The Oracle
First Passage of the Storm Moon
Antaran Haunting Quickens
Since the beginning of spring, reports of strange activities near Antara have increased. Antara, once the magical epicenter of the Known Lands, fell shortly before the rise of Aranor. Most credit this to the overuse, and oftentimes misuse, of magic. Because Antara served as Rilhaven's portal to the rest of the world, a few brave souls have built a small fort on the shore. This small fort, which has since been named Highgate, welcomes traders, and aids in moving shipments from the sea up to Rilhaven and back again.
Built not four hundred paces from the walls of the great city of Antara, the residents of Highgate discourage visitations to the city, where many a person has disappeared. For the first years after Antara fell, the famous hauntings seemed to stay within the city walls, but now Highgate residents are reporting a sharp increase in the number of ‘incidents’.
"You’ve got to take extra care and watch your sensibilities." This statement was from Kaelick, the founder of Highgate, brought to us by a sailor on the Rilhaven route. "Whatever dwells in Antara has found its way out into the woodlands and seas," Kaelick reportedly said.
Among the strange happenings are cases of meat spoiling overnight, strange things swimming in the waters off the coast (no one swims anymore), and odd, beautiful light displays over the city of Antara during dark nights.
Huntsfolk report seeing undocumented creatures in the woodlands, having bowstrings break at the most inconvenient times, and hearing sorrowful cries late in the evening.
Everyone in the area says that they are experiencing piercingly vivid dreams.
What this means for the residents of Highgate remains to be seen, but Rilhaven, with all of its other problems right now, is especially concerned with the phenomenon.
Lord Kieran
New Melon Introduced
One of Aranor’s most famous gardeners, Alicia Morae, has bred a melon that she will be marketing this year, to the city’s elite. Next year, however, with more seeds at her disposal, she plans on making the melons affordable for all.
Called a ‘Ula Melon’ after her daughter, whom Lady Morae lost soon after birth, the melon is yellow-skinned with a deep purple-red interior flesh that resembles muskmelon in texture. In flavour, however, the Ula is deeply refreshing, with a fruity taste characterized by only a light sweetness.
Lady Morae bred Jeddan and Shavay fruits to achieve the Ula melon, and strove to impart what she describes as a ‘dripping juiciness’ to her new breed. Indeed, she is urging partakers to not only eat the fruit itself, but to squeeze the flesh for its dark juice, which she says is ‘exquisite when mixed with a little lime juice and a base of Lydavian. Or, if you can manage to find some, make a similar drink with a splash of Lasish Kurae’ (a Japuran liqueur).'
Lady Morae is also claiming cosmetic uses for the fruit, and recommends applying ‘a paste of the pulp that surrounds the seeds to the eyes and upper face’ to encourage a bright complexion.
I can attest to one truth concerning the fruit, however, since she sat me down with a slice. It is undeniably and remarkably delicious.
Tania
Gemhunt Begins
It was an old Masallan tradition among the nobles of the court, but now, a small group of ordinary Aranorian citizens has brought it back to life.
Gemhunt will begin at the end of the Storm Moon, and will be a city-wide game that resembles an elaborate treasure-hunt. At the end, of course, lies a cache of gems.
Participants pay fifty silver per person to join, and must sign up as either an individual or group. Part of their fifty silver goes into purchasing the gemstone treasures, and part goes to the organizers and actors putting the Gemhunt on.
Actors?
Unlike a normal treasure hunt, Gemhunt will last for many passages. To find the treasure, participants will have to piece together an elaborate series of clues, many of them given out by people hired by the game. Among the clue-givers are a bearded baker, a woman who lives alone in a large mansion, and a fisherman. Participants will be led along the chase, and will have to find ways to learn what they can from the hired actors (many of whom are actually just normal people hired to ‘hold’ the clues). There will also be numerous pitfalls, including many ‘false pathways’ that lead to fake treasures. Some of these treasures are actually ‘trapped’ so that the participants will be taken out of the game.
"Don’t worry," one of the organizers told me. "No one will really get hurt, and if you’re following a false lead, you’ll have lots of signs along the way. If you’re savvy, you stand a chance at the gems."
The next twenty days will be used to register participants. You can sign up yourself at any of the numerous booths found throughout the city along major thoroughfares. Good luck!
Tirian
To the Oracle Collection-- Year Two