A series of Letters (Fey & Akki)

[Yousei Akki]

To Tri-no,

It has been a rather long time since we spoke within the guest room of House Barrith. I hope my letter finds you in good health and spirits. Since you have left with your instructor I have taken to mind the idea we spoke of concerning my own staff creation. I must admitt, I am still inspired with impressed feelings concerning your own staff and felt it was prudent to begin working on my own right away. I must say though, I do not believe my teacher approves of the research I am putting into this though. he has admonished me twice already with allowing myself to become 'distracted by foolish thoughts'. I can not find fault with him though. Since I have given in to my desire to research my idea my studies in understanding Necromancy have suffered. Not that I care much. Necromancy is such a nasty vile magic don't you think? I have seen the end result of studying that path with most drow and I simply will not abide such a horrid consequence!

Well, if it interests you more I will share a few things I have learned about Beholders from my study. They are quite the fascinating beast, though just as dangerouse as I've been led to believe. I am wondering if it is possible to harvest dead eyes from them for my purpose or if I might actually have to somehow manage to gain possession of a live one to expirement on! I shudder at the thought of having a enraged beholder within my House and hope that my expirements prove successful.

Ah! I nearly forgot! As I have promised I have included a small gift for you. I do hope it is not too dissappointing. I simply could not decide for the longest time what would make a good choice. I have sent to you this item that I found, of all the places, within one of our own Vaults. It is a spell component pouch, though if you attempt you will sense a begnin magic imbued into it. It took me a few days to determin it's exact nature. I am absolutly terrible with some of these spells I tell you! I discovered that it will hole about fifty spells worth of components, and the lovely magical aspect is that it acts somewhat like a Bag of Holding. When you reach into the pouch whatever component you are reaching for will be the one your fingers first touch. No messy component pouchs or worries about grabbing the wrong item! I was tempted to keep it for myself, but felt you'd most likely put it to better use at this point then I. I really do prefer reading about magic and studying it's theory over it's actual pratical use. One more thing, don't try storeing items that you can not use for the magical spells you are familar with inside. I thought perhaps I could test it out as a money purse and everything I put inside of it turned to gritty old dust! Ugh! It was so very embaressing later when I went to pay for a new robe sash and all I pulled out was grey dust!

Signed,
Mas D'aun, First Son of the Fifteenth House of Gulliduarth, Barrith.

 

[ThisAccountHasBeenMoved]

To Mas,
Thank you so much for the gift you sent me. As you guessed, I do find it incredibly useful, especially since my mistress keeps insisting that I be prepared for any eventuality. It's much easier to be prepared if one doesn't have to carry a huge satchel full of spell components, as I'm sure you know. I am particularly fond of the color, too. It goes very well with the majority of my wardrobe, though I know that's quite frivolous, I feel you would understand about necessary frivolities of this sort. It was a great deal of fun the first few times Brizthara tried to catch me unprepared, and then found that I had everything I needed ready at hand. The expression on her face was priceless, and if I had any sort of artistic skill I would attempt to show you what I mean. Maybe I will, if you promise only to laugh at Brizthara, and not my drawing abilities.

I'm sorry to hear that your teacher does not appreciate your interest in other areas. I can't imagine why he wouldn't want you to consider important things like your staff. Eventually you will have to have one, after all, and it would be for the better if you knew what you wanted at once. I didn't really have much choice in the matter. I was taken with others in my class to a room full of materials from which staffs are typically made and then the one which felt the most "right" was what the body of my staff would be made from. The same went for the focus at the head of the staff. In some ways I wish I had had the freedom to choose my materials and design the thing for myself, but I'm still quite pleased with how my staff turned out.

As far as beholders go, I hope that the eyes from dead ones will suffice, as I, too, shudder at the thought of having a live one in a House setting. Ignoring the damage it would do once there and enraged by someone experimenting on it, just think how horrendous it would be trying to get it there. You, especially, would have to have it carted and crated through the city to your House, get it past the guards, and take all manner of other precautions. And it would still be an unpleasant creature to deal with, and unlikely to become more pleasant unless drugged with soporifics or something. I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to subduing wild creatures.

I haven't much of interest to share with you. Brizthara continues to fail to appreciate me, and I've reached the point where I don't particularly care if she's not pleased with me or not. Whether I work hard or I don't work seems to make no difference: nothing satisfies the witch. But I don't feel like talking about her, to be honest. I refuse to let her intrude on things I actually like, such as corresponding with people I enjoy.

There is one thing I was hoping you might be able to offer some insight on. My possessions seem to be...possessed. Well. Cursed would be a more accurate term, but it sounds so melodramatic. Any word I could use would, I supposed. But my books in particular have been acting - for lack of a better word - hostile toward me, and there are scratching noises which come from crevices and dark places in my room, but have no source. Brizthara (sorry, I know I said I wouldn't mention her) dismisses these things as a prank. I hope that's all it is.

