Date: June 12, 1999
Place: Beach - Haven
Cast: Arete, Cyrano, Drusus, Jasmine, Kiera, Kitara, Koralland, Kuronbo, Moonfire, Naiadre, Niko, Riva, Selene, Tiata, Uneri
Scene: Dark ships appear just off Haven's harbor, hinting at events to come.

It is early morning across Haven, and there is a slight chill of the arriving fall in the air. There is a blanket of fog over the whole city, a thick oppressive mist that is only now starting to dissipate. The mist seems to mute all sound, turning the loudest conversation into a mere whisper...

...and then the oppressive silence is shattered by the sound of some sort of horn. It is a hollow booming sound that seems to resonate throughout every surface and in every chest of all those that hear it. It is near impossible to tell where the sound comes from, everywhere and nowhere. The note lasts for a full five seconds and then fades away, only to be replaced by yet another horn blast about ten seconds later.

The horn continues to blow for several minutes, drawing the inhabitants into the streets with puzzled looks upon their faces as they look about them for the source of the noise. It is then that a flash of light explodes into the skies over Haven. It is a tiny red orb of light that is so intense that it can be seen through the thick fog as it traces a parabolic course over the top of the city. A second flare appears in the skies from the direction of the Beach... clearly the source of all this commotion originates from there.

Beach - Haven:
      Soft sands from years of gentle ocean currents greet the feet of those who explore the expanse of beach that leads from the streets of Haven to the edges of ocean. The hushed roar of the waves can be heard, a lulling sound to the attentive ear. The sand stretches out for about a quarter of a mile and allows for plenty of space for pursuits of leisure. Depending upon the time, you may be graced by the awe-striking sunset, the peaceful glow of the moon, or the comforting rays of the midday sun. Several ocean birds fly overhead as if frolicking around and playing in the air, occasionally swooping down towards the ocean surface to retrieve a tasty morsel.
      The ocean itself seems to be calm and relaxing near the shore for several hundred feet before the sands slope harshly and drop. There, the water is safe only for experienced swimmers and boaters. There is a small path that leads towards the town that is paved with sand and lined on either side by flowers.

The plainly-clothed Empyrean man spreads his wings and rises into the sky, a short hop that carries him over the hissing waves and onto the beach. Mist rolls up off of sea behind him, plucking at his heels, boiling onto the beach. He closes his wings over his arms, brows furrowed, and paces up above the high-tide line.

Landing on sand is not the easiest thing to accomplish, especially for one used to solid ground beneath her feet, not the shifting surface the beach provides. However, Selene seems to handle it passably well, as to the pair of Jovian guards who flank the noblewoman, each wearing an unreadable expression while Selene's visage displays curiosity.

Drusus is not dressed up. In fact, he's so plainly attired -- with no trappings of his station whatsoever -- and so plain-looking in general that few who do not know him well would likely recognize him. He looks out to sea, still trying to find the origin of the flares.

And the halfbreed seems to take cue of the Empyrean man; she glances to the sea after he does, but her regard falters back to him. The noises echo in the movement of her wings -- sharp, startling, and one feather drips off, brown floating in an whirling breeze to be carried into the mist and lost. Kitara's entrance garners Kiera's brief attention so that it rides her for the first pass, dismisses her for the second. Unnatural currents seize the air again, whispering gossip to one another, speculating perhaps, and Kiera stills. She again watches the Empyrean fellow who watches the ocean.

The fog blunts the plain man's already blunt profile. He sees little, but does not appear to be looking much either: his eyes half-close as he strains to examine the surface of the sea with a sense not one of the normal five.

Tiata wanders down the beach, ever curious to what has drawn such a crowd.

Koralland walks down the winding path from Haven and steps onto the beach.

There are streams of newcomers arriving upon the beach, waiting to see what is transpiring here.. .so many of them in fact that few people notice the prominent citizens standing next to the commoner, the Varati standing next to the Empyrean. There is hushed murmuring as they stare out in the direction of Haven Bay. The fog is thinner over the still, cool waters, but it is thick enough to block all sight past the entrance of the Harbor. As the people assemble, there is yet another flare, and this time is quite clear that the origin of the flare is from the light-house at the edge of the Bay.

Uneri walks down the winding path from Haven and steps onto the beach.

Uneri comes by land in the direction of the beach, followed by her six guards.

Kitara wheels at the next flare, and heads out towards the light house, going higher.

A wind springs up, then dies down, but Kiera sways in it enough that she drifts again into motion. Toward that plain-dressed Empyrean man who stands so perilously close to the surf, the halfbreed heads. The sand only crunches briefly, then firms under its near-constant skin of water. Distance closes, made easier by the fact that many of the commoner Empyreans -- refugees to Haven from such places as Lycenae -- move to avoid crossing Kiera's path. And she stops, not so far from the other, but close enough that she can be heard over the surf. "Is this what you have waited for, then?"

...And then the final note of the horn blows, a long, mournful note that seems much louder here than at any other part of the city. As it dies, a new sound begins. It is a creaking sound, the sound of rigging being drawn tight upon the sails of ships and of water slapping against the hulls of ships. It is a faint sound, and it is coming from the direction of the fog in the bay.

Jasmine walks down the winding path from Haven and steps onto the beach.

