The Oracle

Second Passage of the Summer Moon

Toko seeds, a highly addictive drug from Jedda Felsuin, have been a problem over the last few moons as more and more are being imported. But now a new problem has developed.

"Well over half the toko seeds being imported are bad," explained Sasha, a guardswoman who often deals with toko addicts. "They have little or no drug affect, and actually act as a moderate purgative."

Meaning that those who smoke the seeds end up throwing up, and little else. This is causing misery among toko addicts, who are paying higher and higher prices in an effort to get ‘good’ seeds.

The problem is that no one – not even alchemists – seem to be able to tell if a given seed is good or not. Thus far, reactive substances which would distinguish viable seeds via alchemical testing haven’t been isolated. And sight, taste, and smell don’t detect good from bad either. Furthermore, the viable seeds aren’t separated in batches – if you purchase a given stone of seed, it is a practical guarantee that over half of them will be bad. What this means is that almost every pipe-full of toko will give the smoker a mild drug affect and make them very ill.

The healers are being inundated with sick toko addicts, and have announced that anyone coming in to have the purgative effects of bad seeds healed will be reported to the guards and charged 100 silver for healing services.

While Sasha told me that this will have an overall positive effect, hopefully discouraging toko use, it is also giving rise to new crime as savvy criminals are charging exorbitant amounts for what they claim are ‘good’ toko seeds. Heavy addicts are resorting to robbery in order to get the necessary gold.

Last moon the Aranorian guard was contemplating making toko use an offense punishable by imprisonment, but discussions have been stalled until the effects of this new development are understood.

Tirian

While a large group in the city of Aranor who claim membership to the Last of the True Nobles struggle to explain that they’re ‘not part of this insane scheme’, a group operating out of an unknown location and bearing the same name has announced an upcoming coup.

Our reach has extended throughout the Known Lands, and we count as our brothers some of the most powerful political figures and magicians ever known. The lands of the Old World rightfully belong to the Goddard name, and any who claim political positions will find themselves endangered. Whether you are the rogue queen Lillian herself or a lowly magistrate, if you work in a position and support the rogue queen’s government, you and your family will suffer.

The missive was delivered to Queen Lillian’s doorstep, and copies found their way to the attention of many of Aranor’s political figures. The letter goes on to warn that unfortunate circumstances will begin to affect people within the next passage.

The radical ‘True Nobles’ are thought to operate out of a wilderness sanctuary, and to have spread their numbers into numerous cities and provinces so that they cannot be isolated and dealt with. This is the most direct threat they have issued since they made their attack on Kern after the War for Aranor.

We will keep our readers updated with the latest news on this matter.

Lord Kieran

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