I hope this letter finds you well and that certain unpleasant members of your House have not been too obnoxious...
And I'm running out of space so I'll have to end this here or else I won't have enough parchment to write out a list of all the fungi we can use to make things flame retardant. So thank you again for the gift.
 

[Yousei Akki]

To Tri-No,

Ah! I can not possibly tell you how I absolutly appreciated recieving your letter today! I've had the most foul of day's and it was pleasent to have something like this to sit down and enjoy.

My teacher has been a beast these past few days. You recall how I wrote that he disapproved of my wandering interest in other studies correct? Well! I overheard him grouseing to another teacher about what a poor student I was! Me! I felt a mixture of shame and rage at his slandering and promptly left for home. Since then I have simply been far too upset to continue my research with as much dilligence as before. I've managed to keep myself from sucumbing to a wave of self doubt and pity only by fueling my anger at him. Why, I do believe that for the first time ever I have honestly put forth a considerable amount of thought into having someone killed. I mean, I simply can't have him spreading such nasty rumors and making such slights against me behind my back can I? Though after reading a bit about your monster of a tutor I will admitt I feel a bit shamed. After all, my teacher is only a p***k to my pride in compare to what it is you must deal with. What with your family and all. I shall take a bit more time to reconsider my anger and perhaps apply myself to becoming a better magician.

I would like to say that I am immensely gratified that you are pleased with my gifts choice. I personally thought the bag would match your tasteful preferences. (I also sympathsize with you concerning your fashion challenged teacher. Being a mage is more then just casting magic after all! There is a presence to uphold! You simply can't strike awe into the untalented and untrained by walking around in mismatched peasent garb!) I had quite a good chuckle over the image you rendered. I was able to imagin very well that look upon your teachers face and it was this that lightened my mood even further today.

This possession you have written about seems...very strange to me Tri-No. I have never heard of books turning feral or hostile. However I would not dismiss anything as mere prank. I would even urge you to be more cautious. From what you have told me about your family and situation thus far I would never discount anything, particularly something that seems disruptive of your training. I can't possibly imagin what could be making these scratching sounds you write of. Perhaps there is a rodent somewhere? Ah, but I'm sure you've already looked for something as simple as that correct? You did say that there was no source for them. I will keep a mind to be aware of anything that sounds close to what you are experiencing while at my studies. It really does sound like a magical spell of some sort to me.

Ugh. My little rat of a brother I am sure is what you were referring to with the latter part of your letter. He's up to something, of that I am quite certain! I've caught glimpses of him sneaking out of the House after most of us have turned in for the sleeping hour. Mind you I was busy in the middle of my research and this is the only reason why I've noticed him lately. The slaves have told me that he has spent a unusual amount of time with the Weapons Master. Something I suppose I should be pleased with, it shows that he is finally applying himself to something. Did I ever tell you that he had engaged in a teacher of his own for the Shabali art, and then just quit? I was infuriated! We had paid in advance for his training and he just decided he did not like his teacher and refused to continue his training. Most likely he got jealouse because someone was better then him, that is what i am thinking. I might have to put some thought into spying on him a bit. My brother, as young as he is and all, is quite ambitious and I am concerned that he might be planning something foolish. Ah well. It is time for me to turn in for the evening. I pray that this letter finds you in better spirits and this whole cursed thing has been resolved for you.

Signed,
Mas D'aun, First Son of the Fifteenth House of Gulliduarth, Barrith.  

[ThisAccountHasBeenMoved]

To Mas,
I hope this letter finds you well.

I can't believe your teacher isn't encouraging you to pursue other areas of study. I've always been under the impression that a mage ought to know as much about everything as possible. After all, we perform miracles that are beyond the abilities of most priestesses of the Goddess and we know them to be more than miracles, but rather the product of a certain set of actions. We take the mystery out of canon and make it practical. It wouldn't surprise me if someone, someday, was able to to replicate some of the more impressive spectacles attributed to divine power. The clerics who use magic can only do so at the whims of our rather capricious Lady. We mages are not so bound. The point of all that blasphemous rambling was that it's a good thing to know a great deal about a great many things, and your teacher is an idiot. You're right.

And you are so right about having to uphold presences. It goes along with what I wrote above, we have a reputation for wisdom beyond the norm, and our attire ought to reflect that we understand the mysteries, or at least manipulate them and bend them to our wills. We should, as you said, be figures of awe and it is often easier to inspire awe if one looks put-together and successful. Of course, it's also important to cultivate an air of mystique. I'm so glad that my House colors are conducive to doing so. Blue, silver, and purple are so much better for looking like one knows things beyond the ken of others than, say, magenta or orange.

I'm glad the sketch amused. I'm afraid that it resulted in me having to use the backside of one of my sheets of parchment for Brizthara's task, which irritated her because she claims that's sloppy looking. I don't think it looks any sloppier than anything she does, whether she only uses one side of the parchment or not. Her handwriting looks like that of a drunken drider. Anyway.

