Tarradon's letter to his parents

[Dezza]

Dear Mother and Father,
I must start by apologising for leaving home so abruptly but I felt that after what happened it was the best thing to do. I felt terrible that not just I but also you mother lost your Job with Master Febris and after 17 years working for him. It was not fair at all. I have since heard Talia was sent to some monastry in some forgotten place. I was sad to hear that someone with such a great love of life has met that fate. I dont know how Master Febris could do that to his own family. But then he never was fond of Talia as she was always getting into trouble. He always doted on the other three.  I have not heard from Doric or Ramen but I hope you have and that they are well. I could not imagine serving in the King of Dregers army like they are but I hope they will be safe especially with whats happening in the world at the moment. I caught up with Anthon the other week, he is a surly as ever. I took a sea journey with some companions and one of the ports we pulled into I saw Anthons ship there. He seems to still be in Master Febris's good stead. I know he is my brother and I love him but he is very much a lackay to Master Febris and he pretty aquarely put the blame of everything that has happened on me. I know he is right but I still wanted to punch him in the nose. Also he forgot it was my birthday and I turned 19 but oh well.
Anyway I have been very busy since I left home, events have arisen which led me to Hlint where I have met up with a number of wonderful people. One of which, a woman called Serenity (and no its not what you think!), has taken me under her wing and helped me get started with some sort of life here. I have been learning new skills and, father will be proud of me, honing my combat skills, I have been helping drive back the goblins and kobolds in the areas and recently ogres as well. I am doing very well and have even managed to purchase myself a fine suit of armour and a solid blade of my own. I have enclosed here some of the gold I have managed to acquire, I hope it helps.
As I was saying I have met some wonderful people, Serenity who is, well one could say complicated, but a true friend, Mr Ozy a most intriguing man who always talks in riddles, Dimmy a fun filled and funny half giant, Moragg a most generous half orc priestess and many, many others others, most of which I have got along with really well.
Some of the things I have seen are amazing as well. The most amazing is probably the Blue Dragon I saw when travelling by ship recently. I am discovering that I really like dragons. Actually one of the Wizards I have met, Reggub he is called, turned himself into a dragon not long ago. It was the most magnificent thing I have ever seen. And another guy Arestes can turn himself into a small birdsize dragon. Its fantastic.
Anyway I am well, thanks mainly to the wonderful friends and companions I am making here, I hope you and Father are well and I will continue to send you some gold whenever I can.
Will write again soon,
Love Tarradon.

[Dezza]

Dear Mother and Father,
I am so gladdened to hear that you returned to Waysend safely. The recent events that have plagued me are over for now thank the gods. Hopefully with the extra gold I sent with you and the herbs we acquired will speed your recovery. Father I pray that you will look after Mother as you have always done. I did not tell you what happened in the end so I will endeavour to do so now. Master Febris had acquired the alliance of a particular house of evil Drow who were stealing family heirlooms from other families and giving them to Febris who acted as a fence and access point to the surface world. They obviously felt it was safer selling the stuff there than in the underdark. However the brotherhood took exception to this activity becasue it came into their territory so they intercepted some of the drow and took what turned out to be a particularly special coin. Anyway thats when we got dragged into this, you came to visit me on one of Febris's ships and in so doing got poisoned instead of Febris. That was when he blackmailed me into intercepting the Brotherhood member and getting the pouch which had the coin in it back for Febris. Well thats when the world turned on its head Febris was convinced it was Talia who had tried to poison him and so told me the only way I will get the antidote for the poison was to bring him her head. Which you knew I could not do as I loved her once, in fact I still do but she is not mine any longer, she has her own destiny to fulfill and I am content with that for some reason. I think I understand where she is coming from even though she did use me to some degree. Anyway the Drow who had discovered the loss of their coin came after me to get it back, Febris's drow he was allied with came after me to get the coin back and the Brotherhood put a mark and a price on my head for killing their member and taking the coin. With all this going on at the same time I feared for my life every moment of every day, assassins coming at me left and right, brotherhood members, mercenaries and drow. i could not go anywhere. Even Hlint was not safe for me. I could not travel with anyone as I put them in danger as Oskar found out one evening when we were brought to within an inch our our lives from one such attack.  Where does Talia fit in you ask? Well Talia is in league with an order of Good elves apparently who wage a fight against the drow and in this case Febris as well. She was the one who brought me into the situation unknowingly and then subsequently use me to fascilitate her goals. I can tell you the emotional and physical torment I have suffered over the last weeks has almost driven me mad. But with the help of Krodish, a companion of mine we succeeded in rushing the order where the Drow were hiding found them there and led the other faction to them, we did get caught in the crossfire between them but eventually succeeded in making it to the area where Febris was hiding out with his drow allies. Defeating him the remaining drow left, the brotherhood were appeased with his death so they have left me alone for now and Talia, well she appeared at the end with her Elven allies and produced the antidote I was looking for. So there ends the tale and I hope that I do not see another drow or a member of the brotherhood for a very long time. I have thanked Krodish for his aid as I could not have done it without him. What is important is that you and father are now safe and have some gold in your pockets to help with things.For me I am back in Hlint and working harder now towards preparing for the battle to come against the blood. I have renewed energy and vigour and I think that my trials over the last few months have made me realise that I can have a part to play in this and to that end I will devote myself to preparing. Anyway Love to you both,
Tarradon Duvall

