[A letter for Alejandro Benjazar.]

[Erudiche]

[A gritty envelope is hand-delivered to the address of Alejandro Benjazar by a terse, one-eyed caravaneer by the name of Volpi Brunkins, who speaks in onion-scented mutterings as he departs.]

Dear Alejandro Benjazar,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am presently a day's progress out from the Well, and have recently stumbled upon a caravan headed in the direction of the settlement. They have, kindly, agreed to ferry my letters back, so I have addressed a few letters while I have the opportunity. Again, you have my great thanks for your generosity and devotion to our noble cause, and I hope that I have not given the impression that I have abandoned the League in its hour of need. Rather, I am attempting to make myself of greater use to our cause, the cause of liberty, justice, and water for all.

This out of the way, you are a lover of stories, and I mean to regale you with mine as I travel about. Already I have seen very interesting things! In the eve which I departed the moon was high and so bright that it threatened to blind. I have a companion on my journey, at present, for on that eve I found, mired in bloody sand, surrounded by the coils of dead worms, a tortoise. Hastening to it, I offered the odd beast water and made quick use of some of my scarce supplies for its sake before making a brief camp to evade a brutal dust-storm, although thankfully no trace of the horrid Ash. The beast approached my fire, beneath a great arch of cyclopean proportions whose origins you would no doubt be able ascertain, and joined me in the gloom. I was, initially, somewhat alarmed, and feared the beast had dark designs, but it has thus far followed me silently and in forebearence of its wounds. It is slow, to be sure, but persistent, and I do not mind the company. I have combed through more half-sunk ruins, the most interesting of which was a rather peculiar statue -- it consists of but two vast and severed legs cleaved from their body, which stand as great fruitless and unbranching oaks in the sand. A distance away I might've spotted the half-sunk countenance of its head, but I could not afford such a detour. Unimaginably vast was the thing, it was surely a most splendid sight in its prime, and the stone was so seemless... what fascinating techniques must its sculptors have known.

If I should find any more travellers heading to the Well, I shall instruct them to continue my correspondance and will keep an ongoing journal of my most interesting experiences on my journey.

I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
Domhnall Judicael Guivarch

[Don Nadie]

*The response reaches Domhnall after a few days*

Dear S/r Domhnall,

Your Tale sounds fascinating, and I will admit a tinge of envy at the sights you describe. There is solace, I feel, in the beauty of the lone and empty road, with only our thoughts (or grateful beasts) for company. Glancing, in such travels, onto the works of ancient peoples only makes us more grateful. I am always moved by their art, for while its meaning may now be lost, its heart is not. One can feel the living, breathing spirits once animating such cultures... And feel themselves moved, ever-so slightly, with the same spirit once animating the long-dead artist.

That is art, after all. A hand reaching in the Darkness.

But I am perhaps being overly poetic, and ought to, instead, update you on some matters of the Well. Legate Zaniah has been kind enough to provide one of the Subsidies for this week, which means we may interview another Voiceless member of the White League for another 2.500 dinari. I would suggest making weekly meetings, and voting on who gets the subsidy from our number as per the Asterbadi principle.

I am also in contact with an official of the League of Purple, in the hopes that they may offer me some deal. While I am a bit hesitant and expecting it shall be more to their benefit than ours, I shall certainly listen to them, and see whether it is in our best interest to make a move.

Finally, you may have heard word of the Refugee Caravan claiming to have the Dakhwar, and being likely to be attacked by the Sibilant armies. Rest asured that the College and myself are working hard to ensure the Well acts morally, and concerns itself first with sparing a large number of refugees enslavement, then with everything else. Priorities are, after all, important.

Yours,

Alejandro Benjazar

[Don Nadie]

Dear S/r Domhnall,

Elections have been rushed and, alas, the White League is taken by surprise. When will you be returning from your trip? I can start maneuvers, but there is a limit to what we can do without a credible candidate present...

Yours,

Alejandro