Sender: Morgiah Nahal Recipient: Evanessa Torres

(Date unknown)

Hello Eva,

I apologise for not having written in such a long, long time but.. as you may have guessed, a lot passed here.. „down here“ as you would say. Hope you weren’t too worried. I’ll try my best to keep the events in order, but it might make sense either way. Shei-leng-tzu is gone.. Well, not sure if he’s dead or just gone. There wasn‘t anything missing, but he’d suffered illness before, I think it was the plague – Oh wait, that doesn’t go first. I think I told you that it was feeling like unrests would break loose and that’s just what happened. We were mostly hiding at our home and hence pretty safe, I don’t know what exactly it was, but the place was a mess when I next went out. The stairs have been destroyed and the Tiger Eye mercenary corporation’s completely wiped out. Like, wow. You’d probably say we’re better off without them, and that’s what I thought, but of course anarchy broke loose with a lot of dead and fighting. All the corpses eventually brought a disease that isn’t anything I’ve ever witnessed before. Incubation was very short and it was no laughing matter, people started rotting alive, flies flocked to them like dead corpses, well, I don’t know if it claimed a lot of lives, but Master Shei-leng was old – I suspect I can‘ even fathom just how old.. So from one day to another he was just.. gone. So I moved out. I didn’t feel comfortable living there anymore and one or another roaming streetgang probably claimed it. The unrests are mostly under control by now though.. Maybe they’re learning to work together.. however, the disease, of course I had it too. But fortunately some people were giving out cures. Pretty anti climatic, no? Maybe to the better, I’m a bit of a healer but injuries are more my field of expertise, not sicknesses. And then it passed. That’s strange, isn’t it? But anyway.. now I’m looking after myself.. that hasn’t been a problem. I can actually sell brews I learned to make for a good price and soon had enough to eat regularly at a tavern, cooking isn’t exactly my speciality, at least not yet. I tried out a lot o fthe recipes you sent me, but I couldn’t seem to find most of the ingredients or only for horrible prices. You don’t eat much fungus.. Oh, I’m glad to say that I even managed to push on with my studies, though it’s a lot harder learning on my own. By now I’ve left the rank of an apprentice and moved over journeyman and expert to eventually become an adept. By that rate, I’ll be a grandmaster before I even turn twenty. A lot of people don’t like wizards and mages. I’m glad you’ve been telling me you’d think I’m seeming nice enough to disregard that fact. But also a lot of people want my help, I cast some spells and thn they’re better able to solve one problem or another.. We have countless.. and then I’m also getting some pay. How are you doing, though? Still concerned about the harvest? Must be odd to always be depending on how the weather is.. we don’t have that here. And Honeydew with the broken forefoot? Is she alright by now, or will she be lame? I’m hoping for the best. I know you’d be very sad if you would have to put her down.

Take care and write back soon, Morgiah

Sender: Morgiah Nahal Recipient: Evanessa Torres

(Date unknown)

Hi Eva!

You were faster than I thought, I almost didn’t even plan to go and look if the letter was there to pick up yet at the usual time. I’m glad you do all well, your family and the horse too. Thanks to the gods. I have to apologise though, you seemed a bit more upset than you should have too. I know, it sounded as if it was pretty rough around here but I don’t think I ever was in a life threatening situation. People kinda know me here and all. I’ve been walking up a bit more again. How? Seems there’s been a lift put in place.. I don’t envy the poor recruit who always has to operate it.. because I can be undecided, then when I’m halfway up I yell „Let me down again, I forgot something in my room!“ and then he’ll shoot glares at me and.. so on. Maybe they should get one of those machines to do that. That’d be most alien to you, I understand they’re rather rare up-side, even among the craftsmen and mages. Oh, speaking of mages, I finally got around to register as a spellcaster.. that must be rather boring for you, but for me their tower, even though I only saw the entrance hall, is very intriguing. They have just like that this little globe that flashes every time spells are cast in unprotected areas.. I think I’ve explained once how that works but it’s not necessary to know.. I just think, they got something like this just standing around by the door, I’d bet my bottom they have a much more complex scrying device somewhere in the depths of that building. So I know better than to cast wher I’m not supposed to. Unfortunately the agent didn’t have a lot of time, and I’ve embarrassed myself by naming my art as White magic as I always do.. I know you find it easier to understand with colors, me too. But the common wizard would look very oddly at you for that. I’m just slowly getting to know people.. doesn’t pay off to do that when you’re achild I found, not a lot of them live long here. It’s not much like that where you are, right? Lots of people who are older also come from the surface. But no one did seem to know a place called „Hillside"“ yet. That surface has to be much larger than I’ve even first imagined. But still I’m sometimes worried about the spellcasting, because we haven’t got any warded places in Lower Sanctuary. It’s much like lighting a big fire in a dark night in orcish territory. You do call them orcs, right? And be glad if you don’t know what a mage eater is. The name pretty much says it all. But seeing that Abjurer’s nightshade can keep them off, I’m curious to how this plant works. Maybe we could use it to dim all „flames“ and make cheap, personal wards? Woven into a nice dress or a fancy necklace. I’m having theories but I doubt you’d want to know. Even to me, they’re very boring. About the anarchy.. There’s a council forming here. I know several people in it and they’re pretty nice.. I’ve offered to help too if they want and maybe I can. Then I’ll tell them my plans, they’re also employing a few mages.. I’m not sure if I could come up with anything they haven’t thought about already, but I’ve been told I was a gifted child. I’m sure you’d understand it too, in no time, if you’d be determined, but I’m also sure that might be not for you, it’s very theoretical science and only interesting to boring people like me. Heh. I dare say I’d not last a single day on the farm of yours in turn. And I’m not so good with animals either as you are even though I like them. But I don’t have any pet other than Menzu and he isn’t really so much an animal.. You’ll be harvesting soon as I understand it. You have to grow a real lot if you can only do it like once a year.. I wish you the best of luck with it and look forward to hear back from you again.

