A/N: Here we are, the beginning of quest 3! I'm going to try and streamline this one some more, try and make it quick but epic. I hope you guys enjoy, I'm having the characters interact more in this quest, hopefully give them personality and make it interesting. Anyways, happy sailing!
With Samson, spring 1967
Restorations on The Gauntlet have been progressing at a good rate. The men Max hired come from a reputable company, with the guidance from the Naiads and the blueprints for upgrades I had created for the ship, have turned the old boat into an advanced and dangerous warship.
Guns have stayed the same though, Eris only was willing to replace the current armament, not add to it. That's more than fair, our current loadout should keep us safe from any monsters.
Getting into the Sea is going to be a fairly easy task for us, navigating it is what frightens me. Conventional means of guidance don't apply to the sea, locations and landmarks are know to change within the waters, and a compass or map has no usage either.
To travel there, you need to be a sea spirit or the child of a sea god.
We have none of those.
Ornea and her crew are fantastic women, their skills and knowledge of anything maritime are something to truly admire.
But, they're still Naiads, and Naiads belong to the domains of fresh water. Ornea admitted to me she had never been within the Sea of Monsters, and her natural abilities of water navigation have no power on any ocean.
This then leaves me busy with something else while my friends oversee restoration; my job is to find a way to guide us within the sea.
I've tried many angles of travel, explored new and dangerous theories of several schools of magic.
Astral and lunar sorceries to create an enchanted compass that guides you to your desired destination? Won't work, those magical energies are diffused and absorbed by the magic around the sea, leaving no magic for the compass and rendering it a useless but stylish paper weight.
Harvest the eye of our mummified oracle and use the lens within it to overlay images of the future and create a map of our future literally on paper? That won't work either, the Spirit of Delphi within her corpse has the necessary power, and she's unwilling to share any whiff of her being with me.
That, and defiling a corpse, especially the corpse of someone who was once my friend, is rather rude and basically blasphemy to Apollo.
Then what about regular magical guidance devices? Katoptris and my old Looking Glass Mirror function on very similar magics, only mine allows one to travel through an overlaying mirror dimension, think of it as using a shortcut through the world Laila had sent us to and arrive through a mirror closest to the destination you wish.
The unique ability of Katoptris, that I had borrowed from the armory to study its' magical properties, is that instead of traversing the mirror dimension, you instead see through it. From my studies, the mirror dimension must be a remnant created by Kronos's downfall, a shattering of the worlds image if you will.
Being that he held dominion over time, the mirror world has links that extend into the far past as well as the future.
In a way, that makes that dimension almost like an oracle, only one that has no ties and randomly sends glimpses of past and future events.
That glass replica of Kolbe Mori encountered when she was alone in the dimension? That was a representation of him from the past given form. The islands and twisted landscape make sense to me now, they're the land that was ripped up and torn during the Titanomachy, lost and twisted by the destruction of Kronos.
Katoptris can glimpse the cracks in the mirror world and reflect them in the blade, allowing one clairvoyant like vision with more accuracy as Aphrodite had used her powers to grant the blade the ability to focus the random visions into something related to the wielder's desires.
The magic is beautifully complex in design and graceful in application.
Unfortunately, I can't use the blade.
Katoptris is a special weapon, and like Excalibur can only be used by one it chooses. Try as much as I want, I can't force the dagger to obey me, and I lack the strength to recreate the enchantment on something else.
Only a god can truly harness the properties of the other dimension, and I have a feeling very few beings are aware of the other world at all.
This means I'll have to find something else more localized to our plane of existence for my needs.
I've heard rumors about the abilities of Rhea, however. That before Apollo, she and other Titaness's held power over their own oracles in some way.
Unfortunately, those oracles have either faded, vanished, or have been destroyed during the numerous godly wars over the millennia.
The oldest oracle besides Delphi to survive into modern times was the forest Rhea planted when godly life was young on the earth.
The trees from the Grove of Dodona held the ability to foresee the future among other powers. If I could harvest their sap, I could theoretically use it to create a device that could give the wielder clairvoyance or something similar.
