Children of the Gods: Arc 2 [Game/Closed]

[Terratina.]

"I am Gaia; Mother of earth; keeper of the grove. And what are your names?"

She followed the lead of the others - eyes at the ground, bowing, stating her name, her heritage, and a respective greeting to top things off. But even with that, she felt caught off guard. Like there was something else she had to do as well. Maybe it was due to the fact that she was standing next to a very tall tree woman whose power caused ripples in the world, even with just a step. Who spoke with an oddly comforting voice, but in it was spiked with other, more negative things as well.

"Etna, daughter of Badb, a student and a traveler." Were her words.

 

[Green Shoes]

Prometheus waited in the darkness as the group introduced themselves. First impressions were important, and they were at their mercy. Though he couldn't slip out now, he wanted to talk to the door maiden before they left. Unfinished business and all that.

The peculiar smell from earlier intensified, setting him on edge. What was it? Where did it remind him of? His memory eluded him, though the smell didn't seem to remind him of any threats. He gave up and stayed content in waiting behind the group. It was a strange feeling laying eyes on Gaia after so many years. He wondered how much she knew of his imprisonment.

His mind drifted to the other group. Would they come if they screamed? Would the door maiden stop them? Too many variables. Luckily each team had a tactician. And they had already shown their prowess in combat. Satyrs are no easy kill...

 

[Deu Sex]

"Anyone wanna guess who?" Remus shrugged. He couldn't be sure what was lurking in there without seeing it with his own eyes. Prometheus had said something about averting their eyes...maybe a gorgon? No, that wouldn't make any sense in the context. They had gone deep underground. Maybe this was a secret path to Hades? No, he recalled it being a three-headed dog that guarded that door and not some young woman. Whatever it was, it likely had a strong affinity with the Earth given the locale.

"I think that was the mother Earth of Greek mythology. I think she mated with the sky to create the world or something... who knows how much of the myths are true or how accurate they are..." Remus turned around in surprise at this. Apparently Steven had some far greater hearing than he did. "Gaia..." he muttering, thinking on the name. Remus was quite knowledgeable when it came to mythology. His mother used to read to him the old antiquity legends like bedtime stories when he was younger. And while most of them were about the Roman pantheon, most of the myths paralleled with those of the Greeks. "Yes, she coupled with the sky deity Caelus, or Uranus, and gave birth to the first titans as you know them." He met Nicole's look as she face him. "She's the ancestor of near every antiquity God."

 

[hiei82]

"I am Gaia; Mother of earth; keeper of the grove. And what are your names?"

"Great, it's Mother Nature. And here I thought there might have been a GOOD reason Prometheus didn't say who we were meeting." Vera thought to herself, her annoyance with their Titan guide reaching new heights. Still, despite her general dislike for all divine beings, Vera tried to copy the others to the best of her ability. She pushed slightly on the floor with her wind to make something of a knee mark on the floor, then made some noise to indicate her existance.

"Veronica , Daughter of Verethragna" she thought, thinking maybe the divine being was in her head. She desperatly tried not to think about her contempt for the divine mother. Maybe it would work.

 

[DarkRawen]

"Yes, she coupled with the sky deity Caelus, or Uranus, and gave birth to the first titans as you know them. She's the ancestor of near every antiquity God."

Gaia, huh. Why would someone like that hide in the middle of nowhere?

He had heard something about Gaia, but not nearly as much Steven and Remus appeared to have. Andrew would say he didn't care about who the others were talking to, but a part of him wanted to face this mother earth. He wondered if he would cover in fear or awe by the sight of her, he hadn't felt the urge to do so in front of Apollo, and not Prometheus either. Gods or no gods, all he could see them as beings to be vary of. Did the other half-gods feel the same? Or did they have more respects for them?

They probably do. And then there's that other thing I've been wondering about.

This was a question best asked aloud. In a whisper, of course. "Why would Gaia be the one Prometheus would go to? Isn't there someone else who would know where Dionysus is?"

Wouldn't there be someone or something less risky to talk to?

 

[IFS]

"She's the ancestor of near every antiquity God."

She nodded, she hadn't heard Steven when he'd spoken before and she was a bit surprised he had been able to hear Prometheus. She did know who Gaia was though isn't she like my grandmother or something? Great great great grandmother probably, damn it figures I'd be left to sit in the dark while the others get to chat up the Earth. I suppose I could try talking to the dirt but its not the same. Part of her wasn't sure she wanted to meet more of her relatives on her mom's side, that part was mostly overwhelmed by the feeling of 'Oh man a titan, AWESOME!'. She did think it was a little odd that she didn't get that feeling from Prometheus, but then he didn't really seem much like a titan to her Its the drinking isn't it? Well that and the driving, and the getting mauled by a goat, and probably a few other things.

