Some Vacation and a Wedding

Important things happened, then a lot of wandering around happened, then more important stuff happened. This'll probably get wordy.

We got shown to Asgard for a big ceremony as Thoth and Odin put their plans into action. It wasn't what I was expecting. I don't even know WHAT I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't that. Y'see Thoth and Odin enacted some big godly-super-mojo (Andrew explained it as becoming Avatars) and Thoth let himself be bound to the Zvran, the Titan of Time as it's dominant Avatar.

Y'see the Titans are vast embodiments of whatever they are the Titan of. So vast, they're more like an infinitely big world unto themselves. They create Avatars, which represent concepts of their "element", and the most powerful Avatar drives the Titan's personality. So, with Thoth now Zvran's dominant Avatar, fimbulvintr is indefinitely held at bay. Andrew's been pretty shaken up by this, I hope he's coping well.

Now, while in Asgard, I sought out Brynhildr. I wanted to know if my vision was real or if I still had a chance with her. Things... didn't turn out as I'd envisioned. I really should have known better, it seems stupid, in retrospect... *sigh* The bare-bones of it is that Bryn will be bound only to whoever finds the ring Andvarinaut and that person alone. The decree of Fate is such that there'll be no room in that relationship for anyone else. It hurt, having to give up. I worry that someone unworthy will find the ring and Bryn will be bound to them.

So, during the next couple of months, I spent more time with Claire. It reminded me how much I've come to care about her and that it was selfish of me to think I could balance two women in my life. Going on real dates that don't involve end of the world scenarios was a refreshing change of pace.

I also took a trip to Greece, just to see the motherland, you know. That's where something amazing happened. I was playing tourist and seeing Thermopolae, where the 300 Spartans and their allies stood against Xerxes' invading army. I was visited by a vision of the long-dead king: Leonidas. He told me he was proud to see another Greek fight back against the Persians and led me to a very well hidden cave. The cave turned out to be a tomb and inside I found Leonidas' armor. He bit me wear it with honor.

The other thing I had been doing was trying to help MIST get it's infrastructure back online. I'm not letting this alliance of pantheons fall apart, just because the Yazata got a bug up their collective ass. It's going to take a lot of doing, but I think we can make this work. Andrew's been working on expanding their libraries and archives. He's also looking for ways to cleanse the last of my taint.

Then came the wedding. (I love weddings, drinks all around!)

We all got our invites and went to this coastal city in Greece. Funny, having just been there, right? An envoy met up with us (and it was great seeing everyone gathered together) and led us to where the villa where the wedding party was being held. It was in a small Terra Incognita and it had been commissioned by Aphrodite. And the place was gorgeous.

I made the offhand comment that I'd like to have a place like that, and Claire said it would be subject to her approval. Then we bantered about moving in together. The way we banter like that, you know it means it's going to happen! *squee!*

So we met one of Lexi's half-siblings. A fellow by the name of Donnie Rhodes. He was a pretty cool guy, it felt like I'd known him all my life, real easy to get along with. Then Lexi made an entrance that made everyone in the room gawk (Claire asided to me that we should drag her into a bedroom. I quipped that I thought we were done looking for a third person. Heh.).

So we got to chatting and Hal took a swim (and it looked like he was going to get ganged up on by the nymphs in the pool). Kennedy let me and Claire know that a bunch of the centaurs who were gawking at Lexi had disappeared. Centaurs, like satyrs, have a poor (or good) reputation for randy rowdyness and I got worried for Lexi's safety.

My search for her got interrupted when I (literally) bumped into the bride, Hermonia, the adopted daughter of Hera (I haven't met the groom yet, a son of Ares). So, we got to talking and my ego got padded a bit. Apparently the story of my victory over Tishtrya has been making the rounds. She pointed out her friend Victor at the grill, who wanted to hear the story.

Then Claire ran off towards Donnie, who I only then noticed had a gun leveled at Victor.

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...

Burning!

Oh man, did that suck!

Okay, so, when I got into the ocean to help fight off the sea serpents, there were these little buggers chewing on the hull of the ship. I had to freeze the water around the hull to keep the ship from sinking and it trapped the little buggers there.

Hal and the gun users on the boat were having a hell of a time trying to damage the serpent. I made sure these sea-based titanspawn knew who was the real master of the ocean. I summoned up something from a dark place inside me and let loose with a whirlpool of ice shards and slashed the serpent to ribbons. The other one got the hell out after that.

That lefts us to deal with the boat. Hal and I stripped away the ice and got the little creatures free. They looked like octopi with baby heads... weird shit. They fled as soon as the were loose, so nothing to worry about. On the inside, Andrew and the werewolves were tacking down the holes the creatures chewed.

Then things got hot. Real hot. We were getting close to the island and some sort of defense lit us up and started to burn the ship and boil the ocean. Like burning ants with a magnifying glass. I was getting boiled in my armor.

Claire came to the rescue, though. She found a shield in the hold and I don't know how she figured this out, but she carried it to the deck and shouted to Avalon that we were bringing Arthur's corpse. Then it gave us a shroud. Weird. But cool.

