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<3 i enjoyed alejandro's arc from idealistic storyteller to a slow tarnish from how the world affected him. gonna miss him, but looking forward to your next too

Dear Naelin,

I find a relationship's length largely impacts the grief's length. I find it hard to imagine that you would mourn Sephidra for "3 to 7 days", in truth.

I find it unlikely either of you will end up dead in any gutters. Your work takes you to places that do not typically have "gutters".

I don't know much about my Fourth Apprentice's Apprentice, but if she did well on that Test, then presumably she had a good Master.

I'm glad you've come to realize that doubting me is futile. I am aware of future events and tirelessly work to guide them in a direction of my choosing. The rosebush is even simply explainable. I do not wish to be surrounded and typically utilize it when people stand on both sides of the thoroughfare.

In many worldlines, I have been killed because I allowed myself to get surrounded.

It was a vial of Mote's blood, something important to us both. I feared that Margarethe was to run off and try something drastic with it, or throw it away to "protect me" from obsessing over the past. Taking it at all was a breach of trust, but fortunately, she returned it.

As for your question... I find punitive death has little to do with satisfaction. It is merely the surest way to be certain that the person will not kill again.

A question for you: what do you most wish to find in your wanderings and mappings? What do you seek?

Regards,
Estellise

[Tammuz 26th, IY 7788]

Tammuz 26th, IY 7788

Today is the day that Alejandro died, a Key Event that only occurs when Legate Balstan takes power in Year 1.

This was the move I spoke of. I hope you are suitably impressed.

Even though I think he is a wretch, his election was necessary to capture an important piece from your side of the board.

Still, I feel some guilt. Not for the man Alejandro became, but for the man he was. He saved my life once. If he had stayed that man, I would have seen Nasreen to the Legate Seat and the Prince expelled.

The burden of a Witch of Fate and Time is a heavy one.

Dear Naelin,

I'm certain that some will consider my actions unpleasant, but I truly do believe that seeing his findings into a trust would have been better than allowing them to be divided up by pecking vultures as did occur.

I continue to despise the Banda Rossa. They demanded 10,000 dinars before they would even allow me to peer in the room, yet they let the others in for 1,000 dinars. They will always make whatever decision is most unpleasant, whether that is killing Balladeers in cold blood or allowing Sagebrush to tear Alejandro's legacy to pieces.

Obviously, my issues with them aside, the fault lay with Alejandro himself. He was ever a servant of Gellema and took more secrets to his grave than that room could possibly contain. Additionally, I am certain that on some level having his collection scattered to the winds satisfied some Gellemede whim to see the knowledge lost once more.

As far as your concern for your own people goes, that hardly makes you a "bad person". It is only natural to prioritize those whom you have chosen to surround yourself with. Generally, the only way to be a "bad person" is to withdraw entirely into oneself and care for no one else.

The Rose Contract is as meaningless as all the others. Kragg went straight to the Alchemist's Guild to set those Brookers upon my Apprentices, because he preferred their company to ours. If the Banda Rossa were run properly, they would summarily execute these Recluta, as their reasoning would be similar. They preferred the Prince's company to the Balladeers' company.

Loyalty is not to be found among merchants or mercenaries. It is a foreign concept to such wretches.

I care little for my Legacy. I only care about the prevention of the Ephia's Well Disaster. If I fail, then no one will be around to remember me or my actions anyway.

I found Margarethe on her way to our Den of Dark Designs and she returned the vial to me.

Regards,
Estellise

Dear Naelin,

It was an irritating matter but yes, it's fine. I'm back to my original height. Whatever the entities did was temporary.

I only have two regrets in recent memory. Running for Legate and lowering my guard around Daoud. Regrets are infrequent for me, given my ability to see what is coming in advance.

I think it is reasonable to be angry at Alejandro. In truth, he is a man who has thrown away every kindness and good thing ever granted to him. He has no true friends remaining because he has no loyalty to offer and receives none in return. He is a shell of his former self and fits in well with the Sagebrush "Corps".

It is not a matter of a new Mystery Cult having captured my interest so much as one specific Mystery Cult that is suddenly surging in popularity. Every Acolyte says the same thing, that they came here with the express intention of joining the Priory and they considered no other options before doing so.

I find it extremely curious.

As for Margarethe, I would obviously find a way to turn her back. If she remained a worm, then she would be at risk of Domhnall killing her.

Regards,
Estellise

Dear Naelin,

Today is better than yesterday was, for a variety of reasons. It was good to see you, other than the part where your haunted Hall caused me to endure more gnome-related height theft.

As for Marcellus, I expect the inside of his Mind Palace is a horrible place. Seeing how he views me in there would be extremely irritating and I imagine it would be an enormous library caught in a war, being burned and pillaged by warriors who cared little for knowledge and learning.

Such is the true person Marcellus is. A man who saw youth pass him by and is attempting to live a second life in his final years. A life that betrays his original life in every way that matters.

I like writing essays when they are my own choice, so it's not difficult to say. However, if someone put a crossbow bolt to my head, I would do nothing they asked. They are a wretch and deserve no writing from me.
 
At the moment, I would enjoy writing an essay about what attracts people to mystery cults.

Regards,
Estellise

Dear Naelin,

Given how easily you can reach me at the Tower, I'm uncertain what purpose written correspondence would serve.