"Why would Gaia be the one Prometheus would go to? Isn't there someone else who would know where Dionysus is?"

She shrugged, "I dunno, I remember a lot about Gaia, but nothing that really makes her an obvious choice. I guess if she's supposed to be the Earth it makes some sense she'd know where everything on it is," she whispered, all the whispering and muttering was starting to make her feel like she was part of some strange conspiracy.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Aria was silent was the three of the discussed Gaia, in that she was using her phone for something else. In some odd twist she actually had bars down in that hole, so she hit up Wikipedia by way of Google, looking up information about her biological mother, and found out exactly why she could do every thing she can do fairly quickly, as what Freya is a goddess was in the second or third line of the entry, though the list was surprisingly long, but then she decided that was kinda awesome.

 

[Green Shoes]

Gaia nodded as they each introduced themselves. She was fascinated by them, and small vines seemed to weave in and over their feet, probing and feeling, trying to understand just what they were.

"Children of Gods. How...interesting...It is lovely indeed to meet all of you. Especially you, wind-being."
She waved her hand through the wind, giggling slightly. Something was strange and off about her actions and attitude. Something not quite right. Still, they needed her answer. Prometheus stepped forward.

"Where is Dionysus, Gaia?"

They were running out of time, and Gaia still had yet to answer his question. Fiercely she grew and screamed at him, her power shaking rocks from their walls.

"I'm getting to that you insolent brat!"

She stood there, 15 feet tall, ready to pounce, her bark-teeth bared. Then, she smiled sweetly and shrunk back down. This set Prometheus on edge. He looked over to the creeks and rambles, now gushing and overflowing.

They had turned purple. Into wine.

Oh god.

"As for Dionysus, there are so many libations poured to him, so many sacrifices, it's hard to distinguish time. But the most recent one was right...here..."

She pointed to her stomach, where a churning mass soon made itself out to be the island of Sicily. She laughed manically. Drunkenly.

Prometheus knelt once more, speaking slowly and surely.

"We thank you, mother of all. We shall let you rest now."

By now she was stumbling and slurring, wine oozing out of her footprints. She grew, and with a fury, she grabbed Able and Etna in one hand, squeezing tight.

"I am not finished with our guests! PROMETHEUS!"

She screamed and lashed with her other hand, Prometheus barely ducking, her hand crushing the stones it hit. He quickly ran to the tunnel and yelled.

"Need some help in here! Just blind her for Kronos sake! Hecate! Dionysus has poisoned Gaia!"

Without hearing their response, he raced back in and called out.

"Able! Wrap your arms around Etna to protect her. Etna! Calm her down with your mind-shit. Vera! Lead the group coming in; you're the tactician. For gods sake, don't kill her!"

Prometheus then ran back outside and grabbed Hecate, still stunned from the Prometheus last message. Placing her in a headlock, he yelled to the others.

"GO GO GO"

 

[DarkRawen]

"Need some help in here! Just blind her for Kronos sake! Hecate! Dionysus has poisoned Gaia!"

So it went to hell, didn't it?

"GO GO GO"

Andrew still remained calm. He had known something could happen, so it wasn't a surprise. Even so, he could feel his heart beat faster, almost drumming in his ear. No fear, only excitement. It didn't feel like it was his excitement, it was the influence of the people around him, the sounds of their breaths and feet, as they hurried towards Prometheus voice, and further ahead.

I have to keep calm. How did Dionysus manage to poison Gaia? Or was that a lie? If it is poison, is there anything I could do? I do doubt it.

He thought this as he ran into the large chamber, but despite its unique appearance, his eyes were glued to the huge woman made of trees. She seemed crazy or angered, rather than poisoned, extremely hostile. However, what filled him wasn't fear, it wasn't any kind of respect or awe. He almost felt... pity. Pity and some sort of twisted pride. He couldn't help but stare at her, completely frozen, just taking in the sight, and... just everything. It took a second or two until he snapped out of it, but that was enough for him to curse out aloud, annoyed with himself.

"Damn it."

I have to keep moving.

The thing was, where was he supposed to be? Between them all, right? But if she had been poisoned, was there something he could do about that?

I'm not the tactican.

