The Oracle
First Passage of the Dry Moon
Huge Bear Frightens Aranor
It lumbered in through the southern gates of the city, startling guards. As it made its way down the roadway, people screamed and locked themselves into buildings. Finally, guards cornered the massive creature in a small park, surrounding it with horses.
“It was a bear of a sort none of us had ever seen or heard of,” said Tura, one of the guardswomen on the scene. “Huge and reddish-coloured – much larger than any known bear.”
Its fur looked so thick that guards didn’t think crossbows could stop the beast. As archers and huntsfolk were summoned to the scene, guards scurried to bring a ballista to the park.
“It seemed the only thing capable of killing such a beast,” Tura went on. “We thought if we shot it with bows, it would only become enraged and attack us.”
Just as the ballista arrived, however, a priest of Maya rode up. He broke through the ranks and dismounted, then walked up to the animal with soothing words. To the crowd’s amazement, he was able to calm and even touch the agitated bear. With guard escorts on either side, he led the bear from the city, where it ran off into the forests.
The priest refused any comment or explanation, but simply made his way back to Maya’s temple. But the huntsfolk provided us with more than enough speculation. Most, it seems, felt that it was a rare breed of bear that had somehow found its way from the mountains near Kern. At least one man insisted that it was an elemental bear – one of those legendary ‘kings’ and ‘queens’ of the forest dwellers.
Whatever the case, the priest of Maya demonstrated that the deities can still provide a peaceful alternative, if only our belief is strong enough.
Tirian
Historical Fashions Coming to the Old World
Calling itself a ‘traveling museum of fashion’, a group of nobles will arrive next moon from Masalla to set up a two-moon long display in the Museum of Aranor. The display features authentic dresses from the major fashion periods through the ages.
Initiated last year, after the collection was completed, the traveling museum has already given displays in all the major Masallan and Moraithian cities.
The show gives observers a chance to see how the Masallan Expansion contributed to ancient fashions – and how those fashions contribute to the clothes we wear today.
Posts will be hung throughout the city, and it is likely that Illumination will publish a treatise on the subject. It is sure to be an enlightening experience, and already designers in Aranor are fussing over new patterns and designs.
“This display,” said Marie, a designer in the River District, “could change the trend of modern fashion by infusing it with the designs of antiquity. Expect to see some new styles emerging in the coming moons!”
I, for one, will wait with anticipation.
Tania
Moraithe Slave Rebellion
Conditions in the plantations of Moraithe can sometimes be harsh for slaves. Although there are laws governing the treatment of slaves, the laws are not always followed, and there is little enforcement. It seems that a group of mistreated slaves has chosen to enforce those laws themselves.
Gathered under a man known as ‘Saul’, over a hundred slaves belonging to one Lord Aranin have abandoned their duties and sealed themselves in Lord Aranin’s house, with Lord Aranin as their captive.
We are not contesting our position as slaves, wrote Saul in a missive delivered to Moraithian authorities, but Lord Aranin’s disregard for the laws of Moraithe. Slaves under Lord Aranin have suffered beatings, rape, and imprisonment.
Although reasonable up to that point, the letter goes on to demand the safe transport of the slaves, along with their captive, to the New World. Saul insists that to hand over Lord Aranin would simply give Moraithian authorities leave to raid the house.
Moraithian authorities at first responded aggressively, stating that Saul and his fellow rebels would be ‘harshly punished’ as an example to other slaves. As further investigations reveal more and more about Lord Aranin’s misdoings, however, there is some talk of strengthening enforcement of what is known as the ‘slave code’ – a set of laws protecting the basic rights of enslaved individuals.
The two factions are hotly debating the situation, while the slaves remain surrounded in Lord Aranin’s house, ready to slay the lord if Moraithian authorities attempt to break in. We will report more as it transpires.
Lord Kieran
To the Oracle Collection-- Third Year