Casting
- Adelphin "Adel" Jean-Baptiste (Laurie) Domains (Death and Magic), child of Werethekau and Baron Samedi. Machiavellian meddler. Power unto herself. Adelphin can kill with a glance, manipulate magic as if she were born to it (she was), and doesn't seem to be able to actually die. Tagline: "I'm not the devil, but betray me and I will show you hell".
- Siv (NPC) Child of Odin, handed to Adelphin for protection.
- Cosmos aka Management (Ally), an unusual cat that is her hotel manager.
- Rui Qui (Ally) Theogenic demigod, hacker, magician.
- Liam O'Shea (Randy) Domain (Strength) and child of Dagda. A huge, powerful, and deadly warrior. A druid and generally a likeable guy. Taught the old ways but is comfortable with the modern. He's traveled much of the world and is looking to see even more. Tagline: "I told you I wouldn't fit."
- Mitzidu Ito (Rory) Domains (Business, Hearth/kitchen), child of Inari and Kojin. The teams business guru, event planner and entertainer. Taglines: "Life never tasted this good before!" and "The Hearth is the heart of the home, but food is the soul of a community"
- Suveer Patel (Christian) Domain (Clearing Obstructions), child of Ganesh. Martial artist and student of a thousand styles, Suveer is one of the teams upfront fighters with fists or his gauda (mace). He can get past any obstacle put before him. Tagline: "You are in front of me and no obstacle can stop me. Find a better place to be."
- Yannis Papadopoulos aka The Courier (Chris D.) Domains (Communication, Secrets, Rainbows), child of Harpocrates and Arke. Team sneaker and postman. If you see him, its already too late, your package has been delivered. Tagline: "The thirty minutes or less policy is for those that like to live dangerously."
- Chad (NPC), child of Cupid
We Have Questions! (Snap)
We took the one Spartan trooper left alive back for holding and interrogation, let him stew about a week for an interrogation bonus.
Meantime we did some much needed combat practice and sparing with each other, led by Rui Qui who is a master swordsman.
When it came time for the interrogation Rui Qui did it with assistance from Adelphin and Mitzadu and essentially absorbed the contents of the subjects brain (Domain (Knowledge)) and then typed a report on his computer.
After that Liam broke his neck.
Auriol (The Lady in Red) had woken up and was quizzed about her circumstances. She knew as soon as she was woken up that her daughter had been captured due to the spell placed on her.
It was quite a bit of info and pretty much brought the entire party up to speed and on the same page for the first time in the campaign. We were told the Spartans had a Red List of priority kill targets and Adelphin and any associated with her were on it. Mitzadu was also on it for having survived two previous Harrowings as that made him potentially dangerous despite not having a combat related domain or one typically thought of as dangerous. Liam was not on the list yet as he had just started associating with Mitzadu and neither was Chad. The Spartans had detailed dossiers on most of the group so we should have trouble surprising them with our capabilities. Auriol gave her personal history and told us that Poseidon had fathered a child on her in a very abusive relationship and she had eventually gotten away and hid the daughter, no mean feat that!
She was recently commissioned to bring a package to Poseidon and in return he would give up on the child. She balked at that when after getting the package she saw what it was, One of three pieces of the Sword of Chronus which is capable of killing a god. Apparently it has been used in a few times then broken up and parts locked away then reforged as needed for use - rinse repeat. Currently Poseidon has one piece, the other is in Tartarus and she has the remaining piece. She explained he has gone quite insane and plans to kill Zeus with it.
A Bit of Krackle...
Mitzadu called an old friend, Michelle Lilly (daughter of Chloris/Flora) to warn her she was on the Red List, though as she was outcast from the Olympian pantheon awhile back he figured she already was and knew it.
She was glad to hear from him, yes she knew about the list - and had he heard she was getting married? She invited him to the wedding, he offered to cater it which she obviously expected<g> and said her fiancé Stephane had been hoping for that and offered him some Golden Apples as she was the daughter of Idunn.
Mitzadu immediately started salivating at what he could prepare with THAT ingredient! He noticed his phone was about to die so said he would call back.
And Pop!
While some of the group considered the information and mulled ideas, Liam deciding that since he was not on the kill list and this was all a bit beyond him (being a very young godling after all) drove over to Mitzadus Summerlin home for some rest and to enjoy the gardens. However as soon as he arrived he was accosted by gunmen who had already disabled security (likely through magic) and killed his staff.
