Third Passage of the Cricket Moon

King Mark of Rel Morde, considered by some to be the world’s most sought-after bachelor, is engaged to be married this summer. The lucky woman is Lady Emmaline Oralay, a lesser noble from Masalla. She and King Mark met three moons ago at King Mark’s fortieth lifeday celebration.

Reportedly, the King is quite taken with her, and disregards suggestions that the wedding is too quick in the coming.

A dark-haired Masallan beauty, Lady Oralay plans on living in Rel Morde, but she and the King will visit her home city of Calit de Om twice a year, where they will reside in Lady Oralay’s villa.

The celebration is by invitation only, and will be held in Calit de Om.

Lord Kieran

In an event that is shaking the composure of sailors throughout the lands, two more ships have disappeared on route to Aranor. One was of Masallan origin, while the other was a Jeddan pleasure-craft.

"This is serious, now," said Lady Tarana, the Captain of the Queen’s Navy. "We’re sending out a fleet of six warships to ascertain and eradicate the problem. We’re assuming pirates at this point."

That quote was given on An Tiné, but just yesterday I interviewed a sailor who told me a strange tale.

"It was late in the evening, and we were just west of Teran’s point," the sailor told me. "We felt a bump on the ship. A heavy, soft sort of bump, and we got ourselves together quick. Then someone saw something in the water, right beneath us, and we all ran to the port bow. There was a darkness in the water, black as night, moving quite slowly. Some of us panicked, and there was screaming and such, but I just stared down until I saw it begin to descend. It lowered itself down into the deeps and was gone."

If such a report is to be believed, there is a good chance that the sighting was a kraken. Only krakens, whales, or certain rare sea dragons could be as large as what the sailor described to me.

If it is indeed a kraken, the navy will have a problem on its hands.

Tirian

Imagine fifty-seven instruments playing all at once – drums, violins, lutes, flutes, and a host of other instruments. Even a piano! That is what visitors to Selarum’s Music Hall will be treated to next moon when the world’s largest ensemble comes to play for Queen Ennea.

They will play a single song divided into eighteen ‘passions’ by Yesaan, a Jeddan musician who envisioned this unique concept – the idea of creating the ‘troupe of troupes’ and utilizing a special form of direction to make the music all come together.

This is the ensemble’s debut performance, and the rumor is that they are being hired by a wealthy noble of Casara, one Lord Marcus Dur, as part of his wooing of Queen Ennea.

The performance will be open to the public, but entrance fees are reportedly starting at over 300 silver per person.

Tania

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