Stormy Weather
To the good smith Nicolos of Kor Volcas:
Our journey continues without significant delay. We’re making our way generally north along the Grecian coast on the way to Olympus. Between captain duties and studying with Gallus I fear I am missing much with the other companions. I see Thalia in conversation with Leonis who’s returned from wherever he got up to. I get the impression that good gentleman is worse for wear on his travels. His demeanor seems strained, but I don’t know him well; perhaps he is always thus. Not long after Ouroboros joins them. The discussion becomes more animated, I heard mention of Atlas and Kronos, but little details come to me as I’m busy and also trying to be respectful of our companions. Eventually Leonis and Thalia retire from the mess, I suspect they’re headed back to her cabin for some respite.
Strangely there isn’t much seen of Lady Alexandra. She seems to be keeping more and more to her cabin. I hope all is well, but I fear I am missing something critical. I don’t have your gift with people. On the fifth day of our voyage, we were treated to be a bit of high drama. As I wrote earlier, Ouroboros is investing heavily in training Kyros. To that end he arranged a spar between him and Lady Thalia. In moments it became clear that Thalia worked some sort of enchantment on the Spartan. Kyros isn’t the most subtle of men, his over acting to make Thalia look good was very dramatic. I don’t think Kyros learned much from the spar itself. At the noon meal, several of us discussed things with Kyros. Thalia noted that we companions travel as a group, which gives us strength. Ouroboros came back to the Spartan values noting that mental strength and fortitude were as important as the physical. I offer some more prosaic suggestions about being more offensive. Pointing out the seeming physical differences from Kyros to Thalia, yet Thalia was passing eager for a fight. Kyros approached things with trepidation where something more aggressive might have served him better. Both Thalia and Ouroboros suggested more specific tactics, like blinding and silencing. Kyros seemed grateful, but overwhelmed with information. The weather gets rougher toward sunset, meaning tomorrow might be a rough one.
The weather doesn’t improve over night and we are beset by another storm on our journey. These are more chaotic than anything I’m used to seeing. I think the confrontation between Oceanus and Poseidon must be heating up. Silenos is doing his best to pick a course for us, but we end up losing about 4 hours in bad currents, and fighting rip tides. Eventually we end up back on track, I think Ouroboros must have said something to Silenos, he seemed surer of things later in the day. Silenos is lending his herbal lore to that of Gallus, the surgeon. They are hopeful they can turn some of the Hydra essence into ampules of healing. I spied Alexandra briefly this morning, she was chatting with Niobe in the mess. Not sure what they discussed, but both were gone by the time I was able to come back. Some time later Niobe is walking by with Lady Thalia and mentions loudly enough for me to overhear about some problems with Alexandra. Seems her psyche is injured. Sadly, I’m not an expert at that sort of thing. The best I can do is suggest finding her something to do, to keep her mental and physical hands busy. I thought training Niobe and Kyros in how magicians operate might provide something useful, especially if we encounter Circe again. I’ve opted to leave this in Thalia’s hands. She has more skills with people than I do and a longer and I suspect more intimate relationship with Alexandra.
Later I see Thalia and Silenos coming out from the shrine on the aft castle. The weather has stopped getting worse. Its not improving, but at least its not getting worse. Perhaps they took the opportunity to make an offering or prayer to Poseidon. Day seven of the voyage still doesn’t see a clearing of the weather, but at least its not getting progressively worse. Silenos does an amazing job keeping us on course, despite the shifting winds and currents. No easy feat that given the chaos we’re feeling at sea. Only thing of note was a minor incident with the crew. Seems we had a bit of a lover’s triangle and it got vocal enough that I had to get involved. Seems a crewman named Merron was involved with both Azis and Peos. This lead to a lot of tension between Peos and Azis. I approached the three, and took Merron to grip by the throat with my claws slightly extended. I suggested that Peos and Azis decide, or I’d resolve the problem myself. Quickly everyone was quite chagrined and decided to get their behavior pulled together. Interestingly enough I saw a put out Merron later while Peos and Azis seemed quite friendly.
I see Alexandra talking briefly with Leonis and Silenos. Not sure about what, but I hope they are finding a way to help Alexandra. Silenos disappears for a good hunk of the day. I get Theos to pitch in to help guide us, but most of the courses are already set. Thalia is very much engaged with the crew with Erix not far from her. She pauses during Niobe’s workout and they speak for a time. Its not long before we have a second exhibition between the ladies. Niobe does a much better job then Kyros. She’s able to strike and dance away giving Thalia a bit of a trial. It’s not long before Thalia’s fingers engage some mystic symbols and Niobe lifts into the air, caught in Thalia’s arcane grasp. More quiet discussion happens as Thalia flies up and gently bring Niobe back to the deck in her arms. Thalia moves on, Niobe seems frustrated, and more devoted to breaking things. Ouroboros and the mates all will have some repairs to make once she’s done.
Day eight is worse as we get closer to Olympus. I’m able to steer us fine, but the winds and currents are a labor. We lose as much time as we make headway. I think we must have spent half the day chasing our tails, but at least we didn’t encounter anything else. Apart from being soaked, there’s nothing much to report. Day nine is still a stormy morass, but Silenos and I have a handle mostly on how to get us through it. We hopefully should be in sight of Olympus tomorrow around mid-day. It will be a relief to get into a harbor and get a bit of respite from the angry sea.
Day ten dawns with Leonis announcing he needs to go for a time. I see Thalia and Leonis talk before he goes, and I see Leonis share a brief talk with Silenos as well. Not sure what passes between them all, but not long after Leonis is just gone. Ouroboros and his mates are spending some time tending to the hull and the repairs are completed, none too soon as it would turn out. Nearing mid-day, the storm wickedly intensifies. A deafening stroke of thunder is accompanied by acidic rain and bolts of lightning striking the ship. No one on deck is unaffected. I start directing the ship out of the path of this chaos, when hail starts to fall about us, some of the ice stones are as big as the largest olive. Several of the crew are felled with strikes to the head. I manage to pull us out of the storm only to find we’ve fallen out of the pan and into the fire.
Looming out of the stormy darkness are two massive shadows. One is the form of Oceanus, billowing water and shifting winds. The other is a Grecian form trireme, but writ large; as large or larger than our own ship. Its captained by a mountain of a Goliath with giant followers and enslaved crew. This captain is able to shout from his position at the bow of his ship. We can easily hear him shout, “Demithots, what a stupid name for people who are about to be dead. Face the king of the giants, Apolyon.” With that he triples in size to something gigantic, his spear bursting into flame. Three jets of water rise and fall on the deck, each forming some sort of creature of living water. Then a voice of low menace, booming with all of roar of a stormy sea, breaks upon us. Oceanus speaks “Titan slayers, did you think there wouldn’t be payment?”
I’m not sure what we’re going to do, but I need to get this missive out before we do whatever it is we do. If we survive this, I’ll write again. Wish us luck, we’re going to need it, I fear.
Gyasi