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[The letter is resent to Legate Buster Grimes with the following addendum]

Buster, you're Legate now so that means I get to annoy you with letters like this.
Let us meet regarding the above letter. I am eager to make changes.

During the debate you stated you wished for someone to take the position of managing such projects under one branch.
I would like to put myself forwards for such a position and would like to speak with you on what I'd offer to such a role.

~ Balladeer Kasu Ortiz, Bulwark of the Beast, Breaker of Azuron, Vanguard of Hufaidh.

[A letter is left at the desk of the College of the Balladeers of the Lost Hearth. It is adorned with a Rosey seal but the writing on the envelope is plain and blocky. It is addressed to Asherias Myl]

My teacher, sister, friend. Asherias.

I pray my letter finds you well and hale.

I must first thank you for all you've done for me. My thanks shall never be enough, but my thanks and the actions I undertake for the rest of my days are all I have to offer. I pray one day they will express at least half the gratitude and love I bear for you.

These days since our march have been trying on us all and I fear my attentions have been pulled in all number of directions that our time together has only been but brief.

I now must write to you of our pain and with request.

Today I overheard some words you spoke to Acolyte Endora within the Krak des Roses. Words I did not mean to hear. Words I did not of much hear. What I heard yet still was, I feel, the heart of a matter you've been grappling with since our march. A truth I wish I could unhear. A truth too painful I cannot put it to paper. A truth I did not know.

What pains me most was to hear your presumption upon my feelings of the matter. That I would blame you. That I would hate you. I bid you, Asherias, let us carve some time soon and speak on this. If that is too much, let us write upon it.

What I heard you say was brief. Not intended for me just yet. So I ask of you. We must speak of this truth with words intended for me. We must tend each other in our pain.

Our formal relations as student and teacher may have come to an end. Now let us stand together. Tend each other, and our rose.

Your faithful, unyielding, idiot Student.

~ Kasu

Live and drink.

I had hope to speak with both of you regarding several things to do with the stockade but it seems, unfortunately, that our times have not crossed well these days.

I wish to clear make clear the support offered for the textbooks.
Two books were presented to us at the last assembly and when the money was asked for, Legate Garen mentioned something about "disembersement certificates" and no money was granted. I do not know what these are but please can we resolve this quickly as, presently, labour provided in service to our fair Ephia's Well has gone unpaid.
Legate Vellyn has stated that her impression was that the funds would come from the money donated to The Stockade under Ser Aurelio's initiative. I was under the impression that these were separate initiatives. I would like to meet to discuss this so we can all be clear on what the expectation was.
Legate Garen presently holds my share of the project. 5000 dinari was handed to him so that the project could be completed and resolved quickly but now the project drags on.

With that said, you both do have my heartfelt thanks for your support offered to the Stockade. Presently, if my accounting is correct, there sits within the funds for the Stockade 63,929 Dinari (though some of this might be held by Lyrist Aeronwy as, when I took over her duties for keeping the accountings of this board, there was some 13,929 alleged to still be remaining in the funds).
I shall add your contributions to the accounting board and the Palatial Pyramid shall take the second spot on our board of donations.

I now look to where this money need be spent to provide better housing to those of the Stockade.
The roof and the floor of that space need tending It is woefully unsafe and ill befitting any who might wish to make a home there.
As The Drifter's Stockade lies outside of The Shade, it is oft beset by Ashstorms. As such it behoves us to look for durable, yet easily replaceable, materials for the space, unless we have solutions for providing safety from the ash.
We could extend the shade out that way, which my prior plans expressed, or get one of those new "Ash Turbines" I've been told of.
I would love to meet to discuss this so the money can be used promptly.

Please let us find a workable time, or discuss this over letters, so that the refugees can live and learn in dignity and safety.

~ Kasu Ortiz, Student of the Balladeers of the Lost Hearth.

Live and drink, Goodfellow Adelbrand Albrecht.

Firstly I wish to offer you my heartfelt congratulations on your successful raising of your shrine.
It is a marvellous thing to take an idea and, through one's own hands, bring it into this world.

