PRIDE 2020

Alison W, David Taylor, Pablo Vazquez, and Victor

A. DeSena
Compatible with Scion Second Edition
CREDITS SPECIAL THANKS TO
Author: Allison W. (She/Her, Pansexual), David Many thanks to the Scion community and Onyx Path
Taylor (They/Them, Bisexual), Pablo Vazquez (Any, Publishing for both being not only LGBTQ+ welcoming
Pansexual/Queer), Victor A. DeSena (He/Him, Straight) environments but also communities that do what they can
Editor: Pablo Vazquez to aid knowledge of LGBTQ+ history, myth, and creators.
Without them, this project would not even be possible and
Cover Artist: Alexa Renée (She/Her, Asexual) we are all proud to be a part of these communities. Thank
[Website: https://www.artstation.com/monstalexa] you to our fellowwriters, our editor, our artist for the amaz-
Interior Art: Public Domain, p. 25: Emercado2020, ing cover art showing our LGBTQ+ Patrons defending a
used unmodified under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license Pride march against the cops, our layout master, and to all
the fans that will purchase this.
Layout: Chris Handforth (He/Him, Straight)
Thanks to Pablo’s Patreon supporters Mathias
Kjeldsen, Meff Leonard, Lucas Manian, Ken Marable,
Jacquelyn McKown, and R. Mooney for their financial
support of Pablo’s writing. Thanks also to the show Pose
for being amazing and keeping our editor company during
this whole process. Most of all, thank you to all our queer
ancestors and especially to Marsha P. Johnson, our Goddess
of Pride.

This product was created under license. STORYPATH SYSTEM, STORYPATH NEXUS COMMUNITY
CONTENT PROGRAM, and all game line terms and logos are trademarks of Onyx Path Publishing. All
setting material, art, and trade dress are the property of Onyx Path Publishing. www.theonyxpath.com
This work contains material that is copyright Onyx Path Publishing. Such material is used with per-
mission under the Community Content Agreement for Storypath Nexus Community Content Program. All
other original material in this work is copyright 2020 by Pablo Vazquez, David Taylor, Allison W., Victor
A. DeSena, Alexa Renée, and published under the Community Content Agreement for Storypath Nexus
Community Content Program.
© 2020 Onyx Path Publishing. All rights reserved. References to other copyrighted material in no way
constitute a challenge to the respective copyright holders of that material. “Scion” and all characters, names,
places, and text herein are copyrighted by Onyx Path Publishing. Keep up to date with Onyx Path Publishing
at theonyxpath.com.
2 PRIDE 2020
INTRODUCTION 4
Statement of Purpose 5

PRIDE 2020 6
Chapter One: LGBTQ+ Patrons 6
Chapter Two: Queerness in the Celtic World and
Myth 12
Chapter Three: Queer Birthrights 18
Chapter Four: On Magical Transitioning 22

table of contents 3
INTRODUCTION
STATEMENT OF
PURPOSE
This is a supplement to celebrate Pride and provide
material for players to include LGBTQ+ elements in their
enjoyment of Scion Second Edition. It can easily be convert-
ed to Scion First Edition, but the mechanical aspects of this
work are entirely focused on Second Edition. Scion: Origins
and Scion: Hero for Second Edition are needed to get the
most out of this supplement and use it in your game. Our
diverse team was made up of members across the sexuality
and gender spectrum and we are proud of the deep research
they have conducted, the love they have poured in, and
the hard work that it took to put this all together. This was
meant to be larger and full of art and meant to be the gayest
celebration possible but the world we live in now does not
allow that and we had many of our contributors drop out due
to the stresses of even just basic living nowadays. A pan-
demic, racial injustice, anti-LGBTQ+ oppression, and more
surround us like a thick and unbreathable fog and we can
only hope that the days will be brighter for all of us after all
this. We are all going through difficult times and the assaults
on our liberties to be our truest selves continue day by day.
Not only is this in celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride, but we
also unequivocally state that Black Lives Matter and will be
donating a majority of our royalties to charities specifically
aiding Black Trans causes. We also fully encourage DTRPG
and OPP to donate their own proceeds from this work or a
lump sum of their choosing to similar charities during this
time to join us in solidarity with the community. Scion is a
versatile, open-minded, and global game that respects and
loves the religions and cultures it works with. This project
not only aims to expand this scope to include our LGBTQ+
gaming family but also hopes to inspire Queer creators to
continue to add to Scion’s rich and constantly developing
tapestry. Happy Pride, everyone!

5
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1
 LGBTQ+ PATRONS
“Ye lads of grace and sprung from worthy stock
Grudge not to brave men converse with your beauty
In cities of Chalcis, Love, looser of limbs
Thrives side by side with courage.”
—Aristotle, “Eroticus”
of any self-identifying Gay men, and instructs them on the
ANTINOUS (NETJER/THEOI) mysteries and rituals he learned from his beloved Hadrian
Aliases: Antinoos, Osirantinous, The Everlasting, The and their initiations together. He blesses them all and sends
Reborn them prosperity whenever they look up to the stars of the
Once mortal, it was love, that of the Roman Emperor night sky, where his own constellation resides, to daydream
Hadrian, that made Antinous truly divine. He was the of future love and a better world. For someone who died at
Emperor’s greatest beloved, surpassing even his own wife, the peak of his romance with the most powerful man in the
and he traveled with him everywhere and partook of great world, he is unabashedly optimistic and joyous, but on the
festivals and mystic ceremonies together. They were truly anniversary of his fall in the Nile he visits that shore and
inseparable and to see one without the other was almost quietly remembers his lost love and what could have been.
unheard of while Antinous still lived anything Hadrian did, Antinous has all the time in the World for his Scions,
there was Antinous, the strikingly-handsome beauty, there of which all of them are Chosen Gay Men like he was when
cherishing the company of his beloved. Tragedy would Hadrian chose him. He is kind and loving, being more than
strike these lovers, though, as during a trip down the Nile in willing to go out of his way and drop his divine plans to
Egypt Antinous would fall in and drown, the waters claim- help his Scions out. Scions of Antinous are the belles of the
ing him as their own. Hadrian, utterly distraught by the loss Harlem ball scene, politically-active celebrity drag queens,
of his boyfriend, petitioned the priests of Egypt, Greece, charismatic supermodels who run YouTube channels de-
Rome, and elsewhere in his empire for auguries as to the tailing their esoteric rituals and thoughts, and tour guides
fate of the young Antinous. They revealed to him that he through Rome’s leather daddy scene. If it can be said that
had been chosen for apotheosis by Osiris and was now a god they do one thing, it is that they love and love beyond ex-
of the Nile, forever young and beautiful, reborn as a great pectation with a desire to make sure others can do the same
mystic, adept healer, and a friend to all. With this, Hadrian without fear or repercussions.
declared the cult of Antinous among both followers of the Callings: Healer, Liminal, Lover
Theoi and the Netjer and the worship of The Everlasting
spread throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. Purviews: Beauty, Death, Fertility, Fortune, Health,
Journeys, Passion (Love), Prosperity, Stars, Water
When Antinous drowned, Hadrian viewed it as him
giving his truest love for the World and Antinous acts in
such a way. Though he is young and innocent in so many
GHEDE NIBO (LOA)
ways, he is wise, thoughtful, caring, and supremely re- Aliases: Saint Gerard
sponsible in all of his divine duties. He is many things to Ghede Nibo’s mortal life has been lost to time and
many people but one thing he has always been is a patron of some say he perhaps prefers it that way. Whatever happened
homosexual romance and he cares deeply for the LGBTQ+ during his life, it was his death that defined him as the flam-
community. When Pride rolls around, he goes all out and boyant, queer, and handsome dandy was brutally murdered
can be seen as that super handsome hardbody gay passing by a jealous rival. Appearing before Papa Ghede himself, he
out the Pride flags to the crowd and dancing it up on the told Baron Samedi his story and the Baron, admiring both
streets. Antinous is also the one manning the HIV testing his impeccable fashion sense and his willingness to live
sign-up table, though, and making sure all the members of large despite the dangers, adopted him as his own son with
his community are safe and happy. He hears their prayers his wife Maman Brigitte and crowned him as Ghede Nibo.
and personally visits his cults, made up almost exclusively With this, he was now a lord of the dead, a being of authority

