Episode 31: Widdershins
Takes place 17-26 January 2011.
Short version
Paul and Zatanna close down a hell-portal under London as payment for Mr. Ondaate's help in fighting Nabu, and rescue Euanthe the dryad.
Longer version
Several of Paul's uplift projects make progress: he initiates a deal for the London government to start replacing railways with Dolmen Gates; tells Atlantean and surface-world technologists about the arcane metals that Themyscira is able to produce; and launches a campaign to have non-traditional intelligences (such as A.I.s and synthetic lifeforms) recognised as people.
On a more personal note, he and Zatanna make contact with the shaman of London, known as Map, and enlist his promise to help fight Nabu, in exchange for destroying a demonic portal under the city. In the process, Paul is able to rescue a Dryad named Euanthe, who had been kidnapped and used as a magic focus for the portal.
After arriving back at the Mountain, Paul gets an idea from Tula, and reconnects with the Ophidian in order to scan the world for Lex Luthor's hidden servers. Although he is successful, he decides not to take immediate action on the servers; however, this establishes that, after his Orange Enlightenment, he is able to use the Ophidian's power temporarily and then disconnect afterward. He is also introduced to the Ophidian's "special place," the Honden of Avarice, which exists outside the universe and records every time the orange light is used.
The Renegade tests Kid Flash's post-Awakening performance, finding that the process has fixed his flawed speed formula; he is now as fast as the Flash, hitting 97% of lightspeed, and his appetite is more normal.
An omake shows Lois trying to figure out who benefits from Luthor's new stance of acknowledging non-human life that comes from Earth.
The origin of the title is unclear.
- Alternate History: High frequency trading is illegal on Earth 16
. - Early-Bird Cameo: While in the Honden of Avarice, Paul experiences the avarice of Sodam Yat and Mythus.
- Enlightenment Superpowers: A little info on enlightenment is given.
- Evil Doppelgänger: The Demon Constantine turns up on the other side of the Hell Gate, but isn't able to get through the concrete barrier Paul has set up. He does get Zatanna asking questions, though.
- Fusion Dance: Paul joins with the Ophidian again. Being orange-enlightened, he handles it much better this time.
- Hell Gate: The shaman of London wants this one gone from his city. John Constantine has trouble closing it until Paul liberates the Dryad who was being used as an anchor.
- Mistaken for Romance: Zatanna's school friends don't believe her and Paul's claims about not being in a relationship.
- Omake: The omake has Lois Lane trying to find out the (non-existent) connection between Orange Lantern, Red Tornado, CADMUS, and Lex Luthor.
- Open Mouth, Insert Foot: Paul thoughtlessly asks his second ring for info while in the company of John Stewart, the man who used to own said ring.
- Our Zombies Are Different: Paul and Zatanna fight against former humans who have been warped and strengthened with demonic magic.
- Pop-Cultured Badass: Constantine knows what Sailor Moon is; Gemma's a fan.
- The Power of Love: Paul explains to John that this is what powers the Star Sapphire."Love is a very powerful force. Even more so when it's focused into a coherent beam of destruction."
- Shoot the Dog: Averted. Paul knew this would be how John Constantine usually solves the problem. Thankfully Paul had another solution that didn't involve killing the dryad.
- Taught by Experience: Having learned from last time, Paul is no longer so oblivious when it comes to realizing a Greco-Roman deity is right in front of him.
- Unwitting Test Subject: It turns out the Terror Twins and their mother were this for Dr. Sivana.