Although it could not possibly effect me (well, I can't think of any way for it to effect me), I do find that I'm curious about your bother's activities. There's probably a mundane reason for them, but then again, maybe there's something more interesting. Maybe he's indebted to some mad person who keeps making demands on him and threatening him with bodily harm? Or perhaps he's secretly attending poetry readings somewhere? You should check his rooms to see if he has some poetic scrawlings stashed anywhere. I'm jesting, of course. I wouldn't recommend poking through the rooms of someone even partially trained as a shebali. Of course, I wouldn't recommend poking through a mage's room, either, but that doesn't seem to deter whoever's responsible for my troubles here.

You may have surmised from my last sentence that the whole thing has not resolved itself, but there's not much I can do about it for the moment except to be very, very careful. On the bright side, I've gotten very good at detection spells because of this, and I'm beginning to be able to perform them as a matter of course. I continue to wrack my brain trying to think who might have a motive to do this, but I keep drawing a blank or improbabilities. Until something changes, I can only do as I have been and hope for the best.

That said, I wish you the best until next I hear from you.

Signed,
(I'm too lazy to write out my full title)
Tri-no.  

[Yousei Akki]

Dear Tri-No,

In truth your letter catchs me in a unusually high mood. I am simply gushing to relate it all to you. Though after finishing your letter I feel my mood dampened and I feel a touch embaressed to be gloating with such a pleased tone when you obviously have not been doing so well on your end.

Reguardless, perhaps a bit of good news shall uplift your spirits some? Even if it is you can not share in this wonderful thing I have found. By found I do mean a chance crossing of paths that has just left me feeling utterly light hearted and strangely happy. I took your consideration and curiousity of my brothers doings to heart and began to keep a closer eye upon him. It seems he has been sneaking out of the House regularly enough and vanishing I do not know where. Whenever he returns though he is often haggered looking in appearance and qorn. I believe he is up to something of a physical nature but I do not know what. One day he returned home all smudged up and with torn garmets as if he had been in some sort of brawl! I questioned some of the servants and I learned from some of the maids that a good amount of Micarreths clothing turn up ruined on a regular basis. From one of the servants that cleans his room I have learned he has locked off a good portion of his chambers and has threatened anyone who dares even disturb the dust on the door knob with very unpleasent things. Whatever could he have in there I wonder?

Well! In order to delve a bit into his personal life I have started to insist he take morning meals with me. As a rule it is only dinner that the family share together, and between you and I, it is never a meal that I can particularly enjoy. The sigh of some elf's hacked out heart cooling just two places to my left really does not encourage a hearty appitite, reguardless of the meal prepared. So amid his grumbling I must endure a breakfast meal with him. Happily I managed to start up some general conversation with him and well.... I shall not bore you with the round about manner it occured.The simple fact was Micarreth requested a favor of me. He has this silly red scarf that he insists on wearing everywhere. But he states it is far too dark for him and wants me to cast a spell that will allow him to change it's color at will. I believe this is a simple enough of a spell and I agreed to research it, in return I wished for him to help me with a bit of shopping.

I always end up returning home before I purchase everything I wish to obtain, so with Micarreth in tow, I visited a few shops, and stopped at the library to borrow some books concerning the subject of beholders and the process of crystalizarion of organs. (Which by the way was in a goddess awful section of the library with a whole bunch of Necromancy books Nyugh!) My little brother was most eager to return home, so I sent him off while i attempted to find one or two more volumes to study. Ho! but I was not alone! Another mage stepped about a corner and began to question me about Micarreth! At first I thought, perhaps this man was one he was plotting with against me! So i concealed my identity, as he did not seem to know me for who I was. Ah but here is the most humourse of things Tri-no! I just know you shall laugh, or at least shake your head at this!

My brother had attempted to sway this other mage with false pretenses of being interested in him! Goddess only knows exactly what his purpose was! But it ended up with Micarreth becoming aprenticed to this mage! My little brother is studying magic!! This is not all though! As proud as I would be to think he had taken after me, it seems the little ratfink is in truth studying to become a Velguk! Oh! My eye twitchs at the thought! I was filled with such a concern that he meant to do me and Mother in! He just might too! This other mage, Taliesin is his name, has struck a accord with me. I have convinced him to lend me some support now, and when I claim my House in the future I shall in turn return his efforts tenfold. It is agreed that he will tease what information he can out of Micarreth, and feed it to me that I might be better prepared for whatever it is he is plotting.

Ah....but I do believe you would admire taliesin Tri-No. he is...a beautiful man. not in the way a woman is though. he has strong fine features. His mind is ever so keen, and his hands are...ah..hum...perhaps you would not care to hear much about his hands and what or where they go. Needless to say he has filled me with a sense of unadulturated contentment. It makes me a bit worried though, as with such strong feelings of pleasure and content that I might be allowing myself to be blinded and hence misused?

