Sister Spooky

Yeah, no, count me out. I'm clearly not a good fit for the way you guys want to play.

Um...I kind of wanted to actually see who was escaping and maybe get involved depending on circumstances. Juliana is also on the Road of Humanity, so this is kind of important to her character too.

OK, I think June is done!

I hadn't thought of Athena/Minerva before, but as Goddess of Law and patroness of California, she does make sense. On the other hand, Iris as a Guide brings her own built in complication: according to the myths she has an evil twin sister named Arke who is the Titans' messenger... 😁

I was thinking maybe Iris, Hera's messenger? Or one of the Graces, her handmaidens?

I think I'll start without combat skills and maybe learn them as the story goes on as part of June's character development. Oh, and I changed her long term Deed to something a little more achievable, but still tied to her overall goal. What do you think: should she take more Knacks, or maybe another birthright like a Guide?

OK, I think I'm almost done. I just need to decide on Knacks or Birthrights. Also, should I move some dots to a combat skill? June's grrrl posse means she doesn't have to be a major league badass herself but maybe she shouldn't hide in a barrel while they fight? 😉

Expanded Background: June was born June Valens, daughter of J. Peter Valens, a lobbyist for Bronton Gas and Electric, and his (third) wife Lucy Pavoni. The marriage was not of long duration; Valens soon filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Since he could afford the best lawyers and Lucy was to all intents and appearances a young trophy bride with few resources of her own, evidence of infidelity and abuse on his part was swept under the rug, while she received next to nothing in the settlement -- not even visitation rights. June's childhood was, as she puts it, not the most fun thing ever. She had inherited her mother's golden good looks, which did nothing to endear her to her father. He saw custody of her as a matter of asserting his rights, but he had no interest in her as a person. His succession of girlfriends were sticky-sweet at first, until they perceived her father's dislike of her, then turned cruel in hope of scoring points with him. As his string of disastrous relationships piled up he grew more and more bitter. June's frequent admonitions to chill out were not well received. June tried to compensate by being the life of the party at school, and at this she succeeded -- but she was annoyed by the way people constantly assumed her to be stupid and shallow. Boys flirted with her to her face and cracked jokes about her breast size behind her back; girls made biting remarks about ditzy blondes; and teachers ignored her raised hand, choosing to answer male students or brunettes with glasses instead. In high schools the boys she was interested in, the ones with good grades and gentlemanly manners, passed her over, while the ones who hit on her were interested in one thing only. Well, screw them. But, like, not literally, OK? The most painful experience of all was her first attempt at physical intimacy with a boy she thought she could trust: he secretly recorded the encounter on his cell phone and then posted it on YouTube. She was mocked by her peers while the boy was admired for his exploit. People can be such jerks, right? During her senior year, the school administration tried to discourage her from becoming official salutatorian for graduation, despite her class ranking, citing the earlier YouTube scandal. One teacher explained that no one would believe she had actually earned the position. And as acceptance letters from the best schools arrived -- schools that saw only her GPA and test scores, not her appearance -- her father flatly refused to pay for any of them. Like, what was wrong with him? Did he think she only going to college to get a MRS. degree? Nobody does that anymore! Salvation came in the form of a letter from an organization she had never heard of: the Teléia Foundation, which offered full ride scholarships to students planning a career in law or politics in the hopes of creating more support for "family values". June was dubious, having found the young conservatives she met on campus to be deeply uncool, but the Foundation's representative assured her they were not affiliated with any political party or church. Maybe it was the censure in the representative's voice as she looked towards June's house, where her father stood on the porch with a beer and a sneer, or the knowing look in the older woman's eye; either way, June accepted the offer, graduated from Pomona College with a degree in Political Science, and went on to study law at Stanford. Awesome, huh? Throughout her college years, she had regular visits from Iris Stephanidis, the representative of the Teléia Foundation, ostensibly to check on her progress. In reality, Iris talked much more than June did -- about the politicians who paid lip service to wives and mothers while denying them maternity leave; about the social conservatives who condemned single mothers for working while cutting their food stamps; about the system that forced poor women to become fugitives while allowing rich men to marry and divorce at a whim and cast off wives like last year's clothes. June hardly argued with her -- though her time at college was a lot easier than her teen years had been. Joining a little-known sorority recommended by the Foundation gave her friends and allies her own age for the first time in her life, and she rose to become the chapter's hard working and respected president. But still, again and again, she found herself up against the prejudices of those who thought a pretty woman was incapable of seriousness or depth, and the base desires of men who saw her as some sort of prize to be claimed. The most hurtful part, though, was that many adult women shared their attitudes. Which was, like, totally unfair and kind of gross. By the time she graduated, she was ready to turn that bright shining fierceness on the whole world. It definitely sucked for women, so obviously all that was just gonna have to change. Then, she found out there was another World to reckon with...

