Mistake's Letters
Year 1
Sent Xivaskir 6 to Lady Zakine
Mistake thanks Lady Zakine for the medicinal materials and follows up on news from her home. She tries to convince the caravaner to come see Lilith and asks for advice for the gala.Read the letter
Lady Zakine,
Thank you so much for all these materials. I’ve been studying how they work. Perhaps it will be worth some brownie points with Professor Lang? She doesn’t seem to like anyone.
I’m not taking any of Dean Valentin’s classes, but seems to be doing alright from what I know. I’ve become surprisingly good friends with his niece. Once I got over the part where she tried to kill me.
If you have the time, you should come see Lilith. Koss and Aurora are amazing musicians. They’re both in my tower, and I always go to the common room whenever they’re practicing. Studying with live music accompaniment feels excessively fancy. I don’t know how good the play overall will be, but it will sound great.
I've heard about these rumors you mentioned, and their potential source in Redfell. Something to follow up on when I'm there for break. You'd think tieflings wouldn't believe whatever random rumor they hear, but it seems we're just as susceptible to gossip as anyone else.
The good news is, thanks to Dispater, I shouldn't have any further issues getting in or out of the city. Maybe one day we won't have to disguise ourselves to avoid arrest, but for now, I can at least get myself out safely. I'll need more acting practice before I can get anyone else out with me, I don't have the same gravitas you do.
Related, do you have any advice on how to attend a fancy party? The books on the topic all contradict each other, and my friend’s only advice was “wear gloves”.
Received Quaegar 15 from Lady Zakine
Lady Zakine provides requested medicinal supplies and an update from Redfell. Odd rumors about the university that have spread there. She also mentions Lilith and suggests she might come see the play.Read the letter
Mistake,
I hope Golgar has treated you better than Tevnember did. Attached to this letter is a package with the materials that you requested. I was certainly surprised to see how costly they were (do not worry, this one’s on me).
It appears, however, that Strixhaven has put in a bulk order for these same exact materials. What are you not telling me, I wonder? What is going on out there?
Honestly, I had half a mind to deliver the package to you myself. If only I weren’t so busy overseeing so many shipments. Perhaps I can take a break and come visit campus closer to the Winter Break. I hear the Strixhaven Performing Arts Society is reimagining the classic tale of Lillith. I’d certainly like to see that, if only for my own amusement. If I had a silver for every time someone tried to remake a classic piece of literature through a supposed ‘modern lens’, I’d probably be able to retire soon…
Professor Blackstone is an interesting one. He was always a cocky bastard, back in the day. Now he’s a grown-up cocky bastard, but a bastard with good style and wit. Never get into a bickering match with him, my dear. Not only would he probably win, but he will rub it in your face as well. He’s as quick with his tongue as he is with his rapier, that one.
As for his virtue name, I wouldn’t really say he’s protective of it. I simply think creating an aura of mystery is how he gets his kicks. I don’t find him mysterious at all, to be honest. (Unlike that Julian Valentin… How is that gorgeous dean doing these days?)
I visited Redfell this week, by the way. Your friends are doing just fine. I delivered your message to them. They said they eagerly await your reunion. And that they wouldn’t dream of going after Sir Greeds-a-lot without you.
As for Joy, well… She was happy to hear you were doing well. She and Rezzy, however, are even more distrustful of Strixhaven than I thought, based on what you told me. Apparently, they’ve heard rumors from some of the people in the community that the school is corrupt… I wouldn’t pay that any mind, dear. People’ve been saying that for centuries…
I do hope to see you in about a month or so. Winter will be upon us before we know it.
‘Til then, take care. And keep your wits about you.
P.S. Exams cannot possibly measure your intelligence or your talent, my dear. All they can measure is how much shit one can cram into their head all at once. Keep your chin up…
Sent Golgar 28 to Lady Zakine
Sent after Mistake barely passed the first round of exams . She tries to subtly get Professor Blackstone's virtue name and passes along a message for friends back home.Read the letter
Lady Zakine,
You’ll have to tell me more about this railroad next time we meet in person. I have lots of questions, and know someone who would have even more.
There’s so much I want to talk about, but not in writing. I’ve always been confident in who - and what - I am, but being here makes me feel like I represent all of us. What if my choices do us all a disservice?
It turns out, my ‘talent’ doesn’t have much to say. Seems I only found the entry exam easy because I had nothing to lose. Now that things matter, exams are terrifying. I forgot everything I’d studied as soon as I sat down and barely passed this round. Next time will be harder. Maybe I really don’t belong here.
