Third Passage of the Snow Moon

Since the founding of Aranor, bandits have posed little problem. But during the last passage, an interesting new group has emerged, and is being held responsible for three carriage robberies.

NIcknamed the ‘Sereg Raiders’, the bandits dress up like Sereg, painting their flesh grey and donning black wigs. They even wear furs. But numerous witnesses have attested that their disguises are less than perfect.

"These people are no doubt hoping that we’ll blame these robberies on Sereg," said Jannen, the Aranorian guard in charge of their capture. "That way, if we come upon them during our searches, we’ll find humans, and look elsewhere. They only dress up when they attack, of course."

But the guard is well aware of the bandits’ ploy, and trackers and guards are on the hunt.

"We’ll have them in by next passage," said Jannen.

At least it’s a welcome respite from the constant news of huntsfolk being lost to fae. Another man has been missing since last passage, and two travelers coming up from Jalpa disappeared just last An Tir.

Humans, at least, can be easily captured and brought to justice.

Tirian

She has only appeared as of late, along certain of the bridges and park-trails in the River District. But each time she has, she’s given people quite a scare.

"I was walking alone," says Tina, a girl of sixteen who works in the River District, "when I saw, on a bridge, this girl. She didn’t seem . . . right. She was dressed all in grey, and seemed to have a soft glow about her."

As Tina approached, the girl turned to look at her.

"I was horrified to see that I could see right through her. It was as if she was made out of fog."

Tina is not the first. Eight separate official accounts have been reported to the guard, and countless others have doubtless gone unreported.

Surrounding the phenomenon is the rumor that seeing her foretells something bad that will happen in the near future. This is because the first man to report her, a gentleman who prefers not to be named, fell from a horse the next day, breaking a bone in his leg.

"This is simply a common spirit or some form of wraithe," says Keleven, a specialist in strange phenomenon. "She hasn’t harmed anyone, and seems incapable of interacting with our physical world."

Little consolation for the people who have actually seen her, as the sight can be unnerving.

"I’m afraid to go out now at night," Tina said. "Can’t the guard catch her or something?"

Tania

In one of the oddest events of the year, a building was burnt down in Faol.

The establishment, called The Lodge, was one of the most popular and expensive restaurants in Faol. Of late, they had begun serving Fae Dragon on their menu. The roasted delicacy was bringing curious diners from as far away as Casara and Selarum.

Three passages ago, on An Meja, a group of people walked into the establishment just as it was about to close.

"I was about to lock the door when they burst in," said Lord Marcus, the owner of the restaurant. "They demanded that I stop serving fae dragon, and when I didn’t, they began to break things and dump oil over the tables."

In moments the restaurant was in flames.

"We ran for our lives. The brutes took all the cages with the faerie dragons and fled the guard. We’ll have their heads for this!"

Lord Marcus says that the group called themselves Back to the Dragon, and that they brutally struck his workers, caused arson, and gravely assaulted the city of Faol.

At the moment Lord Marcus is the only witness to the event, as his workers have been told to keep silent. Perhaps, then, there is more to the tale. Faol, however, has issued a 500,000 silver reward for the capture of any of the group’s members.

"Faol simply won’t tolerate such violent behavior," Marcus said.

Lord Kieran

To the Oracle Main Page

To the Oracle Collection-- Year Two