7
LGBTQ+ PATRONS
and power, and instead of seeking revenge he knew exactly and tired from their long journey, they decided to use the
what he would do: Live his life even larger than he thought pool to bathe themselves. As they were preparing to take
possible before. a bath in the pool’s clear waters, they were spotted by
Ghede Nibo is hot stuff and he knows it. He prides Salmacis, the pond’s Naiad. Entranced by Hermaphroditus’
himself on being able to pull off any look whether it is his beauty, the nymph instantly fell in love with the youth and
signature black Victorian riding coat and top hat or the most immediately approached them, beginning a courtship that
killer drag outfit he saw while out hitting the gay bars. With Hermaphroditus, innocent to love, rebuffed. Distraught,
him, sexy also means sexual and he thinks himself the ideal Salmacis turned her prayers upwards to the gods and be-
mix of bon vivant and Don Juan with a hefty dash of Little gan praying that she and Hermaphroditus would never be
Richard and Prince for good measure. When he is not out disunited. Granting the young nymph’s prayer, the gods
painting the town red and jumping out of dorm room win- merged Hermaphroditus and Salmacis together thereby
dows, he spends his time tending to the souls of those who transforming Hermaphroditus to be both a man and wom-
have died young or have perished forgotten by the world. In an and possessing the physical characteristics of both.
particular, he cares for those ancestral souls whose bodies lie Hermaphroditus, now comprehending their new form,
in a watery grave thanks to the slave trade and he feels like prayed to their parents that whoever was to bathe in the pool
he owes them to be the baddest one on the black and party should change as they had and somewhere that pool remains
for their sake. He also is proficient at the healing arts and can to this day. These days, Hermaphroditus fully embraces
make a hangover cure so perfect that even other gods try to their body and advocates for those who still find themselves
haggle the recipe from him. So, if he’s not at that Lil Nas X confused and trapped in their own. To those who catch their
concert tearing it up high on gods know what, he might be eye and who seek out their support, they have been known
the one running a healing herbs stall down at the farmer’s to guide them to the ancient pool of Salmacis, whose waters
market on Thursdays gossiping with the old ladies about the still retain its divine blessing and can provide them with the
fashions on the drag runway he saw the night before. banishment of their dysphoria.

Ghede Nibo does not exactly have time for his many Hermaphroditus wanders the World spreading love and
Scions but then again, he would say he didn’t exactly plan desire as per Aphrodite’s ancient decrees. Still as pure and
on having any of them. He is an exceedingly decadent rake full of wonder as when they first left the care of the nymphs
and those that do get the chance to meet their gregarious fa- of Mount Ida, Hermaphroditus sees the beauty in the World
ther tend to adopt some aspect of his personality or another deeply and embraces it especially as an Erote. This includes
depending on which side he shows them. Scions of Ghede the beauty in people that many refuse to see in themselves
Nibo can end up being flamboyant celebrity drag judges on and strives to encourage them to recognize and embrace this
television, popular musicians known equally for their soul- beauty. To Hermaphroditus, love is something that comes in
ful dirges and murder ballads as they are for being absolute many shapes and is boundless, free from the restrictions of
sex gods, fashion trendsetters famous for just being famous, flesh, and available to all without prejudice. Love is twofold,
and even the really beautiful street medics at Pride doing the love between people and the love one has for themselves
great work to make sure everyone is healthy and having in mind, soul, and especially body. When Hermaphroditus
a fun time. They love a good party and hate any obstacle finds themselves in the World, they typically take on roles
towards it, whether that’s health or otherwise, and want to to help spread this love or to help others be able to find the
make sure no one’s forgotten and that they all feel like the beauty they aspire. They become a doctor specializing in
stars of their own shows. gender reassignment surgery or transgender hormone ther-
apy thereby giving people the bodies that they desire, an
Callings: Healer, Liminal, Lover Intersex advocate spending every hour of the day working
Purviews: Forge, Fortune, Passion (Wealth), Prosperity for the rights of their community, a relationship counselor
advising lovers troubled by questions of identity and love,
HERMAPHRODITUS (THEOI) and as a distant friend that helps bring people together as a
Aliases: Atlantiades, Altantius, Androgunes, matchmaker that gains joy in bringing people together.
Gunandros, Hemiandros Towards their Scions, Hermaphroditus gives only
The beautiful child of Aphrodite and Hermes, full acceptance. Embracing the queer and the non-binary,
Hermaphroditus is one of the Erotes, the winged deities of Hermaphroditus takes a caring but distant attitude to their
love that serve as part of Aphrodite’s retinue. Led by Eros Scions. Often busy with their own duties or in throngs of
the God of Love, the Erotes travel the World and spread wanderlust, Hermaphroditus is never in the same place for
love and desire through their divine arrows. Embodying long whether physically or mentally. Their Scions likewise
the fullness of beauty they inherited from their parents, find themselves unbound and wistful, often finding them-
Hermaphroditus is a patron over the genderqueer, intersex, selves going from place to place, taking in the world with
and the androgynes though it is believed to not always both the beautiful and ugly elements of it all yet somehow
have been so. It is said that a young Hermaphroditus came always coming out smiling in the end. Their Scions often
across a beautiful and dazzling pool as they were traveling become activists, models, actors, and influencers, being that
in the lands of Carae. Struck by its pristine and pure nature they are those who have come to embrace themselves for
who they are and wish to show it to the World. Although

8 PRIDE 2020
 A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME
In modern-day, Hermaphroditus has a complicated relationship among the intersex community. On
one hand, to the faithful, he is a symbol of solidarity and acceptance, but on the other many would be
reminded that for many years and even to now, his name has become a slur towards those who are
intersex. It does not help that some of the ancient sources saw what happened to Hermaphroditus as a
curse to be reviled, showing the shaky place intersex people had for large parts of history thus why those
reading their entry could be hesitant to use them. In fact, many of the Patrons listed here have problematic
origins and histories relating to their origins and how they were viewed in their original contexts or even
still today.
For this book, however, we want to be fully inclusive and not in any way shaming or exclusive. As a
supplement created to be a celebration of Pride, all the Patrons written here are meant to exemplify that
to the fullest. These Patrons have been written here as living deities, ones that would adapt to the World
around them, and are all proud and joyous of what they are despite what anyone else may think. As one
of if not the most recognizable Intersex deity, Hermaphroditus and the community they represent deserve
far more than what they have been given in our world and we have aimed to provide that. That does not
change the sad appropriation that their name has taken, however, so for those Scion fans uncomfortable
with using their name but still want to interact and use them as a Patron or Character, feel free to make use
of any of their aliases listed at the top of the writeup and particularly we recommend Altantiades which
has been one of their more common names in the classics.