"No," the man replies to Kiera. "I do not know what this is."

Naiadre walks down the winding path from Haven and steps onto the beach.

Holding her wings somewhat furled, Kiera remains by the other. Either the ultimate target, or the ultimate safety. "What do you feel?" comes the next question, just as quiet as the first.

Kitara flies up just a little higher, and then, hesitating a moment, she dives down into the fog bank.

The sounds coming from the fog grows louder, so loud that all can clearly see that the source of all the commotion is coming from the depths of the mist. There is an instant where it appears that the sound is going to break the fog, and then it stops. There is only silence now, a silence that is every bit as complete as the one that gripped the city before. Even the large crowd upon the beach is quiet now.

What a curious question. The man regards Kiera with a look of puzzlement. Whyever would she ask him that? Perhaps she is trying to gauge him somehow.

Kitara comes winging up out of the fog, her huge white wings sending it rolling out before her, and to the sides. From a great distance comes her shouted voice. "Ships!"

Kitara wheels around, and once more dives back down into the fog.

A large group enters the very edge of the beach. Koralland, Jasmine, and ten Amarisian guards. Except that this serene group suddenly does not seem so serene. At least, one of them does not. At first Jasmine simply stops, standing statue-still. Her complexion pales. The hand clenching the arm of Koralland's robe turns into a fist, white with tension. Her free hand clutches at her dress.

The question stands. Kiera offers no explanation, nor retraction. She meets the man's gaze, then looks toward the sound.

Naiadre pauses at the beach's edge behind Jasmine, taking in the growing crowd and barely catching Kitara's cry. She blinks in bewilderment, turning to ask a question of her friend, when she takes in Jasmine's face. Oh how could she forget? Oi. She reaches out a gentle hand and pats Jasmine's shoulder, trying to offer comfort.

A commotion goes through the crowd at the cry as people exchange words, bets, thoughts on what kind of ships, and on the whyfor of them. The commoner standing by Kiera continues to regard her; he does not seem particularly surprised by any of the noises. He studies her profile as she looks out to see and then orients his own gaze in that direction. "Hm." He says quietly. "A curious force."

Tiata watches the spectacle, trying to make sense of all the noise and business from just a few people. At the shout, she cranes her neck to see the ships the fog still cloaks.

Again, emerges Kitara. This time, she heads straight for the beach, driving hard for land, the strain in her wings and muscles apparent by the way she is rapidly losing altitude. "They're armed!" she shouts as she flies overhead. "Armed men in the riggings!"

Uneri stops with her six guards, near the other arriving Atlanteans. The approaching ships, or at least the sounds of them coming from the fog, attract her attention, but then Jasmine's distress redirects that attention. The Empyrean's alarm definitely catches Uneri's attention and she goes into a private conversation with her six guards, all of them looking rather grim.

A glance skyward. Selene and her guards turn as one to watch the woman, drawn by her announcement of ships, though they do not join in with the crowd discussion; rather, they converse quietly amongst themselves. A passing mongrel gains a dark glance from the sandy-haired guard as he pauses nearby, perhaps to listen, perhaps not. The second call from above draws frowns from the trio, moreso from the guards than from their ward, but concern is there all the same.

"Perhaps," the commoner Empyrean murmurs. "The fog should go away."

The dark-haired Amarisian royal, Koralland, pulls his beloved fiancee, Jasmine, close to him to comfort her. Silently, Amarisian guards draw a circle around the pair and the priestess, Naiadre. Anger sears across his face as Koralland hears the news of armed troops, one of the ten guards breaks off and moves quickly by land toward the Korallion.

The silence is complete, and then the water erupts into violent churning... far more violent than the average incoming tide. As the water foams up the beach, several shapes erupt from the water. The movement is rather sudden and it startles the crowd enough to draw several screams of terror from those nearest the water. However, the panic is unwarranted at this point, as their identities are revealed. They are Atlanteans... several dozen of them, in fact. Their eyes are wide open in alarm as they fall upon the beach with the tide and struggle to their feet in order to get away from whatever is lying within that fog. Several of them flop down to the surface, their first time on land and their legs being too weak to keep them upright.

Naiadre splits her attention between her concern for Jasmine and her growing concern over the ships. What could they want? Why were they armed? Were they planning on invasion? And who sent them? It wasn't Naiadre only wondering these things either, by the sounds from another nearby group.

Kitara isn't going to have the strength to pull up for a graceful landing -- not at this speed. So she angles to come around for the shallow water, descending with speed to skim along the surface for perhaps twenty feet before coming to a running halt in it, wings held up to avoid soaking them. She stands in thigh-high water, panting raggedly.

The Empyrean man standing by Kiera looks down towards the flailing figures who struggle to get out of the water. Atlanteans, struggling to get out of the water? His eyes narrow, his expression one of concentration.

Jasmine turns toward Koralland, burying her face in his shoulder as she trembles. She barely picks up the news of armed ships on the edge of her consciousness.

Kitara stares in shock at the Atlanteans coming out of the water; she backs up quickly towards land, pelting up onto the beach. She looks around for someone, anyone; and spots the plain-looking Empyrean. She charges up to him and hisses, "Bear this news to the Palladium -- armed vessels coming ashore at the beach! Go! Now!"

