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Heard in Haven: May 2001
 Title: Death at the Docks It was just an ordinary outing, and an ordinary day. Until a mongrel decided to prey upon two Atlanteans up on the northern docks. The mongrel's plans turned foul when, instead of handing over their money, Akhran decided to confront the man. He plunged a knife into Akhran's stomach, and in turn was strangled by the victim shortly before the Atlantean died. Akhran's widow and her friend, the healer, Meslana, were last seen heading to the Delphic infirmary after giving their account of the story to the Hounds. Both women were drenched in blood.
Title: Atesh-Gah's Pure Water Weary groups of mages were seen returning to Delphi just after sundown last night. While that's nothing particularly new, this procession was oddly different than the usual return of students at their curfew time. Predominantly Atlanteans, these adepts, along with a pair of acolytes, came from the direction of the north into the Rialto, dragging through and into the gates of the Citadel as if it were almost too difficult to place one foot after the other. They were followed by a swarm of Varati servants carrying an assortment of gear. Rumor has it that Atesh-Gah's water was found to be poisoned -- the source of the mysterious ailment that has come to be called the Curse -- and that the water elementals of Delphi have ironically made the traditional Atlantean greeting a truth in this case. The Varati embassy is once more blessed with pure water.
Title: Gladiators? As a near-full moon rose over haven, two dark figures crept into the gladiatorial stands in the great Arena. Equipment was slung over their shoulders, and their slightly furtive movements and silent footsteps suggested trouble. Between guards, the pair slipped up to the very edge of the stand and, using a rope and grapple, lowered themselves to the arena floor. No one would have been witness to the whole episode had a certain mongrel not taken it into his head to skitter up to the stands as well, perhaps take any coins that were left there, or anything of value, really, from a recent bout. As he crept, far less adeptly than they, into the arena, he was to witness a bizarre sight indeed. The pair had daggers out and were circling each other, although, in the pale moonlight, their daggers were apparently sheathed. Rather easily they fought each other -- as if they were on good terms. Dumbfounded, the man watched until a shadowy movement suggesting the return of the slowly meandering guard forced him to skitter away. Even if no one was to observe it, the man's careless skittering gave the game away to the pair who stopped immediately. Like squirrels, they climbed the rope back to the stands and were out of the Arena before anyone could blink, the only testament to their 'bout,' some footprints in the gravel. Who were the two figures? What was the point? Of course, rumor is to abound -- who could help but gossip?
Title: One Head For Atesh-Gah's Wall The Varati are ever gruesome and though Haven's less blood-thirsty citizens are shocked by the newest travesty of good taste presented by the Varati, the citizens of that nation are less disturbed. In fact, some even state that justice has been served. After Vasuki Mehen Azhi-Dahaka ibn Messala was arrested after shifting into the form of a venomous cobra and attempting to kill the Queen-Maharani, the Varati government was silent on the matter even as rumors mixed with fact -- calling the Qadi a traitor and the man responsible for the mass poisoning of revelers during Dipavali. However, the government is silent no longer. The severed head of the traitor was carried out of the embassy yesterday morning. Impaled on a pole, the head was taken to the gates of Atesh-Gah and planted on the wall on the eastern side. Blood still freshly dripped from the neck and ran down the pole, along the wall and onto the street below. The wide-eyed head of the bald man had only a single identifying mark -- at the back of the skull, which can be seen from the courtyard-side of the gate, a white-and-black hourglass shape extends to the severed neck. However, the identity of the traitor is not in question as the following proclamation was read by one of the Queen-Maharani's secretaries. "Vasuki Mehen Ashi-Dahaka ibn Messala has been found guilty of high treason against the Varati kingdom. By his own confession, he has admitted to poisoning the Varati and other revelers during the Dipavali Festival. Before witnesses he has also physically attacked the Queen-Maharani, making him twice a traitor. However, the former Qadi of Messala did not perform these actions alone. During his confession, he has revealed his co-conspirators. These traitors to the nation will be arrested. The Varati people do not need to fear for their safety. The head of the traitor will remain on the wall of Atesh-Gah, to be joined by those of his fellow traitors. Wait, good people, the will and justice of Atar will be done against those who sin against him, his wife, and the nation."
