5 Hammer 1372

Father,

It has been a bit since I last wrote. I just wanted to let you know that I am still safe and sound. The Company of the Fall has grown quite drastically since my last letter to you. I would like to let you know who I'm traveling with, in case you begin to hear tales of the heroics of the Company. So, if I may, I will make you a list of my fellow travelers.

Stag Hapson is one of the largest men I've ever met, although I suppose that makes sense - his grandfather was an ogre. He is a cattle driver who is just utterly terrifying to see. I am pleased that he is on our side. He is strong and utterly obsessed with gnolls - he has mentioned more than once that he and the Mad King Gody killed a large group of gnolls (which he pronounces "nalls") recently. I am not sure who the Mad King Gody is (he is apparently Talos' brother?), but I do know that I would not want to cross him. Stag seems to be a good man, fond of food and drink and not afraid to get his hands dirty.

Gydyr is a halfling, and is strange. He is completely shaven and marks his face with the image of a black dog's head. He is skilled in healing magic, and is soft-spoken, but very opinionated. I find him intriguing, but he seems very standoffish. I do not necessarily wish to cross him, but I get the feeling he finds me frivolous and unimportant. Just as well.

We met a man from Scarsdale, a wizard of sorts, but he left quite quickly. I do not know if we will meet him again. I do hope we do. He seemed very kind and interesting.

And lastly, there is a very handsome young man in our group with us. Shazhad finds me useless, and is obviously not Chondothian, but there is something very appealing about him, father. He is scarred or tattooed over one of his eyes, but rather than take away from his beauty, it seems to add to it. I know that I am waxing poetic here, but truly, if you saw him you would find him intriguing. I want more than anything to prove myself to him, although I'm not certain why. Lord Anthony, our leader, already finds me very important and that should be enough. Yet he finds everything I do useless. I have been trying to impress him with my juggling and dancing, but nothing is yet working. I shall have to try harder.

We were hired by an alchemist named Alibais to retrieve a large amount of spider venom so that he could use it to make anti-venom. Obviously, it was important to do our duty to our employer, but also, having been bitten by those awful spiders in Spiderhaunt Woods, I understand the importance of helping others in the same situation. It took me almost a ten-day to heal from that experience, though it didn't help that I was also beaten by the Loviatar priests so quickly afterward.

So, once more we ventured into the Spiderhaunt Woods, where Lord Anthony made himself seem even more foolish as he blundered through the battles we waged against the spiders. The dwarf, a man named Manoto (I finally found out his name!) was brave and brilliant, removing the spiders' venom sacs quickly and without any fear. Shazhad was brilliant in action, and Stag managed to lasso a spider from a very long distance! It was, without a doubt, one of the most fantastic battles I have ever seen.

We found many sad items in the lair of a large spider man, including wedding rings, a letter of proposal, and the bones of a small child. I wrote a small poem to honor those lost. I would like to share it with you.

They trod the paths only the foolish fear not

That many know only too well

Such folk as we, with simple lives

Who could know the pain they'd find?

That their bodies would be carelessly left to rot?

One was a man, so simple and true

To the woman he loved so dear.

As he travelled the fearsome road,

He held in his pouch a letter - a vow -

One his most beloved never knew.

Two others were husbands and fathers as well

They were loyal and honest and brave

Heroes, both, and the finest of men

Yet their lives were taken in their prime

And their bodies trapped in a tragic hell.

Another, an innocent child

Who strayed too far from home.

Did their family weep for the loss

Of a life so fragile and new?

Or did they even know what happened when the youth strayed into the wild?

Still others were lost, the bad and the good

Too many to name or describe

Though their names have been lost,

We will honor the spirits

Of those lost in the Spiderhaunt Woods.

O, mothers warn your daughters fair

And fathers your sons do tell

Never to tarry in Spiderhaunt Woods,

'Ware the dark, do not leave the trail

Lest they fall prey to the web-spinning beasts who dwell there.

I know it is nowhere near as skilled as your own work, but I want you to know that I am doing my best to remember those we meet through our journeys. Gydyr performed a funeral service for the bodies we found, and we soon left the woods (hopefully forever) to go to Asherban Ford to turn in the venom. On our way, we were also attacked by a group of goblins led by one very large goblin. We tried to get them to leave without it turning into a fight, but they were not willing to leave peacefully. Shazhad was very brave, as was Stag. The dwarf held his own, as usual, and Lord Anthony was not anywhere near as bumbling. He managed to assist the others in dispatching the beasts quite swiftly. I must say, I was especially pleased that they were handled since the goblins wanted our money, our clothes, and myself. Very frightening. I am not wholly pleased with the battle, though - these beings were simply doing what they had to do. I cannot help but wonder if there had been perhaps a satisfactory ending for both parties somewhere in all that mess.

We finally made our way to Alibias, who was a gnome, and an interesting looking one at that. He was very pleased with the company's performance, and suggested we take a magical mace we got from the goblins to a wizard named Norestor to determine if it was worth much. Norestor made me nauseous, he was dangerous, frightening, and perhaps insane. I was glad when he directed us instead to the Thayan Enclave to make an exchange with the Red Wizards. It was a lovely place, well-kept and very pleasant. For some reason, Shazhad was very fearful of the Red Wizards, even going so far as to proclaim that they would take us into slavery. We reassured him that the wizards were fine, upstanding citizens, and we made some very nice purchases.

Lliira has blessed me so much, father! Not only do I have a wonderful group of people around me, but I also have been given the ability to heal the wounds of my party members. I am thankful to have the ability to give back to those around me, particularly since I am nowhere near as skilled in combat as the others. Gydyr is amazing when he uses his two swords, Shazhad is fantastic with his sword, and Stag's fists can crush skulls. Lord Anthony wields Mercy Killer (his bastard sword) better every time I see him use it, and Manoto is unparalleled with his trident. I, the weakest, feel almost sorry that I could possibly be holding this group down. But Lliira is looking out for me, and smiling upon my soul. I recently came into possession of a master worked flute, and am working to teach myself how to make music as beautiful as that you make. I can only hope things are well for you and Uncle Henry, as well as the others in Tilverton. Should you see Tom, please tell him I send my regards. I will write again soon, father. I promise.

With love,

Imara