The open ocean
Hail and well met Nicolos of Kor Volcas,
Barring something usual we’ll be leaving Sparta by ship today. We have a few last minute to do items, like laying in provisions and stores, but that’s being largely handled by Theos. The ladies are hold up in Alexandra’s room after they spent a couple of minutes in the galley looking over Thalia’s new dagger. I wasn’t paying close attention, but I did pick up something about Leonis. Hopefully they will get some word or news soon. I know his situation worries them both.
Silenos got the rough job this morning waking Ouroboros. He seemed a bit worse for wear after that accursed axe of Ares went missing. As anticipated our gigantic friend seemed better having slept off the worst of his symptoms. Both ate a significant meal. As the ladies returned to the mess from Alex’s sanctum, my father stopped by for a visit. This wasn’t good for the breakfast dishes, but at least Ouroboros made an excellent shield. As anticipated, we’ve been invited to Olympus after we all finished with our various labors. It was implied that going soonest would be best. To that end we all went back to the captain’s cabin where we looked over the charts we have amassed. It appears that the closest town is a placed called Dion. We’ll have to sail several days north along the coast to get there.
Thalia relates her story with the two Spartan kings and the queen. She was exceptionally moved by the events. Happy for what she could do to foster a new budding relationship with one of the hetaria. She was sad by what she had to do to the younger king but was assured it was required to mend the wall between the queen and the frigid king. There was a tense encounter as Thalia was leaving between her and the queen. While it wasn’t cordial, there was some begrudged respect. I hope whatever Thalia’s mistress has in mind works out well for them. Between you and I, I think sometimes these relationship woes of humanity are troublesome. I’m not sure what it is like for your people, but it seems much easier amongst mine. If you like someone you stay; if you must go, you go. If you feel affection for someone you express it; if you feel anger, well that’s what the claws are for. I feel like I’m twice blessed, once from my father and a second time by my mother and her patroness. It is much easier being a cat.
After the shared tale we got to assigning duties. Ouroboros did a masterful job taking charge of that. It was as to be expected, largely along the lines of our own proclivities and experience. I’m taking on the role of captain as the most seasoned mariner. Thalia will be the first mate, when she’s ready. She needs a little break after the efforts with the kings and the loss of Gecky. Ouroboros will be acting as the boatswain (bosun). He’ll serve nicely as a master of the decks. Silenos has agreed to serve as our quartermaster which is mostly about the navigation efforts. Theos will be acting as Thalia’s stand-in and will then adopt other duties as needed. We’re still lacking a cook and a surgeon. Thalia, Alexandra, and Ouroboros agree to go searching for those parties, while the rest of us prepare to make way.
A few hours later a plain looking fellow arrives and introduces himself as Gallus. He’s been hired on as our surgeon, I ask Theos to give him the tour and get him settled. Shortly there after all three companions return letting us know they’ve hired a cook, but she won’t be ready until the morning. Seems we’ll have a bit of time, so need to rush to make the evening tide. A little bit later I notice that Thalia has some new cloths. Given the quality, I suspect they might be the gift we all got from our patrons. I didn’t ask, as that’s a personal thing. Ouroboros takes advantage of the extra time to see his friend Kyros before we leave. The night in port passes quietly and with the dawn we are joined by Thelma our new young cook. You’d like her I think, she’s very personable and talkative. She’s generally excited about everything and looking forward to adventure. I think she’s found a good crew to join for that. Surprisingly we’re also joined by a Spartan waiting with kit, shield and spear at the end of the dock. Seems Kyros will also be joining our crew. Going to be interesting with the Athenians and Niobe aboard, but I suppose that’s what epic tales are made of. Ouroboros notices the tension, talks to the whole crew and everyone seems to recognize we’re part of a larger story than just Athens vs Sparta or Amazons vs Sparta. A sense of acceptance is had.
