Session 22 - Into the Barrens - Hettie's Letter to Deborah

General Summary

Dear Deborah,
I finally get to go out looking for the foundry that makes the beautiful glass that powers old giant stuff, so excited!! Something so powerful, so colourful and so reflective is sure to be a keystone for my future firework masterpiece. I’m heading out with a few of the people I met on the boat on the way over here.
This trip we’re bringing a horsedrawn cart, so that we can bring plenty of stuff back. Thank goodness I get to ride on the back, it’s a bit exposed but infinitely better than all that hiking we did. After the first day of travel Forge made “Rations” for dinner. What a waste of my beautifully crafted campfire, lovely blue tinted flames curated to the perfect roasting heat and crackling merrily away. I miss Mafaldine ☹. He would have appreciated my firecraft. At least Verusa added some berries to our breakfast rations, which made them more palatable.
Apparently there are bulettes around here, and they’re big enough to eat bison! I hope we don’t come across any. Verusa promises that she can mask our vibrations to keep us hidden, that’s such a cool power! Have you met her yet?
***
Forge liked my campfire! The second night he said it was excellent. It turns out that Rations are extremely nutritious and the work of a true craftsman, it’s an aesthetic meant for my stomach, not for my eyes or tongue. I think I can appreciate that kind of art. I was less happy with him in the morning though, when he woke us up at 5am booming at some poor lone gnoll. Does he WANT to be eaten by one of the big bulettes?
***
Oh Deborah, the most awful thing happened today!
It’s our fourth day of travel and we were nearly run down by a gnoll chariot. These guys really hate Diiroehn, he must have quite the fearsome reputation among them because they’ve even given him a nickname. Anyway, the fight just went from bad to worse. First a crazy axeman slashed me aross the shoulder, and it was absolute agony. It seems he didn’t like the flames I sent him that singed his fur. Verusa in her crystal bear form saved me, she ripped him off the cart, she’s so pretty! I love how the light refracts off her! Maybe she’d agree to be part of my fireworks show… that’s. assuming I survive this mission, with all the pain in my shoulder I thought I must be dying or something. Oh, how wrong I was.
Something went horribly awry with the next spell I cast, my focussing crystal got polka dots and then cracked, and, horror of all horrors, a huge gout of fire erupted right in my face! Well, this time I nearly did die. Zell and I were both knocked unconscious, the poor horses we borrowed from Rakki were incinerated and the cart full of supplies set on fire.
I just…how could I do such a thing? How could such a familiar spell go so terribly wrong? I know I have little misshaps occasionally, and I’ve always thought it kept things fresh and fun, but this was something else entirely. I’m a horror, some kind of criminal! Can I even justify casting again if this might happen? How do you stop your spells from going wonky? Is it something I can learn? Because if I can’t risk casting anymore how can I ever live out my dream of fireworks renown? Maybe I need a new dream, like being a top candle saleswoman same as my sister? Marrying some respectable merchant?
In the end Verusa saved me with a sweet berry and I chilled the cart to put out the fire. At least most of our stuff is saved, but I think Zell and Verusa are a bit scared of me now. To be honest I’m scared of myself. The Breegan clan gnoll tried to take credit for the damage I caused but he ran once our party finally got up again. Zell got him though. It seems their clan is totally allied with Zenir. Not friends.
Forge cooled my burns but I still feel half dead. He’s a good guy. Everyone is looking after me and being so nice. Making me ghost kittens and soft turf to sleep on. But it’s my fault Tenebrae and Mr Butterscotch (Diiroehn and Dr Chiselchip’s riding horses) have to pull the cart now. Poor noble beasts. I gave them my rations, it’s the least I can do. It’s my fault Rakki will be in trouble with his boss for loaning out horses that never came back. My fault our stuff is coated in ash and our rations are burned. My fault Zell’s skin is all shiny from burns. It’s all too much. How do I move past this Deborah? I really miss you. I could use a friend hug right now.
Hope you have some luck with those sneaky drow you’re going after.
Hettie
xoxoxo

Report Date

25 Nov 2019