That, however, is not an option. The grove was destroyed long ago by Emperor Theodosius as his means of destroying the worship of the Greco-Roman religions.
He was quite successful.
With the trees destroyed, then I really don't have anything available. However, I know for a fact that mother is an avid collector of knowledge, as well as storing many historical objects within her great library, like a museum.
If anyone were to have a lead, or even an actual ingredient, then it'll be her.
I close my eyes and send a prayer to mother.
"Mother, I need your guidance."
And the world explodes into white, heavenly light.
As we walk through the great halls of mother's temple, wonder and amazement fill my being as I stare at the impossibly tall and endless stacks of tomes and storage containers.
Displays and models decorate throughout the halls, decks and walkways intertwine and connect across each layer of the shelves.
I could spend a thousand lifetimes here and still only scratch a fraction of the knowledge that must be held within here.
Knowledge from ages before the gods, likely even before the titans line the shelves, each tome practically radiating power in some form or another tickle at my mind, offering hints to the mortal that travels past.
How in the world does mother handle the sheer knowledge that tortures my senses?
Mother places a hand on my shoulder, and instantly relief fills me as her power shields my mind from the overwhelming power of her library.
My heart slows, and I stop shaking in awe. Gods, I didn't even know I was reacting this way, I was too focused on my thoughts to be aware of my dying body.
"Careful not to lose yourself here, even as a goddess I must tread carefully, lest Dionysus's domain poison my mind and take control of my body. As beings of the mind, we walk a thin line between genius and madness. Let us gather what we need and leave, I'd rather my last son continue with our goals."
I frown slightly, 'our goals' huh? I'm honestly not sure why I've been so invested in these quests, each one has only led to torment of some sort. I suppose I do it for my mom, to make her proud enough to remember my brothers and myself.
This all can't be for waste, too much has been lost so I could make it this far.
The staircase we're only suddenly moves and starts hovering through the air, clicking in place as it connects to another level of the skyscraper sized shelf we've been traveling on.
We depart our moving stairs and walk over to a large cutout. Inside the cutout is a desk with papers and various writings pined to the walls, the language written here is something I cannot understand. I can tell right away this is one of mother's many specialized research stations.
On top of the huge desk is an average sized log, the wood seems aged, almost petrified in some way. A strange power radiates from it, and I recognize the feeling. It's the same feeling I had felt back at the lighthouse Prometheus was trapped at. The feeling of Rhea.
Mother walks over and places a hand along the log, gently tracing along the length of the bark.
"This is a log of a Dodona tree grandmother Rhea had planted in her original grove. I had saved it from the fire that fool of an emperor had created, hoping to preserve it and find a way to recreate the saplings. Unfortunately, I was too late. Time had passed, and the log has deteriorated. All I could do was petrify the wood to preserve its form. Any connection to Rhea has long since vanished."
I walk over to the log and appreciate it with mother. Thoughts start flowing in my head as I examine the legacy of Rhea.
"What about it's sap? If this tree has been mummified, then potentially reservoirs of sap have been trapped within. Even if the magic of the wood has vanished, it's lifeblood and powers might still survive in the sap."
Her eyes sparkle as she meets mine, we may have found a way to create something new from this dead tree!
"I trust your studies have found merit within this tree. Take me with you if you're too harvest the sap, I would much enjoy the opportunity to see the work my son does."
I reel back slightly, mother is coming with to watch me work? This-this is incredible! I can impress mother by showing her my abilities outside of combat, this is the opportunity to show my skills in magic and craftsmanship!
Mother teleported us back to camp, and instantly I began leading us into the woods around Camp. Originally, I worked in Cabin Nine with the others, but that quickly went south when they began fighting with me and sabotaging my work.
After that, I had gathered my tools an constructed a new workshop in the forests with the help of Nefeli and the Nymphs from Athenos manor. They guard my new workspace from intruders and I help them keep their trees healthy with my magic as a tradeoff.