Indeed. Kiera agrees with her companion. Eyelids laze slightly, gaze unfocused. But, indeed, the roar of water, the shrill response of observers startles Kiera's quiet. Hazel gaze flicks open again, wings mantle just slightly behind her and the other, while the halfbreed takes a sharp breath in. Water from one of the fleeing Atlanteans splashes her. Kiera focuses again on the unseen, breezes whipping about her.

And snapped back at Kitara, from Kiera, "Go you, yourself!" One of those dandy winds that caper about her gives the other a hard shove, to help her on her way.

Tiata steps away from the shoreline as an Atlantean flops at her feet. Brows furrowed, she frowns and looks around the crowd, then back out to the ocean and then down at the Atlantean. Okay, so we're all going to stand here and be invaded and do nothing about it? She leans over to whisper to another bystander, asking in a audible whisper, "Ya think we should run fer it?"

The Empyrean male holds up a hand and the wind is blunted, a little. "Calm yourselves. The Palladium will receive news when there is news to be taken to them."

Uneri and her six move into action. Making their way further down to the beach, they wade into helping their fellow Atlanteans. They are very silent as they move in an odd sychronicity.

She's all tired out from all that rapid flight, all that wheeling and diving and flapping -- Kitara goes stumbling back and is shoved to the ground by the wind, crying out as she lands in the sand. "I am too tired to bear the message there quickly and...you are no friend of the Empyreans!" she snaps angrily at Kiera, before saying to the plain Empyrean male, "Is it not enough that these ships approach? Go!"

Naiadre tightens her hand on Jasmine's shoulder, her brow knitting with concentration, even as she flicks her gaze back towards the Atlanteans.

Kiera will be delighted to bear you there, Kitara. But, instead, she cues off the man and *poof* Kitara doesn't exist, her voice has no sound, and Kiera's attention returns to the ocean, to the mists that enfold the ships there. Her wings, even, curl to a more relaxed manner. What Empyrean hollering at her companion?

The woman's screams for word to the Palladium easily draws Selene's attention, eyeing the Empyrean curiously before a narrowed gaze settles on the halfbreed who argues with her. Only then does she notice the third, the commonly-dressed man. Unfortunately, she only sees him from the back and with the crowds and the mists, she is unable to name him. Her white-haired guard leans over to whisper in her ear, the response is a stiff shake of her head and a darker frown on her lips.

As the beach erupts into chaos from the fleeing Atlanteans and terror-filled citizens of Haven, there is a motion at the edge of the fog. It is as if the entire horizon begins to recede, revealing dark shapes of massive vessels. They are hidden in the fog, and then the first prow breaks the wall of mist and into the open water about a kilometer and a half away from the shore. It is a massive catamaran, easily the largest vessel that anyone has ever seen. It is onyx black and flies a jet-black pennon with silver etching upon it. It is too far to make out the identities of those upon it, but they are clearly sailing into the harbor. Then a second prow breaks the mist... and a third. Soon, eight of these massive ships can be seen on the horizon, with twice that number of supporting vessels.

The plain-dressed man in question crouches down and regards Kitara levelly, wings sweeping out behind him to keep his balance. "It is not our affair, domina. Not yet." He straightens up, a single beat of his wings adding to his momentum. "Wait." And, when the ships break the pearly-grey barrier, he says, "interesting." The mist is torn into lace, shattering, boiling away from the ships to coalesce into darkness just beyond the line of sight.

Kitara struggles unsteadily to her feet and growls, "If I were the emperor, I'd want to know of this, immediately!" The young Empyrean hot-head, filled with righteous indignation, growls, "I'll run there on foot," and turns, presumably to do so.

Naiadre turns her eyes back to the fog's rippling, receding edge, jade eyes widening. What in Pasiphae's name?

The man does not immediately reply to Kitara's indignant statement; he is caught up in line and curve and fluttering black flags, all alien in shape and form. He glances back down towards the surf and the struggling Atlanteans there and wonders why they flee the ships. His gaze flicks over towards the curve in the mist that is the Korallion, then back, and it is then that he says something to Kitara, sotto voce.

Fleeing seems like a good idea, but Tiata is rooted to her spot, her eyes glued to the vessels coming closer to shore. Fancy boats they are, wonder who they are and what they want with Haven and its citizens?

Riva approaches the beach from the open sea.

After speaking to Kitara, the commoner Empyrean takes a step closer to the surf. There are Atlanteans there, still struggling to get out of the claws of the waves. He offers one his hand.

Before Kitara can go a step, the plainly-dressed Empyrean male murmurs something to her that gives her pause. She glances at him once; twice; and then, suddenly, she averts her gaze from him, back out towards the ship. Still panting a little, she mumbles, "I wish I had my sword."

No sooner have the ships broken through the wall of fog, then the wall of fog dissipates entirely. The sun, before blocked by the mist, brightens, then casts brilliant fall light on the newly-sparkling sea as it washes against the ebony ships that have manifested on the waters. No more are revealed, no more break the surface of the distant line of the water that Kiera's companion watched earlier this morning. And the warmth that drew the halfbreed to the skies over Haven to hunt once more warms her brown feathers. She remains still, still watching with a gaze which unfocused only momentarily.

