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Heard in Haven: February 1998
 Title: Arrivals News travels quickly in the city of Haven--broadcast by heralds and rumor-mongers alike. For, although important diplomats and ambassadors are a common enough occurrence in the one city where races and factions may mingle freely, royalty is not. The Empyreal Emperor arrived in Haven only days ago, despite his failing health. Some say he risked the journey to seek a "miracle-cure" from the healers of Delphi--others claim he wishes to help choose a new candidate for the throne. It is common knowledge that the Empyreans are currently stuck without a suitable replacement, should their Emperor depart this world. And that is only a matter of time. The Emperor is not the only one to grace the city with his presence. Khalid Atar, the "god-king" of the Varati, has also appeared within Haven's walls, despite the current tension between his race and the Empyreans. Gossip on the street has it that he's even been seen in some of the lower-class establishments, though why a living deity would wish to mix with outcasts and mongrels is anyone's guess. Also arrived is the decemvir of Atlantis, Orman Kai. Recently appointed as an ambassador to Haven, he currently resides in the Korallion and is receiving visitors. Just what this influx of kings, emperors, and gods entails remains to be seen.  Title: Murder in Town Garden The Town Guard issued a notice to citizens to take extra precautions at night. The reason is because last night a murder was reported within the Town Garden. It was reported from an Empyrean, Dante Adrianus, that he heard a scream while in the garden. Upon inspection he discovered the body of an middle-aged Atlantean man, perhaps a merchant though his identity has not been released, brutally murdered. Khamseen al-Fajr, member of the Delphic Order and liaison to foreign ambassadors for the Order, was on the scene, soon accompanied by three guards. An investigation into the matter has been instigated. Title: Varati-Empyrean Trouble Rumors begin to circulate about some sort of confrontation between the Varati and the Empyreans in the Rialto. From some sources, it is said that Khalid Atar, the god-king of the Varati confronted Stavros Hesperidas, Captain of the Praetorian Guard in Haven. Other accounts have it that Lysander Acesian was seen exchanging harsh words with Khamseen Al-Fajr, while yet others state that Kaspar Behzad was dueling against Raziel Thanatos. Whatever the truth of the matter, those within the diplomatic circles noticed that the guards of Atesh-Gah were briefly on double-alert while emissaries scurried back and forth between the Varati embassy and the head-quarters of the Praetorian Guard. Within hours, however, the general alert seemed to die down and it is said that amends were made between both sides. Title: Busy Emissary? Those who have been keeping track of the comings and goings at the various embassies in Haven these last few days, report having seen a lot of Khamseen Al-Fajr, a Varati adept at the Delphic citadel, who has been introduced to these various courts as 'an official liaison'. Word has it Al-Fajr has been meeting with the various monarchs and ambassadors and relaying messages back and forth. Not much is known of the nature of these meetings except that they address the recent incidents occurring in the city of Haven. Title: Rumors in the Rialto It was a grand day at the market in the Rialto today. The weather beautiful, though the tangy smell of the sea air from the docks was especially strong, the breeze coming from the east.... An older Atlantean woman steps up to a flower kiosk near the Delphic Citadel's entrance, well known as Madame Shiura Phavradi's Roses. "Eh? Yellow roses?" The old Varati woman says, "Aye ... 'ere you are." She is looking at the Atlantean woman carefully for a moment, "Eh ... I 'eard there is some big to-do in Atlantis, lady." The Atlantean arches an eyebrow and says a bit mercurially, "I know not what you mean, madame." Shiura chuckles in her cackling way as she is wrapping the roses, "Oh, now I 'ad an older man 'ere earlier who said that some ... artifact?" She finds the word difficult and uncommon, "Well, somethin' which I don't quite understand 'twas found and is being brought 'ere." At this the Atlantean woman frown deeply, "I think you are listening to too many older men..." She places her payment firmly in the Varati's hand and takes the flowers before walking off. Madame Phavradi continues her day, making quite a good sale, it seems, and continuing to spread the news to her fellow merchants ... though throughout it all she thinks: 'Now, I do be wonderin' what