The Boreads — Zetes & Calais, Winged Sons of Boreas
The Boreads, Wind Brothers
Zetes and Calais — winged Argonauts who must learn when to end a chase
- Alias – The Boreads, Wind Brothers
- Gender – Male
- Race – Demigods.
- Occupation – Argonauts, heroes, adventurers
- Religion – Greek Pantheon (Dependent on individual beliefs)
- Allies – Argonauts, Phineas, Orpheus (Calais)
- Enemies – Harpies, Heracles (in some versions)
- Abode/ Base of operations – Primarily traveled across various lands in their heroic quests, including Thrace, Symplegades, Strophades, and Tenos.
- Nationality – Greek
- Languages – Ancient Greek
- Alignment – Lawful Good
- Affiliation (s) – The Argonauts, Greek Mythological Heroes
- Significant others – Calaïs is said to be the beloved of Orpheus. Calaïs and Zetes are brothers, sons of Boreas and Oreithyia. They are siblings to Chione and Cleopatra, wife of Phineus.
The Boreads are Zetes and Calais (also written Calaïs), the winged sons of Boreas, the North Wind, and Oreithyia of Athens. They join the Argonauts and rescue the seer Phineus from the Harpies. Their most difficult decision comes when the chase succeeds: the goddess Iris demands that they spare their quarry. Speed wins the pursuit; restraint wins the peace.
Descriptions of their flight vary. Apollonius gives them dark wings that gleam with golden scales and wind-tossed hair; Ovid describes wings developing as they reach manhood. The much later writer Tzetzes connects their flight with their graceful curls. That hair tradition is one variant, rather than the only explanation of their powers.
Born to Boreas and Oreithyia, daughter of King Erechtheus of Athens, the brothers are siblings to Chione and Cleopatra, who is wedded to Phineus. As sons of the North Wind, they are supernaturally endowed, though the details of their gifts vary across different tales and traditions. Some recount them as fleet-footed as the wind, while others describe them with wings sprouting from their backs as they reach adulthood, as chronicled in Ovid’s Metamorphoses.
Their tale intertwines with the adventures of the Argonauts, where they play a pivotal role in saving Phineus from the clutches of the harpies. Their valor drives the monstrous beings away, heeding the request of the rainbow goddess, Iris, who ensures the harpies will no longer torment Phineas. In gratitude, Phineas imparts vital knowledge to the Argonauts, guiding them safely through treacherous waters. During their journey, they encounter the Strophades, islands where Iris turns them back, and their name, “Islands of Turning,” is derived from this event.
Amongst the brothers, Calais enjoys a special bond with the famed Orpheus, a beloved companion. Tragically, Orpheus meets his demise, a victim of jealousy among Thracian women, as he contemplates his affection for Calais during his wanderings. As fate unfolds, their lives come to a fateful end, caused by Heracles on the island of Tenos. Seeking vengeance for being left behind by the Argonauts during his search for Hylas, Heracles becomes their untimely doom.
In certain accounts, fate intervenes once more, leading them to their ultimate demise in pursuit of the harpies, who would bring about their downfall if not captured. According to the rare variant by Tzetzes, the blind old man Phineus, who has daughters named Eraseia and Harpyreia, becomes embroiled in a life of indulgence and recklessness, only to be rescued and carried away by Zetes and Calais, vanishing from those lands forever.
The Boreads’ saga weaves together bravery, heroism, and mystical abilities, making them a captivating and essential part of Greek mythology, immortalizing their legacy as the revered wind brothers whose divine wings carried them through extraordinary quests and legendary feats.
Boreads Adventure Hooks
Zetes and Calais make fast allies, impatient rivals and excellent rescuers. Give their speed a problem it cannot solve on its own: a promise, a missing witness or somebody who has been left behind.
The Banquet under Armed Truce
A coastal ruler hires the brothers to chase Harpies from a feast. Iris arrives carrying a promise of safe passage for the creatures, just as the guests begin demanding trophies. The ruler has already ordered commemorative plates declaring his victory.
The party must protect the truce and discover why the Harpies returned. A cook has been selling food taken from their nesting ground and blaming each theft on them. Evidence can secure compensation and peace; a spectacular kill will satisfy the ruler while breaking a divine undertaking.
The Wind with a Delivery Address
A sealed cargo follows the Boreads through the sky, arriving beside them whenever they land. Its shipping label names the North Wind as the courier and insists that delivery is overdue. Harbour officials begin fining every town where the brothers rest.
