"The Piper and the Priestess"

Log Date:
	6/27/00, 6/28/00

Log Cast:
	Shalestra, Benja, Kaiulani, Kiatharan, Pipe player (NPC emitted by 
Shalestra, Kaiulani), Akane and Ronan (NPC guards emitted by Kaiulani),
Jaymie (NPC emitted by Kaiulani), Mairi, Damsa, Varati guard (NPC emitted
by Damsa), Atalanta, Rayhan, Vanora, Claudius

Log Intro:
	Pandion Kaiulani, young cousin of the Decemvir of the Pandion
nation of Atlanteans, has arrived in Haven for the first time in the company
of her sister Alamoana. The two siblings have been sent ashore by their
parents and into Sarojin's keeping, both to give them some exposure to the
ways of the landers _and_ to teach Kaiulani responsibility and discipline.
But there is another motive her family has to sending her to Sarojin -- and
that is keeping her out of the reach of the mysterious, nameless savior who
has been following the maiden for years, saving her from danger, yet never
revealing himself or communicating with Kaiulani in any way. The Pandion
royal family's concern has grown with the recent shark attack upon the maiden
-- and the possibility that her 'guardian' might have been involved.
	To this end, the Decemvir has ordered that if Kaiulani ventures out
into Haven, she shall have to do so in the company of appropriate guards.
And only because Kai has managed to sneak a little trip into the lander 
marketplace at the heart of the city does she willingly acquiesce to this.
Today, though, on her second foray into the Rialto, neither she nor her guards
are aware that the very man from whom the guards are in theory protecting 
Kai is in the marketplace as well...

*===========================< In Character Time >===========================*
             Time of day:  Morning
          Date on Aether:  Sunday, September 14, 3906.
           Year on Earth:  1506 A.D. 
       Phase of the Moon:  Full
                  Season:  Late Summer
                 Weather:  Clouds
             Temperature:  Comfortable
*==========================================================================*

The northern road leads right into the thick of the Rialto.
The Rialto - Haven(#159RDJM$)
     Reigning over the Rialto is the very heart of Haven: the Delphic Citadel. 
  It dwarfs the other buildings, which cluster around it like so many children 
  seeking a parent's protection. Day or night, rain or shine, its walls seem 
  to glimmer with a light of their own, as if, over the centuries, the magic 
  within had slowly permeated the entire structure. The main tower soars 
  higher than the tallest tree, and each side tapers inward so that it 
  resembles a giant obelisk. Four smaller towers stand at the four points of 
  the compass, representing the unification of each race under Delphi's 
  government.
     And here is where they all gather. The Rialto is the famed marketplace of 
  Haven, full of shops, stalls, and brightly colored tents. The shouts of 
  merchants, the haggling of patrons, the music of entertainers, and the 
  laughter of children create a nigh-constant cacophony that assaults the 
  senses. But the Rialto is nothing if not exciting, and crowds often gather 
  here for important events and public addresses.
                      (Note: 'places' are enabled here.)                      
Contents:
Kiatharan  
Benja                
A wooden fence      
Obvious Exits:
Streets <N,S,E,W,NE,NW,SE,SW>  Delphic Citadel <DC>   The Smithy <TS>        

Shalestra arrives right into the thick of the Rialto from the south.
Shalestra has arrived.

Benja considers that for a moment and then looks into the pouch, his thick 
  fingers reach in and remove a few of the items within, including the most 
  delicate of the pearlish shells, though three of the same sort remain. He 
  offers the bag toward her to choose. And as she does, he gazes at the 
  largest of the creations in his hand, a faint, wistful smile edging his 
  lips. This one is for /her/ and he will not part with it until it rides 
  within her hair, for he is still in the midst of making it into a comb for 
  her.

It is hot today -- and clear. Thus, Kaiulani forgoes the cloak she'd worn out 
  on her first foray into the Rialto, and her slender form is clad in little 
  but coral-colored gauze and the pearlescent flow of her own long hair, as 
  she strides light-footedly into the marketplace. At a discreet distance, a 
  pair of young Atlantean men clad in the uniforms of Korallian guards might 
  be seen trailing her, not obvious enough to intrude upon her, yet plain 
  enough that they are clearly _her_ escorts. Every so often the maiden peers 
  back their way with a little moue of irritation, as if disgruntled at their 
  presences -- but never for long, for before her is the entire fascinating 
  vista of the lander marketplace.

The pouch held gently in her right hand Kiatharan sifts delacatly through it 
  with her left. She choses one of the decorated ones, with carvings a medium 
  sized one and holding it in her palm she shows it to Benja.

Eyes attmepting to watch everything at once, Shalestra can only fail in her 
  endeavour. As she makes her slow way into the Rialto, she bumps into several 
  others, a low murmered apology offered, though most take little notice. 
  Deciding that she had better perhaps focus on just one place at once, the 
  strains of a pipe catch her attention and she changes her course slightly to 
  make her way over to the little audience that stands listening to his melody.

Benja looks at the carving that she has chosen and nods in acceptance, adding 
  a small, polite smile as he glances toward the older mongrel woman, who is 
  subsequently gesturing to him by pointing up at the corners of her mouth. 
  Teaching him how to do business, perhaps. The smile is tentative, but there. 
  It is the mongrel man behind the counter who then catches the Atlantean 
  man's attention. He is staring toward the approaching woman quite openly. 
  Benja follows his gaze, and his eyes widen, his head snapping back toward 
  Kiatharan. His body is stiff as he moves to block any view the woman might 
  have of the things in his hands or the pouch in the Empyrean's. A cloak! If 
  only he had a cloak!

Catching the tension ripe in Benja's pose Kia closes her hands around the bag 
  and the treasure. Her eyes study the tall one before her as she arcs an 
  eyebrow in question making a move as though to give him back the bag of 
  treasures.