Ah, but that is for the future. For now I shall simply enjoy what I have. Indulge I say! Take pleasure where it is had and leave out all the rest!

Now then, in reguards to your letter...I am most concerned Tri-No. These wards you speak of are obviously a attack on you in some way. I do not think you have a good enough of a relationship with anyone in your Household that would encourage good natured pranks. I would fear that these are just a prelude to something more foul! I would worry that they are attempting to get you used to these simpler spells so that you will be unprepared for the nasty one when it occurs. Or maybe they are just testing you out first to see if they can go further. Oh do be cautious Tri-No! I could think of a few who would will you harm, and I am surprise dyou have not thought of them either. I mean specifically those we spoke about in the guest room together. I shan't write names in case some one reads my letter other then you. I would say to you to just pack up your belongings and escape here to Barrith for a few months for some peace but I feel your teacher would never permitt it. Bother her, I hope a drider mistakes her for one of his own and has his way with her, truely I do!

Your Associate,
Mas D'aun, First Son of the Fifteenth House of Gulliduarth, Barrith.  

[ThisAccountHasBeenMoved]

Dear Mas,
I'm so pleased to hear that things are going well for you, and that you've solved your mystery! As to brothers being very touchy about personal spaces, I wouldn't know about that. My only sibling is a religious fanatic, and she lives in the House temple and rarely comes out except to remind me that I'm not as devout as I ought to be. As I mentioned in my last letter (or maybe I only thought I did?) I put my faith in magic. With magic we can perform miracles, just as the Goddess does. I'm certain I mentioned this to you before, and I apologize for repeating myself. Sometimes I feel so scatter-brained, especially lately. I think it's because I'm driven quite to distraction at night.

But that's old news. Tell me more about Taliesin. He sounds intriguing, keen mind and interesting hands and all. I agree, thought, that you ought to indulge yourself. There was a scrap of poetry I read somewhere about gathering rosebuds...I'm not really familiar with what a rosebud is, but I think it was about enjoying yourself while you're still young. Or something. For all that poetry is a bit like spellcasting, it makes very little sense to me. It doesn't help that this snippet was translated into our language from one of the languages of the sunlit lands, and probably several times. I don't know if something may have been lost in translation, but I was told that it was about seizing the day or something. Obviously a drow wouldn't want to seize the day but maybe to live for the moment?

That last paragraph didn't come out right at all. My apologies.

I know who you speak of, but she is not a mage, and although she's certainly enough of a whore to trade sexual favors for magical ones, I don't think she could find a mage, even in Gallidurth, who could send a spell into a mage school in another city. It takes a huge amount of power to do so, and someone in my school would detect an attempt to break through the barriers which surround the school. Not to mention the barriers I've put in place around my quarters here. I mean, it's possible that she could have found someone clever enough to bypass the magical blocks, but I honestly don't know how or who.

No one else will read any letters coming to me, by the way. They'll be subjected to a battery of tests to make sure nothing unpleasant is contained therein, but my privacy will be maintained. It's one of the privileges I get as Brizthara's apprentice. Brizthara is a very private person, and her fondness for privacy also applies to her apprentice, it would seem. No complaints here.

Honestly, very little that's new is happening here, so this is destined to be a short letter. Perhaps next time I will have something interesting to tell you. I will save up interesting things to write to you. In the mean time, I'll share the headline from an article I found in a conspiracy theorist periodical that people in my school seem to favor:
PRIESTESS IMPREGNATED BY DEITY, GIVES BIRTH TO AND THEN CONSUMED BY LIVE SPIDER
Kind of a nasty mental image, but amusing at the same time. The whole periodical is a bunch of bunk, but it is amusing.
Yours,
Tri-no  

[Yousei Akki]

Dear Tri-No,

It is encouraging to know I do not need worry about someone getting ahold of my letter to you. It seems there are some perks to your apprentiship hmm? I am sure there are a few more that you may have overlooked?

In reguards to your sibling...I fear I understand her rather well. As I was meant to enter the priestesshood myself once upon a time I can utterly sympathsize and envy her opportunity to serve the Goddess. I surely would trade all my magic to be able to place myself in a blind faith of the powers of the Spider Queen. I do not doubt that you have a good theory concerning magic and miricles. I believe that it is the source that makes the difference though. As a mage our power comes from within us. As a priestess their power comes from within the Goddess. As the Goddess is far more powerful then any one of us it only makes sense that she can give spells to many worshippers, and some of those spells are indeed very powerful! But I digress, speaking about this subject pains me.

