The Unforgiving River Okeanos

[OGRE MAGE]

The Voyage Continues
The River Okeanos
Midday, Warm, Breezy

The crewmen on the foremast stretches himself forward, as if it would help him see a little further, shielding his his eyes from the dim orange glow above. He shakes his head as if stumped by what he sees.

Captain Lazereth answers questions while he can. “A map? There are no maps of that island known to man, miss. For the Men of MU don’t exactly favor visitors. In fact, it’d be best to not see any of em atol’, if ye understand me.”

“The only safe location for landing there is a tiny natural harbor of moss covered stone on the exact northern point of the island.” He turns around and stares back at the central mountains of the mainland, using his hand to line up the course of travel. All you see is open water behind the vessel.

The captain smirks at the reply from Xenos. “Ye haven’t figured it out yet, friend? I thought ye were getting close. The whole thing is supposed ta be suspicious, see? Because this whole trip is.....”

A shout of “Captain, sir! I think ye better take a look ahead, sir,” rings out from the lookout, causing him to move to the high prow of the modified Viking craft. Squinting your eyes, you can see a dark colored disk floating upon the surface, well off into the distance. Squinting a bit more, it appears that there is a smaller dark disk another good distance beyond the first, but seemingly in the current path of the ship.

Actions?

Apollonius AC:8 5/5 2/2
Kaul AC:6 11/13
Valkrina AC:6 8/8 1/1
Drest AC:7 7/7
Euripides AC:5 7/7 2/2
Xenos AC:5 9/9 2/2
Kumaglak AC:9 5/5 2/2
Hakon AC:4 4/9 1/1
Ragnarr AC:5 -2/13 (Unconscious)

[Paladin]

Apollonius

"We are few, even in our own land," Apollonius admits to his countryman, his voice tinged with melancholy.

He listens intently to the Captain's words, though his eyes remain fixed on the sea and he is, to all observers, lost in thoughts of his own. But when the warning comes, he focuses directly on the discs and cocks his head to assess the situation.

Do his grey cells or seafaring ancestry grant Apollonius any inkling of what's going on ahead?

[Scott308]

Euripides Nereos

Completely baffled by the conversations that are flying around, Euripides is happy for the distraction caused by...whatever those weird things are. The Atlantean heads to the front of the ship for a better view of the strange disks.

[Rex]

Drest

Drest moves closer and tries to see what the discs are.

[shaidar]

Xenos shades his eyes with his hand, trying to get a better look "What are they?" he asks nobody in particular.

[Bluetongue]

Valkrina

The only floating thing I could think of are pieces of flat ice, but black with oil?

She looks at the Captain and if he is not alarmed goes back to preparing her stuff.

She calls Apollonius looking him over. He is not dressed for expedition travel so goes to locate some footwear and a cloak at least. And a weapon.

"Can you use any of these?" she asks dumping them at his feet.

they look suspiciously like the boots, cloak and a dagger that Ragnarr wears .... or wore. ...

[OGRE MAGE]

The Voyage Turns
The River Okeanos
Midday, Warm, Breezy

Much to the delight of Apollonius, Valkrina causally strips the unconscious Viking of some unneeded clothing and gear, offering it up to the nearly naked newcomer to use. (Great idea and approach. Take a 100xp bonus for the effort)

Anyone watching the anomaly on the distant sea in front of the ship starts to realize that the disks aren’t actually floating at all, but now look more like dark holes forming under the surface. A massive churning vortex of water rings the black holes, circling them violently. The crewmen look even more worried when a third dark circle appears well beyond the second, staying in line with the current path, and increasing in size while you watch.

Once the vessel slows from the major increase in bow weight, Lazereth ushers everyone to return to midship with a nearly crazed look in his eyes. “This is a sign o’ fortune if I’ve ever seen one, friends! We normally use these whirlpools fer a speed boost, rushing through the intense current along their outer edge, but I never seen em develop in a row like this. “LETS SEE IF WE CAN BREAK ARE OWN RECORD, BOYS!!!” He shouts orders to his men, some of whom clearly don’t share his enthusiasm.

The crew scatters like wet ants, lashing down anything that isn’t already strapped in, some of them fashioning rope harnesses about their own bodies. Special attention is paid to the crates of food stuffs, and especially the single water cask.

The nearly giddy Captain Lazereth eventually moves to the stern, pulling out his magic feather again as the ship nears the distant spinning circles of raging water.

Actions?

Apollonius AC:8 5/5 2/2
Kaul AC:6 11/13
Valkrina AC:6 8/8 1/1
Drest AC:7 7/7
Euripides AC:5 7/7 2/2
Xenos AC:5 9/9 2/2
Kumaglak AC:9 5/5 2/2
Hakon AC:4 4/9 1/1
Ragnarr AC:5 -2/13 (Unconscious)

[Rex]

Drest

Drest quickly goes to the spot he had tied himself in before and ties himself in again, preparing for the worst.

[OGRE MAGE]

Do his grey cells or seafaring ancestry grant Apollonius any inkling of what's going on ahead?

These are whirlpools that randomly develop on the surface of the river this time of the year. They are not uncommon, but are normally avoided at all costs. You’ve never heard of more than one being seen at a time.

[Paladin]

Apollonius

The Atlantean glances away from the whirlpools at Valkrina's call and he approaches with a curious eye for the items she offers. "I believe so," he says and promptly dons the gear. "Thank you."

