Love Letter 3: Off With The Old

My dearest Beshaba,

Hail thee, my beauteous love, Lady Doom, bringer of ill omen and the one who guffaws at the flogged maw of Bogclaw the outlaw.

It is with a heavy heart that I sell my besymboled shield, a gift from Your priests for this journey to this Savage Frontier. I know that You have guided me to this **spiked bulwark** shield, held by the lizardfolk chieftain of the Rootwater clan.

I get ahead of myself. Your repeated glances away from us on this blessed journey make it clear that I must share the entire story with you.

As before, we proceeded through the **abandoned farm twelve miles south of Hope** to camp outside the **Mouth of Doom twenty-four miles south**. Without Your mists to impede us, our quest south was quite simple… though it is clear that Your gaze was upon us when the foul **leech spitters** attacked us and nearly sent **Hector Mullens** to his grave. Only with your blessings was I able to heal him… though why he didn’t use his powers to shift into a wolf during the combat, which he seems to be able to do at a moment’s notice, is beyond us all.

The creatures were disgusting and lived up to their name, spitting leeches all over friend **Pixli** and trying to suck the blood out of her at every turn. That armor she’s crafted is quite something, however; the **lightning damage** seemed to have a particularly strong effect on the creatures.

Lovely conversation with the wonderful **Eunice Dusterbossom** made our evening rest a charmed one. She seems to be the only one here who understands how special You are to me. It sounds like she even wanted to meet You! If only such a thing were possible without bringing death and despair upon her. I think You would like her quite a bit; she tries to take care of everyone just like me and You.

Though the sobs of **Elaria** woke me briefly in the early morning, we slept unperturbed after the massive slugs were cleared from the area, and our quest began anew.

As we approached the **Ringcurrent Islands**, **thirty-six miles south-southeast right where we had last spotted them**, we heard strange sounds from afar. Though we were worried we had spotted the undead that have plagued the southern Harrowmere, we actually encountered a raft of people being transported by four lizardmen. At the great warrior **Drago**’s insistence, we came to their immediate rescue, slaying three of the lizardmen and capturing another.

Blessings be to You, my dearest Beshaba, for looking away for this entire day. The lives of dozens of people were saved, starting with the farmers whose farm had been left abandoned. With great ceremony, I bestowed upon them the life’s savings that they had carefully hidden away. All of us had agreed we could not let it enter the hands of any other, and they accepted their treasures back with great gratitude.

It was at this moment that I truly felt Your favor. No matter what the other priests said, I know that I see the good in You. It is not Your divine fault that your gaze causes the problems it does. I can see the real You, the one who just wants the love of the people, who wants good and right things to happen in the world. Be assured that this does not go unmissed.

The captured lizardman revealed many details about the camp under **Elaria**’s charms. Despite **Pixli’**s suspicion of subterfuge by the black dragon, an enormous and dastardly lizardman named **Bogclaw** was the true reason for the gathering - shirking his duties as bodyguard to the previous king of the lizardmen, **Scalecrusher**, he became a kingslayer and stabbed his liege in the back.

We kept particular watch for this nefarious character at the island camp, where he immediately began to cause chaos and attacked the **Dusk Dusk** tribe.

This distraction allowed us to make our moves on the **Rootwater** and **Muck Marsh** tribes. The Rootwater lizardmen were drunk, both with power and with actual drink, and the *faerie fire* You allowed me to cast upon them was a great distraction. While **Drago** and **Eunice** took out the rest of the guards, **Pixli** snuck into the camp and freed all of the captives. A similar maneuver worked on the more organized **Muck Marsh** lizardmen, and some of the captives even chose to fight on our side when Bogclaw came for us with his shaman and guards.

Though his temperament did not make Bogclaw a good bodyguard, his skill in battle certainly did. Outside of the great warrior Furious, I have never seen such a large man. His skill with his trident was unparalleled.

I daresay without your blessings, we would have been doomed. My love, You gave me such *power*! Casting down a *moonbeam* to hurt Bogclaw and nearly slay the shaman, and providing me with *guiding bolts* of Your radiance to eliminate more foes. I have never felt so strong as I did then, with Your eyes averted but Your hand in mine nevertheless.

**Plank** delivered the final blow. All in all, to my great surprise, we slew the beastly warrior with little difficulty. Perhaps he intrigued You enough to look upon him instead of me? I’ll try not to be too jealous!

Especially because when I wandered around to survey the land after the battle, I saw the reward You had lain at my feet: the bulwark carried by the leader of the Rootwater lizardfolk. With it in my hands, I can still strike at the enemy physically while holding You dear to me with my free hand. You could not have given me a better gift, my love!

And so I pass my former shield to its new owner, the smith Muredach. I know You will find a new soul to bestow your blessings upon, that whoever holds it will have the chance to hold You close as I do.

For now, I must get to work emblazoning my new bulwark with your sigil. This will take time, and ceremony. But I will briefly step outside the walls of Hope to do it, if only to ensure You can see me as I do it. If You want to. No pressure.

How odd that we never once saw the dragon.

With undying affection,

Always and forever Yours,

Your devotee,

Knock