He reminded himself.

I have no reason to worry about that.

He then placed himself in the middle of the group or so, making sure he could reach most without wasting too much time. If someone got hurt, he had to be there and help them. Besides, he didn't really want to get close to Gaia either way, that could seriously backfire, and he liked staying alive.

 

[Deu Sex]

"Need some help in here! Just blind her for Kronos sake! Hecate! Dionysus has poisoned Gaia!" Remus had remained so alert he had jumped into action the instant he heard Prometheus' voice. He threw himself out and cover and began sprinting down the tunnel with a frantic speed. "GO TIME!" he yelled, not turning around to properly address the group lest he lose his momentum. The faster he got past that iron door, the better chance of his companions inside escaping with their lives intact.

Remembering the gatekeeper, Remus switched the safety off his pistol and worried for a moment if he might need to fire on the woman. Yet Prometheus had relieved him of that concern when the titan grabbed Hecate and put her in a headlock. "GO GO GO" He followed that advice, continuing his run but keeping the grip on his gun tight. Soon Remus dashed past Promtheus with the others in tow and entered the end room.

Remus was unable to admire the natural beauty of Gaia's chamber as all his attention was focused on the drunken goddess herself. The mother of all Gods was more terrifying and grand than anything he had seen before, yet his fear was quickly swapped with rage. He scowled hard as he saw her gripping Able and Etna. "Let's get her attention!" he shouted to the shock team. He lifted his pistol and fired, the gun echoing through the cave as its bullets flew towards Gaia's shoulder. "LET GO OF THEM YOU *****!" he howled as loud as he could to catch her ear.

 

[Lunar Templar]

"Need some help in here! Just blind her for Kronos sake! Hecate! Dionysus has poisoned Gaia!"

"Oh for fucks sake ..." Aria groaned, as she got up and put her phone away. She darted down the hall with the others, she was probably the only one that didn't feel any sort of fear on the way down, probably due to her own ignorance of the mythology of the being they where facing.

When Aria entered the chamber she was taken aback by the sight of the massive tree woman, that combined with the presence she seemed to have Aria stood in awe for a few moments, before she noticed Able and Etna in her grip "Shit" she muttered "Plan? Some one one have a plan?" she asked, but was already coming up with one of her own if no one answered fast enough. though before anyone could answer, Remus started shooting at her "Not Helping...."

 

[Ruedyn]

Dan was stunned at the goddess, but quickly snapped out of it, charging towards her with his spear. A few loud reports told him someone had fired, and he quickly ducked, feeling his shirt get grazed by a bullet.

"Fuck! Why did't you tell us?"

"Didn't ask?" The rabbit seemed to shrug, as the hawk flew away from the scene, only to be grabbed by a root, and was crushed with a squawk. Dan looked over his shoulder, roots and vines shot out at Remus and his group. Prometheus was gone already, with Hectate.

"WATCH OUT!!" Dan turned around, and quickly thrust his spear at the drunk Goddess several times, only for her to make holes in her body, making the bullets and spear pass through harmlessly. Gaia grinned maliciously, more roots shot out of her body, grabbing Dan's arm.

"GAHAH, FUCK!" Dan felt the root go through his shoulder, snapping bones and tendons. The root retracted, and Dan sank to the floor.

"Next?" The tree goddess swayed slightly, looking over the group. All so fascinating...

A few of the animals came out of the forest, red eyes and covered in purple wine. Dan got back to his feet, switching his spear hand. He limped back to the group, holding his hand out to the animals. They seemed to stay back, afraid to charge.

"I'll keep the animals at bay. Distract her for awhile, I think I have a plan."

 

[DarkRawen]

Andrew watches as Remus shot at the goddess. It seemed to have no effect on her, something that didn't surprise Andrew. She was stronger than all of them, probably. Suddenly, roots shot out towards him, and he went down, his left arm being graced by a vine. He didn't have any kind of weapon, so all he could do was to move away from the vines and roots.

"WATCH OUT!!"

Bit too late.

He looked at his arm, it was barely bleeding, and it took no effort at all to heal it. Luckily, cuts were easy to fix. However, the very next moment, he saw Dan's shoulder being penetrated by a root, and knew what it meant. At best, there would only be a large wound, at worst, there would be several broken bones.

"Next?"