not all of Hermaphroditus’ Scions crave the spotlight, others beautiful and usually adorned by seashells and the trophies
take a more introspective approach and become wander- of his prey while also coiled by his over-protective protec-
ers, pilgrims, and dreamers as they set out on journeys to tive snakes. He prefers the calm of the deep seas and the
discover more about themselves and what Hermaphroditus beauty of estuaries to the bustle and noise of any metropolis
saw in them. There are few other commonalities amongst and when he is not caring for others, he’s found with his
Hermaphroditus’ favorites and they embrace Scions from all beloved Abbata. He is fond of teaching sign language at
sorts of different backgrounds and ways of life. The only hospitals and caring for victims of AIDS and homophobic
thing the definitely share in common is that Hermaphroditus violence and has been known to get revenge against violent
considers them all beautiful in their own wondrous ways. homophobes and predators to keep his hunting skills sharp.
Callings: Guardian, Lover, Liminal He usually prefers night as not only it reflects the darkness
of his ocean home, but it is also when his beloved LGBTQ+
Purviews: Beauty, Fertility, Journey, Passion, Water community can most be themselves and safer from the
glaring eyes of those who hate them. The Orisha have been
INLE (ORISHA) known to view his exile as a bit too harsh and he has become
Aliases: Erinle rather admired and respected among them for his kindness
Inle was once the greatest of all hunters on land and and his incredible adeptness at the healing arts.
sea capable of bringing any prize back for a grand feast and Scions of Inle are quiet and reserved types but car-
respected as a knowledgeable healer among the Orisha as ing and dedicated to their pursuits. Their father (plural if
well. Androgynous and lovely with a stoic demeanor, he Abbata is involved) is attentive and loving and smothers his
was the son of Yemoja, Queen of the Sea, and brother of children with as much love as he can deliver without ever
Shango and Abbata all who Yemoja loved and cared for thinking of delivering any sort of punishment to them. He
deeply. However, this harmony would soon be destroyed as also raises them, however, to take no guff and to always
one evening while out on the hunt with Abbata his mother fight back against their bullies and enemies when they least
was tricked into engaging sexually with her own son Shango expect it. Scions of Inle find themselves at home as the silent
which the two brothers arrived back to see in shock. Terribly but tough member of a lesbian biker gang, as stern body-
ashamed of her actions, she banished both Inle and Abbata guards guarding their celebrity lovers, as doctors for a free
to live in the deepest depths of the ocean and cut out Inle’s clinic in a historically gay neighborhood, and as advocates
tongue and made Abbata death so that Inle would not shame for education on LGBTQ+ issues and history to heal against
the family by speaking of it and Abbata would not hear any community ignorance. They never shy away from doing
scorn. There, amongst the darkness, Inle and Abbata only what they can to help but are rarely on the front lines and
had each other, and having developed the ability to com- they prefer it that way since once they’re done, they’d rather
municate telepathically, they became passionate lovers with come home to their beloveds anyways.
Inle deciding to protect those who loved in different ways so
Callings: Healer, Hunter, Lover
that they may know love and peace.
Purviews: Beasts (Fish, Snakes), Beauty, Darkness,
Inle is a very caring Orisha who, being mute, expresses
Health, War, Water
his love and care through the healing arts and his guardian-
ship over the LGBTQ+ community. He remains strikingly

LGBTQ+ PATRONS 9
 powerful with a demonic demeanor, he has a loving side too
IRAVAN (DEVA) and cares deeply not just for his ex-wife Krishna-Mohini,
Aliases: Aravan, Aravaan, Iravant, Iravat, but also for the Arvani, his many wives who are members
Khoothandavar, Koothandavar, Kuttandar, Kuttantavar of the transgender Hijra community of South Asia who re-
Hail to the brave Iravan, beloved as Kuttandar and dedicated their marriage to him every year during glorious
Aravan, who volunteered his life as a glorious sacrifice to festivals and ceremonies. Usually appearing and represent-
the gods and his family. Oh, glorious warrior, how can one ed in the form of his severed head, Iravan is very protective
be so devout as he who sought out his father Arjuna to pledge of his wives and their community and is more than willing
his sword to his cause even after his father abandoned him to to lay a severe punishment against those who do them harm.
be raised by his mother Ulupi and her Naga people? Iravan, Scions of Iravan are rough and tough warriors of un-
the strongest of them all, who slew all enemies of his family believable strength who are deeply devoted like their father
and then slew himself without hesitation in front of Krishna is to their family, community, religion, and of course, their
to guarantee his bloodline nothing but victory. Did he weep loves. They receive weapons and religious texts most of the
at the granting of his wish to see the rest of the war from time as birthrights, but sometimes he can surprise them.
his decapitated head? All wept in awe as they saw Iravan in Whenever one of his Scions comes out as transgender to
the form of the Naga King Shesha fall in glorious battle to him, he organizes a grand celebration and gets some of his
his honored enemy Alambusha while he was the ferocious wives to mentor the Scion in their ways the best they can.
Garuda. Was he pleased with the marital bliss given to him Scions of Iravan will always stand their ground when pro-
by Krishna in his form as the enchantress Mohini? For truly, voked, have no problem using some guile and trickery to get
the gods were pleased with him who is the exemplar of a themselves out of difficult situations, gleefully will knock
warrior, of all devotion to family and the way of all things. a bully down in front of the bully’s friends to teach them
Iravan, whose exploits are immortalized in the epic respect, and of course will do whatever they can to protect
Mahabharata, is a truly great warrior of terrifying prow- their many mothers and all of the defenseless people they
ess descended from the god Indra on his father’s side and come across, transgender or not. To them, it is important that
half-Naga, the serpent people of his mother’s lands. He was the world know that just because of who they are, what they
a master in the arts of illusion and using Maya against his look like, or who they love, they are not cowards and are not
own enemies to get the upper hand in battle and elsewhere. afraid to prove it.
Iravan can sometimes be found leading rigorous training Callings: Guardian, Trickster, Warrior
camps for special forces units to have them reach their peak Purviews: Beasts (Snakes), Deception, Epic Stamina,
potentials and offering sacrifice at one of the many temples Epic Strength, Health, Fertility, War
in Varanasi. Though he presents himself as fearsome and