Sincerely yours, Morgiah

Sender: Morgiah Nahal Recipient: Evanessa Torres

(Date unknown)

Greetings Eva,

I’m glad to hear your harvest is going even better than expected. Makes one believe in miracles again after all. I do see that this keeps you rather busy and your replies might fall short. I’m not blaming you of course. It just seems like a quiet time now. I remember when things were more tense.. even more than the riots. I often help Mister Wesh with things. He is the one who seems to have the most say in the new council here.. I don’t always get what we’re doing but he is very driven to get the Lower security and economy back up. Or even higher up than before. But that one time we just crawled through the sewage system.. Really really deep down. If you’re wondering why, all I know is we had to pick up a package. Can you believe there were even people living down here? They were very wierd but I guess that’s what smelling rancid fecies all day does to people. Eventually they freaked out and swarmed some poor dwarf who cuoldn‘t keep his mouth shut. I’m convinced they’re all ina better, less smelly place now. Dwarves and elves come from the surface and are much like our duergar and drow.. are they also arguing all the time up there? Or just cranky being caught here and stuck with each other. One elf, whatserface, got very mad about this dwarf and said she’d live.. came crawling back not even three minutes after. I found that funny. After running back and forth and here and there repeatedly we found it somewhere, the parcel that is. I don’t remember much after other than being accused by stealing from it by someone. But every at least rudimentary perceptive person could see that my bag has gone lighter by about half of what it used to be so everyone could of course see that was rothe dung.. I wish I could make some potions for you when you have to do all that hard work. It really helps, and I’m slowly getting a hang of the proper recipe so unwanted side effects have become much less frequent. I sometimes wonder if I’d like it up there. You’d probably not want to come here.. If you’re generally wary of wizards you would be surprised how frequent sorcery is among the population here. It’s like everyone can wiggle their finger without having the faintest idea what they’re doing and then throwing explosions around or disappearing or what have you. They’re generally nice people and some even responsible but I’m guessing acquired knowledge from a book will always be superior. Oh, they do have mage duels here. That’s something I’d really think everyone should have see at some point.. Most of the time they don’t use the traditional rules that I was taught, but then I suspect they also come from the surface like Shei-leng-tzu possibly did – he still didn’t show up again. So maybe he’s gone back? Questions.. Anyway, there’s still a lot of empty bottles on my desk that wait to be filled as well as mortar and pestle, a real good amount of people did order many potions, so I’ll write you more later.

