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Dear Quendi,

I have gone deep into the depths below Ephia's Well. I have seen and heard things down there and elsewhere. Questions bloom in my mind.

I do not know if it is my place to ask these questions. But these thoughts grow and spread in my mind. They are loud and leave little room for other, gentler thoughts.

Is the Spring of the ages?

Is the Spring of Yllaris?


Narwen

Dear Miss Atters,

I beg your forgiveness for not indulging your curiosity at the time. The circumstances were inappropriate and my own thoughts were in turmoil. I am prepared to do so now.

I humbly request your aid and your expertise.


Acolyte Narwen Alendiel

Dear friend,

I have heard your bellows about a tower of ice and find myself intrigued. I would like to hear more. I would like to help. What do you need?


Acolyte Narwen Alendiel

So pale is the cactus bird
Who sings her song at dawn's light,
Who laments the passing night,
Her melodies seldom heard.

Your song alights upon my ears,
Inviting and inciting me
To rise.



The Pale Bird,
Narwen Alendiel

The Heron Banner
Adar 8th, 7787

Cacophonic burst used to be a wiz 4, bard 4 spell. It was deemed to be too powerful as a lvl 4 wizard spell so it was moved to wiz 5.

And it was completely removed from bards. I don't see why it can't be a bard 4 spell given that bards only receive it at lvl 10 while a wizard receives it at 9 and bards will only have a single casting of it / day *if* they have 18 cha.

Currently the save DC for cloud/wall/persistent effect spells decreases by 1 every round. This makes extending those spells a rather lackluster proposition. I suggest that the rate of loss be halved when the spell is extended, so it will be -1 DC every 2 rounds instead of -1 DC every round.

It would be nice if we could have the option of scaling down some (but not all) of the furniture. Some things like statues, tables and signs are enormous and being able to reduce their size by 50% would let them be usable in more circumstances.

The Rose Gate, Ephia's Well (Commission)
Subat 22, 7787

A letter is sent via messenger to Tlonsiyya. The grammar and handwriting is much better than Narwen's typical fare - she probably had help writing it.

Dear esteemed secretary Kur Tarul,

I wish to extend my gratitude, and the gratitude of the Sisterhood of the Sibylline Vine, to your Vice Chancellor and Envoy for allowing us to visit your marvelous settlement and for the opportunity to make amends for the wrongs done to your envoy.

We are quite curious about the nature of salvage found in your Well and what uses we might have for such things. May I propose a trade? A barrel of our fine wine in exchange for a crate of trinkets?

Perhaps, if your people are pleased with our wine, and we are pleased with the usefulness of your salvage, we might discuss other, ongoing trades.

Acolyte Narwen Alendiel
Priory of the Sisterhood of the Sibylline Vine

The Lonely Tree
Subat 25, 7782

Beloved Legate Domhnall,

Thank you for the warning! I will ask all potential gold applicants how they feel about gnomes and Moteism. We don't know what manner of people the Tlonsiyyians are. They may very well be gnomes! It would be awful if we sent a bunch of gnome hating delegates to a gnome city!

All of those people you suggested should come and interview for a place in the delegation! I am being as open and fair as possible. I want to pick those people who will represent the best the Well has to offer our distant neighbors.

There are some things about this trip we should be wary and suspicious of. Several people have told me that they suspect may be some sort of trap! Because of this and other diplomatic concerns I do not think it is wise for either Legate to go in person. After all they did not send the leader of their settlement to us, they sent an envoy. An envoy can be humble and contrite and apologize without making you personally appear meek. The delegation does not have enough room for a sizable security detail.

Your counterpart has also requested that I send one of his magistrates or representatives. There simply isn't enough room in the delegation to devote so many seats to the needs of the State, not when the focus of the delegation is trade. We do not want to offend our hosts by not sending them what they asked for!

I will pick a magistrate, prelate or some other official to serve as the Well's envoy on this trade delegation. Aubrey has expressed an interest in serving, so has Sephidra. I worry that Don Souk's status as a reformed criminal may send the wrong message to our hosts.

I will deliver my choices for the delegation to you and your fellow Legate for final approval.

Live and drink,
Acolyte Narwen Alendiel

Dear Sol Auk of the Gilded Groknak,

Thank you for writing to me! I was relieved to hear of your survival! I had heard a rumour that you had fallen victim to the cannibal brooker Marl. I am glad that this is not true and that you are hale and hearty!

I must make one clarification. The envoy from Tlonsiyya did not ask for you. This is a misunderstanding spread by well meaning people of the Well. The envoy asked to speak with the Well's Master of Trade. I told him that the Well did not have such a position and suggested one of the Legates instead. Around this time some well meaning person made a bellows asking for "Sol Auk The Master of Trade". Surely you can see where the misunderstanding comes from!

On to the substance of your letter!

I am giving strong consideration to inviting Ariel to join the delegation as a merchant of the Well. She has many skills which may be of interest to our hosts. She may also be able to make significant investments and purchases which might convince the people of Tlonsiyya that Ephia's Well will be a valuable partner.

Hamdan al-Hamdan is not a member of your company yet. I am also strongly considering including him as a scholar and philosopher of the Well.

My final choices are not yet made. There are more people I must interview and due considerations that must be made. I will do so tomorrow.

Live and drink,
Acolyte Narwen Alendiel

Brother Quendi,

Hi, it's me. Narwen.

Ishla has fallen into a fitful slumber from which she does not wake. She thrashes in her sleep. Her lips move but no words come forth. Her eyelids flutter and from within is a purple light. Her tears turn to steam.

This happened after she was blinded by a bright light from a Menhir.

I am giving her what care I can but I am not a healer. I couldn't save Miwindel and my heart and mind are gripped with fear at the thought that I cannot help Ishla. That she too will wilt and die in my arms.

Is there any treatment you can suggest? Are there any plant or herb we might try? Any words on this stone you might offer?

Please, send any reply or messenger to the Priory of the Sisterhood of the Sibylline Vine in Ephia's Well. That is where we are.

Your sister,
Narwen Alendiel

[Kanon Hray 26, 7787]

Kanon Hray 26, 7787

Can't trust outsiders. Must remember that. Hold it close to my heart.

Their ways are insidious. I want to believe them. I want to trust them. I want to sing and dance to the tune that they sing.

Ishla and Apogoit, you remind me that I must cling to the truth. I must believe in honesty and purity. I allowed myself to be drawn into these games of intrigue because I trusted them. I sang the false-song of lies and manipulation because that is what they wanted me to sing.

My dear sister, you who sought to lure me out to rob me. You remind me that there is a strength in goodness. That it will cleave through the desperate and wicked thoughts. I pray that you are well.

When I open myself to these outsiders - when I try to think of them as family, as greater-kin - I want them to love me as much as I want to love them.

I want to pour myself into them. I want to drown in them and for them to drown in me.

But they do not love me. They care about me but they do not love me.

It is as she says - they are all using us for one thing or another.

That means we have something that they want.

That means we can control the dance.