Nightal 8, 1371

Dearest Father,

How are you? And how are things back home in beautiful Tilverton? I have finally reached Shadowdale, though the journey was not what I expected. Upon leaving home, I was filled with joy and felt that Lliira was walking with me. Though the day was cold, it was clear and there was a purity in the air that I missed from being in the city (although to be truthful, I wasn't necessarily certain that I would enjoy the so-called pure air of the forest. It smelled to me more like decay and detritus than like purity). It has been almost a ten-day since I left, but it feels much longer. I know that you were worried about me beginning my travels with the Goblin Wars still so recent, but I assure you, I was unharmed by any wandering bands of the beasts.

My second day out I had quite a few interesting experiences. I saw my first Zhent that day, although I did not know he was a Zhent at the time. I saw one of their large trading caravans and was awed by the size of it (8 wagons, 32 armored men) and also by the ferocity I saw in their movements. I was beginning to feel isolated and frightened, but it did not last long. Lliira blessed me with a friend - Manoff, an ogre who lives near Daggermouth Mountains (don't tell Uncle Henry that I befriended one instead of punching it in the face). He ran off a group of goblins, frightening them away and also keeping me safe overnight. Granted, I had to promise him that I would being him back a gnome to eat, but you know I would never do that.

I was then forced to argue with soldiers in the woods who were attempting to kill my new-found friend - they thought he was going to eat me. I finally convinced them to leave us alone by offering to take the ogre with me on my journey. And though they told me not to come to them when he ate my arm off, they also gave me some food and left us be. That afternoon, I arrived at the Spiderhaunt Woods and after a bit of information from Manoff, bid him farewell and settled down for the night.

My trip through Spiderhaunt Woods was utterly frightful. Manoff had warned me that if I went to sleep, I would be carried off by the large spiders that live in those woods, so I stayed awake through the night, but was still attacked. During the fight, I was both poisoned and managed to break my shield, though I did survive the attack and killed the beast that attacked me. It was close, however, and I ended up losing consciousness after the danger had passed. I have determined that I do not like spiders. At all.

Fortunately, the next morning, a Termish Silk Caravan picked me up and helped me to get myself cleaned up. Antony, the driver, gave me quite a bit of information about the Zhents (I asked him about the symbol I had seen a few days before) and he was a lovely older man. Bruce, the head soldier has been travelling these roads for a long time, and they were more than willing to give me a bit of food and a ride up toward Shadowdale. They dropped me at a small hamlet outide of Spiderhaunt Woods and sent me on my way. I am always thankful for the kindness of strangers and hope that one day I can return the kindnesses visited upon me in kind.

When I travelled the next morning, I was surprised to find that there were people following me - dangerous looking people. I noticed upon their bodies the signs of Loviatar and knew I was in trouble. They said they had known I was coming, and swiftly attacked me. I was knocked unconcious and after waking, I discovered that I was bound. It was terrifying father, I truly believed that these people were going to kill me. They attacked me with a whip, stripping the skin off my back and causing me to cry out to Lliira. For what felt like hours, I thought Lliira had abandoned me in my greatest time of need. But then, a hero came tearing out of the woods. Lord Anthony Russett of Tilverton of Cormyr was there to save me (do you know who he is? The name escapes me). He and his dwarven friend managed to run off the foul priests of Loviatar and helped me to the Old Skull Inn. I believe you would probably know of this inn - most adventurers do, apparently.

Over the next two days, Lord Anthony Russett and the dwarf (as I have come to call him, since I have not been able to find out his name as of yet) healed my wounds (although I do still have scars along my back). I learned that they are assembling an adventuring group called, "The Company of the Fall" and signed myself onto the group as the bard. I am terribly excited, although Lord Anthony seems a bit foolish. He did save my life, and he was kind to me when I needed kindness. He has bought me food and drink and paid for my room since we met, and while I am excited, I am also very frightened. I can only hope this man is a kind one, one who deserves to be a hero.

I shall write you again soon. I love you so and miss you so.

Your loving daughter,
Imara