Atlantean Bronze - 4
Holgar's Odysey
The throngs at the docks of Knossos were witness to a strange sight. A damaged Phoenician war galley hove into the harbour, towed by two enormous octopuses. Behind it came a smaller merchant galley, the motley crew of which garnered more attention than they had a right to, given what they followed. As a member of that crew, I bashed my sword on my shield, and gave a victory shout. For we had defeated the war galley, and one of my colleagues was pulling it into harbour.
The two tentacled beasts shrank beneath the waves, emerging to shore as Kerinos, and Rudi, a fellow druid. They, Gialos, Alexos, Maya and Osina were escorted to visit the Queen of Knossos and another high-ranking druid, Rebecca in the castle on the slopes above the city. I stayed with the boats and crew, to guard them.
When the others returned, Kerinos was wearing a sorcerous torc, and Alexo said that the eye amulet worn by the Minotaur had been created by a threesome of hags to monitor it. We should have destroyed it, as it would have hurt the horrors. We would get gold for the Phoenician galley, some now, and some when the Queen found a buyer.
During the day it took to reprovision, I spent time in the local drinking-house, wrestling with the locals. They were good, and I learned things. But I gave as good as I got.
We set sail again, and in the days afloat, the sailors talked of Kythea, an island cursed by the gods. Many horrors dwelt there, and our course to Pylus took us past it. Alexo confirmed some of the tales, and we all agreed it was best avoided.
We hove towards the inlet of Pylus. We noted that many boats were passing the other way. Upon docking, we were greeted with news that a dragon had attacked, and taken up residence in the castle that overlooked the city. When we showed interest in helping, rather than fleeing, we were directed to where the King had set up a throne in a warehouse. Accompanied by fewer guards and courtiers than would normally adorn his status, he welcomed us, and told us his son and daughter were being held for ransom by the dragon. It had put a cauldron at the castle gates, and demanded it be filled with gold before the children would be released. Unfortunately, the king's treasury was already within the castle, and there was little elsewhere to fulfil the beast's demands. Alexo saw this as yet another obstacle set in our way by the forces arrayed against us.
So, after negotiating a reasonable reward, we set off to teach the beast the error of its ways.
The castle forecourt had strange plants growing in odd places. Kerinos decreed them unnatural spies working for the dragon, so Maya took the form of a lynx, and proceeded to distract them. The king had told us the plans to the castle, so it was a straightforward task to find multiple ways into the throne room where the dragon slept upon a pile of gold, guarding two youngsters bound either side of a pylon. Osina and I climbed to the skylight, and reported their positions.
At a signal, we attacked as one. Osina shot at the dragon, while I leapt upon it from above. Kerinos, as a monstrous wolf, savaged it from the side, while Gialos and Alexos threw arcane energies at the scaly beast. The children used the distraction to break the bonds they had weakened and flee to hide behind the throne. The enraged dragon spat a line of horrendous fluid, which began searing the flesh off Alexos, who crumbled into a heap. Another gout it vomited over Kerinos, dissolving his wolf form, returning him to man-shape, but his connection to Gaia prevented worse. It also hosed down Gialos with the vile stuff, but Gialos did not fall, though it hurt him sorely.
It did little but slash its claws half-heartedly at me. Magic is better at countering monsters, a sword is best versus men.
Maya came in from outside, and cast healing magic on Alexos and dragged her to safer ground in a side room. The children fled down the same corridor, the boy wielding a sword at the dragon.
Despite our best efforts, the dragon was still standing, although each sword-stroke, arrow and bite were weakening it. It dragged the lot of us with it as it attempted to follow Alexos and the children, and finally collapsed just short of the room in which they hid.
We marched triumphantly back into Pylus, carrying the head of the dragon and the treasure, as well as the prince and princess. We gave all the treasure back to the king. He rewarded us as we had agreed. I told him his son would be a hero one day, having shown bravery, strength, and cunning for a child. He agreed that his son Odysseus would indeed be a legend once he reached manhood.