Scion: Seeds of Glory IC

[HookerBoots]

Tryp absently tucks the towel into a loop on one side of her jumpsuit, smiling a little. "I wanted to see if I could find some dwarves when we were in port, but captain said no, I had to stay here," she says, her eyes aglow. "Though I've heard they're more smiths than machinists, but there's nothing wrong with that, of course. I'm sure they can make great engines and such when they do choose to."

She glances back at Evan, and smiles a little bit shyly. "I don't . . . really know how to explain it." She runs one hand down one of her pigtails. "Let me ask, before I explain, and I hope you're not too put off by it. Are you both, um, well, you know about dwarves and such, so are you . . . you know," she makes a sort of exasperated sound. "What I mean is . . . single parent households, as it were? If you follow my meaning." One hand works sort of nervously at the towel hanging from her waist. "Gods, I'm terrible with words."

 

[Armphid]

"The captain wouldn't let you off the ship?" Evan's tone was mild but his eyes were hard. "Really? I'll have to...talk to him about that." If this girl was responsible for this engine and if it was doing the things he thought it was, then the captain's whole livelihood was due to her. And he was keeping her prisoner on his ship and making her live in the wall? He sure as hell hadn't seen her anywhere else on the ship. Yes, he and the captain needed to have a conversation.

He forced himself to relax as she went on, however. He got the impression that Tryp wasn't much more on the social ball than Crystal was and he didn't want her to think he was upset with her. He smiled back at her and then quirked his eyebrows and sighed, "It's hard to just come out and ask it, isn't it? Everyone's always afraid of sounding like the crazy person in the room."

He nodded, touching his chest with one hand, "But yes, we are in that situation, as are you, I'm sure. I'm Aesir; my biological mother is the goddess Freya, if you've heard of her." He wouldn't tell Crystal's parentage; he didn't spill anyone else's secrets but Tryp would at least know they were both Scions. "And I'd guess you're father was Hephaestus but you're way too cute for that. Unless you take after your mother."

 

[cats]

Crystal

IC: It was good not to be the only one who found conversation confusing. "I have 3 parents as it were, biologically speaking though only one is mine. But Artemis has adopted me and been as if my own mother. I do occasionally wonder which goddess was my true mother. Of coarse I now realize that parent may not even be from Greek myth. Oh well her loss Artemis's gain."

I paused and then spoke. "Evan did I ever tell you I was adopted? I didn't think to but you know, Artemis is a virgin goddess and all."

"Um.. sorry rambling. So how does this machine work now?"

 

[Armphid]

"Biologically speaking Crystal, two are probably yours." Even a god, as far as he understood it, needed a partner to make a child. And if you didn't, where was the fun in that? "But, no, I didn't know you were adopted. It makes sense, I suppose. Artemis likes to throw that virgin thing around."

Given what he knew of myth and Artemis' supposed enjoyment of other women, he would hardly call her a virgin. Sex was sex and he was in a position to know about it.

Evan shrugged, "I suppose you could say the same about me. Freya may have birthed me but she didn't raise me. So, yeah, she's technically my mother, but my mom is the woman who took care of me and fed me and looked after me my whole life. Freya just came along when she needed something from me." He couldn't quite keep the bitterness out of his voice. While he did owe the goddess, it galled him to think that she seemed to feel he should just transfer all of her parental devotion and respect to her. Where had she been when...not a productive line of thought.

"Anyway, yeah, Tryp, we're in the same situation you are."

 

[cats]

Crystal

IC: "Well I guess that needing thing is kinda true. She showed up when I was 12 and promptly had me lost in the woods. But hey I made it no worse for wear and I was able to write a book about it. I was actually pretty famous for a while too. Of coarse like all child stars, my fame seems to of left me."

 

[HookerBoots]

Tryp sighs with relief. "That's good, it'll make it easier to explain." She looks between the two of you and shrugs. "See, I know why it works. It's based on a few simple algorithms and a few Newtonian principles. Basically, there's a motor in each one that's connected to the main motor," she walks over to a large 'arm' in the middle of the mess, "inside Gregory here."