Title: Battle in Atesh-Gah's Courtyard The head of Vasuki Messala was still dripping when a fresh conflict broke out in the Atesh-Gah courtyard. People had gathered to listen to the proclamation from the Queen-Maharani, including several Warlords. When the Agni-Haidar approached the warlord of Behzad, the kshatri did not wait to be accused. Instead, he proved the deadliness of his animal form by transforming into a panther. His target, however, was not the Lions of Atar. Instead, the panther launched into the air and sought the balcony of the Queen-Maharani, perhaps hoping to end her life before his. However, the Agni-Haidar are swift and the Queen-Maharani was not present -- some say hiding from the results of her proclamation. Warlord Numair fought the Agni-Haidar with tooth and claw, but obviously the finest of Khalid's warriors were prepared for a confrontation for all were armored and gauntletted. However, the Warlord of Behzad slaughtered a coterie of the Queen's shudra who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, sending their blood flying from the balcony to paint the walls of the embassy red. The Warlord had to be satisfied with producing only minor injuries to the Agni-Haidar, who mercilessly beat at the panther until he was knocked unconscious. Obviously, the warriors intended to take the Warlord alive. The limp form of the Warlord was carried off into the bowels of Atesh-Gah where he will, indubitably, confess after the proper persuasion is applied.
Title: Bonfire in Atesh-Gah Strange activites will never cease in Atesh-Gah. After the excitement of shudra being disemboweled and a bald head being mounted on the wall, the Atesh-Gah courtyard is once again the scene of activity. Shudra and naraki were seen carrying out bags of flour, herbs, spices, and other food items. The items were dumped into a pile -- making quite a mountain when the servants were done -- in the middle of the courtyard. The foodstuffs were not given to the poor or other needy and deserving individuals. Instead, red-robed Atarvani stood around the mound of food and set it on fire, ending all inherent nutritional value in the items. The food was burned to a crisp, leaving only ashes behind.
Title: Varati Exodus from Delphi An announcement was made at the flogging and branding of the Janizar Kedar, the Estrel bin Mazat's voice was heard over the crowd, "Varati of Delphi and of Haven, let it be known that this punishment was against that which the Varati Estrella encouraged. Our requests were not given consideration... indeed, we did not urge maiming for this as the victim was entirely healed. If Delphi will not listen to its Varati contingent of Estrels, then we shall no longer have dealings with them. Those that choose to leave Delphi will receive training within Atesh-Gah... those who do not will be considered kafir by decree of the Amir-al, betraying their race and their God." He then cast his Delphic insignia onto the cobblestones and stormed off and was soon followed my many other now-former Delphic students.
Title: A Sudden Departure Late in the evening, a winged courier entered Haven and went, not to the Palladium, but to Delphi. The next morn, two Empyreans left Delphi from the Star Chamber, flying towards Civitas Dei. The sharp-eyed among the early risers who witnessed the event recognized one of the departing forms -- that of the Estrel Niherlas Tritonides. The following day, a brief announcement was read by a Herald within the Rialto: "Niherlas Lyonikos Tritonides has resigned the position of Empyrean Estrel. He no longer wields the authority of Delphi, and returns to his citizenship within the Empyre."
Title: A Chance for Freedom! House Jove nearly lost one of their slaves a few days ago in the Rialto, though the man was caught and taken back to the Palladium and not seen since. A Varati slave, accompanying the House's head servant, was taken into the Rialto as a pack mule essentially. An opportunity arose where the attending guard was bumped into by the somewhat infamous once thief and streetrat, Sebastienne, and it was thus that the slave made an attempt to escape. Crawling beneath the closest booth, the foolish slave forgot that such obstacles are as nothing to those who can fly. The guard simply became airborne, dropping himself in front of the Varati to cut him off and was about to chop him in half with his sword in his anger. Luck would have it that the booth behind the slave was a metalsmith's. The Varati had the good luck to grab a large cast iron skillet which managed to block the blow and save his life. It then became a weapon as he smashed it across the guard's face. For some reason, though, he did not take the opportunity to flee; the sight of the blood pouring from the man's face stopped him, as if in shock. The Varati simply collapsed to the ground in what appeared to be horror. He was shackled by another guard, the first one taken off to Delphi to be patched up, and the Hounds came by demanding a report. Sebastienne seemed fascinated and came over to Naveen, seemingly wishing to help the slave, though none could understand why she should care or take a chance with such a violent and unstable man. Although she did no more than touch him, she seems to have triggered some sort of madness within the man that debilitated him completely into a trembling lump of insanity. He was dragged back to the Palladium for Tyche only knows what sort of punishment for his violence and disobedience.