Followers •••• The Daughters of Melanippe Archetype: Heavy Since her Visitation, June has been contacted by some former sorority sisters, who have expressed interest in making their old friendship into a new one. The members of Alpha Zeta, however, are a good deal more than the harmless Valley girls they appear to be... Melanippe was the sister of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. During the First Amazon War -- after Heracles killed Hippolyta and took her famous belt as a trophy -- Melanippe was captured by the son of Zeus. While a prisoner, she planned a successful mutiny on one of Heracles’ ships, which freed her and other captive Amazons. They seized the ship, killed the Greeks and tossed their bodies overboard. Unfortunately, the Amazons were trained to ride horses, not sail, and they were blown to the shores of a distant land. Cut off from contact with the rest of their race, they formed a new tribe, one which worshiped Hera…for had she not warned them to beware the treacherous Heracles? The Daughters of Melanippe continue to this day, albeit as a sub-faction within the larger Amazon Nation. They draw their recruits from Amazons across the World, especially those who have suffered at the hands of arrogant male Scions. Each Daughter takes her warrior name in honor of one of the Amazons who fought against Heracles, and each swears an oath to avenge Hippolyta and recover the lost belt. They move through the highest levels of mortal society, either twirling men around their fingers with sex appeal or snapping their necks like twigs. Whatever the situation calls for. They are women -- hear them roar. Tags: Additional Archetype (Entourage), Group, Knack x2 Guide ••••• Iris, Heaven's Messenger Iris, also called Wonder's Daughter or the Wondrous One, is the Goddess of the Rainbow and the herald of Queen Hera. She travels swift as the wind from one side of the world to the other, into the depths of the sea or beneath the earth, bearing orders to Hera's favored Scions. She has also been known to personally advise and assist heroes, such as when she aided Achilles by calling the winds to help him. June has yet to receive such a dramatic show of favor, but she can't help but notice that the weather never damages her clothing or hair anymore... Iris' patronage can be dangerous, though. Her twin sister Arce sided with the Titans and became their messenger goddess. Arce is furious with Iris for not aiding her when Zeus tore off her golden wings and cast her into Tartarus with her masters, and she is more than willing to take out that grudge on her sister's wards. Asset Skills: Culture, Persuasion Guide Stunt (3 successes): Immediately shift your target’s Attitude toward you by one in whichever direction you choose for the scene, even if you’ve already succeeded at a Shift Attitude action this scene. Legendary Title: Thaumantia, the Wondrous One Purview: Sky Relic •• The Peacock Phone Purview: Order Motif: Who Watches the Watchmen? A smartphone might not strike the observer at first as an instrument of Order, but with it the user can draw on the collective knowledge of the entire world and forge connections between people on opposite sides of the earth. Possession of a cellular phone allows one to be tracked down by the authorities, or in turn to hold those same authorities accountable when they abuse their position. Plus, the owning the newest model is a must if you wish to impress people with your wealth and overall with-it-ness, y'know? June's phone looks exactly like whatever the trendiest model of phone happens to be, though a sharp eyed observer will notice that the peacock feather design is not a phone cover but actually printed on the case. The eyes on a peacock's tail are, of course, the eyes of Argus the giant, a loyal servant of Hera and the Dodekatheon, vanquisher of the monster Echidna, who was killed for the crime of faithfully obeying Hera's orders. Sometimes, just following orders isn't enough to save you...

...aaaand that can be the Motif for the Relic! 😁 ...which works even better when you consider that a peacock's tail has eyes on it!