Taliesin. Mmmmm. How I wish I could introduce you to him. He has the most enchanting golden eyes. He is extremely knowledgeable as well. I feel comepletely overwhelemed Tri-no! He knows so much...he is so very skilled...I am absolutly overcome by him and do you know...I like it. I never knew that having a lover could be so satisfying. Of course it is more then just the physical that I admire in him. As I mentioned he has a keen mind. Perhaps it is just because he has been studying magic longer then I have. He seems to weild it gracefully. He's purchased his own little shop and is starting a busniess here in Gulliadurth. Perhaps I will purchase one of his rings for you. He is wonderful at creating accessories. You know he braids his hair with these delightful gold rings in it? i could spend all evening just stroking those rings and pressed all close in his arms. Ah! I believe you may be right about enjoying what I have when i have it. But now I begin to fret. What if I am only just a amusement to him Tri-No? I think I could handle being used fairly well. I'd even expect him to want to use me for my wealth. I may even be able to handle him casting me aside for another so long as they were of higher standing then me. But what if he is just playing with me for now? I worry that I am allowing myself to become too soft willed and distracted by him. Do you think i should break off our contact after I have learned what I need from him?

But I do not want to do that. What I deeply wish to do is steal him away to my House, lavish him in a endless amount of wealth and luxury and spend every evening in his arms naked...ugh... I am spouting drivle aren't I? Have you ever been vexed with feelings like these?

Hmm. Concerning your problem..I believe you must be right concerning the source. It has to be someone that is close to you and within the school. You do not suppose it is Brizthara do you? She's be in the perfect position to set you up with these spells, and she is the one dismissing these things so easily when obviously they are dangerouse. Do you suppose she may have been paid off? A fat ugly roth like she is I could imagin her trading a apprentices life for luxury. Ah, the power of gold, it will turn anyone I believe.

Yourperiodical has a very twisted sense of humor. It is amuseing though. I can see the merit in wasting a few minutes reading that nonsense. Though if anything of the sort happened like that I believe, ina ll likelyhood, it was no diety, but rather a demon from a summoning that impregnanted her. Would a draeloth devour it's own mother do you suppose? I might look that up just out of curiousity now. I could imagin a few folks from school I'd love see devoured by a spider.

Your Associate,
Mas D'aun, First Son of the Fifteenth House of Gulliduarth, Barrith.  

[Yousei Akki]

Dear Tri-No,

How do you fare my dear? I have hopes that perhaps things have improved for you since you last wrote to me. I myself have found my direction once again and have begun earnest work on my staff. I have managed to procure a source for items of questionable nature that I believe I may need for my expirementation. I've even had a old room in the dungeon cleared out and set up for my practicing. I have decided I no longer care what those pathetic males at the school think of me. Soon enough I will be in a position to put them properly in their place! What I can not overcome, I shall simply over pay for and have my way with the insolent bastards!

Ah, forgive my little rant. I seem to have let my emotions overcome me. I have taken a moment to re-read your letter. I'd like to first off start by expressing my disgust at your cousins and their behavior. From one of the lesser creatures I could expect such foul behavior. but from a nobles family? That is quite the scandle indeed! It was quite fortunate that you had come across them, though I do lament over the lost opportunity. Just think! If you had kept such a secret to yourself you could have blackmailed them you know. Then this cousin of yours would be in your hand and you'd be able to take the position of heir from her whenever she wished. Ah well, perhaps it was for the best that you spoke up against them.

Ah, and reguardless of any accepted House rule, I am one who believes a grudge abides by no laws or dictatorship. If she has it in for you then it will not matter what ever your Matron says, as a keen drow she will find a way to make you suffer without implementing herself. Are you certain she can't be behind your troubles?

The subject of my past is not a easy thing to discuss. As I have already made mention of things that are most likely odd to you (And I have seen you've taken note of it) I suppose that considering your letter it is only fair to divulge a bit of my own Houses scandel. You see, dear Tri-no, when I was first born I was declared and named a female. I am uncertain if you have noticed or not, but my full name is of the feminin sort. Had I been given the male version of my name it would have been May Aere'ae. As far as I, or any of the servants of House Barrith, have ever been aware, I simply was a girl at birth. I was raised as such, and my Matron prepared me to become a priestess when I came of age. Ah! I had the most beautiful gowns Tri-no! Long black slippery gowns that I delighted in spinning and twirling in. I adored having my nursemaid braid my hair up with little sparkling spider shaped gemstones and netting it with silver spiderwebbing. I was the Heir to the House and I was being taught all the courtly ways. I was a very keen study you know, my nursemaid often remarked that had I any older sisters they would have been sharp to do away with me so young.

Thinking back to those days I feel terribly saddened. i am sure your probably wrinkling your nose in wondering as to how this could all be. I am afraid I do not know what it was that changed. I remember my mother summoning me before her. She stroked around me and looked me over with such... disgust. I felt as if perhaps I had done something wrong. I was still only a child mind you. Nearly twenty years young, and I am sure that as a child you remember how terrifying your own mother must have been at that time? My matron informed me I was no longer heir to her House and sent me to my room, where my Nursemaid explained to me I was no longer a daughter but a son. I do not understand how it happened, though i suspect magic of a sort had been used. I did not know why at the time, though now I wonder if my Mothers insanity had a part in it...or was it her wit? Are you aware that Madness runs in my family bloodline? Every female becomes touched upon maturity, and it only grows worse and worse as she ages. My dear old elg'cress of a mother is so completely out of her mind right now. Had I been a daughter I would have removed her from rule ages ago.