She was trying them, it seemed, hoping someone would jump on her next. Of course, it was the furthest thing from Andrew's mind. They were supposed to keep her distracted, right? Why had Dan put himself at such a risk? And would someone else do it with her challenge? Remus seemed a likely candidate, he seemed enraged by the hostages Gaia was holding. Of course, it wasn't as if Andrew didn't care about the hostages, one of them was his favorite person to mess with, and he wanted neither to die, but he didn't let emotions get to him.

Other people could really learn to stay calm.

When Dan was over in the area where neither Andrew nor Dan would be at immediate risk, he went over to the son of Odin, and looked at the wound, touching it with his hand.

I don't even know if I can fix this. I have to try, though, it looks like it's bad enough to kill him if I don't.

"I'll keep the animals at bay. Distract her for awhile, I think I have a plan."

"I'll take care of that wound, okay?" Andrew said, tone being a serious one, rather than a friendly. He put his hands on both sides of the wound, as to temporarily stop part of the bleeding, and started healing, making sure to remove all sorts of possible infection as he did. He first closed the skin, before restoring the bones and the tendons. It took a while, almost as long as it took Dan to work with his plan.

"Someone else better not get hurt," he muttered under his breath. "Because I really don't want to have to watch someone bleed out." Realizing that this wasn't very encouraging for Dan, who could hear him, he added: "I'll try my best, of course. Heck, I might be able to do more than I know myself."

Someone would have to carry me out afterwards, though.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Aria sighed as Remus's ammo did nothing, but when Dan got run through a look of fear crossed her face, 'Oh Gods no, don...' she thought, but was cut off when Dan picked him self up slowly, good he's alive still' her relief visible on her face.

So she put her own plan into motion. Aria put her hands together, concentrating for a moment, before pulling her hands apart and forming a beach ball sized ball of energy. While it looked impressive and one would be forgiven for thinking size equaled strength, and in most cases they would be right, just not this time. This ball was no more powerful then the one's she shot earlier that killed the satyr that was charging Able, but since this was a Goddess, she figured it would only annoy her at most in terms of damage done, and even then that wasn't the point.

Aria reared back and threw the ball "EYES DOWN NOW!!!" she yelled just before the ball exploded in a bright, but harmless flash of light.

 

[IFS]

The yelling started and Remus charged off into the chamber, followed by the others, Nicole sprang to her feet her wings expanding from her back. They were much smaller this time to fit in the tunnels but the light from them infused her with greater strength, which would no doubt help. She darted into the chamber and stood for a second in awe of its wonder so that's what a titan looks like, Prommy could take some lessons from her.

Then Remus started shooting, the sound snapped her out of the trance and she glanced around, she doubted she could do any damage to the titan, and it had already hurt Dan for trying. Then she saw Able and Etna gripped in the Titan's hand and a jolt of fear and anger went through her.

"Hey Grandma! Over here!" she yelled, waving, gotta distract her so they can free themselves, and so she can't hurt the others. "Had too much to drink old lady?" she taunted, taking off to the side with incredible speed, there's a your mom joke to be made here somewhere, now is not the time to think of it though.

"EYES DOWN NOW!!!"

She brought the tips of her wings over her face briefly, blocking out the blinding flash of light god I wonder how many more of those she can do before she's exhausted, she was already looking tired after earlier.

 

[Deu Sex]

Remus cursed as his bullets phased through Gaia uselessly. It was certainly foolish on him to assume the mother of Gods would be affected by a few measly gunshots. He also noticed that one of the shots almost hit Dan. "Remus you idiot! Stop acting on instinct and think for a moment!" he said to himself. He stopped firing just in time to hear Dan shout out a warning. "WATCH OUT!!"

He saw roots rushing out from the ground and propelling themselves towards his group. While tempted at first to simply grapple the wood with his bare hands, Remus remembered what Andrew had said about his limiting healing capacity and instead aimed to avoid the roots. He narrowly weaved away from one as it speared itself into the dirt next to him, and turned around just in time to see Dan get brutally incapacitated by Gaia.

"Vaffanculo!" At first he thought Dan had been outright slain by the skewering root, but it turned out the son of Odin was made of some tough stuff. Remus was also relieved to see Andrew coming to Dan's aid. "Keeping his cool even in a situation like this..." he noticed. He was glad to have somebody as useful as the doctor around.

Suddenly he heard Aria's voice cry out. "EYES DOWN NOW!!!" Remus ducked his face down as the demigoddess unleashed a blast of flashing light at Gaia. "Now that's more useful than a gun." Remus decided to use this opportunity while Gaia was likely stunned to bark out a few orders. "Steven! Keep Andrew safe while he tends to Dan! Aria, keep lighting her up as best you can! Nicole, I'll run a distraction and you can try and get Able and Etna out of her-" But then he realized Nicole wasn't standing with them anymore.