10 PRIDE 2020
 Callings: Guardian, Lover, Sage
SAPPHO (THEOI) Purviews: Artistry (Poetry), Beauty, Passion (Love)
Aliases: Psappho, The Poetess, The Tenth Muse
There, from the Isle of Lesbos, hailed one of the TU’ER SHEN (SHEN)
greatest poets of all recorded history. Sappho was said to Aliases: Hu Tianbao, Tu Shen
be such a master at her poetic craft that she must surely be
the Tenth Muse and was the only female poet called simply Tu’er Shen, the Rabbit God, was once a soldier named
“The Poetess” in the way that Homer is simply called “The Hu Tianbao serving dutifully at his garrison in Fujian prov-
Poet. Hailing from an aristocratic family, little is known ince in China. One day, an amazingly handsome imperial
of her life except that which can be garnered through her inspector arrived at the fortress he was guarding, and Hu
poetry, of which little remains and from which new frag- Tianbao was so struck by his beauty that he grew enamored
ments would be viewed as treasures beyond imagining. and followed him. This caused him to accidentally stumble
Sappho was known to be erudite and educated along with upon the imperial inspector while he was nude and instead
never confirmed to be married and instead she seems to have of apologizing and running away Hu Tianbao continued to
dedicated her time to the notion of love through her poetry, gaze in worshipful amazement at the inspector’s beauty. The
some of which was dedicated to her female lovers. As such, imperial inspector, now outraged and of a cruel demeanor,
she has become the patron of Lesbian love, named after her had the peeping man dragged away to be tortured and ex-
home, who elevated the love between two women to such a ecuted for trespassing on his privacy. However, the Shen
high art form that the Theoi goddess Aphrodite raised her as took great pity upon Hu Tianbao and transformed him into
her Chosen after reading Sappho’s ode to her and made her Tu’er Shen, giving him the form of a rabbit with which he
divine and undying. appeared to a village elder in Fujian. The elder, respectful
of the gods, brought together the men of his village to build
Sappho, of dark hair and fair complexion, was main- a temple to Tu’er Shen where rituals and incense could be
tained in her beauty by Aphrodite as a gift for her ode and provided for his blessings in all homosexual relations.
other romantic poetry. Though exiled from Lesbos with her
family during her mortal years, she wanders the island still Tu’er Shen is a kind, benevolent, and passionate deity
and likes to ensconce herself at her favorite natural sites to completely dedicated to his homosexual devotees. He does
sit and admire the beauty before her as she writes poetry whatever possible to make sure they do not suffer his fate
dedicated to her latest amorous interest. When mothers tell and acts as a divine matchmaker for those wishing to find
their daughters to beware of poets, they never seem to have their own princes, their eternal loves. Encouraging his
Sappho in mind who has seduced many a lady’s daughter community to defend themselves and stay strong, Tu’er
away from her home with her charming words and lustful Shen has been known to teach self-defense class and hidden
passions. That is not to say, however, that she is solely the warrior techniques from his soldier days. He is quite fond
femme fatale on the constant prowl for a new lover and of the very concept of love and romance, experiences he
tends to cherish each one of her partners. In the World, she could never have himself, and many gay couples who have
loves teaching poetry workshops at all-woman colleges and prayed at his central temple, the Hall of Martial Brilliance
feminist bookstores to enraptured audiences of fawning in Taiwan, claim to have seen him in the audience weeping
ladies. She also writes anonymous and revolutionary pam- with joy. He particularly appears to his worshipers in dreams
phlets that are both delightfully erotic and unabashedly gay in his rabbit form and dispenses his blessings and divine
to distribute in underground communities of Lesbians in knowledge within them.
oppressive societies and communities. She’s out and proud Tu’er Shen adopts all his Scions and he loves them all
about who she is and she’s celebrated for it, especially these dearly. They are kind, big-hearted gay romantics who can
days, and wants to make sure her lovely ladies are also cele- sometimes get a little obsessive. Scions of Tu’er Shen would
brated as well under her and Aphdrodite’s protection. not feel out of place phone-banking to get a bill passed pro-
Sappho is endlessly romantic, an addict of love in many tecting gay rights, designing the latest queer dating app, run-
ways, and this includes the familial love of a mother to her ning a gay-friendly dojo in the inner city, and arguing with
daughter. Her daughters are all chosen, as she was, and her caterers about which plate to serve after the first dance of
Scions are all smart, seductive, and the best at what they do. the wedding they’re coordinating for. They know what their
Scions of Sappho are hosts of popular cultural documentary father went through and they want to spread joy and beauty
shows that speak about art and the women who made it and protect against those who would ruin it just because
all possible, punk rock stars who would feel at home both they are men that love men and are damned proud of it..
shredding a guitar in the Riot Grrrl scene and playing a harp Callings: Guardian, Liminal, Lover
at a feminist festival in the woods, world-famous directors Purviews: Beasts (Rabbit), Beauty, Passion, War
breaking the glass ceiling of the cinematic industry, and
chant leaders at protests with a bullhorn fighting for the
rights of Trans women. It is not easy to distract them from
whatever they consider to be their work, but if they fall in
love with you, prepare for the romance of a lifetime.

LGBTQ+ PATRONS 11
CHAPTER 2
 QUEERNESS IN THE
CELTIC WORLD AND
MYTH
“Truagh a Dhé,/Alas, O God,
Teacht do mhnaoi eadrom agus é;/That a woman should come between
me and him;
Leth mo chroidhe in Cú cen col/The faultless hound is half my heart,
Is leth croidhe na Con mé./And I am half of his.”
— Fer Diad, “Táin Bó Cúailnge”

W hile some Scions worry about coming out to their

Divine Parents, Creators, or Patrons, concerned
about where ancient values may lurk and, just like so many
in future work. Due to this, the majority of this Chapter will
discuss Túatha Dé Danann material, with a secondary ele-
ment to the Nemetondevs, and a few brief references to the
modern LGBTQ+ people, be tragically legitimately worried Pantheon of Wales.
about subsequent rejection, Scions of the ‘Celtic’ Pantheons
worry for entirely different reasons. One of Lugh’s daughters
watches in abject horror as her father screams threats of
THE PANTHEONS’
slaughter and shame towards her bride-to-be’s father, Ryujin,
as her father insists on nine by nine times a queen’s ransom
PERSPECTIVES
in a bride price for her as she is clearly the superior partner THE TÚATHA DÉ DANANN
in the proposed marriage. A reincarnation of Vercingetorix
never expected the wholehearted and aggressive support of The Túatha Dé Danann are potentially one of the most
the Nemetondevos when he came out as Trans to his patron accepting Pantheons when it comes to LGBTQ topics,
during his visitation. Spears are sharpened and chariots though for problematic reasons. LGBTQ+ Scions of the
yoked to ancient steeds as they prepare for nothing short of Pantheon often look to the greatest of their number, Cú
a flat-out raid on another Pantheon’s Godrealm to secure a Chulainn, as a role model. A young man who was so slim
safe and instant transition method for him as they rage that and effete that he was constantly mistaken for a young girl,
something must have damaged the mysterious reincarnation who enchanted himself a fake beard to pass as a man in
system in their absence to be cruelly placing their mortal’s order to duel challengers, who wore a tight leather binding
souls in the wrong bodies. Vercingetorix wonders to himself around his torso to restrain his contorting body, and pas-
if this is actually the case. A Scion of Annwn comes out as sionately loved his wife Emer as well as his foster-brother
non-binary to Annwn nearly falling off his throne in laughter, Fer Diad. He even set a sterling precedent for Scions of the
shouting about the tynged now being invalid before ordering Túatha Dé Danann changing their name. As discussed else-
one of his servants to give the Scion a puppy as a gift. They where, Ireland has also experienced a number of individuals
can’t admit to understanding what their dad is going on about changing their sex through supernatural means which was
with the tynged, but it went over well at least. The puppy is met with the acceptance of not a soul caring. Ultimately, the
a bit... eery though. Pantheon doesn’t care about what you are or who you love
as long as you are the best and greatest at whatever you do.
This chapter is devoted to the discussion of LGBTQ+
topics in reference to the three ‘Celtic’ Pantheons in Scion. This simultaneously also makes the Pantheon’s ac-
As of the publication of this supplementary material, ceptance of LGBTQ+ topics somewhat uncomfortable for
the Túatha Dé Danann can be found in Scion: Hero, the many Scions. The Túatha Dé Danann are the upper class of
Nemetondevos are to be found in Scion: Companion, and their divine society, supported by countless unnamed indi-
the Pantheon of Wales, potentially named the Plant Dôn, viduals who labor in their fields and form the chaff of their
have been referenced in passing and hopefully will appear armies. Scions of the Pantheon are elevated to the status of

