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Heard in Haven: September 2001
 Title: Atlantean Real Estate Broker Strikes Again! The Atlantean, Jasmine, has in her infinitude of generosity aquired properties in neighborhood of 20 and is renting them to those traders and merchants who are in need of security from those who would engage in random acts of violence. Tradesmen all over Haven praise her and the Merchant's Guild for their less random acts of kindness towards their less fortunate fellows (especially the Empyrean variety).
Title: Taxes and Tariffs Heralds issue forth from the Palladium with an announcement. One that may come as quite a surprise to the ears of those who hear it. The Heralds proclaim, that by order of the Deus Maximus, All foreign merchants who sell to the Empyre and are members of the Merchants Guild will have their Tariffs decreased. Any Empyrean merchant who is a member of the Guild and flies the Fulminarrii flag is entitled to a further decrease in their taxes. The Deus Maximus of the Empyreans feels that such actions will stimulate trade and help facilitate peace between the nations.
Title: Another Contest With the onset of the Queen-Maharani's frivolous party to celebrate the renovation of Atesh-Gah's Royal Wing, it is announced that Thalia is sponsoring yet another contest. In the courtyard of Atesh-Gah, the vaisya crafters have erected a wondrous tree made out of paper. On each leaf of the tree is written a riddle and the riddle's answer on the reverse side of the leaf. However, the trunk of the tree also has a riddle. The winner(s) of the contest must correctly solve the riddle on the trunk of the tree by the end of the party and will receive an item or items from one of the many members of the Merchant's Guild.
Title: A Little Ditty It is said that this dirty little ditty is being sung in the provinces of the Empyre and even in Civitas Dei, itself, though given Haven's distance from the Empyre, those could only be rumors. However, the ditty is found chalked on the streets of Haven. Variously smudged by the passage of feet, some renditions are too smudged to be legible, but other renditions can easily be read, though the shape of the letters indicates that the chalked copies were not scribed by a scholar. Arius, the boy Emperor, needs a nanny. There has also been sighted around Haven many little mongrel boys with pieces of chalk.
Title: Music Critics The Empyreans have ever been known for their refined tastes in music and art, and apparently the gauche little lyric recently scratched onto walls has not taken so well with the average citizen. The Emperor after all, with his decreasing taxes and encouraging trade has helped to bring down the price of many common goods. And, as most of the women (and not to few of the men) would note, he is a handsome young man. It makes one proud to be an Empyrean to have an Emperor of his stature. All that likely contributes to the quick disappearance of the inane little 'ditty' almost as soon as they appear. Of course, there are those cynics who might claim the populace acts only out of fear of the Fulminarii. Men and women who speak quietly that without those lightning-striked guardians of the new order, more might be singing the song. Though the official ignoring of the lyric and the mild amusement displayed by most Fulminarii who see such markings would counteract such claims. In fact, it is the Fulminarii who saved the life of a wretched mongrel boy just last eve. The little bastard had the misfortune to be called scrawling the bit of nonsense on the wall of a prominent merchant's shop by a small group of Empyrean commoners. Perhaps a bit into their cups, and displeased with such words written of the Emperor, the crowd set to thrashing the mongrel. Had not two Fulminarii stopped them and taken the mongrel safely into custody (for his own protection) he likely would have died in the gutter. Serves him right, some would say.
Title: Contest Winners For once, a party thrown by the Queen-Maharani did not end in disaster or bloodshed. Therefore, there are actual winners to the Riddle Contest. Two kshatri warriors proved that they fight not only with muscle but with intellect. Jamaal al'Saleem Behzad and Geridan Kentari Rashid both solved the riddle and received the prizes that are being provided by Haven's Merchant Guild.
Title: Librarian Collapses! Word spreads through some of the better-known gossips in the Rialto that the Head Librarian of the Scriptorium has collapsed - an apparent victim of her own tendancy to overwork. Servants carry the tale that Xerise Januarius has been complaining of a headache and a general tiredness for a few days, although she insisted she was fine to continue with her duties. However, this day broughtproved otherwise, as after a particularly prolonged session with one of the scholars, she was seesuccumbed to too little sleep, too many hours of work, and general neglect. She has taken to her quarters in the Palladium in an attempt to reclaim her health.