"Hey Grandma! Over here! Had too much to drink old lady?" Remus paused and bit his lip briefly. "Cazzo." he uttered. Looks like it was going to be the other way around then. Remus sprinted out of cover and ran along the side of Gaia opposite of where Nicole was. He needed a sound opportunity to strike if he hoped to get the two of them out of her grasp.

 

[Ruedyn]

"I'll try my best, of course. Heck, I might be able to do more than I know myself."

"Thank you doctor, you have quickly become my second favorite." Dan got up a bit, testing his arm. A bit of a dull ache, but he could use it again. Just in time to get a lot of the animals under his leadership, or control depending on how you looked at it.

"EYES DOWN NOW!!!"

"Wha-?" Xan managed to leap in front of Dan's eyes, to save him from permanent blindness. Gaia did likewise, with roots instead of rabbits. Her smile only lessened when she heard the scream-y angel. She quickly sent a roots after her throat, before feeling something akin to a bee sting from below. A wolf had bit onto her waist, and was holding on for dear life.

She quickly felt more animals attacking her, from all directions. Her swats managed to produce a dead animal with each and every strike, but she was clearly losing it.

"Now, go for the eyes, anyone!" Dan yelled, keeping most his mind on the task of keeping the animals from slipping up and attacking his colleagues. Xan had stayed by, and huddled up near Aria. He couldn't fight, but he could be adorable!

 

[Green Shoes]

Gaia stumbled, enraged by the blinding light. She released Able and Etna, flinging them violently into a shallow pool of wine. The top of the cave shook violently, dripping wine, and Gaia swayed drunkenly.

"Fools! All of you fools! I am earth, I am rock. You are flesh!"

She unleashed a vicious torrents of vines towards Dan and Andrew, trapping them both, pinning them to the ground. Yet the blinding light had seared through, affecting her vision, and she swiped violently, trying desperately to hit someone. Prometheus was thrown into the chamber by a blast of magic, followed promptly by an enraged Hecate. He quickly got up and grappled her back into the tunnel, screaming over his shoulder.

"Blind her and lets go for fucks sake! She can't leave the chamber!"

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

Steven also took aim at Gaia's shoulders and blasted it. The buckshot only slightly emmedded itself in the giant tree thing, so for the next two shots he loaded up on slugs.

"EYES DOWN NOW!!!"

Steven put his arm up to block the light.

"Steven! Keep Andrew safe while he tends to Dan!"

Steven looked to see Dan standing over Andrew and the branch headed straight towards them both. A blast from the slug blasted the limb apart.

Steven ran inbetween Gaia and the two, blasting another limb as it slashed forward. In a fluid motion, Steven's thumb pushed the release lever, grabbed two shells from his pocket, and stuffed them in before the spent slugs had hit the ground, all barely in time to blast away another tree limb.

A series of vines sprang up and tied themselves around Dan and Andrew.

"COME ON!" Steven said as he pulled out his knife, slicing away at the vines around Andrew, since he would be more likely be able to help get Dan out than vice versa.

 

[Green Shoes]

Gaia, enraged at Nicole's taunts, lunged wildly, only just missing her with a low sweep of her arm. But Nicole was now trapped against the rock face, Gaia too furious to care about the others. She felt her vines being slashed and shot, but didn't care. All her rage was focused on this one, puny girl.

"Daughter of Nike, where is your fierce mother now? Where is your victory!?"

She brought her monstrous leg up, ready to crush her.

------------------------------------------------------

Prometheus threw Hecate with a mighty roar, sent her screaming down the tunnel, and out into the daylight. Quick as a flash she threw magic at him; small pulses in the air, but devastatingly painful, Prometheus barely ducking and weaving.

"Listen to me! It's Dionysus!"

Hecate hissed and threw a particularly large pulse, crippling Prometheus, sending him to his knees just within the mouth of the cave.

She quickly ran up to the Titan and charged her hand, holding it next to his temple, eyes seething.

"You won't die. But you'll deeply regret defiling the chamber of the mother."

Prometheus quickly shot out his hand and grabbed her wrist, pointing her palm up, sending the pulse straight into the ceiling. It rocked and rumbled, but held together. The last thing Hecate saw was Prometheus' bloody fist soaring towards her face.

He laid her down next to the van, away from sight, and began binding her with his belt.