Second Passage of the Snow Moon

The left side of Palace Way was cleared of snow and cordoned off last An Sel for the first annual Aranorian Carriage Races. There were three categories of races, each of which delivered spectacular thrills.

In the first race, called the Speed Race, two-wheeled, two-horse carriages raced a straight course of three hundred paces. Ariat, a gentleman from Gwynned, took the 5,000 silver purse by a full horse-length.

The second race, the Obstacle Race, drew even more excitement, for carriages (this time of any make and with any amount of horses) were timed through a course which included bumps, ruts, sandpits, ramps, and sharp turns. Miana, a woman of Aranor, took first, winning the purse.

Finally, with the obstacles left in place, came the Battle Race, in which participants were made to traverse the obstacle course all at once, instead of one at a time. As intended, this became a free-for-all as carriages collided, cut each other off, and otherwise interacted in non-civilized manners. Although there were numerous horse and human injuries, no one was killed. The purse went to Team Karus out of Aranor.

Overall, the first Aranorian Carriage Races were a grand success, providing not only high entertainment, but an opportunity for vendors and businesses (including carriage makers, who displayed some beautiful models) to do some trade. I’ve little doubt that next year’s will be equally successful.

Lord Kieran

According to legend, the people of Taeidor will sacrifice the most beautiful woman of their village to a dragon next moon.

An ancient pact binds the village to the dragon, and every three years a maiden must be sacrificed to keep the dragon’s favor. Although accounts of this practice are often found in historical texts, Taeidor is the only modern example known to scholars.

Every tithe draws would-be heroes from all over the world – most get a single look at the dragon and flee, but a few have been brave enough to actually approach the beast and get squashed or gobbled up.

Because news filters slowly from those parts, we aren’t even sure that the tithe is upcoming, but it’s rumor enough that three separate parties are leaving Aranor intent on rescuing the maiden.

Let’s all wish them good luck.

Tirian

Although only loosely derived from real Japuran cosmetic techniques, the heavy eye makeup and dark lips that you’re seeing on the streets today certainly evoke that exotic culture.

"The style is characterized by lengthening and widening the eyes," says Mitara, who owns Nocturnal Eyes, a cosmetics shoppe specializing in rich, exotic colorants. "Women are wanting to express that they are mysterious, and the subtle colors and sweeping lines around the eyes convey that. The dark lips, often carefully done with layers of dye that begin darker on the edges and lighten slightly toward the insides of the lips, deliver contrast – they testify that the mystery is open to being discovered, that there are promises to be revealed."

What do the Japurans in our city think?

"I’m amazed," says Mijiru, a man who came to Aranor just three moons ago. "My culture here is small, yet you have taken our ways. Delightful!"

Tania

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