The Oracle
First Passage of the Snow Moon
Bloodshed in Northern Casara
Vellun has been embattled for over a passage now as the Casaran military lays siege to the city, which has been fully taken by the Sereg. Within the city, there are said to be numerous sections still held by the residents, but the walls themselves are patrolled by Sereg warriors.
Experts on Sereg behavior cannot offer a lucid understanding of the situation – Sereg raid and then scatter back into hiding – to occupy a city is definitely not documented behavior. Thus far they have not offered up any demands, but that may be due to language barriers. Reports state that an expert in the Sereg language is being sent to the site to attempt communication.
Meanwhile, the Casaran military makes continued attempts to re-occupy the city. Although the walls are not especially fortified against attack, every time the military has gained entrance, they have been beaten back by the ferocious Sereg. So far, it is estimated that thirty to a hundred men have lost their lives in attempting to regain the city, and many more have been wounded. We will keep you updated as events unfold further.
Lord Kieran
Carriage Races Thrill Liramelle
A new tradition has been born in the northern Old World city of Liramelle. Carriage racing. Of course, carriages have probably been raced since the times that they were first crafted, but never in such an organized context.
"There were three races," said Marik, who attended the contests three passages ago. "The first was for straight speed. The course was a thousand paces long, and went over flat, even terrain. It was all about speed. The second was a longer, curved course, and that one was really fun to watch. Everyone started at once, and it was a push-match. Carriages were flipping over, wheels were flying – it was great! And the last one was even more vicious – it was a mixed terrain course, with a field of rocks, logs to go over, a mud pit, and a river crossing. Wild fun."
There were few rules to govern the races. No weapons were allowed, and carriages had to carry at least two people in addition to the driver. All three racers had to be in the carriage at the end if they hoped to win. Driving was not the only important factor – carriages had to be designed with a balance between durability and light weight, and horses had to be chosen carefully for both ruggedness and speed.
Next year’s races promise to be even larger and more exciting, so if you have the means, plan a trip to Liramelle.
Tirian
Sages Debate Aranor’s Origins
A High Debate was held outside the Library of Aranor last An Sel, and the debate was open to public participation. On discussion was the history of the city of Aranor.
Although the city was founded only about three years ago, no one is sure of just how the city was founded – not even the first residents.
"I was on the first ship that came to Aranor – standing on deck with Lillian herself," says Drake, a merchant by trade. "But there’s still a lot of mystery about the whole affair – even for me."
There are three prevailing theories. The first is that the site was occupied by ruins that Queen Lillian magically transformed into a newer state. Evidence for this theory abounds – not only does it appeal to our logical minds, but some old histories of the Old World mention a huge faerie city that was somewhere along the eastern coast.
The second theory, and perhaps the most popular, is that Queen Lillian used her magic to create the city in entirety. No one quite knows for certain how powerful the Queen truly is, and her own past is as much a mystery as is the founding of the city she rules.
The third speculation is that a city of similar design exists on another realm, directly 'overlaid' or parallel to that of Carador, and that the ‘imprint’ of it was brought through and ‘stabilized’, thus birthing Aranor.
Whatever the case may prove to be, debaters fervently hold to their own theories, awaiting the day when undeniable evidence appears, or when Queen Lillian herself steps forward to lend us a hint.
Tania
