The Oracle

Second Passage of the Melting Moon

Nakija, the founder of the religion of Lakiratai in Jedda Felsuin, is remembered mostly by stories passed down through the generations. The sole writings she left behind were her memoirs –  a small book from which the only direct record of her words and thoughts remain. But last moon, the Empress of Jedda announced that there had been a great discovery – a poetry book, written by Nakija herself, was found.  The book contains twenty-six poems. Each one, says Irosi, the Empress’ chief Lakiratai monk, embodies the essence of Lakiratai.

The poetry book was given to the Empress by Matika, a young woman whose father had always kept the small book in a locked box in his altar room.

Apparently her father found it in a cave deep in the Myméan jungles, along with various other artifacts. He kept it sealed away until his death, when Matika discovered it among his most personal belongings.

The poems are of such beauty and simplicity that to read one, it is said, will take one half-way to true understanding.

Unfortunately for us, the translation from Jeddan to Caradorian strips the poems of most of their meaning. Pacing and rhythm are lost, and certain Jeddan words and ideas do not have parallels. Still, the Empress has allowed Lord Javelle, the Aranorian emissary to Mymé, to read the poems and create his own translations. Here is one. Lord Javelle warns his readers that this is only a pale shadow of what is present in the Jeddan original.

Lord Javelle will make a complete book of his translations available in the Old World by next year.

Lord Kieran

When a large, hungry wolfen was seen scavenging in Liramelle, guards rushed to slay it. But when the poor beast wagged its tail and moved toward them, they lowered their weapons. Despite the dog’s horrific appearance, it was obviously not harmful.

The dog was coated in black paint that matted it's fur and gave it a strange, slick appearance. Who could have done such a thing?

Trackers were sent to investigate, and they backtracked the wolfen out of the city and far along the roadway out of Liramelle. Then it wound up into the woods.

At the track’s end, they found a grizzly scene.

"Seven men were dead," said Tiris, one of the trackers. "Torn to pieces. We had to collect body parts and piece them together to get a count." The men, he went on, were obviously bandits. They had many weapons and much loot – most of which has now been returned to those it was stolen from.

The trackers also found other odd things – ropes on a tree where a captive had obviously been tied. And tracks – large cat tracks – made by the beast responsible for the killings.

"Here is the story told by the tracks and our further explorations," said Tiris. "Take it as you will. These men were bandits, and had been pillaging the roadway for the last moon. They had raided four caravans, stolen over seventeen thousand silver’s worth of goods, and killed three men. They had also kidnapped two women, both of which are missing. The large wolfen was being continually painted black and was made visible to the caravans they attacked – by such device they created the rumour that the Japuran tiger said to be loose in these woods was the instigator of the attacks.

"But their legendary beast was all too real. One night the creature – one of the real, escaped Japuran tigers – entered their camp and rended the men to bits. The dog either escaped or was spared by the intelligent beast, and their captive – one of the two missing girls – walked off through the woods with the tiger. A few hundred paces from the camp the tiger’s pawprints turned to human tracks – I saw this with my own eyes – and the two continued to the east. After a time the tracks became paws again, and we feel sure that the girl mounted the tiger’s back. It broke into a lope, and though we followed the track for two days, it was far outpacing us. The girl is lost."

If Tiris is correct, at least one of the Japuran tigers said to be loose in the Old World is still alive – and his observations seem to validate its mystical nature. But why did it kill the bandits?

"My guess?" said Tirin. "It didn’t appreciate people giving it a bad name. It certainly got its revenge."

Though it was only bandits who were attacked, the roads to Liramelle have grown quieter, and the city may suffer for lack of trade.

"People are scared," said Tirin. "But they don’t have to be. I keep telling them that. The tiger was brutal – there is no doubt of that. But its actions weren’t random. It’s just too bad the dog can’t talk to tell us the entire tale."

Tirian

Aranor continues to grow as the fashion pulse of the Known Lands. This year merchants are in fierce competition to make their particular clothes the choice of the people.

"It’s quite amazing," says Liliana, a sage at the Library of Aranor who specializes in world fashions. "I’m not sure if there’s ever been anything quite like this. Various shoppes have been sending out ‘scouts’ to bring the most beautiful or influential people possible back to receive free clothing. Live models are being hired throughout the city to walk about in a specific designer’s clothing.  And at least one shoppe is utilizing the questionable practice of employing particularly attractive models to slowly disrobe to their undergarments, revealing the various layers of dresses and suits."

While one might hope that the competition would create good pricing for those of us purchasing the clothing, the reality is different.

"Designers enhance the desirability of their fashions by charging higher prices," Liliana explained. "Quite unlike many other markets. The spring will find most clothing with ridiculous prices."

Of course, people will have to make room in their wardrobes for the new items, so if you’re not one who needs to wear the latest fashions, visit Once Again or any of the other shoppes throughout the city  that follow the practice of selling used clothing. There will be a lot of fine used 'last year's fashions' for sale – and in that market at least, a flood of supply will mean strong reductions in price.

I, for one, will be trying some 'archaic' fashions this season.

Tania

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