Apollonius whips around to examine these newly-formed whirlpools, eyes filled with curiosity. He finds a stout mast or railing and quickly ties a sturdy knot around his waist, bracing himself for the inevitable. The cold spray and wild ride are invigorating, and his blood hums with the dull roar of the churning water.

[Bluetongue]

Valkrina

"If I was a religious person I would make an offering about now, to Poseidon or the Kraken. Shit, even the Deep Ones to appease any foolishness of this captain." says the bard, concerned about the wisdom of catching the stormy currents on the maelstrom edge. She eyes the prone body of Ragnarr but thinks better of it.

"Any mistake and we get sucked down to the whirlpools eye in the fathom below. Best hope he has a firm grip on those feathers."

If she had the skill she might 'bump' into the Captain as the ship contours the waves, risking an attempt to surreptitiously pickpocket a feather token for herself, but alas 'purloining' such opportunities are for more delicate fingers than hers. She gives a cough and nod to Euripedes but is not sure he will understand the intent.

Thinking of what positive action she can take, she grabs a rope, tying the frayed end around a few short planks she loosens from a seat which she binds together as a floating device. "A forlorn hope should any man be cast overboard."

[shaidar]

Xenos looks around for spare rope

"Anyone got some rope so we can tie Ragnarr to the mast?"

If he can't find any rope and/or nobody helps him then he will do his best to grab onto a mast and hold Ragnar against the mast with his body. If there is some spare rope then he will tie Ragnarr and then himself to the mast.

[Scott308]

Euripides Nereos

The Atlantean looks concernedly at Valkrina, hoping she is not coming down with some sickness picked up from the island where they rescued the slaves. He only has time for a fleeting thought for her health, though, before finding something to tie himself securely to the boat before the ship hits the whirlpools.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Voyage Turns
The River Okeanos
Midday, Warm, Breezy

The crew sets the sails to catch the captains wind, preparing for ludicrous speed. Lazereth stands at the stern and begins waving his magical feather like a mad man. The ship lurches forward with a new burst, heading straight for the dark whirlpools ahead. The escaped captives huddle in the bottom of the boat, hanging onto the secured cargo for dear life.

The crazed captain shouts out again as another black dot begins to appear on the surface. "Holy Boreas, boys! There's another one brewing behind the third! We will make that lost rock in a day or two with this mighty push from the gods of fate!" A few of the crewmen seem legitimately frightened, but continue with their orders, since they appear to have little other choice at this point.

Most of the the party members tie themselves off as best they can, with Hakon and Xenos securing the almost naked Ragnarr to the mast as well. Valkrina watches the captains magic feathers closely, pointing them out to Euripides as well, who doesn't share in her desire to pilfer from the man who holds their fate in his hands. She ties a few short planks together to use as a flotation device, just in case.

The speed of the ship is already frightening by the time they hit the edge of the first whirlpool, ripping through the intense rotating currents so fast that the wooden craft groans from the strain. The crew can do nothing but strap themselves in at this point, their fates now resting firmly in the hands of the sea. The look on their faces tells you that they aren't any more sure about the outcome of this plan than you are.

With a heavy spray of water flying past him like a hurricane, the captain actually starts to laugh when they clear the first anomaly without incident, skimming across the water towards the second one so fast that it is almost hard to take in a full breath.

Actions?

Apollonius AC:8 5/5 2/2
Kaul AC:6 11/13
Valkrina AC:6 8/8 1/1
Drest AC:7 7/7
Euripides AC:5 7/7 2/2
Xenos AC:5 9/9 2/2
Kumaglak AC:9 5/5 2/2
Hakon AC:4 4/9 1/1
Ragnarr AC:5 -2/13 (Unconscious)

[Bluetongue]

Valkrina

Is not sure what actions she can take as the ship circles the whirlpools hoping to catch the gulf stream and under currents. Most of her sea going has been trawling on placid seas among the bergs or following coastal migratory routes. To be fair, it is both frightening and exhilarating to be in the wilder oceans.

She braces herself near Lazereth.

"Captain, you want to shake your fists at the will of the gods? Show them that you can ride out any storm and tempest of waves? Give me one of those tokens to waft. We can close haul to the wind around that maelstrom, throw an anchor over to stabilse the starboard then point her broad beam reach and cut it loose. If we time it right it will be like a slingshot skimming the boat across the waters, get it wrong and no tavern will get to hear your saga."

She holds a hand out expectant of a token and daring the Captain to be a bit more brazen.

[Rex]

Drest

Drest hunkers down and holds on for a wild ride.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sorry! I am trying to write up these descriptions as reader friendly as possible, so they don't get too long.

The ship isn't actually spinning around in the whirlpools. It is skimming along through the outside edge of them, where the water rotates in the same direction as the ship's movement.

The ship is still moving in a roughly straight line through them, at the very outer edge of the circles, accelerating through the churning water so fast that it doesn't get sucked in, using the momentum as a spring board, if you will.

I hope that helps you envision it a little easier.

[shaidar]

Xenos grits his teeth and hangs on for dear life

It's sort of like the slingshot effect space ships use to accelerate via gravity wells

[Rex]

Your description is good OM, just not sure there is much Drest can do to help at this point.

[OGRE MAGE]

Thanks Guys!

Yep!

Just hang on tight!