Liam tried to take cover in the bushes and call Mitzadu for help but Mitzadus phone chose that moment to lose its charge so he was on his own. Had he been able to reach anyone we could have gated there in I think 3 different ways.
Unfortunately someone has the Cursed disadvantage...
Liam expended a considerable amount of magical and aetheric power, as well as bodily fluids to survive but escaped through a Plane Shift spell. Liam wasn't on the Red list before but he certainly is now!
Post Session Meetings
So after hearing what happened to his home Mitzadu is pretty angry, though you would have to know him real well to tell. He is the type that gets cold and calculating rather than yell or start hitting things. The Spartans killed his staff, the gardener, chef, security guard, and two maids. The chef was a young man he was mentoring, the guard a pleasant old Marine vet who was good with people, the maids a nice pair of witches more comfortable with magic than actually good at, and the gardener a pleasant enough though somewhat surly old native American who supervised the contractors for the pools and grounds more than did any hard labor - they slit his throat and shot the rest. After Liam escaped they set the house on fire and the fire department was unable to save it from pretty much burning to the ground.
It appears to just have been spite, unlike the trap with Maki, because if the purpose was to kill him they would have staked out the place. Instead they expended resources and risk just to annoy him and try to force him to stay at the Karnival hotel where he is harder to attack.
Also, now he has nothing to lose. With a death mark on him and any who associate with him, they backed him into a corner. No way out except through them and he knows he cant win against the Olympians, he is just a minor godling after all. So literally nothing to lose as the same fate awaits him either way. He is sad at the loss of his friends and staff, but if the desire was to send him into hopeless depression they misread him. He has lived hundreds of years and survived 4 harrowings, death is an old companion he knows can arrive at any time. He heard from Adelphin that Liam ios hurt but safe in Otherworld.
So he sets some things into motion, tries to gather some info and said his goodbyes to his parents.
Gnome Multimedia
Mitzadu used his Busnessman! skill and Domain (Business) to set up this company and several shell companies to hide its true ownership. Though one of those shell companies is barely hidden and he expects to be found pretty easily - its called Eris Consolidated and he hopes that name will cause dissension, confusion, and of course Discord within the pantheon. The neat trick here is that the goddess Eris is likely to actually appreciate being given credit for its activities so less likely to vehemently deny it. Even better if she does deny it there will be doubts as its definitely within her wheelhouse.
The purpose of Gnome Multimedia is to create memes that make certain gods look ridiculous and generally annoy them by making people think of them as jokes. Poseidon is of course the primary target and he set up the idea of a "My Blue Pony" campaign where Poseidon is a cute tap dancing pony who plays beach volleyball with young boys and girls. He gets chased around by a goose named Heus and a crab named Karkinos who is always trying to snap at his feet and trip him. Planned is a internet short, a movie, and to start off a set of Blue Pony birthday cards and other merchandise for young girls.
In the setting belief helps shape the gods, though this wont reach a wide enough audience and it will take decades for the young girls to grow up and pass along thier toys to daughters it could hurt a little. At the least most of the pantheon are very insecure and prone to being easily offended and hurt by any perceived slight.
Police Chief Tracy Benoit
Mitzadu got a Very Good reaction roll with her and it was decided this was in part from his standing in the community (Status 2, Filthy Rich, known philanthropist) and being an exceptionally skilled lawyer. When he called her office he was put right through, possibly his home being the victim of a terrorist's attack lent some urgency to her response.
She was likely expecting an outraged constituent, casting blame, making threats, and calling the police force incompetent. What she got was a surprisingly calm and collected person who politely expressed his dissatisfaction and worry for the community and the possible effects on local business and politicians if people were afraid to come to town. Also he was offering help. Mitzadu offered to have a fundraiser for outfitting and equipping an expanded SWAT and anti-terrorism task force and get the ball rolling with his own money. He just needed her on board and to pitch the idea to the Mayor and city counsel but with known private backing it should be an easy sell. Unsaid, but clearly understood was a lot of people would not be reelected if the issue was not quickly and dramatically resolved. Also her status would be elevated and she is up for reelection.
Though she happened to bring up the latter.
