How the River became Magical

The Potamós Skála is a river on the island of Íssa, just south of the city of Mytilene. Throughout the region, it is renowned for the extraordinary quality of its waters. It is widely believed that any cattle who drink from the river will be free of disease, and that it can even cure illnesses already afflicting them. This virtue can be carried away from the river for a time, though it fades after a few weeks, or immediately if the water is taken beyond the Kaphtor Islands.

The power of the Potamós Skála is understood to be a manifestation of Folk Magic. When a sufficiently large group of people believes a story for long enough, The Egregoric Force gives rise to the metaphysical effect they expect. What makes the Potamós Skála unusual is that detailed records survive describing precisely how the river acquired its supernatural reputation, and how belief gradually hardened into truth.

Eressos and the First Tale

Centuries ago, a man named Eressos lived on the banks of the river. He was known locally as a layabout and ne'er-do-well who always sought the easiest way to earn coin. At the same time, he was a gifted fabulist, capable of spinning tales so engaging that listeners often believed them, at least for a while.

One day, Eressos conceived of selling the river’s water to travelers, claiming it possessed the power to keep cattle healthy. He spoke of the river’s god, Geranos, who was said to manifest as a great bull and to care deeply for the cattle of the island, wishing them strong and free of sickness. Gathering buckets, bottles, and canteens, Eressos filled them with water from the river and persuaded a farmer heading south to let him ride in the back of the wagon with his “precious water.”

When they reached the southern part of Íssa, Eressos began his practiced speech among the local farmers, insisting that the water was blessed by Geranos and would protect their herds from disease. Most dismissed him outright, but a handful were convinced enough to purchase water for their cattle.

Coincidence, Providence, and Plague

Satisfied that he had fleeced a few fools, Eressos returned north with his companion and spent the proceeds on wine. Soon afterward, however, fate intervened. Later that year, a plague swept through the cattle of southern Íssa. By coincidence or providence, the cows that had been given water from the Potamós Skála survived, while many others did not.

In response, a delegation of southern herdsmen traveled north to the river, seeking more water for their animals and offering thanks to Geranos. Eressos heard their account with astonishment but chose not to disabuse them of their belief. Their stories of sick and healthy cattle proved persuasive to many of his neighbors, particularly those who did not know that Eressos himself had been the originator of the tale. Geranos, for his part, welcomed the increased reverence and attention and had no objection to receiving credit for the cattle’s survival.

The Growth of a Tradition

Thus a tradition was born. At times, the magic failed, but belief endured. Perhaps the water had been too old, too diluted, or the offering to Geranos insufficient. Over the decades, the belief spread across Íssa and then outward to the other islands of the archipelago. It became common knowledge that the waters of the Potamós Skála could prevent or cure disease in cattle, and pilgrimages to the river became frequent.

Those who lived along the river eventually began to profit from this reputation. Strictly speaking, they did not sell the water itself, since only Geranos was said to have the right to do so, and the god neither sold it nor permitted others to sell it on his behalf. Instead, they charged for transporting the water to distant herds. Any who came to the riverbank themselves were free to drink.

The River in the Present Day

Now, centuries after the first story was told, the Potamós Skála is firmly embedded in the lore of the region. Its reputation has begun to spread beyond the Kaphtor Islands, carried by sailors to distant shores. In time, the accumulated weight of belief may render its effects potent throughout the Southeastern Region, or even farther still.