Fea:

Lairunya has probably already told you about our experiences in Dorakka, but I thought I should also write, since you had asked me to keep an eye on the matter. First and most importantly, Simon seems to have recovered well, and in fact may have sobered up a bit. I regret his having died so painfully, but we were all completely unaware of his danger, a continent away. He seems to be all right now; you elves seem to take facing your own mortality in stride, I've noticed - surprising, for a people who have so much to lose by an early death.

Second, single combat was simply the most honorable and straightforward way for Lairunya to deal with Ebrien. I not only failed to keep Lairunya from engaging her in single combat, I actually ended up encouraging the plan. Dorakka was in the iron grip of Loviatar's church, and the usual assault tactics would have failed. After we considered all of the possibilities, it was clear that only by engaging in a match in which both parties agreed - before witnesses - to be bound by their personal success or failure, would we have any chance of rescuing Kamul. I am pleased that Lairunya won and saved us the painful experience of seeing him in the priestess' possession. I'm not certain the party would have been able to abide by the pact of honor if he had lost. However, Ebrien will undoubtedly be raised by her clerical companions, and return to stalk us, so Lairunya isn't out of danger yet. He and most of the party wanted to raze Dorakka and kill her there, but I - hopefully wisely - convinced them to wait, to try to deal with the town's existence politically, and to force Ebrien to attack us on our ground, rather than her own. I really do feel that a frontal assault on a town full of clerics and worshippers of Pain would be doomed to failure.

My plan is to alert sympathetic Arthinonian authorities and religious figures to the atrocities being carried out in Dorakka, and to encourage them to look into the matter. I doubt that any morally scrupulous individual could observe Loviatar's rites and not feel compelled to interfere, religious freedom or not. If you know of anyone who might be inclined to help clean out Dorakka, in Arthinon or elsewhere, please alert them. Political, religious or military pressure would probably be more efficient here than the usual adventurers' "slash and burn" strategies.

In addition, a tragic ballad describing the tortures Loviatar's clerics inflict on others, or a scathing parody ridiculing those who aren't willing to go up north to end the horrors there, would undoubtedly be of great value - especially in Arthinon, where such things play a greater role in politics than they do in Glenzor. I know you prefer to sing for pleasure rather than politics, but this is not only a worthwhile cause, it is your brother's cause.

Third - finally - I have a personal request to make. I'm enclosing a copy of Nicholas' Special Post spell, which I'm not certain Lairunya has given you yet. It is more or less the same as Letter, as you can see, except that it is interplanar and has a greater weight allowance. If you can't cast it, perhaps you could find somebody who could. I would be indebted if you could send me one or more elven blue roses via this spell - I'll "check my mail" regularly, of course - as there is someone here I'd like to surprise with them. I realize you might not be anywhere around roses, of course, so don't put yourself out trying to find them - but Glenzor isn't importing elven goods right now, and I have no other way of getting them. I would prefer that they be a surprise, though, so if you could refrain from mentioning this request to others for the time being, I'd appreciate your discretion.

I hope you and the children are well - give them my best wishes and tell them to behave themselves - and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Things have been very difficult here, and I'm anticipating taking a few weeks away from Glenzor to calm my nerves and collect my thoughts. If you can think of anything along the northern coast that you or the children might like me to send along, all you have to do is ask.

Mikhael