The Oracle
Second Passage of the Ice Moon
The Odd Skull of Olinda
Rainen is a sage who has been studying how pixies and sprites relate to each other for over ten years. Naturally, he was excited when Gwynned reopened for population; being perhaps the most fae-dense province inhabited by humans, he had a wonderful new chance to observe his subject of study. Little did he know that he'd find something that would excite sages of a different nature.
"I was camping in some old ruins near the city of Olinda when I discovered the skull -- it was quite black and crusted with mud and dirt, so I took it back to the city to wash it carefully. As I did, I found that it wasn't bone at all, but seemed to be made of some sort of dense wood or a kind of grained stone. It looked vaguely human, but was strangely different than a normal human skull, with long canines and odd markings all over it."
The carving is obviously a representation of a non-human skull, but thus far there is great debate as to what kind of creature it represents -- everything from demons to sujia has been suggested. Most remarkable of all, however, is the possibility that the skull might be an artifact from a forgotten race that once made the islands of the Old World their home.
"Sages have long thought that there were a people living in the Old World area before the Northerners. Most feel that they were fae, but the mystery lies in the fact that they seemed to have an advanced culture, where the Northerners were quite primitive. Under one current theory, humans came from across the seas and discovered 'wild' fae on a given island. In the case of the Old World, the humans bred with these fae and gave rise to the race of humans we know as the Northerners. The question this new discovery poses, however, is where these old ruins on Gwynned and other islands came from. If the humans really did encounter civilized fae, then where did their civilizations go?"
The answer lies thousands of years in the past, but ruins found on almost every island in Carador have yielded some intriguing clues. This skull, however, is perhaps the most enticing of all, since the unknown markings might possibly represent the first discovery of written language used by these ancient fae. For now, sages are still debating whether the skull is even as old as it appears. But if it can be proven that it predates human settlement of Gwynned, then we may have our biggest clue yet as to who dwelled here before we arrived.
Tania
Attempted Assassination of Queen Anabelle
On holiday at her country estate, Queen Anabelle Avorine experienced a harrowing flight through the woodlands on horseback as a number of riders attempted to kill her. The Queen has been drawing immense criticism in the past moons for her new policies regarding the application of equal justice. Since its earliest days, Masalla's common class has suffered under a system where nobles are nearly exempt from the law, and not since the Unicorn Wars has anyone attempted to change those ingrained beliefs. If one can imagine it, these beliefs purport that people of higher birth are actually of higher quality, and therefore deserving of special privileges. Because of this, numerous rapes and murders of peasants and commoners have been overlooked. In contrast, the Queen has hung over twelve nobles in the past six passages -- all for crimes against the common class.
"This is gaining her more enemies than you can count. We'll be having a new Queen soon," says Taeven, a visiting noble from the city of Merydian. But when one pays attention to the other rumors afloat, one can't be too sure. The King, famous for his outspoken position on maintaining the 'dignity' of Masallan culture, has been strangely silent of late, and many are wondering if he is being manipulated in some manner by the Queen. More disturbing still to the Masallan nobles are the reports that the Queen has been seen with the Archmage Cowan Faol -- a suggestion which quickly implies that the Archmage, on orders from Queen Lillian, is taking over Masalla by using magic to gain control of the monarchy. Since Queen Lillian's takeover of the Old World three years ago, the other provinces of the world have been watching in apprehension, hoping that she will be satisfied with the Old World. Her expressions of goodwill and open, peaceful attitude have laid many of those fears to rest, but this new development is getting people nervous again.
Queen Lillian personally assured me that she has no part in Lord Faol's relationship with Queen Anabelle, and that her interest in Masalla is in having a relationship with an esteemed and independent province. Nothing more.
As for the attempt on Queen Anabelle's life, details of the failed assassination are varied, but it is clear that the Queen is safe and quite alive.
Lord Kieran
Moraithian Youth Spread Culture
Seven-year-old Malachai is dancing in snakeskin pants and wearing a monkey-face mask. Why? He's doing a dance that praises Aratanía, the monkey-headed serpent god of native Moraithe.
It all began when his parents took him on holiday to Zhakarlay, where he was amazed by the presence of native Moraithian culture. When he came back to Staladin, his parents helped him do research, and before long he had a group of his friends interested. Now the group of six-to-fourteen-year-old boys and girls are learning native dances, learning to cook native food, and even learning the language.
"We want to teach people about the first people of Moraithe," says Malachai. "We weren't the first ones here, you know. The Tarárae, or Native Moraithians, still live in the jungles, and most of their culture is unknown to modern people. We're here to show people the beauty of their ways."
The children began dancing at outdoor performances, but it wasn't long before Duke Amasay invited the group up to the palace to dance for the court. From there? The world. Tarárae Moraithe, as their troupe is known, is making their way to Aranor for their first overseas performances. They'll serve traditional native food and perform dances. Malachai, the founder of the group, opens each performance.
"I hope that this opens our eyes to the ways of native peoples everywhere," he says. "We may think them primitive, but their lifeways are full of beauty and wisdom, and in respecting them we can learn much of what it means to be human." And then the dances begin.
Performances will start on the first passage of the Melting Moon, and will be held each An Tir, An Maad, and An Aran. Performances are to be held in the small theater in the Theater of Aranor, and entrance will cost a mere five silver. Food will be additional, of course.
Tirian
To the Oracle Collection--Third Year