What's _that_? Music? Kaiulani's near-white face lights up at the sound of the 
  distant piping, and the maiden gestures swiftly to her two escorts, trying 
  to alert the pair of young men as to her intended course. She doesn't quite 
  _run_ in the direction of the piper, but her steps are light and fast 
  nonetheless, and she moves with enough speed that her long loose hair 
  billows out behind her as she goes. It is not often that she gets to hear 
  music -- one cannot, after all, pipe underwater. Kai comes up into view not 
  far from Shalestra, in fact, listening with open appreciation to the song.

Shalestra
Everthing about this young woman seems at first glance like a pale reflection 
  of a more vibrant being. The only blemish on her pale, alabaster skin are 
  the three short slits on either side of her neck, most times appearing to be 
  little more than slightly darker lines. Crystal blue eyes are so pale as to 
  be almost clear, a silvery translucency which reflects readily the colour of 
  her surroundings. Small thin lips are pale pink, the colour of the most 
  delicate coral, standing out only because of the paleness of the rest of her 
  skin. At first glance her hair might appear to be a silvery grey, swept back 
  from her high forhead to tumble in loose waves to her shoulders, though when 
  the light catches off those tresses, the faintest touch of blue shines on 
  their lustrous surface.
The loose flowing clothes she wears do little to disguise her taller height, 
  sometimes seeming to lend another couple of inches to her almost 6'. Her 
  ungainliness on land further emphasises this, lending her a somewhat 
  gangling look whether she moves or remains still. Her pale turquoise vest 
  and sarong reveal patches of shimmering pink scales at her elbows, wrist and 
  ankles, though there are no signs of any fins as is often the case with 
  Atlanteans. Around her neck and she wears a necklace composed of tiny pieces 
  of coral, each one carefully shaped into the form of a star, a slightly 
  larger mother-of-pearl cresent resting against her throat.

Benja's strong webbed fingers reach out to take the bag back from the winged 
  woman, the pieces he was holding, slipped into the pouch quickly as he does. 
  Pushing the bag into its secret place beneath his clothing, he nods to Kia 
  and the item she holds, then glances over his shoulder and sighs. Without 
  waiting to negotiate a price, the large man ducks back behind the stall, 
  where he cannot be seen by Kaiulani. But before he disappears completely, he 
  watches. Her steps, her hair... her grace. An mild expression of wonder and 
  joy coming to his eyes as if mimicking that upon his beloved's face when she 
  hears the music of the landers.

Coming to a stop at the rear of the little throng of onlookers, Shalestra 
  retains a fair view due to her height. It isn't strictly necessary to 
  actually /see/ a musician as he plays, for its the music heard that is more 
  important. But she watches him with curiosity, pale eyes flickering slowly 
  over his whole attire before linger on his fingers as they coax the 
  sprightly melody from those pipes.

Kiatharan digs a coin from her pouch and turns to find Benja gone. She looks 
  to the mongrel behind the counter. "If I give this to you will he get it?" 
  She asks.

The woman behind the counter considers Kiatharan's coin for a moment, then 
  nods seriously, "He'll be back for my payment, I'll be sure he gets it." She 
  smiles with a motherly touch to it. She caught the look in the boy's eye 
  before he disappeared, and even if it wasn't directed at her, it charmed her 
  none the less, she'll do nothing to ruin that thought.

Kiatharan leaves the coin with the woman and turns to leave her hand fisted 
  around her new bauble, she leaps into flight as soon as she has enough space.

Kaiulani's two guards, a trifle more experienced with the ways of Haven, 
  follow her in wake at a somewhat more leisurely pace. Her gesture at them 
  hadn't really been needed, for she'd reached out with her thoughts as well 
  -- and even without the bright pale flag of her hair to mark her presence, 
  the two young guardsmen easily use that mental call to track her. Kaiulani 
  herself pays the two burly, dark-skinned young guards little attention now 
  that the piper is before her -- or at least, close to before her. She does 
  not have Shalestra's height, or the height of the Sylvan who's stopped 
  nearby her, and thus, the diminutive maiden must speak up hopefully, "I beg 
  your pardon -- may I squeeze in here...?"

Her ears are atuned to the music, and as such it takes Shalestra a few delayed 
  moments to register that request. As she does finally hear the words, her 
  attention turns from the musician to the woman, head dipping in a sharp 
  little nod, silvery tresses falling over her shoulders. "Please, be making 
  your way in here," she offers, taking a small step back to allow Kaiulani a 
  better view. "His music is very good, no?"

Benja may have disappeared from sight for a moment, but he has not left the 
  scene. How could he when he has the chance to see her, watch her enjoy 
  herself. Finding an unobtrusive spot at the side of the crowd where he can 
  blend, for the most part, into the shadows, or just into the crowd, pale 
  green eyes behold her with silent and distant admiration. As much as he, 
  himself, enjoys the music, it is nothing compared to watching her enjoy it. 
  The smile that comes to his lips when he sees the other woman let her 
  forward, is grateful, though he knows she will never see it.

The Sylvan politely steps aside as well, and thus Kai is treated to her first 
  good look at the piper. But as the tall Atlantean woman has spoken aloud to 
  her, the maiden opts to reply in kind, saying brightly, "I know very little 
  of musical instruments, but he handles it with much skill...!" Kaiulani 
  cocks her head slightly sideways, drinking in the clear, high sound. "It is 
  very melodious."

"I must speak with him when he finishes," Shalestra responds in a voice little 
  more than a murmer, but natural sounding, rather than the strained whisper 
  of one trying not to disturb another. "I should like to try that, but would 
  my fingers be suitable." She lifts a hand slightly, glancing down at it, 
  spreading her fingers and considering the webbed skin. There's an intense 
  curiosity about her.. perhaps she really does want to learn to play the 
  pipes,.

