First Passage of the Dark Moon

Queen Anabelle of Masalla has been receiving some angry visitors to her court of late. But they aren’t the typical outraged peasants. Some of these angry visitors are among the highest-born of Masallan nobility.

The Queen has made good on her promises to conduct interviews with prisoners in various Masallan dungeons, and has unconditionally freed numerous people whom she feels were unjustly treated because of their station.

"She’s destroying Masalla," says Lord Kaelus Marai, "by freeing dangerous criminals!"

Lord Marai is referring to a man called Jarek, who was taken to the Oriven Dungeons on charges the former prisoner freely admits to – he killed a man. And that man was Lord Marai’s brother.

"He viciously murdered a nobleman," Lord Marai insists. "He beat him to death with a chair!"

The rest of the story?

Jarek encountered Lord Marai’s brother, along with two other nobles, when Jarek came back from working his fields. The three nobles had broken into his small house and were in the process of raping his wife and two young daughters. Jarek picked up the only weapon he had – a chair, and chased two of the men out. The third, Lord Marai’s brother, drew his sword, and Jarek struck the noble across the temple with the edge of the chair.

Jarek has been imprisoned for three years in one of the worst dungeons in Masalla.

The Queen now insists that justice will be delivered without regard to station, and this angers many of the nobles who have enjoyed the ‘privileges’ of breaking the law without fear.

The King, for his part, is strangely quiet on the matter, despite rumors that certain of the nobles are planning a coup.

Lord Kieran

Casaran explorers have discovered a large tribe of ‘native’ peoples living on one of the larger islands north and east of the isle of the New World. Although they were attempting to keep the discovery secret, the Oracle managed to learn of it through several anonymous sources.

"The people are described as quite primitive," one source explained, "although they possess great knowledge of the herbs and plants of the island, and are very wealthy in gold and gems."

In a small village that the explorers encountered, ‘every person was adorned with gold or precious stones’.

The people have been described as possessing what is probably some combination of eldritch and fae blood.

"Most have very white skin and raven-black hair, but eyes of many colors" – including violets, which are commonly supposed to be native to Rel Morde (which the isle is close to, incidentally).

To add to the mystery, numerous members of the villages have strikingly different appearances.

"The people, who call themselves the ‘Arata’, are tall and willowy – very graceful – with the features mentioned above. But walking among them are people of darker skin, of different colored hair, and various body types. These ‘different’ people hold positions of note in a given village – some are treated with great respect, almost as if they are deities, while others are regarded as outcasts. We have not yet gained an understanding of how the culture works."

And we might not. Casara reportedly is mostly interested in the gold and jewels, and already reports are filtering in of Aratans being taken as slaves, and of pillaging taking place. Six Casaran ships, all sailing out of Faol, have been given the task of ‘subduing the natives and establishing trade’, while ten warships of Faol are guarding the waters nearby.

Tirian

A city wide contest is pitting some of the most renowned fashion artists of Aranor against each other.

Aranor has become the birth-place of the world’s newest fashions, and next An Meja, in the feasting hall belonging to Yalayna, Mistress of Lord Faol, a host of fashion artists will display the most avant-garde of their work.

"We can expect to see not only modern fashions, but historical pieces as well," said Lady Arielle, one of the sponsors of the event. "We’re putting our works on mannequins, but there will also be live models showing off the fashions – including Lady Yalayna herself."

Lady Arielle and eight other top fashion designers from the city have put together a 100,000 silver purse for the winner of the contest. Although the top designers will be displaying their work, the contest is only open to up-and-coming fashion designers. If their reputation extends beyond Aranor, they’re not eligible. "We’re making this a yearly party," says Lady Arielle. "We intend to give newly established artists a chance at a nice piece of funding."

Entrance to the show costs 200 silver, and will include a light meal and wine.

Tania

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