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Heard in Haven: March 1998
 Title: What You Should Know About Geri (This is coming OOCly, but it serves an IC purpose). Captain Giraldine, known to many, if not all laymen, as 'The Whip' of the seas, has a reputation. She is not only one of the most renowned Merchants around, but is also rumored to have connections all over Haven and beyond. There is no ruler of the 'top of the sea', but if there were one, it would be Giraldine at the helm of her ship, the Memphis. There have been rumors that she is also a Pirate, but those rumours have never been shown to be true, or false for that matter. These rumors, etc, are sung in shanties dedicated to the Captain, they are shouted at gathering places, or over a cargo of goods that the Memphis has brought to the Rialto, or sang by bards in the halls of Atesh-Gah. Everyone at one point has heard something of the Captain, unless, of course, they are and have been cut out from society or at least the urban way of thinking. Therefore, most people would at least know of Geri, the way that most people know of Blackbeard. She's famous and infamous at the same time. You may not know her upon sight, but you might know her if she speaks, says her name, or pulls out her whip.  Title: A Guest at the Palladium News is carried by heralds and rumormongers alike--the details varying depending on who's telling the tale. But a few facts are common throughout: that the Emperor Justinius, who had been bedridden for days, made an appearance in the Palladium to greet his guest. And who was his guest? None other than the famed "god-king" of the Varati, Khalid Atar himself. Tensions have always been high between the Empyreans and the Varati, now more than ever after the myterious attack on a Varati village and the increasing number of their troops in Haven. But it has been said that the Imperator of the Praetorian Guard has carried on amicable relations with those dark-skinned people, and the god-king in particular. Likewise, the Emperor met his supposed rival with courtesy and dignity, and save for one or two disparaging comments from those who turned out to witness the proceedings, the meeting went smoothly. Just what they discussed is unknown. Only Damaris Tritonides, matriarch of House Tritonis and the 'Silver Owl' of the Aegis, was in attendance, and she is no more forthcoming about the events than the Emperor. But afterwards, she was appointed personal ambassador to the Varati, apparently by the god-king's request. Perhaps it is another step in the direction for peace. Finally, Emperor Justinius has asked that a meeting be called between the various nations and faction heads--including the Avatarati of Delphi. Perhaps then he will reveal what he and the god-king discussed. A time and place for the meeting have yet to be announced. Title: Halfbreed Attacks Empyrean! "I saw almost the whole thing with my own eyes!" gasps a young Empyrean lady to her friends in one of Haven's finer shops. "A dark-skinned girl with white wings must have approached the Matriarch Tritonis and started bothering her, because then an Empyrean lad came up and tried to assist her. And the dark one attacked the poor fellow!" A merchant tells the tale, as well: "Yeah, the darkie wench up and tripped the Empyrean. He came up bleeding, and damned if she didn't try to swing at him some more! Fierce she looked. The Empyrean noblewoman got hold of the lad and threw him out of the way before the darkie could pounce on him! He was bleeding pretty bad--not sure what happened to him after." "Nonsense," snorts someone else further down the Rialto. "The Empyrean boy was sod-off drunk. He meant trouble." but the words are ignored... "He started shouting about how the dark-haired girl must be a Varati-Empyrean halfbreed, because Khalid Atar called her a Princess the other day," one Varati woman murmurs to another as they meet in the marketplace. "I daresay it's true--the halfbreed part anyway. Just look at her coloring..." "Yah," interjects a nearby winged merchant, leering at the two women. "He also yelled, 'Kill the Varati! Kill them all!'" The two women look at each other and depart swiftly... Title: What a Day! The Crew of the Memphis, Captain Giraldine's ship, have been stationed here for a while now. The ship is almost a centerpiece in the harbor by now. And, the crew have become regulars at the taverns around town, but mostly the Siren's Song. There, the men talked freely about the goings-on around the ship. Barnicle Blake pipes in first: "Arrgh, seems that the Hounds were inspecting the ships today. Arrr. One, a Reeve, even called the Cap'n by her first name. She stared him down, she did, and he learnt his lesson right off. Arr. Stopped asking silly questions like, 'How long ye been here, lassy?'