Title: Punishment of an Agni-Haidar After the Agni-Haidar Janizar Kedar has been imprisoned by the Hounds for intending to maim a civilian Empyrean at the Dipvali festival, yesterday was finally the day when both his punishment was declared and carried out. Among an excited gathering, under the strong surveillance of the Hounds and the keen eyes of Commander Dohosan Eagle-Eyes, the accused Varati warrior was dragged into the Rialto. Under the spectators were public figures such as the Dea Selene Acesian, the Empyrean foreign minister Olivia Jove, and the Varati Estrel Niamh. A visibly nervous herald declared that the Estrella has decided that Kedar was to bear twenty lashes of the whip and was to be branded for the wounding of an innocent. Dohosan carried out the whipping on the bare back of the man in the stocks, who managed under visible pain not to cry out, despite the fact that his skin was ripped open and bleeding by the end of the gruesome ritual. An aged Atlantean finally branded the Janizar's forehead with the inverted star, marking him a convicted criminal of Haven. The whole punishment was accompanied by strong racial tensions among the spectator's crowd. Estrel Niamh Gitanjali bin Mazat declared, visibly upset by the punishment of one of his race, that the decision was reached without the agreement of the Varati Estrella. In defiance, he cast his Estrel star on the ground, swearing off his alliance to Delphi. Kedar himself seemed to be mostly oblivious to the discussions concerning his punishment. The only words he uttered during the ordeal was a question concerning his weapon. After the branding and his release, he followed Niamh back into Atesh-Gah.
Title: Another Head For Atesh-Gah's Wall At dawn, the blade of an Agni-Haidar fell and cleaved the head of Hakan Adham-Numair al-Behzad, Warlord of Behzad, from his body. The kshatri was found guilty of sedition, heresy against the Atarvani, murder, providing the poison used to taint the food and water of Atesh-Gah, and attempted murder of the Queen-Maharani. Afterwards, the head was impaled on a pole and then mounted on Atesh-Gah's wall, across the gate from the head of Vasuki Messala. Now there are two heads on Atesh-Gah's wall. Will there be more? In the wake of the execution, it would appear that Thalia is, indeed, cleaning house of all Varati who might have any inkling disloyalty to the current regime. It was announced that the Atarvani would be prosecuting a case against the Warlord of Messala on charges that would be presented by Niamh bin Mazat. However, the Warlord of Messala has not been taken into custody by the Agni-Haidar and the Queen-Maharani, in a surprising move, chose not to be the judge and jury at the Warlord of Messala's trial. Instead, she is having one of her ladies in waiting, Zahrah al-Behzad, the very sister to the executed Warlord, arrange a jury of Varati. In addition, the Queen-Maharani bucks tradition by allowing Varati of any caste, male or female, to sit on the jury. It is rumored that Warlord Sumai claims that the Queen-Maharani will never understand Varati ways and that her marriage to Khalid is one of the God-King's mistakes. It is not surprising given this latest innovation of Thalia's that there are those that agree with the Warlord, whether he made the statement or not.
Title: It's Official Several days after former Estrel Niamh Gitanjali bin Mazat's furious departure from the confines of the Delphic tower, men and women in the scarlet robes of the Varati priesthood make the rounds of Haven's streets, calmly reading the following proclamation: "Delphi's Council of Estrels has made clear its disregard for the culture and the faith of the Varati people. Therefore, it is the will of the Divine Flame that all his faithful children immediately leave the service, employ, tutelage, and administration of the Delphic Order. Atesh-Gah opens its gates to welcome home its wayward sons and daughters; lodgings will be provided amidst the splendor of Atesh-Serai. Those who remain with Delphi in opposition to the divine mandate may expect the disfavor of their God and King."
Title: Three! Three Heads on the Wall! Like some lunatic counting song, there are now three heads on Atesh-Gah's wall. Besides the dried head of Vasuki Mehen Azhi-Dahaka ibn Messala, a fresh head has joined the row. A Varati male of unknown origin, nobody in Haven appears to know the identity of the newest executed traitor. However, the servants of Atesh-Gah whisper that they have seen the man once before, dragged in by a star of Agni-Haidar late last week. This execution was not public. Instead, the freshly chopped head was carried out by one of the Atarvani. Unlike the body of Hakan Adham-Numair al-Behzad, nobody claimed this corpse belonging to this head. Instead, the Atarvani incinerated the body.
Title: Fight Night <An Empyrean dressed in the formal robes of the Haven Coliseum makes his way around the city. He rings a bell and cries out.> "Come one, come all, to the greatest show ever. The Gladiator Games are set to run again all through the warm months of the summer. Come see the best of the best fight it out for your amusement and entertainment, there's nothing like it around. Come one, come all, to the greatest show ever."
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