13
QUEERNESS IN CELTIC MYTH
 THE ANCIENT LAWS OF IRELAND
The ancient laws of Ireland, produced by the Fir Bolg and used by the Túatha Dé Danann who added
to the legal corpus, were eventually also used by humanity. The only mention of homosexuality in these
laws is a brief aside that a woman can divorce her husband if he is having sex with men. As other reasons
for divorce listed are ‘importance’ and ‘being too fat to copulate,’ it seems that the law has less of an issue
with homosexuality and more of a social expectation for pregnancy as part of marriage.
The only part of modern Western LGBTQ+ society that the laws of the Túatha Dé Danann directly
oppose is wearing any of the various Pride flags. The laws of the Pantheon are incredibly twitchy, for lack
of a better phrase, about what colors individuals are allowed to wear. Blue and Purple, for instance, is
only to be worn by the children of kings, Red, Grey, and Brown is limited to the children of the nobility, with
Brown, Yellow, Black, and White limited to the commoners. The more insidious minded Túatha Dé Scions
may use this to their advantage to wield the Order Purview against rivals wearing Pride colors.

their parents or patrons, placed among the upper one percent followers of the Nemetondevos are passing references by
of the Pantheon’s society. It is this high status that affords Aristotle and Posidonius speaking on the love between men
them the ability to flaunt the social norms and the ancient and engaging in sexual acts, though exactly how trustworthy
laws of Ireland that might prove to be limitations for many as sources is debated by Scions of the Pantheon.
of the nameless, faceless nobodies that make up the lower While reincarnated members of the Pantheon may
class of the Pantheon. These Scions ultimately find their grasp at modern ideas to give them a grounded perspective
acceptance as a result of their privilege, and this can lead in reality, others may reject modernity to search for the past
to interesting stories where a Character explores their own that was destroyed by those that colonized their peoples.
inherent privilege as a Scion and works to use that privilege LGBTQ+ Scions in the Pantheon will likely face the entire
to benefit others. gamut of acceptance to rejection from the myriad deities
While non-heterosexual marriage not strictly legal un- of the Nemetons, but have the ultimate advantage from the
der the existing laws of ancient Ireland the Pantheon is most uncertainty of the past. There are countless stories waiting to
likely still using, their divine parents and patrons would be told of Scions having the Pantheon establishing new laws
most likely be happy to extort, bribe, threaten, or argue with and traditions where Trans people are guaranteed divine
whoever they need to to ensure the law is bent and excep- assistance, codifying gay marriage, establishing divinely
tions made on behalf of their Scion. In the case of two men backed protections for intersex people from non-consensual
or a nonbinary person being married, no major changes need surgeries, recognizing the complexities of gender, or any of
to be made to the law. However, two women being married a number of others.
is an outstanding story opportunity to showcase the some- While these stories might be somewhat different from
what comedic dramatic tensions resulting from the Túatha the standard tale of fighting monsters seen in Scion, re-
Dé Danann’s Virtues. Under standard laws, the groom pays shaping human society is just as mythic. A Scion may find
a bride price to their bride to give her financial security, with themselves playing the role of a Culture Hero, guiding a
the value being based on the social status of the bride. If devastated Pantheon into the new world of modernity, pa-
two women were to be married, whichever bride received tiently explaining to ancient ears the world that grew with-
the higher bride price would evidently be higher status. As out them and how to best reclaim their place in the world.
the status of a daughter is based on the status of her parents, A better world is waiting to be made in the shadows of the
the parents of the higher status bride are evidently higher Nemetons, all it will take is a brave Scion willing to place
status than the parents of the other bride. The amazing their ideals before half-dead gods.
story of divine parents demanding increasingly exorbitant
prices for their daughter to ensure that they are undoubtedly THE PLANT DÔN, WELSH
higher status than their new in-laws and the two exasperated
brides-to-be is just waiting to be told.
PANTHEON
The experience of LGBTQ+ Scions in the Pantheon of
THE NEMETONDEVOS Wales is a middle ground between the Nemetondevos and
The situation for LGBTQ+ Scions of the Nemetondevos the Túatha Dé Danann. While much of the early history and
is, like so much related to the half-dead Pantheon, is uncer- traditions of the Welsh have been lost, a sizable body of po-
tain. No ancient laws exist, no tales or epics, with only scant etry and legal tracts remain and are used by Scions to help
references to concepts of gender from the Classical world. If shape and guide their interactions with their Divine Parents
the myriad of ancient Celtic peoples across Europe and Asia and Patrons. While the legal texts are rather open-minded,
held any opinion regarding topics that are modernly placed with established laws for women instigating divorce for
beneath the umbrella of the LGBTQ+ community it has been instance, there are little to no references to LGBTQ+ topics.
lost to the ravages of time and death. The only surviving his- Marriage, for instance, is solidly defined as a relationship
torical example of LGBTQ+ people who would have been between a man and a woman.

14 PRIDE 2020
 However, this is not to say that the Pantheon’s culture the Player in the spotlight feeling outstanding, but the others
is entirely void of such topics. An abundance of semi-erotic feeling neglected. For Scions of the Túatha Dé Danann,
love poetry between court poets and their kings survives into however, the tochmarca, ‘wooings’, and love stories involve
the modern era, though Scions continue the ever-popular the entire band, with action, intrigue, social maneuvering,
topic of, ‘Is it Gay or is it Feudalism?’ For Scions who want and a race against the clock before their Bandmate literally
the freedom to marry whoever they love, the precedent of dies of pining.
Lleu marrying Blodeuwedd, a man marrying someone that While pining for someone is often joked about in
technically didn’t qualify as a human woman on a technical- LGBTQ+ communities and holds a place in the conceptu-
ity, is a prime direction for their argument. For Trans Scions, alization of love and romance in contemporary LGBTQ+
the story of Math fab Mathonwy punishing Gwydion and communities, for the Túatha Dé Danann and their Scions
Gilfaethwy by forcibly changing their sex gives them a it is nothing short of a desperate race against time with a
strong legal argument that they have been punished without slow and painful death as a consequence. When a member
cause and thereby one of the Pantheon’s kings must take of the Túatha Dé Danann or one of their Scions falls in love,
responsibility to amend this injustice. truly in love, they are afflicted by Lovesickness, a disease

TELLING TDD that is beyond the talent of even the greatest physician to
cure. This disease afflicts the individual with overwhelming