Title: Gossip Spreads Like Wind and Fire In the Rialto, what was first a whispered conjecture starts to spread like wildfire. A mongrel woman stands behind the counter of a crimson-colored stall. "Have you heard what they're saying about the Empyre, Lucy?" Lucy leans over the counter. "What /haven't/ they been saying? But...what's the latest?" "Oh, I really didn't think much of it at first, but you know..." "WHAT? WHAT?" Lucy protests, as her friend tends to ramble before getting to the point. Ethel looks around carefully, leaning forward and whispering, "That with the way that new Empyror on the throne, the Empyreans are becoming just like the Varati." Lucy gasps, but Ethel continues. "Think about it, really. How the two are becoming so much alike. And it was an Empyrean and an Atlantean that was talking, and the Empyrean said that after Arius was named Empyror, the Varati king gave him a Varati cyprian for a present." Lucy's eyes widen. "No! You don't suppose...you don't suppose they're in cahoots, do you?" Ethel frowns at the thought. "I hadn't thought about that. It would surely mean doomsday for the rest of us!"
Title: Khalid and Arius Ditty Given the latest rumors spreading like fire and wind, it is unsurprising that the enterprising ditty writer has released upon the populace another song to tootle. Rumored to have originated in the Empyre, the words of the ditty are as follows: Khalid and Arius whispering in a tree,
Title: Odd Sighting? A few days past a rather strange sighting occured on the eastern beach. It was not yet even sunrise, but the silhouttes of two forms could be seen under the pinkening sky. One an empyrean, distinguished by her most notable features - a pair of mostly fallen wings. The other a mongrel, tossing wooden 'glider toys' up into the air. It all started when the empyrean spread her wings, for what was the first time in years, and got caught by a strong ocean breeze and knocked over. It lead to the other, an inventor mongrel, stepping over to her and giving /her/, an /Empyrean/ a lesson on the how's and why's of flight. Well it only got more strange from there. Just after the explanation and demonstration of toys was finished, the mongrel set out another plan. What was seen next was truly.. bewildering. A mongrel, racing down the shore with an Empyrean upon his back with outstretched wings. Regardless of how silly it might have looked, it worked in it's attempt to get the girls wings spread out and filled with wind. Enough so that while being held onto by the waist, she gained the few moments of flight under her belt. They did this a total of three times before the two were seen walking off towards the city, arm in arm and with much laughter between them.
Title: Subtle Subversion Throughout Haven and Civitas Dei, leaflets are found curiously skittering down the streets, borne along the autumn winds. Made of particularly thin and light parchment, it would seem they were crafted for precisely that, a cunning means of distribution, and the need for such subtle artifice apparent when one bothers to take up one and read. The words written upon them, terse and to the point, are already being whispered about in Empyrean circles and beyond ... Beneath a small and crude representation of the Gryphon-and-9 device used in the banners by those who died for their cause in the recent uprising, and the legend of 'Consultum de Republica Defendenda' is written ... Remember Navale Capua. Never Again.
Title: Mystery in the Garden A wrought iron bench that once offered a place to rest in the garden was found yesterday morning looking as if someone had tossed it into a fire. The bench no longer offers seating, instead it looks more like some strange piece of half-finished artwork. As for who or what did this.. no one seems to know.
Title: A Quiet Return... It's amazing how some things happen without fanfare - and can, in fact, simply occur without notice. At some point recently, the Head Librarian for the Scriptorium has returned to work. When, excatly, is hard to say, as she has been most circumspect about doing so. But things in the Scriptorium are back to normal, as least as such things go.
Title: Announcement A Sylvan steps out of Delphi's gates, clad in fringed leather against the cold, three emeralds at his collar reflecting the dull sun. To the chagrin of many patrons in the Rialto, he stands upon one of the central tables to make his announcement: Let it be known to all Graisha, Sylvan or otherwise, that Delphi will now be accepting them as students for the training of their magics. They will be given every courtesy any other student of Delphi is given, and shall be instructed in the use and proper control of their magic. No Graisha, however, will be taken in by Hounds because of their 'consumption'. All students will only be taken on a volunteer basis. Green eyes, lighter than the emeralds he wears, glance about the crowded Rialto before the Adept hops off of the table and makes his way back towards Delphi. He hopes that word will travel to the Forest tribes as well.
Title: Delphic Celebration The Tower is stirring again, though with pleasant news, surprisingly. Rumour has it a celebration is to be held to welcome the first graisha into Delphi, beginning with the ancient induction ceremony. It would seem that the announcement Adept Skyfire made some time ago wasn't just an idle promise. Though it would also seem the Delphic ceremony is to remain an internal affair, some people outside of the institution have found themselves invited to the celebration by friends within.