Pointing to the floor, she continues. "About half the motors are connected to, um, sort of flippers? They drive the ship faster than it could normally go, even with a modern engine in it." She looks at the arms that are moving the wood to the furnace. "The rest keep the fire going, for heat on the ship and to, um," she blushes a little, "so that I'll have a place to make other things. Metal work's a lot harder without a fire, you know?"

With a small smile, Tryp adds, "And you're right - my dad's Hephaestus." She shrugs again. "I guess all the gods are really different - he gives me regular shipments of whatever metals I want, and sometimes other materials. I needed a fairly large ruby for Gregory, and he sent it for me." With a small smile, she looks upward. "And I got to stay with the dad who raised me. The captain, you know?" Tryp looks at Evan, one eyebrow raised. "He lets me share his cabin, and I helped build the Fury, so I know the secret passages. I can move without being seen."

 

[Armphid]

Evan nodded, listening to both women, "Actually Crystal, I did recognize your name back when we first met but I figured you got enough fan recognition kind of thing." He did recall the book, and there were others he thought, that she'd written about her experiences.

The fact that Tryp's dad was the captain did make things a little better. It changed him from being an exploitative asshole to an overprotective father. He could understand not letting the cuter than she probably thought and socially awkward girl out on the streets of Reykjavik during the drunken times. But it could still be dangerous; if she was like them, danger would find her sooner or later. How well did being sheltered prepare her for it?

"It's an impressive machine, as is your helping build the ship." Evan smiled and gave the mechanic a wink, "You're a lot more than a pretty face. Both of your fathers must be proud." He then gestured over at the wall, "I guess I can understand if you want to keep to yourself but if you want, you know, while we're here to hang out or talk or anything, I think we'd both like that. Right, Crystal?"

 

[cats]

Crystal

IC: "It never hurts to have more friends. Besides we are basically cousins, Zeus is my grandfather and yours. Well wait that does make us cousins right."

"You know I had this same conversation a few days ago with Neria. She is also our cousin, who I had never met like you. I am starting to think we should have a family reunion... then again our parents can be a little scary at times. Still I would like to meet all of our cousins."

 

[HookerBoots]

Tryp smiles a little. "It would be a good idea, but I don't know how we'd manage it. From what I've read, there's a lot of us roaming around, if you include all the children of the gods and their descendants." She shrugs, pulling the towel from her waist and wiping at a smudge on one of the bronze arms with it. "It would be nice, though. To meet more people like us."

She leans back against one of the nearby machines and folds her arms over her chest. "I think it would be nice to have some people to talk to - really talk to, at least for the little while we're together." A wry smile passes over her lips. "I could tell you about some of the things that have happened here, maybe get advice for the future. I mean, I never expected sea monsters, and it's not the kind of thing you can talk about with the average sailor, you know?"

The brunette mechanic pushes herself straight again and looks at both of you, a little shyly. "It's about lunchtime. Would you two like to, um, have lunch with me? I think we're far enough south now, it should be warm enough to eat outside." She stops for a second. "Unless you get seasick? I've never had a problem, but I know I'm not usual, even among us."

 

[cats]

Crystal

IC: "Tryp, even among us there is no normal. One of our recent companions for example switched from boy to girl when ever she slept, or was it he? But either way I would love to grab some lunch. If you want to talk about family that's good, if you want to talk about something else that is equally good, or perhaps we can simply eat and enjoy the sea breeze in silence that is fine as well."

 

[Armphid]

Evan grimaced a bit at Crystal's comments. Yes, they were intended to appeal to Tryp and ease her nerves, but did she really need to air someone else's secrets to do it? She seemed to have an idea of her own privacy and value it but the privacy of others apparently was not as big a deal.

That was something he'd have to remember. Crystal could not be trusted not to blurt out his secrets. He shouldn't have told her about being in porn. She'd probably babble it out to Tryp over lunch...

He shook his head and shrugged, "Crystal is right, we Scions are a pretty strange group in general." Then he headed to the door and turned the wheel on the hatch to pull it open, "Lunch with two lovely ladies in the sea air sounds excellent. Shall we?"