Secondly I thank you for your kind words directed towards me. Know that when good, pious or worthwhile, works cross my path I shall do all I can to support.

I understand your present reasonings for approaching us and the acolyte who gave you council was wise in her judgement. We would, graciously, accept support from all those who wish to help out of the goodness of their hearts.

With regards to the initiative you've proposed for the Balladeers of the Lost Hearth, I'd greatly love to meet with you to discuss the ways we might support one another to ensure that, even in this ashen age, levity, light and laughter is afforded to all.

I shall be available in the coming days so let us seek each other and let us talk.

Tend well the flowering garden, Goodfellow.

~ Kasu Ortiz, Student of the Balladeers of the Lost Hearth.

Sister Amélie. Gosh. Words cannot describe how legendary she was yet we must try.

Aurelio d'Lyon: Live and drink, I am Warad.
Sister Amélie: Live and drink, I am Kula.

From my very first interaction with her I knew she was something special. She was a majesty. A triumph. A joy to behold.

I'll never forget the things she showed me. The things she did for me. The lessons she imparted.

Thank you, truly, thank you. We miss you dearly.

Thank you for teaching me how to PvP without the consequences of death!

Knud will be missed and him drunkenly calling Kasu the Pilgrim will forever live in his heart.

That we turned from enemies to friends is truly what Kasu wanted ever since his first kidnapping.

Fun lore for you, I got a will written out the night of our arena fight because I didn't trust him not to kill Kasu (and I know you thought about it! ;) ). When he came to Kasu the night before Hufaidh he fully knew, fully felt, that Knud was a friend. Regret. Pain. Woe. He could not be saved.

The Great Raider Knud Skargrimmson shall be survived by those he bullied and then befriended. Raider's Landing lives on.

Live and drink, Asherias.

I understand you are busy of late and I wish not to impose but I want to talk with you.

I think I need some guidance. Balladeer Onion has also handed me a sword for you. It's called "The Fish Saw".

Tend well the flowering garden.

~ Kasu

Live and Drink Brennos, wielder of Taisenoech.

I thank you for speaking with me earlier today when I visited Ynis Eilir.

The story you told of how you came by Taiseneoch, rescuing your kinband Iorwen, had me enamoured. Not least because I've a similar, though not nearly as dramatic, story. Like you I too have a sword that lives, made from vines. Truly a gift from Kula.

The reason to which I am writing you is thus: Unlike your blade, my blade's vines decay. Indeed this is how it was found. Just as it was a gift, so too was it a charge given to me by Kula: Restore the life of this blade.
I've wondered for many nights if I could do just that and, recently, my prayers were answered.

Sister Amélie, Speaker of Kula, has bestowed upon me guidance for how I might save this dying blade. The first step I must take to achieve this will require the help of Ynis Eilir.

I would like to meet with you in the coming days. I hope that you will hear my plea.

Tend well the flowering garden.

~ Kasu Ortiz

To the honoured Legates,

Today I wish to present my plans for the expansion outside of the Rose Gate to provide a place safety, education and respite for the many youths of Ephia's Well. Tentatively named as yet: The Campus.

I'll admit that tonight's Assembly Announcement has caught me just slightly behind schedule and so there is one critical piece of information still yet missing: A map of the proposed area.
I assure you this is in progress by the diligent and hard working Student Cimeya, but she has just received a vitally important job and that must take her focus at present.
When it is available I shall ensure such a thing is provided to you however that map is not required for us to begin making steps towards this aim.

This dream will require the co-operation of the follow organizations: The Cinquefoil Rose, The Astronomers of Q'tolip, The IVth Legion of the Sultan's Janissaries, The Sand Stone College, The Second Flame.

I would also require financial aid, labour, and political support from the Palatial Pyramid.

I present to you the three steps to make this dream a reality.

Step One: Use what we have

The first step is to use what we currently have to begin providing knowledge and teaching to the youths currently present at The Drifter's Stockade.

What would be required here is simple: Textbooks and Teachers.

Each Organization is to write or otherwise source a textbook on what they believe is the basics required of their workings.