So, there it is. My own House scandel. Questions of my gender have long since grown dusty and I've been accepted as a male. Whether or not I truely am really does not matter to anyone outside of the House. I still long for the pampering though, and the attention and respect. Ah! The power I would have right now! It vex's me. As well as my desire to have been a priestess. I am aftraid my sentiments on the priestesshood and yours are obund to differ, but that hardly matters to me. You are still a charming individual to exchange letters with after all.

I find this news about your schools punishment of the teacher most interesting though. I do hope they do not kill or maim him if he is as lovely as you say. I don't suppose you could include a drawing of him? Oh! Or even better a snippet of his hair? I'd surely love to practice my divining on a individual I can admire.

This artical you write about weight and magic though. I simply can not see it or accept it. It just seems like a unlikely story to me. If magic truely were a great energy burner like the sort they say then all mages would be perpetually thin. No sort of weight would ever be gained and stored. At least this is what I think...perhaps i should read this artical for myself though...if there is a hint of truth to it then I should perhaps be a bit more conscious of what I eat myself. Perhaps I should not indulge so often on those candied roots I find in the market on holidays... I do not think Taliesin would pay me as much attention if I got too soft around the middle! He does seem to be the sort that might be a bit shallow like that. Ah! now you've got me worried, I simply shall not be able to have dessert tonight, curse you Tri-no! (And I do mean this in a light humorous way, I'm not very serious about skipping dessert at all. Ha ha.)

Your Associate,
Mas D'aun

Post Script: What size ring do you wear by the way?  

[ThisAccountHasBeenMoved]

Dear Mas,
I'm thrilled to hear that you've resumed your studies and begun work on your staff! A mage is nothing without a staff. Well. Not nothing, but maybe less of something? And it's good not to care what males think of you. It makes no sense to care what lesser people think of you. But it does make sense to know what they think about you. That way you know if they're plotting against you. People above you could be plotting against you, too, but you're less likely to know about that, because it can't be generally assumed, since usually people tend to plot against their betters, and just guard against their inferiors. Or so I've observed. But a paranoid superior might think an inferior is plotting even when she isn't and take preventative steps. Be proactive. You suggested something along those lines at one point, I think.

I might have blackmailed them, but I was too horrified, and really a little jealous. Her brother is probably the finest male specimen my House has to offer in my generation. But he's utterly devoted to Shri. He has been since her birth, practically. I don't know what it is. She's only about ten years younger than I am, and she's close to twenty years younger than he is, and he's always considered himself her guard. Even before she had a personality or a figure to give him any reason to do so. I must be the only person in my family who isn't charmed by her. She gets away with everything. She really does. She's still going to be the Matron. I think I begrudge her that as much as she resents my tale-carrying. There are days when I don't blame her for that, but there are other days where I realize that she's being unreasonable, and I'm not, and so really I'm right and shouldn't even try to understand things from her point of view.

Have you considered that your mother may have transformed you into a male upon your adolescence to prevent you from becoming mad upon reaching adulthood, and has plans to change you back once you've made the transition to adulthood completely without any evidence of insanity? If it was within my power to do so, I would. It would also make my heir designate safer from attempts on his (her) life, since no one would bother killing off a male who wasn't even the heir. Maybe that's why she actually had that Qavvira person? I wouldn't remover her until she changes you back. Maybe if you found a way to force her to do so?

I could try to draw him for you. He's really very handsome, and I'm not very good at drawing. I was better before. I don't know. I don't know. Maybe...? I'm sorry. I think I'll end here. And drawing, yes.

Yours (but not really, really I'm mine),
Trielnolu of House Baen'duis, Twentieth House of Llurth Dreir

Post script: I wear size FAT. What most people wear on their thumbs I wear on my ring finger. What people wear on their ring fingers is snug on my littlest finger.
 

[Yousei Akki]

Dearest Tri-No,

I apologize for how long it has taken me to reply to your previous letter. I regret to write that I have had something of an accident. I was busy in my laboratory, expirementing on some Beholder eyes that I had recently purchased. While I was attempting to crystalize one of the ugly organs something must have just...disagreed. I'm not sure what else to say about it really. I have a theory of using cockatrice venome in order to stimulate a stoning process, but by mixing other elements to ensure a crustalization process. I must hae missed something though. Perhaps a adverse reaction between the species or something. Reguardless, the stoning effect took place far too quickly and the eye...well...it exploded. There was this terrible light and it seared my eyes something horrid! I could not see for three days. I was terrified that I had blinded myself! Thankfully my eyesight began to recover, and once it was returned enough for me to be able to see my way through the streets of Gulliadurth I immediatly paid the Temple a visit and had my eyes healed. Oh! What a disgusting amount they charged me too! It's a good thing Quavvirra is no longer present in the House. I am certain she would have turned down my request for the funds and forced me to stagger about half blind!