got to that Atlantean...' Title: Varati Activities Rumors begin to spread that some sort of massacre transpired within the sacred halls of the Varati embassy, Atesh-Gah. While no firm reports have been acknowledged, it has been said that Khalid Atar, the god-king of the Varati, was greatly displeased at certain activities of his subjects and had them killed. This news only heightens the rumors of the capricious nature of the Varati monarch. Rumors also begin to spread through the Rialto that there is an increased presence of Varati armed forces in border outposts controlled by the Varati. No one is sure as to the exact nature of this renewed military presence, except that the Varati kingdom's military might is most certainly being excercised to a greater extent than it has in the last couple of years. Title: Movement by the Sea Most have noticed the docking of the mighty Memphis weeks ago at the piers by the beach at Seaside. Atlanteans, for sure, are aware of the singular underbelly of the great ship, as it is scarred by seasons and seasons of wars and weather, of shark attacks and low-tide mishaps. There are less aware of the Captain and her crew. Captain Giraldine has been seen mostly milling around her own ship and the pubs at Seaside, such as the Siren's Song. Yesterday, however, was another story. Seen at the Rialto for the first time in many months, the infamous half-breed was seen talking to the Captain of Atlantean's Guards, Orman Riva, as if the two were fast-friends. For her part, Riva accepted the role as friend to The Whip. What? Why 'The Whip?' Surely you've seen the beastly object that sits at the Captain's hip. Indeed, it's been rumoured that when Captain Giraldine's crew misbehaves, they feel the sting of a whip against their backsides. Oh, Giraldine's got something of a troubled past. People whisper here and there about shady dealings and hatred for certain races, which ones, however, change depending on who is telling the story. What we do know for sure is that Captain Giraldine is searching for a few crew members to replace those that have taken a liking to Haven and settled here. She walked around the Rialto with such an air about herself, one would think that she was able to simply pluck a person out of the crowd and tempt them aboard. Well, there are rumors of that, but that is for another time. Title: Attack! Tales begin to filter into the city of Haven that there has been a major attack on one of the Varati cities, named Amineh-Thurayya. It was a Varati frontier settlement somewhat near the borders of where the Sylvan territory has been established. Reports are still very shaky as to what exactly happened in Amineh-Thurayya, though it has been said that not a single person survived the attack and that every single body found in the settlement was impaled on a stake. None of the attacker's bodies were found among the dead. Title: Varati Reaction Only hours after the rumors about the attack on Amineh-Thurayya, Varati troops begin to move en masse into the city of Haven. By all accounts, there are now double the amount of usual Varati soldiers within Haven--either of the Royal Army or of the Agni-Haidar themselves. Patrols of these Varati soldiers have been seen sweeping through the city streets and while they do not seem to directly challenge anyone, it is obvious that they are preparing or searching for something. Title: Murmurings Among Empyreans Moving with the speed of eagles, no sooner is the city of Haven beset by legions of Varati warriors, than the well-known figure of Raziel, head of the noble Empyrean House of Thanatos, began seeking out Empyreans of the city--to make certain that they were not unduly alarmed by this. Although (he would concede to his helpless listener) an attack by raiders on a distant border village doesn't really seem to need to cause an increase in troops in a large, distant city. Particularly one with such strong defenses of its own, and which the other kingdoms would also protect. Then, Raziel agrees wholeheartedly with his listener, when he (or she) mentions that it is slightly alarming--a build-up of potentially hostile troops in the city where the Emperor is located (or, if worse comes to worse, Raziel agrees wholeheartedly after mistakenly assuming that his listener suggested this) Raziel promises those Empyreans with whom he speaks, that he will personally seek audience with the Aegis, and share the people's fears over this thinly veiled act of aggression. Title: Herald Involvement In reference to the attack on Amineh-Thurayya, I'd like to note that at least a good chunk of the people bringing the news in are wearing the Heralds' insignia--a compass rose (eight-pointed star indicating the four cardinal and four secondary directions). Some of these would no doubt be halfbreeds, mongrels, and other assorted flavors of outcast, for the record. Title: Announcement from the Korallion A statement and decree was issued from the Korallion, the Atlantean embassy, regarding both the attack upon the Varati city of Amineh-Thurayya, and the heightened presence of Varati soldiers within Haven: Orman Kai, Atlantean Ambassador and Decemvir of Atlantis stated: "On another note, the increased presence of Varati soldiers within the city of Haven has not gone unnoticed. The tensions that this has created amongst the citizenry of the city is unbearable to my people, therefore I am ordering that all Atlantean citizens are to withdrawn from the main sectors of Haven and find sanctuary either within the Korallion or the waters along Seaside. Members of the Korallion Guard will be placed along Seaside. We do not wish to raise the tensions the Varati soldiery have already caused, but we feel a need to offer protection to our people should the need arise. "I believe I speak for the other Decemvirs, as well as the Atlantean people, when I say that the purposeful raising of tensions with the city of Haven can only have an ill effect upon us all. We are burdered already by the malignancy which now grows upon the psyche of the Haven citizenry. We express our hope that the Varati King shall take the Peace upheld by the Delphic Order into his heart." Title: Seaside Vigil Seems foot traffic and disappointed looks abound in greater profusion than usual along Seaside. Passers by have remarked: "Disgustingly normal looking, not an obvious exotic among them." "Togas and Tridents. And all men. Miss the women. And the green and blue and coral hot pink hair." "Women. That's all you think about. The men are just as interesting, usually. But this batch, all they talk about if they say anything at all is how they get to go see their kids when they get off their rotation." "Right. They used to be fun, even if all we did was look." "And tease." one chuckles. "Besides, there's Capt. Riva. She still makes rounds." "All polite and professional, this group. Good to see them here anyhow." Title: Spoken by the Sea Of course, there is still the presence of many merchant vessels in the docks of Haven's piers. And, atop the mightiest, is Captain Giraldine. Whispered rumours say that she's half Varati and secretly endorses the infiltration of Haven. Indeed, as other merchant vessels pull into the calmer open seas for a safe, forgive the pun, Haven, Giraldine's ship has remained in its pier overlooking the beach-way to Atlantis. But, the captain herself is saying nothing. If she is indeed a supporter of the Varati, it is not documented openly. Then again, her support of any race is undocumented. Damn those halfbreeds, eh? So enigmatic! Title: Return of d'Mario Homecoming, a few of the old salts on the dock are saying to one another. Raphael d'Mario has returned. Known as 'Mario', he's the bastard son of the whore Jenean d'Mario, who you can still find walking the docks on a windy night. Street-kid turned sailor, when he got picked up by--no! that can't be true!--OK, by one of the many captains who sail into Haven's ports. Some are saying he's a captain now, too, but those same folks are saying further, under the influence of booze that their stories are buying them, that Mario looks like death incarnate. He was a brawny lad once, and now he's pale and thin and seeming a walking skeleton, with parchment skin stretched over those bones. Looks like a ghoul, bedecked in a king's ransom, he, but he's not acting too high-born. Rumours have it that Mario returned directly to the unofficial Mongrel's quadrant and had himself quite the celebration there. Title: Been Watching the Praetorian Imperator Lately? It seems that the Imperator of the Praetorians in Haven, Stavros Hesperidas, has
been seen often of late in the company of a rather young woman of questionable
origin (though from the descriptions of her wings, she must be at least half-Empyrean)
and even more questionable character. Recently he was even spotted fastening a gold
bracelet around her wrist as they stood together in the Rialto. One wonders what he
sees in this mis-bred starvling, who is well-known to the Hounds as a petty thief and has
also been spotted around the docks late at night (and we all know what that means).
Some who have heard the girl sing say she has the voice of a Siren--one would hope
that our good Imperator will be able to tear himself away before his distinguished
career is smashed upon the rocks!
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