The Oracle
Third Passage of the Rain Moon
Masallan Uprising Quelled
With accusations being thrown upon the Queen of Masalla, it was only a matter of time before there was an uprising among the nobles. The first, and hopefully the last, was caught before it even began.
Eight nobles, who only a year ago were among the most esteemed of King Avorine’s court, were arrested by the Queen’s Guard and sentenced to hanging.
There was an enormous amount of evidence held against them, and reports suggest that they were organizing a well-planned strike that involved defamation of the Queen, followed by an armed revolt and coup.
At issue is the sudden elevation of Queen Anabelle Avorine to a state of power. Newly appointed to the throne, she and her husband, King Avorine, have quickly made a name for themselves as being concerned mostly with the well-being of the higher classes. Recently, however, the King seems to have become almost absent from policy-making, while the Queen has become extremely involved. Her assertion that law will be applied equally among all classes has come under harsh critique, as those of higher class say that she is using nobles as examples to show that she believes in ‘equal justice for all’. How this shift in power occurred is still a mystery, but many are suggesting that the Queen has used some sorcery to influence the King. This rumor has gained power due to the fact that the Archmage Cowan Faol has been sighted in the Queen’s company.
If Masalla truly emerges as a province that is following Queen Lillian’s example of equal justice for all citizens, the world would be a much different place. But old ways do not change easily, and we will surely see some pain in the process of growth.
Lord Kieran
Spring Fashions Emerge
Aranor has gained a reputation for creating fashions which are soon emulated throughout the Known Lands. This spring? For men, the warrior look is in – large swords and vests that broaden the shoulders and appear, in some cases, like leather armor. The idea is to appear as large and intimidating as possible, probably in response to past fashions which have made women appear superior to men. Their attempts are rather silly, seeing that most of them don’t even know how to use the swords they wear, but at least it gives them an appearance of competence!
For women, this is the year of fae fashions. “The idea is to express your faerie nature,” says Emmaline, proprietress of Maya, a shoppe in the Merchant District that caters to natural-looking clothes. “There is a revolution in thought that acknowledges our faerie roots, and sees such creatures as rather pure and beautiful. These clothes capture that essence.”
The clothes she is referring to are often of bright colors, and utilize gauzy silks, ribbons, and other materials to give an unearthly or wispy quality, often with an uneven and slightly chaotic cut. Jewelry is often of a fae motif, with unicorns, pixies, and dragons being evident in the designs. Some women are even becoming more specific, as was evidenced by a woman I saw in a mermaid dress – golden, tight-fitting fabric around the hips that sparkled like scales, and a gauzy top that resembled seaweed. Finally, some ‘darkfae’ fashions have been seen throughout the city, definitely adhering to the fashion, but embracing a more mysterious and dangerous aspect, with darker fabrics and tighter-fitting cuts.
For the most part, the fae cosmetics are playful, and Prizm, a shoppe in the Merchant District that sells magically-enhanced cosmetics, is having trouble keeping its wares in stock. Among the strange new make-ups are powders that glow, lip-stains that change colors according to moods, and eye-powder that sparkles with an incredible radiance. It will certainly be a fun year for fashion!
Tania
Tree Falls on Aranor
Well, it’s not as disastrous as I’ve made it sound, but one of Aranor’s huge, ancient pines fell over in last passage’s storm.
The tree was mostly dead, and came crashing down last An Ilé, falling across one of the side-streets in the River District. Although no one was injured, one unlucky peasant had left his empty cart in the roadway while he took shelter in a tavern.
“I heard an immense crash,” he said, “and scrambled outside with the other soggy patrons to have a look. My cart was flattened.”
The tree blocked off the roadway for over a day while workers tried to saw and chop it free. Standing next to the fallen trunk where it crossed the road, the workers couldn’t reach the top of it with outstretched hands. While clearing it, however, they made a remarkable discovery which brought sages rushing to the scene.
“There were numerous hollows within the tree,” said Jarus, a sage who specializes in dryads. “We feel confident that they were magically shaped by faeries – probably a dryad.”
Although the hollows appeared natural at first glance, the sages were quick to point out step-like structures, shelves, and sleeping nooks. The hollows ran the length of the tree, and were connected by narrow passages.
“If this is what we think it is, we’ve encountered the first example of what truly lies within a dryad tree.”
If the sages are correct, it was just as true that the tree was long abandoned, for the inner structures were covered with moss and were rotted in many places.
A large section that holds most of the well-preserved inner structures has been carted to the Museum of Aranor, where it will be carefully cut open and polished for display as an example of faerie architecture.
Tirian
To the Oracle Collection-- Third Year