 

[cats]

Crystal

IC: "Yep nothing like the good out doors. Of coarse I this is more our cousins environment then ours. Her father is Poseidon, and she was very nice, always smelled a bit of sea breeze. So have you had any adventures?"

 

[HookerBoots]

You make your way through the ship to the galley and collect some food for lunch - a pretty generous spread, once the cooks see that Tryp is along with you. Once everything is bundled up in a pack, all three of you head up to the deck.

The air topside is much warmer than it had been around Iceland, and the water seems to be a different shade of blue. Everything is still scented with the tang of saltwater, and there seem to be a lot of sailors on deck. Some of them are there to relieve the others for a lunch break, while others seem to be doing what you are: A pleasant lunch with fresh air.

The three of you sit down and start eating, chatting with your new friend about what sorts of things each of you has done. Tryp is in the middle of a story about the time they were in port in Chile and she ran afoul of some really creepy Aztec zombies when the sea goes very calm.

Everyone who is used to being on a ship stops what they're doing and looks up almost as one. Tryp stands up, one hand shading her eyes as she looks over the smooth-as-glass ocean. Her eyes narrow as she looks to port, and she yells in a surprisingly loud voice, "Everyone below decks! Right now!"

As she shouts, there is a disturbance in the water to the port side of the ship. Four ugly beasts that shouldn't exist hop up onto the railing of the boat, clutching with all four feet and their tails. They are shaped like small dogs, but their hands and feet are decidedly simian. The tail they clutch the railing with is prehensile, but at the end of it is a human hand.

(Join Battle checks: Evan rolled 5 dice = 8+9+2+3+6 = 2 successes; Crystal rolled 6 dice = 8+10+4+8+1+7=5 + 1 Epic Wits = 6 successes; Tryp rolled 5 dice= 6+3+6+3+8 = 1+1 Epic Wits = 2 successes; Monsters rolled 5 dice = 9+4+9+10+10= 6 successes.
Crystal and the monsters will be moving first, followed by Evan and Tryp.)

Even as she yells, the sailors are scrambling for the ladder down to the rest of the ship. Some of them seem to be frozen in horror, but those are being pushed and tugged along by the rest of the crew.

 

[cats]

Crystal

IC: "I don't recall these things from legend... family hazard I suppose." Even as I spoke I charged the beats as they charged us. The boat was to cramped to properly use my bow, but this wouldn't be my first fist fight by any means. In fact the gloves I always wore help me in situations like this. They are made from the hide of a legendary dear renowned for its speed, this speed still remains in part allowing me to strike faster and as a result hit harder and more often.

As I closed in for my first attack on one of the beasts I felt my body drawing on what I can only call my heritage, my senses focused in and my mind became blank of all thoughts save my actions. I was not going to be hit, not today any ways.

 

[HookerBoots]

(Fatebinding roll: GM rolls 4 dice = 4+4+8+3 = 1 success, no fatebinding occurs)

As Crystal dashes forward to clobber one of the beasts with her outstretched fists, one of the sailors, the last one down, looks back, eyes wide, before the man before him reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him belowdecks and slamming the door shut behind him.

(Attack roll [assuming Crystal is trying for a heavy blow - will edit if not]: Crystal rolls 7 dice = 1+9+4+9+3+1+2=2 + 4 Epic = 6 successes. Crystal is up by 2; Crystal rolls 8 dice = 5+2+6+10+7+10+3+1 = 5 + 2 Epic = 7 Bashing Dmg. Monster has 4B Soak; Crystal deals 3 Bashing dmg)

The monster takes the blow from Crystal's fist, yelping a little as she connects firmly with his ribs. Using the end of its tail for balance, the little beast lunges forward and bites at Crystal.

(Attack roll: Monster rolls 7 dice = 8+8+4+9+6+1+7 = 4 + 2 Epic = 6 successes. Monster misses.)

The beast's jaws snap on air where Crystal's head had been moments before, as she dodges out of the way. The second creature has moved over the railing with a liquid motion, heading towards Evan and Tryp. Two of its horrible monkey-paws lash out, trying to capture the golden-haired man.