That said, if you wish to write me, I will respond in turn.

I typically enjoy writing, so long as the writing involved is not a court-appointed Essay.

Regards,
Estellise

[Tammuz 23rd, IY 7788]

Tammuz 23rd, IY 7788

I made a mistake.

I let myself forget that the Janissaries possess no souls.

I'm normally better than this but they used Cosine against me, and I'm still not over his death.

He died for them yet they would destroy his memory and everything he cared about for what? A pat on the back from a superior? An appearance from whatever djinn is pretending to be The Wroth that day?

But I knew all this. I shouldn't have allowed them to trick me so.

Other than Master Oro, sometimes I feel like you're the only person in the Well who cares about my fate.

I can't die like this. If it came to it, you would save me? Right?

No, I imagine at the moment, it would be preferable to just let it happen, to let me reap what I have sown.

I need to pull myself together.

This isn't like me.

I can't let despair or fear cloud my mind.

A copy of a letter is attached to this one

Tammuz 7th, IY 7788

Esteemed Apothar Azimi,

First of all, let me commend your excellent calligraphy. Such elegance is a rare sight in our mailbox. I would also praise your teaching abilities. Mevura was certainly one of our staunchest allies. The knowledge that that boy was able to impart in matters big and small was truly unique.

With that being said, Mevura's parting has certainly affected some ongoing cases. Since he was usually there to aid us and help us understand the most dense of subjects related to arcana.

We favor no unique member of Q'tolip's finest. We seek collaboration in manners of Brooking, Necromancy, Divination and Engineering.

We would expect for you to choose an astronomer to act as liaison between our institutions.

Let us continue the work. It is the only thing that matters.

Sgt. Ashworth.

[close]

Dear Sergeant Ashworth,

It seems my initiative is not going as well as I had presumed. Zol Nur has provided no reports of his activities in the War Council or Assuru, so I will resume regular contact with, as well as provide support to, your organization.

I can think of no one I wish more to be our liaison from the Janissaries than you, however.

First, I will properly reply to your letter.

Thank you for your kind words regarding my teaching abilities. Cosine and I were closer than anyone else in the Well. His death is still keenly felt and I still have yet to fully recover, in truth. Fortunately, no one would seek to capitalize upon my grief to see the person Cosine cared most for destroyed or the relationship between the Tower and the Janissaries he gave his life for harmed. That would be extremely shameful behavior.

Fortunately, the Well has many problems, but that is not one of them. Everyone agrees such behavior would be beyond the pale and does not engage in such.

I know everything Cosine did of Arcana and the Djinn, considering I taught him most of it, so seek me out as needed for all Consulting matters. Except Engineering. You will still need to speak to my Apprentice Mae for that. I despise machines as much as they despise me. I can never make them do my bidding.

Your final sentiment pleases me immensely.

The work is the only thing that matters.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Best Regards,
Apothar Estellise Azimi

[Tammuz 20th, IY 7788]

Tammuz 20th, IY 7788

I find it difficult to think about anything except the "lost time" earlier.

I cannot imagine what I could have done, how I acted or behaved, or worse yet, what was said. If I embarrassed myself, then I apologize.

It was pleasant to get to speak to you, admittedly. I was concerned that you were far too busy with all your new charges to make any time for such.

To that point, it is clear to me now that this new surge of Acolytes, including the early arrival of Sister Jamei in this cycle, is your countermove.

To have Selsi and Jamei operating concurrently within the cycle will mean having to tread ground perilously close to that which has seen my predecessors defeated, but so be it.

My next move is locked in. Even if you can see it, countering it should be an impossibility at this stage.

[Tammuz 9th, IY 7788]

Tammuz 9th, IY 7788

Qari wishes a fresh start. I have cautiously agreed to such, but I will be ever-mindful of the possibility of betrayal. If he thinks this will trip me up, he will be sorely mistaken.

The Torchbearers seem open to my proposed arrangement. I am hopeful that we can resume descents shortly. I will finish what I started down there.

I have been able to keep myself adequately distracted, for the most part.

It would be easier if you had not sent Selsi away on some errand right when I most need the diversion she would present.

Or perhaps you sent her away to keep things fair... I don't imagine I would be able to engage your finest piece at my best, admittedly.

And what of "Margarethe"? Did you expect her arrival? Have you made plans to counter this most unexpected of moves?

It's okay to admit that you did not. I will not think any less of you.

how did you get up there

Dear Janissary Officers,

With the death of my Apprentice, I wish to discuss collaboration efforts between our two organizations.

In particular, I wish to know which Astronomers you would favor working with in his stead.

Our organizations work closely together and I mean to see that there is no lapse in such cooperation.

Regards,
Apothar Estellise Azimi

With all our cool changes, efusl character details are starting to look a little weird

I don't see my Painting Ranks or my Skill Focus: Painting on it

It's not a huge deal or anything, but it'd be nice to fix at some point in the future!

Dear Marcellus,

As you have forsworn your oaths to Izdu, it makes little sense for you to manage a Temple of Izdu. I propose you rename the Temple to The Cosine Mevura Memorial Library.

It is the least you can do after sending him to his death. It is the least you can do after forcing him to participate in your blood sacrament.

Best,
Estellise Azimi