To whom it may concern,

I am Erin the Smith, a katana maker from the surface. I have heard that yours are the finest of crafts in the whole of the Underdark, and as such, I have taken an interest in both your work and your facilities. I would like to request a tour of said facilities, with the goal of finding employment within them, and eventually borrowing the use of your forges for my own work. I would be able to pay you somewhat in gold, and the rest in hard labour should you wish it.

It is by no means my mission to start a competition of business with your organization. Quite the contrary; I would seek a cooperative business venture with you, through mutual aid and finance. My only desire is to return to my work, and craft a select series of exquisite and expert blades which I may feel pride in. The heat of battle is fine indeed, and enough to make any honest man sweat, but there is no substitute for the blazing heat of a well-maintained forge, nor can a sword and shield ever truly match the feel of the hammer and tongs.

Please send your reply whenever you have the time. I will be waiting at the Rock Bottom Inn, room 3, in the City of Sanctuary.

*a brief, simple signature, with no flourish* Erin

On behalf of the clan Grunstubhle Reply sent to Mr Erin

Bit lost. What're you actually wanting here? We don't lease out our forges. If you want employment, we got plenty of work going around here, always something to do about here.

If all you're wanting are some nice swords made, well, we can maybe give you a recipe or two, alongside the locations of some things we been hearing about - but it'll still cost you.

Gimme a reply if you're still interested.

- The Foreman

*a reply is swiftly penned, and sent with the utmost haste*

This is Erin the Smith. I am grateful for your prompt reply. This humble person wishes to apologize if their original message was indistinct. I will attempt to remedy this herein.

I am glad to know that you do not lease out your forges, so that now I may search elsewhere for such. If you had any knowledge of forges in nearby, Human-friendly cities, or of independant smiths in the Underdark, I would gladly pay for the information.

This novice is always interested in learning more about my craft, and as such would be more than glad to learn of any recipes you might be able to pass on to me. I should also be more than interested in your temptuous and brief allusion to mystery and treasure; might I compliment your diplomacy in doing so? In either case, you have bested my curiousity, and I would also be glad to discuss these matters you've heard of. If, perhaps, a share of whatever profit comes from these matters would be fair compensation, I should be glad to solidify such terms as they arise.

Thank you for your time, Foreman. This humble person awaits your reply.

Erin

Tell you what. You get the signatures of a half-dozen or so folk on a piece of paper and wing it my way, along with the price they'd be willing to pay for what they're buying, and what exactly they want done as far as a weapon be concerned, we'll do lunch. Next thing i want to hear from you is names, weapon details, and price. - Grunstubhle