Second Letter Home

What a delight to come up to the surface again and find your letter waiting for me! As I said before my letters will be far and few between what with my studies and traveling. And yes, the Truth Seekers are the same group the bards are singing about. Though truth to tell the songs are not always correct. But we know that from experience, the family that is, don't we. Am I not right father? Fenela Rose had songs writen about her and over the centuaries they have gotten stretched way away from what really happened. I do remember finding her journal in that old trunk one summers day and reading and reading it till it practically fell to pieces. How angery you were until you saw how carefully I was treating it. I hope someday to find some way of preserving it for our descendents. Now, now mother I can just hear you now saying such a thing should be hidden away from childrens prying eyes, 'it might give them wanderlust' and no halfling in their right minds would want to leave their homes and family." Well, mother it might be a bit true but I think there is more to it than that. I think it is in the blood and pops out every couple of generations or so. Ah heck, listen to me giving a lecture to my mother! Sorry.

As for my adventures down below, gather the young ones around for I have such tales...well, I will tell a bit, many of the things I have seen would make even father blanch. Let me think now...

...Our most recent trip sent us into a section of caverns where a number of Ropers lived. What are ropers you ask? A roper at first looks like a rocky outcropping or even a rock plant. They are usually 9' tall. That's three grownup halflings standing one on top of the other, little ones. :) They have a single yellow eye and a mouth/maw that is ringed with sharp teeth like a sharks. Halfway up its body are small bumps which are the sources of strands it fires at its enemies or those it wants for lunch. The long sticky strands are very strong and once you are caught you are slowly dragged to the mouth and eaten. You must work very hard to get free - if you have managed to keep an arm free of the strands that is, otherwise you must depend on your friends to rescue you. They are very, very hard to kill. Thank Tymora there are not too many around. Below ground is very hard to survive on your own. Teamwork and trust are a must. Arguing only brings more monsters for sound travels furthur than it does above ground and there are always things that are hungary. Do you know the thing I miss most while down there? Stars. There is no way to tell night from day. It is always dark except for the places moss or small plants that give off cold low light. I used to love going up on the roof and watching the stars or the clouds roll by imagining different shapes and making up stories about them. Down below its rock, water, dark, rock, danger, rock... So littles, remember what your folks tell you, adventuring is not all fun and glory, its danger, blood, death and sorrow too. Keep learning what you can of the family business or something that will help you earn a bit of cash now and then. I am blessing Tymora every day for learning fathers craft..for what I learned at his knee I am using to keep a record of the strange creatures and beings I meet. As each block is finished I will send it home for you to look at and perhaps copy onto a piece of furniture or mantle design. But enough of that for now.

I am glad you enjoyed eating out at the Roaring Mouse mother, but why did you let father spend the entire 50 gold there! I am surprised to say the least. Have prices gone up that much since I left? I was hoping some of that would go towards the business. As for my being famous, no thank you. I became a cleric to help others, not make a name for myself. I would love seeing our family make a name for themselves which is why I will be trying to send money or aid when I can. A lot of whatever I manage to get will be spent up here, there is a great need up here too. I plan on staying with the Truth Seekers as long as they will have me. I am slowly making friends here and learning to get along with folk much different than the humans, halflings and gnomes at home. You may continue to write me here at the Truth Seekers compound. 'Mogo', is the head factor here and will save letters for my return. I would love to see father or anyone from the family if you can manage to get away. You can stay here and sleep in my room. I will leave a message with Mogo in case I don't make it back in time to greet you.

Did you know there are a great many of our race in Jurgenville? I wonder if any of them are distant relatives? The mountains around here are beautiful and the scent of the living trees is a powerful heady experience, almost as wonderful as making love...or so I am told. You can breath now mother.

It's wonderful to hear you had a profitable year and I do hope you expand with a new room, perhaps you can buy the small place next door someday soon. With Aunt Tulip now having littles like Topaz, I am sure Rulono or Rakos, my brothers will soon be thinking of marrying and bringing brides to the family to join in the family business. So don't fret about no kids about you. Use this time to draw and create!

Father, if Rylor decides to become a scribe I can put in a good word for him at the Tower. They would find a good master for him. Perhaps Rylor could become good enough to work for the palace! Now that would be something to brag about...connections with royalty and maybe even a patronage!

Well, I must close now as the courier will be leaving soon. The winter snows will be here all too soon and close the roads. That is one reason why I will not try and make the trip home. I will try and write whenever I can and enclose what I can for treats for the kids or cash for the business. I am keeping an ear out for contacts for good wood if you need a new source. Till next time,

Take care and may Tymora bless you all,

Love, Amber

PS: cash enclosed isn't as much as last time, use it wisely - 10 gold

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