I Can't Hear You Over the Sound of How Awesome I Am

I brush with Death so often I should be giving him high-fives as I pass.

I guess you've already figured out that I survived my ordeal, and what an ordeal it was. I really didn't expect to go toe-to-toe with a god. I just wanted to distract the guy so the others could free Thoth. Instead, I made myself Enemy Number 1 on the Yazata's collective hit-list. That, or I managed to scare the unholy shit out of them. That would be cool.

Tishtrya, in the avatar form of a giant horse, cornered me in the entrance of the temple, some lackies called "Deeves" barred my way. I couldn't run and stall him anymore, so I turned to fight. We faced off and he practically trampled me to death in one blow. I healed the damage instantly, but that drained me of my ichor granted power.

Before I go on, I should explain something about how we Scions operate. Many of the things we do are powered by an internal source, I don't know how else to describe it. I think Claire would liken it to a Mage's "mana" in any of her computer games. This "power" comes from our ichor, which is what gods are made of, instead of flesh and blood. We're part ichor, part flesh and as we grow in power, we become made of more ichor. The only way to refill that power is by being more awesome. I want you to understand that, for my fight with Tishtrya, I was operating on "empty".

I took a swing at Tishtrya's leg as I recovered from the stomping I'd gotten and we turned to face each other again. My swing didn't have as much effect as I'd wanted. We bantered a little bit, he tried the whole "Why fight me, you'll lose, blah blah blah." thing. I told him that'd ruin the surprise. I can be such a bitch when I want to be.

I had come to the conclusion that I wasn't making it out of this fight alive, so I threw everything I had into a leaping attack at Tishtrya's face. I did some damage, but not near enough. I landed next to his hooves and he tried to crush me again. I managed to bat the attack away and rolled under the big stallion. Once again, pulling on everything I could muster, I swung at Tistrya's underbelly... and I gutted the god like a fish!

It was messy and gory... and glorious! The guys must have freed Thoth at the same time as when Tishtrya's body burned away, I looked up to see the moon, high in the sky. The Deeves watching the fight turned tail and ran. I was elated and I felt stronger. I was told, later, that I'd (and everyone else) reached the state of Demigod, where we're fully half ichor and half flesh.

I took off running back up to the sanctuary and ran into Claire as she was coming out. Everyone looked relieved to see me, even the normally stoic Kennedy was beaming with admiration. I felt so good, I wanted nothing more than to celebrate with drinks and sex. But, our work wasn't done.

Thoth thanked us, and apparently, had somehow counted on it happening, like he'd left bread crumbs for Andrew to follow. Claire also laid King Arthur to rest in his tomb and Avalon, which had begun to shift between it's correct appearance and the Persian inspired one, solidified in it's natural Tuatha form. I hope we'll be able to MIST back up and operating again, it's too good of an idea to let die, just because one pantheon got a bug up their ass.

Anyway, Thoth took us to Manannan's ranch for rest and relaxation. Thoth headed off to Asgard to meet with Odin and we've been invited to come witness whatever plan the All-Father has cooked up. I'll try to drop in on Bryn while we're there and find out how much of that vision was really her. And make sure she and Claire get along and aren't going to fight over me.

Maybe I can convince them to share the same bed....

Beware of Greeks Who Annoy Gods

Things got pretty intense at the gates to the Temple of the Sun.

I told everyone I could possibly die upon entering.

Andrew knew it was possible and that our visions had a good chance of being real or fake (that seemed to shake up Hal really bad). Lexi consulted the music to see if there was another way to get me in. Some opted to leave me at the gate, but I wouldn't let them do that.

I gave Claire a final kiss and told her I loved her. Then I took that step.

The pain was intense, the worst I'd ever endured. I collapsed to my knees, but I was alive. Claire was extremely relieved and Andrew said the Titan taint was lessened. Good to know. Kenny hit on the idea that the apples in the foyar area might help, and they did, I felt a lot better after a few bites.

So, we followed Andrew's magic trail into the Temple and we "buffed up" for battle. We were able to figure out where the guards were and sneaked around then and got to the top of the Temple where Thoth was being held.

Some last minute deliberations occured and Hal volunteered to hide us all in the stone of the floor and go in to distract Tishtrya, the God guarding Thoth. We all started to go with the plan, but Andrew hit on something. Tishtrya is being affected by Fate in that people have lost faith in his ability to battle the titans. Hal and I swapped roles (and I wasn't going to take an argument on the matter).

Once everyone was sealed in the floor, I burst through the door with all the badass swagger I could muster. It was all an act to antagonize Tishtrya, sure. I mean, I was essentially giving a nuke with personality the finger. It worked though. I egged him into attacking, and he took on the form of a giant horse and tried to trample me. Andrew was right, what should have stomped me instead missed.

So, I took off down the stairs, a very angry god on my tail, and let the others go to free Thoth.

Tempting Temptations

I'm still not sure whether what I saw was real.

With Lexi's help we figured out to go through a gate in the city on Avalon (which was getting a Persian makeover... ugh) and ended up on something called "The Pilgrim's Path". We could see the stars on either side of a narrow marble path and a Temple on the far end.

We all walked, hanging on to each other, towards the temple, because Lexi was able to warn us that we'd be tempted to stray from the path.

I saw Brynhildr.

She told me that I'd burn away when I entered the Temple of the Sun, because of my Titanspawn corruption, and that she'd have to burn on my funeral pyre if I did. She told me that the ring I'd made and given her was enough in the eyes of Fate to tie her to me and fulfill her fate to fall in love with the one who brings her a specific ring.

I'm not sure I believe it. Fate is usually specific about these things, and the ring from her legend was Andvarinaut. Still... I considered leaving the path with her.

I couldn't do it, though. I still have Claire next to me. I still have my friends with me. We have a mission to accomplish, and they'll need me by their side. Even if I'm doomed to die when I enter the temple we need to try to set things right. If I abandoned them now, then I'm abandoning the world to Ragnarok.

I can't let that happen.

So, now I stand at the gate to the Temple of the Sun, with all of my companions. Some of us are more shaken than others. One step... One step and my story may come to an end...