Koralland continues to hold Jasmine close to him. The ship is given a further scowl from the prince and three guards break off from his routine to aid the landing Atlanteans. No, he really doesn't like this at all. The other guards tighten around the group cautiously. The huge ship approaching with its cargo of warriors is not a good sight to him.

Kitara glances over at Kiera and murmurs something to her.

"Why do you flee?" The voice of the plain Empyrean man is a quiet baritone; he speaks to the Atlantean whom he helps.

Cyrano soars in from the skies above.

The halfbreed's gaze swivels slightly toward Kitara, resting upon her. Then she glances to the others on the beach, as if gauging their worth. Then Kiera looks once more to Kitara and returns a comment.

All eyes are focused on the massive catamarans that are now coming to a stop a full kilometer off the coast of Haven. In it is little wonder that onlookers fail to see the dark shapes that move into the shallows just as the last Atlantean exits the water, the churning foam would make them exceedingly hard to see, anyway. So it causes a great deal of surprise as over a hundred shapes rise out of the water a mere six feet away from the sands of the beach and the crowd that is there. It is almost as if they had levitated out of the water.

They are Atlanteans, though the that is all the similarity that they have with those now on the sands of the beach. They are marble-white and have blank expressions upon their faces, and it is impossible to tell one from another... no individuality, just a single collective non-identity. They are dressed in the manner of warriors, armed and wearing coral and bone armor. At the front of the group stands a dark Atlantean whose very blackness is the antithesis of those that stand about it. He is unarmed, and though his face is capable of expression... he wears none now.

Kitara's blue-green eyes widen and her face goes almost as pale as those of the unnaturally white Atlanteans. Her wings mantle in shock and surprise, spreading out as she half-crouches in alarm, a fight-or-flight reflex. Her agonized gaze goes to the plainly- dressed Empyrean man.

Naiadre regards the ships and those they bear with wide eyes, taking an unconscious step closer to Jasmine. And even as the Atlanteans rise from the water, she both relaxes and grows even more tense, alarm singing in her body. Spying the dark Atlantean before them all, an indecipherable look crosses her face and she waits.

Tiata doesn't own a weapon, has never had the need for one. Pushing herself through the chaos, she figures a front row seat for the demise of Haven would be in order.

The Atlantean that Drusus has helped stumbles back without answering. Drusus straightens up, wings stretched back to keep from being snapped at by the surf. The muddy water laps about his caligae, leaving streaks of lacy foam across the arches of his feet. He regards the appearance of the soldiers and the angles of his wings shift, an easy and gentle preparation for the downbeat that would take him into the sky. But he remains where he is, just another one of the crowd, although most of the crowd has shifted back away from the water as if it were poison.

Kitara darts forward to Drusus' side, her hand going to her left hip and the sword hilt that isn't there.

Uneri stands after helping someone up and stares over at the center front of the entire group. Her little group of six is quite brown among the others. One by one, people are set to rights and there is a winding down almost, as if there is an interlude before yet another surge of orchestration.

Riva comes out of the waves with an armed contingent that brackets her protectively. She strides through the surf that curls around her ankles and approaches the others. For some reason, more come out to add to the ones around Koralland and Jasmine, and more triads accompany Riva toward the nondescript winged man at surf's edge. Riva pauses to speak in a controlled tone. "Ease away. Let them ashore. My men are observing."

Jasmine remains huddled against Koralland, but can sense the turmoil on the beach and it only adds to her own distress. With a deep breath, she glances over her shoulder toward the beach, quickly burying her head again in Koralland's shoulder.

Like a flight of hawks they come, twenty one in number. The last time a bright light flashed at the beach, there was a pirate attack; this time Cyrano came expecting the worst. With him are twenty Empyreal Praetorians; all remain airborne at the rear of the beach, and they are armed and ready. At the moment, they only circle the beach at a low altitude of thirty feet, watching the progress below at sea.

The assembled ranks of Pallid Warriors do not move, nor do they make any sound. They appear to be marble statues standing in the water as the tide swirls about them... utterly motionless. Their unfocused eyes stare straight ahead at nothing in particular, and their hands are away from their bodies... away from the weapons. It is quite eerie.

Kitara's narrow-eyed gaze goes to the sky, and a little shudder of relief passes through her at the sight of the praetors. She murmurs, "They await some signal...?"

The ordinary Empyrean observer nods to Riva and moves backwards, murmuring something to her before he walks back to the high-tide line. He glances towards Kitara.

Kitara's wings mantle, and she, too, retreats back several long steps, her short curls falling into her eyes until she pushes them out of her face.

Tiata looks to her left, then to her right, then behind her and comes to realize she's the front person, the only one in a confrontational position. With a blink at the creatures before her, she makes a hasty retreat.

Koralland does not seem surprised at the Pallid warriors being associated with the dramatics, he is pleased to see that word has reached the Korallion Guard and Riva. The place seems to be a powder keg of soldiers now, not good, but better than only one side present.

Drusus? Now that the mist has dissipated and the man moves, turning slightly into her view, Selene gains a better look at the 'commoner' Empyrean who is certainly far from that title. Frantically, her eyes leave the eerie scene just offshore to scan the beach for the well-known scarlet-caped Schola and the wide look in her eyes makes it quite obvious that she cannot find a single one amongst the crowd. Pulling the sandy-haired guard to her, she whispers something and sends him in her cousin's direction, leaving the second at her side.

