Alas Maniés

"They ripped the sails to pieces, and broke the oars to splinters. The food they scattered to the waves, and the barrels of water and wine were left empty and dry and encrusted with salt."

— a survivor of an encounter with the Alas Maniés

For sailors from the Kaphtor Islands, nothing is more feared at sea than the Alas Maniés, or the Salt Furies. These spirits exist to punish those who offend the gods of the sea, and when they are angered will wreak havoc upon the ships of the offenders, leaving them crippled and stranded.

They appear as women with wings instead of arms, and feet with sharp talons. They are immensely strong, and use their talons to wreck every means of propulsion on the ship. Any who stand in their way are seized and dropped into the sea from a great height. They also destroy any provisions the ship has, most importantly any water, wine, or other drinks that may be aboard. The vessels that were used to hold beverages are all encrusted with salt, and even rainwater caught within becomes too salty to drink.

The most common offense that will bring down the Alas Maniés is the killing of one of the dolphins considered sacred in the Kaphtor Islands. If the sailors accidentally kill one of these sacred animals, they will rapidly begin a ceremonial apology, with a sacrifice of blood and wine to the sea gods, and beg them to spare them the wrath of the Alas Maniés. Failing this, the Alas Maniés will emerge from the sea and begin to circle the ship. At this point, the only response the sailors can make is to cast the killer adrift on a boat with a small amount of supplies. If this is done rapidly enough, the Alas Maniés will descend upon the small boat, and leave the larger ship alone. If the sailors are too slow, they will vent their rage upon the ship.

Even after stranding the vessel at sea, the Alas Maniés do not cease to torment the sailors. Their shrieks and calls prevent any sleep, and they steal any food or water that the sailors manage to catch. Occasionally they toss one into the sea to drown rather than starve. The only thing they will permit the sailors to drink is their own urine, which results in cramps and diarrhea. When the sailors finally die, the Alas Maniés will summon a great storm and use it to blow the ship into its home port, crashing it upon the shore, so that all may see their fate.