Dear Yllysian,
Bad news has reached me here. I must go off at once. You must continue with all haste in the task I have set you. I will return as soon as I can; and I will follow you. Do not attempt to leave messages for me. However, you can trust the carrier of this message: an Elf, lean, fair, short {for our people}, by some called Redswift Keenblade. He knows our business and will help you. Make for Drakenhof. There I hope we may meet again. In case I do not, or cannot, come, I now release you from your apprenticeship; you may consider yourself a Mage.
Yours in haste
DHÆMROS Ω
PS. Once you have caught up with the halflings, none of you must try and use It, not for any reason whatever, while in Sylvania. It will NOT help you, but may aid those that made it! Ω
PPS. Make sure it is the real Redswift Keenblade. There are many strange folk on the roads. His true name he will not tell you under any circumstances, for he is an outlaw of our people ~ even I do not know his right name, and we have been friends for fifteen years. Our friendship is a strong one, else I would not ask a vampyre to venture into Sylvania; and he would not go. He will not be able to read this letter, since only our Mages and the Tree~Men speak the tongue of malla-room-na-lárin. Ω
All that is silver is bitter,
To those that both wander and are lost;
The strong may be old but not wither,
If their roots are touched by the frost.
Keen are the eyes of the elves,
Keener still the blade;
Swiftly flows the blood,
Of those the elves have
PPPS. Redswift has some knowledge of the wizardly arts. He may be able to teach you. Then again, he may not, as his power flows from his blood. If not, I hope these books will help you.
I am out of time. I hope this reaches you promptly.
Fare Well! Ω
Dear Ned,
Good work! Very efficient and halfling~like of you to get the job done so quickly. It puts me in mind to take you on as a ‘Hoop’ permanently, if you’re willing. If so, your first job is to stick with those big folk and keep them out of trouble ~ make sure they don’t go using no cursèd objects, and keep an eye out for that wizard!
In the long run, I’m needing all my Hoops to get to the men’s city of Altdorf: something BIG is going on there {or so I’m told by Hisme; he said “this is one problem that wont be solved by dinner”}, which is why I’m taking on more people than ever. Make your way there as soon as you are able, and if you see Billy or Lobelia on your travels, tell them as well.
Yours sincerely,
Fred Hill