Benja allows the music to coax his mind to thoughts and memories that are his 
  existance. Standing on the outside and looking in, watching as she speaks to 
  others, or just remains quiet. The melody seems to enhance the vivid 
  imagination that has grown within him in the past several years, spurred to 
  being quite often by simply watching the maiden at play.

From the gleam that comes into Kaiulani's large liquid eyes, the thought has 
  occurred to _her_, as well. Like the taller woman, she lifts a hand and 
  wriggles her fingers experimentally, considering whether the gossamer 
  webbing between her digits would prove a hindrance in attempting to do as 
  the man with the pipes is doing. His fingers do not appear to be that widely 
  spread, do they? *See his fingers,* she sends then, forgetting to speak 
  in her excitement at trying to analyze what the fellow is doing. *They do 
  not spread too widely, perhaps a smaller instrument, so that finger-webs 
  would not be stretched taut during the playing--!*

*That could be true. Something smaller* Shalestra retuns the thoughts in kind, 
  as she closes her fingers slightly, as if trying to assess just how far 
  apart they'd be able to spread without hindering playing. Glancing up from 
  her fingers to the musician, she watches him closely, allowing the melody to 
  wash across her mind, being more interested in the actual mechanics of 
  creating those notes rather than there effect. Her pale eyes slowly blink 
  and she turns her head to a point in the distant crowd. *Must go* There is 
  definately reluctance there, a sense of answers not found, curiosity not 
  quenched. *Enjoy the music* She turns and after a moment adjusting to a new 
  course, makes her way across the Rialto.

In the closing of his eyes he sees the vision of her lithe form playing 
  amongst the huge rolling waves as if they were created just for her. The 
  danger, the fear, the exhilleration she felt in the midst of her play. It 
  goes along with the tempo and strains of the musical notes. A tingle washes 
  against the finest of hairs on his body as he envisions her raising her 
  voice to join the piper in tune, he can almost hear that sweet voice that 
  spoke only moments ago doing so. He breathes a sigh of dream-like 
  contentment, and opens his eyes once more, to watch from his unobserved 
  place of safety.

Shalestra makes her way south, toward Seaside.
Shalestra has left.

What? Gone, so swiftly? How very peculiar! Kai's head turns to track the 
  abrupt departure of that tall, hungrily curious stranger, and surprise flows 
  across her eyes; here she'd thought the woman was going to question the 
  piper. The fellow does appear to be finished now, for he lowers his 
  instrument and beams at his audience as they break out into applause -- and 
  this brings Kaiulani's attention back around. She joins in the applause, and 
  then cocks her head intriguedly again as a few of the piper's listeners toss 
  coins into the burlap sack the man's got at his feet. Ah, another lander 
  custom! Money! The maiden glances off for her guards, lifting a hand and 
  calling out vocally rather than mind-to-mind, "Akane!"

The larger of her two escorts, a blue-haired fellow whose long hair is pulled 
  back from his face into a flowing tail, starts and then comes forward to 
  meet her. *<acknowledgement/respectful query?>*

"Speak out loud, Akane, if you please, I need the practice!" Kaiulani gestures 
  eagerly at the fellow's belt and the pouch he's bearing, going on, "You have 
  the coins, yes? I want to give the piper one."

Benja has opened his eyes just in time to see the taller woman leave, and now, 
  he listens to the applause that drown out the voice of the woman he wishes 
  to hear. Perhaps soon he will grow accustomed to her voice and not long for 
  it so. Perhaps. He watches as the people throw those sparkling coins into 
  the sack, and considers the action silently.

"Uh... yes, Kaiulani, at once," the young guard blurts, reaching a lean hand 
  into the pouch at his side. He comes forth with a dinar and offers it forth 
  for her consideration; the maiden, for her part, snatches it up delightedly 
  and whirls to hurry back to the piper, tossing it forth in a shining arc to 
  let it land with a *clink* in his sack. "Well done, piper!" she cries.

Just as the guard speaks her name, there is a whoop! from one of the other 
  listeners in the crowd, and the delicacy Benja has been dreaming of feasting 
  his ears on for weeks, is snatched from him. A low growl comes to his 
  throat. He knows the guard said her name, but it alludes him still. It must 
  be a beautiful name. A name fit for the fairest of creatures... He watches 
  the coin fall into the man's bag then returns his eyes to the thrower with a 
  merry sparkle to color them brighter green.

"Thankee, Lady," the fellow with the pipes calls out, before launching into 
  another number -- to the delight of his listeners. As he does, Kaiulani 
  shifts her attention this way and that, taking in not only the music but the 
  reactions of the passersby who stop to listen to him. Which ones grin? And 
  which ones do that curious little snapping with their fingers, or tap their 
  feet in time to the sprightly rhythm? There's even one Sylvan girl, 
  noticeably younger than Kai, who dance-skips around in obvious childish 
  pleasure at the song. Kaiulani watches her in particular for a few minutes, 
  noting the ease of her motions. She isn't about to try to dance out here in 
  public -- poor Akane there would probably not handle _that_ very well at 
  all, and his little brother would probably tattle on her to her sister. Or 
  worse, cousin Sarojin! No, Kaiulani has to limit herself to a graceful, 
  small rhythmic tapping of one hand against the air as the rhythm and beat 
  come to her. Such things are not entirely unfamilar to her; whales have 
  songs, after all, and crashing waves have rhythm. So engrossed is she that 
  she assuredly does not notice her guards, much less the silent one lurking 
  in his hiding place behind the stall...

But that doesn't mean Benja goes unnoticed. A dirty little Mongrel child comes 
  poking its way behind a few of those stalls as well, in furtive search of 
  potential edible scraps of food -- and anything interestingly shiny he might 
  ferret away into his pockets. The lad can't be more than three, from the 
  size of him. He's little more than a mop of dirty blond hair, enormous 
  liquid blue eyes, and a tattered shirt, and he bumps right into Benja's leg, 
  only to tumble over on his little rump and blink upwards in startlement. Uh 
  oh!

