Onward and upwards

It feels like its been along time since i wrote here. But in fact it's probably just that things have been happening fast.
We guided the new initiates through their perquisite. A strange monkey infestation in a house/ One of them was a kalijhe elf on his pilgrimage, very serious, very skilled combatant, he spoke and acted with the expected dignity of one such as him. He was looking after his fellow, who was by far the inferior warrior, and all in all he reminded me somewhat of myself...or perhaps more apt a younger version of my father. In talking with him I came to the realization that I am not as much like him as I believed myself to be when I came here...the knowledge isnt good or bad, but it was certainly interesting the different ways we talked about liberation. His young fellow was a human...and a denizen of Usaro. He seemed fairly jovial, lighthearted in stark contrast to his companion, and with an air of humour, but he didn't bother to hide the trauma even if it didn't show...I suppose there wouldn't be any point, anyone who knows anything about his home knows exactly what it means to be born a human there. I'm glad he escaped his captors.
I noted that the former slave was the inferior warrior but thats not to say he was incompetent. He displayed two qualities that impressed me significantly, the first was his bravery, the second was his instinctual compassion. When he discovered the monkey spirit at the heart of the infestation, he chose to befriend it, and i knew in that instant he was going to fit in very well indeed in his chosen school.
 
We also followed up on the griffin situation. Apparently the owner was blameless, she likely acquired them legally and intended to sell them to some upmarket buyer, and it was sabotage that set the creatures free. We suspect it may be the serpent folk but to be honest our only evidence is the non standard tools used and the lack of any known enemies, certainly none who would take a slight so far. It was not only the griffons that escaped, several dangerous creatures were loose and beginning to hunger. We were able to wrangle them back in to cages with minimal damage to them...but we were run ragged. Looking back, it was a mistake to split up when we did, a sloppy move on my part, but each wound is a lesson after all.
 
We are going to be elevated to conversants. It will happen quickly so I won't be able to invite family, but a few friends will make it. I'm glad to have friends here id want with me for moments like this.
We are going to be involved in the danger more intentionally from here on out. I like that, it feels proactive, when the Uduak situation felt reactive, stumbling and blind. Against the serpentfolk threat there is a focus, a deliberateness to our approach that makes the danger feel at home...Reading that perhaps I'm not *quite* as dissimilar from my roots as being away from home sometimes makes it feel. I could easily have read that line in the voice of an old training instructor.
 
As for my personal life, well it feels somehow silly to write about that in the midst of all this, but I've seen plenty enough danger to know life doesn't stop. I'm going to make an effort to be less reactive in general.
 
(Letter to family)
Hello mother, father.
Hiya Atl, Hey Tenoch
Just writing a family letter this time as things are getting hectic. I have news about my education: my frineds and I are being elevated to conversants. It's early but there are extenuating circumstances I will discuss with you when we meet next. I'm sorry you can't be here to see it, but there isn't enough time to plan a trip. I just wanted to let you know that as much as I miss you all, and I do, I am glad I'm here, it feels good that I'll soon be in a position to more actively support the Magaambya, and I wanted to thank you for all the help you gave me to get here. Talk to you soon, with much more details. Maamajagua keep you.
Love, Cualli Yaotl