SolarFate

With eyes like clear-cut amethysts;

Her beauty is amaranthine,

With lips that hunger to be kissed.

Her mind holds myriad mysteries--

It’s full of secrets yet unknown--

But if I know one thing of her,

It’s that she fucking hates this poem.

Too cheeky at any rate;

His word choice is cloying,

And it’s ill-advised to tempt Fate.

For she does not favor fools,

And she will steal your life away

If err you from her many rules.

And they say the same of Fate,

As ever-changing as the winds--

If you should make her irate,

She’ll end your quest ere it begins.

And a man with any sense

Would surely listen to this plea.

Yet I say in my defense

That it was Fate first tempted me.

Solnyshko,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and pleasant spirits. Or, rather, as healthy and happy as one can be in a place such as Barovia.

You might be wondering why I am writing to you. Indeed, I have two reasons.

First, you recently asked what I do when I am not otherwise occupied with work or with keeping your sister and Lilluth from inadvertently romancing evil vampires. Other than reading or studying, writing takes up much of my free time. While you seem to enjoy concocting poetry, I enjoy writing. It allows me to reflect upon my experiences.

To illustrate, I have translated here a brief excerpt from my journal that I thought you might appreciate:

*19 Weejastide 499 AC, Nighttime*

*Winged Hare Inn*

*Darrowridge*

*Lokar Barony*

*Falkenried Margravate*

*Suldura*

*This evening I was approached by a strange drow woman who likes the color purple and assumed that I wanted to know this about her. I favor the color black, which matches her skintone, but I did not assume she also wanted to know this about me.*

*Before approaching me, this woman very loudly played the drums along with her harpist elf companion. I have to admit it was not unpleasant.*

*These two women seem to be in a traveling company and on some sort of quest, and inexplicably they are recruiting barmaids to join them. I hope they are not traveling in the same direction as me, they are quite conspicuous.*

*I have retired to my room now, and, Reznoriak willing, I will not see this drow woman or her similarly peculiar companions ever again.*

*20 Weejastide 499 AC, Morning.*

*She is still here.*

*This morning I have been watching as this drow woman insists that the tavern cook recreate for her a peculiar dish that is popular among circus folk, where they dip bread in egg and fry it. How truly perplexing. Considering her loud manner and appearance (she is dressed very vibrantly), I am unsurprised to learn she is affiliated with a circus. I suspect this group is part of a traveling circus.*

 As you have probably realized, this was my account of my first meeting with Stellaluna. I suppose the past several weeks have made her presence marginally more palatable.

My second reason for writing is because, after receiving a gift, it is customary to send a missive expressing ones gratitude. I wish to thank you in writing, not only for lending me your cloak, but also for the money you loaned me for purchasing materials for spells from Strahd’s spellbook. The spell I was able to learn has been quite useful—it is how we were able to summon Ezmerelda back to assist us with encountering Lysaga. Thank you again for your kindness and generosity.

Respectfully,

Fate

P.S. I have long wondered what you, Lilluth, and Stellaluna do in the hours while I am asleep. I suppose I will never personally witness it, but if you should like to respond to this communication, I would not mind hearing about how you pass the small hours.

P.P.S. Please do not share this letter with anyone. Especially not your sister.

P.P.P.S. Solnyshko means “small sun” in Abyssal. Consider this your first lesson.

### First Letter to Fate

21 Avondrastide 500

My deerist, Melethril,

I cud not be unwel wile I am with you.  And ironicly enuf givin my name, I hav nevir cared much for the sun.  It is a trate of my pepil I beleve.  Eny way, the wethir here dus not much trubul me.  Eevin if it did Barovia is ware you are.  Thare is no ware that I wud rathir be.

Speeking of my name I thank you for the lesin.  “Small sun” I supose is fiting.  I hav nevir been a vary tal man.  I do hope howevir that I am abil to bring sum small bit of lite to you heer in this sunlis plase.