Though the child was felt as he bumped into Benja's leg, it takes a moment for 
  the large Atlantean to pull his eyes from the piper and his delightful 
  affects upon Kaiulani. When he does look down, a frown comes to his face, 
  thoughtful, and oddly gentle. Bending at the knees, it disappears amid the 
  crowd as he crouches before the little boy and offers a large hand to help 
  him up. "Stand?" He asks in a voice that is rich and surprisingly gentle 
  from this rather ferocious looking man.

The little Mongrel reflexively starts to scurry back the way he'd come, but 
  the unexpectedly gentle reception this large stranger has given him seems to 
  soothe him. A broad smile breaks out across the grubby little face, and a 
  pair of wee hands wraps about the proffered coppery wrist, using it for 
  leverage to hoist himself upright. "Hi mister!" the child lisps. "What 
  mister do?"

Benja smiles at the tiny hands about his wrist and chuckles despite himself, a 
  sound not even he is used to hearing from his throat. "I hunt sharks." He 
  tells the child quite eloquently for her limited speaking abilities. 
  Reaching into his vest he pulls forth one of the etched shark teeth from the 
  pouch hidden there. Showing it to the boy he smiles, "I make these." He 
  adds, barely struggling at all with the sentence structure.

Mairi would like to roast Atalanta over a slow fire, but...instead, she smiles 
  at Damsa, stiffly polite in expression and posture and tone of voice, "Ah, 
  of course you would," she says, smiling smoothly, "Could you perhaps be a 
  bit more specific? Oh, and have you youre measurements? If not, I shall have 
  to take them, if you wish a specific garment made." She's standing behind 
  her stall, looking at Damsa. She's hiding her crankiness. Anyhow, she keeps 
  that expectant buy-from-me-I'm-a-nice-merchant-aren't-I expression on her 
  face.

Ah, the Rialto in the morning. Here, a Mongrel merchant is striving her best 
  to make a sale to a woman of the Varati; there, an Empyrean has seized hold 
  of a thieving street urchin, on behalf of the merchant the waif has just 
  attempted to rob. And elsewhere across the market, a piper is entertaining a 
  little gathered audience, among which numbers an Atlantean maiden with a 
  long wavy fail of pearlescent hair. Near that maiden, two young Atlantean 
  men in Korallion livery might be noted discreetly lurking -- guards, quite 
  obviously, and both of whom seem to be regarding the young woman with an 
  amused tolerance. From the look of her, Kaiulani is quite new to the wonders 
  of the Rialto, and to the simple pleasure of hearing a busking musician play 
  for the pleasure of his listeners.

Damsa nods and glances at the guard standing beside her, staring at him until 
  he gets the hint and moves a couple of paces further away. That taken care 
  of the Varati woman resumes her discussion with the merchant, "I will give 
  you my measurements, yes...it's the fabrics, the cut of the garment...do you 
  have something to show me that is representative of your work?" Briefly 
  distracted, Damsa looks around the marketplace, taking in the sights and 
  smells. She remembers that she didn't have breakfast, but first there is the 
  matter of a new outfit.

Atalanta doesn't let go of the grimy street rat until the merchant has grabbed 
  hold. Did she do it to be a hero? Did she do it because she enjoys helping 
  people out? No. She did it because the little so and so bumped into her and 
  she's in a mood. Thus the kid doesn't get a break, figuratively, at least. 
  Not enough time to break his arm or something in an 'accident'. In any case, 
  she dispenses with thanks and moves to her booth.

Amid the small crowd that surrounds the piper, another man might be seen, if 
  one looks downward. Benja squats before a very young child, showing him an 
  intricately etched sharks tooth that holds a fascinating bit of design to 
  it. He looks at the child with a smile that seems unusual upon the rugged 
  face, but not unpleasant. And though he might not be seen, Kaiulani is quite 
  within his line of view, even if she is only receiving a few glances from 
  the man at the moment.

It appears to be a morning for street urchins, doesn't it? The one that 
  Benja's intercepted is rather stealthier about his business than the one 
  Atalantha had caught -- but then, this is mostly because this little waif is 
  barely three years old and perhaps doesn't know better than to simply hide 
  behind all of the stalls in his search for food and pretty, shiny things. 
  Right now the etched shark tooth that Benja holds out for him has seized his 
  attention, though, and the small boy pipes, "Whassat, nice mans? Whassat 
  shark? Mans hunt shark now?" A grimy, grubby little hand tries to curl 
  around the ivory shape, and blue eyes can be seen to have gone wide in the 
  tot's grimy little face.

Kaiulani, in the meantime, loses herself in the enjoyment of the piper's next 
  song, occasionally even going to far as to sway slightly from foot to foot 
  in time to the instrument's high, clear melody. The maiden's beaming now -- 
  and guards or no guards, public eye or no public eye, she doesn't mind 
  showing it. Let Cousin Sarojin disapprove if he will; what, should she not 
  express her appreciation for the music?

Damsa admires the seamstress's fine embroidery work and looks at a few samples 
  of dresses that would never be allowed to a traditional Varati woman, but 
  the temptation to /just look/ is strong and there is a wistful expression in 
  Damsa's dark eyes as she declines design after design.

Atalanta regards the booth she's arrived in front of, and after only a few 
  words with the proprietor, ends up turning away without having visibly 
  accomplished anything. She heads to the 'landing pad' for a takeoff.

Benja grins mildly at the boy and a soft laugh rumbles in his throat. "Shark 
  tooth." He tells the curious little tike. He lets the tiny hand claim the 
  little prize. Then, reaching back into his pouch, he produces a string of 
  leather, and silently offers to thread it through the hold in the top of the 
  tooth to make a necklace for the child. "/I/ hunt sharks." He emphasizes to 
  the boy seriously, still a bit halting in the forming of his sentences. "No 
  you, yet." He warns seriously.

