Novlar 9, 1462
I hope this letter finds you well.
Mother and Father, I have not written you lately. I apologize deeply for this. The truth is, I fear the disappointment you will have when you read this letter. But I do not wish to hide from you on this matter.
I have resigned from my position as Captain, and left the military.
I should first explain myself: I had let my men down. Orcs ambushed us on patrol, and very few of us survived the initial attack, and fewer survived after the return to the fort. I was fortunate enough to survive, but unfortunate enough to be left to carry this burden. I continue to go through my planning for that day, and every time I realize that I could have been more cautious, I could have taken a different path. Yet because I did not take care, my men had to pay for it. I could not allow myself to make another mistake like this again. I wrote a resignation letter, and boarded a ship to Port Hempstead.
In the mean time, I plan to offer my services as a freelance warrior. I intend to only work for the local governments. I do not wish to stoop so low as to become a mercenary, or even worse: a bandit. At least in this way I will be able to use my skills to help the community, if in a less formal fashion.
I was fortunate enough to meet a Knight of the Wyrm this morning. A halfling, which surprised me, but she holds quite the impressive title. She told me to be honest with myself. I wonder if I can be any more honest with myself: my shortcomings are all too evident. Still, I cannot help but feel that the Lord Protector has sent me a sign. A symbol of forgiveness? A reminder to be strong? Or perhaps just a push to continue moving forward. In any case, I should not take our meeting lightly, and I will reflect on this some more.
If you need to write me back for any reason, you should send the letters to the Temple of Rofirein in Fort Vehl. I will be residing there for a few weeks, perhaps more. Please be honest with dear Freda about my decisions. While I do not want her to view me with disdain, I would rather her know the truth.
With love always,
Cassius Cromwell
