Synopsis
After Namor abdicated from the throne of Atlantis, seven pretenders arose to lay claim to it, escalating into a full blown civil war of the undersea, leaving Atlantis abandoned and Lemuria in ruins, and impacting the affairs of the surface world.
Following a failed attempt at Namor's life by King Attuma's assassins, and as the surface world prepare a fleet with genocidal intents, Stingray (Walter Newell) managed to have Namor freed for a few days, for him to put an hold to the infighting before the fleets of the surface launch their assault.
As he successively meet with the pretenders to the throne, Namor learns more about the past of Atlantis, his own wrong-doings towards Atlantis and all the dwellers of the depths, and try to atone and apply the lessons learned from his errors, while struggling with opponents pursuing the same destructive path he had followed over and over.
History[]
Backgrounds[]
After yet another campaign against the surface-dwellers, Namor abdicated the throne of Atlantis, surrendered to the surface justice, and was imprisoned at the Sea Cage Prison in the Sea of Set (Southern Ocean).[3]
Seven pretenders rose to claim kingship of Atlantis:
- King Attuma, of the Skarka Tribe,[1]
- The Set-worshiping[4] warlords of Lemuria,[5]
- Valko, backed by the Science Lords[4] or Scientists Supreme of Old Atlantis,[1]
- Abbot Uriah and the Octomagi,[4]
- King Kailani of the Secret Seas (including her home of the Great Underwater Atoll of Maluhia, the cenote city of Talokan, and other communities in the Gomti River, at Atlit Yam and at Yonaguni),[1] sponsor of the disenfranchised and who intended to rule as the one true king of all the seven-hundred seas,[6]
- The Beast King[6] or King in Coral,[1] who spoke for all creatures of the sea denied a voice, and victims of the wars of the Atlanteans, and united the Faceless Ones, Seaweed Men, Elder Whales, and other great beasts of the Deep,[7]
- The Lord of Orphans or Orphan King, a skeleton leading the Army of Risen Dead,[4] an army of ghosts including Princess Fen and Emperor Thakorr, and represented by the Children of War, orphaned Atlantean youths.[5]
To assert their claims, all factions coveted the Trident of Neptune.[6][7]
War[]
Soon, Atlantis lied abandoned and Lemuria lied in ruins, while the tribes of the undersea world scattered, leading to a dramatic escalation of tribal warfare, left unchecked by the power structure vacuum.[3]
The people were starving, as consequence of the War.[6][7] Skarka bandits plagued on Atlanteans, stealing and brutalizing them,[1] while Orka salvaged a sunken S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, turning it into a vessel he used to hunt sea creatures and provide meat for the people.[7]
The surface world soon intended to intervene, as the civil war perturbed shipping lanes, fisheries, deep-sea drilling operations and cruise lines. As the worlds leading oceanographer, Stingray (Walter Newell) assisted to diplomatic meetings where he argued for diplomacy and humanitarian aid. While he was told his concerns were taken under consideration, Stingray also witnessed ships being fitted Carbonadium nets and nuclear-powered harpoons.[3]
Attuma's assassination of Namor[]
Attuma ordered an assassination against Namor at the Sea Cage Prison, sending Skarka tribesmen along with mercenaries King Crab and Manowar to attack the prison. They were defeated by Namor, who survived the assassins' poison thanks to he timely arrival of Stingray.
After this event, Stingray managed to have Namor to be given four days of freedom, in order for him to put a stop to the war. Initially refusing, Namor was convinced by Stingray that his past experiences and the lessons learned from his own errors could bring a resolution. Stingray offered to accompany Namor, who declined.[3]
Namor's and Attuma's Crimson Swim[]
Namor first tracked down the Skarka, following their scent and meeting with a victim of them in the Skarka Sea, at the rim of Attumacht Trench, before descending into Hellfall Deep. Namor arrived as Attuma announced the news of the assassination attempt failure. While Attuma ordered his followers to scour the oceans and find Namor, the former king presented himself and challenged Attuma to swim the Crimson Swim, a Skarka custom of inebriated duel (allowing Namor the time to gather more information on the war), and easily defeated Attuma.
Namor ordered the Skarka to return home and stop their attacks, but the Skarka, refused to recognize Namor. Facing this refusal, and identifying a Skarka that had robbed an old Atlantean Namor had met earlier, Namor single-handedly decimated Attuma's army.[1]
