Third Passage of the Ice Moon

Residents of Aranor witnessed a strange sight last An Tir. The full moon, near midnight, took on an orangish glow and began to disappear.

"This phenomenon is still mysterious," said Malick, an astrologer in Aranor, "but most astrologers consider that a shadow of some kind is moving over the surface of the moon. The moon, you see, may very well be a world just like our own – only so far away that it appears quite small. Exactly why the moon moves through phases is also mysterious, but it is clear that whatever force causes moon phases is likely sped up to create the effect of an eclipse."

Ancient stories suggested that two clans of magicians were doing battle over the moon, turning it from light to dark. But modern astrologers search for more rational explanations. Malick, who believes that the sun, moon, and Carador are all globes suspended by some magical means in the air, is composing a theory of shadows to explain not only the moon’s phases, but night and day upon Carador, which he claims is simply Carador going through ‘phases’, just as the moon does. He asked that I not publish the details of his theory, however, until he has assembled it in proper detail.

Eclipses of the moon are not as rare as eclipses of the sun, but they are still a special treat – and sometimes, in the words of one young observer, ‘most terribly scary’.

Tirian

A group of six elite Maelmuirian fighters, on a kraeven-hunting mission northwest of Rilhaven, were descended upon last passage by over thirty former residents of Rilhaven – most of which were once part of the now-disbanded Borderguard.

"These men are villains," said Devon, a Rilhaven counselor in charge of Maelmuire/Rilhaven relations. "They hold to their own laws, and none other. We’ve been hunting them for moons."

Four of the Maelmuirians were killed, and the other two escaped to tell the tale.

It is estimated that up to two hundred former Borderguard may still be occupying forts in the northern territories. The extent to which they are a unified force is unknown.

"It is sad that we can’t all work together to eradicate the kraeven threat," said Devon. "Now we’ll have to assemble joint Maelmuirian/Rilhaven teams to search out the rebels and root them out of their strongholds."

The task may not be so simple. The northern territories of Rilhaven are harsh – especially this time of the year, and the rebels are familiar with the lands. Plus, the small fortresses built after the Raven Wars are formidable structures – each one crafted to withstand prolonged siege.

The rebels have disavowed their allegiance to King Niall of Rilhaven, and have promised to continue their war against the Maelmuirian people.

Lord Kieran

Ten men have been granted the right to open Aranor’s most unusual business. They sell falls.

"One day we were up on the tower by Tynan’s temple," said Bran, one of the founders of All the Way Down. "And we looked over the edge, and I said ‘wouldn’t it be grand to jump?’ Well, all my friends thought me a bit crazy, especially when I started leaping about and telling them we were all going to be rich."

Bran went home and drafted plans for a ring-like platform upon which his nine companions all stand, holding taut a massive leather sheet. Customers are led up the tower by an assistant, and walk out onto a sort of platform Bran designed to hang over the edge of the tower. Then they jump. If all goes well, and it has after over fifty test jumps and a hundred jumps by paying customers, you land safely, caught in the leather sheet.

"People get a little burned by the leather, but that’s all," Bran said. "They just rush right back up to do it again."

At ten silver a jump, it’s not cheap, but the experience must be addicting, for customers come back over and over, some spending a hundred silver or more a night.

Bran’s platforms are easily disassembled and moved, so his business doesn’t mar the beauty of the tower. The city has allowed him to run his business only one night per passage – An Ilé.

Jumps begin at dusk and continue until about midnight.

Tania

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