"What was the mystery of women? Only this obstinacy in concealing themselves-merely this persistence in creating mysteries, as if the exposure of her thoughts and feelings were gifts reserved for love and intimacy"
-Anais Nin

The Orcinus delegation arrived in Haven directly following the end of the Varati and Empyrean war, and in so doing sailed into a situation that was -- to say the least -- filled with tension.

Upon arrival, Kuronbo underwent a ceremony intended to show his worthiness as both ambassador and as Heir to his mother. The Ceremony of the Shark went faultlessly, and with his place secure in the eyes of his own people, Kuronbo applied for an audience with Khalid Atar, God-King of the Varati people. The audience took place following a disastrous hunt for whales, the meat taken from the hunt intended to feed refugees of the war. In direct contrast, the audience with Khalid seemed to go well, the God-King favoring Shinjukou's gift of music to him with his own applause, and that of his court.

What followed was a confusing time for all. The Decemvir Amaris Marina refused a berth in the docks for the Orcinus ships, causing strained diplomatic intervention between not only the Decemvirates of Orman, Orcinus and Amaris, but the Varati as well. The refusal of docking rights left the Iruka exposed to the threat of pirates, and resulted in its subsequent destruction. This destruction filled the bay of Haven with many wounded, among them Shinjukou herself. Kuronbo's face was horribly damaged, and his mind began to show the first signs of insanity. The Heir disappeared into the Sylvan forest immediately after, leaving Shinjukou to recover amongst the Varati, in their embassy, Atesh-Gah.

Due to worries that the Amaris might harm the Heir, should they find him first, and the failure of Orman Kai to notify Shinjukou of his own search for Kuronbo, Shinjukou immediately stepped into the position of acting ambassador, and pleaded with Khalid to assist in the search himself. The Atarvani was mobilized, and a rescue from the Sylvans conducted -- one that placed a further strain on relations between the Orcinus and all others, as the Sylvans resented having their lands invaded by the God-King and his fierce wyvvern queen. Rumours that the Orcinus and the Varati had compacted a hidden treaty were rampant, due to this intervention on Khalid's part, and although details of the treaty were generally unknown, it served to further alienate the Orcinus from their own people.

Kuronbo was quickly sinking into insanity and while the efforts of Varati healers repaired the physical damage, there was little they could do for his mind. Upon his partial recovery, the Heir -- against the counsel of his sister -- mobilized a fleet of warships and ordered them to Haven. Their purpose was unknown, but most believed that Kuronbo intended to take the Korallion, by force if need be. Passing directly through Ormani waters, and flying the Varati standard without the permission of the race, the fleet created yet another diplomatic crisis, and the withdrawal of support from the Varati.

By this time, Shinjukou had become convinced that her brother was unfit as a capable ruler, and secretly contacted her mother for advice. The old Decemvir had grown more fanatic in her religion during the years, and denied her daughter the request to remove Kuronbo as ambassador and Heir, as he was considered chosen by Pasiphae amongst the ruling family. This left her with little option but to go to Khalid -- the two having developed an odd sort of formal friendship during these strained times -- and the treaty was publically cancelled, though many believed a secret one between the quiet woman and the God-King remained in place.

With the arrival of the war ships in Haven, events finally came to a head. Although they carried pilgrims called by Kuronbo for a supposed religious and secular convocation of the Decemvirates, they also carried a horde of what were termed 'Pale Warriors'. Bleached, mindless, they followed Kuronbo's orders without hesitation and made the Atlanteans as a whole very, very nervous. A solar eclipse at the height of the convocation only served to heighten the ill feeling all had towards the Orcinus. While they believed it was a positive sign, many believed that Pasiphae herself was protesting Kuronbo's mad actions.

Denouncing all Varati support, Kuronbo then set his sister aside as counsellor and confronted the Decemvir Orman Kai. What occured during their meeting is unknown save that the Orcini insist that Kai purposely mindraped Kuronbo and crippled him in some way, and the Ormani insist that what occured was the act of an uncertain, dying man not long for this world. Kai passed on to the great circle not long after, and Kuronbo was left with his very being mauled. All women aboard his ships were either murdered, or cast away, save for one mongrel woman and his sister Shinjukou. And not long after that... the Heir vanished with his pale warriors, the cause of his disappearance unknown, although it was met with more than a little relief on all sides involved with his irrational actions.

Shinjukou immediately ordered the dispersal of the fleet for Orcinus, keeping only two to serve as her own transportation to her home Decemvirate. After issuing formal apologies for the actions of her brother, she too left Haven's water and returned home, bearing with her the shame of what had occured.