(Attack roll: Monster rolls 6 dice = 1+2+3+2+3+2+4 = 0 + 2 Epic = 2 successes. Monster misses.)

His hands grasp nothing but air as Evan's natural grace pulls him out of the way within seconds.

(Monsters 3 and 4 spend a point of Legend each to activate Untouchable Opponent.)

Another beast heads for Evan on the other side, trying to take a bite out of the adult movie star, his head lashing out towards Evan's back.

(Attack roll: Monster rolls 7 dice = 8+9+4+5+6+2+8 = 3 + 2 Epic = 5 Successes. Monster spends a point of Legend to add 4 Successes = 9 Successes. Monster is up by 3; Monster rolls 6 dice = 9+2+6+6+3+3 = 1 Lethal Dmg. Evan has 4L Soak, Monster deals no dmg.)

The monster snaps at Evan's back, but just manages to get a mouthful of his shirt, pulling back spitting fabric. The last beast has charged at Tryp, snapping at the shy girl with a mouth full of sharp teeth.

(Attack roll: Monster rolls 7 dice = 5+3+7+4+6+1+8 = 2 + 2 Epic = 4 successes. Monster spends a point of Legend to add 4 Successes = 8 Successes. Monster is up by 1. Monster rolls 3 dice = 3+3+10+7 = 3 Lethal Dmg. Tryp has a soak of 2L; Monster deals 1L dmg.)

Tryp cries out as one of the creatures sinks its teeth into her upper arm, shaking it in an effort to try and get the little horror off. Her free hand goes to her waist, fumbling inside the jumpsuit for something.

(Evan's turn; Tryp will act after he does.)

 

[Armphid]

Evan's eyes flashed as the creatures attacked him; their horrible dog-monkey faces snapping at him and almost into him. He laughed as the one grabbed at him, "Sorry, Toto-Magilla, you're not my type!"

He lurched forward then as the second one that had scampered behind him bit at his back. The redhead could feel the teeth scraping his skin, leaving a mark probably but not breaking it. He smiled.

The thrill of sea travel had certainly spoken to his Norse heritage. But even if it hadn't, this did. His lips parted in a toothy, savage, joyous smile. His blood sang as it coursed through his veins and his heart exulted in battle. "Not good enough!"

He reached up to his left shoulder and spoke a single word, "Asch." Blood trickled down his arm for a moment and then in his hand he held the haft to a mighty bearded axe, the blood ceased after the first few drops, the rest of Evan's shirt tearing away as he brought the weapon down and brandished it.

Freya's son pivoted to see both his attackers and lifted his weapon high to strike. Then he heard Tryp cry out and saw her stepping back, one of the beasts pulling it's mouth from her arm with blood in it's jaws and down her clothes.

Evan growled and leaped past the dog-monkey beasts attacking him; turning his back to them and not caring if they struck. He stepped up with both hands low on the ax handle and swept it upwards in a blow aimed at the beast assaulting the shy engineer. He threw his all into the strike, divine power filling him as he roared out, "Don't you dare touch her!"

 

[HookerBoots]

(Fatebinding roll: GM rolls 3 dice = 9+10+3 = 3 success, no fatebinding occurs)
(Attack roll: Evan rolls 7 dice = 10+7+8+8+5+6+5 = 5 + 2 Epic +3 = 10 successes. Evan is up by 6. Evan rolls 11 dice = 6+2+10+6+8+8+2+10+6+6+4 = 6 + 1 Epic = 7 Lethal dmg. Monster has 2L soak; Evan's attack does 5L dmg.)

The monster lets go of Tryp's arm, flying through the air and landing on the deck of the ship in a bloody, whimpering heap - it appears to have lost one of its paws. The paw itself is cleanly severed, twitching pitifully on the railing as the last nerve impulses die.

Tryp gasps out, "Thanks," as she pulls a small, bronze item from her jumpsuit. Gritting her teeth, the shy engineer throws whatever it is - it looks like a spider the size of a hamburger - at the monkey-dog that had attacked Evan's back.

(Tryp rolls [DEX + Thrown] 6 dice = 2+2+9+3+10+8 = 4 + 1 Epic = 5 successes.)