LOVE STORIES lethargy and an inability to bring themselves to eat or drink

as they are so consumed with longing for their beloved.
The cure is deceptively simple, bringing the afflicted into
Love, in its many flavors the world over, has played a
contact with the target of their affections. While this may
major role in mythological cycles the world over as well as in
sound like a simple solution, it is entirely possible to fall
arguments in favor of rights for LGBTQ+ people. However,
to Lovesickness without ever having met the target of your
as important as stories of love are in LGBTQ circles as
affection. Commonly, catching sight of them in a dream or
well as in myths, they can be challenging to implement in
even hearing their name or accounts of their deeds can cause
a tabletop setting. Sometimes a Pantheon’s notion of what
passionate disease to take hold of someone.
constitutes romance is uncomfortable to play out in a group
setting or involves topics the group is uncomfortable with. Before a Storyguide considers telling a tochmarc, they
Other times, a Pantheon’s concept of a love story is ground- first must reach out to the Player of the Scion in question and
ed in one-on-one conversations and poetics which can leave discuss several things with them. First and most importantly,

QUEERNESS IN CELTIC MYTH 15

if they are comfortable having a story arc dedicated to their something else, such as depression. However, Scions that
character falling in love and being afflicted by Lovesickness. have the Túatha Dé Danann Pantheon Path can reduce the
If the Player is comfortable with this, sit down and discuss Difficulty to 3 as it is connected to their personal Legend.
their Character’s preferences, as in any tochmarc, the object After learning what is afflicting their Bandmate the ad-
of the lover’s affections is always an excellent match. At venture begins. A Storyguide should feel free to design the
this stage, it is important to let the Player be as involved as story however they would like at this point, but if they want
they want to be, with some Players potentially preferring a to base their story around the pattern found in the original
surprise and only being given a list of preferences, where tochmarc, consider the following elements.
another Player might have a specific mythological entity or
existing NPC in mind. After all of this has been arranged • You Don’t Even Know Their Name?!: One of the
and all parties involved are comfortable, give the Character more common elements of the original stories, the
the Lovesick Condition found below. character afflicted by Lovesickness doesn’t actually
know who they have fallen in love with. Various
Lovesick Knacks, Marvels, and Boons can help overcome
Effect: The individual with this Condition is overcome this challenge, as well as Guides, or consulting with
by lethargy and a self-destructive pining for the target of Divine Parents.
their affections. Anytime someone with this Complication • A Long Road: After learning who the target of the
attempts to take a significant action as determined by the affections is, the Band will need to travel to them.
Storyteller they must make a Resolve + Integrity Roll with This can be as simple or as complicated as the
a Difficulty of 1 or instead become overwhelmed by lethar- Storyguide wishes, with someone who lives the next
gy and love, in which case they do nothing. This includes block over being far easier to access than a currently
actions such as defending yourself (a failure resulting in 0 bound Titan, for instance.
Successes on a Defense roll). If one of these rolls would
normally qualify as a Botch (see Scion: Origins 70-71), • Missing Persons Case: After arriving where the
it is automatically considered to be one and the Character target of the character’s affections ought to be, they
receives an Aggravated Injury Condition related to lethargic might learn that they have gone missing! Perhaps a
love eating away at their existence. Every day that passes rival to the afflicted character’s love has kidnapped
after the initial ‘infection’ the Difficulty of this increases by them, perhaps they have gotten lost in a distant Terra
1 to a maximum of 8. Incognita, or might have been magically transformed
due to a curse to conceal their identity which must be
Momentum: Every time the Character affected by this broken.
Complication fails to take an important action or suffers a
significant drawback due to their inaction. • A Price: After finding the target of the lovesick
character’s affections, there may be a price that must
Resolution: Come in physical contact with the target be paid to the parents. For the more archaically styled
of your affections and have them return the affection. When stories, a Scion might be expected to produce a mas-
this Condition ends a Character regains any Injury Condition sive amount of raw wealth, equivalent to tens of bil-
Slots they lost due to this Condition. lions USD, as a bride price, groom price, or simply a
Note: This Condition cannot be removed through bribe to the parents. Alternatively, the character might
Boons, Knacks, Marvels, or any other means asides from the be expected to undertake a quest, with parents who
Resolution by one of the Túatha Dé Danann, their Scions, or are particularly opposed to the marriage attempting to
any other being tied to the Pantheon. While other Pantheons send the character on intentionally suicidal missions.
can remove this Condition through any appropriate means, • Alternatively, The Elopement can replace this, with
it will likely cause the cured individual to fall out of love the Band organizing an elaborate scheme to break in
with the individual in question and may have more strange and escape with the target of their friend’s affections.
and esoteric results to both the person cured and the individ-
ual who cured them. • Seduction: While quite often the target of someone’s
Lovesickness spontaneously falls in love when
The opening of the tochmarc should begin with the they see the person who is lovesick for them, other
‘infection,’ with perhaps the character in question catching times there are issues of divided loyalty, or has high
sight of their new beloved in passing at a great distance, standards for their suiter, such as Emer who sent Cú
seeing them in a dream, or hearing about one of their deeds. Chulainn away to train in Alba.
Within the first day, the Bandmates of the lovestruck char-
acter should realize that something is wrong, and with this, At the culmination of the story, the Character is freed
kick off the story proper. Identifying exactly what is wrong from the Lovesick Condition and the Band can pat them-
with the lovestruck character can be done in a myriad of selves on the back for both facilitating a new relationship and
ways, such as through appropriate Marvels, Knacks such as preventing their friend from dying from pining. Furthermore,
Instant Diagnosis or Overworld Knowledge, or consulting a character who has completed a tochmarc should consider
Guides. Identifying it with an Intellect + Medicine roll has taking their new partner as a Guide or Follower, as the re-
a Difficulty of 5 as it is incredibly easy to misidentify as lationships founded in these stories are often ironclad and
form the defining natures of both characters involved.

16 PRIDE 2020
QUEERNESS IN CELTIC MYTH 17
CHAPTER 3
 QUEER BIRTHRIGHTS
“I was no one, nobody,
from Nowheresville,
until I became a drag queen.
That's what made me in New York,
that's what made me in New Jersey,
that's what made me in the world.”
— Marsha P. Johnson
their imagination to create a group that will fit the setting
CREATURES they are in. For example, such a polycule may feature a Gay
reformed tiger Yaoguai, a Bisexual Apsaras, a Trans Satyr,
Snakes of Inle (•••) and an Alfr. Any of the base archetype upgrades can also be
The Snakes of Inle decoratively wrap around the Scion traded out to better represent a specific group. For exam-
to help enhance their looks so long as the onlooker is not ple, the Sacred Band of Thebes, a legendary group of Gay
terrified of snakes. They also make excellent companions to Greek warrior-lovers, may be represented by the trading of
doctors and can bite enemies that get too close. Consultant for Tough.
Primary Dice Pool 9: Helping to heal others,
Intimidating and impressing others
Secondary Dice Pool 6: Biting things
GUIDES
Fer Diad (•••)
Qualities: Natural Weapon, Toxic, Sure Footed Natural Fer Diad was among the warriors who trained along-
Weapon, Toxic, Sure Footed side Cú Chulainn becoming among the greatest warriors of
Tu’er Shen Rabbit (•••) Ireland. His skin was impenetrable and he knew many pow-
erful fighting techniques used by warriors of incredible skill.
This intelligent and adorable rabbit has been blessed by He and Cú Chulainn loved each other deeply but tragically
Tu’er Shen in order to help Scions towards supporting the he was forced to do battle with him and was defeated. Now
Homosexual community. Scions with this rabbit at their side he has been reborn and helps other Tuatha warriors, but he
can count on it to be a loyal and intelligent companion. and Cú Chulainn may be fated to repeat their tragic battle
Primary Dice Pool 7: Helping to make a good impres- once more.
sion, Supporting homosexual love, providing advice Asset Skills: Athletics, Close Combat
Secondary Dice Pool 4: Sneaking about Guide Stunt (3 successes): The Scion may gain 1 point
Qualities: Cage of Words of temporary hard armor that lasts until their next turn.
Flairs: Inspiration Purview: Epic Stamina

