First Passage of the Ice Moon

Word has reached us that the Emperor of Irutoka has called for the surrender of the Empress. Her unconditional surrender will gain Mymé a cessation of the attacks on her border.

"Such a surrender would mean the end of Jedda as we know it," says Iridai, a sage from the Library of Aranor who specializes in Jeddan culture. "It would also mean the Empress’ death. Don’t expect her to comply."

She may not have a choice. Thousands of villagers from the coastal settlements of Mymé have surrendered to the Emperor’s naval forces and are being exported to camps in Irutoka. The rest of the isle of Mymé depends on those coastal villages for much of their food.

Still, the Empress commands many loyal forces, and elite forces composed of Yoru-ken warriors have managed to sink one of the Emperor’s ships and have reclaimed and fortified the village of Tanan.

Rumors are afloat that the Empress has approached the Jotai Jo warriors of Mymé. Primarily a religious sect, the Jotai Jo are warriors who are said to possess mystical powers. They offer allegiance to no governing body, however, and thus far it seems that the Empress has been unsuccessful in gaining their aid.

"Enlistment of Jotai forces would be the Empress’ only chance at this point," says Iridai. "Unfortunately, even if every Jotai warrior on Mymé went to her aid, I doubt if they could resist the potency of the Emperor’s Shai-kan. The numbers are simply too unbalanced, and most of the powers of the Jotai Jo are a product of legend, and not reality."

As more unfolds, we’ll make it known.

Lord Kieran

Casara’s subdual of the isle of Arata, discovered only moons ago in the northern waters of Shelter Passage, has been abruptly laid to rest.

"The ships were suddenly attacked last An Tir," says our anonymous source. "Something came out of the water and attacked the vessels – a kraken of some kind. Two ships were destroyed, and the remainder fled."

Rumors abound regarding the nature of the beast. Although it’s certainly possible that the attack was coincidental, neither Casaran nor Faolian forces have returned to the isle. Both provinces are dealing with internal difficulties, and the loss of ships isn’t something either province can afford.

Some feel that the creature was summoned by magicians on the isle of Arata. As with most primitive peoples, they seem to have strong nature-based magics which allow communication with the natural world. Others note the similarities in description to the creature that was recently attacking ships off Teran’s Point, and are drawing connections between the two events. Finally, word has it that Faol and Casara are attempting to implicate Queen Lillian in using sorcery to drive away their ships, suggesting that she wants the treasures of Arata for herself.

For now, Arata is safe from provincial takeover. But as adventurers are already mounting expeditions, the new province won’t be able to evade civilized contact for long.

Tirian

Jalpa has officially announced the opening of the Old World’s first university.

The establishment of the university is an old Masallan custom – it serves as a common meeting place for sages and students alike. The Old World has never had a university, probably because we’ve been too busy trying to attend to the more mundane matters of life. But now that the Renaissance is upon us, scholars are suggesting that it’s time for a center of learning.

"Lord Faol’s school north of Aranor is fine for teaching practical arts," says Matthew, one of the university heads, "but the university deals with true scholarly pursuits."

Critics against the establishment of the university note that it puts the entire concept of ‘sage’ at risk.

"Until now," says Arrian, one of the top sages at the Library of Aranor, "sages have made it on reputation. You have to be good at what you study, or no one will pay for your advice. In Masalla, however, the presence of the university makes ‘sage’ into an official title, and people can earn that title without possessing the necessary knowledge. This is a move toward elitism, not enlightenment."

The university will have to establish its own reputation, however, and many sages are flocking to its halls. It is housed in the old fort-palace of Jalpa – an ancient edifice built on the outskirts of the city to house nobles and esteemed visitors in the case of attack. The structure has been abandoned for many years, as its squat architecture and practical appearance have earned it the local appellation of ‘Trollhovel Palace’.

"We wanted to be in Aranor," says Matthew, "but there were no buildings that could accommodate us. This is the best we could do with our limited funds."

Matthew promises that the university will usher in a new age of learning for all the people of the Old World, and is accepting donations.

Tania

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