Captain Stelsan took his eyes off of the wharf and turned, looking down to face the assembled grouped of rag-tag outlaws, vagabonds and journeymen below him on the ship’s deck. The calm waves gently bobbed the ship up and down. Despite their calm rhythm, one of Stelsen’s crewmen in the back couldn’t keep his balance and fell down. It was the mast man, he was drunk. That explained why the black flag on the mast was improperly tied. Stelsan chose to ignore both of these annoyances.
“Old Man Sea is below us.” Stelsan said. “He desires his offering.” The waves began to churn ever so slightly faster as Old Man Sea beat his fists ravenously… Or would have, had he possessed fists. “Who wishes to deliver him his sacrifice?”
All of his crew looked around, murmuring to each other, each too afraid to dare even step on the plank, let alone push the offering off. Not with Old Man Sea below them.
“Shall I select some ‘volunteers’ for the task?” Stelsan eyed his shivering crew.
Finally, a voice in the back called out to him, slurring his words. “I’ll do it!” The drunken mast man said.
Stelsan smiled. “You’re new on my ship, no? Consider this an initiation.” He motioned to other crew members. “Fetch the prisoner.”
Several crew members made for the lower decks.
***
The drunkard fumbled around near the plank as other crew members shackled and secured the prisoner. Once they were done, they shoved him forward and the drunken man stepped onto the plank after him. They walked to the edge over the steadily angering waves.
Stelsan raised his hands to over the sea. “Old Man Sea! By the powered granted to me as Captain of the Charybdis, a most mighty vessel, I cast you an offering. I humbly request that in return for my eternal generosity I may be granted safety for my ship, my crew and I.
“Cast him away!”
The drunken man awkwardly shoved the prisoner off. The man fell but at the last possible second he twisted around and lassoed his chains around the drunken man’s arm, taking him along for the ride. The drunkard yelped in surprise and he was pulled down to the water.
Stelsan raised an eyebrow, but before he could do or say anything the water beneath him began to heave and churn violently.
***
The waves battered the ship, rocking it from side to side. Stelsan knew something was wrong. Old Man Sea usually stayed in the depths, out of sight to devour his offerings. He appeared only at the sunset to smite the foolish ships whose captains did not pay him their dues. Stelsan had only ever heard stories. This time, it looked like Stelsan would see Old Man Sea with his own eyes.
As his crew milled about in fear, Stelsan watched, mesmerized, as Old Man Sea emerged from the depths.
The wings were first, black, membranous and menacing, following by the tail as it whipped up, causing a huge splash. Next the long sinewy arms pulled up its head – a thing without comparison. Its eyes were mounted on two bony protrusions jutting straight forward on either side of jaws which consisted of 4 mandibles, two upper and two below. The beast did not fully emerge: everything below the tentacles lining its lower back remained concealed. A massive creature, looking a hybrid of serpent and kraken, it gazed down upon the ship with ancient eyes.
***
Old Man Sea looked upon the ship with old but unbelievably powerful eyes. With jaws easily large enough to swallow the Charybdis whole, the crew and indeed the vessel itself were insignificant when faced with the form of the ancient beast.
“Old Man Sea!” Stelsan called bravely. “What calls you up from your place of respite to gaze upon such a simple man as I?”
“I do.” A voice said.
Old Man Sea lifted a great tentacle out of the ocean. Perched on top of it was the prisoner Stelsan had just thrown in. Stelsan’s face contorted in puzzlement
.
“Old Man Sea is not without his superiors, Captain Stelsan.” The prisoner said. “He answers to me.”
The prisoner leapt mightily from the tentacle down to the ship, hitting with an audible thud. It was a fifty foot drop and he made with ease. Stelsan didn’t know what to think of that. He instinctively reached for his sword.
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