Post by Skeld on Apr 20, 2015 22:30:03 GMT -6
This is a letter sent to Broderick Quink from Cevil “Redwing” Charms concerning the location of an ancient city that could be Xin-Shalast.
Thank you again for the kind words. It’s always a pleasure to speak with readers of my work, especially those well read and civilized enough to know of my writings beyond Eidolon. Alas, I was unable to procure a copy of the early draft from my personal files. It would seem that it has gone the way of so much of my early writings, lost forever to the gulfs of time and narrow-minded publishers unable to grasp the import of a young Pathfinder’s work.
Fortunately, my mind is as quick now as it was in those early days of my explorations of your fantastic homeland. I recall the evening I first heard the story of Xin-Shalast, while seated on a log in a Varisian camp, sharing ruby mead with an enchanting young woman. Ah, but that’s a story for other times.
I was intrigued by the tale, though. All peoples have stories of “cities of gold,” yet with Xin-Shalast, the Varisians had no tradition of explorers seeking it. They viewed the place as one of evil, something to be feared and forsaken. As far as I could tell, none of the indigenous people of Varisia ever sought out the ruins before the advent of Chelish rule. But there was mention, come to think of it, of two dwarven brothers. Vekker, I think their names were, who claimed to have found the route to an ancient city that fits the description of Xin-Shalast and convinced several tradesmen in the Five Kings Mountains to support and supply their plan to establish a base of operations in the low Kodar Mountains along the Kazaron River in an effort to explore the city. They vanished into the Kodars and bankrupted all but one of their investors, I hear, and even today, the Vekker name is generally accompanied by a litany of rousing Dwarvish profanity when it comes up in Fiver's taverns.
In the stead of enclosing a copy of the early, complete draft of my work, though, please find a signed copy of Eidolon with this missive. I trust it will look quite handsome on your shelf!
Salutations, Mr. Quink!
Thank you again for the kind words. It’s always a pleasure to speak with readers of my work, especially those well read and civilized enough to know of my writings beyond Eidolon. Alas, I was unable to procure a copy of the early draft from my personal files. It would seem that it has gone the way of so much of my early writings, lost forever to the gulfs of time and narrow-minded publishers unable to grasp the import of a young Pathfinder’s work.
Fortunately, my mind is as quick now as it was in those early days of my explorations of your fantastic homeland. I recall the evening I first heard the story of Xin-Shalast, while seated on a log in a Varisian camp, sharing ruby mead with an enchanting young woman. Ah, but that’s a story for other times.
I was intrigued by the tale, though. All peoples have stories of “cities of gold,” yet with Xin-Shalast, the Varisians had no tradition of explorers seeking it. They viewed the place as one of evil, something to be feared and forsaken. As far as I could tell, none of the indigenous people of Varisia ever sought out the ruins before the advent of Chelish rule. But there was mention, come to think of it, of two dwarven brothers. Vekker, I think their names were, who claimed to have found the route to an ancient city that fits the description of Xin-Shalast and convinced several tradesmen in the Five Kings Mountains to support and supply their plan to establish a base of operations in the low Kodar Mountains along the Kazaron River in an effort to explore the city. They vanished into the Kodars and bankrupted all but one of their investors, I hear, and even today, the Vekker name is generally accompanied by a litany of rousing Dwarvish profanity when it comes up in Fiver's taverns.
In the stead of enclosing a copy of the early, complete draft of my work, though, please find a signed copy of Eidolon with this missive. I trust it will look quite handsome on your shelf!
In good health,
Redwing
Redwing