." Calico Francis nods, saying: "Arrrgh. Yeah, and there was that Varati Captain, er Nakie-yukkie or something. He comes over to yonder beach, draws a flame, and then darts his sword at the air as if it were a bonnie lass that wronged him. Arrrgh." He takes a healthy swig of some sort of heavy liquor, maybe rum, before continuing, "Then, I swear, he told the Captain off, and stalked away. She kept a cool head, though, and I ain't saying that cause she pays me. Argh." A busy day, indeed. The Captain Giraldine has been heard saying that her ship will take to the sea very soon, but when is anyone's guess. Title: Also at the Siren Seems much has been spoken upon involving 'The Whip' and her busy day before. Especially in light of the one Reeve's questions at the docks, as he question quite a few Captains, not just her. "He'z been down thar checkin into somethin. Must be dealin with the rash of robbings around the western part of Haven. As fer 'The Whip' setting him right, that man ain't one aum gonna be messin' with. But maybe she'z got somethin to hide, her crew's actions maybe?" Title: Ey! joo ere?! "'Ey! 'joo 'ere about dat new Fishy 'oliday they's celebratin'?! "Wot in da blazes ye yappin' about?" " E other day I's wiff Tubbs an' we're in da Reelto, jes mindin' ours own bidness when all of da sudden dis black-winged Empy gets all peeved at me an' such... well, to make a long story shoat, dis Hawk stops me from beatin' the tar outtas 'im, but me'n Tubbs was gonna jest jump da birdy afta the Hawk left when all da sudden dis Fishy-chick starts blatherin' about wot dey're latest holiday...da Feat o' Da Red-Tail Fish or sumptin like dat...well anyways, she starts serving us drinks! On her! An' I'll tell yas she's a looker, too, if'n ya like gills and fins-types." (The sound of a three-combo punch is then heard). "Dat's for wastin' me time wif a stoopid storee like dat...evverone knows dere's no such ting as a Feat of the Red-Tailed fishy!" OOC: Thanks to Dante, Liora and Rienne for a most amusing and entertaining scene last night. Kudos to you all. Title: Body Discovered The body of an Empyrean female was discovered in the woods west of Haven today, obviously mauled and disemboweled by a wild animal of some kind. A party of Sylvan hunters came upon the dead body while checking traps along a game trail, and bound the body up, having four of their number return the body to the Palladium. The sylvans did not tarry in Haven, but indicated that they must return to the forest posthaste. An initial inspection of the body has uncovered it to be that of Helena Maria Thanatos, as the sigil brooches of that House were still attached to the rent clothing that remained on the dead body. Title: Long Live the Emperor! Word has spread quickly: the Emperor of the Empyreans is dead. So far, details are unclear, though there were plenty of witnesses. In the middle of a grand meeting, held within the halls of Delphi, and attended by many of the prominent faction-leaders within Haven, the Emperor was apparently poisoned. Right after he attempted to secure a peace-treaty with the Varati, by trying to hand over some of the Empryeal lands to those long-time enemies of the Empyre. But thoughts of peace quickly flew from the minds of those assembled once it became clear that Justinius had been poisoned. The Imperator suffered a few ill-effects of the tainted wine as well, though it was by no means fatal. A melee broke out as the Emperor lay dying--first the Varati were accused of the crime, and the Praetorian Guard rushed to avenge him. But more level heads put the fighting to a halt. All that is known now is that Justinius is dead, the Empyre is without a leader until a new one may be appointed, and the murderer is being hunted down by the Hounds, as well as the Praetorians and the Agni-Haidar. Title: Seen in the Rialto! Four Agni-Haidar, clad in their distinctive uniforms, were seen to escort a Varati woman resplendent in crimson and gold garb into the Citadel by many in the famed market area. Two of the men carried between them an immense polished brass pot in which was growing a tree about six feet tall known to many as a cypress. Much was made of this procession and even more rumors began to