Hugs and kisses from Morgiah

Sender: Morgiah Nahal Recipient: Evanessa Torres

5th of Flamerule

Sender: Morgiah Nahal Recipient: Evanessa Torres

8th of Flamerule

Hello Eva,

you seem to do very good despite the hard work, I really admire that.. But then from your implications I do understand you and Malith are getting closer. Isn’t that right? How nice! Or am I ust seeing things? You did ask how that’d be for me, though, but I have to say that I’ve had my nose poked into books for so long that I’m, well, don’t laugh, feeling like I should first take some time learning those things. But then no one’s caught my attention like that yet, either. I’m having still time so I think, right? Right! Time of being lazy might be over soon enough as is, maybe I’m finding some more permanent employment. So now I’ve spoken to a Mister Marvolo whom Mister wesh recommended me too, and who’ll be most likely in charge of the magical operations and things in Lower now. He seemed quite interested in what I had to say but even knows some more useful things, connected to the nearby ruins where I’ve played as a child on occasion even though they’re still not exactly safe. I’ll have to look into that, but, about that more later I guess. So you don’t even really hae sewage systems, only in larger towns? Well again, be glad. Sure they’re good for something but as soon as I’m sent down there I start minding them. I know you have goblins too but are they as much a nuisance as here? I undersand you don’t even tolerate their presence. We have some living here but they’re generally harmless.. But the other day, Mister Wesh told me they were acting up all of a sudden or rioting or what have you and if I couldn’t help.. Well, I was thinking „That I have to see!“ and came. Usually there’s only like three to five of them sitting around the fire.. but now, all of a sudden, they had a chieftain that I’ve not seenbefore, a sub chief of sorts, several armored and armed soldiers and, you won’t believe it, a Maur. Mister Wesh was trying to speak to them but they didn’t do much than threatening us to leave as I understood but I didn’t really keep up with it all. I think the giant attacked first, they’re easy to provoke.. I was torn wether to run away but since I saw no one else would I cast at least enough spells to make them kep going longer. But they all seemed real determined, though eventually most of the goblins were slain or driven off.. So we though. More of them kept coming with explosives and blowing themselves up. The mess was gross, I tell you, and getting all the stains out will be a bother. So they said they’d keep this up until their leader was raised from the dead and apparently the giant too. Mister Wesh didn’t seem very enthusiastic about the idea.. Me on the other hand didn’t want all this and not any more death either, so I handed the priestess over from the Ibrandulite cave the entire required sum of gold after she was summoned. I wish I could have had more of them returned.. You might ask why, they’re only goblins.. but seeing how scared they then were made me wonder if the Lower council had really doen right here. Mister Wesh also ordered them to clear a building for whatever reason. I maybe shouldn’t say „the council“, because, soon after, Mister Scent arrived. He is a silent, odd fellow who also is part of the council, and he got very mad at Mister Wesh. From what he said, it looked to me like the goblins hadn’t pillaged and rioted after all.. but then why did they raise their troops? That I didn’t know.. They even had an artist.. It was new to me they had any sense for esthetics.. or maybe they hadn’t, because their chief said he never liked the artist and how he depicted him.. the chief had still a bad head injury.. seeing this made me very sad.. You might find this strange, because I surely do. Mister Scent and Mister Wesh went to inspect the house the goblins cleared for them and argued some more but I asn’t paying atention.. so I left soon after.. Maybe I should send this chieftain get-well wishes. I know it’s silly, since I still don’t know what it was about or was even misinformed, but then I could draw a little bit on the card too, because I’m guessing he likes art, just not the artist they had. Maybe I should do that.. what do you think? Please let me know, if you want to. And maybe let me try the recipe for this so called pumpkin pie that you love so. I’m almost sure we have a mushroom that’s called something like that, maybe it’s the same. I’m sorry you didn‘t like the stew recipe from Mister Rebxn.. did I mention he is a goblin too? I probably forgot..

I wish you well, Morgiah

P.S. Oh, there’s also a research organisation of mages and the such around here in Lower led by a certain Mister Memnon, and they finally took note of me and say they might have been looking for one with my talents. I’m excited.. Pretty sure they also can help me with my projects as much as I can help them.

Sender: Morgiah Nahal Recipient: Evanessa Torres

9th of Flamerule

Hey Eva,

I’m writing already once again. Nothing to do or so you must think.. but I just felt like it, especially in return to your latest note. My card, yeah, gives a good impression what I’m like and what it is like, here. You’re not the first one to say my staff is a farming tool and.. what’s it made of? I can tell you so much, they mass-produce those, so I doubt it’s anything bad, probably rothe bone. I normally odn’t need the glasses, only for reading, because I’m a bit far-sighted, I guess sitting bent over a book in dark with only dim candlelight messes your eyesight a bit, but then, I do read a lot, so you might want to see them too. And, no, bathing in the lake isn’t very recommendable. I’d much love to see the new young kittens you’ve got. Maybe I can name a few when I come up with something? The black one with white flecks should be Astarel.. don’t ask me why, I just like that name. And if you don’t, I’ll think again. I haven‘t though much about my predicament yet. I was busy most of the time..Mostly the usual.. though I haven’t seen any of the councillors today. Was still exciting.. After that, or more in between, Mister Memnon held a little sale. Actually no, a large one. You know what a town square is like on market day, only here, we don’t trade in food so much, oddly, mostly weapons, trinkets, even magic spells. But that I can explain because we have adventurers abound. You hardly have them as I understand.. I do wonder who solves all the problems that come up on a daily base that will need solving by sword or magic? But then I’m glad that isn’t required. Upon later return from outside with Mister Harn, whom I probably haven’t mentioned yet – outstanding swordsman, really, has some links with the upper city Watch if I got that right – we just happen to witness how Mister Memnon and Mister Ten-Irons, a lower footman, are taken into custody by a Watch private and sergeant. Apparently on account of child killing, but a bystander whom I also knew, Mister Wyric, was able to tell that those two only pursued the actual murderers and hence picked fights or what have you. He went to the atch house to clear it up, I knew those two were decent people, but I couldn’t speak for them for I witnessed nothing. The name „Angels“ was mentioned as the culprits, but there’s so many gangs which call themselves that that I was mixing them up. Must be Frankie’s, cause I saw that Hayley person quietly slipping past us through the gates, thinking I’d not notice.. I did, but probably I wasn’t the only one so I didn‘t mind. Mister Harn needed some potions so I thought I’d do that right before going to sleep, but then I did it hasted and finished way, way earlier than I thought and so I’m writing this other letter. Heh, useful spell that, only it can take a lot out of you, a little lack of energy and so on. No, drinking those potions that are infused with pure arcane energies just can’t be healthy. As an apothecary and alchemist I recommend you to stick with rothe, pardon, cow milk.