Title: Abduction Nightfall in the city of Haven found two strange Atlanteans upon the western beach. Often have they been seen in the city, for the most part avoided by the citizenry, for their looks have suggested to many an uncharacteristic tendency toward violence. But despite their threatening appearance the mated pair of Atlanteans have caused little trouble... until the night when Morisu Iolani ran across the beach with her mate Kael close behind, and threw aspersions at the empty waves, daring some invisible enemy to come and face her. And her enemy came... in an unlikely guise. Atlanteans of the strangest sort, they were many in number, graisha in appearance, and thirsty for blood. They attacked the mated pair, the main complement cornering the male while the female found herself the target of their leader... a dark haired woman with vividly blue eyes and a chilling mental voice that, once heard, could never be forgotten. Those few bystanders who beheld the spectacle bore witness to a bloody carnage like nothing that had taken place upon those sands before... the combatants tearing flesh with spears and swords and teeth combined, a horrible mixture of animal violence and the implements of war. When at last the bloodshed ended, the mated pair had been reduced by half... Iolani dragged below the waves by the leader of these vicious warriors, abducted, with promises of violence against her... should Kael not capitulate to their demands. And what is it that they want? Those witnesses with telepathy heard bits and pieces of the verbal exchanges between them, and there was mention of a 'swallow', though what this might be did not become clear from their words. The witnesses also heard the male utter a roar so imbued with rage, so reverberant with undertones of bloodlust and base hatred, that it served to stun both the onlookers and the graisha warriors for a few moments. Afterward, many who heard it attempted to describe it to others... and found they could find no words to describe it. In the end, the unknown warriors were gone, and Kael, badly wounded, was taken by Aureus Nerissa to the infirmary at Delphi to be treated for his wounds. And what of Morisu Iolani? Her whereabouts are unknown, and a rescue seems unlikely... for who knew her, or cared for her, other than Kael? With the waters as unsafe as they are, and rumors of a creature that tears apart the unwary swimmer still circulating, none have great hopes that Iolani will ever be seen again.
Title: Aspiring Darkling? Now, on more than a few occasions, a persistant smudge of black dye, or charcoal coloring has been discovered upon the newly reformed Sebastienne. Once so much as her whole body was even covered. From head to toe in fact! It has led to the inquiring minds of many to wonder exactly what is going on? Is she just a dirty woman? Or perhaps she has found herself in the gutters and alleys again? Or perhaps it's a disguise, or even worse, an attempt to be a darkling? For the most part she has been quite discreet about it, and her skills in the arts of discretion surpass most, but rumour spreads quickly like wildfires.
Title: Exploding Star The end of the year is always a time of speculation and fear. When the star burst into temporary existence above the streets of Haven some thought it was a comet, an evil omen for the year to come. The promise of more turmoil. This is Haven after all. A discerning eye would have pinpointed the phenomenon's location over the northeastern section of the Empyrean quarter. The exact origins of the nova were not immediately apparent. For those gifted in the weaving of magic, it was a jolt to the senses, as the brilliant light was a tremendous outpouring of aether. The star itself is described as a ball of rolling thunder and lightning. A swirl of gale force winds summoned into boiling existence, tearing apart anything in their vicinity. Had not the source been well above the streets when it combusted, surely sections of the city would have been rent asunder. As it is reported, only one building suffered the brunt of the damage, the named villa collapsing entirely. A villa that is rumored to be owned by an Empyrean Ambassador who has long since returned to Civitas Dei for the winter. Though the stream of costumed guests pouring from the house would suggest the domicile was not empty at the time of its ruin. Several other dwellings nearby experienced minor shakings and broken pottery. The number of casualties remains unknown. The nova lasted only a moment, then blinked out existence. The ripples of aether rolling across the quarter, dissipating into the pre-dawn hours. The storm clouds evaporating after releasing none of the threatened rain. In the end, there was nothing left, but a fragile imprint in the fabric of reality, to mark the star's passing.
Title: The Commander's Love The rumor mill starts running again, a new tidbit of information leaking into the populace from the Citadel. A couple people out in the Rialto start talking about it... Sigma: Hey, did you hear? The Commander has himself a new girlfriend! Beterus: Well it's about time he filled that void in his life... Who's the girl? Sigma: They say her name is Neola. She just came into Haven last week! Already he's hugging and kissing her, out in public! Beterus: Neola?? You've got to be kidding me! I haven't seen her in over 8 years now! She used to be a music student of Lady Aurorinas. Those two were an item ages ago! Her father, a reasonably wealthy merchant, didn't approve of the two being together. He eventually moved away and took her with him! I tell you the guy was absolutely heartbroken. A total wreck! Sigma: And now she's come back to claim him? Well, love delayed is far better than love lost, if you ask me. Beterus: Especially for those two. They always did make a great pair...
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