Lisse Hommell - Letters and Musings

[minerva]

Aunt Anna and Uncle Connor

   Thank you ever so much for your most recent delivery of fruits and vegetables from the farm.   Mary was over the moon to have such nice things for her kitchen and it will be much appreciated by the families she serves from that kitchen.   The fruit has been set aside to dry for the next shipment we need to send.   If there is anything left to preserve from the fresh veggies, which I highly doubt, Mary will be right on it.
   I’m sorry I was not here to accept the delivery myself and the fellows in the warehouse didn’t tell me who brought it.  I’ve been out and about lately having gotten a bit of the wandering fever.  I thought I had hung up my sword for good when my mother did , but then she started training again and working with the men at arms.   She would come home with tales of her travels in the Deep and with the things she’d find along the way. She spends less time with her music and more with her weapons these days.
   I have to confess that I too have been conflicted with my studies of Heartsong.  What comes naturally to Mother does not come to me.   I can sing and play, I’ve no problems with that but finding my calling in the Harmony is eluding me.
Uncle Jharl used to talk of their being those in the northern tribes that could tell tales like we sing songs.  The tales were told so expertly that they seem to come to life in the minds of those listening and the weaver of the tale being able to affect the minds of their audience without even singing a note.  He also told myths of singers with quite fantastical skills.  I’m not sure if they were to entertain me or inspire me but now that I am unhappy with my lot as a merchant and diplomat’s daughter, I can’t help but wonder what kind of truth lay behind those myths.   Truth beyond the skaldic traditions and my ability to sing a momentary storm of ice over an area.
   I’ve decided that if I am to search for truth I need to be able to defend myself better.  Slipping on a shroud of invisibility is no longer enough.  I’m getting more proficient with a short sword and have taken up the bow.  I doubt I will even be as good with a bow as my mother, but I think my heritage as an elf makes it easier for me to draw.
I’ve also been working with our man at arms but I have gained the companionship of several adventures as well.  There are far fewer now than there used to be, which is also why I feel I must set aside my pursuits of music in favour of the sword for a while.
    You and Uncle Connor have always encouraged me to be who I am and to not be ashamed or try to hide my dark elf heritage.  I can’t help but think that maybe that is why I am struggling; because I am different.   Maybe this fabled council was right and I am destined to be a curse?  I’m not sure if I should attempt to seek Olist Orbin or whatever that city was called or if I should seek help on the elven island?   Help from the very elven council that wanted me put to death or locked away?   Please don’t mention this to Mother.  It’s not something I want to share with her just yet.
          Maybe the next time I pass through Krandor I will find you or Uncle home and we can share a nice cuppa and watch the children play.


Fond regards

Lisse

[minerva]

Auntie Jacee,

          Just a quick note to let you know you’re in my thoughts.   So much has changed in the past few months it feels like a wind elemental is running the show.  I’m still working in the foundation but Mother, as you know, is back on the trail of adventure and spends much of her time in that pursuit, leaving me to oversee the warehouse.  Not that this place needs much of me. Mother has an excellent staff and heavens forbid that any of them should ever leave us.  Mary alone is a force of Katia in the kitchens.  How she manages to feed so many needly with what we have amazes me.  She just brushes it off and reminds me she cooked at her grandmother’s side during the darkness when there really was next to nothing. 
The kitchen larder is full to bursting as Auntie Anna and Uncle Conner sent in a wagon of extras from their farm.   With all out extras going to Audria, it really helps
   How are you making out?  I hope those children of yours come to visit far more often than I do.  It must be lonely in that big house all alone.   Uncle Edward has been gone for almost three years now.  You are still young enough to get out and do things.  I hate the idea of you being there by yourself.   You know there is always room for you here in Port Hempshire.  It would sort of be like old times to have you back.   You and Mary could wile your days away in the kitchens or you could keep those dock workers in line.   I could sure use your help with my training with the sword.   Things are not quite the same as when you adventured across the lands.   When the dragon stopped calling the numbers risking the stones dropped and I fear only a handful of us are left.   I now must venture alone most of the time.  I need to get better with my sword so I have put my lore and musical training on hold until I get more proficient.  You were quite the swordswoman in your day.   How about you come spend some time with us and teach me?   Old Bill the man at arms is good but with trouble seeming to brew in Dregar he’s occupied training militia and with the city.

