Second Passage of the Melting Moon

It has been officially announced to us that Queen Lillian has actually been on holiday for the past moon. Princess Meagan has been set as the temporary ruler of Aranor and the Old World, with Lord Cowan Faol as her advisor.

"She’s doing amazingly," says Storm, Regent of Aranor. "This is her first time taking on the responsibilities, and the Old World is flourishing under her care."

Recent rumours have accused the Princess of attending commoner parties, drinking, and otherwise acting irresponsibly. But such rumours are faltering as Princess Meagan continues to guide the Old World through what many would consider troubling times.

"Tension is rising with Maelmuire, but the Princess and Lord Faol are pursuing negotiations that would prevent war. Jedda has a new Emperor, but the Princess has personally met with his ambassador and will encourage Queen Lillian to lift trade sanctions when she returns. The city of Faol is making insane demands and threats, and the Princess is working to deal with them. She is extremely effective, and her close ties with Cowan Faol ensure that she has the clout to back up her policies."

Storm informed us that Queen Lillian is simply taking a break from the pressures of Queenship – she should be back within a moon. The location of her holiday is undisclosed.

"Until she returns," Storm assured me, "the Old World is in capable hands."

Tirian

The city/province of Faol delivered demands last An Maad – demands which included the threat of sanctions.

The demands come in the wake of Maelmuire’s proposition of peace – peace that was provisional on each of the New World cities devising a plan to abandon the New World within a set number of years. The proposition was roundly rejected by everyone but Lord Niall of Rilhaven, who has not yet responded.

Faol believes that Maelmuire’s next move will be to declare war. After Faol’s ambassadors were told by Queen Lillian that they had to fight their own battles, Faol took this new approach. Faol has demanded that the Old World establish a naval perimeter around the city – a perimeter consisting of no less than fifty warships. They further demand that this perimeter remain in Faol’s waters until either Maelmuire is vanquished or the threat subsides. If the Old World refuses to grant the naval perimeter, Faol will impose trade sanctions banning any export of Faol gemstones, metals, textiles, and art. While some scoff, pointing out that Rel Morde would be more than happy to fill the void by providing a ready supply of gems and metals, others fear that the sanctions will have a terrible effect.

"Sanctions do more than simply damage a province’s supply of goods," said Mirus, a sage of politics with the Library of Aranor. "The most potent effect is that the high merchants, who hold much political power, grow angry with the rulers of the sanctioned province for allowing things to grow so terrible. It causes strife from within."

But Faol might have failed to recognize the Old Worldians’ loyalty to Queen Lillian. Already three of the most powerful merchants in Aranor, who do exclusive trade with Faol, have voluntarily severed their relationship with the province.

"It’s our duty to Queen Lillian," said Lord Kellen, one of the three. "We’ll approach Rel Morde to do our business from this day forward."

Brave words, since the severance could cost the trio millions of silver.

Princess Meagan, currently serving as the ruler of the Old World while her mother is away on holiday, will be responding to Faol. She has not given official word, but it is assumed that she will turn down their demands.

Lord Kieran

Yes, she calls herself Calamity Strikes, and the rotund Lantrielle-born lady is gaining a reputation for herself as the ‘Queen of Outrageous Fashion’. While some say her clothes are ‘barely wearable’, others are only too eager to pay tens of thousands of silver for the right to wear one of her dresses to the next ball.

Last year she made her way to Masalla, where her fashions became all the rage among the lesser nobility. This year?

"Aranor," she says. "This is the seat of fashion, and I’m the Queen. Empty out your closets and give your clothes to the peasants, because they’re all about to be sadly out-of-date."  This statement is simply a small taste of her personality.

Her clothes are characterized by extreme bulkiness, bright colours, and additions such as extremely long draping sleeves, collars that extend up above the head, or bustles that make it nearly impossible for a woman to get through a door.

Calamity makes a point of wearing her clothes, which are clearly only fit for balls, when she walks the streets. I followed her to get some reactions.

"Atrocious!" said one woman.

"Uhh . . . is that a human?" remarked a man.

But after ten or twelve negative comments, I found a good one.
"That is so . . . brave! I simply must own one! I’m inspired."

The seed is planted. Personally, I’m hoping it doesn’t grow, but you can be assured that I’ll be attending some gala events in the future, in the hopes of seeing someone in a Calamity dress.

Tania

To the Oracle Main Page

To the Oracle Collection-- Fourth Year