The Oracle
First Passage of the Storm Moon
New Champion at the Arena
There is an unusual new champion at Aranor’s arena. Her name is Tira.
“This is the first time we’ve had a reigning woman as champion in the Master of Weapons category,” said Nathaniel, the Arena’s chief organizer. “We’ll have to call it ‘Mistress of Weapons’ until she’s defeated."
The contest has always been dominated by men, and consists of two contestants being thrown into an arena with access to random weapons and shields. The controversial new category features live combat with actual, sharpened weapons. Healers are at the ready, but in the first two moons there have been three deaths. Two of those have been at the hands of Tira.
“She’s quick, she’s agile, and she can take a hit,” Nathaniel states. “She doesn’t hold back, and seems proficient with any weapon.”
In one of the most spectacular fights last passage, a battered Tira used her shield as a sort of discus, throwing it into the neck of her rival.
“He dropped right there,” said Nathaniel, “and the healers were lucky to keep him alive.”
This is Tira’s third passage as reigning champion, and few men are daring to challenge her. You’ll have to fight the crowds if you want to see her, however, since the Arena is selling all its seats hours before the fights begin.
Tania
Erthynsilver Armor Displayed
The Knights of Aranor, officially appointed last year, are displaying a formidable new weapon – a suit of erthynsilver armor. The impregnable material is extremely light, and the suit is of full plate make, covering the entire body.
The suit will be worn by Kirsaan, Captain of the Outriders – Knights appointed to protecting the baronies of the Old World. Kirsaan is a veteran fighter, and is among the few mortal men to have fought for Queen Lillian in the Battle for Aranor.
The armor is considered a test – it will be used in many of the conflicts at the edge of civilization, often involving Sereg, chimera, and other beasts of the wilderness. If successful, another suit may be commissioned in the autumn.
To demonstrate the effectiveness of the armor, Kirsaan subjected himself to the impact of a heavy ballista. Shot from ten paces, he was thrown back so far that everyone was sure he was dead. Miraculously, the armor was unharmed. Kirsaan was attended by healers, since the impact still broke bones and left strange bruising over his flesh. But considering that the heavy ballista is capable of shooting straight through a small ship . . .
The armor will be displayed in a parade next An Sel. The parade will emerge from the Inner City and move down Palace Way. It will turn around at the docks and return to the palace. All are welcome to come and see.
Tirian
Wine Shipment Pirated
Some are calling it the most expensive shipment of wine ever moved over the seas. An unnamed collector from the Old World recently purchased, for the price of seventy-six million silver coins, eight crates of old Masallan vintages.
The seller was one Nirus Tiraan, a man famous in Masalla for having secret knowledge regarding old wines.
“My friend in the Old World was the only person I felt worthy of protecting these bottles,” said Lord Tiraan. Some of them were over four hundred years old, and their recipes have been lost for centuries.
Indeed, the eight crates comprised a near-total collection of at least one bottle representing each of the wines crafted on the Masallan isles from a period of two hundred years ago to four hundred years ago. Many were thought to be the last bottles in existence.
Somewhere between Teran’s Point and the Old World, the ship was pirated, and the ship arrived last passage empty of wine.
“I cringe to think that the pirates might be drinking these precious wines in some gaudy tavern or dark cave,” said Lord Tiraan.
In an attempt to secure their return, Lord Tiraan and the unnamed collector have offered a reward of eighty million silver for their safe return. For each bottle missing, the will offer a million less. This is the largest public reward ever offered, and mercenaries from all the lands are heeding the call. Rumors even cite that Erik Kell may come out of retirement for this opportunity. When Lord Tiraan was asked what would happen if the pirates returned the wine, he simply shrugged.
“We will ask no questions,” he said. “We simply want these precious treasures returned to the world.”
Lord Kieran
To the Oracle Collection-- Third Year