fly when the quintet departed the Citadel later...the woman quietly upset and the two guardsmen still bearing the tree. With little fanfare, they returned to the Atesh-Gah and went inside with nary a word overheard from their midst. Did someone in the Citadel turn them away? Was a gift from the Atesh-Gah refused? No one knows... yet. Title:Newfound Gift? Word among the Empyreans has begun to trickle out that certain young woman of House Acesius was with the Emperor in his final moments, and that during this incredibly trying time a very remarkable thing occurred--a blossoming of talent, comparatively late in life. It would seem the young Appolonia found within herself a healing talent, which she used to some effect upon Stavros, the Imperator of the guard who was also poisoned when the Emperor fell. Pity it was not enough to revive the Emperor! Title: Aegis The Empyre suffered a crushing blow after the death of their Emperor--his murder, in fact, during a meeting with several faction leaders as he tried to establish a peace treaty with the Empyre's long-time enemies, the Varati. While the effort to establish peace was a commendable one, the means may have been questionable. An official decree was issued that the noble House of Thanatos would not be losing any of its lands or holdings to the Varati. The Emperor, some say, was "not in his right mind," having long been suffering from fatigue, memory lapse, and even paranoia before his death. Nevertheless, the Empyre was saddened by his loss, and as his body lay in state at the Palladium, many visitors came to pay their respects, including leaders from the other kingdoms. His funeral was a fairly modest affair in comparison--only close friends and members of the family attended to watch the pyre burn and see his ashes scattered on the wind. Plans for the selection of a new Emperor are under-way, but no official word has come from the Aegis as of yet. Until then, Damaris Tritonides and Lysander Acesian are the official contacts for the Aegis within Haven. Title: Name that Stain! What the heck is going on here? A rather motley group could be seen traveling back and forth between the Palladium and the Korallion the other eve, creating quite a stir. Cepheus, Reeve of the Hounds; Domina Damaris Tritonides, Aegis; Dominus Raziel Thanatos; Lady Appolonia Acesian arm-in-arm with Arch-Magus Lucian Deiepetes? Strange, indeed! It is whispered they were tending to business with the Decemvir himself, a hypothesis supported by the mixed collection of both Atlantean and Empyreal guards escorting the group. Why would these people be getting together to meet, what were they doing in there for so long, and, above it all, is it true what they say about Atlantean oysters? Title:Summer storm A short and highly turbulent storm set upon the Atesh-Gah and the environs just north of that stone fortress, this night (July 21). The Varati stronghold was momentarily doused of the flames that light it up in the night, and guards had to scurry to relight and restore them. Title:Dropping Like Flies... "You hear about the latest?" The speaker is one of the regulars at the Pantheon, the type that can be found decorating the stool of any tavern, high-class or low--the type whose sole source of news comes in the form of gossip he overheard. Now he's passing it along. "Happened right outside. Young Empyrean fellow comes swaggering in here, has a chat with some greasy-looking Varati in the corner, then walks out. Next thing anyone knows, he's dead." He nods sagely. "Broad daylight, too. Even the healers couldn't save him, though one tried--and a Varati at that. They say he was dead before he hit the ground." Eyebrows are raised. "Don't believe me? Ask anyone who was there. They'll tell you. This is, what, the third death of an Empyrean in the past few weeks? First that noblewoman from House Thanatos, then the Emperor, now this. I tell you, they're dropping like flies..." Title:Khalid Leaves Rumors circulate through the city as a Varati entourage was seen leaving
Atesh-Gah and heading back to their capital city. This entourage included Khalid Atar
himself--apparently the god-king has left Haven now that the Emperor is dead. It is
unknown what the Varati kingdom plans in general, though the Minister of State and
High Priest of Khalid Atar, Malik, is supposedly in charge in Khalid's absence. Valin,
the Nayaka of the Agni-Haidar, was also left behind to monitor the military forces of
the Varati.
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