There's no escaping the maw. Before his voice is drowned by the roar of the sea, Nikias shouts final orders to the men on the other ships, their scrambling effective against the maelstrom, as far as he can tell. Iantha tosses a rope to Chryseis and spins around just in time to yank Sinon away from collision with a barrel. Kouru hangs from the mast, knees buckling in anticipation of collision.
The wine-dark sea gapes before you and massive teeth glint like lightning in the remaining daylight. The ships flood with water, and your minds flood with thoughts of home, of peace....
To the Gorgon's credit, she promised you safe passage through the whirlpool. Not around it. You aren't sure how long you were unconscious, but when you wake, you find yourself on a soft green mattress. The temperature is mild and pleasant, and you're surrounded by the other crew on a bed of pristine sand, speckled with beautiful shells. Stunning birds and insects you don't quite recognize glide through the air. A low, bright, almost purplish fire crackles in a large ring about 100 feet away, and a couple dozen graceful maidens tend to food and those who have already woken up.
Behind you, the three ships are up on dry docks, and you can just make out the figures doing repairs. To either side, perfectly manicured topiaries of roses and exotic colored plants circle the courtyard, an odd yet aesthetically pleasing contrast to the dark rocky structures outside the border. And before you, shining balustrades of marble lace across the levels of a huge terrace, home to magnificent and foreign architecture.