We make a little less than about 100 miles a day, so this voyage is going to be 9 or 10 days of straight sailing, provided we don’t encounter too many delays. I’ve got my hands mostly full with captain duties, meaning I fill in where I’m needed, steer the ship, and keep us on course. The Daddylus is a fine ship but takes some tending to sail properly. I’m busy enough that I lose track of some of the details going on with the other companions. Doubly so since the weather hasn’t been great and seems to be worsening. I see Thalia talking for a time with Niobe, and then with Thelma. It was sometime after mid-day that Ouroboros and I notice that some of the deck hands, and most of the hoplites are missing from the deck, which is unusual. I ask Ouroboros to peek and see if he can find out what’s going on. Down below he finds the missing folks all surrounding Niobi and Kyros who are having a go at one another. No weapons in evidence, just fists, feet, elbows, and knees. Niobi seems to be doing better of the pair, knocking Kyros about. Ouroboros breaks up the fight, scattering people back to other duties. During the course of the day I find myself having the same discussion about propriety, team work, and behavior. Thelma does a magnificent job as cook to sooth over the rancor and the entire crew seems better for it.
Out third day at sea dawns much nicer as we’re on the other side of the storm and things are much more placid. The sun comes out and has drawn Alexandra up from her sequester to the deck. Most of the day is quiet, around sunset, I see Thalia has put together a nice repast for Alexandra with Thelma’s help. Not sure what they discuss as they are up toward the front of the ship, but they seem to be having a nice time. While that is going on, I notice that there is some drag at the wheel, and we seem to be speeding forward despite the wind’s gentle tug. Our lookout above reports down that he spies a massive whirlpool. If you’ve never seen one, imagine a bucket with a cork in the bottom, stopping up a hole. Fill the bucket with water and then pull out the cork. In a couple of minutes, you’ll see the water start to swirl around and be sucked out the bottom. Ahead of us is such a thing, but over 100 feet in diameter. Thankfully we spied this in advance so we could make adjustments. I call for all hands to the deck, while Theos tries to direct the crew to task. He’s a bit less than successful. Ouroboros however, can get the deck crew going and we start to turn tangent to the pull. The mix of order and directions doesn’t help the crew much leading to failures and delays. Thankfully Silenos is able to get a good look at the line we’re on and we were able to nudge the Daddylus to safety. We make the map, so we know to avoid this spot for future travels.
Our fourth day at sea marks the return of Thalia as first mate. Theos gladly starts serving as a second mate, helping out across the deck to fill in where people are having problems. After yesterday’s incident Silenos is being extra aware of any additional titanic hijinks but doesn’t see any during the morning half of the sail. The crew is on edge between the whirlpool and the brawl, but Thalia is able to pass amongst them, becalming them each in turn, leaving them in better shape after. Around mid day I see Thalia, Alexandra, and Silenos talking up on the forecastle of the ship. Some sort of pale half globe surrounding them. They all appear a little fuzzy though the arcane haze. I hate to say it I’m distracted by that when the first of the massive serpent heads appears from out of the water. However, its not long before it becomes all too obvious as the massive creature pulls itself up from the sea and onto the deck; all five heads hissing and snapping. One of the crew is bitten badly and tossed aside into the ocean as the creature makes deck fall. Ouroboros who is on the aft castle, takes a running leap and bounds down only to spring again with that massive club forge mistress Ina made. I’m not sure if it was the club or just Ouroboros’s natural puissance, but he knocks one of the heads cold and it limply dangles from the body. Those red runes on his body flare, and for a moment those blazing shackles appear around the heads of the hydra. They sadly don’t prove much of a challenge to a creature that massive and it snaps them easily. Our Athenian hoplites form up quickly and launch a volley of spears. Not surprisingly most of them hit piecing a second head, leaving it dead as well. Its then we learn this creature’s blood is like acid, and Ouroboros is splashed with the caustic blood. The hoplites elect not to throw a second volley. Thalia does something and Silenos disappears. I must assume it’s the same enchantment she’s used on me a time or two, rendering Silenos invisible to sight. The hydra roars as the two useless heads seem to split and as the flesh trembles each form two new heads, if somewhat malformed. All of them are hissing and spitting in anger though. Multiple heads take snapping bites at Ouroboros, some missing, most landing. Ouroboros stumbles back a step and another set of greyer colored runes flash and a mist like cloud rises from his body and wraps around the heads snapping at him. Each of the heads so enwrapped seem to dip, with heavy lids as the mists take effect.
