Fourth Passage of the Melting Moon

Guards were forced to fire arrows into a crowd of Jeddans who began to rampage down the main shopping street in the River District last An Aran. It is estimated that over eighty Jeddans, screaming their opposition to Queen Lillian’s demands to the Emperor, decided to take matters into their own hands.

The group of men and women ran down the street, overturning carriages, breaking shoppe windows, and attacking shoppers.

"We had little choice," says Erik, one of the first guards on the scene. "They were hurting people."

Both crossbows and longbows were used to attack the mob, which quickly broke up as the arrows found their marks. Twelve people were arrested and taken to the healers to be treated for arrow wounds, while at least a few others escaped with injuries. Sixteen citizens of Aranor also were treated at the healers’, mostly for minor injuries. No one was killed.

Unfortunately, this will probably only generate more ill will toward the Emperor’s cause.

Tirian

"This is the height of ineptitude," said Ranon, the Dockmaster in charge of Jalpa’s merchant docks.

The event he is describing happened in the late afternoon of last An Sel, when two large merchant-class vessels, both loaded with cargo, collided about a hundred paces off the docks.

"The La Belle rammed into the side of the Errant, catching its bow in her port hull. The Errant listed to the side, further trapping La Belle, and then the fights began."

Most agree that La Belle might have been freed, and cargo saved from both ships, but as the crew of La Belle leapt forward and began hacking at the Errant’s broken hull in order to free their ship, the crew of the stricken ship attacked, swords drawn.

"They apparently thought that their ship wasn’t going to sink, and that La Belle’s crew had not only had the audacity to ram them, but was now hacking them apart!"

A bloody melee ensued, and even ships dispatched from the docks to rescue cargo and crew couldn’t stop them.

"By the time we had ships out there, the Errant was heavy with water, and had tipped La Belle’s stern clear out of the water. The men were still fighting – can you believe it?"

Both ships finally sank beneath the water, and the crews were pulled from the waves. At least four men were lost.

The Errant was carrying wines from Jedda, Masalla, and Moraithe, recorded at over 3 million silver’s value, and La Belle had a mixed cargo of rough gemstones, fabrics, wood, spices, and brasswork from Jedda Felsuin. Values are recorded at just under 2 million silver.

Lord Kieran

No one’s really sure where the new fashion trend for men has come from, but don’t be surprised if you see some men wearing some pretty big swords this spring.

"Perhaps this is a sort of strange male response due to the fact that women are now wearing, and using, swords." This from Alara, one of Aranor’s finest swordmakers. She has been encouraging women to learn how to use blades since the founding of Aranor.

"Now men are coming in and asking me for bigger, heavier blades. The myth seems to be that these swords are more ‘powerful’. Ha! If any of them would actually have to use one, they’d barely be able to swing them!"

Although Alara has a rather wry opinion of the new trend, Aradell, a sage with Illumination, has another view.

"Most people who wear swords in an urban setting aren’t really wearing them for combat purposes," he explains. "Such weapons are worn, by both men and women, as a symbol of their social status and personal power. You can tell a lot about a person by the sword they wear in social contexts. These warswords have an ancient lineage – they aren’t used any more because they are simply too slow and unwieldy, but then again, the blades you’re seeing on the street aren’t being worn by serious warriors or adventurers. They’re being worn by folks wealthy enough to afford such a trophy, and the message is one of associating themselves with the warriors of long ago – colorful, legendary, and larger-than-life."

Whatever the case, the long, heavy swords are in demand, and can now be found for sale at almost every swordmaker’s shoppe in the city.

Tania

To the Oracle Main Page

To the Oracle Collection—Third Year