The spider lands on the beast and its small bronze claws dig into the sleek black fur. As it lowers its body on the monster, the body opens up and at least a hundred tiny bronze spiders flow out, covering the beast in a sheen of biting bronze arachnids.

(Fatebinding roll: GM rolls 3 dice = 6+6+5 = 0 successes; no fatebinding occurs.)
(Attack roll: Tryp's construct rolls 8 dice = 9+10+1+8+4+8+2+9 = 6 successes. Construct is up by 6; Construct rolls 9 dice = 7+10+9+8+2+10+2+1+8 = 8 Lethal dmg. Monster has 2L soak; Construct does 6L dmg.)

The spiders sink their fangs in, and the water-monster howls in pain, throwing himself over the railing in an effort to get away. The little spiders seem to be hanging on, however, and he keeps yelping as he swims in a circle, trying to get them off of his hide.

(End of round 1; Crystal's turn again.)

 

[cats]

Crystal

IC: Out of the corner of my eye I watch the battle unfold for Tryp and Evan. I was curious at the object Tryp tossed a shiny bronze object that made a monkey jump off the ship. What ever it is, I hope its water proof. In the mean time Evan nearly cleaved on into two but an agile move turned the fatal blow into the loss of an arm.

I had just dodged a near bite to the face. I considered grappling, and decided the enemy likely had an edge in a wrestling match. Instead I threw another heavy punch.

 

[HookerBoots]

(Attack roll: Crystal rolls 8 dice = 8+3+2+9+2+4+10+3 = 4 + 4 Epic = 8 Successes. Crystal is up by 4. Crystal rolls 7 dice = 5+1+6+4+6+4+4 = 0+2 Epic = 2 Bashing Dmg. Monster has 4B soak; Crystal does no damage.)

The blow connects, but the monster's fur absorbs most of the force of the blow. It chitters at Crystal, both hands lashing out at her to grab the pretty archer.

(Attack roll: Monster rolls 7 dice = 2+7+6+5+10+9+7 = 5 Successes. Monster misses.)

The little beast tries to grab Crystal, but his little paw-hands catching nothing but air. He tumbles forward, landing on the deck of the ship with a thud and a screech.

The monster that is missing a hand begins to pull himself towards the railing and up it. It is clearly trying to get away and back into the water.

The final monkey-dog leaps at Evan's back, trying to wrap its arms around the adult actor and clutch them to his sides.

(Attack roll: Monster rolls 7 dice = 1+7+3+10+1+1+10 = 5 +4 Auto = 9 successes. Monster is up by 3. Evan is clinched!)

The monster manages to wrap his long, wiry arms around the well-built porn star, pinning Evan's arms to his sides. It lets out a triumphant chittering sound and begins to jerk around, trying to tug the farmboy-turned-actor to the railing and over.

(Evan's turn next; Tryp will go after he does.)

 

[Armphid]

"Gkk!" Evan clenched his teeth and grunted as some of his breath was forced out of him. The creature let out a horrible laughter like chittering as it wrenched and heaved with all its weight to try and heave him over the side.

While Evan could swim and wasn't afraid of the fall, there was no telling how many more of these things were in the water waiting for him. And they could probably maneuver better in the ocean than he would. Plus there was the chance that the ship wouldn't be able to pick him up.

He snarled and threw himself forward with all of his strength, attempting to hurl himself to the deck and expose the monkey-dog on his back to the others, "Hit it! I'll be fine!"

 

[HookerBoots]

Tryp blinks as Evan throws himself flat on the deck. She shakes her head and her hand dips into her jumpsuit again, her hand coming out clad in what looks like a set of bronze brass knuckles. She angles the fist towards the beast and tenses the muscles in her arm. A bronze dart flies out of it, whirring through the air at the monster.

(Attack roll: Tryp rolls 5 dice = 9+7+7+1+3 = 3 +1 Epic = 4 Successes. Tryp is up by one. Tryp rolls 5 dice = 10+9+3+7+2 = 4 + 3 Auto = 7 Lethal Dmg. Monster has 2L soak; Tryp does 5L dmg.)

