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What’s My F’ing Name?

Hi, Mom & Dad,

I’ve made it safely out of Rogalia and managed to get on a caravan heading north, eventually got to a town called Runeheim, that’s where I’m living right now. The trip was expensive, but I made it, should be able to pay the loans off without too much trouble. Business is slower than I expected, but I’ve got money. I’m working on some infrastructure improvements for the town, like a salt extraction facility essentially an evaporation still I designed that can be scaled up to process seawater), though that’s more of a community project, not a for-profit venture. Oh, I accidentally got appointed to political office, I’m a Master of Coin with House Dragomir now.

Doing pretty well, I made many new friends and only a few new enemies. Can’t really say that it’s much safer up here, there’s animals, ghosts, bandits, weird rune magic… They’ve even got their own vampires here (don’t worry, I’m wearing my scarf, so I’m safe). But at least now I have a choice in what dangers I get into and what I’m fighting for. I made my own crossbow to defend myself; Dad will appreciate this: I designed an optics system for it, it’s great for sniping from afar and getting an accurate kill shot (on things that have heads and can be taken down by a crossbow bolt, anyway…). Reload time is still a constraint, also, surprisingly, eye strain. I’ll try to figure out a solution after I finish this saltwater thing and this speech prosthetic I’m working on for a girl I met here. That’s another project, it’s been a fun challenge, it’s essentially imitating human vocal anatomy to make different sounds. It’s a lot to explain, I might just send you my schematic when it’s done.

Anyway, it’s been a lot these last few months, but I think I made the right choice. It’s… actually starting to feel a little bit like a new home. I’m staying safe, doing well, love you both. Oh, I did get my name stolen by a fae, so please send a replacement.

Love,
Your Son

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A Letter Leaving Runeheim

To the esteemed Sir Gawain of the Knights of the White Raven –

I wish to express my gratitude again for your assistance with my squire Frederick. He is recovering well and dutifully completing his penance for the loss of his sword, neither of which would be possible without your timely intervention.

I have oft been thinking of our discussion and of the Oath you recommended. I will not deny that the idea has its appeal, but to ask that of my Lady – it is a heavy burden to ask her to bear.

There is a problem that I would hear your advice on, should you have any to give to a Knight outside of your order: Vampires. I have not had the pleasure of campaigning against one in Rogalia, and now a powerful one threatens Runeheim, and by extension the House Valerian expedition. Are there military tactics that are particularly effective against them? Are there particular vampiric strengths I should be wary of? Is there a way to ascertain whether troops are human and following a vampire due to some control over their minds, or whether the troops are vampires or rooks themselves? And if they are still human, is there any way to wrest them away from the vampires’ control?

Safe travels and may God guide your hand.

Regards,
Sir Minona Rowland of the Order of the Roaring Sword

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First Letter to by Darling, of Lucian Greenfield’s Love

To my Darling,

I know it has been several weeks since we last departed, but I still feel the heat of your palm in my hand as we said our goodbyes. I was told that time dulls all pain, but still I feel the ache in my heart at not seeing your smile as the sun rises on our morning rides together.

Please allow me a moment to distract myself from my own heavy heart and write of other love that I have found between the clashing of swords as I fight for my Lady. While you will not get my letters till I return and read them to you myself, I do not want to forget what I have witnessed here. Even in the North, where the ice is the heaviest and winters the most frigid, love blossoms under the lack of light!

The first tale I weave is one that I have heard of my companion Lucian Greenfield. He is a quiet fellow in my company, though after pestering him with questions I hear of his true love Angela! And while their love is one of courtship and devotion, even producing a child named Peter as a symbol of their affection, it was…Well…I am to be bold, if I am going to write of it I will need to add a stroke of poetic liberty. I wanted to transform the tale of their meeting to be equivalent to that of the power I felt in his words and the love beating in his heart!