"Whassat shark?" repeats the tyke, then he giggles and waves his new prize 
  about. "Shark!" he proclaims brightly, and then cocks his head at the 
  proffered leather strip... and the way Benja's attention seems to divert 
  every so often. "Whassat nice mans looking at? Nice mans give shark?" 
  Evidently, the concept of 'tooth' hasn't quite occurred to the dirty little 
  fellow.

Atalanta takes off without even a growl to anyone.
Atalanta leaps into the air and takes flight, disappearing into the sky above 
  Haven.
Atalanta has left.

Having settled her order with the seamstress, Damsa and her guard move 
  through the stalls to a stall of baked goods and hot drinks. She has the 
  guard purchase something for them both and then walks over to where the 
  music is playing, food in hand and taking small bites or sips beneath her 
  veil.

Benja reaches out a large, yet gentle hand to catch that of the youngster and 
  hold it still. He does not take the tooth from the tiny hand, but lets the 
  child hold it while he threads the leather through the hole. Tying it off, 
  he gestures with the cord to the boy's neck, for him to put it on. As the 
  Atlantean glances again in Kaiulani's direction, his attention is snapped 
  back to the child and he places a finger agianst his lips to quiet him 
  before he brings too much attention in this direction. A firm nod and he 
  states, "Shark." Then, straightening again to his full height, he looks 
  around to locate a more shadowed place to stand, where perhaps he might not 
  be observed.

Rayhan enters the Rialto from the western part of Main street.
Rayhan has arrived.

Atlantean guards, meet Varati guard. Blue-haired Akane and his shorter, 
  stockier brother Ronan are both outdone in height and bulk by the Varati 
  escorting the veiled noblewoman -- but only Ronan, young enough in and new 
  enough to his position as Korallion guardsman that the sight of a Varati 
  warrior is still a trifle unnerving, shows any sign of discomfort. The pair 
  of guardsmen nevertheless do discreetly glance over the other guard, 
  telepathic commentary flashing quickly between them.

Their appointed charge, in the meantime, is indulging herself in as much 
  enjoyment studying the people who gather to listen to the piper as the 
  musician himself. Spying Damsa, she glances her way and looks over the 
  woman's garb, struck by the look of them. Caught between appreciation for 
  the texture and hues of her garments and simply flabbergasted that someone 
  would be wearing quite so.... _much_, Kaiulani quirks her bright uncovered 
  head and ventures a smile in that direction.

Benja's miniscule companion, for his part, happily holds up the corded, carven 
  tooth in his miniscule fist. "SHARK!" he proclaims in brightly ringing 
  tones, and then as the shark hunter stands up, the tyke abruptly giggles and 
  breaks out running into the open, waving around his prize. "Jaymie gots 
  shark!"

Damsa
     Silk the color of sun-warmed skin is draped over her slender form, 
  concealing, and yet clinging to every feminine curve. A ribbon of blue trims 
  the veil and sari, and blue slippers embroidered with gold cover her small 
  feet. Khol-lined eyes, dark eyes, are all that can be seen of her face. 
  Bracelets jangle on her wrists and gem-studded rings decorate her fingers. 
  She moves gracefully, like a dancer, in a whisper of silk and musk, to the 
  faint chiming of bells from a silver anklet. When she speaks, her voice is 
  soft and low.

Damsa glances at the woman, returning her smile, but cannot hide the 
  expression of surprise, the raised eyebrows and the flash of something in 
  the depths of her brown eyes before she blinks and looks away, wondering 
  silently how any woman dares wears so...little!

Vanora steps from the gates of Delphi and into the Rialto.
Vanora has arrived.

Claudius enters the Rialto from the south-west, of all places. He moves 
  quickly and with a purpose, though slowly enough so that he can scan the 
  crowds as he walks. Two Praetorians flank him, one to either side.

Benja casts a scowl at the child as his strident little voice draws the 
  attention of a few people as he steps upon their toes while running. Pale 
  green eyes snap toward Kaiulani to see if she heard the declaration, and 
  then his head lowers a bit and he begins to move away from the crowd to find 
  another place to observe from where he will hopefully go unseen. He silently 
  prays that the curious stares already centered upon him will cease quickly.

Rayhan enters the Rialto, hair soaked from his recent swim. His eyes glance 
  around the market for open shops, looking to purchase a few things. The 
  music reaches his ears and he begins to head in the direction of the playing 
  when he sees an open shop and heads over there instead.

Claudius continues on his way through the crowds, eventually exiting in the 
  direction opposite to where he entered.
Claudius takes the northeastern route toward Fairway and Vicina.
Claudius has left.

That _is_ a Varati woman, is it not? Kaiulani smiles a little more broadly 
  Damsa's way, inclining her head graciously to the other woman even as her 
  curious gaze roves in several other directions as well. There's a young 
  Sylvan capering around to the piper's melody -- and from somewhere, the 
  pointed-eared child has produced a little hand drum to add percussion to the 
  piped notes. Intrigued and pleased by this addition, Kai draws in a breath 
  and watches appreciatively as the youngster dances about, memorizing the 
  easy grace. Perhaps she can learn to mimic that on the land, hrmm? She's not 
  quite used to moving about out of the water -- not without a ship's deck 
  beneath her feet, at any rate. But it looks as though it may be fun to learn!

Into the eternal bustle of the Rialto steps a statuesque figure, clothed in 
  translucent robes which ripple around her golden limbs like seafoam. Lifting 
  one hand to absently brush a stray curl of her dark hair from one cheek, 
  Vanora pauses at the very threshhold of Delphi's grounds to watch the crowds 
  before gliding forward. Managing to make her every motion breathe with the 
  fluidity of swimming underwater, the Atlantean priestess mingles with the 
  rest of Haven as she heads for a nearby merchant's stall.

