The naval oak confers Imperium Pelagi; the empire of the seas, on sailors who obey the whims of the Venti, the Gods of the winds and nurture their moods to best effect in battles.
Aquilo – God of the north wind.
Strong, ill tempered, he is known to destroy fleets.
Caecius – God of the north-east wind.
Bringer of foul weather, bearer of coldness, snows and blizzards, he pours hail unto those below.
Volturnus - God of the east wind.
His youthful appearance masks his propensity for bad luck.
Apeliotus - God of the south-east wind.
Bringer of gentle refreshing rains, beloved by farmers. Sailors are indifferent to these charms.
Auster – God of the south wind.
His breath brings fogs, the storms of late summer and autumn, and is feared as a destroyer of crops.
Afer ventus - God of the south-west wind.
He holds the stern of a ship as he steers its course.
Favonius – God of the west wind.
He can be the gentlest of the winds, if he so wishes.
Caurus – God of the north-west wind.
He can be petulant and stormy, as can all the wind Gods.
The Gods of the winds vex my soul,
Their Tempests rage, waves tumults roll,
Ye winds! Indulge your rage no more;
Ye sounding billows! cease to roar!
At such times sailors of all nations cry out the 107th Psalm…
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