These textbooks should be presented at the next assembly. Once they are presented the person who wrote or sourced the book shall receive 1000 dinari from myself. I hope that the Legate's can match this fund so that the person who spends their time working is adequately compensated. That's a total 2000 dinari combined for the person who writes or sources such a book.
Total this is 5000 dinari provided by myself and a further 5000 dinari provided by the Legates

Past that, each of the above organizations is expected to provide one person to teach that material. They will be expected to do so one day a week. Negotiations can be had on how the Palatial Pyramid might be able to support such workings and we can discuss this today at the assembly.

What is required from you here is:
5000 Dinari to be granted to those who write or source books.
A contract for five people (one from each organization) to begin teaching at The Drifter's Stockade.
Any financial aid you might be able to grant those teachers.

[close]

Step Two: Fix what is broken

The second step is to take what is already there and restore it to working order so that we have the space to house and teach the children.

This will take the form of the labour and materials required to fix The Drifter's Stockade and further to clear out any other buildings. It will also require furnishings.

I had once received a quote on this matter from Carver but, given that he is no longer with us, I would like to get a survey upon such buildings to see which ones can be fixed and made safe and so any quote on such works from the Palatial Pyramid would be useful here.

What is required from you here is the following:
The matching fund to Aurelio's donation to fix The Drifter's Stockade.
Surveys on the cost to clear the buildings.
Surveys on the cost to restore the buildings.
A number of dinari that could be provided by yourself to be allocated to furniture.

[close]

Step Three: Build something new

The biggest part of this is to build something new of this space. As mentioned I will, before the next assembly, provide an illustration of this however for now here is what's required:

We must extend The Shade or otherwise provide some cover from the Ash. I have spoken to Apothars on this matter but I expect I will need to speak to a Zennithar in the coming days.

In order to ensure the Well and any Ash defences are adequately defended against malcontents we must build a new wall and gate that extends as far as were able to push out from the Rose Gate. Bran is currently in the process of ensuring this is also amenable to all the Stonefolk of The Tablet.

Even with a wall raised we must ensure further defences are provided. To this end I wish for the Legion to patrol the roads and for La Banda Rossa to protect the buildings.

If possible I would like to provide a building to each of the aforementioned organizations with which to undertake their teachings of the youths. I would also like to provide one building for generalized teaching that all youths need and a space for all the orphans to live. Further to this I would also like to provide a space for a kennel and stables.

This is all quite ambitious, I know, but I will strive to realize this vision.

We can discuss this part as an entirely sperate topic at a later date. For now momentum for the other two steps must be made and questions for the viability of this plan are still being asked.

[close]

Thus you are now appraised of the depth and breadth of my plans. Please ask any questions you might and I shall endeavour to provide answers.

~ Kasu Ortiz

Dear Sister Amélie

I hope this letter finds you well.

There is a matter of faith and my path that I must speak with you on.
I've spoken with a Sister and one other on this matter and both have directed me towards you.

I look forward to speaking with you soon.

~ Kasu

Live and Drink, Legate Garen. With Emphasis on the live, today.

I have heard your announcement for an Assembly today.
Unfortunately I cannot make it. If I leave my room for more than half a bell my brother will get mad at me, and stress is bad for his health.
Apparently I "need to rest" after battling with The Beast. I think he just doesn't want to admit he wants to spend time with me.

I am glad to have heard your voice plain and true this day. I am glad you returned to us hale and strong. I wish to offer you some council.

Today you are likely to face questions that will try to undermine your position and challenge your ability to lead. You will need to be strong in the face of this all. You will need to reaffirm the people of Ephia's Well.

Do not give into despair. Do not give into their lies. Do not capitulate. You are Legate Garen Linwood of the Purple League. You did not take up this role in ideal circumstances. You did not go into the Assaru of your own will. You were forced into both these positions.

Your thanks for us is appreciated but I caution you that the thanks are now only worth what you can make of it. You are our Legate. You are a good man.

We need you to be headstrong and dedicated in the coming days. If I am correct in my memory the last delve ended with disaster, but that disaster had been brewing for two days as a result of another delve.

