The Oracle

Fourth Passage of the Storm Moon

Phase, a deadly disease which is only curable in its beginning stages, has reappeared in the Old World after two years of no reported cases. The disease pulls a person’s body slowly to the astral realm, and their body loses substance after each passing day. The first signs of affliction are weakness in the limbs, slurred speech, and often, confusion. If caught in these early stages, Phase reacts well to necromantic healing spells, and since Liramelle is a large city, all the cases have been successfully treated thus far. It is hoped that the disease won’t spread to outlying communities, where healers would not be able to reach victims as quickly.

Phase remains one of the most mysterious of diseases, and does not seem to spread by any logical means. Affliction seems to be completely random.

Although there have been no cases outside of Liramelle, residents of all Old World communities are urged to report any symptoms immediately to the nearest healer.

Tania

The threat of war in Jedda has held steady over the past moons as the Emperor and Empress brace themselves for conflict. Three small riots have been broken up in the Jeddan District of Aranor, and more and more Jeddan residents are reporting ‘harassment’ because of their political ties. In Jedda, the first actual battle has been waged – a naval conflict which saw a total of thirteen fully armed and armored Jeddan warships clash in the waters south of the isle. Sages inform me that it was a battle for a strategic southern outpost in the mountains west of Nokoro. The Empress was attempting to seize the outpost, but was defeated in the first stage of her attack when she was met and outclassed by Shai-kan warships loyal to the Emperor.

Celebrations over the small victory are to be held next An Maad in the Jeddan District, and the Aranorian guard is rallying against the threat of violence.

Whether this heralds the beginning of actual warfare remains to be seen, but it certainly marks a rise in violence that will have far-reaching ramifications.

Lord Kieran

In a move that will doubtless reduce the population of adventurers in the world, Lord Niall of Rilhaven has offered a one million silver reward to anyone who can rid the abandoned city of Antara of its ‘ghost problem’.

The Haunting, of course, drove off an entire population, including numerous archmagi, witches, summoners, and even ritual practitioners. That anyone could hope to ‘clear’ the city is rather unlikely, but Lord Niall insists that Rilhaven is ‘suffering dramatically’ due to the increased activities which have spread well outside Antara’s walls.

Highgate, the small fort built just outside Antara’s western walls, is bracing for the influx of adventurers and mercenaries who will doubtless soon be mooring to their docks.

"Whatever is in there is dangerous," says Kaelick, founder of Highgate. "Outside the walls we’ve merely had strange, unsettling encounters, but those who go inside often come out near death or mad. The adventurers don’t realize the scope of this – we’re already digging graves."

Though an ominous comment, it comes from someone who has seen the powers of the Antaran Haunting first-hand.

Tirian

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