Finally overwhelmed, Fafnir collapses.  From his corpse drop several items, including a ring.

Rivkah, drawn by the ring went to scoop it up, but Leander's warning cry stopped her in her tracks.  And then everyone remembered the other problem.  Still in the grips of Riastradh, Reggie had new targets to smash.  He advanced on the Demigods, who scattered.

William, though, had a good plan and smashed Pele's prison, which had fallen from Fafnir.  Fully powered and aware again, Pele stopped Reggie in his tracks and thanked the band for their efforts.  As she spoke with the team, and mentioned the dangers of the ring, she and everyone else realized that the ring had vanished... And so had Nick!

It would have to be a problem for another time, though, as no one had a way to track him that seemed effective.  Instead, Pele invited the new Demigods to a party in the Atua godrealm.  Along the way, the band divvied up the loot they'd gained from Fafnir.  Leander took a lock of white hair that allowed him to see through illusions and braided it around the rims of the glasses he'd obtained earlier.

At the luau, the band were granted mana beads which made them honorary members of the Atua pantheon.  The feasting, dancing, and general partying went on for several days, with a few members of the band making intimate friends with godlings of the Atua.  But all things must end in time, and when the band returned to the mortal realm, they were met by a messenger from Agwe, who asked them to retrieve his daughter from the underworld.  Which was interrupted by Kane charging Brock to go and kill a nascent-Titan of radioactivity that was forming in the Titanrealms which mirrored Japan.  There was no more time to waste...

Scions in a Brawl

Other posts on Scion and Leander.  Last recap. (This has been a little while coming. Work's been crazy and I've got another project, so apologies on the recent silence.)

Crashing down through the caldera, Reggie landed, locking eyes with Rivkah and trying to glare her into submission.  After a moment, he pounded down on the obsidian platform he was on, sending a huge chunk at the party.

Fortunately, it was mostly a distraction and failed to phase the band in the least.  They mostly rolled around it, resuming their ready positions.  Reggie, undaunted, charge at Rivkah, who readied herself for the attack but was slammed backwards.

High above, something about the nexk of the arachnae spawn glittered.  It appeared to be a golden torc, of a norse style, which probably protected her from the flames.

Brock was the first to join the fight for the band and took a shot at Reggie, who shrugged it off easily.  From there things began to happen with intense suddenness.

The spider-bitch tried to web Leander's protective amulet, but he brought the Shield of El Cid to bear and thwarted her. She dropped the web before he could try to use it against her.  

Lha-mo roared and pounded into the golem, dealing it a vicious blow that tore it in two, but it called upon it's Titanic blood to stitch itself back together.

William and Leander, defending Pele, readied themselves for combat, exerting their divine ichor to ready their minds and bodies.  Meanwhile, Reggie grappeled with Rivkah, who chose to try and talk him down rather than fight him.  For a moment, he seemed to hear her, but continued in his assault.  Brock, not far away, prepared to shoot spider-bitch.

The golem leaped toward Lha-mo, smashing into the yeti and pushing her back, but not dealing solid damage.  The spider-chick did her own leap, arcing down at Leander as Brock shot the fire-protection torc from her neck.  She caught it and slammed down into what she thought would be Leander, but Brock had used his divine reflexes and speed to shove his teammate out of the way and they smashed through their platform and into the lava below.

Leander, though worried for Brock, forced his focus onto the golem and directed Lha-mo, Tak-me, and William to hit it together.  Lha-mo closed in, driving icy claws deep into the golem's head and search for the relic which protected it from the fire.  The yak pinned the golem down so it couldn't escape the attack.  Leander lept overtop of them and put his spear into the golem, but not pushing it away or dealing severe damage.  William, though, was the big winner.  He tore a leg from the golem, and the  golem's relic tumbled free.  In an instant it hardened and died from the intense heat of the volcano.

Elsewhere, Brock did his own tearing, ripping the torc from the hands of spider-bitch and shoving her further into the lava.  She died flailing.  Rivkah, for her part, continued desperately trying to calm Reggie and break him from his brainwashing.  He slowed, talking to the band and revealing that he didn't have Pele's spirit, but "my master does."

Before the group could ask who that was, a powerful dark elf appeared, with long silver hair and a disdainful gaze.  He seems ready to move in on Reggie and the band, but another figure appears.  It's quickly revealed that it is Hestia, come to slow the onslaught of Muspelheim.  As Fafnir pushes past her, she stabs a dagger deep into herself, dying to empower the band.  As Fafnir looks on, their power is pushed to new heights and they ascend to Demigodhood!

And then it's dragon time...

Scions in the Heat

Other posts on Scion and Leander.  Last recap.

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.

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.

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.

Pistol Shrimp Interlude

Leander pushed hard at the ground, feeling his muscles protest over the damage that had been done to them by the supersonic blast of the nemean pistol shrimp. 

Not my finest moment.

He glanced around, examining the damaged Atlantean building he’d sought cover in.  In one corner, nestled in the hands of a skeleton clad in medieval armor, he spied it.  It shone at him, gilt dragon adorning it seeming to twist and turn stare at him.  He scrambled towards it, calling out to his teammates to continue their assault.

He gripped it, pulling it from the hands of the corpse thoughtlessly.  More details sprung out at him.  An image of the sun.  Red and white patterns chasing down the edges.  And an owl, nestled at the apex of the central point of the shield.  For an instant, his eyes caught on it.  And then he plunged into it.

Time stretched out as the owl spoke.  “Son of Battle, Mind-born, and child mine.  In times long past, I had another son who could claim rights to titles very similar to those, though he was adopted from a far land.  El Cid, they called him.  The Lord.  El Campeador.  The Champion.

