-Sent on Loda, the 5th of Ehlon
This letter is written in Gnommish script.
Dearest father Habbagin Rocketsled Windtower Quakestopper Fleep Grazmin Geargrinder Twip, and mother Sobatha Goldtongue Wordweaver Toggleston Polyglot Mindfiller Hassita;
The last two weeks in this land of Akellon have been extraordinarily eventful, and I am very sorry I was unable to write sooner. As I said in my last letter, I was approaching the city of Castleton. It is everything I heard it was, and more. It is a large city with a greater diversity of faces than even Brunsburg. I spent the first four days exploring, and of course, searching for kin (of which I found none, sadly) when I was witness to an event that led to a most peculiar series of circumstances. I saw a man pickpocketed by a goblin, after which I helped give pursuit. I met an entire group of people shortly afterwards, including an exceptionally remarkable human girl of ten years and her unusually large canine companion. The others were a forest-man of mixed elven decent, a human magician of some kind who…the less is said about, the better, andthis may be a shock to youa darkelf. I realize that this may cause you to begin to fear for me, but believe me when I say, he had nothing to do with the fall of Kemmer, and was in fact born after. His people also seem to have undergone a revolution of sorts, though perhaps not necessarily for the better. I have the felling this man may be an exile, though he doesn't seem to believe that. Nevertheless, though I had difficulty trusting him at first, he has since proven himself as one of the most loyal companions I have met thus far (if occasionally…rough around the edges). Do not fear for me from him.
Anyway, we tracked the goblin thief to a hideout of goblin thieves, and together over the course of a single afternoon, captured every single one of them at my insistance. You raised me to be good and fair, and I did not believe these goblins deserved death. During the operation, I also met an unusual magic-golem, and a strong hyenaman. They assisted with the operation, but left soon after. After, however, we did discover more sinister things; the bugbear leader of the goblins was apparently making dealings with necromancers. You aslo taught me that if I have the ability to right a wrong, then I must. My companions made a pact to continue rooting out these practitioners of the foulest magic, and we have been doing that ever since. People have also come and gone from our group, but we now have a name; the Vigilant Guardians. I believe I shall stay with these people for a long time to come, as I also search for fellow gnomes.
Speaking of that, after spending a week in Castleton, I have found two; a comely young girl in the apprenticeship of some manner of wise wizard, and a delightful elder, who is a owner of a bookstore. I have given him your postal address so that he might contact you, and I have attached his information to this letter as well. I then met another gnome, a man of knowledge, both mundane and magical, who has joined the Vigilant Guardians. Oh, and the young human girl I mentioned? She also grew qucikly close to us, and her whole family are highly remarkable and kind people. They all have a great affinity for dragons, and are indeed some of the nicest and most facinating people I have met in all of Akellon, they have many mysteries.
There was also one other event of great significance that has occurred…the goblins I mentioned we captured? It was only possible because I made a deal with them; since their crimes were petty, if they were to quietly comply in their own capture, then they would have a mitigated punishment in the court. Because I also did not want to leave them on their own for this…I found a man who could be their guide in the city and help them adjust (Kellonite goblins seem far less civilized than the goblins in Mazio), and I personally attended their trial and defended them. Because I kept every promise I made to them, they expressed a great deal of gratitude to me…and they gifted me with a new name. If you wish to speak with them as well, I have also attached their postal address.
Well, I better go…the sun is coming up, and I must meet with the Guardians. We are finally leaving Castleton, bound for the village of Redtree to continue our hunt of the people of darkness. Wish us luck!
And…tell Talfeera Steamwheedle Nosy Yaskintle Brightweave Indrite I said hi.
Your loving son, fighting the good fight, Gnogglebolt Steelworm Ratchetrod Kaldan Virkoth.
Attached is another station address in Castleton for the Mazio-To-Gnogglebolt letter chains, the address of Elwick Silverscript, the address of the Toris shop, and the address of the Swiftaxe apartment. There is also a list of the people in the Toris family;
Terri: The young human I mentioned. She brims with energy and is by far the nicest of their entire family, though the entire family is nice.
Maximillian: Brother of Terri, he is the family's chronicler and musician, he always knows the right joke to tell.
Brian Toris: Brother of Terri and Max, he is the warrior of the family. His dour demeanor is fun to prank.
Nathaniel: Gradfather of the first three, and patriarch of the family. He holds all the family's mysteries.
Ian and Vira: Younger than even Terri, these two children are a source of much happiness. Vira is an artist, but very shy in person, while Ian appears to be a prodigy of intelligence (he's even been to Mazio's borders!)
Papa and Mama: Two large dogs in the Toris family, the first of which I mentioned as being Terri's companion. There is more to them than they seem…but I shall let Nathaniel tell you.