Third Passage of the Frost Moon

The Jeddan isle of Irutoka, now without an emperor, is scouring its lands for a suitable candidate. The Jeddans believe that the Emperor is a reincarnation of his former self, and many are worried that the missing Emperor isn’t dead.

"If he has simply abandoned his post and fled, then his spirit cannot reincarnate. He must be found and made to let go of his life," I was told by a Jeddan in the Aranorian Jeddan District.

Although the new emperor must meet many criteria, the foremost problem is the unknown whereabouts of the current Emperor. The Jeddans are employing every means possible to find him, including potent divinations. But he is obviously being protected by somebody of great magical capability. This is strange, since he was a near-enemy of most of today’s powerful magicians.

Two searches are underway, then – one for the new emperor, and one for the old. Nearly everyone in the Known Lands is hoping that the old Emperor will simply give up and go through with the ritual execution, so that Irutoka can have a new ruler – hopefully one that will re-instate the peace between Irutoka and the rest of the world. A peace that the recent Emperor destroyed when he attacked Mymé.

Tirian

The attack last passage was small, made by about eighty Maelmuirian soldiers. Such attacks are quite common, and are staged by Maelmuire every couple of years. But this one found Rilhaven totally unprepared.

"The first of the snows had fallen, and much of our military force was scattered through the woodlands, seeking out the dens of kraeven so that the diseased creatures could be killed while they’re hibernating," I was told by Lasandra, Rilhaven’s new emissary to Aranor. And the Maelmuirian soldiers were highly trained. "Although only three citizens were killed, over thirty buildings were burnt to the ground, including the old Hillstone Mill that provides much of the grain for the city."

Winters are always difficult for Rilhaven, but now some are doubting whether the city will survive the snows.

"We’ve been battered beyond belief," Lasandra said. "The Maelmuirians have informally told us that they are going to begin the reclamation of the lands which they feel belong to them. Rilhaven will fall first, but Cuan, Casara, Auralay, and Faol will all follow. We’re requesting aid from those cities, as well as from anyone in the Known Lands who is willing to help. We need fighting men, we need food stores, we need gold."

Such requests have gone out before, but thus far there have been few volunteers. Now may be Rilhaven’s last chance.

Lord Kieran

The first snows of Aranor are prompting the emergence of this year’s winter fashion – black.

"Black absorbs the heat of the sun unlike any other colour," says Miralai of Shard, a renowned apparel shoppe in the River District. "With that in mind, black leathers make the most sense when the winter cold sets in."

High black leather boots, long black leather overcoats, and wide-brimmed black leather hats are being seen in the streets, often lined on the inside with white fur.

"The white fur preserves the heat after the black leather has soaked it up," says Miralai. She also pointed out that all of Shard's leather wares are treated with special alchemical preparations so that they are ‘totally resistant to the penetration of moisture and water’.

Although some feel that the new look is rather stark, others are excited – including men.

"The long black leather jacket gives me a mysterious appeal," said Erik, who lives in the Merchant District. "Women are drawn to me."

He may be overstating the effect, but it’s certainly true that the fashion complements many people’s natural assets – especially lighter-coloured hair and defining cosmetics. The cuts are tending to be less bulky than previous winter fashions, so the lines of the body can be enhanced or cloaked according to a person’s desires.

At least one person thinks the whole idea is silly.

"Yes, these fashions look incredible, but once the real cold sets in, people are going to be wanting for good wools and thick furs. A strip of leather with some ermine fur sewn in isn’t going to keep anyone warm. People will be shedding their 1,000-silverpiece Shard outfits in favor of last year’s furs within the space of a moon. This whole 'black absorbs heat, white preserves heat' is a bunch of arcane clod."

We’ll see.

Tania