Empire of Atlantis/backstory

For eons we have been hidden beneath the waves, cloaked by the shadows that seep across the ocean's depths. For eons, we have kept quiet, kept hidden, watched as the sons of man passed over us time and time again. Some say we have always lived beneath the waves, others say we are victims of the hands of a cruel god. But all have heard our name. Many have sought our kingdom; the kingdom of Atlantis.

Our life of separation from the surface world caused us to look upon the earthwalkers with disdain. We have seen how they waste the resources of their world and spill their poisons into our own. We hear the cries of their children as they die amidst the waves, victims of foolish sea captains so bold to tempt Poseidon's wrath. We have watched in bitter silence. Until one day, we were called to the shore...

The story of our surfacing starts with an act of betrayal. A Legionnaire of the Royal Army named Cocharados wanted nothing more than to be appointed to the high council. Cocharados was a formidable fighter, but he did not have the diplomatic skills necessary to do the duties of the council. It is said that when King Bahamut refused his requests, he went into a rage. Instead of accepting the king's decision, Cocharados turned to cowardice and poisoned King Bahamut during the great feast of the trade winds.

As King Bahamut died, Cocharados fled the kingdom of Atlantis. When confronted by soldiers of the Atlantean army, Cocharados fled to the surface. Once Cocharados surfaced on the shores of Talos Island, Atlantean troops fell back. It was a young scout by the name of Leviathas that continued the pursuit. Against the orders of his commanding officers and even his own brother, Leviathas broke the surface and continued to chase Cocharados across land.

It is said that Leviathas lost sight of Cocharados, but continued to search the surface world. Tide after tide passed and soon Cocharados was hunted down; having been tracked to the bowels of a cave. During his time on the surface, Cocharados had gathered a legion of followers from the surface world. Though outnumbered, Leviathas vowed to avenge the death of his king and charged into battle. They were many; he was one. Though he fought valiantly, Leviathas was over-powered and beaten to near-death. He was drug from the cave and tossed onto the beach to die in the heat of the sun.

Using the last bit of his strength, Leviathas drug himself to the water and closed his eyes. It was there that he prayed. He spoke to Poseidon and it was Poseidon who called to us... "I call upon the strong, the brave, the wise and the true. I call upon those who's courage runs deep. Go to the surface..."

I was the first to come upon the shore. It was there that I found Leviathas lying prostrate on the beach, covered in sand and blood. My friend, my dearest friend from childhood was willing to die in a strange land for the vengeance of our people. When I lay my healing hands upon him, he smiled. He explained to me the truth of what he had found; how Cocharados had confessed to murdering King Bahamut as his minions beat Leviathas to the edge of his life. He told me we were not enough to take on Cocharados, so we did what we were taught to do in times of great need. We prayed.

"Merciful Poseidon, god of the sea, hear our prayer...send us aid."

We said this prayer together at the water's edge. For what felt like many tides we prayed. Black clouds formed over Talos Island and a storm came. Raging wind and rain fell over Talos Island. Zeus cut the skies but once with a thunderbolt and what we saw made our hearts swell with joy. They marched from the depths with stone-like faces and weapons at the ready. With hardened spirits and sharpened steel, they marched upon the shore.

With each tide, more came. And soon we hunted Cocharados down once more, fighting across the surface world to find his place of hiding. This time, our fight took us to another cave. A cave that connected to the most evil place in the ocean; The Underdark. With a newfound army of Atlantean Warriors, Leviathas once again charged headlong into battle. Our forces tore through Cocharados's own. And there, in the heart of The Underdark, Cocharados drew his final breath.

Our King was avenged, but while we sought our traitor, the surface world exposed us to it's suffering. We saw the cruelty of the earthwalkers and how heartless they could be. We also met many who stood against the cruel. Leviathas told us that the forces that threaten the surface world would soon come for ours, should the surface fall into darkness. It was decided that we would make our stand here and fight those who sought to oppress the innocent. Here, on the surface, we would be the shining example of all that is just. For, as Atlanteans, our courage not only shines bright, it runs deep.

-Nereidia

Our efforts on the surface have not gone unnoticed. Some of the surface dwellers have embraced us as allies, but almost all that I have encountered express a genuine interest in our people. Nereidia and Tritonius has taken it upon themselves to act as the voices of reason among us. I prefer to remain quiet and observe these strange, yet interesting surface people. Knight Sentinel, leader of The Palladium Sentry and Nigredo Fist of the New Age Mutants not only greeted us as allies, they embraced us as friends. While many of us were apprehensive of this at first, it seemed in our best interest to build bridges with these humans. After all, we are now fighting common foes. Thus far, this alliance has done all of us much good.