~ They met when their carriage was attacked by BANDITS. Two individuals connected by not a strand of fate, but by the will to survive! Individually traveling in a merchant’s carriage, not even names shared between them before the first bolt of an arrow of fire was launched at them! The door was lit aflame and the two of them jumped into action. It was at the edge of a cliff, the horses threatening to pull the carriage off the cliff sides if not for the quick wit of Angela (The aforementioned soon-to-be-lover) who opened the opposite door of the carriage and leaned out of it, stopping it from caterwauling off the side!!!!!! But the bandits were just as cunning as they were vile. They had in their sights the ransom payments for such a beautiful woman in her prime with a large dowry, who knows how much she would fetch?!

But Lucian would not allow it! He leapt forward and atop the carriage fought off not one, not two, but THREE bandits with nothing but his love and fists (Obviously he should have used his weapons, there was no time to draw them)! And after he threw them all off the sides, narrowly catching the hand of his beloved (THE FIRST TIME THEY HELD HANDS) before she fell beneath the thunderous spinning wheels of the carriage. And as they looked into each other’s eyes, truly their Souls, for the first time…The Bandits sent a final poisoned arrow flying from their cursed bow and POISONED HIM.

How could death try and steal him, when he had just met his beloved? But perhaps all in the fate of Love. Though she was entranced by his willingness to fight for her, when not a Knight himself, it was their conversation while she nursed him back to help that knitted their lives together in a beautiful tapestry. And who would not be seduced by the passion of the moment followed by caring for another, cleaning the bleeding and festered wound? Because what is one kind of love if not a bond kindled by battle but then softly fed by tender moments of conversation, a smile. A shared joke while pushing through a moment of pain. ~

I miss you, my Beloved. While a story like this one does bring a smile to my face, I truly miss yours.

With all my love and soul,

Lorelei

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Thoughts appreciated

Onson Sweemey,

Trust you are well, reaching out to get your thoughts my friend.

I completed a standard delivery a bit ago and it did not go as planned. What I need your help with, is trying to decide who is really at fault.

To provide some background, the delivery was requested by someone I would have considered a friend. You know us, we take the delivery, we don’t ask questions. Turns out, the recipient was not a group of individuals they were currently on great terms with nor were they expecting the delivery. When I get there, they did not treat me so kindly, but they did accept the delivery!

So the question is this, who should I be mad at?

The “Friend”.
The Recipient.
Felix.

Obviously, option 3 is where I will act like I blame, but everyone knows I don’t actually think that. He would never do me dirty and knowingly send me into a bad delivery. Initially my anger was with option 2 because obviously they were the ones who fucked with me. Now however, I see why they would have done it. They don’t owe me anything and they were not expecting a delivery from the sender. I kind of see their side. That leaves me with option 1. Why not give a heads up on some of the background? Of course, I still would have done the job. But wouldn’t you give a Homie a warning? Am I tricking myself and we were never Homies?

Anyway, thoughts appreciated.

Naught but Glory

I love you,
Damian

Accounts Payable

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Letter to a Friend

Young Master Vaughn,

As promised, I am writing to share a bit of the journey thus far in hopes of entertaining you. To be honest, I have little of note on myself so I think I will focus on the crew in this one.

The forward group of the House Valerian Porters consists of Sil, Felix, and I. Most notably from us is that Sil seemed to contract some sort of disease where everything he was handed was broken shortly thereafter. In his defense, it was never his fault. A Bear we have befriended broke a bow for example, so we may want to get him some gloves to ensure he can’t touch anything moving forward. I would say that we should warn others about this disease as well, but we all know no one would let him touch them anyway. I have been privileged enough to get to train with our gloriously masked Knight. He likes to act like he doesn’t enjoy my attitude. You and I both know the truth. The word on the street is that his sister should be joining us soon. I pray we are blessed with her presence. Alfred made me another sword in the image of my original. I will make sure you see it upon my return. We are lucky to have him with us. Tiffany made us a wonderful meal. The food was great and more importantly she grants us the opportunity to get together as a result. Speaking of that meal, Sir Minona beat the Mask in a duel for her preferred seat at the table. Always fun to watch their banter. Guy saved a priest and sacrificed his body to protect our Lady. He obviously survived, but knowing you can trust a man like that goes a long way. Woodsman had to babysit me on a few walks through the woods. If I am being honest, when I lose sight of him and catch him again I almost mistake him for one of the bears Sir Jokeri was playing with. One thing that remains a constant in my life is that William is one of my favorite people. The joy in one’s life is exponentially expanded by having someone like him in it. Rowan and I may be able to help form a little needle working club in town with the help of a new friend. Selfishly, I want to get to hang out with Rowan more and the needle working makes me look useful rather than needed for the attention. Gil is realistically in town for a greater purpose but what entertained me was the way he was terrorizing crows with his gun. He put one down that was about to attack me from behind, I owe him for that one. Lucian’s boy Peter almost got wrapped up in a peculiar situation and Lucian ended up going home to check-in on him after. If you hear anything about that please let us know. Leonora should be catching up with the forward crew soon. Never tell her this, but I am looking forward to seeing the old lady again. I do feel like I am missing someone else to update you on, I just can’t imagine who it could it be…? I am sure they have a commanding presence and are the driver to our success, but I just can’t seem to remember who that person is. It will come to me after I put the pen down ;).