She offered a security detail, he gratefully declined asking the money be used to protect others less well off and able to protect themselves.
Overall a very good meeting that might yield some inconvenience to the Thule Society (already in trouble because of C-Teams work) and the Spartans.
Family Affairs
Next up Mitzadu cast his Seek Greater Kami spell to reach his mother Inari.
She responded by summoning him to her home where he watched her tend the garden for twenty minutes before talking with him. She knew much of what was going on and remarked how he had been "busy". Also he should call more.
He expressed his apologies and informed her of Poseidon plans to assemble the sword and kill Zeus, and the concern that he wouldnt stop there. Especially since according to one source he had gone quite insane. Also the Spartans had quite an army and seemed out to kill any godling who might be a threat to a full Olympian ascension through the upcoming harrowing.
She informed him that she new some of this and couldnt help or directly interfere but that some of agents could interfere with their agents.
Poor mother, she actually thought he came to ask for help rather than to warn her and thus the other Kami and godlings.
He thanked her and informed her of the upcoming wedding and asked her to consider coming, one of the brides being a daughter of Idunn he felt it especially appropriate.
She then handed him his samurai armor, apparently having pulled it out of his house and some weapons, a Katana, Tanto blade and a Wakizashi. He politely and gratefully accepted (though he has his own magnificent blade he crafted decades ago so this seems weird). She then mentioned he should see his father as a form of dismissal.
Kojin was working at the stove, greeted Mitzadu warmly and they briefly and idly chatted about nothing. He sent Mitzadu on his way with two gourds of sake and a bento box. Father seemed to get the real reason for the visit, a goodbye.
Mitzadu then appeared back on earth with his gifts and headed home to put them away.
Some side notes...
It was suggested that he visit the Oracle if he can find her, she is in Los Vegas.
Maki has had her magic temporarily blocked, they are working on it.
Two Old Warriors
Next up Mitzadu tried to call Ares, having met him at the party and been complimented and thanked for providing such great food they had at least a speaking terms relationship. Also both warriors so Mitzadu felt certain things could be said and asked, if not answered through a common soldiers bond.
Ares was apparently off earth so a spell was improvised to reach him. Ares knocked back and told Mitzadu to meet him on the street downstairs.
They greeted each other politely and Ares said he knew what this was about.
Mitzadu acknowledged that and quietly informed him about Poseidon's apparent plans and how he likely would not stop with one kill but finish off any he saw as a rival or threat. Ares should watch his back. Mitzadu was trying to get a feeling for Ares involvement, though not expecting a firm answer either way. Ares was guarded but polite and hopefully appreciated Mitzadu's discretion at not naming names or relics - they were on the street after all and not secure from scrying. Ares told him that he shouldn't even be speaking with him, but wow that was really good bacon! Mitzadu thanked him for the compliments and said he would happily feed him any time.
Next the issue of the Spartans was brought up and Mitzadu was less circumspect here as the issue posed far less risk to Ares. Ares declined to directly answer if the Spartans were solely under Poseidon's control but did acknowledge the efforts to cull godlings before the harrowing. He seemed less than comfortable about it and the two commiserated a bit about politicians and cowards. Mitzadu explained he knew he could not win or survive but that a blood debt was owed and he would do his best to collect and go down fighting, making his death as costly ass he could. Ares seemed to understand and respect that and they parted with Ares saying he hoped if anyone took his head it would be him. Mitzadu respectfully promised to try and at least bloody him and make the fight worthwhile.
No Answer
Last on the list, though certainly on the list was Hades. The spell was cast bit reaction roll only neutral and thus declined. Mitzadu will ask for Adelphins help at another attempt but I wont post the goal here as the GM told me he would prefer to improvise and be surprised.
Afterthoughts
That was a long post! It was the game session and a followup one on one and I hope you enjoyed reading it.
The last session did not go really well as some people felt they have been getting too little screen time and there is crosstalk interrupting them. I made some suggestions and acknowledged some aditional effortts I can make to try and help but emotions were high and it did not really take. So I created a new series of posts called Gaming Advice (linked in the headers above and the search tag labels to the right) that put my thoughts on the issue (sanitized for objectivity) as not only could they potentially help our group they are common issues and I hope helpful advice to others.
A new microphone was ordered and hopefully arrive before the next game! I think that will help a lot.