-Kenjia

As we continued on our mission on the surface world, foes from the deep took advantage of the murder of King Bahamut and the disarray it caused. I should have known it wouldn't be long before someone took the chance to launch a full scale invasion of Atlantis. They marched from Stygias in rank and file under the banner of Dreadfang in hopes of obtaining a powerful artifact known as the Heart of Kronos. Their march brought havoc to anyone in their path. Several of the smaller villages that lie outside of the Great City, in the countryside, bore the brunt of their wrath. Men, women, children, all were subject to the ruthless methods of the Naga. Many were killed, but those who weren't were subject to far worse atrocities. It was swiftly decided that we had to temporarily deviate from our surface world endevour to combat the threat.

By the time we arrived, The Syltherien Naga had already breached the Great City's walls and killed many, Dexamene's mother being among the casualties. The countryside was in ruins and much of the city had been thrown into upheaval. The serpents were playing with forces they had no understanding of; trying to obtain the heart with the intention of resurrecting their serpent god through their leader, Dreadfang. In their attempt, they used their knowledge of the arcane and poisons to turn one of Atlantis' mightiest warriors into an engine of destruction for their cause. It was this day that we raised our swords against one of our own. For his own good, the mighty Mercutio had to die by the hands of his kin. I believe the success of our battle and the securing of the Heart of Kronos was an act of the gods. May they continue to guide our blades and arrows.

Those who still remained in the deep had come to call us The Chosen. Our exploits had quickly become the stuff of legend. Our greatness had inspired others to make the journey. Not by will of Poseidon, but of their own accord. Priests and Scholars, Sages and Seers, even the mysterious Shark-Ki and the Ketos began to venture to the surface to aid our cause. The more that come, the more our presence on the surface world grows. With greater presence, comes reknown. And with reknown, comes greater foes...

-Bahamutas

Politics. It all started with politics. With King Bahamut dead, Queen Cassiopeia was too emotionally distraught to effectively lead the kingdom. This, of course, shifted power to the High Council. A recent series of elections had placed the Traditionalist party in the majority and a charismatic zealot at the helm of the Empire.

Theron...

It wasn't long before Theron decided to come after those who went to the surface to avenge the death of King Bahamut. He believed that we had defied the old ways by remaining on the surface to help the humans. He didn't care that women and children wailed for salvation. Nor did he see it as our responsibility to defend those who could not fight for themselves. He only wanted to maintain the purity of the Atlantean race and culture. By his decreee, he declared us traitors and sent an emissary to negotiate our surrender. We sent that emissary back...

But we kept his hand...

We decided, as a whole, that we would not return to the Great City in it's current state. That was, until that girl showed up. She was a young Atlantean girl, not even old enough to be considered for courting, yet here she stood before the chosen, in bloodstained armor. Through her insane babbling, we managed to decipher that the Great City had erupted into civil war. That the zealot, Theron, had imprisoned our grief-stricken queen and taken the throne for himself. His first decree was to place the Great City under martial law.

Well, a great leader on the surface once said that the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants...

Our people were living in fear. Those who openly spoke against Theron were killed and put on display for all to see. The Great City's streets became desolate. People stayed in their homes, speaking in hushed whispers of how things used to be. Dissenters to the new ruler abandoned the Atlantean military and the great city. It was then that Theron decided to send troops to the surface to apprehend us and bring us to trial. The mad girl warned us that Theron's forces would arrive in three tides' time. A mysterious mer named Andreas came to the surface to speak with us. Apparently, he did not feel what Theron was doing was right, so he told us of where the first wave of soldiers would land. The Chosen moved to meet the army on the beaches of Grandville and we managed to drive them back into the sea.

We were suspicious at the size of the first wave. It was far too large. No general would send that many soldiers to capture only a handful of rogues. And further still, why would they attack a place so far away from where we originally surfaced? Our answers came in the form of a defector. The general named Andreas met us on the beach of grandville explained to us that the attack on Grandville was merely a diversion and that a larger invasion force had been sent to Atlas Park. Theron wanted more than the apprehension of the chosen. He wished to begin the conquest of the surface.

We raced back to Atlas only to find the surface dwellers engaged in combat with our former brothers and sisters. Yet again, we had to turn our weapons upon our blood. With the help of the surfacer's army national guard, we pushed slew the invasion force. When it was suggested that we go on the offensive, some were hesitant. But I knew that if we didn't strike the head of the snake, it would only continue to hunt us. So with the help of a mer-child, we slipped into the great city and into the royal palace. It was there that Theron had dug in deepest. His mightiest of warriors roamed the halls. The same halls our once great king did. We tore them limb from limb and fought our way into the bowels of the palace, where Queen Cassiopeia was being held. Our showdown with Theron was long, and brutal. He wielded power unlike anything we'd ever faced. Being able to turn us against each other briefly, was it really any surprised that he was able to sway weaker individuals to his ways of thinking? And yet again, it wasn't enough for him. The final blow was delivered and Theron was vanquished.