(Fatebinding roll: GM rolls 3 dice = 7+9+4 = 3 successes. No fatebinding occurs.)

The dart pushes through the fur on the monster's back, burying deep into his flesh. Blood spurts out of the wound, and the beast's arms go slack around Evan's body. The dart has hit something pretty important; the monkey-dog is bleeding a lot, and not moving entirely right. It is now making a move for the railing as well.

(End of round 2; Crystal's turn. Summary: One beast over the side, two trying to escape, one on the deck near Crystal.)

 

[cats]

Crystal

IC: "Do we let them go or do we stop them here?" I wasn't one hundred percent on the best option. How ever several of them had fled the scene and Tryp and Evan had all but slain a second.

I lashed out to grab the monkey and force into submission. Despite being a slight girl I had a surprising amount of physical power and wasn't a bad wrestler.

(I am less then clear on how to graple but I do lethal damage in wresting because of a trait. )

 

[HookerBoots]

(Attack roll: Crystal rolls 8 dice = 1+10+6+5+9+6+6+9 = 4 + 4 Epic = 8 successes. Crystal is up by 4. Crystal rolls 7 dice = 9+6+3+1+9+4+1 = 2 + 2 Epic = 4 Lethal dmg. Monster has 2L soak; Crystal does 2L dmg.)

The monster that Crystal grabs with ease lets out a cry of pain and fear as she squeezes it, and its body goes limp in her arms. The other two beasts have made it to the railing and are pulling themselves up onto it. The one missing his hand looks at Crystal, and the other one chitters at it. They both flop over the railing and splash into the water.

As you look over the ocean, there is no visible sign of the monsters on the surface, and the water you're sailing through seems to be getting lighter, a more natural motion coming to the surface. Tryp tugs the jumpsuit down over her shoulder and upper arm, flinching as the material tugs over her wound. "I think they're gone," she says in a soft voice.

The bite on her arm is ugly-looking, but it doesn't look like the damage is too bad. She works the shoulder a little, and pokes at the bite with one finger. "You don't think this'll make me turn into one of them, do you?" she jokes.

 

[Armphid]

Evan got up off the deck, his bare chest streaked with the blood of the monsters. He smiled at Tryp, despite her wound and the now seemingly passed danger, she was still very cute right now. "Not that I've ever heard of. That's only a danger with vampires and zooanthropes and those guys weren't anything like that. Whatever the hell they were."

He approached her and gestured at her injury, "May I? I know some basic first aid. I can get it cleaned up and field dressed for you, if you'd like. Though it might be best to do that below decks." To do so, she'd probably need to unzip the jumpsuit the rest of the way and while it did look like she had a t-shirt under it, she probably wouldn't want the rest of the crew staring. He murmured the rune's name again and the massive axe in his hand vanished, Evan grunting softly as the runic tattoo re-appeared on his shoulder. "It's the least I can do, considering you saved me from some pretty wicked mauling. Thank you Tryp."

The redhead looked over at Crystal, "And you! Who'd have thought you were a brawler? Nice moves!"

 

[cats]

Crystal

IC: "Thanks. It has taken many bruises and a few broken bones, but I think I can handle myself now." I thought back to when I first became lost in the woods. I had brush in with a bear that left me running for my life with a broken arm. If not for my surprising ability to heal fast and a lot of luck, I never would of became half this skilled. I wondered if the others had similar experiences.

"I miss the others Evan, but that isn't helpful." I looked at the dead body and the severed hand. "I hope these guys don't get back up."

I look at Tryp and the now covered wound. "That wound does look much worse then I would like. I suggest you take Evan's offer of dressing. No need to take chances. Along those lines my mother put me in touch with some one useful in these situations."

I placed a hand to my lobe and turned the small silver stud in it. Placing me in contact with Gasper via some form of telepathy. /Hey Gasper, it is Crystal. I know its been a while but I have a favor to ask. Can you try and find out about a monster or beast that looks like,/ I flied over the head of the fallen beast and then looked at the hands, feet, and tail. Looking for details I missed.

/Well it looks kinda like a dog, medium to small size. With the hands of a monkey and an extra hand at the end of its tail./