Little Jaymie, in the meantime, scampers past Rayhan -- who also is treatd to 
  a proud display of the 'shark'. Someone hasn't, apparently, taught the boy 
  the word 'tooth'. But someone seems to have taught him a fair amount of 
  dexterity, for he manages to elude someone's annoyed hand after he trips 
  across their feet. Off he goes again, giggling. Kaiulani has not yet noticed 
  him -- but with his course taking him towards the piper and his audience, 
  perhaps she soon will.

Damsa taps her foot in rhythm with the music, the tiny bells on her ankle 
  adding to the sounds. She sways a bit, but a murmur from her guard renders 
  her still again and she sighs. Her gaze drifts then from the musician to 
  look over the marketplace, noting the number of Atlanteans.

Rayhan looks over a pair of boots before being interrupted by the boy and 
  looks down, giving a smile and nodding, waving the boy off and returning to 
  his shopping. His fingers run over a cloth and he inquires as to the price.

Benja keeps his head tucked downward just enough to hopefully not call 
  attention to himself as he eases into the crowd in hopes of finding his way 
  to the edge and out. He will find another vantage point at which to watch. 
  If there is any chance that she might join in the dancing, he will /not/ 
  miss that!

Damsa's jingling bells bring Kaiulani's attention swinging back to her, and 
  the maiden can't help but approach the Varati woman now -- what a cunning 
  little ornament she wears! "Good day," she speaks up in carefully enunciated 
  tones that might come out rather formal were it not for the open, amiable 
  expression upon her delicately featured face. "Forgive my intrusion, but I 
  must ask -- what _are_ those?" And she gestures with a dainty, webbed hand 
  at the ankle bells -- just as Jaymie comes hopping into view, also attracted 
  by the rhythm and the bright, pretty noise.

"Jaymie gotsit SHARK!" is the Mongrel tot's piercing cry to anybody who'll 
  listen. "Hi pwetty wadies!"

The young Mongrel's shout is loud enough to attract Vanora's attention, her 
  fingers slipping from the delicate coral sculptures she was admiring a short 
  distance away. With a smile and a small nod of thanks to the Atlantean 
  merchant, the Elementalist then turns and begins to drift through the 
  crowds, moving in the general direction of the cry, though her step is far 
  from purposeful. Pausing to briefly eye a bright display of patterned 
  linens, she then moves on, gliding around people with unconscious ease.

The Varati guard with Damsa hovers menacingly nearby, watching for sudden 
  movements and generally making his presence felt. The Varati woman gives her 
  foot a shake and makes the bells chime, her laughter joining the tinkling 
  noise, "It's a piece of jewelry with bells on it. Some believe the sound of 
  the bells is a prayer."

Rayhan purchases a few things and moves on to the next stall, moving closer to 
  the piper as he passes by each shop, looking over their wares for anything 
  interesting that he might be able to use.

Benja manages to gain the edge of the crowd and so continues on, 
  inconspicuously sticking to the more shadowed regions of the market place as 
  he rounds the other side of the gather and finds a place that he can sink 
  into relative obscurity and just watch, from afar. As he has always done.

Jibril makes his way south, toward Seaside.
Jibril has left.

Damsa's guard seems to be cornering the market on Menacing; Akane and Ronan, 
  on the other hand, simply appear to be contenting themselves with looking 
  alert and trying to keep a decent eye upon their Pandion charge -- and 
  surreptitously eying that big Varati fellow who _does_ appear to be looming 
  rather close to Kai. Kaiulani herself looks the big Varati up and down and 
  bestows upon him the same gracious nod and smile Damsa had received, before 
  she tries out the word the woman's bequeathed upon her. "Bells -- yes, 
  bells! I know the word, I think, but not how they are made--" She pauses as 
  a burst of applause signals the end of the piper's current melody, 
  punctuated with the *clinks* of further coinage thrown into his burlap sack. 
  The fellow takes a bow and calls out a hopeful request for water, which 
  sends three different members of his audience scurrying off to oblige him. 
  Kaiulani glances his way only to be distracted by the Mongrel boy, down 
  towards whom she abruptly and amusedly asks, "You have a _what_?"

"SHARK!" pipes the waif, holding up his intricately etched prize, the shark 
  tooth upon the cord about his little neck.

"And a rare gift it is, too." The soft, cool voice emerges from a swirl in the 
  audience following the piper's performance, and Vanora moves into view a 
  moment later, her placid expression marred only by the faint smile she 
  projects towards the Mongrel child. After a brief pause, her tilted eyes 
  shift upwards and come to rest on Kaiulani, where they linger for a brief 
  time before drifting towards the two Atlanteans watching over the younger 
  woman. Sunlight glitters from her silver headdress as she inclines her head 
  in greeting, the thin chains of metal which thread through her dark hair 
  identifying her as a member of the Pasiphaean priesthood.

Though the Pandion guards are enough to keep Kaiulani safe from trouble, 
  probably. The silent guardian of her youth remains close enough to watch 
  over her. Benja watches the Varati guard from the opposite side of the 
  crowd, pale eyes narrowed suspiciously as the man looms. The child's 
  exclamation brings a soft growl to the shark-hunter's throat, but the sound 
  is lost within the music and the shouted song request that are sent toward 
  the piper.

Rayhan finishes his shopping and heads toward the piper to watch the crowd, 
  always curious about the life of the land dwelling. He notices one out of 
  the crowd and offers a warm greeting, *Hello again..*

The distraction of Vanora's arrival -- and, for that matter, the mind-greeting 
  from Rayhan -- is enough to bring Kaiulani's gaze up in startlement from the 
  little boy with the carved shark tooth about his neck. Her sea-green eyes 
  widen a bit as she takes in the sight of the priestess, and then she 
  inclines her head respectfully to her, sending wordless polite greeting, 
  acknowledgement of both her superior age and apparent rank. Her two guards 
  make similarly respectful gestures -- though part of their attention is 
  still upon the glowering Varati. Perhaps it is the distraction of the 
  priestess' arrival that gives Damsa her opening? Whatever the reason, the 
  veiled woman abruptly rises, to slip off into the crowd again with her 
  escort in tow.

