Fourth Passage of the Summer Moon

On the beach just south of the city, a whale was found last An Tiné morn. While still alive, a member of the gathering crowd informed everyone that it would soon die. It was just about then when a whale-hunter, actually a visiting citizen of Faol, walked up and sunk a knife into the creature’s flesh, loudly declaring that the whale was his own, and that he would sell the meat, bones, and blubber to the appropriate parties in the city.

"I couldn’t believe my eyes," said Mira, a young Jeddan woman who was amongst those in the crowd. "He just stuck his knife right into its side! Well, then a priest of Tynan came down, and said that that was no way to hunt, and that if the whale was to die, it would die in the water. A moment later they were in a fight! Well, the whale hunter, despite being a bit of a whale-like man himself, went down in a flurry of punches, and suddenly the crowd was completely in support of the priest!"

Other priests and priestesses soon joined the first, and they rallied the crowd into action. Horses were brought even as people went to get their strongest friends, and soon, all wrapped in ropes, the whale began to slide slowly down into deeper water, with twenty horses and thirty people (all who could find a place to push) lending their strength. The rescue was successful, and the priests of the sea-god bestowed a blessing upon all present.

After that, it was ale.

Tania

In response to repeated official and unofficial queries by both the rulership of the Old World and private merchant traders, the Japuran Taren of Churaat Kahn has finally agreed to allow another trading ship to enter its port.

Surak, a Shavay explorer and trader, managed to convince the authorities of Churaat Kahn that he was the gentleman to do business with. For the next sixty-six days, he will have access to the Churaat Kahn markets – a privilege very few foreigners enjoy. He is hoping, in this time, to make two trading expeditions to the Taren. If all goes well, his privileges will be expanded.

For us, this will mean little, at least until it is seen whether he retains the favor of the Churaat Kahn authorities. If he does, Japuran imports will come directly to Aranor – at present, all imports first stop at Moraithe.

This means that Aranor will see some quality imports – imports that are otherwise ‘purchased off’ in Moraithe, long before they arrive here. Although this single trading route won’t have a significant impact on the market, it will mean that collectors of Japuran treasures will have to do a lot less travel to find quality items.

Lord Kieran

Three people have been officially pronounced missing in Jalpa during the last passage, and the disappearances seem linked.

"I came up to my brother’s room, and there was something sleek and human-like, crouched over him with a long, whipping tail," said Erik. "I got defensive and charged, and the thing pounced toward me, moving eerily fast. I was cut open before I knew it – cut by its long, translucent claws. The whole of the beast was covered in slime."

The two brothers managed to fight the creature off, despite suffering scratches and bites. Some strange poison was inflicted upon them, though, for I found them both at the healer’s, where modern healing methods are doing little to ease their fevers.

This is the only account where the creature was actually sighted and driven off. In the other cases, beds have been found empty, with traces of a slime left on sheets, bedposts, and windows.

At the moment, Jalpan authorities are classifying the creature as a Nightfae. This class of faerie is very little understood, and probably encompasses many different varieties of creatures. How they lure their victims, or what they do with them, remains unknown.

The Jalpan guard is searching the city and surrounds for both the creature and its victims – we will post updates as they emerge.

Tirian

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