One brief glance toward Cyrano and his cronies marks them; thereafter a breeze will tickle through their feathers, comb through their hair while Kiera looks forward again, toward the albino warriors. The winged halfbreed slips into unmoving stillness, sight in front of her, attention around her like the snaky traces of air that wisp about folks' ankles and hips, over their heads and back down their arms and legs.

Riva's scowl is plain for a moment.

For several moments, the Pallid Warriors and the dark Atlantean remain motionless. Not even the presence of the low-flying Praetorians overhead are enough to cause them to break their seeming lack of awareness. And then the dark Atlantean moves forward, taking several steps forward through the surf and onto the beach. He strides past the remaining Atlanteans that are lying upon the sand, and he pauses. His face is impassive and sculpted, betraying almost no emotion at all. If it were not for the slight flaring of gills at the side of his neck, it would appear that he is more automaton than man. There is an instant where he stands there silently, his simple and direct stride betraying an utter confidence in himself and his position.

The plain Empyrean man seems to have acquired a court: Kitara on one side, and a soldier in the livery of House Jove on the other. He says something to the former, then to the latter, then moves away from the breaking surf towards Selene and her remaining guardian.

Moonfire walks down the winding path from Haven and steps onto the beach.

Upon reaching the lady of Jove, the man turns and folds his arms across his chest, watching the display further down the beach.

Kitara glances after Drusus, but sees where he is heading, and is comforted. She stays where she is, looking at the dark Atlantean with an unconscious glare of challenge on her features.

Riva turns her back on Kuronbo and approaches the others. "It is not an attack. Look, you will see part of my men are at the rail, lower rigging. The display of arms I think is ill advised, but yes, I can more than match. Seems by so many coming ashore my advice has been ignored, though."

The Korallion guard left surrounding the Empyrean move with him as an escort as he moves from the surf back to a group of him winged companions.

The dark Atlantean turns his head to his right at some sound that is near him, the sound of an Atlantean child making mewling noises as she flounders a bit in the sand. As he turns his head, the Pallid Warriors behind him finally move... all one hundred heads turn in unison and all the eyes focus upon the child lying there. The motion is precise -- too precise, as every single nuance and cant of the head is exactly the same. The dark Atlantean's eyes narrow slightly and a marginal frown graces his features as he surveys the dozen or so shapes that are littering the beach... those Atlanteans that were unable to fight clear of the surf. Without any signal, the hundred warriors begin to move... a triad of warriors moving toward each of the shapes that are floundering.

Naiadre shifts her attention to Riva as she moves, leaning forward, as if to listen with her whole body.

Selene glances over briefly examine her cousin's expression but speaks no word to him. Her second guard returns on Drusus' heels and shakes his head to Selene in a mute response. The presence of the Praetorians above settle her somewhat, but her main concern lies just off the shoreline, in the living pillars of marble that slowly begin their approach. Perhaps she would have been better bringing more than just the two guards that now flank her and Drusus.

Drusus tenses. Feathers on his wings ruffle slightly, rising into the breeze and shivering with it, as he observes what is happening on the beach. He, too, watches the child, and the tension drains out of him. There is a coldness to him now and he waits in perfect relaxation.

Kitara's eyes widen in horror, at the sight of the synchronized movement.

Alerted by a more or less unified buzz of gossip, Esper Moonfire's patrol tonight has taken her by a slight detour -- churning up the sand with her hasty footfalls, the Sylvan pauses a moment to catch her breath and figure out what in the seven hells is going on... Cyrano! Her hero! At least in this case. Staggering up alongside the Praetor, Moon gingerly taps at his shoulder. "Dominus? What is happening?" she pant-whispers, eyes on the spectacle.

Tiata peeks out from behind a few very large guards, hating to miss a moment of the action, yet not quite as confident as before.

The halfbreed moves forward, breaking her statue-study of the newcomers, to stop behind Kitara -- little more than an arm's distance away. From here, Kiera murmurs to the other.

Jasmine gradually, very gradually, turns in Koralland's arms so that she, too, can watch the scene. But even with her movement, she carefully remains within the circle of his arms, and of the guards.

Uneri stays where she is, half-circled by her little group of six, a total of seven shadows interrupting the seashore.

Kitara murmurs to Kiera, "Yes, but...it is so...eerie. Really? He can control them? Have they no free will?"

Amendment -- Moonfire'll go beat Cyrano's shoulder when the nut decides to land.

Naiadre stands to the side of Jasmine and Koralland, possessing no little group of guards of her own to offer security. She retains her grip on Jasmine's shoulder though, leaning close enough to whisper, "Safe."

The dark Atlantean's face once again turns downward towards the child, and he begins to lean downward towards the youngster with a single hand outstretched. However, his hand lands lightly upon the arms of the girl and he effortlessly picks her up and cradles the impossibly tiny Atlantean in his arms. As he lifts the child, each of the Triads reaches a floundering shape and begins to assist them back into the water. It might be a touching scene, if it were not for the utter silence in which it was carried out in... or the complete lack of emotion on each of the Pallid Warriors' faces. It takes a few moments for the Atlanteans to be helped back into the water, and then the ranks fall in precisely behind their dark Atlantean master who is still cradling the child. He steps forward and it appears that he is about to speak.