Mother has switched her godly chiton for simple hiking clothes. I chuckled a little to myself when I saw her outfit, seeing the Goddess of Wisdom in casual clothes is kind of funny as you'd expect her to be above simplicity.
She raised her eyebrow at me and I quickly turn around and head off into the forest, mother right behind me.
A few minutes hike later, and mother and I arrive at my hidden workplace. It's simple in design, stone foundations and enchanted wood walls to respect the nature around me. A small stack puffs out smoke, and the windows glow a friendly orange inside.
I open the door for mother and she heads inside, taking in the various forges and magical enchantment devices I have gathered and created throughout the years.
She nods approvingly at my setup, clearly impressed by the simple yet functional layout I have managed. Fancy forges and oversized equipment are for those Hephaestus nerds, I'm much more streamlined and efficient.
I can tell, mother agrees with me entirely.
She turns to me and says, "If we are ready, then let us begin."
Setting up the log carefully, I use a special tap gifted to me by the Satyr's in Camp. It pokes into the tree and allows the sap to leak out, and when you remove it the hole created is instantly sealed.
With a quick spell I enchant the tap, so it sucks out the sap like a vampire, allowing it to gather all the sap it can without destroying the log.
Thick, red viscous sap drips from the tap into the bucket I had setup to gather it all. After a tense five minutes of watching sap drip into a bucket, the log runs empty as the tree-blood is extracted in its entirety.
Mother stands behind me and looks over my shoulder as I swirl the liquid around in the bucket. There's a small shot-glass worth's of fluid in it. A scant amount of the precious fluid.
While not looking like it's worth much, this fluid is more then enough for what I need.
I take the bucket over to a large device and pour the sap into a receptacle. I activate a lever, and energy begins flowing into the sap, causing it to froth and bubble as it boils.
While that device is busy, I move over to a cauldron and snap my fingers. Light blue fire starts underneath it and begins to heat the metal. I take vials from the cabinet above it and sort through them for the necessary potions.
One-part green vial, three parts red and four parts yellow go into the cauldron. Several buckets of water go into it as well and the concoction mixes into a deep red pool radiating sorcery.
Mother examines the mixture but keeps quiet as I continue about my work. If I mess up in this stage, the explosion is likely to take out half the forest and part of the camp. Yikes!
I flip the lever off on the device energizing the sap and take the receptacle out, carefully moving it over to the cauldron. Sweat drips down my face as heat fills the workshop. Thankfully, I can handle the heat well with my enchanted silver jacket.
Slowly, I drip the boiling sap into the red mixture in the cauldron. The sap pools into seven balls on the top before sinking into the mixture.
I grab my amulet in one hand and focus my magic through the other, grey energy wisps off my hand and into the potion.
I grunt in effort as passing this kind of magic through me takes its toll, eating away at my stamina along with my pool of mana.
Slowly, over the course of an hour of concentration, the potion begins to absorb into the sap, dark red swirling into the amber yellow as they form larger and larger orbs.
Finally, with a final grunt of exertion, I collapse onto my hands and knees on the floor. I pant and shake as my body screams in exhaustion, but I still find the energy to laugh through my shaking breaths.
They are ready.
I rise to my feet as my demigod body refills my stamina and walk towards the cauldron. Mother and I peek inside and find seven large orbs each the size of a cantaloupe resting peacefully inside. Dark red swirls beautifully with the amber inside the orbs, the colors and swirls seem almost mesmerizing as I stare deeply into the core. For a brief moment, I swear I see a speck of silver light.
Mother takes an orb into her hands and studies it, "This… is an amazing creation. Within these orbs I can feel it, the spirit of an oracle lying dormant. My son, you've just created seven new oracles from but a scant amount of Rhea's power. Words will fail to fully explain how momentous such a creation is."
She turns to me, her eyes twinkling as she smiles softy.
