Letter's Home 4

Dear Mum,

So much to talk about – it's hard to know where to start! I guess I'll just go chronologically. Isn't that what they always tell us bard's to do? Start at the beginning...

I did a watch with Neris last night. It was good to spend some time getting to know her a little bit better. Like me, she's never really done much adventuring. She's spent most of her life working in her uncle's shop, I guess that's kind of like me spending most of my time hanging around the Wayfarer's Rest eh? I've had a little bit more experience I guess though, since I've traveled from Jayall to get here. Anyway, it's nice to know I'm not the only one in the group just “testing the waters” so to speak. I mean, Gen and Whiffy both seem to be seasoned adventurers and Meren's probably seen a lot as she's lived in the woods and then learned about magic!

I think I'm going to start making breakfast for the group whenever they let me. Everyone really liked what I did this morning, and it's probably our most “regular” meal of the day with us being on the move. It's good to get a good foundation to our day before we head out. Especially because we never know what we might encounter! So far it's been calm, but I'm sure that won't last.

Speaking of which, we're only a day or so away from our destination! I'm both excited and a little nervous. I know your worrying, but I promise I'll be careful. I'm well aware that I've never been in any type of battle before.

Guess what? We met a Centaur today! His name is Kryro and apparently he's been friends with Meren since they were young. In fact, he even has a nickname for her! He calls her Peren, but we weren't able to figure out exactly why or what that might mean. I'm sure it's nothing horrible though, she looks embarrassed, but he has that “brotherly teasing” look on his face whenever he says it. He didn't seem too sure of our group at first, but once Meren vouched for us he calmed down, although I'm sure he never really put his guard down. There's something about Centaurs that makes you think they are always serious on one level, even when they start teasing and joking with an old friend.

We asked Kryro for information about the Wizard Phanto, but he wasn't able to do much more than confirm our suspicions and what we already knew. Apparently his people avoid the deserted town that Phanto has made his home, and I don't blame them! I probably would as well if I wasn't on this quest! One thing he was able to help with is he's going to take Rory back with him so that he's safe and stays out of whatever we have ahead of us. That's a big weight off of all our minds. He's also going to get a message to Meren's people to make sure they know what's going on so they can be careful.

Well that's it for today. I love you Mum!

Illia

Letters Home - 2

Dear Mum,

We set out on our mission yesterday morning, and I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am! This is exactly the type of thing I’ve been hoping to do ever since I set out from Jayall. I mean, sure I love getting to see different towns and people, but for once I’m going to be a part of the stories I sing about. I can make a difference in the lives of the people of this town. Maybe I’ll even get to write my own song about our adventures!

I spent some time at lunch yesterday talking to Meren. She’s the wood elf in the party and Lady Kris’s apprentice. She intrigues me. I haven’t known very many wood elves, and I know they can be very different from high elves, but something about her seems off even for that. It might just be that she’s a wizard’s apprentice, but I don’t really think that’s it either. I mean, I’ve known some wizards and their apprentices (remember when Nadoll set the town hall on fire?), and it seems different. I can’t put my finger on it.

Oh well, for all that she’s different, Meren is very nice, and she seems to know what she’s doing, at least so far. We’re in her element right now because we are travelling through the forest towards the place where this “Phanto” is located. Right now we’re on the path, but we’ll be leaving it eventually to avoid some kobolds. The last thing we want is them notifying Phanto we’re on the way, or worse, ambushing us.

You know how much I love languages right? Well Meren has started to teach me Wood Elvish! I’m so excited! There are some similarities to High Elvish, and some things that are very, very different. At least that’s how it seems from what little I’ve learned so far. Mostly we’ve just been exchanging words. How to say “pot” and things like that. She doesn’t know High Elvish, so I’m teaching her what I know as we go along. I’m hoping to pick up a few words in the languages of our other travelers as well. Not too sure I want to learn kobold though…

Meren says hi by the way. She thinks it’s great that I’m writing you!

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I didn’t have time to finish this at breakfast – hopefully I’ll have enough time to catch up this time!

Last night we met some small creatures that I’ve never seen before. I have no idea what they were, but they were friendly, and they were good musicians! We ended up spending some time playing tunes, and some of the other members of the party even started dancing! I think Gen was a little tipsy, there’s no other explanation for the gnome dancing with the kobold…you would have been cracking up Mum! Wish you could have seen it.

Speaking of dancing kobold’s, who would have thought that they are such good dancers? Not only was Whiffy pretty good at dancing with Gen, he surprised us all with some incredible acrobatics! I almost dropped my harp and started clapping. I settled for a whistle instead if I remember correctly. Last night’s a little fuzzy. I promise I didn’t drink much, but apparently the “moonlight” that Meren shared with us is much stronger than what I grew up around at the tavern! If it makes you feel any better it hit Gen pretty hard too. Although Gen’s a gnome, so who knows how differently our body processes things? We were all glad that Meren had some tea that helped take away some of the side-effects!

This letter is getting long, so even though I have more to say, I’ll seal this one up and start another one with its own stories. I love you Mum!

Illia

Letters Home - 1

Dear Mum,

I reached a town called Springwell today and met the owners of the Blue Wyvern Inn. It’s always nice to reach a new town. New people, new sites, and hopefully new stories and songs! As always I’ve been collecting stories as I traveled the road on my way here. Most of them weren’t the type that you’d share in a big room, but I relish hearing the stories of people’s lives just as much.

I met an elven woman as I traveled earlier today. We stopped and had lunch together. She didn’t look down on me like the elves back home often did. That’s one thing that’s been refreshing about traveling farther south, the elves down here seem to be less prudish about mixed races.

Anyway, you would have loved her Mum! Her name Falira and she had the prettiest smile you’ve ever seen. It took me awhile to get her to smile though. She was traveling to visit her sick mother. As you know full well, it’s not often that elves get sick enough that death is a risk, so she’s very worried at being called home to her mother’s side. I think I was able to help ease her worries, at least for a short while, by distracting her with our laughter and conversation.

I’m going on a quest! Now I know you’re going to start worrying the minute you read that, but I’ll be ok Mum, really I will! I’ve been through lots of adventures (as you know) since I left Jayall and at least this time I won’t be on the road alone. Although I must admit our group of adventurers is a bit, um, different.

We have myself, a gnome, another elf (but she’s rather strange for an elf), a dwarf, and a kobold. Yes, I said a kobold. That’s going to be really interesting, especially since we also have a gnome along, and you know how kobold’s and gnomes are like oil and water. No something worse. Like an explosive and a torch! So far they’ve been civil, but that’s about it. The gnome offered the throw the kobold out of the tavern if Davkul wanted him to, and during our meeting the kobold was staring at the gnome like he was just daring him to start something.

I’m getting a little ahead of myself though – you probably want to know what the quest is all about right? We’ve been commissioned by Lady Kris, a local wizardess, to find a charm that apparently helps to keep Springwell safe. Lady Kris believes a wizard, one who’s not that powerful, stole it from her. She said we shouldn’t have to worry about the magic part too much, and I’m not really worried. Her assistant is going with us, so I’m hoping she can help if needed, and I’ve picked up a few small things on the road myself.

We’re setting off in the morning, so I should probably put out the candle and get to sleep. I love you Mum. Try not to worry. I’ll write you more soon!

Love,

Illia