I will say that my time unable to do much more then lay in my bed has given me a incredible amount of time to reflect. Upon your observation and upon other things that I had not really addressed out of a sort of cowardice on my part.

If it were so, that I had been born female. I suspect you could be correct in my Matrons actions. As I would have been her only daughter and heir there would have been no one to carry on the House title should I have succumbed to the madness. But I ask you...why hasn't she changed me back yet? Why would she have let all of the city believe I was just a dissappointing male? I suppose her madness could be blamed, as she no longer has the mind to act on these things...but the Guard surely would know of her true purpose and they should have done something. Of course that also opened up a entierly new door of paranoid possibilities on their part.

Another thought that I have long since struggled with was the concern that perhaps I never truely was a female. That only it was my Matrons madness that made her believe I was. I do not want to accept this possibility though. It makes much more sense and seems far morelikely, but I feel as if...oh as if I want to stomp my feet in a tantrum and scream about how unfair it is. I feel quite mixed up inside.

Either way I have come to the descion that upon my matrons death I shall assume rule of my House. At first I had been planning on making use of a particularly interesting curse that would swap my gender for me. Once I became a true bodied female then the House would automatically become mine. As we are only the 15th House I do not believe I would face much opposition. Ha! I doubt the higher Houses would even notice! Then Micarreth would have to abide by my rule and I would so send the little elg'caress away to a place utterly unsavory to pay him back for all the troubles he's paid me.

Now though there is something that has made me hesitate. I am sure you know whom it is I speak of. I think there must be a little madness in me after all, if I would consider sacrificing my opportunity at power just for the sake of keeping someone near me.

Tell me something about you though, something to keep my distracted perhaps as I focus on my expirementation other then these confusing and conflicting desires I find myself plauged with. How goes your own studied? Did that teacher finish his term unscathed? He does look like he would be a very handsome fellow. If I did not have my sapphires set into my skin I certainly would consider tattoo markings like those you depicted.

Ah! Have those disturbances come to a end? I worry that they may become worse for you and I shall not know. I still think it would do you well to escape from that utterly deplorable situation you are in. House Barrith would welcome you for a visit anytime you wish Tri-No. I am sure you must have breaks and holidays do you not?

Fondest Wishes,
Mas D'aun.  

[Yousei Akki]

Dearest Tri-No,

I must say, your last letter was a little strange. Things must be very distressing for you to write in such a manner. As it seems that even our letters are not as private as we once thought I am hesitant to write much to you about my thoughts and current situation. Sadly I fear this will lead to a rather boring and uninteresting letter.

t does concern me that you no longer are capable of continueing your studies. However are you to progress if youc an't make use of your books? I don't suppose you could just pay for, or have a servant read the content to you could you? But no... I suppose whatever spells are upon the books would effect them... What about just using a slave to open the books for you first? They are quite expendable and easily replaced after all.

I would not swallow such a tale about inflicting the troubles upon oneself. Had you not been yet trained I suppose it could be likely. But I heartily disagree. It does sound like she is trying to cover up whatever is happening to you. Ah, poor Tri-No. Once before I had thought that the distance between us had been a fortunate thing. As it made our corrospondances enjoyable and, well, in all honesty I feel utterly unthreatened by you. But now I rather wish we were closer so that I might visit you. Or bring Taliesin! Oh! I just know he would be able to help you! I'll bet he'd be capable of finding out who was attacking you and he'd know exactly what to do! I might consult him about your predictament if I have your permission?

I would like to write to inform you I have successfully managed to turn one of the eyes to stone. There was indeed something off with my mixture, I discovered that the process was occuring too rapidly, thus a magical sort of explosion occured. I happened upon the thought when I was reading some study material concerning Oil of Impact. I applied the basic theory to my expirementation and..well... success! The eye did not explode, and it is certainly of a stone quality. But it looks like a ugly bit of frozen slime. It will require some refinement I am afraid before they look acceptable. (But then again these -are- Beholder eyes I am talking about. There is only so much I can do to make them less repulsive.)

Ah! A bit more about that curse I mentioned, for it certainly is a curse Dearest Tri-No. I did a bit more research and discovered that the orginator of the curse was from up above. Can you believe it? Up there it would be a great shame for a male to take the form of a female! What a very strange backwards society they have! Ha! I honestly wonder sometimes why it is we haven't amassed a force and just taken the surface world for our own... (Then I end up having a fight with my bickering young brother and realize there simply is not enough order in our society to support a effort of that kind.) Tri-no... what sort of thoughts would you have it I suggested I thought that it would be a very lucritive plot to completely wipe out all the ruling Houses of a small city, implement a single Ruleing House, and amassed a army for the sake of conquest? It's only a day dream of mine mind you but sometimes I wonder about how wonderful it would be to hold that much power.

