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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

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Unsent Letters: To Mom

[There’s small, wrinkled spots on the page with ink bled into slightly rounded shapes from the written words in various places across the page. The paper is wrinkled from being crumpled and discarded, before it was unfolded by the reader.]

Mom,

I haven’t written to you in months, I think. A lot has happened since I left home and I just got around to thinking about the last time I saw you and Dad.

I met a boy and his parents while I was on the road after I left town. They helped me out, then I was in Runeheim recently. I’m in Hrafnakastali for the moment. It’s odd here but I don’t mind it much. The sudden move is a long story but I’m safe, if you were wondering.

I have a chicken now, feisty little thing but I think you’d like her. I named her Marigold. I don’t have a husband but Mom, trust me. The men here aren’t much better than the ones at home.

I saw Thyre a few seasons ago. She mentioned she was getting spring product ready last winter. I didn’t think to ask about you and Dad when she was visiting. How are you two? Did you make anything new for spring and summer? How’s the town and our neighbors?

Mama, I miss you and Dad. Can I come visit once things settle down? I can bring some ingredients, and we can make something special for a season. Are you looking for anything specific lately?

[The last sentence of the letter is roughly scribbled out in a block of ink. Unreadable to the viewer.]

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Letter to Java

[A folded note, written on the back of one of the flyers Fafnir spread the previous forum, with “Java” written on the outside]

One year ago, twelve brave souls left Kallevik:

Torgrim Ingrid Elna Sindri Arni Leifr Katla Olof Vestri Vogel Virgil Gisla

We did not leave in search of coin, or adventure, or glory, but instead on a dire quest. The She-Wolf Jorg had visited our village and found it wanting. We sought to find some feat that would make us worthy in her eyes – or at least if she would not turn a favorable eye on us, to at least spare our families.

I hope we’ve succeeded. If you found this, Java, we most likely have not. I’m sorry to have brought you grief, but I hope that we have helped you in some way as well. We have one last request – that you remember Kallevik and its final heroes. Please, take what we have gathered and put it to good use for Runeheim’s defense and give Fafnir hell.

Good hunting.

Gisla of Kallevik
[the Kallevik wolf’s head heraldry is drawn beside the name]

[A few blotches of ink from the pen tapping on the paper, as if the author thought for a moment about this last piece – it is an obvious addendum and written in a faster, sloppier hand]

Time is short – Her breath hot on the back of my neck – but you at least should know. “We” is a coward’s lie. It was always my fault. I’m sorry

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A letter Home

Father,

I am settled now in Runeheim near the bank of the treacherous Keltana. I write now to plea for help for the smallfolk here settled. House Fafnir have arrived and seek domination of the people and take more than the land can give, Please bring notice to the Jarl of Shadowhall that a Thing were called here for Jarldom of the Bear Hide, challenging the sitting Jarl Overturner. The people here are good, but beset by darkness on all sides, and I fear there is trouble brewing north of the river that if not turned back will mean misery for too many. Please help us and send any aid you can to Runeheim. I look forward to hearing your response.

Your diligent Son,
Torkeld

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Start again [Letter to Sheamus]

[A letter from Ianthe Jovienne to Shaemus, a Dunnick trader from the caravan that visited Luisant last market. A continuation of “Absentee”]

Sheamus,

How are you, darling? Valko and I do hope your caravan is fairing well, and that the roads and trading merchants have treated you most handsomely.

I find lately that I cannot stop dwelling on the breadth of the world beyond our little town. I’m sure I’ve walked the length of Dunland’s coast in restless circles around Luisant; I’ve cataloged every tombstone, wild rose, and corbel. The sights are all the same– beautiful though they may be, they begin to bore. It would be a tragedy to die without know more than this.

To be frank, the state of Luisant has grown rather tumultuous since last we spoke. This market is poised to be the most well-attended in some time. It will be an opportune occasion to say our goodbyes.

Following this market Valko and I plan to explore the world; however, we would feel much more at ease provided your caravan’s guidance and numbers. There may be others likewise intrigued by our venture. We hope that you might have them too. Of course, we’ve no desire to stunt the speed of your journey. We would be glad to receive correspondence designating a place to meet you at an appointed date and time. We will do our best to be punctual. However, if this is to be our last correspondence, we wish you a warm farewell.

With love,
Ianthe

She signed and sealed it, daring to hope that they might convince others to join them. If all went well, and they escaped Chiropoler alive, this letter might be enough to ensure their future.

It wasn’t too late for them to start again.