Best wishes from your friend, Morgiah

Sender: Morgiah Nahal Recipient: Evanessa Torres

10th of Flamerule

Hi Eva,

it helped me a lot hearing so much from you in your last sending. It’s like the first time in my life that I’m feeling somewhat down and I feel like I can’t really show it to anyone. I’ve got around to draw what I mentioned some time though. Sure I’d usually agree with you that this doesn’t seem right at all.. but those are difficult times.. maybe we just have to stick together all a bit more even if we’re convinced we shouldn’t. Then I’d rather just get away from all of this but we can’t. That’s something I’d like to do as you can, just moving on to somewhere else if you don’t like it anymore where you are.. Glad that you do.. our contact would most likely break if you’d move away. I was half tempted to try it. Upper is like a completely other city as well to me. I almost rented a room there but thought better of it. This is my home after all where my roots are. And I’m still not sure I have the money to afford it there for long. Also never too sure how the tension between those places is. I myself don’t mind the border so much and cross it a lot, others aren’t so easy going. I’ve heard over that sending thing how Mister Wesh was challenging someone or other.. I’ve been meeting so many new people that I haven#t introduced yet.. A Captain Baelister or so, they wanted to fight in front of the Crone over some insult. I think that’s something that’s hardly different „down here“. Men and their pride. Granted, some women have it too. It’s stupid if you ask me. But that Captain didn’t want to go down and said why not have it up here? That was pretty moving.. everyone insisted on the other one to accept their friendly invitation and no one wanted to back off. That was sweet. Eventually they just went out to the uninhabited ruins. I didn’t know that though. Mister caleb who was buying some potions off me told me rather not to go there.. Probably some roaming machine again.. And then it suddenly struck me that someone’s asked me to meet Mister Deauxfortes at the Crone about somehting.. I hurried there but of course he was no longer there. So I went back up to see Mister Clickle, for he’s the only one who seems to be able to make glass bottles in the entire town. The Voice of that Mister Captain Baelister hammered through my head again because he was complaining that Mister Wesh had apparently been cheating by getting some people to his aid and wanted re-compensation for something. I’ve met Mister Wyric and some others at the Rock Bottom; (also some person called Miss „Barn“ which I found amusing) where I rarely go, and he was a witness to the whole thing but I conluded it was so overly confusing that eventually no one knew what the deal really was. But it’s a rather strange place, I doubt I’d like to stay there. Where was I? Maybe I’ll hear more of this at a later point, given it interests you. I’ve not found it overly intriguing.. Happens all the time. I also have those papers from the Research organisation still not filled out.. I’m lazy as you know. However, they seem to be incomplete, I’m supposed to sign something which wasn#t included in the package. Oh well, I’ll get around to asking about it. And I found out that a good deal of the surfacers come from a place called „Waterdeep“. Have you ever heard of it? I just ask this out of curiosity since there’s no telling if that’s what is above us anyway. And some of them are real confusing. I found someone who had very bad leg injuries, he could barely stand. Bites from big beetles. You probably don’t have so large ones if you don’t use them for food.. Anyway, that person complained to me about this and that and also mentioned that the innkeeper Mister Twist wouldn’t have let him stay in a room because he had no money and seemed almost surprised of that. Oh, I might not get around to writing again too soon because I expect some busy days to come up where I’ll rather do a lot of studying. But I’ll enjoy reading your letters more anyway, I’m feeling I’m relating about way more things than I should.