But our queen....our beloved queen...

As she was brought back to the upper levels of the palace, she was forced to pass by the bodies of the dead and the dying. Some called out in apology as their final words, others said nothing. She walked out onto the grand balcony to look out over her fair city, only to find it in ruins. A pained cry would be her final words before she too died. Perhaps it was too much to bear. She was a benevolent soul. It is true, I suppose. You can die of a broken heart...

-Aegaeon

It was so nice to know that the fighting was over! Nereidia did not like having to leave behind dying men, and Leviathas took no joy in having to fight his kin. It was all so terrible! So terrible! But, with our strength and our faith, we survived. Me and Posidius were thankful that The Chosen took us in. Both of us had lost our families, bt we were brave and strong! Over time, The Chosen became our family. They were our brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles! One day, Leviathas and Nereidia took me and Posi to the lake to play. While there, Leviathas told us that he didn't think it was right for children so young to go without parents. I thought it was okay....I guess. I missed my parents, that was true, but I was strong enough to make it on my own. Posi was like my little brother, and I'd protect him too! But, Leviathas wanted to take us as his own. He and Nereidia claimed me and Posidius as their children! I was overwhelmed with joy! I had a family again! I had my brother and a mother and a father and I knew that they would look after us! Shortly after, Leviathas asked Nereidia to marry him!

In Kenjia's words, it was "about time!"

They got married in the prettiest place ever. And everybody was there. All of The Chosen were there, and the New Age Mutants, and the Palladium Sentry! Everybody! And mother wore a beautiful dress and father looked so scared and nervous! It was so funny! Father Zemos married Leviathas and Nereidia and made them take a promise to be together forever. It was so beautiful. I'm so glad that we finally found a family. At the wedding reception, everybody came in their fancy clothes and uncle Aegaeon gave me some wine, and I got sick, but it was okay because uncle Aegaeon looked after me and made sure I was okay! I love weddings. I love my family!

-Ophysia

Atlantis was left in a state of disarray. The politicians did not seem very confident in any party's ability to rule after Queen Cassiopeia died. She bore King Bahamut no children, so the question among the council was to whom would the throne go? An election was proposed, but the people did not trust the council after Theron's failed coup. Most of his traditionalist ilk were exiled from the Great City and scattered to parts unknown. I had been dreading this day just as much as I'd been hoping for it...

It was time to tell the boy the truth...

The Chosen had gathered in their temple after their victory over Theron and many had questions of the Great City's safekeeping. Counselor Hera, a loyal friend of Bahumut and Cassiopeia, had been assigned the task of overseeing the city. Hera was an old soldier; a stern and stoic warrior who knew how to lead. I felt confident leaving the Great City in her care, but I could no longer keep what I had been holding away from them for so long. I called Leviathas forward to the pedestal where he usually addressed his soldiers. Of course, Nereidia, his right arm, came with him. I asked the boy about his family and explained to him why he never knew his father. It was hard for the boy to swallow that King Bahamut had had an affair with his mother, a hand-maiden named Naimora. When Queen Cassiopeia learned of the affair, she exiled Naimora to the countryside, disallowing her back into the Great City. The boy didn't seem to understand what I was saying to him until I grabbed his face and stared him in the eye.

"You are Bahamut's son. His only child. And that, makes you the rightful heir to the throne."

The Chosen were as shocked as he, if not more. I knew that look in his eyes. Leviathas was scared. He was unsure. Nereidia stated her fears quite plainly. They were both young, Far too young to assume such power. And yet, they had lead an army back to Atlantis to reclaim it for the righteous. Leviathas could not break his stare at me. He thought me a liar. He wanted to protest, but he knew me better than that. Of course I had kept some things from the boy, but I had never misled him. I turned him and Nereidia around that they may see the chosen. All of them placed a fist over their hearts. All of them knelt with smiles and bowed heads.

"See? You have earned their trust and their loyalty...you had done so even before this. They accept you, King Leviathas. Queen Nereidia...and so do I..."

To see me kneel, Leviathas looked at me as if I had done something completely outlandish. But, I had to make him see, make her see, that this was their fate. The gods deemed this to happen before they were born. Only I and one other knew of that...

-Zemos

Atlantis was slowly rebuilding under the watchful eye of Counselor Hera. I took it upon myself to teach Leviathas and Nereidia the ways of the royal court. I had served three kings prior to these two, so I say with no ego that I taught them well. Of course, with power, comes hatred. Whispers in the shadows spoke of how the two were far too young to be king and queen, but who were they to argue the actions of The Chosen, or the birthright that charged through the boy's veins? After The Chosen had journeyed to Stygias to rescue a young girl, the same girl who guided them to the back path into Atlantis to overthrow Theron, I noticed the boy had become more and more distant from the others. His armor began to darken, his tone began to change and that horrid blade he carried seemed to watch every move we made.