[Letter and Parcel to Acolyte Amelie]

[zerotje]

**There's a few wrapped in cloth candies contained in the parcel. There's a letter, too.**

Acolyte Amelie,

I was wondering, with your devoutness and great poetic talent, if it was possible to create a warding song or poem.
It's difficult for me to stay alive, to stay hopeful.

Those around me are dragged down into darkness.

I'm honestly desperate. I've found love in my life and it should be a beautiful experience.
She knows of the happenings and she swore to protect me.

But I am so worried for her safety.

Could you do such a thing?

With kind regards,

Alfred Delafosse

[zerotje]

**He'd resend the same letter.**

[Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi]

[If left at the Priory, the Krak des Roses, or anywhere in the Well, this letter goes unanswered and uncollected. However, a letter to Alfred arrives all the same. The hand is hasty and the parchment isn't parchment, but vellum, and recently made.]


Alfred,

I know more now than ever before of the foe that has haunted your steps, that is wrought of your sorrows, and has played mischief with you for these past ten years.

Its eyes are now upon me. I am hunted, for your reprieve. But through the art of we Kulamet I have come to know its nature.

Seek me upon the High Road when I ask for you over the bellows. We must speak of how this foe may be undone, for I have an answer, and a course we may sound out.

Amelie

[zerotje]

Amelie,

I must dissapoint you and admit that what we encountered was but one foe of many.

Though it's defeat shall without doubt bring me great reprieve. And those around me will be safer for it.

I am so greatly sorry to hear that you've been hunted as a consequence. I don't know how to make it up to you.

We shall meet upon the High Road. I shall take Shamsa the Oathseeker with me.
She and you are the only ones that know.

Alfred

[zerotje]

[Left this letter addressed to Amelie at the Camp at the Low Road, where they once conversed.]

Dear Amelie,

It is I, Alfred Delafosse, writing you. I hope this letter finds your hands.
You've alerted Apothar Estellise and several Acolytes that I am cause of your curse.

I wholeheartedly agree.
We spoke upon the Rooftop of the Krak des Roses and only then began this nightmare for you.
I do not believe that to be coincidence.

However in the College of Balladeers I was confronted by Balladeers, Banda Rossa and your Sisters.
Accused of Brooking. Accused of striking a deal or pact with Djinni. Endangering you by it.

When I arrived in Ephia's Well, after being chased by my curse for ten years, I was relieved. Finally, a City, Finally a Place that had potentional of becoming Home.
All I ever wanted in my life, is normalcy. Boring, dull, normalcy. Friends, Love and Art.

When the haunting continued despite my arrival, I panicked desperatedly and saw to confide in you.
I explained to you the dangers and you accepted to help me regardless.

I am forever in your debt for this kind act. I am forever shamed by the horror you face now.

I'm despairing greatly howevever at the thought that you believe I wilfully inflicted such.
Or that it is caused by me striking pacts and deals with Djinn-kind.

I'm sorry that I did not tell you the whole truth. But the truth is that I did so to prevent disaster.
When they are mentioned, they arrive, the spirits of my past. It is also an exceedingly painful subject.

These Djinni however, I never encountered them before. Only the one time with you. That was the last time for me, aswell.

I too am confused greatly by this fact.

I don't know what to say or do now, Amelie, I can only plead and beg of you to believe me.
The curse upon me was hexed by a Necromantic Priestess, ten years ago, in Ring 306.

I have never dealt with Djinni ever before. I would never, ever strike a deal with them.
I have been carrying one curse for ten excruciating years and require no more than one.

The others, they do not believe me. They handed me over to the Fourth Legion to process me through a Capital charges trial.
It flopped, thankfully, with the aid of Apothar Cosine and Sergeant Colmes.

My desire is to help you, but I do not presently think you'd accept it, with everything I have heard and gone through.

What do you wish of me Amelie?

I'll do anything. Truly, I will do anything.

Alfred Delafosse

[Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi]

[The letter is received there. A reply eventually makes its way to the Krak des Roses.]

Alfred,

It was not I that alerted the Apothar, or anyone outside the Priory, to what has befallen you. By some means, the Djinn was upon you, and such a Foe does not make that choice lightly.

I urge that you think exceptionally carefully upon what it is you said, offered, and did with the young man that you met in the Krak des Roses. When I asked you upon that night you did not have a clear or ready answer. But the marks we saw were likely self-inflicted. You did, indeed, speak with one of Them, or one who serves Them.

But I shall write no more of this here. Already the pages are tainted with a knowledge we ought fear to pen.

What I ask of you, for now, is this: Seek me upon the High Road, when I shall give a bellows in verse, and speak with me.

Amelie

[zerotje]

[The letter was left in a particularly difficult to reach cavern somewhere high.]

Dear Nameless Kulamet who happens to dwell in the Canyons,

I am writing you this letter because, I, interwoven cursecarrier, made a mistake.