I advise you to prepare. Speak with La Banda Rossa about what they might be able to do to protect civilians in the event of another disaster. Speak to the Fourth about what they might be able to do to strike out and curtail the worst of the Tormented that might be brought up. Speak to the Sisterhood and the Tower to see how we might be able to seal our sands against them.

The best case scenario is that I'm wrong about this, but we should all fear what could happen if I'm not. Especially if we're unprepared.

I hope this missive is not too forthright. Know that I respect you and I am praying for your success, but it would be a grave error for me not to write my thoughts to you on this matter.

Keep well, Garen.

~ Student Kasu Ortiz, Bulwark of The Beast.

To Bran, Buster and Orin.

It would be good to meet with you all together. I've got a project I'd like you all involved in and I think you'd all be great for it.

Let us find some time together in the coming days.

~ Kasu

To Legate Vellyn Lhyrian and Legate Faith Kruehtzer.

Truth in action are the words often said by Lyrist Aubrey Domergue.

Today, Illul 22nd, IY 7789, I bid my words to drive you to such action.
I wish to undertake goodly works that will benefit the people of Ephia's Well for generations to come.
Yet such works often start with humble steps. Today I ask you to take one such humble step in helping me to realize a greater society for us all.

Outside of the Rose Gate, behind The Drifter's Stockade, there are derelict buildings there.
I wish to lay claim to a building there, to begin works to return it to a habitable state.

My aim is to create a space outside of the din, rancour, and chaos of The Drifter's Stockade all for the care, protection, and education of the many refugee children who've not parents or guardians in their life outside of Nanny Olezha.

I do not think I need to preach the virtues of such a project to you both, yet I shall explain some of my reasons behind such an undertaking.

Chiefly it is to provide protection and a safe refuge for the many children to learn to shed those layers of pain and be born anew as folk who fight for their breath. Folk who work for their place among our grand Well's many storied names. Yet they must start from somewhere and we must remember these are children whom have witnessed the horrors of the waste that no child should ever see.

In the matter of their safety it is also to provides us and them an easy way to ensure they're all accounted for and evacuated to the Krak des Rose in emergencies. After recent events a noble scribe and just recluta began to talk of such a plan which I hope they will present to you in due course.

Finally it is to provide them education. Such thing will be a benefit to the Accord and other organizations of our fair well. Some will learn to swing a sword. Some will learn to wield their words. Yet more will begin their first steps as magi. The children we teach here will become the heroes of tomorrow. The heavy and gentle hand of a great Sergeant. The wise and ponderous Apothars of the next generation. The curious and strong willed Fellows of Sandstone. The scribes that sign into laws the many good protections of the people. And all those in between who serve Ephia's well in their own way.

That is the dream.

And it starts with one humble step. More will follow, if this step is good.

Pray, discuss the matter, talk with your scribes, and let us meet soon.

~ Kasu

To my dearest Knud Skargrimsson

You mistake my confidence for ignorance. You will see the fruits of the lessons you've taught me on the field. I am a student, after all. My life is the pursuit of lessons.

The pouch of vials certainly are by your mercy, and you have my thanks for that, but my breath? It was no great act of mercy that you released me each time. That was self preservation wasn't it?
You know that killing me is signing yours and your brother's life away - Unless I'm overestimating your intelligence?

You say you battle with "just two" but Katina was at every fight but the first. Don't erase the poor girl's labour, Knud. It's unbecoming of you.

I eagerly look forward to "being humbled".

~ Your "little man" Kasu Ortiz, the oft-defeated.

[very clearly]

To Balladeer Onion

The kind and noble Waradim Brennon handed me a bit of metal from - I think it was Rustkeepe? He said you were asking for it.

I've put it in the communal storage for you. It's in one of the chests in the middle isle towards the back of the room.

There was also some leather from there. He wasn't sure if you wanted this. I couldn't make enough room in the communal storage so the leather is in my room in a very clearly labelled box. If you don't want it I'll throw it out.

I believe you should have a key to my room so help yourself in.

May the garden ever grow in your footsteps.

~ Kasu