Scion No. 20, Page 22

The First were god-like beings who saw the Crossgen universe as their own creation and playground. They noted the appearance of sigil-bearers with some concern as these mortals were able to access powers similar to their own. The First were themselves divided into two camps, House Dexter and House Sinister. One side sent Mai Shen as an adviser to the Raven dynasty and another sent Bernd Rechts to aid and monitor the Heron Dynasty. In this splash page, Rechts is seen returning to the Heron camp after a lengthy absence. However, the real Rechts had already been destroyed by Mai Shen who has here taken his identity. In this guise, she leads the Heron army into an ambush that they barely survive. (NYCC 2009/02)