He had a battle-prowess unmatched, and while he fought for a Christian cause, he was well-respected by the Muslims.  And beloved by the Gods.

He carried this shield, and it rewarded him for his battle-wisdom, allowing him to turn mortal wounds into mundane harms and to turn assaults aside with deft prowess.  He took aside his men before each battle and sought their insight and wisdom to add to his own and taught them all the lessons of my chosen.  For many years, he warred and was undefeated, gaining ever higher heights.  And then he passed on into legend.

His son, himself imbued with divine essence had died.  And little was left for El Cid.  And so he departed.  His shield was given to his wife and was taken by the Muslims who removed her from her reign.  One of their number carried it with him for he was a Scion of the Gods, as well.  His journeys brought him here.

And he was laid low, for none may claim the protection of my child’s shield without my blessing.  He died here and none of his companions could take the shield from his grasp, for I would not allow it to be.

It was El Cid’s.  Now it is yours.  You cannot carry it from this place, for I would not have our enemies know it has returned to the field of battle.  But when the time is right, it shall find your hand.  You shall strike them down.”

Leander blinked, at heard the sounds of combat resume.  It seemed as if only an instant had passed though he was sure his reverie had been minutes long.  He dropped the shield, gilt once more buried in a layer of silt and grime.  Pushing off, he emerged into battle once more, striking out with spear and command.  Unconsciously, he maintained space around his free arm, as if compensating the presence of a shield…

Other posts on Scion and Leander.  Related recap.

Scions Under the Sea!

Other posts on Scion and Leander.  Last recap.

It was mere moments, before the standoff between the nemean Pistol Shrimp and the Scions ended and the shrimp attacked.  Their first volley was mostly ineffective, but Leander couldn't get away and was seriously wounded by the blast of superheated water and sonic waves.  The Scions scattered, and Leander cried out instructions to his teammates who closed to melee range with the shrimp, trying to negate or mitigate the deadly sonic claw attacks of the shrimp.

William ducked into a building, to prepare and after a moment, Leander followed suit.  The others put punches and shots into the shrimp, but did only superficial damage.  Leander ordered another coordinated assault on the nemean beast who'd shot him.  William emerged and joined the assault, wrapping his scarf around one of the shrimp's arms and giving the team it's first winning tactic: using the shrimp's mighty attacks on one another.

Leander returned to the fight, but the light of his spear's eletrical charge gave away his attempt to sneak back into range and the shrimp re-focused on him.  Meanwhile, one of the shrimp was downed by Lha-mo and William and they ripped the claw arm off of it.

On the other edge of the fight, Brock mounted and rode another of the shrimp.  William turned the claw on an incoming shrimp and blew it's head off, while Leander closed and shoved his lightning augmented spear into the mouth of an angry shrimp, electrifying it, but not downing it.  The torn-off claw had been hard to work so far, but William bit the bullet and shoved his hand up inside it, experimenting to see if he could use it more effectively.  The shrimp fell quickly after that and the Scions set out again towards the center of the Atlantean city.

As they approached the area, they were able to make at that the circle in the middle of the city was a pit bridged by a collapsed keep.  Within, William could sense a mighty aura of death and chaos, giving him paush.  Worse, when Lha-mo tried to make out what William could feel, she was struck by it and passed out.  She was tormented by terrible nightmares, which seemed to be hinting that one of the Titans was closely linked to this place.  Worse, the group was sure that Kane Taoka was down there.

William pushed forward first, and after waking Lha-mo, the rest of the team tentatively pushed forward, as well.  They came upon a large pit, with a glimmering hint of light further down in it.  As a result, the team passed into the dark passage and were drawn into differing experiences.

In her dreams Rivkah ate her cousin Ben, when forced to choose between him and her mother.  She found that he was delicious.  In his dreams, the cycle of ages bore down on William and he chose to let this age end so that the cycle could continue.  Brock was faced with the choice of shooting his daughter or forcing her to shoot him, but he decided not to play that game.  He waited for her to choose, sitting frozen in the dark despair that pushed at the Scions.  Nick was offered the choice of being rich, alone and divine, or poor, loved, and mortal.  He chose to be the lonely rich Scion.  Lha-mo was tormented by visions of accepting her Titan nature.  Alone among them, Leander was unaffected.  He pushed further into the pit.

The others slowly awakened from their torment and joined him.  There, they found Kane standing over the avatar of the goddess Pele, clearly readying to strike her down.  The Scions charged into action.  Rivkah dove between Kane and Pele, hoping her stony body could defend her.  Kane, confronted with the party demanding he step down, began to try and talk to the party into allowing him to kill Pele.  It was the only sure way, he argued, to be sure the servants of Muspelheim would fail.  Leander and Brock quickly reiterated their intent to hold to their oaths and protect Pele.

Nick and William considered Kane's points, but mostly, they remained unconvinced.  Sensing an impasse, Brock offered up a favor to Kane.  After some haggling, during which time the party noticed Pele sinking and quickly moved to hold her in place, Brock gained the concession that the favor would not harm the Band nor occcur until a month had passed.  In response, Kane summoned a shinobi lawyer, who bore a contract which was quickly edited to match the deal.

William determined that Kane was stalling and the party readied themselves to attack.  Brock signed, though and Kane held to his word, allowing the Band to push Pele safely from the Well of Tartarus.  They swam with her to the place where they'd killed the Kraken and prayed to Agwe.  There, a damaged Nazi U-boat arrived and the zombified crew announced that it would take them to Agwe.  They were true to their wood and the team was delivered to where they'd entered the ocean.

After some discussion, Agwe healed the party and suggested that they needed to take Pele's avatar back to Hawaii, which the Band decided they needed to do much as it worried them.  They gathered themselves and set out.