Dearest Wife,

I hope that this letter finds you well. As I write this, I've got a burning city at my back. We made camp a few miles away from Wheaton, and believe it or not the General in command of us all even gave us one extra day of rest. I know it is winter there, but here it's spring! The Sorcerer King's magic scrolls, long held back I suppose, are now being used to give us beautiful Spring weather, and the beer reserves are being broken out.

General Baraja herself gave the order this morning after she came back, one day rest before we move on Kami Miyako. The guards are out in force along the perimeter, and some of the elf warriors are out capturing villages, I guess that's why we're halted, but the whole atmosphere of the camp is one of festival.

My mate, Jorin, he broke out his fife and started playing, next thing I know I've got an elf girl on my arm swinging me around, I promise, I just danced with her! Someone else broke out a set of war drums, and the music, oh this war has been horrible… but if war could be as festive as this day, I would wish that it never end!

I've sent along a note for eight out of every ten coins from this month's pay, enclosed is the promissory slip for you to draw it, make good use of it. Make sure you don't lose it this time, it's sealed to the back of this letter, flip this over, take it, and then use the silver for something nice for yourself after paying the household expenses.

We didn't lose many in the fighting in Wheaton, some kind of magic, it gave us all tremendous strength and power, we lost some skellies but… who cares about that? Our lives were intact and the Theocracy side is mostly wiped out. Honestly I don't remember much, some seem to, and they're bothered, but I guess I'm lucky.

It's made the elves overjoyed, we're sharing our camp with them and trading stories as much as music, they're great singers, again, I promise, looking no touching! Everyone is saying the war will be over soon, and even though I long to come home to you again, even though you're on my mind every night and every day and every time I prepare to go into the fight again… I'm glad I'm here, I'm proud of it. The elves we've freed, they tell horrible stories, the humans of the Theocracy were like the old nobles who used to rule over us before the King took over. Getting rid of that ilk will be a legacy I'm proud to pass on to our son.

Neat thing though, I actually met a vampire! Can you believe it? A real live vampire, he was shitty with his jokes, but he pulled out a violin and played it better than anyone I'd ever heard. Apparently he had a hundred and some years of practice. His sister danced to the music and broke out a little set of drums and moved over the grass like a fish through water, they were a kind of duet, you might say, great singing voices too, it was weird to be captivated by performing vampires and 'not' expect to get turned into a meal. If this is the world we're fighting for, it's worth it.

Oh! I got to meet the General's wife… she had a formation and gave out some awards to some of our bravest, I actually got to shake her hand, that one green eye of hers, so like yours, but you're twice as good because you've got both of em! No I did not flirt with her, I don't want to die just yet.

It's all so strange still, we've got elves, humans, vampires, people from Carne, the Draconic Kingdom, the Holy Kingdom, the Elf Kingdom, everywhere… all in one place, it's like living in a legend, like those stories we used to hear from the bards when we were kids, but real. What'll happen in a few days when we get to Kami Miyako, I don't even dare to dream, but I can tell you this, I dream a lot about what comes after, and coming home to you. There's a lot to do after this, and I can't wait, but no matter what, this was all worth it. And if I don't make it back for some reason, look for me in the future I helped to make, and pass that on to our son. Just be proud that I helped make it so, and make sure he understands that this wasn't for me, or even for us, but for him.

With love,

Your husband,

Sullis Avi

~Selected Letters of the War, p.23

Sullis Avi was killed on the morning of the second day of the siege of Kami Miyako, his letter arrived at the home of his wife on the day he died. He is widely considered to be the last wartime casualty of the Sorcerer King's armies.