FOLLOWERS Bahuchara Mata (••••)

The Deva goddess Bahuchara Mata was not always
Divine Polycule (•••••) kind and supportive. In the past, she would dedicate her time
to punishing evil men by cursing them with impotence and
Tags: Heavy, Entourage, Consultant, Helpful, Group
demanding that they dress as women in order to symboli-
Members of the LGBTQ+ community tend to flock cally steal their manhood. With time, though, she has turned
together and the denizens of the World are no exception. into a patron of the Hijra; a third-gender community of the
The specific members and relationships of this set of fol- Indian subcontinent. With time she became favored by the
lowers is up to the Player and Storyguide, but the tags used LGBTQ+ community and as such has dedicated herself to
here are to represent a diverse group of Queer comrades and them instead of seeking to punish people as she did so many
lovers. The Player and Storyguide are encouraged to use eons ago. She supports LGBTQ+ Deva Scions by giving

19
QUEER BIRTHRIGHTS
them her powers over fertility and teaching them to produce Xochipili (••••)
more reasoned punishments over those who commit evil.
Scions who are active in the homosexual community
Asset Skills: Culture, Occult know Xochipili as he is the protector of Gay men and male
Guide Stunt (1-3 Successes): Gain enhancement equal prostitution and Scions that belong to those groups or at least
to successes spent to teach a character a lesson after provid- support them actively may be lucky enough to receive him
ing them a just punishment for their actions. as a guide. Those that do are likely to find themselves wel-
comed in many communities and also become involved in
Unique Knack: Once per arc the Scion may imbue
more wild parties than they are used to. This is to be expect-
instead of spending Legend on any marvel or boon made to
ed when being taught by a renowned god of psychedelics!
remove a persistent condition on another character so long
as that character takes an action that strongly affirms their Asset Skills: Persuasion, Culture
gender identity. Guide Stunt (3 successes): The Scion may invoke an
Purview: Fertility appropriate path for additional time with no penalty. This
path must involve members of the Gay community offering
Hapi (••••) assistance to the Scion.
The Intersex god of the Nile flood is a powerful guide Unique Knack: Once per arc the Scion may host a par-
for Queer Scions. He teaches those he chooses how to pro- ty involving the consumption of a large number of drugs and
vide gifts efficiently while simultaneously overflowing in regain Legend as if they had performed a major sacrifice.
the bounty of these gifts. Those who receive his blessings
know best how to bring floods to a location and how to Calling: Guardian
capitalize upon the gifts it provides among related matters. Legendary Title: The Flower Prince
Asset Skills: Occult, Science
Guide Stunt (2 successes): When providing any re-
source to a group of people such as food, water, or money
RELICS
the Scion may know the exact amount to give to each person
Bhagiratha Exoskeleton (••)
to maximize its effects. Purview: Epic Stamina
Unique Knack: When performing an upheaval marvel Motif: The Endurance of Strong Bones
or emulating a Fertility boon through the Water purview the Tags: Hard (3)
Scion may imbue rather than spend Legend to perform a feat
When Bhagiratha was born of two mothers he was
of scale that plays off of the effects created.
unfortunately created without bones. Luckily a sage was
Calling: Liminal around who was able to magically gift him an entire skele-
Purview: Water ton. To the Deva, all parts of the human body are feminine

20 PRIDE 2020
except for the bones and this fact can prove problematic for Theoi as an inspiring testament to what they can be and the
hopeful homosexual couples. There is a modern solution strength of the bonds of love.
made for this problem, the Bhagiratha Exoskeleton, which Flaw: If this urn is damaged through the results of a
provides support for missing or damaged bones while sunder stunt or by any other means, then Patroclus’ ghost
providing its user significantly greater endurance during will seek retribution against the carrier of this relic giving 1
hardships or battle. point of complication for the scene in which it was damaged
Knack: While worn the user can ignore any complica- and one additional complication for every additional session
tions from conditions involving missing or damaged bones. that it remains damaged.
Gender Based Pride Magic Kit (••) Elegant Inle Outfit (•••)
Enhancement: 1 General Purview: Beauty
Queer members of the Aesir often question the arbi- Motif: The Elegance of Nature
trary gendered rules of magic within the pantheon. Even the Enhancement: 1 when trying to make a good first
All-Father is ridiculed for his use of Seidr, a form of magic impression
traditionally considered feminine. This, however, begs the
question: What about Transgender and Intersex people? Inle’s famed outfit composed of cowry shells, corals,
How do they fit into the rules? These Scions are provided and beautiful feathers is now available in both modern and
with threads and runes in many variable Pride colors as con- traditional styles. It is popular with scions of Inle as well as
cerns their identifications for both impressing occultists and LGBTQ+ Orisha who want to be stylish. This relic is often
winning contests against sorcerers. given as a combination gift with the Snakes of Inle that are
also provided in this chapter.
Pride Flag Kami (••)
Purview: Passion (Pride)
Magical Transition Pills (•••)
Purview: Beauty
Motif: A Beacon to the Oppressed
Motif: Getting closer to one’s ideal body
Enhancement: 1 when used in friendly interactions
with the LGBTQ+ community This collection of divinely empowered magical treat-
ments is carried by Scions active in the Trans and Nonbinary
This flag was among the first pride flags ever produced community. The infinite collection of pills can be used to
having been sown by Shinto practitioners in San Francisco. immediately transition at incredible speed and grace.
It has traveled far and wide and has been used in many
protests and in the time it has been cared for, the Kami has Knack: When a treatment is given to a character they
chosen to reveal itself and provide its blessings. This Kami may transition at an unusually fast rate. In addition, the
is willing to use its power to help Scions fight for LGBTQ+ Scion may imbue instead of spending Legend when using
rights around the world but if the Scion should fail in doing the boon Draw Back The Mask on any NPC who has taken
so they should not expect its blessings. the treatment for an extended period of time.
Flaw: If the Scion takes any action that hurts or fails Torch of Iolaus (••••)
to protect any LGBTQ+ person or community then the relic Enhancement: 2 when assisting in combat without
loses all benefits until the Scion can make amends to the attacking an enemy
Kami and the community.
During the 2nd labor of Heracles against the Lernaean
Achilles and Patroclus’ Golden Urn Hydra, he was accompanied by his lover Iolaus who used
(•••) this torch to help defeat the Hydra by cauterizing each of
Purviews: Passion (Love), War its heads before they could regrow. While Iolaus never ob-
tained apotheosis, his shrine in Thebes was one where male
Motif: Two of the Greatest Lovers and Warriors of the lovers would visit to make their vows. This torch is used by
Ancient World Rest Here Scions who wish to carry on that impressive legacy.
When Achilles’ lover Patroclus was killed, he was Knack: Whenever the Scion uses another knack, mar-
so heartbroken that he refused to eat and drink for days. vel, or boon on a male fatebound character to improve a
Patroclus’ ghost visited Achilles requesting to have a prop- relationship with another man, the Scion may increase the
er funeral so that he could move on to the after-realm. In level of the fatebinding by one. This knack can only be used
response, Achilles held a grand funeral where he sacrificed once per fatebinding.
12 Trojan captives and gathered the soldiers for wrestling
and other sports. Patroclus was buried in a golden urn
which Achilles himself was ultimately buried in as well to
be with Patroclus forever. The tomb this urn was placed in
became a site of pilgrimage for many famous people includ-
ing Alexander the Great. This urn is now shared amongst