I have two possible origin stories I'm trying to choose between. In one, June's parents divorced when she was quite young. Her mother was a trophy wife who left her with her father, seemingly without a care. June's father was a misogynist and cruel. Her classmates behaved quite badly to her, too, making assumptions about her intelligence based on her looks. Her father refused to pay for college, but a mysterious benefactor helped June get into first college, then law school. After passing the bar, June was summoned to a meeting with her benefactor, who turned out to be June's long absent mother...who was also, as it turned out, the Queen of Heaven. ("And yes, child, you're named after me. That was the one tiny thing your detestable father allowed. No, he isn't Zeus--" *snort* "--though there was a certain resemblance, once upon a time.") I can hear, right now, Hera's response to June's plaintive "Why did you leave me" -type questions: HERA (majestically): "I left you to make you stronger, child -- and to help you understand what bastards men are." In the other, June's mother died and her father, while kind, was not involved enough to help her fight her battles at school. As in the first story, classmates continually underestimated her smarts, boys flirted with her to her face and cracked jokes about her bust size behind her back, and there may have been an incident where certain pictures were shared in malice. June dealt with this the only way she could: by using her considerable charm and appeal to make people take her seriously, regardless of her tendency towards hot pink outfits and yappy designer dogs. This continued into college and law school, where she probably had to deal, like Elle, with at least one boyfriend dumping her for not being serious enough, and at least one professor expecting intimate favors in return for patronage. She did have one strong, supportive mentor, a professor who turned out to be Hera in her aspect as Juno Moneta, advisor and counsellor of the state. Eventually her mentor adopted her as a daughter.

Should probably figure out June's exact relationship to her divine parent. I'm guessing that with Chosen and Created as origins now, the Goddess of Fidelity is probably no longer imagined as giving birth to illegitimate Scions...

I love the Peacock Smartphone! I can make it work thematically with Order (the connections between people), and it's much more convenient to whip out in public without freaking the Muggles out excessively. Plus, it's perfect for the Boon I want to take ("Just be aware, officer, that the law forbids what you are about to do to my totally innocent client...and I'm recording this whole thing.")

Soooo...anybody got any good ideas for an Order Relic for Hera? 🙂

Concept: Feminist Attorney Short-term Deed: Establish a law practice that helps women in both the natural and supernatural worlds Long-term Deed: Rescue someone from an unjust magical contract or Fate-imposed relationship Band Deed: To be decided by all Paths: Origin: The Not So Dumb Blonde (secondary) Skills: Culture, Empathy, Subterfuge Connections: Graduates of Zanadu High School who remember her parties, fellow members of college clubs Condition: Organize a social event Role: Legally Blonde (Primary) Skills: Academics, Integrity, Persuasion Connections: Stanford alumni, law school professors, legal organizations that help women Condition: Take a difficult case or take a case pro bono Pantheon: Sospita, the Savior (tertiary) Skills: Empathy, Leadership, Persuasion Connections: Temples of Hera/Juno, lesser goddesses and immortals of Hera's retinue, Scions of other Theoi Condition: Assist a divinity or hero who has Hera's favor, as Hera aided Jason Skills: Academics 4 (Legal Eagle), Culture 2, Empathy 3 (Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold), Integrity 3 (Recognize BS), Leadership 2, Occult 2, Persuasion 4 (Seriously, Girl), Subterfuge 3 (Girls Just Wanna Have Fun) Attributes: Favored Approach - Finesse Presence 4, Manipulation 5, Composure 2 (Primary) Intellect 3, Cunning 5, Resolve 2 (Secondary) Might 1, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3 (Tertiary) Callings: Judge 2 (Fair, Advocate) Lie Detector On the Case Leader 1 (Code) Grand Entrance Lover 2 (Beautiful, Blithe) Center of AttentionI Purviews: Beauty (Innate, Lasting Impression) Metamorphosis (Innate) Order (Code of Heaven) Sky (Innate) Birthrights: Followers 4 (The Daughters of Melanippe) Guide 5 (Iris) Relic 2 - The Peacock Phone (Order) Finishing Touches Legend: 1 (Blithe Spirit) Virtues: Egotism ( ) ( ) (X) ( ) ( ) Kinship Health [ ] Bruised [ ] Bruised [ ] Injured [ ] Maimed [ ] Taken Out Defense: 3 Movement Dice: 4 Extra Skills: Academics +1, Leadership +1, Occult 2, Subterfuge +1 Extra Attribute: Stamina Followers 4 Appearance: June is a tall young woman with what some would call a stereotypical California girl look: bright blonde hair, stylishly coiffed; blue eyes framed by dark brown lashes, skin with just enough tan to look "outdoorsy" rather than "pasty" or "leathery" and perfectly accessorized apparel from the latest popular designer. The only thing that mars this ensemble is her chin -- it's just a little too stubborn to make the image of a doll-faced blonde Valley Girl work. Personality: She's that girl in hot pink while everyone else is wearing subdued earth tones, and she makes it work. Though she's perpetually bubbly and seems like a ditz at times, June was a Poli-Sci major at Pomona, and her greatest strength is her understanding of emotions and the human condition. Her relentless optimism is her way of dealing with a World that seems determined to make everyone cynical and pessimistic. As June says, "if injustice is, like, hard-baked into the World or something, then all we have to do is change the World, right?"