Second Passage of the Dry Moon

"Aranor is thriving," said Storm, speaking for the Queen. "Indeed, the Old World is thriving. Despite our initial fears that the world would see Queen Lillian as a constant threat, her aggressive actions in forging relationships with key provinces have made the Old World the center of trade and innovation."

Since Queen Lillian overthrew King Goddard five years ago, she has managed to secure excellent trade relations with Rel Morde, Lantrielle, Mymé, Masalla, and even, some say, Japura.

This has translated into a thriving situation in Aranor and the Old World – a situation where Queen Lillian has, on numerous occasions, given breaks on her already low taxation.

"The city treasuries are overflowing," said Storm. "We’ll be giving some gold back to the citizens at the end of this moon."

The current plan is to give each citizen of Aranor a thousand silver. To be eligible, citizens must be at least fourteen years old, and must be on the city register.

"This ruins the entire sense of beneficence," complained Malaya Javray, a noble in the city who has gained a name for herself by helping people in need.

"While most of the city thrives, there is a large population of people who don’t have homes, and thus aren’t on the registry. This ‘giveaway’ only benefits those who already have gold. The hundreds who are homeless -- many, incidentally, below the cutoff age of fourteen – will see none of this."

Storm countered by saying that trusted guards, who know the Thieves’ District, will be taking portions of the giveaway gold into even the worst parts of town, and giving everyone their fair share.

"We want to avoid people from other cities and provinces coming and taking unfair advantage of this situation," Storm said. "Thus the decision to give the gold to ‘official’ residents only. But the Thieves’ District giveaway should help some of those people, as well."

One thing is for sure. Aranor continues to be an opportune place to live.

Tania

‘The Mere’ has been a favorite haunt of commoners since Aranor was first built. Located only a few hundred paces outside the edges of the peasant’s fields, this natural pool has been described as ‘idyllic’, and is often used as a focus for bonfires and parties.

In the last year, however, guards have been called out twice to investigate drownings in the pond.

"The mere is unusually deep, and there is a great growth of aquatic weeds. People are out there having parties, getting drunk or drugged, and trying to swim. It’s a sure way to die," said Kevik, a outrider guard who patrols the peasant’s fields.

But party-goers have reported something more sinister.

"Sometimes strange people come up to the bonfires," said Amii, a regular participant in ‘pond parties’ of the past. "They look like they are from a foreign land, and their clothes are wet. They talk in strange, lilting tones. We’ve often called them ‘pond ghosts’, but most people think that they are simply peasants dressing up and trying to scare us. Last year three guys grabbed one of them and beat them pretty bad. Maybe the creatures in the pond are coming out for revenge."

Strange lights, cries from the forest, and splashings in the pond have also been reported.

Last passage, however, things took a frightening turn when eight would-be partiers came back into Aranor to report ‘skeletal people’ who crawled up out of the water, took the food and drink that had been brought for the party, and slid back into the pond.

"I’m never going back again," said Amii.

Whether these are simply the reports of drunken commoners or they represent something more dangerous, the guard has asked people to stay away from ‘The Mere’.

"Based on the evidence," said Kevik, "something strange is going on out there. We don’t want another person drowning in the mere."

A mystery indeed.

Tirian

In a move that once again displays the short temper of King Tirlaan of Faol, an official letter was sent to Rel Morde, warning King Mark to ‘cease undercutting the gemstone market’.

As Faol continues to forge a place for themselves in the New World, many traders are turning to the stable market represented by Rel Morde.

"We just don’t know what’s going to happen with Faol," said Captain Jay, who has long traded Faol garnets. "What happens if they don’t pound out a treaty with Maelmuire? Faol could collapse!"

Which would mean the sudden loss of Captain Jay’s business. So he has applied to Rel Morde, a closed port, for trading rights.

And Rel Morde has responded by granting trading rights to numerous new traders, as well as stepping up production in their mines.

"This is the chance of a lifetime," Captain Jay said. "To get rights to Rel Morde trading? Everyone I know is jumping at the chance!"

Faol has insisted that this is an attempt, by Rel Morde, to crush Faol’s markets.

‘We will respond with military force if needed,’ King Tirlaan wrote. ‘This is an act of war, and we won’t stand idle.’

King Tirlaan then insisted that Rel Morde close itself to new traders until Faol can re-establish its place in the world.

‘This is nothing less than kicking someone when they’re already down,’ wrote King Tirlaan. ‘Despicable.’

King Mark has not yet responded. While Faol has less than thirty war-ships to its name, Rel Morde does not keep a navy, and could easily be shut down if a blockade was formed around its single port. Such an act, however, would likely bring numerous provinces to Rel Morde’s aid, since Rel Morde retains good relations with nearly all the Known Land’s provinces.

Lord Kieran

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