The cohors of twenty Praetorians descend near the Jovian guards, flanking into a nice circle with Selene as a focal point. A few look to the halfbreed, Kiera, with purest hatred, but none break ranks. Cyrano himself starts toward Selene but stops to respond to Moonfire, "A lot of warriors and ships. Nothing more at the moment."

One of the Atlantean Triad members around Drusus glances back at Riva. She turns her head to meet the glance and nods once. The man leans forward to murmur something to the male watching the movements of the Orcinus troops.

Kitara's wings mantle again and her gaze fixes on the small child in the dark Atlantean's grasp. She frowns.

Niko approaches the beach from the open sea.

"Ah..." replies the Hound, not altogether satisfied with his answer. These so-called 'Pallid Warriors' unnerve Moonfire. Looking about -- anywhere but them -- another familiar face is spotted. The small Sylvan scuttles across the beach like an indigo-and-black sand crab to Jasmine, Koralland and Naiadre, patting the first woman's shoulder gently.

Tiata witnesses the dark Atlantean with the child also and frowns, thinking 'slavers?'

Koralland remains linked with Jasmine, but the Empyreans take his attention from the sea. He watches their numbers settle, and seems more relaxed now. The Amarisian guards have returned to their full ten circling the Ambassador, his fiancee, Jasmine, and Naiadre. The guards part at Moonfire's approach, allowing her within.

The plain Empyrean man blinks and looks over at the Atlantean guard who addressed him. He nods and says, "I see."

Niko walks up the beach silently. She keeps to herself, not entirely sure of herself in Haven. She looks back to the ocean wistfully but does not go back to it.

Arete walks down the winding path from Haven and steps onto the beach.

The Praetor's circle of the Empyreans seems fixable, a few loosely glance at the plain-clothed Empyrean near their group, even look protective, but Cyrano shakes his head at them and approaches Selene. He quietly speaks in whispers to the Jovian, his own eyes occasionally follow the Empyrean they are focused on as well.

The dark Atlantean raises the head of the child to his chest and he takes several deep breaths before proceeding, his face finally showing some sort of emotion... a self-assuredness and confident set of features that seems to fall naturally. His voice is a deep tenor, a pleasing voice that sounds educated and lacks the awkwardness that the normally telepathic-communicating race seem to possess. He states, "Citizens of Aether... there is a ancient blessing that is spoken by the Sylvans that live upon the farthest coast of the farthest ocean, a land that borders mine. It is 'May you be fortunate enough to live in interesting times.'" He pauses and looks towards the assemblage, "It appears that you are among the most fortunate beings to have ever existed. You have witnessed the culmination of centuries of antagonism erupt into war between two ancient races. You have witnessed the birth of a Kingdom that is ruled by people whom are of all races and none. And now this..." He stretches his hand outwards toward the ships that are behind him.

Kitara's hands clench into fists, and she crouches a little. And now we are being invaded by hive-minded colorless sea-dwellers? she wonders.

Jasmine nods to Moonfire, though makes no attempt to pick up a telepathic link with the Sylvan. She's too spent from having fought for control to have the energy required for such an effort. "Blessings, friend," is all she whispers. Her wide eyes move to focus on Kuronbo. She continues to lean against Koralland for support.

Drusus uncrosses his arms and slips his hands behind his back, clasping them beneath the tertiaries of his wings.

Selene leans over slightly to respond whisper for whisper with the Optio while her eyes remain on the figures from the sea, as if frightened to let her guard down for a moment with such as these.

Tiata ducks behind people, moving closer to the center of activity to listen in better. Slavers indeed, unless she learns differently, that's what it looks like to her. Listening to the dark Atlantean speak, she's more confused than ever... not slavers, but what then? The gibberish about war and enemies brought together make no sense to her. And a blessing? She looks around for clarification of this whole event.

Niko stays in the shadows, trying not to get an anyone's way as she tries to figure out what's going on exactly.

Kiera, not versed in the way of ships and only recently versed in the ways of war, of soldiers, glances again toward where the Atlantean speaker gestures. Then back to him. Nothing of her opinion of Some More Ships manifests upon her practiced-neutral features. But that hazel-eyed regard does slide to the white Atlanteans, the Pallid Warriors, and they, Kiera studies with the clinical attention of a predator. Empyrean warriors and their regards are not seen, but that unnatural breeze does insist upon 'breathing' about them.

Trying to watch everyone and everything at once, which isn't working out too well, Moonfire's attention zips back to Mr. Darkie Fishman at his mention of Sylvans. His speech is received... oddly. Moonfire still has no clue of what 'this' is. However, one firm little hand has shot behind her neck to linger, ever ready, about her staff -- just in case.

A single Empyrean floats above the rest, and back a bit from the group of people. Her eyes are narrowed as she notes all those gathered. Those who know her would recognize her as a Jovian, and others who knew her better, would recognize her as the patron of a Legion of Praetorians. The figure's face is twisted a little into anger at this sight.

Koralland's attention drifts to the dark Orcinus, waiting to see what it is that is interesting beyond the high ratio of military force in the area. He holds Jasmine comfortingly, but his attention is focused on Kuronbo.

Naiadre focuses all her attention on the dark Atlantean, her face impassive.