Inside is a stolen wind-knot intended to power a merchant’s fleet. The party can track the buyer through the bill of lading, return the knot to its shrine or negotiate a lawful season of fair winds. Opening it carelessly releases a storm directly over the busiest harbour on the route.
The Crew Left on the Shore
A shipmaster offers a rich reward for an urgent escort, but two deckhands are still missing in a flooded sea-cave. Calais refuses to leave them; Zetes knows the passage ahead will close with the next tide. The captain has quietly removed the missing sailors’ names from the crew roll.
The brothers can carry rescuers to the cliff entrance while the party investigates below. The erased names conceal unpaid wages and a deliberate abandonment. Rescue, testimony and a negotiated delay can save the crew; accepting the captain’s schedule means carrying his secret to the next port.
Continue the Voyage
- The Argonauts — the wider expedition and its company.
- Jason — a captain whose decisions create allies and enemies.
- Harpies — foes who can demand pursuit, bargaining or a sworn settlement.
- The Odyssey — further reading for island journeys, difficult homecomings and sea-borne obligations.
Explore the NPC books and patron-building tools below for expanding the captain, witnesses and rivals in these adventures. Those offers contain affiliate links.
Boreads, the Wind Brothers — Game Statistics
Medium Humanoid (Thrace), Neutral Good
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 198 (24d8 + 96)
Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 (+5) | 18 (+4) | 18 (+4) | 14 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 16 (+3) |
Saving Throws Str +10, Dex +9
Skills Perception +7, Athletics +10
Damage Immunities Lightning
Condition Immunities Frightened
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 17
Languages Common, Auran
Challenge 12 (8,400 XP)
Special Traits
- Wind Affinity. They have advantage on Strength and Dexterity saving throws against effects that would move them forcefully or knock them prone.
Actions
- Multiattack. They can make three attacks: two with their Spears and one with their Boreas Gust ability.
- Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d6 + 5) piercing damage.
- Boreas Gust (Recharge 5-6). They can unleash a powerful gust of wind in a 30-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line must make a DC 17 Strength saving throw, taking 27 (6d8) bludgeoning damage and being knocked prone on a failed save, or half as much damage and not being knocked prone on a successful one.
Reactions
- Windswept Defense. When a creature within 30 feet of Boreads is targeted by a ranged attack, he can use his reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll, causing the wind to disrupt the shot.
Legendary Actions
They can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time, and only at the end of another creature’s turn. He regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.
- Wind Shield. They gains resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from non-magical attacks until the start of his next turn.
- Wind Rush. They moves up to his speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
- Call of Boreas (Costs 2 Actions). They call upon the power of their father, Boreas, to summon a powerful windstorm. Each creature within a 30-foot radius centered on Boreads must make a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone and pushed 20 feet away from him.
Equipment
- Legendary Spears of Zetes and Calais. They wield two legendary spears with divine craftsmanship, granted to them by their father, Boreas. These magical spears count as +2 weapons and deal an additional 1d8 lightning damage on a hit.
Currently in the World
The Boreads, Zetes and Calais, are two striking figures with a divine presence. Standing tall and muscular, their bodies exude strength and grace. Zetes has a regal aura, with piercing blue eyes that seem to carry the power of the winds. His golden hair flows like a majestic waterfall, and his wings, once a symbol of his divine heritage, rest folded on his back. On the other hand, Calais possesses a more wild and untamed demeanor. His dark eyes reflect his fierce spirit, and his coal-black hair cascades in untamed waves. His wings, similar to his brother’s, glisten with a hint of silver, reminiscent of their ethereal origins.
Currently, the Boreads find themselves near the coast, where the sea breeze dances around them. They are standing side by side, their eyes fixed on the horizon as if anticipating something. The waves crash against the rocks, providing a soothing soundtrack to their silent vigil. There’s a sense of determination in their expressions, hinting at a greater purpose they are about to undertake. Both brothers are clad in simple yet elegant armor, signifying their warrior heritage.
Their mood is focused and resolute. They share an unbreakable bond as brothers and adventurers, driven by a quest to protect and defend those in need. As they gaze into the distance, their minds are set on a mission that requires both their strength and intellect. A sense of camaraderie surrounds them, as they know they can rely on each other in the face of any challenge.
Despite the uncertainty that lies ahead, the Boreads are unyielding in their pursuit of justice and the fulfillment of their divine destiny. Their wings, now hidden, are a testament to their unique abilities and the unbreakable connection they share with their father, the powerful North Wind. They are the wind brothers, ready to soar to new heights, and their journey is just beginning.
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