Concerning Taliesin.... I do fear he'd have no interest in me at all if I were female. I feel so sick with the sadness I feel. There must be some of the Barrith Madness in me after all. I'm certain that Micarreth has a form of Blood madness. Did you know that he has been going out and purposefully starting fights with random drow in the back allyways? Weve had words over this and he simply will not listen to me. I've also noticed that a particularly unsavory part of the dungeon has been unlocked and the hinges of the doors have been oiled. Ugh. The boy is going to do something that will bring me no end of troubles!

But I was writing about Taliesin wasn't I? (My mind gets so scattered when I think of him that it just seems to wander on it's own now) I've been absolutly beside myself with fretting. He does not seem to like the gifts I bring for him and I am a emotional wreck over my inability to pick out anything for him. When I am not caught up in my magical pursuits I spend much time agonizing over him. Am I pretty enough today? Am I too pretty? Should I go see him now? Have I been visiting too often? I tell you Tri-No! I have no desire to sleep in my own bed anymore, I can hardly rest without him beside me! Part of me is still concerned that he will become bored of me soon, as I can not seem to please him with any gifts.

Do you suppose I should look into his family? Perhaps I can secretly make a arrangement with his Matron to ensure that he must stay with me? Ah...but then I'm worried he'd utterly hate me for trying to manipulate him so. Aiyah! I am vexed! I pray you are never stricken with this damnable fixation Tri-no.

The thought of sending Miccarreth to your city is quite tempting. Indeed, I'd rather send him to you for a time if I was no positive he'd make your situation worse. Do you think a lashing will be too sever for him if he continues to display unsavory street habits? He is uncouth and crude in his speech and doesn't even take the time to make himself properly presentable for dinner anymore!

Fondly Yours,
Mas D'aun

Post Script: As I have corrospondances with you my Dear Tri-No, I find it quite likely that your cousin could have similar allies in the same position as we. On that note, if she is present here I shall take pains to avoid any priestesses on the streets.  

[ThisAccountHasBeenMoved]

Mas,
I'm sorry about my last letter. I hardly know what comes over me at times.

Brizthara keeps telling me to try to relax and maybe take a sabbatical from my studies. She says I should just deal with one problem at a time, and the study of magecraft should not be my priority. I've never thought myself overly gifted in magical arts. If I am being perfectly honest, I've never applied myself as I should, and so I don't know what my abilities really are. Maybe she sees something in me that I have not yet discovered, and does not wish me to discover it through my studies? I don't know why she would take this stance, though, and it is one of the only things which prevents me from accusing her outright of being the source of my problems. There's no reason for her to be jealous of me to that point, even in the unlikely event that I'm powerful enough to warrant jealousy or concern on her part.

You are, of course, welcome to ask Taliesin if he might have any ideas, but I caution you that it may be putting him at some degree of risk, should he make inquiries with the wrong person. You've said that he's been studying magic for longer than you have, but is he actually any good at it? I would not like to put him at risk on my behalf. That would be a debt I would not like to try to repay. But, yes, you should definitely look into his family, and his associates. It would be incredibly detrimental to everything you're working for if he turned out to be a follower of a false god or something equally unacceptable.

I'm pleased that your research has yielded promising results, and I advise you not to think about the eccentricities of those who live in the light. They are all mad. As for your plot, my answer is this: I live in a small city, and I have too large of a family. Experiments could happen.

I did not know about your brother, but then, how could I? (I am teasing, if you can't tell from the tone of my handwriting). I'm sorry that he's being odd and potentially embarrassing. I also have no suggestions, as - clearly - getting rid of annoying family members is not my forte.

By the way, you're just pretty enough. I'd hate you for it if you weren't so amusing.

Personally, my life is dull in between bad episodes. It is, of course, anything but when I'm not myself, and it seems to be a constant struggle, but I try to do things which will keep me sane. Writing to you, for instance, though you have no idea how long it takes me to draft a letter, since I don't dare write even when I just feel the edges going. The last letter was an example of that, and it's gotten worse. I pray, however, that you don't concern yourself overly. If I did give myself over completely, I suspect I would be very lucid most of the time, as most of my difficulties come when I fight it.

I tried to follow your suggestion with the slaves. Nothing happened him at first, but then he had a coughing fit which seemed quite inexplicable and I have not been able to bring myself to open that book, or have someone else open it, for fear that something there might permeate farther than before, and maybe I would be in range the second time. And, of course, I can barely hold two thoughts in my head at once, at times. That, in itself, is maddening. I've always had a very good eye and memory for detail.

I give up with this letter. All that is interesting in my life is unsettling, and I shouldn't complain of it to anyone, should someone interpret it (correctly, I fear) as vulnerability and take the opportunity to do away with me completely.

Yours,
Tri-no