Uneri listens to Kuronbo, along with her guards.

There is a pause as he turns back towards the assemblage and shifts the child upon his chest before continuing. "The Atlantean people have been content beneath their waves for centuries, the collective mind of our race remembering a time a thousand years ago when our warriors fought against the Varati in an ill-advised war and an entire Decemvirate was destroyed during the Reign of Fire by the Amir-al." Kuronbo shakes his head, but there is no sign of rancor. "In the last thousand years, we have lain beneath the waves and given ourselves to introspection... retreated from the world above and into malaise. Each year, we slide further and further towards a time where we will no longer have any imperative... no reason to carry on." His head drops downward slightly towards the child at his breast and he states to her, "That is a legacy that will not be passed on... a future that we seek to change."

Drusus' eyes narrow. He glances at Riva.

Kitara clears her throat, glances around, and then pipes up (she's not far from the dark Atlantean), "Just who are you?"

Riva waits silently, her reserve pronounced as her regal bearing permits her to observe the start of the gathering. Her triads are spaced around in an efficient manner, where they are of most use if there is need. An occasional head breaks the waves at the edge of vision from time to time and would seem some communication is going on silently.

Jasmine listens carefully, quietly.

'So what?' thinks a sardonic Moonfire. If you're going to invade, get on with it. If you're not, let us go home. Gnarled wood is drawn with a quiet rasp, and a newly-armed Esper instinctively joins the circle of guards encasing her friends. Both ears perk at Kitara's faintly-heard question.

Niko stands nervously away from the general commotion, just trying to put what's happening together.

Someone shouts from the back of the crowd, "Yet you bring your army without a messenger to forewarn us of your landing."

Arete floats up above rest, her arms folded under her bosom. "A coward and a fool is one who attacks without provocation," she murmurs.

Riva does not bother with subtle motions. She turns fully to see how Kuronbo responds to such a question from the general public. Her lips are pressed together in a straight line that is utterly neutral.

With just the quickest dart of annoyance at the back of Kitara's head, oh-so-near Kiera, the halfbreed blinks once, then draws in a deep breath and reassembles her usual mask of no-expression, returns her study to the black Atlantean. Wings remain mostly at ease, though those inquisitive breezes are not, and they reach to touch the standing Atlantean warriors. In continued silence, hawk-bright gaze records the goings-on, the better to remember them later. She has yet to learn to write, but this may shape up to be a noteworthy event for when Kiera does learn.

Jasmine glances back to Koralland. She tenses, but nods.

The dark Atlantean turns his head towards the crystalline Empyrean voice, and all of the Pallid Warriors' eyes focus on the speaker in concert. He does not betray any anger, on the contrary... he smiles a thin-lipped smile and he states, "I am Orcinus Kuronbo, Decemvir-Apparent of the Orcinus Decemvirate." His eyes regard the woman evenly and he does not appear the least bit insulted. "We have called a gathering of all representatives of the Atlantean people to meet us here... Pasiphaens and Commoner, Artisan and Ephor... to come discuss the future of our race. The great matter of our eventual extinction due to our malaise needs to be addressed and halted, now, and it will take the combined effort of all Atlanteans in order to arrest it." He pauses and looks pointedly in the direction of the crowd now and states, "We have sought permission to be here... are those not Ormani observers upon my ships?" He reaches into a pouch affixed upon his armor and draws out a piece of parchment, "This is a letter from the Ormani Decemvirate allowing us passage," a look towards Riva, "...and we have obtained permission from the Estrella to use their waters as long as we do not inhibit the traffic."

Extinction. Drusus wonders, idly, when talk of 'elbow room' will come along. He listens, quiet and calm.

Naiadre inhales suddenly, unaware she'd been holding her breath. The meeting? This was all about the meeting?

Kitara's expression turns grim, but she doesn't shrink back from the dark Atlantean's regard. Her wings mantle, and her gaze goes to the armed warriors... and then to the ship. Her expression reads: 'yeah, right.'

Arete continues to float above the rest, her eyes narrowed a little bit. "You bring them in warships?" She motions towards the fleet with her hand. "Or is that all that you have, because of your terrible 'malaise?'" Her voice rings out quite loudly. "And a meeting? You need an entire race for a meeting... fascinating how the Orcinus mind works... I thought that you could talk to each other without speaking. Then why do you need all of them here?"

Drusus looks back at Arete. He murmurs something to one of the Jovian guards and the soldier angles off towards the crowd.

Moonfire's sharp jade gaze squints slightly, echoing the general resentment/wariness she feels around her... Why do you need flocks of brain-dead warriors to host a conference? A few guards she can understand, but... that's it, tell him, Arete! Moonfire's tight mouth broadens into a feral grin at the woman's probing.

Or here to scare the living daylights out of all the Havenites not prewarned of this occupation of their beach. Quite a show for a peaceful gathering it would seem. "And what of the Atlanteans who appeared to have been fleeing the waters as you arrived?" A male voice from the crowd points this out, his ire quite evident.

The guard makes his way to the form of Arete. He waits until her bobbing motion reaches its nadir and says, "The Emperor bids you please hold your peace for now."

Jasmine understands suddenly, now, putting the pieces together. The speech Kuronbo made in the courtyard, and the strange comments of the other day between Shinjukou and Okalani.

