Poseidon/Stories
Quotes
Dragon Story Episodes
The Ends of the Ocean
The waters that surround southern
Grastaea are Poseidon's domain,
and sailors never venture into the
open ocean for fear of his wrath.
Yet there was one adventurer named
Troy who had no fear, and so made
a legendary voyage across the sea.
One story from his biography tells of
an encounter with Poseidon.
Contrary to rumors, Poseidon's
domain was the very picture of
peace. Troy had journeyed but half a
day, however, before the creature
rose up out of the sundered seas.
Larger than a mountain and more
powerful than a tempest, the giant
churned the once-tranquil waters.
"Who dares to invade my home?!"
demanded Poseidon.
Most of the sailors fell trembling to
their knees and begged for mercy at
the sound of his voice, but Troy alone
remained standing and spoke:
"My name is Troy, O Poseidon, and I
seek adventures far and wide.
Your waters are the gateway to such
exploits, so I pray you will let me and
my crew pass in peace."
"The waves are mine to command as
I see fit," replied Poseidon "but not
the beasts within. So even if I were to
take pity on you now, it would do
you no good."
"These seas teem with monsters
beyond your most horrid imaginings.
Would you bow and scrape before
them, too? Would you beg permission
to pass their hungry maws?"
"I will ask no permission of a beast,"
said Troy. "I will make them grant me
passage on pain of their lives."
"Your words fall flat, boy," said a
bemused Poseidon. "But let us see
which is stronger: your will, or my
storm." Thus did the fight between
seafarer and sea dragon begin.
With the fight between seafarer and
sea dragon begun, Poseidon turned
to the gentle waves and cried out,
"Heed me, you tepid waters!"
"That human sneers at how you lap
so weakly. Where is your pride?!"
Enraged, the waters grew and spun
Troy's ship about so violently that
he couldn't tell up from down.
The sailors grabbed the helm so they
wouldn't be flung off; the sails ripped
in two; the bilge was rent asunder.
Men scattered to the lifeboats with
no thought for their fellows.
All the crew was convinced it was
impossible to defeat a dragon save
for Troy. "We have wisdom which
you do not!" he called to Poseidon.
Then Troy addressed the waters:
"Maybe I'm being SHELLFISH, but I just
want to SEA what's out there!
SHORE-ly you can understand that!"
The waves groaned as if in pain and
stilled, allowing the ship to glide
across the smooth surface until it
safely reached the greater ocean.
"I suppose my jokes fell flat," said
Troy to the dumbfounded Poseidon.
Upon hearing that, the sea dragon
held his belly and boomed a laugh.
"Flat indeed! Your jokes may be
awful, but your actions are funnier
than any jest. Victory is yours."
Now, as the adventurer called Troy is
a well-known braggart, this tall tale is
best taken with a large grain of salt.