Stay well out there my friend. Focus on your studies enough to get by. Train as if your life depends on it. Do your best to have some fun when no one is looking.

I will write you again soon.

Naught but Glory.

Your Friend,
Damian

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A letter to my son

Dear son,

Eighteen years ago, I left you asleep in your cradle next to the bed I shared with your father. Never had I imagined you’d be at my doorstep now. I envisioned a safe life for you, far away from me and the insanity of your grandfather. A life where you were raised to be a strong man, a sane man, well taken care of with a full belly to warm you each night.

As a mother, it’s in most of us to have a nature to seek out what is best for our children. You, young Trygve, will do better without me to poison your life. Leaving you is what was best, staying far from you is what is best, your father was meant to be what is best for you. He wa kind, he was caring, he was loyal, and he was so much more than I could ever be for you.

I left you with the name of my father in hopes that you’d clear it, make it whole, and leave a proper and proud legacy behind for him. A legacy not of a broken man who has lost himself, his wife, and his only son also named Trygve.. all because of me, you see? I’m a curse. I brought all this I’ll fortune upon our family.

When my mother gave up her life to keep our bellies full, I failed my brother and he fell to sickness because I didn’t know the first thing about caring for a young child. I still don’t, it’s why I left you to begin with. I hoped and I prayed each night that you could thrive and stay far away, alas.. maybe this curse is in my blood and you have now inherited it, despite all of my attempts to prevent it from grabbing hold of your soul.

Here you are, at my doorstep, having tracked me down because the one good person you had has been taken away from you. I’ve promised to teach you all that I can, but I cannot fathom that anything you learn from me will be what you’ll need to survive in this cold world as a man.

I cannot shield you from the terrors of the night, I cannot promise to keep your belly full, all I can teach you is how to be hungry and how to expect that life is a cruel and unforgiving monster. I can teach you about heartache, about lust, about how one day you may fall in love so deeply with someone who may not love you the same way back. I can show you what it feels like to hurt, to watch your people die around you, to pick up the scraps of the careless left behind and try to forge your own life. But is this really something a young man needs?

Will my tragedies be passed down to you? If they are, run. Run and don’t look back, because running away will be the only thing that can keep you alive. You can tell everyone that you are chasing something down, something important, in a hopes that maybe it’ll make you look far less a coward than I. But, I’ll be honest, some days I wonder if I’m even more sane than your grandfather.

I wonder if this life of following Knut for me has only been a distraction from the failings and shortcomings I’ve had all these years. I wonder if anyone else notices and if they do, why haven’t they told me? Is it because they feel sorry for me? If it is, what a pathetic life I’ve lived thus far. This is not the legacy I wish upon you, this is not the inheritance I wanted to bestow.

Find someone strong to be at your side, to keep you safe, and learn from them as much as you can. If your love interest tells you that you need to make 500 gold to marry him, find someone who will love you and respect you instead without stipulations and strings attached. Despite the smile on my face and eagerness to fulfill Knut’s request, despite the begging for his love, deep down I’ve always known he doesn’t actually love me. Let yourself be happy and don’t waste time on those who may not provide you with that happiness.