Little Jaymie is left to look up and UP to Vanora, towards whom he giggles and 
  waves his new necklace about.

Vanora
Tall and gracefully statuesque, Vanora moves with the unconscious fluidity of 
  one who has lived most of her life in the oceans. Her smooth skin is the 
  pale gold of sand, and the long hair which flows to her waist ripples with 
  flashes of black, gold, and a deep green. By contrast, her tilted eyes are a 
  sharp and piercing blue, as cool as the waters from which this woman hails. 
  The lines of her face are strong and angular, hinting at resevoirs of 
  strength which may not be immediately obvious. Her voice is usually quiet 
  and musically shaped, drifting from word to word like a gentle wave. Thin 
  gill slits adorn the sides of her swan-like neck, and a translucent webbing 
  stretches between each finger of her slender hands.
She is clothed in simple robes of pristine white, made of a shimmering 
  material which somehow looks as if it is covered in water. Flowing gently 
  down from her shoulders, they swirl as she moves, revealing far more flesh 
  than they conceal. A pair of white sandals clasp her ankles, protecting feet 
  unused to walking on land. Delicate silver chains are threaded through her 
  dark hair in an elaborate pattern, forming an intricate maze of shimmering 
  metal. Bright pieces of coral hang from the headdress at regular intervals, 
  and a small medallion of silver dangles to rest against her forehead, 
  exquisitely shaped to represent the flowing waves of the ocean.
A crescent moon has been stitched in silver embroidery on the left breast of 
  Vanora's robes, marking her as a priestess of Pasiphae. On her right 
  shoulder, two silver pins glitter. The first is a bar of silver which holds 
  three tiny sapphires, the symbol of a Water Elemental Adept of Delphi. Just 
  below rests a similar pin, holding the two pips of quartz which name her an 
  Acolyte of the Mystai caste.

To Rayhan, in the meantime, Kaiulani flashes a smile that's more in her eyes 
  than about her lips, and she sends back to him a less formal edition of the 
  same greeting proffered the tall woman in the elegant white robes.

Vanora crouches to peer into Jaymie's eyes, her countenance solemn. "Some of 
  my people believe that wearing this will bring you strength and luck," she 
  murmurs to him, one slender finger lifting to almost touch the shark's 
  tooth. "It will keep you safe from harm. You are very lucky to have it." As 
  she speaks, her mind reaches out to lightly brush Kaiulani with a gentle 
  blessing of her own, one which also reaches out to touch the two guards as 
  well.

Rayhan makes his way over, not noticing the priestess until he is only a few 
  feet away. He quickly comes to a hault and gives a polite hello and bow of 
  respect, careful to hold on to his things. He should have brought his bag 
  along, but he left it behind.

Though he cannot 'hear' the conversation that passes between the Atlanteans he 
  watches, Benja can see that they are communicating. Communicating as he 
  never could with the woman he's always wished to. His eyes take in the 
  priestess with a touch of curiousity, wondering what she is saying, and the 
  approach of Rayhan receives a sharp uplift of Benja's brow from his unseen 
  place across the way.

"Nice mans gived Jaymie shark!" the little Mongrel burbles, eyes wide. He has 
  a prize clutched in his fist, but here is this new pretty lady, and she is 
  wearing pretty shiny things! His other hand reaches out hopefully for the 
  pins the woman wears -- and this prompts Kaiulani to crouch behind him, 
  trying to suppress a giggle.

"It is a shark _tooth_," Kai speaks up gently, trying to encourage the small 
  dirty hand from grabbing at the glittering jewelry upon the priestess' 
  person -- and taking a moment to peer in obvious fascination at the size and 
  structure of the tiny finless fingers.

"Shark toof!" parrots the child, and then Jaymie waves off vaguely in Benja's 
  direction again -- or at least, the direction in which he'd last seen the 
  lurking shark-hunter. "Nice man gived Jaymie shark toof! Jaymie be safe now?"

"May Pasiphae make it so," is Vanora's soft response to Jaymie's innocent 
  question, the lines of her face touched with sadness for a moment as she 
  watches him. Then, giving Kaiulani a grateful smile as the other Atlantean 
  prevents the child from running off with her Delphic pins, the priestess 
  turns to see what Jaymie is waving at. "You should put that around your neck 
  before you lose it," she advises the boy after a moment, turning back to him.

Rayhan smiles gently, watching the young boy a moment before looking towards 
  the piper and watching him play.

Benja is no longer in the exact direction that the boy last saw him, which he 
  is suddenly thankful for as Vanora's eyes flick in that direction. He frowns 
  at the child from his place of concealment.

Jaymie evidently is a grabby little thing -- and undeterred by being 
  distracted from Vanora's glittering ornaments. Kaiulani's hair is almost as 
  enticing a thing to wrap miniscule fingers around, and with a delighted 
  gurgle the lad seizes a handful of it in his unoccupied fist. "Pwetty wady!" 
  he proclaims.

"My name," the maiden chuckles, making a little face as her hair is tugged, 
  "is Kaiulani, little one!" Ouch, that hurts just a bit. Impulsively Kai 
  sweeps the child up into her arms to lessen the pull on her pearlescent 
  locks, and this is all to the delight of the infant.

"Koowani!" he pipes, trying to grab her coral hairpiece.

Vanora shakes her head slightly. "What a sweet child," she sighs. Refraining 
  from the intimacy of telepathy for the moment, she straightens from her 
  crouch as she adds, "You must be new to Haven. You have the look of someone 
  adrift in strange waters." Her cool gaze rests on Kaiulani, though for a 
  brief moment she gives Rayhan a slight nod of greeting as she finally 
  notices him standing nearby.