QUEER BIRTHRIGHTS 21
CHAPTER 4
 MAGICAL
TRANSITIONING
“It is revolutionary for any trans person
to choose to be seen and visible in a world
that tells us we should not exist.”
— Laverne Cox

H eroes have as many reasons for thinking about the topic

of transition as an average person might. Scions feel
dysphoria like any normal person can and for some who were
become a woman and suffered many hardships but when
given the chance to change back they decided that they
wanted to stay a woman because the sex was better. Other
carved from stone or are the offspring of agender gods it can heroes may take birthrights that make their transition easier
be even more complicated. A Scion can bypass many of the or instantaneous. The emphasis of these options is the ease
difficulties that Transgender people have to go through with of the actual process and this is ideal for Players that simply
relative ease. While they have more tools at their disposal want to enjoy the fantasy of undergoing a simpler transition
than a normal human, they may have to take other factors or for Players who want the fact that their character is Trans
into consideration. Many ancient cultures had strict ideas to be background information.
about the role of gender and to even stray from those ideas,
let alone consider going as far as to physically transition, may MARVELS TO CHANGE SEX
be confusing to certain deities. Scions of particular social There are several different purviews that could be justi-
prominence or visited by deities of unaccepting pantheons fied for changing the sex of another character. Beauty is an
may have to fight against the wishes of their patrons in order obvious choice but also purviews like Artistry, Forge, Water,
to fully embrace who they are. Chosen Scions and Scions of and Moon could also be justified under the right circum-
Queer-accepting deities often have it easiest in this regard. stances. If a Marvel of this kind is used on a trivial character
While the focus of this section is around transitioning, then they can be changed and it can be made permanent. If
Players and Storyguides should keep in mind that transi- used on a nontrivial character consider the following condi-
tioning is not the sole defining feature of Transgender and tion Marvel and spend one point of Legend. Then, decide on
Nonbinary people. Many willingly choose not to and that an appropriate resolution condition.
is almost certainly true of Scions as well. A character is no Magically Changed Sex
less the gender they are because of the decision they have
made in how they choose to present themselves. Players and Ignore any complications for activity normally only
Storyguides should also be careful of the specific language accessible to one sex. They also receive Enhancement 2
that they use around the table in regards to these topics and on any action taken to hide in plain sight from characters
should remember that it may not be obvious who at the table looking for their previous form. However, if they intend to
is struggling with gender issues. hide their change they receive Complication 1 on all actions
while interacting with others familiar with them or charac-

THE EASY WAYS ters that are heavily scrutinizing them. If this Complication
is not bought off then the character will be recognized or
will make a mistake that tips unfamiliar characters off.
The simplest way to magically transition is just to
have a deity grant a transformation during Visitation. Some Resolution: This condition resolves by the end of a
Scions are blessed to have a kind and understanding enough single day or after meeting the requirement that was set by
Patron to do so with little strings attached but some may the Scion.
request a specific task in return for an additional blessing.
Sex changes are often framed as curses being given to
characters by the gods for their misdeeds, but for some, THE HARD WAYS
this may turn out to be a blessing. One example of this is The following is a collection of more complex, difficult,
the character of Bhangasvana who was cursed by Indra to or simply very specific ways that characters have changed

23
MAGICAL TRANSITIONING
 DIVINE ACCEPTANCE
When making a character who is Transgender or Nonbinary be sure to have a discussion with the
Storyguide about how accepted they may be within the pantheon. A player who wanted to fight tooth
and nail for acceptance but finds that all of the gods are completely accepting may be disappointed. A
player who simply wanted to enjoy playing a cool Trans character may be frustrated when the topic is
constantly brought up at their table. This is a topic where it is very important to set expectations to avoid
upsetting players.

sex in myth. Stories of this kind are more common to the quite dangerous but this option is available for Scions who
knowledge of the author in Irish and Scottish traditions as wish to pursue knowledge or have the desire to transition.
well as Indian ones though other versions exist elsewhere Shiva declared the child Shikhandi to be a prince
in the world. These may be used by Storyguides in their even though he was born with a vagina. When Shiva was
campaigns or as Player-driven plot elements. Many of the challenged on his decision, Shikhandi went into the forest
cultures these myths came from did not distinguish between and asked the Yaksha to switch his genitals which they did.
sex and gender and so in the telling of these stories the two Nature-focused Scions may be able to accomplish a similar
may be conflated. feat by reaching out to the Yaksha, but unfortunately they
A man once slept on top of a magic hill in Ireland and may not be able to help with any other aspect of transitioning.
when he awoke he was transformed into a woman. They The hero Liath was blessed to have three great warrior
went to live the life of a woman and had children and then by daughters. They each took a visit to the Pool of Bulls to
accident they went to sleep on that hill once more, therefore, find themselves transformed into bearded men. Each of
becoming a man again. This situation was complicated for them carried on as men and the site of each of their deaths
them as the people were uncertain how to handle the laws was named after them. Somewhere in Ireland, this Pool of
of inheritance, the most important concern in this scenario. Bulls may still exist but nobody knows where it is or how it
The hill they slept on is now in the middle of Dublin and received its name. An explorer Scion may be able to locate
nearby is a small sign warning people that they should avoid this site one day and in doing so provide a blessing to many.
sleeping next to it if they do not want to find themselves
with a new body. This, however, does not stop hopefuls There are many more examples beyond these stories.
from showing up to sleep on it to change. Anyone who seeks Some of the most common methods of transformation are
this option out deliberately should be warned that the fairies through the use of a magic pool or through the consumption
that cause this to happen may choose a different spell. of magic pills or fruit. Specific magic pills or fruit might be
sought out by Scions with the right connections to the myth-
When Hermaphroditus was found by the nymph ic underground. Deities are not the only beings who directly
Salmacis and their bodies were combined into one, they possess this power and, for example, some Sorcerers do as
prayed so that the fountain would turn all those that en- well. In some cases, a transition may be accomplished by
tered it would become as they are. The waters still exist asking for a favor from such a Sorcerer.
deep underground, somewhere in Bodrun, Turkey where
Halikarnassos once was. Some say there exists bottles of the
water kept in storage by a cult to Hermaphroditus.
Parvati placed a blessing on a grove so that no man
except Shiva could enter it to ensure that they could always
have privacy together. Then the king Sudyumna entered it
and found himself transformed. Afterward, they became
queen Ila, an ancestor of the Pandava brothers. This grove
still remains hidden in a remote terra incognita and wise
Deva should avoid seeking it out in order to avoid offending
Shiva and Parvati.
The Prophet Tiresias encountered two snakes having
sex with one another and was so disgusted that he struck
them with a stick which transformed him into a woman.
Having the knowledge of life as both a man and a woman,
Zeus and Hera consulted him on questions they had of dif-
ferences between the sexes. Later, Tiresias encountered two
more snakes having sex, and following the instructions of
an Oracle, he struck at them once more which caused him to
change back. What these snakes are and why they have this
power is unclear and attacking these magic snakes may be

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