Say Hi to Astarel and Honeydew from Morgiah

Sender: Morgiah Nahal Recipient: Evanessa Torres

13th of Flamerule

Dear Eva,

sorry for taking my time to get back at you. Seems I haven’t been in the mood lately to do much. That you’d inquire about my opinion has flattered me I have to say. That is easily explained because, even though I just might come through as an educated person, I’m finding it’s all acquired. What I mean by that is what I generally think of sciences like the ones I practice.. It’s all based on logics, facts, and so on, as abstract as they may be, it is still something every fool can learn with a bit of determination or at least make-believe they’ve learned it. The other sector would be the arts, for those one pretty much has to have a gift or a talent, those can help with sciences but are not, as I see it, required, as opposed to arts and art-related topics, also, having any sort of practical life experience doesn’t appear to be vital since that’s nothing I have in abundance. At least I can help with some common sense and constructive criticism from an outside point of view and hope that’s appreciated. I’m just first and foremost trying to determine wether you’re happy with it or not.. Because that, and this I take for granted, is the least you deserve. Sure I can tell you are now. I just don’t know how I’d feel about that if he’s basically still not broken up with his former girlfriend at all.. and then claims not to even mind that relationship to end, I mean, it has been four years, that’s a lot to me and you’re barely older than me, so he’s either coming through as a bit of an uncaring person or not entirely telling the truth, and even if that’s supposed to be nice or polite or considerate one should stay true to their feeling and show them at least in a special relationship as this. But those are just my impressions.. I’d say to keep at it and watch it for a while before making any too final decisions. I also understand you consider to start up a new work. Or, not new.. seeing you aren’t really emploleyd as of now.. Anyway.. that might be just more like you. I’m saing it is important to do what one likes, even if it doesn’t seem like a good idea at first. Totally go for that. I’m almost sorry that I won’t be able to add a lot to this letter now, seeing it probaly hasn‘t been very helpful so far. For one reason or another, I couldn’t say, I’ve suffered a bit of a headache most of the day as long with being unconcentratedness and also a certain loss of memory. But that’s usually going to fix itself.. no need to be concerned or the like. Also seems I‘m slowly running out of money, not having filled an order in some time again. I wish I could live off a normal job alone, this so-called adventuring surely gets on my nerves. It’s hardly any fun I tell you.. I liked that song too that the bards perform about it, not sure if you have it, but most likely something similar, but the reality is just different. It’s neither feeling heroic nor any useful, because, no matter how many evil creeps you do away with, there’s always more. Helping out a poor fellow who has lost all after being robbed just feels more rewarding. I just don’t know what to do.. trying to accummulate enough to settle down in my own pharmacy, or apply as an assistant nurse for a general practitioning healer? I’m sure I’d find something that is less stressful. Seeing Waterdeep only seems faintly familiar with you I’ll try to find out where other people are from. Sometimes, it’s a bit of a strange though, I’m wondering if you really just live in another location, taking the nature of that little portal it could even be another time or even plane. But, it’s fine as it is.. Just this thought eliminated my doubts about the theory that there is no surface world as I first thought, and it would be only a false memory implanted in people’s minds by the squid heads. That theory would be a possible scenario if I’m right. But as I said, don’t think about it much. And if you ever go to a larger city, don’t think about visiting the sewers.. It’s a silly place! I don’t know why I keep going there, probably because something’s always crawling up from there and needs stomping back to the hells were it’s been created. We‘ve just last time had some armor clad figure with a ridiculous hat, or, helm, accusing Mister caleb of stealing this and that and even beat him down with an ugly stick. I should have helped, I know that much, but it was all agreed on that there wouldn’t be any bloodshed, but I did have my explosives primed. Might be that person is somehow linked to the plague we’ve had. Mister Harn knew something about it but I’ve lost it by now. I’ll better try to take something that eases the pain in my head, candied mushroom usually does wonders for that, and lay down some more. Stay safe.

Love, Morgiah

Sender: Morgiah Nahal Recipient: Evanessa Torres

13th of Flamerule

Eva,

couldn't quite sleep yet so I sat down once again and I've been doing you some of my impressions in pictures other than dry words. I supopse that's all rather self-explanatory, saves me the blushing if I'd actually write down soem of the things I had in mind when making that. Have fun!

