Dearest Sister—My first expedition in this new country took me through the woods and down into the earth, to a temple of an age past. Of this I shall tell you in short order, but let me say first that were it not for the experience of my newest acquaintances I would not be able to write this account of all that has happened. I am quite recovered now and was not in mortal danger—as my soul is forfeit and resides in purgatory evermore, etc.—but the entire endeavour could have failed most spectacularly, leaving all bruises and no reward to make them worth the while.
Let us begin, then.
Foremost of note was my company. There is yet little I can say for certain about their character or their office, but what I have gathered is this:
The first is a hunter, or tracker—an outdoor sort—who seems to have ranged more of this land than any. Her mask is poorly worn, though perhaps the others do not notice. I made no mention of it, of course.
The second might in another life have been an apothecary. He seems a pursuant of alchemy, not unlike the ones The Viscountess Septima used to employ. He has a predilection for books and a curiosity stymied by a sense of self-preservation keener than the other two possess. I believe we shall get on very well.
The third wears a prism about her heard and calls herself after it. By her dress she appears a scholar, though she lacks their manner. Her talent is something other I struggle to find the words to explain, as I have not encountered its like. She wears no mask yet is the one most hidden.
When we departed I noted my companions’ arms and armour and wondered if we were expecting danger. The Ranger assured me not; you will have guessed that she was quite mistaken. The wildlife in this country is overgrown and hostile—which I suppose is true of most wildlife, so as to merit their name. Hours into our track we were charged upon by a wing’d creature of magnificent stature, fiercely territorial even despite being unprovoked. I did little other than make myself scarce while the others laboured to subdue the beast. I say, I do not regret spending more of my time in society than in nature, but do acknowledge that to-day the skills of a hunter would have served me better than the trickster’s legerdemain.
Once recovered from this encounter we continued to the ruins of a temple promised to you earlier in this letter. Its first level was recently scoured but its underground levels remained sealed. The buried chambers were remarkably well preserved, being they: a burial chamber, a library, a laboratory. We inspected them each thoroughly, though the library had my interest most of all. Much of the collection pertained to alchemy—to the joy of the second—and to the arcane. There were a number of journals as well—all of them blank despite clear signs of handling, as if the words had been drained from the pages. I have one such journal with me now. A more significant discovery, perhaps, was the map of a mountain range, illuminating more of the area around us.
The laboratory had its own secret, which our curiosity uncovered all too quickly. Imprisoned in it was a thing formless and foul, the likely result of some terrible experiment. Knowing weapons would do little against the insubstantial we defended ourselves with flame—a strategy not without risk, given the reagents in the laboratory and the library one room over. The fire, I noticed as well, seemed to have an adverse effect on the bravery of one of my companions. You will guess which.
I am glad to report the temple was not in the end destroyed, despite our most graceless efforts in the confrontation with its ancient noxious prisoner. All we could carry we brought back with us, and in the coming days I suspect we shall spend much of our time poring over tomes and journals. I shall assist in this task where I can and spare you my thoughts at all other times, being ever
yours faithfully,
Tristan
