Fourth Passage of the Autumn Moon

Things certainly get interesting near the edges of the known world, as anyone in Auralay would gladly tell you during the last moon. Reports from that far-off city tell of a great beast haunting the night skies. Sightings describe a beast of ‘epic’ proportions, ‘larger than a galleon’. Though no sages capable of making a positive identification have yet seen the beast, descriptions suggest one of the most rare and feared of dragons – a mountain dragon.

"That the beast was seen more than once bodes ominous," says Varison, a privately hired explorer-sage that lives in the city of Aranor. "These are highly intelligent creatures who value human contact, and delight in such things as gold, gems, and conversation. If one is surveying the area, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the villages nearby to Auralay, or even Auralay itself, should be visited by the dragon, who will likely make demands of tribute in exchange for being kind enough not to destroy homes. It could be another case of what is occurring in Taeidor."

Legend has it that Taeidor pays annual tribute to a huge wyrm, doubtless a mountain dragon.

Whatever the case, would-be heroes are already preparing to make the journey to Auralay in an attempt to become legends, which is the customary reward for anyone capable of slaying such a beast. We will certainly keep you updated.

Tania

Call us Aranorians crazy, but since the city was born, people have had an odd craving for good cinnamon rolls. The best have a lightly sweet pastry that’s smooth and soft on the inside, with a thin, crunchy crust. They’re generously enhanced with sugars and that expensive, hot spice. The whole is drenched in butter and slathered with icing.

Everyone, it seems, can tell you where to get the best ones. From small, hidden cafés to grand restaurants, there are probably a dozen contenders in the city for the ‘best’ roll.

Now, it’s all going to be settled. Twelve of the most celebrated cinnamon roll bakers in the city are going to fight it out in a public contest. The event is to be held at noon on next An Meja, and those who purchase an entrance to the tasting (which costs a hefty firegold) will get to sample a section of all twelve rolls. Votes will then be cast, and the winner will be awarded with a sign announcing their victory.

Though most of us won’t be able to afford the tasting, we’d do well to pay attention to the winner, and head there in the mornings for the most delicious cinnamon pastry in all of Aranor.

Tirian

Her name is Anna, and you certainly wouldn’t guess her to be a heroine, with her bar-maid like appearance and demeanor. But she’s getting a taste of what it means to come to the attention of the high people of the Old World.

"Anna is a self-professed adventurer," we were told by Casandra of the city guard. "She was doing a walk across the Old World from Selarum to Aranor when she discovered a large group of men who claimed to be part of the ‘Last of the True Nobles’, a resistance group who opposes Queen Lillian’s reign. This was the most organized concentration discovered thus far, with more than two hundred fighters, a mage, and numerous mercenaries preparing for a coup. Anna used her wits and skills to escape, and recently arrived in Aranor to report the group."

It is those sorts of heroic actions, Casandra went on, that allow the Old World to prosper as an independent province without needing a large military or high taxation.

Knights are being sent to break up the resistance and arrest any who can be caught.

"They likely have agents within the city," Casandra said, "who are even now riding back to warn them. But at least we can rout them."

A bad day to be one of the Last of the True Nobles.

Lord Kieran

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