Sender: Morgiah Nahal Recipient: Evanessa Torres

15th of Flamerule

Hello Eva,

I’m pleased to hear everyone is still going alright for you without second thoughts, I can happily relate my own state has also become much better. Now that I’m a magess of some renown I get to learn more about the arts by all kinds of other practitioners and at low cost, I’m already having enough to live off again and afford all the little extras, no need to worry about me. I sometimes think bad things never will happen, but that is all too wrong, I can only recommend to be prepared for the worst, at least at times, not all the time because that would be the worst I could think of, seeing shadows and threats and dangers that aren’t there around every corner. So I learnt not to judge a book by ist cover or how this saying goes. I always mix those sayings up.. I faintly remember having accused smoeone of not being „the brightest tool in the box“. Or something. I have to admit sometimes the stereotypes or what you call it do fit. Even in cases where you can't be sure, like folks that aren’t really orcs but are of their blood, I know they’re usually scorned. I don’t want to talk much of it but for some reason it feels like I can’t really tell that to anyone, but not only do I totally trust you, also you could not even make it public around here accidentally. Sure I see much dying here, maybe more than you’d deem „normal“, because most is invoked by force, however, there’s often a meaning to it, even though I myself don’t kill a thing really. I wouldn’t have the means. I’m not sure what to make of it. Seeing someone dropping their back pack and then advising someone who peeks their nose in respectfully to stay out is a situation that comes up a lot really, from what I saw.. What kind of issues and probably a very small, uhh, you know.. manly part.. does one have to have to actually kill over an „insult“ like that, by employing most craven tricks? Yes, I think I saw that happen but I had no idea what to do, I had not a single spell left and they had set up sort of a duel thing, surely no one expected them to go to the death.. neither was the unlucky contestant who fell. That would be Mister Illiano, I knew him a little but he seemed nice enough, only I think he was working with Mister Wesh who was also there and promised his body would be taken care of so I guess I’m seeing him again some time soon. Something was strange though because we didn’t take the usual way back home from Fort Mur where this all happened, more so they abandoned me at the foot of the Spire but I refused to come along under the guidance of a deranged murderer with complexes that only an abuse in early childhood could explain, but not excuse.. They were all very weird.. Mister Wesh is normally much nicer to me.. just said he’d need me and would constantly urge me to keep up.. I can’t walk so fast in that rocky terrain with my boots, they’re not made for that as you’ve seen. I eventually refused and ventured on my own, not even Mister Deaufortes who promised to take me home would care. Guess I’m not keeping the shiny gem he’s given me for some reason. Fine. See if I care. Seems a lot of the Upper folks is much nicer.. I’ve met one of the members of their Society, he’s just arrived maybe a week ago, I showed him around a bit in Lower. Priest of Mystra or the like was what he is. Then there’s also Mister Harn.. and such. I’ve even bought me a doll of the former Watchman Mister Taddle, who seems to have ended all this gang nonsense down here.. and is so cuddly! Ahm, yes. I just still can’t help not feeling so well up there. The ambient of the inn also never appealed to me. None of them have waitresses here, are you sure it’s a well paid or at least fun job? I just couldn’t imagine it for myself since I’d be more likely to trip and spill all the drinks, making customers angry.. Anyway, what else.. I doubt I have much more to relate... I did hear there’s some sort of shapechanger around that keeps impersonating people to cause some trouble. I’m wondering what it’s like to not have a shape and only being able to take on others. I’m not afraid of being tricked or imitated by it, it couldn’t possibly gain much from it. I’m wishing we had kittens around here too, that must be awfuly cute in a positive way. But they’d surely not last long here, everything we have grows huge teeth and thorns and tentacles to be strong enough to survive here so that makes me glad we don’t have them here at all. I’d take good care of them of course. I’m digressing so I’ll just end here.

With regards, Morgiah

Sender: Morgiah Nahal Recipient: Evanessa Torres

17th of Flamerule

Greets Eva,

I suppose this one letter will be a rather long long rant again, hope you don’t mind. I know you did tell me how intersting you think it is, I’m experiencing some things that you’d only know from stories, but still I sometimes am very unsure if I wouldn’t switch places with you if I could. Events are piling up so much now, it’s almost like I haven’t lived maybe a week ago or so, and maybe I haven’t really. But surely everything is going to be just alright.. If I’d have to describe myself with a word that drops into my mind first it would be „yellow-bellied“, arguably if that’s one word or actually two – you get the idea, anyway. So it’s understandible that I’m rather proud of a usually not very heroic deed of mine recently. Heh, looking back at it I even acted rather pathetic. I just so happened to fill a potion order as usual for a rather rude old person who stalked around in the wilds and waited on them in a passage behind the gates, id est, outside of town. When I came back he seemed to be just chatting with a dwarf, I tossed over the bag with the fraigle vials when I noticed he started to fling maggots at the dwarf.. Yes, a lot of large and vicious ones that immediately started burrowing in the flesh. I was terrified and started running, too.. The obviously mad person threw a powerful paralyzing spell at the poor dwarf who had not much chacne to resist, I had turned myself invisibly, convinced I’d be next.. But the gates were only a stone’s throw away and I remembered I had seen a lot of people gathering up there for something, so I ran, looking back over my shoulder just seeing how the druid proceeds to beat said dwarf up with a club.. I urged the group to follow me in few words, I was in luck, Constable Anwick as well as Spellguard agent Lindgren seemed to be there, back at the scene of the crime I immediately acted by removing all protective magics of the surprised attacker who had no chance than to flee. He was apprehended later but as I learned by now, left off with a fine.. I’m sure he’ll strike again some time. The dwarf however, a certain Mister Tagnar if I remember that right; was very grateful and still is, to me in particular, as if I had done something special.. But it was cute and I appreciated it. The authorities were rather busy though, it was the very same day when that Mister Marvolo whom I mentioned in a previous letter, before he went mad and killed and reanimated people, was finally caught and tried. I’ve seen it happen but it was rather pathetic.. Seemed like he just put on another set of robes, an ugly helm and stopped talking and anxiously hoped to be able to live a complete and happy life ever after right in the middle of the people he offended. Talk about being desilusional.. I haven’t watched the execution which is probably for the best I guess. Seems Mister wesh is gone and so is Mister Tane, both on a trip to the surface some rather crazy person offered, who seemed pretty sure it would work. Said they can’t come back though.. too bad I found out too late they were going, not htat I’d have had the guts to go but I could have asked them to pass on a greeting to you if they’d pop out anywhere in the close vicinity.. I’m sure you would have liked Mister Wesh. Although he was a bit grumpy lately.. over this and that.. mainly Kossuthans setting half of Lower on fire.. reminds me to try and get a hold of the Red Wizards again.. someone mentioned to me but I didn’t know them, have you ever heard of them? They must be evokers, I guess. Not much more to say I guess. I’ve been playing around a bit with a spell to change shapes, I never knew how complex that was, and since I had help from someone who had more experience in that, Miss Merien, I did turn out to end up as a winged, tiny surface creature that strangely resembles a Gloura, but not quite. Very understandible that they’re from the surface, I kept bumping my head into the ceiling when trying to fly.. Guess I have to work on that. I’ll not inquire much about you and respect your later short notes that come in currently, for I know and respect what you might and should be busy with.