I’m hoping this side project will help. I want to compare overseas materials with eldritch balm, but since the school has so much balm, they’ve little stock in anything else.
I could ask dear Captain Dapplewing (Capplewing?) to requisition it, but I’d rather stay out of her way. And out of her attic.
You went to school with Professor Blackstone? What’s he like? I’m not taking any of his classes, but I’ve thought about paying him a visit. Odd that he’s so protective of his virtue name. He chose it and could always choose another. Is it something dirty? Someone back home once had a name none of us kids were allowed to know. I still can’t get anyone to tell me what it was, and he died years ago.
Speaking of Redfell, we don’t get many visitors, and never ones who mean well. Find Joy or Resil Dream or King. Tell them the plan to throw Sir Greedsalot into the smelly part of the harbor is still on. They’ll know what it means. And thank you.
P.S.: If someone named Joy finds you, tell her I love the cloak.
Received Golgar 17 from Lady Zakine
Lady Zakine offers to pass a message to Mistake's friends and family when next she's at Redfell. Despite Mistake's prior lie, Lady Zakine assumes the request for medicinal materials is because the campus is low on balm.Read the letter
Mistake,
I’m quite thrilled to hear from you. Recently, life has been all work & no fun for poor old Lady Zakine. The Guilds of Ravnica have been staying busy, demanding iron & lumber shipments for their latest little project: They are calling it a ‘Railroad’… Their plan is to have it done within a year. It’s supposed to be just as fast and efficient as an airship, only without the perils of traveling by air.
As interesting as it sounds, it’s been drying out the Forest of Eljor of its resources. The Slaad tribes might not be so happy about that…
Anyway, enough about me. I regret to hear that some o’ the human students are giving you a hard time. Ignorance is everywhere, my dear. Even in a place that labels itself ‘the elitist of the elite’.
But don’t you fret… May your talent outshine them & speak for itself… When it comes to bullies, nothing stings ‘em harder than being proved wrong.
As for Madame Dapplewing, well… I’ve only heard tales. She’d already graduated by the time I got there. Y’know, I’ve heard she’s strict as all hells. Heard she keeps dead bodies in the attic or something like that? Sounds like you should be careful not to do anything that would get you on her bad side.
(Unless, of course, she really deserved it…)
Sorry to break it to you, my dear, but among the elites, we will always be minorities. In fact, in my four years of study at Strixhaven, I only knew two other Tieflings. One of them dropped out due to lack of funding. The other one never even left. You might spot him around Silverquill now and then. His name is… Well, he goes by Barreus Blackstone, but we both know that isn’t his real name…
Regarding your request: I can certainly look into gathering those materials for you. I’ve a contact overseas who deals in herbs and spices. Though it might cost a pretty bit o’coin, I’m sure I can strike a bargain. Did I read that correctly: Is the University running low on Eldritch Balm? Do spill the tea, if there is any, my dear. I’m starving for some entertainment.
I look forward to hearing more from you. I shall be traveling back to Redfell in a month or so. I’d be happy to pay a visit to your friends and family.
Sent Tevnember 19 to Lady Zakine
Mistake tells Lady Zakine of her first week, after the tavern fight. She asks for medicinal materials, but lies about why to avoid telling of the eldritch balm corruption.Read the letter
Lady Zakine,
My first tenday at Strixhaven is over and I don’t know what to say about it.
The classes are fascinating, sometimes in spite of the professor, and I’ll never run out of reading material. I’ve a job at the Biblioplex now. Legitimate pay and nobody follows me to make sure I don’t steal anything.
But I’ve not met a single other tiefling, some of the humans are just as bad as back home, and near everyone flaunts ignorance as if it’s compassion. I might scream at the next person who offers “sympathies” for my “unfortunate” name.
I miss my friends. We would spend every day together and now I can’t even write to them. I wish I knew Sending, just to hear a familiar voice for a second.
Beyond all that, I’ve been attacked by a chest, a broom, a rug, and a collection of steam. And blamed for all of it happening in the first place.
More specifically, me and four others from my tower seem to have a habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. If I’m going to live up to my name, it’s nice to know I’m not doing it alone.
The “Captain” is a bitch, by the way.
I’ve taken to hiding in the Scriptoria. It feels so disconnected, as if worldly problems stop mattering while I’m there. It’s a nice break, even if I spend most of it studying. Or working.
Related, could you help me get materials from overseas? Healing materials, specifically. I need some odd things for a project and the University doesn’t have any.
P.S.: I’ve been reading a novel lately. Have you heard of ‘Rival’?
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