Rayhan hmms softly and grins as an idea comes to mind and he settles down on 
  the ground, opening the large sheet of cloth he purchased and placing his 
  things within, making a make-shift bag and tying it closed. Much better. He 
  gets to his feet and brushes off his sarong lightly.

What? What was that?? Did she tell him her name?! Benja cannot hear the 
  conversation from where he is, but he is almost certain her name was said 
  and again, he missed it! Curses! Intense green eyes peer at the child in 
  Kaiulani's eyes. He'll ask the boy. Remember that name boy. Remember it.

"Does it show upon me that plainly?" is Kaiulani's rueful reply to Vanora, as 
  she too straightens up, dirty waif now balanced upon her arm. Experimentally 
  she bounces little Jaymie a time or two, making him squeal with laughter 
  even as he manages to tug her hairpiece slightly askew. "But yes..." A 
  slight pause, while she tries to think of an appropriate way to address 
  someone whose sigils of rank she's at least fairly sure she recognizes, from 
  the lectures she's received about what to expect in this lander city. "Yes, 
  Lady, I've only recently arrived -- it is... well, my second time in the 
  market. This one" -- and she tosses another smile and a nod of her 
  increasingly tousled head to Rayhan -- "greeted me before, and I've spoken 
  with a few other kin from under the water... but there's much I've yet to 
  explore."

"Kwani!" appends Jaymie, doing his best to tug Kai's hairpiece right off. He's 
  not quite yet over the stage of life where all things he investigates must 
  be thrust into the mouth, you see, and this includes coral hairpieces!

Sarasvati makes her way south, toward Seaside.
Sarasvati has left.

Vanora's lips curve for a moment. "There is no need to be so formal with me," 
  she demurs with a quick shake of her head. "I am Neruan Vanora, priestess of 
  Pasiphae and Elemental Adept of Delphi. And I remember well my first weeks 
  here. It was a fascinating, terrifying experience. Were it not for those of 
  our people I met here, it would have been far more difficult."

Rayhan stands by, glancing over at the two atlanteans every so often, 
  listening to both the music and the conversation. Bad atlantean, curiosity 
  will get him into trouble some time or another.

Benja lowers his brows as he tries to concentrate upon the women's lips. Are 
  they talking about her name? Shifting every so often to see around a person 
  who happens to come between himself and the people he watches, the 
  shark-hunter tries the best he can to read their lips, since they are 
  speaking aloud. Unfortunately, he can barely speak, so this is a rather 
  daunting task.

Poor Akane and Ronan -- the two young guardsmen are rather making faces of 
  their own at this point, not entirely sure how to handle the sight of their 
  charge bouncing a filthy little Mongrel upon her fine white arm. Isn't he 
  going to leave handprints and footprints all over her? They must relay their 
  consternation to her, for Kaiulani gives them a swift glance that relays 
  even without the mind's aid that she's _hardly_ put out by a little dirt. 
  Little hands taking her hairpiece off -- that's another matter! Jaymie 
  abruptly succeeds in his quest, the hairpiece coming free and sending 
  pearlescent strands falling across her eyes. "Hey!" she cries, while Jaymie 
  squeals again and waves _both_ his prizes around in his hands, wriggling in 
  her grasp. Then she peers sheepishly around the tyke to Vanora, managing to 
  recover at least a bit of dignity in her tone as she bobs her head and 
  answers, "I am Pandion Kaiulani... well, of nothing quite special in 
  particular, but I'll be at the Korallion for at least a while...!"

Vanora's eyebrows lift slowly. "Pandion," she echoes, quietly. "Are you here 
  because of the recent....difficulties? Those which have involved Sarojin?" 
  Clumsy as vocal speech is, it manages to convey a certain measure of 
  wariness. Mixed with curiosity, perhaps. "Recent events in Haven have 
  inspired some to speak out against your family."

Difficulties, this sounds interesting ans so brings Rayhan's attention 
  completely to the conversation, though he says nothing. His eyes wander from 
  one atlantean to the other, though they occassionally look beyond, into the 
  crowd.

Benja shifts his weight from one foot to the other, craning his neck to see 
  around the bobbing head of a tall sylvan who has decided to dance to the 
  piper's tune, between he and the group of telepaths. Blast!

Kaiulani makes another little face, most of her attention upon the child as 
  she attempts to get a better hold on him and ascertain exactly whether he's 
  going to damage her hairpiece if she lets him play with it. Shifting his 
  weight onto one arm once more, she lifts up her other hand to push thick 
  pale tresses back from her face while she answers, trying very hard not to 
  sound _too_ petulant, "I'm here because Father and Mother have apparently 
  decided I can't go in the water without attracting an entire school of 
  sharks--"

"SHARK!" squeals Jaymie, waving both his shark tooth necklace _and_ Kai's 
  hairpiece. "SHARK TOOF!"

"--and since sharks do not walk upon the land, I must--" Wait a minute. What 
  was that Neruan Vanora said, about her family? About Cousin Sarojin? The 
  maiden looks sharply up over Jaymie's dirty blond head, good humor abruptly 
  lessening in her sea-green eyes. Her two guards have noticed the words of 
  the priestess as well, their expressions rather more inscrutable than her 
  own. "I... am aware of some... awkwardness," she finally hedges.

-----
[Unfortunately, Kaiulani's net died at this point in the roleplay, and 
 the involved parties were unable to get back together to finish this scene.
 It should be assumed that Vanora was unwilling to go into great detail
 pertaining to the awkwardness of Pandion's position within Haven, and 
 instead attempted to diplomatically encourage her to discuss the matter 
 with her own kin. Reluctantly, Kaiulani accepted this, and after attempting
 to get the small child in her grasp a proper meal and find a decent place
 to leave him, she herself went about her business... still unaware of the
 guardian silently tracking her every move. End log.]