So, we landed in a little boathouse and got off the boat.. which was beginning to shake. Claire stayed onboard and was reading the back of the shield. Then the boat was absorbed into the shield and Claire was dropped right into the water. I guess that solves how we get Arthur to his final destination.

Hal wants to stop and plan, but we just don't have the time.  I think Kennedy mentioned that the temple we need to get to was what nearly burned us to death, I have to double check. Lexi is doing her music thing which could provide answers, too. We need to keep moving, we're in enemy territory and they may know we're here. Things are only going to be harder from here on out.

Into the Mist

Allies were gathered, supplies stowed, and everyone made ready. Mannanan gave us a good luck speech before we sailed away from Ireland heading towards Avalon.

It took us nearly the whole time we had to avoid Altair to get the ship seaworthy again. Ken got some of her werewolf pals to come and we rejoined with the boy band (Hal's Einherjar).

Andrew was pacing around and getting himself worked up. I guess I can't blame him. Everyone else seems to be on much better terms with their divine parent than I am. Heck, even Lexi has at least MET Aphrodite. Anyway, Ken gave him some encouraging words and I started him on the right direction for his books: Finding out where Thoth is being kept.

We had a bit of banter that I really want to share:
Claire had taken the wheel and was wearing a pirate hat (yeah, I know). She was complaining that she needed a sword and Lexi said, "If you wanted a sword then you should be dating a girl." to which Claire replied, "At least my lover doesn't run on batteries." That was hysterical.

Anyway, we finally sailed into this supernatural mist. Yeah. Mists of Avalon, the organization being called MIST. Someone deserves a good swatting for that. The stuff was thick and pliable, really weird.

Then some weird fish started chewing on the hull and a big sea serpent started swimming around the boat. Hal and I took the fight to the water. Now I can put my whole "daughter of a sea god" thing to good use.

On the Eve of Battle

A lot has happened in the last few hours. Hopefully I can keep my thoughts organized. It's all only now beginning to sink in.

First, I got out of the shower and found that I'd grown... by like... a foot. I'm as tall as Claire. This means that the pull of Utgard-Loki is getting stronger. It has me pretty frightened. But, we have no time to devote to curing me.

Claire gave me some spare clothes I could fit into, then we had a sit-down with Odin and Manannan. Some bombshells were dropped; Ragnarok, the Norse End-of-the-World is on the horizon. This coming winter will be Fimbulvinter, the "Final Winter". He says Jotunheim will taint the world. I'm afraid that's when Utgard-Loki will try to claim me as a servant.

That wasn't the end of the bad news. Andrew, who'd been brought back to us, revealed why he'd run off. He was trying to get back to MIST because he knew his dad, the God Thoth, was in trouble. All the things were laid out: The Yazata claimed MIST and Thoth in order to make sure Ragnarok happens, despite Odin's efforts. Odin assured us that he had a way around Ragnarok, but needed more time.

That gave us two options: Assault MIST to free Thoth because he could help give us that time, or, more directly, travel to a mountain where the Yazata held a relic that let them control the Titan of Time. I brought it to a vote. We unanimously decided to go after Thoth.

Manannan offered some help. We headed into a rainbow portal and into a bubble of air deep beneath the ocean. I started getting pretty giddy. Daughter of an Ocean God and whatnot. The beauty of the deep sea is indescribable. In this pocket of air was was a wrecked ship. More bombshells: This was the ship that was lost while carrying King Arthur's (a Scion) remains to Avalon. Avalon being the island were MIST was set up. Because the ship is destined to carry Arthur to Avalon, we can use it to get back to the island without drawing attention to ourselves.

I feel pretty profoundly affected by this. I mean... carrying the remains of King Arthur back to Avalon, completing a voyage that began well over a thousand years ago. It's amazing. Though it's not as simple as that, the ship sank for a reason. Manannan transported us and the boat to a drydock and we have to repair the ship. Good thing mom taught me about building canoes and maintaining boats, I can really be a great help here.

Then Manannan left us with one last comment, that we need to make peace with our mortal lives. We're going to battle and we may not come back. I've had several brushes with death already, but those hit me by surprise. It's different going into a situation where even a God warns you that you will likely die. Hal and I have a lot of durability, but I worry for Lexi and Andrew. No one is going to get killed while I still breathe.

I have some things to do and I need to get them done fast. We only have a few days before Altair is able to track us again and I intend to be on the way to Avalon before then. I have to call my mothers and talk to them. No doubt Kyria will wish me a glorious battle. I don't know how Indigo will react, she's been around a long time, but I've still been like a real daughter to her.

Then there's Bryn. I'm going to write a letter and ask Odin to deliver it for me. I don't have any time, Odin will be leaving soon and I'm not sure what to say. I may never know her reaction to the ring I made her, I may never see her again.... I'll think of something.

And Claire... she's been there for me in a lot of ways. She'll tell me we'll be fine. We'll kick a lot of ass and be home in time for lunch. I don't want to sound like I'm being fatalistic, but I can't take the risk of leaving things unsaid....
I think I know how King Leonidas felt, marching to battle against the Persians.