"Truly, I am proud of you." She hands me an orb, "I believe this Orb of Dodona shall guide you within the Sea of Monsters, it will heed the orders of it's master. The rest of these, however, shall have to come with me. They must be secured lest our enemies find them, for now I shall safeguard them. Worry not, when our quests are over, Zeus shall know of these. He'll be grateful and more then willing to grant you a boon."
She leans down and kisses my forehead gently, "I must take my leave. Samson, you've made me the proudest I've ever been in centuries. After these events have come to pass, I'll be sure to reward you for all your hard work and sacrifices."
She snaps her fingers, and the six orbs rise into the air and float around her. Before she goes to teleport, she leaves me with a few final words.
"By the way, I approve of your marriage to Mori. I trust these gems will be put to good use."
Then, in a flash of silvery light, she and my orbs are gone. Curious, I go to where she was standing and pick up two things sparkling on the floor and examine them.
They're two beautiful cuts of white diamond, the weight of each leaving me breathless as they must be worth millions each.
"Holy shit mom, thanks…"
I swear I hear an almost ghost-like 'you're welcome.'
The gentle spring winds soon gave way to the searing summer heat as the months pass. Restoration on the boat was completed, Eris delivered on her promise of new weapons, and our supplies were gathered, and our courage was steeled.
Now, in the waning days of May, our quest into the Sea of Monsters shall begin. A simple quest really, find the Golden Fleece and take trimmings of the hair. With that godly energy, I can create the final piece of my equipment.
With all three pieces crafted, I may look upon the true form of a god and fully comprehend everything about divinity and return completely unscathed from the process. No incineration, and no madness.
I place my Orb of Dodona on a special pedestal I had added on the command bridge. Ornea shall steer the ship, and I shall steer Ornea. Together, both of us will guide our friends safely through the cursed waters.
A promise I made long ago will be held on this journey. On the honor of all demigods, gods and goddesses in this world, no one shall die this time.
Max pulls me into a bone crushing hug, his eyes watering as we embrace each other on the wharf.
"Stay safe man, Eris told me about that place you're going to. Whatever happens to ya' make sure you come out in one piece, kay'? I can't lose my friends, so you come back ya' hear me?!"
We part and I ruffle his hair like he's my son, "I promise mom, I promise! We've got the best crew, and two of the greatest demigods ever on this boat, that sea better be scared of what's coming to it!"
He smiles and wipes his eyes with a handkerchief, "That's right, they better be afraid! I guess I'll… just wait back here then. Maybe sacrifice a goat or something, hopefully one of them fancy gods o' yours will keep an eye out for ya'?"
We laugh with each other, "Maybe one of them will. Not sure if they'll like the scent of goat blood much. Keep yourself well, man, we'll be back in a couple of weeks."
Max extends a hand out, and I take in a firm yet loving handshake. Always the professional Max is.
He wants to say more, but he chokes on his words. Forming any kind of sentence being too hard for him as the emotions of potentially saying goodbye to a friend forever eats away at his heart.
I turn around and head up the ramp on The Gauntlet and stand with Mori and a few Naiads as the boat honks loudly and begins pulling from the wharf.
Mori and I wave at Max as our vessel begins picking up speed. Slowly Max disappears into a small dot, waving his arms and cheering us on to victory.
I take Mori's hand in my own and stare deeply into her emerald orbs, a smile graces our face as we kiss like lost lovers.
"Guess this is it, huh? One last quest, one final piece of gear, a proper huzzah as we run off into our doom in a sea forsaken by any friendly gods."
I squeeze her hand gently, "One last quest, yes, but not our doom. We'll kick the ass of anything that comes our way, and we'll do it together. All of us, Ornea, the crew, you and I, there's no better match up then that."
We kiss again, and Mori rolls her eyes, "Ever the poet you are. Sure you're not Apollo's kid? You've got the same flowery speech, the same ass kissing words that get a girl in bed with you."
I snake an arm around her waist and pull her tight against me, "Well… is it working?"
Her hand on my butt tells me yes, yes it is.
Mori wraps her legs around my waist and I hold her up as I call out to Ornea in the command tower.