As a mother’s wish, if you want to do anything for me after I’ve done nothing for you, find happiness and hold it close to you. Don’t let it go, ever. I’m sorry that your father was too weak to stay alive longer for you. And I’m sorry you ever found me.

Also, don’t ever pay the price for goods that you would sell them at, ask to buy it for less. Always sell for more than the price you’d pay.

Good luck, Trygve. I can feel my time here will be ending soon and I hope that you do not join me
It is in your best interest. Stay with Tora and she will teach you all the things I would have.

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A Final Letter Home

[A letter transcribed by Gisla, sent from Runeheim with a courier going south.]

Mom, dad, I know what we are now and I know what a sacrifice is.

I know what we’re trying to do here.

I don’t think we’ll be writing any more.

I hope you’re proud. I love you.

[A lock of Vogel’s hair and a shitty doodle by Gisla of the five Greywolves are tucked into the envelope.]

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A Second Letter Home

[A letter transcribed by Gisla, sent from Runeheim with a courier going south.]

Hi mom, hi dad. Great news. Virgil and Olof survived as well. They wandered in, two months after us, and I guess Olof carried Virgil out of the mountains. No surprise there. We hope the rest of the party is still out there, and we’ll see them soon.

I saved the hunt. Java took us down a winding path and we got surrounded by Skoder’s offspring. We had to fight our way out, and barely did. Vestri and I looked around after we got out, and came to the same conclusion, and I had to run. And it worked. I drew seven of its offspring away, and kept them busy long enough for the rest of the party to kill Skoder. But that should have cost my life. I was lucky enough to be saved by the priest that was with us. I shouldn’t be alive.

They’re saying I’m gonna be a branded man.
I don’t want that.
But Runeheim needs it.
Is my life decided for me already?

Thanks for your advice, dad.

PS I still see the eyes of the offspring. Green eyes in the branded.

[A tuft of Scogerblodi’s fur is tucked into the envelope. It has a very strong smell – like a wild beast, but not any one in particular.]

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A Letter Home

[A letter transcribed by Gisla, sent from Runeheim with a courier going south.]

Hi mom! Hi dad! I just wanted to write to you to let you know that I’m still alive. We got through a blizzard! We got lost in the mountains and I thought I’d lost everyone. By chance, Vestri and Gisla and I reunited and we made it out of the blizzard and the mountains to this town called Runeheim.

This is a very important town. There’s a knight here, a lady, a mage, and at least one branded man? And there are so many different people. The knight thinks we fight well, and that makes me proud. I don’t think the lady knows who we are, but it’s pretty cool to see her. Also, you lied, the mage is super friendly! There’s also this branded man, whose skin is so hard they say it’s made of stone. I don’t believe him, but he got stabbed three times and it didn’t look like it hurt.
(The knight is Sir Knut Witchbane, the lady is Lady Vindicta Dragomir, the mage is Java, and the branded man is Ragnar Stoneskin –Gisla)

We met a greater spirit, called “Skoder” (Scogerblodi –Gisla). He commanded us to hunt him next season. Do you have any advice? Have you heard of this before? Here’s some animals and some plants from around the forest if that helps.

I think we’re gonna stay here for a while and help the town. They seem like they need it.

With love,
Vogel

PS What’s a sacrifice?
[the line was written and then scratched out]

[A shed lizard skin and some leaves are tucked inside the envelope.]

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Väkislaaksoon

Runeheim Leadership

I have scouted the area nearby the fort in the mountains, and send Astrid, Ulla, and Bil to do the same. The following is my report.

The mountains laden with fog and sharp stones gave way to a lush valley with green grass and open air. A dried riverbed ran along the groove of it and when I followed it to its conclusion there appeared to be some kind of constructed tunnel leading into the mountain. It was beyond my expertise to go further, but the valley looks peaceful and I suspect the tunnel is dwarven in make. I would suggest reaching out to Norri, or some of his dwarf-friends before beginning a dig in the area to see what lie beneath the earth.

I will call this valley Vlakislaaksoon, translated into the common tongue, Valley of the Dwarves.

I will be making my way back to the fort now.

-Torkeld