Alexandra steps closer on the forecastle, casting something. The hydra looks panicked as it seems to be reacting to something only it can see. Whatever it is, it causes the creature some very real physical and mental pain. She then ducks before the fore mast, wisely. I head across the deck and step into the thin air, catching a glimpse of the floating body of our crewman. In hopes he might be alive; I try to use some of my father’s power to deliver him to the deck. It fails, as he’s passed. I loop through the air and make a diving strike at the hydra. I draw your hero’s blade across the back of the necks of three of the heads neatly severing the spines and causing minimal splash of blood. Just as I strike, I see the blade flare as one of the other companions invoked the connection between them. Niobe shoots with her bow, pinning one of the heads to the mast. The caustic blood showers both Ouroboros and myself. Silenos unseen by all flickers in and out of sight as he loses two additional arrows pinning a second head to the mast. He then redoubles his effort shooting again finishing the beast, letting it slump to the deck.
Ouroboros climbs onto the bulk of the creature and turns to the crew. He makes an impassioned speech about the power of teamwork and how this is the greatest group of warriors he’s had the honor of knowing. Everyone is much moved, and celebrations commence. Thalia and Silenos discuss things briefly, determining what might be of value from the beast. Much of it has value in one way or another; scales, blood, teeth, even the heads. Silenos commences to gathering materials from the creature, with help from Niobe and other crew as they can. Thalia tells some interesting stories about Hercules and his encounter with a hydra. Perhaps that wasn’t the best of choices, no sooner than she finished the tale, Ouroboros with a gleam of madness in his eye, drops his massive gauntlets and plunges his fists into the main body of the beast. Immediately he’s wracked with pain, and we can all hear the quickening sizzle of flesh as the acid goes to work. For over a minute Ouroboros just stands there, fists burning, teeth grinding and eventually he falls back to the deck unconscious. Thankfully Alexandra and Gallus the surgeon are on hand to staunch the worst of the damage and drag him below for more considered care.
Silenos can pull quite a bit from the body over the course of the next few hours. He gets a sack full of scales, several vials of blood, another sack of teeth, and pounds of flesh that Thelma says she can dry to preserved rations. He’s also able to salvage three of the heads mostly intact. Several of the crew seem interested in rendering them to bone and using them as a mast adornment. I, given and where I hail from, have a slightly better idea. I consult with the memories of texts I read with my mother long ago. The knowledge of how the mummies of Egypt are prepared stir into my mind, letting me produce a more striking presentation. We eventually will end up with three heads to adorn the Daddylus.
Of course, not everything is sailing and monsters. We have each spent some time learning new tasks or taking on other challenges. Ouroboros has been working constantly with Kyros molding him into a dangerous warrior. Thalia has been spending some time in contemplation in our onboard shrine. Alexandra has been spending time in her cabin, cloistered. When I see her on deck, she seems in a worsening mood. I think that’s one reason Thalia is often in her company. I’m not sure what it is all about, wish I could help more. I’m sure your council is missed. I’ve been spending some time with the surgeon Gallus. He’s sharing his knowledge of the poisoner’s art as it relates to medicine and the body. I can hear your lament that poisoning is a foul black deed, and generally I agree. I personally worry about a future encounter with either a titan or Circe. I need to have more tools at my disposal. Silenos has been spending time with Theos getting a refined idea about how to work with the navigation tools.
As we start our fifth day, we get an unexpected visitor. Thalia spotted Leonis while in the galley. She rushed to him, and there was a warm greeting as you might expect. Not sure what all of the story was, but there were tears and clearly heart felt kisses. All in all, a good way to start a day. I’ll write more soon my friend. I hope all is well with you and that Vulcan blesses your arm and anvil.
Gyasi