"Ornea! Mori and I will be busy for a couple hours, you've got the bridge!"
She opens the window and yells out, "Aye aye captain! Do me a favor and make it loud, might get ma' girls to stop pretending you're single!"
Mori and I look around the deck, all of the Naiads stare at us and blush as they glare at my soon to be fiancé.
Mori, in all her glorious regal beauty, shows them her middle finger. The Nymph's quickly get back to their duties, occasionally side eyeing us as I walk Mori and I to the lower deck and towards our private quarters.
Shirts fly off, and before I continue forward Mori asks one last question, "Making it loud, huh?"
I shrug, "If it gets them off our backs, then why not?"
Her smile is wicked, and we continue forth, making good due on our promise to Ornea.
Gods, we're little shits!
A few days have passed, our boat traveling gently over the waters as the tropical sea batters down at our boat. The feeling of dread and the looming clouds of darkness ahead of us leave no doubt about where we're about to enter.
Ornea grips the controls tightly as her eyes focus on the storm ahead. Great walls of rock jut out from the water, like mountains forming a fence around a massive chunk of sea.
There it is, The Sea of Monsters.
Rain drips from the sky, and lightning flashes high above us. Darkness washes across the waves as the clouds block the light of Apollo. The boat rises and falls as we barrel through waves, our boat displaying its great strength and engineering as we continue forth unimpeded.
Mori, Ornea and I stand in the bridge, overlooking the forward path as we spot a break in the mountains surrounding the water. Eyes narrow and hearts beat faster as the legendary pass draws near.
I take the microphone from its holder and speak my voice across the ship.
"All hand below deck immediately. The strait of Scylla and Charybdis are dead ahead, once again, all hands below deck. Brace yourselves, we're approaching the Sea of Monsters."
Activity burst on the main deck as all the Naiads finish their final tasks and disappear below deck. I smile tersely at their professionalism; these girls are truly amazing.
The waters then become eerily calm as we approach the entrance, the narrow strait seeming to be just big enough for our boat to hug one side of the rocks or the other with room to spare.
A trap of course. Choose your own doom, get picked off one by one by a lightning fast several headed monster, or try your luck with timing and run by a monster that swallows ships whole.
My hands grip my controls as I scan across the dark rocks that loom high on either side of our ship.
"Ornea, I've put my faith in you, but I'd like to know what you're planning."
She grins lightly, sweat dripping down her brow, "We're facing Charybdis, my half-sister. I've read the records and done the math, she's big, but not that big. Your boat is too big for her to swallow, the most she'll do is hold us on her teeth and spit some water at us. With twenty Naiads, any water that sinks in here will be blasted out immediately by our combined powers. It's no worry."
She gulps and massages the controls, "No worries at all."
I do my best to believe her.
We guide the ship through the strait, hugging the edge closest to Charybdis and farthest from Scylla. I peek across the channel and look up. High in the cliffs and hidden in the shadows, eyes glow deeply in the dark as the glare at us.
None make a move, and we too stay frozen as we pass by Scylla and avoid her gnashing jaws. It's still unnaturally silent, but rushing water fills our ears as the boat begins moving at an angle to the side.
Teeth like a building surround our ship, trapping us in a giant circle of death.
We scramble to hold on as the boat begins listing to the side.
"Hold on!" Ornea screams over the rushing water, "We're almost through! She can't swallow us remember? We're too big!"
As it turns out, we are not.
Suddenly, our boat slopes forward and we stare straight down into the abyss that is the maw of Charybdis.
She's not eating us sideways, she's turning us so we go down straight!
The clever beast.
"Ornea! Ornea, what's the plan to get us out of here! We'll go straight into her stomach before she'll spit us out!"
She puts her hand on a strange looking lever and stares down determined at what must be a hole straight into Tartarus.
"Just a bit longer, just a bit longer!"
"Ornea!" Mori screams, "What's the fucking plan!"
The we're falling, straight into the abyss. The maw closes, and all I see is darkness.
Darkness, and Nightmares.