The Eight Immortals () are a group of legendary "xian" ("immortals") in Chinese mythology. Hephaestus fathered several children with mortals and immortals alike. Orion belongs to an extraterrestrial race of supernatural immortals known as the New Gods. Other flags and banners may be those of the gods or immortals themselves. It intertwines numerous elements of Chinese mythology, including deities, immortals and spirits. Certain birds in mythology transport deities, immortals, or others. There he dwells with his ancient paladins, the Thousand Immortals. This started a war between the Eight Immortals and the dragons. Stories vary about how Lan attained immortality and became one of the Eight Immortals. Several Japanese "sennin" ("immortals") have taken dragons as their mounts. There are several Taoist immortals who are associated with the jian. Duncan is an excellent swordsman among Immortals. The rest confront the cloaked immortals, who are shown to be only faceless dummies. The site of "Akademia" was sacred to Athena and other immortals. There are two stories that depict how he became one of the immortals.