Sending my greetings to you, Morgiah

Sender: Morgiah Nahal Recipient: Evanessa Torres

21st of Flamerule

Dearest Eva!

I hope you don’t think I had forgotten you or something happened or anything, no not at all. I have more so read your letters with a great interest and needed some time to ponder. If you’re developping magic powers I was also first thinking of another case of sorcery that maybe just flickers up and can eventually die down when it isn’t cultivated, and I would only recommend few to do so. However the spell you described when mending the little squirrel’s (I think I can amost imagine what one must look like, how sweet!) broken leg is nothing that I could achieve with arcane magic. Just don’t worry – if you were a priestess or anything of the such, you would know that. Have you done anything unusual lately or tried to learn anything new or what not? I just know your occupation had changed and with that probably your surroundings and so on. I’ll look into what I can find and get back at you. Just becareful about it even though I doubt you can cause any harm at all at this stage. I also always found the concept of „snow“ interesting, but after all I’ve heard I’m glad this doesn’t happen here. But anyway, what was it that kept me on my toes? Also not that much, looking back at it, even though it was somewhat spectacular. One of the dreaded Mind Flayers had set an inn up not far away. Yes, an inn, I didn’t believe it either before I saw it. Seems he held a fighting contest for big prizes, all fights to the death.. I don’t know what drives people to take that risk and I didn’t even care much to even see it, but Mister Harn was wanting to partake and I doubt I could have changed his mind in a way and really wanted me to take care of his remains if he should fall.. Just to clarify already, it didn’t come to that, blessed be. Still not a pretty sight, the opponents were all undead creations, animated by a Black Wizard master who attended, and put up a terrible fight. Good thing in a way is that one of the infamous streetgangs has kinda vanquished themselves in one of the fights when they wanted wing implants.. The celestial being that opposed them was way out of their league.. or they out of his? I never get that right. I’m only shocked that the Mind Flayer has such a creature and that the necromancer practises his foul arts for mere „amusement“ of the more primitive and, almost to be called ferocious, bloodthirsty crowd. I did take a look at the prices, worth a lot, lot more than I could ever imagine, also much more powerful than what I could make. I felt almost tempted but, no, I’m not standing much of a chance in such a fight.. undead are mostly impervious to anything I can throw at them.. while I’m not, to their claws, blades and so on. Turns out going to that inn was not really appreciated, I went there pretty early so I didn‘t notice, but all the Watch and Society obstructed people to go there, as it seems by force. I really wish I had known that, I would’ve stayed the hell out. However I wrote an article about it, it was accepted and doesn’t look so bad in the paper. Maybe I can do more of that, keeping my eyes open anyway. Also submitted to a test about Illithid infection and, knock on wood, nothing wrong with me! Just seems troublesome times never end around here, caught news of a cannibalistic band of orc bloods who had eaten aan elf or something, Even watched some Spellguards trying to apprehend one of them as it seems, a pretty pathetic display of skill, or more the lack of it, mucking around with a color spray that only makes them a bit dazed when I kept shouting I had a holding spell prepared that would have been guaranteed to succeed. I wish I could help them somehow, maybe they let me if I ask nicely. I should just try to get some robes or the like made, as I said before, but I never come around to do some research and work about it.. I guess I’ll write you some more later.

Warm greetings to the Surface by Morgiah

Sender: Morgiah Nahal Recipient: Evanessa Torres

23h of Flamerule

Hi darling!

