The timbers of the old Trireme Mykonos cracked viciously as she cut through the wine-colored waters of the Aegean Sea. The journey home from Troja had been a long one, plagued with sickness and drought. The Mykonos had been torn from the victorious returning fleet by vicious storms. Some of the crew, especially the new Trojan slaves rowing beneath the deck, cursed Odysseus' name for rousing the rage of Poseidon on them. But the Captain thought better of this superstition.
The ship was captained by the hero Adrastus, cousin to the fearless leader and conquerer of Troja; Agamemnon. Adrastus had little love for malevolent gods of the sea and for that matter all gods who lord over bringing terror and pain. However, he knew better than to poke at superstition, as Odysseus did, so Adrastus kept his mouth shut towards the rumblings of his crew. Instead he focuses on the journey home and what a long one that it had become.
The storms of 'Poseidon' had pushed his ship north where they drifted for several days before arriving on the shores of Limnos. Depleted of resources, Adrastus refilled his hull with water and salted meat, paying the people of that fair island with a piece of Troja's bounty. From there the Mykonos headed north to Thasos, then further north to the shore of Pangaeus. Adrastus had the plan to follow this shoreline all the way back to Korinthos.
Ah Korinthos, the city of marble, Adrastus reflected beneath the cloudless Aegean sky, How I long for the simplicities of peaceful life. This war has been too long, too costly. Adrastus was a extraordinary man, he loved politics and good companionship, neither of which could be found in the company of the other. He loved the thrill of political conquest and the joy of being with friends. The large man had already decided that upon returning home, he would use his fame and fortune to purchase a new manse, with new slaves (most likely the ones sitting beneath this deck), and beautiful tapestries to fill the walls. He would focus then on wine in the evenings and democracy in the mornings. Maybe in a couple of years a family would suit him well, but not yet. Adrastus was still young and now that he was rich, he had time as well.
However the plans of mortals are laughable things to gods, especially malevolent gods who have their plans and even more ideas within those. The Mykonos had not yet reached Kavala when Poseidon and Athena began to argue over their newfound chess-piece. Storms rose up off the warm waters and carried Adrastus and his ship out to sea. The storm became so vicious that most of the crew was lost and even more of Troja's bounty with them. It would appear that Adrastus' idea of a peaceful life full of lively discourse, would no longer be an option. When the winds finally ceased and the salty brine settled, Adrastus found himself with a half sunken ship and a dozen men. He cursed the gods with all his might, but neither Poseidon nor Athena cared to notice.
Many days passed. Adrastus and his surviving crew clung to the drifting Mykonos for many days. It was the morning of the thirteenth day when land was finally spotted. By then the whole crew was on the brink of death. A small fishing ship saw the wreckage and quickly came to their aid and by evening Adrastus and his survivors found themselves upon the shore of their ship's namesake. The island of Mykonos.
But on these peaceful shores is not where Adrastus' story ends. Athena had fought savagely to bring him here. She had plans and even more ideas within those. The young, strapping hero Adrastus would serve perfectly as her champion. She cared little that the man would most likely attest, because she had ways of swaying even the stubbornest of men.
The island of Mykonos held many secrets. Most importantly it was said to house the halls of Poseidon deep within its rocky depths. Yes, she thought silently, Fuit Ilium. The war of men in Troja may be over, but Adrastus still had a much larger part to play in the war of the gods.