Not just any mistake, no.
One of the life-ending variety.

It seems without your guidance it took but a grand ten minutes for me to blunder.
And what a blunder!

Remember what was on the young man?

Well it is now in my personal interest to learn how to... Not have that on you.

Regards,

Utter fool possibly not worth saving

PS: Just give me a clean death really.

[Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi]

[The letter, after a time, is received.]

[zerotje]

Amelie,

I have informed Isabella of my ''status''. With the intent to let the people involved know.
I do not intent to hide my failure.

And like you I dwell in the wilderness now.

It's tricked me, it was clever. I did not intent for it.
I am a Fool.

If there exists an " after " I can promise you that I will walk a Long Path of Redemption.
Any request you would make, I would fulfil. Perhaps for all my life.

I was informed however that there's more than my pitiful life at stake.
Now it is a matter of retaining my Soul.

Please do not sacrifice me.
Could you imagine losing the Afterlife? I cannot think of a Fate worse than that.

I am glad that you are not Marked.

Are there even words that I could quill or speak that take away any of the pain?

Regardless, I am sorry.

You've a plan to destroy it.
Now with my new status - do I attend, or do I avoid, partaking?

I imagine it could control me to harm you or the others.
What is next?

I do not wish to meet you in person for it.

An eternal apology,

Alfred Delafosse
Professional Fool

[Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi]

Alfred,

Understand that everything I say to you is known by our Enemy.

You are called to singular purpose: The redemption of your person and your soul. It shall not be easy. But it has been done before.

I will not sacrifice you. That would play into the hands of the Enemy and I will not bear the stain of that dishonor. I profess myself a Cinquefoil Errant and I shall neither brook with this Thing nor damn you to It, though you may have damned yourself already. But you must be present, so the Thing is present, and I shall call upon you to answer to the promise that you made to me.

Then, if the Wheel is kind, you may return to a baker's life.

But do not write me your apologies in ink, upon parchment, no; author them upon the Foe with your blade.

Prepare yourself. I do not have much time left.

Amelie

[zerotje]

Amelie,

If I must be there,
I shall be there.

And when it possesses me and my body moves on it's own to strike you down, shall I simply be cut down?

I ask we think this through.
Perhaps I should be shackled

I will feel naked and defenseless.
But I shall place trust in my companions to keep me safe.

Alfred

[Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi]

Alfred,

I say to you in truth: I fear a trap.

But no more can be said upon these pages. We shall try this thing and you shall hear again from me, or you shall not, but for the affliction that is upon you... I have not found you and it is safer that you are not present. Do not be idle in your quest to purge the mark from your person. With luck, the power of it shall be greatly reduced, or cease all together. But I cannot say this with certainty.

Wyld keep you. I shall write if I return. Otherwise, may She see you unto health--the mark removed--or a swift and painless end.

Amelie

[zerotje]

[The hastily written letter was delivered by a hurried courier.]

Amelie,

I heard over the bellows that your endeavor was successful.
I pray thousands of prayers that you will find peace now.

True disaster is the loss of Pirouette and Loijr.
My sorrow and grief are immeasurable.

Kind Pirouette even approached me on her own initiative to let me know she'd not give up on me.

They are dead. I cannot believe it.

You have all suffered immensely for my sake.
How could I ever repay you all?

Alas, I must deliver grave news. The Mark upon my person persists.
I believe it may be removed by the work of priests, by grand ritual.

I suggest we carry out such operation with haste.
All the influences of this Djinn must be removed.

Could you lead such an endeavor? I imagine you will return to Ephia's Well.

I will continue my self-exilement.

There is no way for me to repay any of you.
But if there is anything you wish of me, let me know.

Alfred Delafosse

[Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi]

Alfred,

I write to you with the understanding that what I say is known to the Enemy. Not that which I faced, for that hateful Prince is sealed away where none shall ever reach It, but of the Djinn generally. Another will bind itself to your mark or corrupt it somehow if aught is not done. It is likely this has already happened without you realizing.

You cannot come to the Well. Your mark was inflicted by a Fleshcrafter. Any touch to the Waters shall pollute them.

Water offers you no succor, for you are poison to it.
Earth offers you no succor, for it was the original lair of the Enemy that bound you.
Air offers you no succor, for air cannot purify the flesh.

Fire is your answer. The mark must be burned away in divine fire. An ancient rite of endurance. You shall live or die by it, I cannot say which, only that it shall be immeasurably painful. It will scar your form for life. But it is, I think, the surest way.

Write me with your answer as to whether you shall undergo this ritual.

Amelie

[zerotje]

Amelie,

It's the ritual, it's death or it's vengefulness and destruction.

I choose the ritual. I really, really hope my face isn't melted away.

You will announce a meeting with a verse. The location will be infront of the Pit of Sacrifice, at the High Road.

The last time I went to the Canyons I got this Mark.

Alfred