Selene glances skyward toward the familiar voice of yet another cousin, Arete. Her brow furrows slightly at the other woman's outspoken nature and leans over to speak with Drusus just before the guard departs. Whatever she was to ask is answered as the guard approaches Arete and so she pulls back without a word.

Arete dismisses the guard with a waved hand, before she nods to the gathering of the Jovians on the ground. She speaks to the guard who hurries back down to the group

Cyrano scowls at all of these announcements. He looks about at the various Atlantean groups and shakes his head. As Arete speaks, his body tenses, especially when Drusus orders a guard to speak to his cousin. The five guards now move a bit closer to the less-hidden Emperor.

Tiata sits down in the sand with a scowl. Well, this is just dandy -- all these folks and not even a little scuffle. How brave she is now that the imminent danger of war has passed. Her attention flicks from person to person as they mill around her and listen to the dark Atlantean's speech.

The dark Atlantean takes the pouch and flings it, with a short under-arm motion, towards the ground at the feet of the plain-looking Empyrean male, Drusus. He inclines his head simply. "The copy of the correspondence is within that pouch, I trust that you, an honorable enough observer, will verify my words." He then turns behind him and hands the child over to one of the triads behind him and he angles his head upward, and this time his teeth part slightly in a smile that reveals jagged teeth, "It is not the Orcinus way to explain themselves to such as you. We have acted properly, and how we choose to move is our own affair... not yours." He does, however, look towards the plainly-dressed Empyrean once again and nods once before opening yet a second pouch and pulling a cord of rope that appears to be made out of some sort of seaweed. He threads it around the scabbard of his coral sword and about the pommel, rendering the weapon useless without a great deal of prying. About him, the one hundred Pallid Warriors copy the motion and the dark Atlantean.

Then Kuronbo states, "We shall keep our weapons bound for as long as Orcinus feet touch the ground of Haven, or until the Kurofune Sentai leaves. That is our vow, and it should be sufficient to assure the security and state of mind of the citizens of Haven. I believe that you will find the Orcinus to be quite a... disciplined people."

Kitara frowns nervously, looking between Arete (who makes good points) and Kuronbo (who has a silver tongue). With a scowl, she crouches, then launches herself abruptly aloft, with a few sharp downward beats of her wings, skimming close over the heads of Kuronbo and his troops, her wings raising a breeze that washes over them. She angles sharply upward, and then heads off towards Haven itself... in the direction of the Palladium.

Kitara leaps into the air and takes flight, disappearing into the sky above Haven.

The Amarisian guards fall into a march around their three charges: Koralland, Naiadre, and Jasmine. They begin to move as a group from the beach back towards the Korallion. Koralland seems quite disgusted about something, and he holds Jasmine close while they walk.

Jasmine waves to Moonfire as the group exits, quickly squeezing the Sylvan's hand.

Koralland and Jasmine walk down the winding path back to Haven.

Drusus' gaze moves: he watches Koralland's departure, a thoughtful expression on his face.

The dark Atlantean turns back towards the ranks of Pallid Warriors as if to confirm that each has bound his weapons as he had, and he then nods once to himself... the smile deepening as they begin to swim back towards the vessels whose identities are now revealed. He turns partially back towards the group and he states, "We have nothing to hide, no malice towards the citizens of Haven. Later tomorrow, boats will convey any of those who wish to tour the giant vessels of the Orcinus... one of the wonders of the Oceans. I can assure you that you will find the tour both enjoyable and enlightening." With that, he turns and begins to wade back into the surf and towards his vessels.

Arete snorts and turns, flying over towards the Palladium..

Moonfire, weapon negligently in hand, watches her companions leave and the crowd disperse, abruptly alone in her footprinted patch of sand. Gradually, her head shifts back to Kuronbo, already half-gone, and her freckled countenance twists with distaste. Grrr. The staff point wobbles, clenched a little tighter. Doesn't like this 'civilized' Heir- Apparent one tiny bit.

Tiata seems to perk at the offer of touring these monster vessels. Hopping to her feet, she ventures to the water's edge to watch the Atlanteans' retreat.

Naiadre regards Kuronbo's retreating back for another moment, reaching an absent hand up to readjust her tiara just so before turning to follow Koralland and Jasmine.

With Kuronbo's announcement and return to his ship, Uneri and her group turn back to land and go back the way they came. She joins Koralland and Jasmine's exit.

Naiadre and Uneri walk down the winding path back to Haven.

Riva watches the crowd starting to thin and as the numbers of the Orcinus Decemvirate retreat to their ships. As one, an encircling ring of her own troops break the surface of the water and return to the depths. It is just enough to indicate the ships are not unwatched or their presence unheeded. Riva turns on her heel and approaches the group with Drusus.

Sapphire eyes watch the pouch tossed at the Emperor's feet and then raise up to watch the man himself. Kuronbo's words and heard and registered, simply drawing a shake of the head from Selene, finding it to be a lot of commotion and unneeded fear for such an announcement.

"Nothing comes without strings," mutters the Hound, throwing one of her new favorite phrases to the deaf, stoic sea-breeze. One last look over her shoulder at the panoramic display, and Moonfire finally turns and plods back to an unfinished patrol.

FIN  

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