Thank you allso for shareing this pese of your life with me.  Both your writeing and the entrys from your jurnul.  Your acownt of your first meeting with my sister is quite amuseing.  I sertinly hope that you have com to find vibrantly dressed drow more palatable over time.  Of cors I wud not dreem of teling Stellaluna that you may hav com to find her tolurubil.  Thare ar apeeransis to keep up after all.

In terms of how Lilluth my sister and I spend owr time wile you sleep it is not teribly interesting but I wud be hapy to tell you abowt it.  Much of the time is spent in conversashun.  I am vary curyus to heer abowt Stellalunas life with the sercus.  It seems to hav been a vary hapy plase.  I hav allso begun teeching her silvin the langwaj of the faywood.  Mallara’s grove in the faywood is a kind plase and I beleve Stellaluna wud be hapy thare shud she evir chuse to visit.  I suspect that you wud be fond of it as wel.  Mallara has several vary old buks that wud likely be of interest to you.

Finaly I am afrade that I must corect you on one mater melethril.  I hav not lent my cloak to you.  It was a gift and I wish for you to keep it.  Or if you find that you do not care for it prefering the color black as you do sel it and by more spell materials.  If it wud plees you to do so giv it to another or destroy it.  But whatever you chuse plees consider it to be yours.  The gold I consider but a wise investmint in my fucher, givin how yuseful your spells hav been in keeping my self and all the rest of us alive.

Yours in adorashun,

Solaris Silverleaf

P.S. Plees pardon my writeing.  I kno that I am pore at it.

### Second Letter to Solaris

21 Avondrastide, 500 AC

Dear Solnyshko,

Do not be absurd. Your constitution cannot be strengthened by the mere presence of a person, at least not without magic (magic I certainly do not possess). You absolutely could be unwell while you are with me. You can catch any number of illnesses at any time, whether or not I am present. Be sure to take all precautions against illness.

If you do not care for the sun, why have you not considered changing your name? Would you rather we call you something else? Why did your parents choose to name you after the sun when the drow do not care for it?

I am glad to hear you are not troubled by the weather and that you are content with your present location and company. *[Carefully crossed out sentence]*. Your presence has been quite tolerable, and you have proven yourself quite useful. Your ability to trip people is quite convenient.

I beg your pardon, I did not mean to imply that you are short, or that being short is problematic. In fact, it would have been quite hypocritical for me to do so, considering you are taller than me. Solnyshko is actually a common nickname on the Isle of Smoke, given *[4 carefully crossed out words]* regardless of the height of the person in question. I have not had the occasion to use it on anyone before, but you have demonstrated that you appreciate nicknames. If you would prefer another name, I am open to **appropriate** suggestions.

I have made peace with having Stellaluna’s and your company, but that has nothing to do with your choice of dress. I suppose I owe both of you an apology for when I yelled at you in that dungeon. She was right—you were only trying to protect your sister, which is exactly what you had said you would do. That is not unreasonable. *[Several carefully crossed out lines]*. I simply have limited experience with family.

It is lovely that you are finally getting the chance to get to know your sister, and she seems to really enjoy it as well. I am curious myself to hear what circus life was like, but I am afraid asking Stellaluna myself may give her the wrong impression. I do not wish to be forced into joining a circus after we finish this mission. I cannot imagine a scenario in which that turns out well for any of us.

What do you know about the books that Mallara has? Did you have a chance to read any of them? I suppose that, if you ever wish to go back to the Faewood again, and wish for us to join you, we would oblige. Since you speak of it so fondly, I am curious to see it.

I stand corrected. Thank you for the gift, then. While I do prefer dark colors, this cloak has useful properties, so I will keep it for now. Plus it would be imprudent to throw away or sell a gift, especially one that was clearly very important to you.

Respectfully,

Fate

P.S. Poor writing is that which is inscrutable. While your spelling is certainly creative, your writing is acceptable--there was no point at which I was unsure of what word you were trying to use. Should you wish to practice your writing, you are welcome to as much pen, ink, and parchment from my pack as you would like. And should you be interested in developing further your spelling and grammar abilities, I have included below a copy of your letter in which I have applied the more commonly accepted spelling and grammar rules.