A Second Letter to Lady Redmane (Jan 2002) Thomas writes another letter to Knight Redmane.

Hawksmoor Archives
A dusty-smelling room with many shelves heaped with map cases and books. There is a skylight overhead to bring natural light in, and braziers, which can be lit to give more light to individual reading tables. What there does not appear to be is any particular organization to how maps and journals are stored in the archives, perhaps because few Explorers have also desired to be charged with the title of "Librarian."

It is here that Thomas has returned to find a bit of peace and quiet to work on duplicating the old map to the realm of the Year's End. He sits at a long table, at a small section that has been cleared of the usual stacks of papers. He leans over the table as he works, intent on maintaining every detail of the original map as he draws out each line with a quill "pen." It took him a bit of practice to get used to how to write with one, as is testament from the pages of scrap nearby on the floor, many with messy or skewed lines. But, it seems as if he's got the hang of it now and is finishing up the second copy of the map -- the one to provide to Knight Redmane. The first copy already rests to the side, lightly powdered to aid in drying the ink.

"And there we have it," he mutters to himself. He sets the quill aside and sits back, admiring the reproduction. "As good as the original, I'd say, if not better," he says approvingly. Quietly, he dusts over the copy with some powder to accelerate the drying and sets that copy aside as well. "And now, to tell her of some of the events of late. She might find a few interesting."

He grabs a piece of parchment and sets it on the table in front of him. Then, with a careful dip of the quill into the ink jar, he begins to write:

Lady Redmane,

It's interesting how time and events seem to repeat themselves in our world of Mirari. Fourteen years ago I sat in the archives, writing you a letter to inform you of my departure in search of Jack. And today, I sit doing the same thing once more. But, this time the letter should reach you. I'm also including the original -- late, but hopefully not too late to still prove useful in these dark days.

But, I do not intend to repeat the mistakes of Years past. I am not traveling alone this time. Sir Lefallon of House April and Rachel Antoine of House October have said they will continue with me and I welcome their company. Still, I do fear for their safety, but I cannot always protect those in this world. I am but one person, and the choices of others are not a burden I can bear. They are well aware that none of us may return from this journey, and accept it. Should we not return, I only pray that my -- our end this time is complete. I could not bear losing another lifetime.

Enough of fretting on what may be. It must be old age causing me to be more cautious. Once I would not have worried so over what could happen in the days ahead, I would have just gone. I wish you were with us as well, as I value your strength of arms, and insight into situations that I sometimes lack. No one person views an event quite the same, and the truth of events in life is often not one person's interpretation, but a mix of many interpretations.

Which brings me to an event I wish you could have witnessed. I have faced down a servant of Jack here in the wilds; a Dark Witch that was trying to consume the Golden Woods to extend Jack's dominion further. The irony of it is that the Witch and I had a history. She was once the Bandit Queen of Years past, Elyssa, and my actions against her this time tread dangerously close to seriously harming me. Years do not weaken an oath of the Fae. For once I knew whom I was facing, a sensation of pain reminded me of just how we are bound to our words. I fear I tread very close to my own death that day, for if my actions had caused her to die, I surely would have shared in that fate. But, things turned out for the best in the end. She found redemption in the most unlikely of ways: the Holy Grail that Sir Lefallon quested for was still within Hawksmoor. That cup brought back Elyssa's youth, as well as showing her that she had become nothing more than a puppet of Jack. She left to find a new life in the Wild Lands, but somehow I feel I have not seen the last of her.

I have other news of interest to you, but I am unsure as to how much to put down in writing. I have learned much of the history of Mirari and the origins of the length of a King's rule. The full origin I cannot disclose here, as the knowledge may prove harmful to the Fae as a whole. But, I can tell you this; the origin lies within the story of King Riordan, from his days as being known as Ryan Jordan, to how he came to be King and how he walked off into the pages of history. Should we meet again, I will most willingly tell you the tale. Should I fall ... seek out the Founder of House February, Lady Cherise. She can tell you all that I could, and more.

The last bit of news I will disclose here is that we now have a second ally, Lord November. I rescued his daughter and he has now agreed to believe my tales that Jack has returned and is behind much of the darkness of late. Unfortunately, I could not convince him to speak to a council of all Lords on what has happened. He feels they would just believe it is a power play for House November. I cannot fault that logic; he is right: they will think that. So, the task appears to have fallen to me, the one who walked away from his House to serve all. I do not look forward to addressing them, as last time they turned against me. I have not the skills of diplomacy, nor the patience to tolerate the bickering of Nobles. But, I think you do remember that about me, eh?

So, I will leave you now, with those words to think on. Wish your old friend luck, for I will assuredly need it where I am going. The "dance" with Jack goes ever on. He and I ... enemies linked beyond the bounds of time. This time, let us shatter those bonds and rid the world of the evil of the Year's End. Let us finally find an end to the endless cycle in Mirari. As the prophecy said, we have the power to change the rules ... so, let us change them.

Your friend,

Thomas, Lord Explorer, late of House November.

Year 53 of Mirari, the time of Endless Winter.

Thomas once again sets the pen aside and dusts over the letter to seal the ink. While the ink finishes drying, he gets up and fetches a few more supplies from a far shelf; a stick of wax, a seal, and a small box. Once he returns to the table, he carefully picks up the copied map and lays it upon the now dry letter. On top of that, he places the original letter he wrote to Lady Redmane many Years ago. He then carefully rolls the collection of letters into a bundle of scrolls and holds it while he heats up the end of the stick of wax over one of the braziers. The hot wax is pressed firmly to seal the scroll closed, then set aside. Before it completely cools, he presses the Seal of the Golden Hawks into it, to indicate whom sent it.

The box he brought is opened, and the scroll placed inside. It closes, and again he presses a heated end of wax over the seam where the halves of the box meet to seal it. With a quick stamping of the Seal of the Golden Hawks into the wax, he nods approvingly. "And now, to give this to Lord November to deliver for me.

The raven-haired explorer rises from the table, then heads to the door and opens it. He steps partway through, then pauses to look back at the dusty room. "So many memories here," he says quietly. "So many lives -- places -- not wishing to be forgotten. I go to face Jack in your memory -- and I go in the memory of the Fae yet to come. We will find a lasting freedom from his dark shadow this time. I swear it." The door closes; silence one again falls over the archives of Hawksmoor.

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This site serves as a chronicle of sessions in an online roleplaying campaign moderated by Conrad "Lynx" Wong and May "Rowan" Wasserman. The contents of this site are (c) 2001, 2002 by Conrad Wong and May Wasserman except where stated otherwise. Despite the "children's fantasy" theme of this campaign, this site is not intended for young readership, due to mild language and violence.