The Oracle
Second Passage of the Cricket Moon
Monkey Wreaks Havoc
It was Aranor’s turn for strange animal troubles last passage. The afternoon of An Ilé proved quite eventful as a mischievous monkey escaped from its cage in the Thieves District, reportedly took rides on carriage-tops across the city, and then stopped off in the River District at Lord and Lady Edoren’s house, who happen to breed noble dogs."The little beast loosed the bolt on the housing we had set up for six new puppies. They’re about half a year old, and very curious, and we heard this terrible barking . . . well, when we ran out there, the door was already open and the dogs were in pursuit of the little monkey."
The monkey led them out to Olive Street, where he disappeared, leaving the dogs to cause no end of trouble as they ran about in the street, jumped up on people, raided stands, and panicked horses. Soon, however, the monkey showed itself again and the dogs took up the chase, this time following the monkey into Apple Blossom, a fine eating establishment at the end of Olive Street. The true damage was unleashed there, as the dogs ran from table to table after the monkey, causing screams, fleeing eaters, and general havoc.
The dogs were captured by closing the restaurant doors, but the monkey, whose owner has accepted responsibility for the damages suffered, is still on the prowl.
Lord Kieran
Adventurers Saved by Nymphs
In a most unusual event, a band of three adventurers reports that they were saved by a group of nymphs.
"We had been seeing strange things for a few days," reported Erik, one of the members of the band of three adventurers, who call themselves ‘Three Crows’.
"We thought that it might be some sort of fae, because we’d just see things out of the corner of our eyes, and one night a woman snuck up close to our dying fire and took some food. She must have thought us asleep. So we started leaving things out – little pieces of bread, a jar of honey, some cheese. Then, a few days out from Aranor, we were walking through the woods when two huge Sereg emerged and pointed bows at us. I’ll tell you, we all thought we were done for. In harsh Caradorian they told us to either strip down and run away, or stand and fight. We didn’t think we would be able to survive with no clothes or backpack or anything, so we were trying to reason with them when the strangest thing happened. The first Sereg turned to the other and began to address him as if he were talking to me! He demanded that his companion put down his bow, and told him that he wouldn’t ask again. The other Sereg, confused, started shouting back in their native language, and then all of a sudden they were engaged in a savage brawl! From behind a nearby tree, two of the most lovely, unforgettable faces peeked out, wide-eyed, and yelled at us in a strange tongue. Still, it was unmistakable that they wanted us to run for it, so we did! Sadly, that was the last we saw of the nymphs."
Shane, a sage at the Library of Aranor who studies fae, told us that this was a wonderful example of the shifting tide of human/fae relations.
"During the Goddard reign, the fae were maligned," he said. "As a people, they sensed that, and avoided humans altogether. Now that people are being educated, the fae are appearing to us once again. It should be remembered that it is wise to be wary if you are approached, because some fae creatures and their magics can be dangerous. But the example of the Three Crows serves to show us that the growing presence of the fae can mean good things for us, as well. We’re establishing a new relationship between the races of fae and the races of humans. If we’re open this time around, perhaps it will be a good one."
Tirian
New Colored Hair Fashion
What will it be next? Aranor, since the beginning, has been the testing ground for one new fashion after another. Most of them live and die here, but some have carried oversees, so that they can be seen, moons later, in Moraithe, Faol, or even Masalla.
Let’s hope this new one dies here.
Since Masquerade, better known as the Illusion Shoppe, opened, Aranorians have enjoyed the benefits of being able to change their looks and proportions at will (with, of course, the proper amount of gold). The latest of a series of fashions to emerge out of that freedom is brightly colored hair.
I spoke to Alita, who had just emerged with hair as bright yellow as the sun on ocean waves.
"We’re inspired by nature," she effused. "Look at all the bright colors emerging all around us now that summer’s coming out! Yellows and purples and blues and sparkling greens! We all style our hair to make it look more beautiful, so why shouldn’t we color it, too?"
Maybe because it makes people look ridiculous, especially when those colors tend to clash so badly with eye colors and flesh tones.
"Beauty," I was told by Natasha, who owns Tresses, a hair and cosmetics salon in the River District, "is a blending of balance and contrast. We enhance our eyes because they tend to be the most expressive part of the face. The lips take second place. When we draw too much attention to the hair, which lacks the ability to express different moods at a whim, we give the message that we have a one-sided, and therefore boring, personality. You can always tell the difference between hair people and lip-and-eye people."
Still, watch for the bright hair colors on the street. If nothing else, the reactions of those around you will provide for some entertainment.
Tania
