Third Passage of the Snow Moon

Jishu Ridai is becoming a legend. With over thirty ‘kills’ to his name, this native-Jeddan born mage claims that he’s helping to ‘rid the world of pain’. From his earliest encounter with a ‘monster’ – a nightfae that killed his mother – he has sworn to make the world safer. He has been hired by people of many provinces – usually to exact vengeance upon creatures who have killed a loved one. One of the only provinces he hasn’t visited? The Old World.

"Queen Lillian lives in ignorance of the true danger monsters pose – by allowing leniency in her city, she supports the ridiculous ideal that victims are somehow at fault."

He refers to a statement allegedly made by Queen Lillian early in her reign, which suggested that most creatures of this nature work by luring their victims. People must learn to be wary of danger, she suggested, and act of their own volition.

That’s not a freedom Jishu wishes to give people. "With their powerful glamouric capabilities, demons, vampires, wraithes and predatory fae can be safely labeled as merciless devourers of humans."

Strong words, but those who hire him are usually satisfied. Now the leader of the city/province of Gwynned has asked him down to deal with a potent vampire plaguing the city. He will arrive with three of his apprentices and promises to ‘burn the creature before the next moon’.

He stopped briefly on his way in Aranor, where he distributed flyers and tacked up posters. They read –

Citizens of Aranor. You need not live in fear. Petition your queen to allow the entrance of myself and my apprentices. Within three moons your city will be a safer place. Demons will flee with the very knowledge that I come.

It went on to explain that after his business in Gwynned is over, he will come back to Aranor and attempt to hire himself out. At present, Queen Lillian has stated that he won’t be allowed within the city, calling him a ". . . doomsayer whose true prey is humankind. He uses fear to rob people of their gold, and most of his ‘kills’ are unsubstantiated – he often burns the bodies before he presents them to his employers."

Tirian

As predicted by our own Lady Emily of Illumination, Maelmuire’s offer of ‘peace’ has been roundly rejected by the leaders of Faol, Casara, Cuan, and Auralay. Lord Niall of Rilhaven, surprisingly, has not yet responded.

Queen Lillian has been approached by numerous citizens, diplomats, and emissaries from all lands. The question everyone is asking is whether she will come to the defense of the New World if Maelmuire attacks.

Since her appointment of Storm, former Princess of Maelmuire, as her official regent in Aranor, the Queen’s position on Maelmuire has been unclear. When I asked her personally, she responded that she is ‘yet undecided’, and ‘is approaching Maelmuire for a discourse’. It is believed that she is not entirely unsympathetic to the Maelmuirian cause.

Most sages agree that the history of the settlement of the New World followed the theme of most Masallan-derived settlements. The settlers built upon inhabited isles, displacing or killing off the natives. This was the case with our Northerners in the Old World, with the native Moraithians in Moraithe, and with the natives of Rel Morde. The Maelmuirians, though not thought of as ‘natives’ due to their advanced civilization, were present on the isle hundreds of years before the arrival of the settlers from the Old World.

We will update you as more becomes available.

Lord Kieran

Three sages specializing in fae have all agreed – the light that has been seen in the city park is definitely a will-o-the-wisp.

"These lights are defined by their specific appearance and colours," said Davus, one of the sages. "It is also exhibiting luring behavior."

Such apparitions are unheard of in urban areas. Although mysterious, it is well known that they will lead their followers to an unnamed fate – sometimes good, sometimes bane.

For the last three nights guards have managed to find the wisp and warn off any would-be followers. Twice they have intentionally followed the wisp, but both times it simply led them a distance into the forest and then disappeared.

"It’s indescribably beautiful," said one onlooker.

The guard of Aranor has asked us to warn citizens not to follow any strange lights. They note that unscrupulous individuals might be using news of the phenomenon to craft lanterns in an attempt to lure victims into the deeper parts of the park, where they could be robbed or worse. Until the wisp moves on to new territory, be especially wary!

But it wouldn’t hurt to sneak a peak at the thing. It’s a rare opportunity, and though the guard asked me not to do it, I’m disclosing that the wisp has been repeatedly sighted along the parklands south of the gypsy camp.

Tania

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