Please consider my request.
Love and Hugs
Lisse

[minerva]

Katelyn,

   I can’t believe you did that to Thomas.  Serves him right for all the pranks he’s played on us over the years.  I wish I had been there to see him running from the house when that giant spider crawled onto his bed.  I know how much he hates them.  I hope you did something nice for the lady that charmed it and led it into his bedroom.
I’ll be sailing to Audria soon with one of Mother’s shipments as both her liaison and part of the guards.  I’m not sure we’ll get too much trouble as we’re not sending the large ship, just one of the faster mid sized ones.  That means less crew for protection but we should get there in about half the time depending on the seas. 
Remember when we used to race to the top of the rigging?  Seems like forever ago.  You went and got married and started a family.  I’m still here helping Mary in the kitchens and yelling at warehouse workers though I have started wandering a bit more.   I’ve been gathering some songs from Dregar and Belinara.  I’ve been as far as the new city of Fireoz, but I can’t say I was impressed with it.  Far too staid and gloomy for my liking.  I hear the lands around it have fire giants and there is a large area of very powerful undead.   Mother has been there with a new mage friend but there is no way I am stepping foot in that direction anytime soon.  I do good to keep the lizardmen around Hlint at bay.

   I’ll be doing drills with the crew while I am aboard so I can make myself useful. Scurrying up ropes with a dagger between your teeth is harder than it looks. I’ve Mother’s old Songstress rapier to practise with too.  I just need Thomas’s head and an apple.
I’d bring the children back something from Audria but with the city under siege I don’t think they’ll be much for sale.  I’ll see what I can find.
   My best to Thomas and the children.  I miss our chats Katelyn . Promise I will pop by next time I am close.   Can you do me a favour and go around to Auntie Jacee’s house and check in on her?  I worry she’s lonely now with the house empty.  Take one of the babies, you know how much she loves babies.

Hugs

[minerva]

note left on the table of the Foundation’s relief kitchen

Mary,
     Workmen will be coming to repair the practice dummies in the training yard.  Charlee , need I say more. 
If you could air the spare room in the town house, it would be appreciated.  Auntie Jacee might be coming to stay for a while.  Won’t that be fun?  I might be away for a while.  I’ll try and bring you something from port and maybe some fresh fish
Hugs

Lisse’

[minerva]

Marcus,
   I don’t know how you endured your years in the militia.  These endless mind numbing drills are killing me.  Every night I climb in my hammock and swear I’m going to wake in Center. Up and down the rigging, hauling endless lengths of rope and then there is the sparring.  At least training dummies don’t hit back by the goddess; it jars the shoulder. 
We’re still a few weeks out from Audria and things have been quiet.  No pirates, no flaming beings, not that I expected those , I mean , hello water and wooden ships.  They could hire mercenaries though.
   I was a teenager the last time I made such a long voyage.  That was a while ago.  The days are spent getting my fighting skills up to par with the rest of the crew.  The captain has given up trying to get me to use a large blade but she thinks I show promise with daggers and shortswords. She’s been showing me how to fight more effectively.  It's not pretty,showy or dancing but its quick strikes aimed at major blood vessels and tendons.  She says that being a smaller female has its advantages and unless they have plate armor over the important bits I can always find a way to disable a foe. 
The evenings, when I can stay awake , I’ve been learning new songs from the crew. Many of the tasks aboard involve the rigging of the sails and ropes.  The men like to sing to keep everyone’s actions in time and the lyrics they come up with are very inventive.  I think you’ll like them but best keep little Kyle ears covered. The crew is also from so many different parts of the world and their stories could keep me entertained for days on end.  Don’t get me started with the card and dice games.
   Hugs to Maddie , I have to get this to the captain before she sends the raven without it.

Lisse’

ps
I think I might have spotted a sea elf in the waves watching the ship.  I hope that means Shinney is watching over us.