The Maelstrom

The Maelstrom was the first supernatural upheaval to sweep over New York. It dragged the occult powers that had lurked in the shadows into plain view, ushered in a new age of mysticism, and redrew the map of power among the city’s factions. People speak of “the first Maelstrom,” and of “the next” — the name is still on every New Yorker’s lips.

To many, it was a catastrophe. Baba still remembers that devastation, and yet she is as proud of the city as ever:

“New York is the greatest city in the world... It survived one maelstrom, it will survive another.”

“纽约是世上最伟大的城市……它扛过了一次异度涡旋，也一定能扛过下一次。”TL

And the same woman makes no secret of her fondness for it:

“God I love the maelstrom”

“天哪，我太喜欢异度涡旋了。”TL

For Vindicta, it was a dividing line. It was on the first Maelstrom that her spirit returned to the mortal world, and so she came to New York. When Abrams asked how long she had been in New York, her answer was a single line:

“Since the first Maelstrom.”

“自从第一次异度涡旋”

Of what she went through, her verdict was neither praise nor curse:

“It was wonderful and horrifying in equal measure”

“既美妙又恐怖”

New York talks of it still. Graves can hardly wait, and would not miss it for anything; Solomon, for his part, cannot see what people were nervous about, and says it is going great for him:

“I don't know what people were nervous about, the maelstrom is going great for me.”

“不知道大家在紧张什么，异度涡旋对我可是好得很。”TL

Of the Patrons, The Archmother and The Hidden King are both courting Solomon, each on different terms. The Archmother promises that if only the Ritual is completed, she will temper the damage of the Maelstrom for him.

“The Archmother understands you, Solomon. Complete the Ritual, and allow her to temper the damage of the Maelstrom.”

“源祖理解你，所罗门。完成仪式，让她减轻异度涡旋带来的破坏”

The Hidden King promises instead to make New York a sanctuary for all who deserve it:

“You fight for the well-being of others, Solomon. Summon the Hidden King, and you can make New York a sanctuary for all who deserve it.”

“所罗门，你为他人的福祉而战。召唤隐王，你就能将纽约变成所有值得庇护之人的避难所”

On the city’s ordinary streets, the Maelstrom has become a storm to be weathered “safely.” Every year’s end, the New York Oracle sends its readers its good wishes, and the hawkers seize their chance to sell:

“The New York Oracle wants to wish you and yur loved ones a safe Malestrom, and a joyous winter.”

“《纽约神谕报》祝您和您的家人平安度过风暴，并祝您度过一个快乐的冬天。”

“Don't be caught in the Malestrom unprepared, buy mystic goods today!”

“别在异度涡旋里毫无准备地被卷进去，今天就买些神秘用品吧！”TL

Violet would rather stand at her canvas and watch this upheaval than be caught up in it. She asked Baba, who lived through the last Maelstrom, for advice, and got nothing more than “Go with it.” As she herself puts it:

“I think I'd prefer to just paint the Maelstrom, not live it.”

“我宁愿只把异度涡旋画下来，也不愿亲身去经历。”TL

Throughout the Maelstrom, Nurse Harrow stays in the ward in her care, refusing to leave her post for a moment:

“It would be borderline malfeasance for me to leave the ward during the Maelstrom.”

“在异度涡旋期间擅离病房，几乎等于渎职。”TL