intermezzo

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It was thousands of years ago, the first civilizations just started to srpoud and arise. The city of Atlantis was already blooming: three rings of land and three rings of water, connected here and there with smaller canals - and one big canal, heading towards the open wide ocean. This state has been delicately shaped and structured, where the army, the merchants, and the relionion were in their strict place. All was well-ornated, the buildings sitting on the rings of land - ports located on some of the points. The palace, the temple of Poseidon and the pharos - the lighthouse - were all standing proudly on the middle ring.

The high priest was walking around with the king, on the upper ring. He was holding a big tome, with delicate gold-and-silk ornation, as they were discussing matters. His majesty was human - as all the previous ones before him - but they had a very friendly tone with him.
-Thanks to you, my friend, the blessings of Poseidon is upon us- he said to the albatross- we have the smoothing working statal structure since my great-grandfather, we are rich in food and minerals, and we have exquisit trading partners and colonies. He sighed, and smiled as he looked wondering, towards the great canal that led to the ocean:
-What else can we wish for, my friend? How can we improve this place? He took a glare to the albatross:
-Your people are a great contribution to this land, and we have learned to live together. I'm opened to your or any of your's suggestions on spiritual or material level. The high priest scratched his chin, as he looked around the city. I was an amazing view from the middle ring, no spot remained out of sight: from the smaller merchants to the higher soldiers. And beyong all this wealth and abundance... the endless desert.

He looked back to the city, this time, taking closer look of the most important building, in the middle ring: the temple, the palace and the pharos. And this gave him the idea, to bring up to the king:
-Your majesty, I do have a suggestion. The king smiled and nodded:
-I'm listening. The high priest kept his manners in his voice as much as possible. He knew, that the kind was quite open-minded, still, he didn't want to offend him with any trace of rudeness. He took etiquette really strictly:
-We shall get some of my people to guard the elements. For the fire- the pharos- one of the dragon tooklooks in our partner, Hellas. Dragons are really rare in within our people, but one of them would me most suitable for this job. The king nodded:
-I prepare a small team for you with that- he waved, permitting the albatross to continue- please proceed...
-For the palace- the high priest resumed his speech- I would suggest one of the Sehkment warriors from our colony, Egypt. She would be both palace guard, and the guardian of the earth. Hopefully, she would agree to contribute to us.The king nodded. As he didn't add any further comments, the high priest continued:
-For the sky, I would suggest one of our people. There is that girl, the right hand of our matriarch. She has a bat totem. She would be both guardian of the night and the sky.The king scratch his chin, considering all he heard previously, then asked:
-What about the guardian of the water, my friend? The high preiest smiled:
-I'm willing to take that position. I have all the power for this task. I have controll over both waves and storms, your majesty. As the high priest of Poseidon, I solemnly vow, to protect the people of Atlantis from he storms. The king smiled widely:
-Very well, my friend. Then please, gather the other guardians, and perform your tasks as it takes to protect our people from them elements. The high priest bowed gracefully:
-Thank you, your majesty. I promise, I won't let you down...


The Atlantian soldiers had a really hard time in the hills of the Northers Hellas. Some of them wear swearing on the high priest for having such a stupid idea, to get someone with a dragon totem. The main problem was not, that the dragon zoolook was hostile or agressive... on the opposite. He was always trying to run away from them, scared of having too many people around, and wanted to be left alone. This troop of 12 people had a hard time chasing him down, and surrending him from time to time with spears, Finally, they had caught him witha few nets. The dragon zoolook was so tangles, he could escape or fly away. he was still scared and confused of the people, and attempt to chew his way out of the nets.
It was then, when the albatross high priest appeared, in his usual bestial form. The dragon instantly calmed down, seeing one of his kind in the crowd. This must be a good sign. He kept the firm eye contact with the high priest, as he kneeled down to him, speaking in their ancient common language:
-You have no need to fear. We're all here to ask your help. The dragon was still trying to catch his breath as he was still shook by fear and tired of fleeing from the soldiers:
-What kind of help? The albatross slowly untangled the nets:
-Atlantis has a great task for you, draconic one. We want you to be the guardian of the fire. As the dragon look puzzled, the albatross continued:
-I entrust you with the pharos. You will have the pharos of Atlantis. The dragon was finally free of the nets, but he didn't pay attention - he was so amazed of what he heared of the high priest, he kept the eye contact:
-You're giving me the pharos? You're giving me... a home? The albatross smiled and nodded:
-Yes, I'm giving it to you. Be our guardian. The dragon nodded, his mouth wide, and eyes sparkling:
-I'll gladly be!


The warriors of Sekhment. Fierce lioness zoolooks, who don't fear anything. There are few males among them, but they are only permitted to be lower-ranked soldiers. All for the glory of Sekhmet, the lioness goddess ow war. The high priest of Atlantis went personally, and by solo, to their temple, and asked for one of the high-ranked soldiers. Their leader, without much hesitation, ordered one of them to step forth and accept the task. It was one fiece lioness alright: tall, noble, broad-shouldered, carrying a spear in a hand and a lighter shield on her back. Zoolooks with lion totem were always known for being protective, strong, and mostly-heavy built... this lady particular looked like as the one the Hellans called amazon. The high priest bowed with salutation:
-Madam... great soldier of her highness Sekhmet. Please be our palace guard, and guardian of the earth. The lioness bowed, going down on one knee, showing obedience:
-I will gladly serve our master Atlantis in the name of our holy mother Sekhmet.


It was getting dark at the temples of Poseidon. The high priest just finished another chapter in his dacred tomb. As he left it open, leaving the ink to dry, he noticed a figure at the entrance. It was the girl with th bat totem: slender, her skin black as obisidian, round hips, short curly hear - that people in the southerner areas have, and two enourmous golden plates as earring in her bat ears. No doubt: the right hand of the local matriarch was a witch doctor herself, too.
-You called, you love... - she whispered. Her voice so smooth like silk and feathers. No wonder she charmed him. They were togetehr for a while, some close friends knew about them, and supported them. Still - for professional reasons- they didn't announce their relationship to the open. A high priest of Poseidon and a feral witch doctor? Hellans, Egyptians, maybe even Mesopotamians would made a scandal. But not Atlantians, who where the most open-minded of them all... Even the kind let a zoolook to a high position which usually were led by human beings.
The high priest smiled back:
-I did - he walk closer slowly, and gently touched her hand- I ask for you to be the guardian of the night sky. I want our people to be protected by the elements. The bat smiled:
-I always told you, you care too much. The albatross smiled back:
-It goes with my rank and my responsability. The bat giggled:
-And yes, I accept the position. I would gladly guard the night sky. The high priest smiled in satisfaction... then slowly leaned over, and kissed her...

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The waves are coming… and the biggest one approaches. People in the other rings started to fled... but how much time is there left? The hig priest stares at the biggest wave... he remembers his solemn vow to protect Atlantis... that has controls over the waters and the storms. There is no chance, but he has to try – he flew directly to amazing wave, charged it. He’s the albatross zoolook, the high priest of the temple of Poseidon, and also a force of nature. He has to protect the ones he serves, at all costs. he yelled, he gathered all his elemental powers against the sea and the storm...
And he failed. The tide swiped everything away…
He couldn't protect Atlantis...
Everything was gone in one day and one night, when a the ocean striked the city with one huge wave...

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