The Oracle
Third Passage of the Harvest Moon
Northern Tribe Discovered?
In excited tones, huntswoman Alandria told members of the Queen’s Guild of Sages about her discovery – "I was almost thirty leagues to the north, doing a bit of adventuring before the snow falls this year. I came across a huge, lush valley of ethereal beauty – the wind smelled sweetly, and game abounded along the paths and hillsides. I had never dreamed of such a place. And then I smelled smoke."
It has long been conjectured that remnants of the Northern peoples might have survived their encounter with the Masallans over four hundred years ago. It was an encounter characterized by the slaughter and virtual enslavement of the Northern peoples. Today, the Northerners stay among us with diluted blood, most of them working as peasants or huntsfolk. But could it be possible that some of them might have fled deep into the woodlands and retained their old ways? With Alandria’s discovery, it seems that such suppositions might easily be true.
"I spied them from way off, using my lens," she said. "They had built a village on a huge, flat outcropping overlooking the valley. I studied them from far away, but with utmost care, to assure that I wasn’t looking at Sereg or Fae of some sort. But they were definitely Northerners – even their huts and clothing looked just like the drawings in books. I couldn’t believe it."
Aware that the tribe’s last encounter with outsiders was probably marked by bloodshed, she chose not to approach them, but she marked their position very carefully on her maps and hopes to accompany any expedition that travels in an attempt to make contact.
"It’s fascinating," she says "to think that they could still be living just as they did centuries ago. And if there is this one tribe, what’s to say there aren’t many more? For me, it adds a whole new element to a walk in the woods."
Tania
Grand Harvest Festivities Planned
Celebrating another abundant harvest, the Peasant’s District of Aranor is staging the biggest festival yet.
"It’s going to be huge," said Kaelen, a member of the district’s council. "We’re going to have theater, balefires with all sorts of food, dancing, and contests of strength and agility, horse riding displays, woodsplitting, climbing, and steer and pig riding. And that’s just the beginning!"
With a feature on local ales, a ‘peasant girl’ beauty contest, and the addition of the gypsies, who were commissioned to engage visitors to the festivities, it shall be a grand event indeed. Come this An Tiné – the festivities will start in the morning and go until well after midnight.
Tirian
Lantrielle Suffers from Plague
Despite the clean conditions of the province and an abundance of healers, the isle of Lantrielle is being wounded by the worst plague in its history.
"It is a devastating illness," we were told by Lord Valenair, Lantrielle’s emissary to Aranor. "It strikes very quickly, and makes the victim extremely weak. It’s affecting not only our populace, but our slaves as well, and if the victims aren’t treated within a few days, they are in danger of being permanently affected, or even dying."
It seems that the illness affects the breathing and vision, and is not responsive, even to the Healer’s touch. Lantrielle’s ban against necromantic practitioners has made their position all the more difficult, for such diseases are usually easily treated by magical healing.
It is affecting hundreds of people – perhaps thousands. Thus far, Lantrielle has been vague about the extent of the plague, saying only that it is ‘devastating’.
Lord Kieran
