Second Passage of the Rain Moon

Lord Niall Takes a Wife

Lord Niall, official ruler of the New World, has married his second wife, Annashelle Evraan. Annashelle is the daughter of Lord Kiernan Evraan, Lord Niall’s Prime Magistrate.

"It is good that he’s getting married again," said Jasara, owner of Castle Works in Rilhaven, a business which sells furniture. "He has no children from his previous marriage, and has been quite long enough in mourning for Sarah."

Long enough indeed. Sarah died almost ten years past in an explosive mage battle in Antara. A practitioner of magic herself, she got involved and was reduced to dust by a stray spell.

"Some think that Niall’s always believed that she’s not dead," Jasara told me. "He’s been awaiting her return."

He apparently has stopped waiting, however, and married Annashelle with much fanfare and ado.

"It was extravagant," Jasara said. "Our city is not rich, but a huge hunt was held and a feast large enough to feed everyone in the city was offered. The whole city smelled like roasted venison and seared beaver tail. It was Kaelum."

Lord Kieran

Firebrand, a Masallan Nobler long said to be the fastest horse in the world, came to prove that title in Neraha, in a challenged race against Baroness, a Lydavian steed renowned for her long legs and swift gait.

"Lord Erik Ridelle first challenged me three moons ago," said Mistress Lydavia, the breeder of Lydavian horses and vintner of Lydavian wines. "I accepted, and he said that he would be bringing Firebrand to Neraha, for he had never before seen the Old World."

People were awed when they first saw Firebrand brought from the ship, for he was tall, dark, and full of wild spirit. The race was held a passage later.

Lydavia herself rode Baroness, a young horse destined for breeding. The course was set at 500 paces on flat ground, as the race was meant to judge pure acceleration and overland speed.

After three false starts, the race was off.

"Firebrand was ahead of us at first," Lydavia said. "But Baroness’ long strides quickly gave her the advantage."

Indeed, the race was quite one-sided, with Baroness winning by almost three horse-lengths.

Lord Ridelle prolonged his stay only a single day more, and then took himself and his defeated horse back to Masalla.

Tania

It was a glorious day for forty hunting ferrets when the carriage used to transport them was "robbed" last An Tir.

"I had stopped at the bakery on my way up to deliver the ferrets," said the driver, who asked not to be identified. "When I looked out the bakery window, I saw the last of the cages being opened."

Some children, apparently enamored with the beasts, took the driver’s keys from the seat of the carriage and unlocked the cages.

"People were really frightened," the driver said. "The ferrets were everywhere! I tried to catch as many as I could, but they all seemed intent on freedom."

The children, too, escaped without being identified.

"We’re not sure what effects this will have," said Daralon, a member of the city guard. "With spring so close, the ferrets will easily survive through the summer, so don’t be surprised if you see them here and there. They’ll have to find some shelter by winter, though, as they aren’t really suited to this clime."

So for now at least, keep your eyes open for a new animal in Aranor’s parks and woodlands.

Tirian

To the Oracle Main Page

To the Oracle Collection