[Dezza]

Dear Mother and Father,
It has been some time now since I have written and with recent events gathering momentum I was unsure when you would next hear from me. No doubt you have already heard what is happening with the Blood being on the march once again. His slow inexorable encroachment on the lands of Mistone has everyone on edge. Every day new faces appear in the preparation of the war against the Blood. Everywhere smithies hammers ring on anvils late into the nights, the leather makers, the woodcarvers and more all are working almost around the clock to equip everyone with the best equipment to give them the best chance to defend against the Blood and his hoards when they arrive. Every day also some do not return from their forays, whether they drew too close to the armies of the Blood and were slain or other fates met them they have not returned, luckily each day new adventurers alight upon Hlint to replace those who fall. How long this can continue I don't know I just hope that we will be ready.
I guess each day I walk outside the gates of Hlint where I have based myself there is a chance that I may not return also. Day by day places are becoming more dangerous. Orcs, goblins, kobolds have all been driven north by the Bloods armies and clash more and more with the heroes gathering in Hlint.
Another thing I have heard and I take this on good authority as I trust the person who told it to me with my life, is that an enigmatic creature known as the Shifter has started appearing on Mistone helping some and hindering others. The High Coucnil you see and some of the heros are engaged directly in finding powerful items of magic and allies who can assist in the War against the Blood and increase our chances of Victory and somehow the shifter is involved in that as well. The High council and a number of heroes are seeking an ancient library of knowledge and a weapon called the Sword of shadows. I worry though as the council has become divided on the issue of who will wield the sword and how they should fight the Blood as well. Also some seek to control the information they have been seeking from the rest of us adventurers while others want everyone possible to know what is going on. You are probably wondering how I know those things well I have met a few members of the High Council and also met with those who are close to members of the High Council.
On a lighter note however you will be pleased to know that with all the trouble I have been working constantly myself learning the art of weapon crafting, armour crafting and woodwork. Father will laugh, I am sure, to imagine me working long hours over a forge. Its probably something he would never have expected but I guess times necessitate it. I am also earning a bit of money now with the sale of some of my weapons and especially the shields I have been making so I can't be too bad.
You will be interested to hear that in all the doom and gloom I have met someone. One of the adventurers who has come to town recently, she is; well lets say its the first I have felt anything for anyone after Talia. I think I have put that chapter of my life to bed now but I fear getting too involved with someone with the war fast approaching. Anyway time will tell if anything comes of it. I won't say anything more about it until I am sure she returns my affections, we shall see what happens.
Oh and one more thing the dream I had as a boy is getting closer to becoming a reality. I have met with High Priest Quintayne who has agreed to hear my petition when I am ready, my funds are building steadily and I am starting to put ink to paper to establish the tenants I desire. The war may put an end to those goals of course but if we succeed, which I surely hope we do, then I will be ready.
I still have not heard any word from Doric or Ramen so I hope you have and they are well. I saw Anthon recently in Point Harbour he was very happy, as well he should be since Talia appointed him head Ships master of her fathers fleet when she took over his business interests. I still had to buy dinner for us, typical Anthon.
Anyway there is some gold enclosed here for you I will send more when I can.
Love Tarradon Duvall

[Dezza]

*A hastily written letter*
Dear Mother,
I hope this letter reaches you in time. Word has spread quickly here about the fall of Saudiria. I have joined a group called the War Council and in the missives released to the members it reveals the Bloods plans to invade Waysend before long. I know father will be stubborn and want to stay and defend the city but I urge you to leave now. Speak to Anthon he will put you on the next ship to Port Hampshire where for now it is relatively safe. I am working with the War Council to outfit an army to face the Blood but I fear it will not be ready in time to save Waysend. You must convince him to leave and join me here so I can protect you. I have enclosed enough money to see you safely to Port Hampshire. PLease I implore you to take the journey.
Love Tarradon.