INTRODUCTION
Since the dawn of man, the Gods have involved In addition, the spawn of the Titans often lurked just
themselves in the affairs of humankind—and in affairs
with humankind. Slaking their all-too-human desires
with the flesh of mortal paramours, the Gods often
sire half-breed offspring. These children, Scions, are
invariably left for their mortal parents to care for.
Though far weaker than their divine parents, Scions
possess abilities far beyond those of any mere mortal.
These abilities are often augmented even further by
Boons and Birthrights provided by the Scions’ godly
parents. As a result, Scions tend to rise to positions of
power and influence.
However, the life of a Scion is far from easy.
Though bound by ancient pacts, filial loyalty and fear
of Fatebinding from harming one another directly, the
Gods are perfectly willing to strike at their rivals by killing
or maiming a favored mortal son or daughter. The tales
of Heracles, Onamuji and Sigurd are ample proof of
that. The danger a Scion faces has only multiplied with
the escape of the Titans, the progenitors and ancient
foes of the gods. Like the agents of the Gods, titanspawn
often go out of their way to slay Scions before they can
grow into their full power.
In ancient times, the Gods interfered in human lives
more directly, letting rampaging beasts, natural disasters,
plague and famine speak of their displeasure with man.
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outside civilization, ready to devour hapless mortals
who stopped at the wrong spring to drink or took the
wrong paths through the deep woods. It was to Scions
that mortals looked for protection from supernatural
predation, and it was Scions who often interceded with
the Gods on mortals behalf, flattering them or moving
them to feel pity, or offering the Gods service if they
would spare the weaker mortals.
In due time, the Gods retreated from the World.
With the titanspawn threat wiped out by the efforts of
early Scions, the corresponding rapid growth of human
civilization and the conflict between nations threatened
through the chains of Fate to draw the pantheons of
Gods into war. To avoid this eventuality, the heads of
the various pantheons met and agreed that the Gods
should leave mankind to its own devices before the
massive Fatebinding effects either threw them into
conflict or changed them beyond all recognition. In
response, most Gods retreated to the Overworld, only
visiting the World occasionally in mortal guises.
Despite their overall withdrawal from worldly affairs,
the Gods are compulsive meddlers. Though seldom
taking direct action against one another or overtly
guiding the course of humanity, the Gods still possessed
a means of interfering in human history, their Scions.