I’m proud to say I can get back at you already, even though I’m almost ashamed I never thought of this earlier. There’s a mostly neglected third way of arcanery that is open for artisans and resourceful things like that who intuitively pick those things up by socialising a lot and I’m guessing that could be explained by your new occupation – not the changing partners I don’t think. I’m not meaning to comment on that yet, though. The common person would call that a bard, you always struck me as a Jenny-of-all-trades and I’d sure like to hear your voice singing, I’m sure you do. Those types usually are what I picture the typical adventurer, maybe something greater is meant for you after all? You’d probably be more suitable than me, at any rate.. I’m just giving some thought I have had, I wouldn’t mean to encourage you or anything, it’s a dangerous, demeaning and unsatisfying kind of work – no.. I’m still frantically looking for something else to make a living off, myself. Brewing is good but that doesn’t ensure a regular income, sometimes I get many orders and sometimes none. Not that I mind, I tend to be rather lazy. Those fights to the death sure get frequent here around now. Not that that would be for me either. Last time it was even tougher, a so called Catshbash has held them right in the city in the local arena and was obviously permitted to do so, picking opponents from a magical device that entrapped all kinds of creatures he had fought and subdued before. The rewards were only weapons of more or less questionable quality, the whole thing seemed like a farce as this Casbah collecte all the shed blood in buckets, giggling madly and even cutting up contestants who he thought didn’t get hurt enough in the fights. That probably was for some ritual to delight his dark bloodthirsty god Garagos, whose followers are all mad and living only to bring blood and slaughter to their god as a Tempusite had told me some time later. I wish he’d leave again. As the authorities wanted to bring him in for questioning he released a fuly grown red dragon who ate several Watch members and Spellguard agents before it was slain, if it was slain at all, I sure didn’t stay too close to the fight. So now that Cashbabsh resides in the Crone right next door or so,I think, and right on the other side is that cannibalistic orc clan whom I saw accepting human organs from someone who was also a human – disgusting! I haven’t slept tight in the past few days, they’re rather loud with their rituals, but so or so my hands are tied because no one gives a damn, so I finally moved out and up-stairs until that calms down. I still don’t like it up here a lot but the contact point isn’t really much farther away so I’ll just grit my teeth and bear it for awhile. Spending more time downwards as is anyway, because there’s currently re-elections or how ever it#s handled for council, and, there’s such a damn huge choice now. I don’t know if I can take direct influence on it anyway.. We never had elections down here as long as I can remember, maybe it’s required to be at least eighteen or so. Most of the candidates look sound, I’m having a few favorites though.. Scent.. Tommy maybe? He knows how to keep peace and order. I’ll be honest, I’m wanting someone who can help me rise into any influential position and is willing to do so, I want to establish my own place here where mages of all faiths in Dweomerheart gather, conduct researches, protect the place and aggressively hunt perpetrators and meanies. Like the Spellguard in Upper but with a better reputaiton. The aforementioned battlepriest of Tempus seems to be willing to listen to what I’ve got to say, at any rate.. also nice. Those who want better relationships with Upper I regard with mixed feelings. The thought is noble but it seems not feasible in theory... I guess we should be independant to stop this hate and turn it into cold equality for a while, and maybe, then we’ll talk. Basically there’s just one candidate whom I won’t vote. She used to be somehow involved with those notorious lazy people of the house of light before Frankie and the gang took it over and now blatantly claims to be a Lowersfolk too. I know her a little at least, she’s a decadent tool of the Upper authorities who never set a foot to Lower before that I know of. I doubt anyone listened to that stupid wench‘s campaign, I hope even the half-orcs know better than to vote someone who lies, makes empty promises and does nothing but shaking her booty around. Disgusting. At that rate I’m having to run for it myself. Miste Memnon is definitely gone, but I’m a bit unclear on the details. Tommy says he was brought in for questioning and then put down by the Watch, with the later excuse he tried to escape. I’m inclined to believe that.. Bastards. The Watch themselves tell me fantastic stories of him slaying half a dozen orphans and afterwards assaulting the Watchhouse single handedly while declaring war. Yeah right.. as if. But I can’t help feeling that both sides are actually lying to me and the truth is resting in some grave or another never to re-emerge. Some days I’d wish they’d just all go to hell. Why can’t they stop lying and telling half truths. When I pass on those lies and untruths I’ll be in effect a liar myself, although without knowing that. However his work, I won’t be able to continue as it seems.. Those damn upstart Red Wizards probably will grab that cake for themselves.. Hey, even with them taken into account I’m surely hands-down the most capable arcanist down here right now, and no one even knows that! So it seems if I want help with my projects I either align myself with the Reds or with the Spellguards. Both prospects that I do not like at all. I could look into the associates program, one of them I met who was nice enough.. Oh before I forget, at one of the elections after-parties I really did meet Victor Hastian! Oh my gods! I’ll regret that I had to turn down a dance because I’m deadly clumsy and never learnt how to do it either, until the day I rot in my grave. Mister Scent then insisted until I gave in but I stepped on a lot of toes I believe.. ah well, I wish you could teach me that. But maybe it’s something more intuitive that can’t be learned from dry studies or even by taking lessons. What do you think?

Sending my love from the `dark, Morgiah