Confessions of a Sacred Lady

[*Charybdis]

[*Charybdis]

Peridot smiled to herself as she sat to the writing desk in one rented room of the Foul Olde Spirit Inn. Her quill pen hovered over the letter parchment as she mused.

[color=blue][font=vivaldi][size=75][i]Dearest Brother Aaron[/i][/size][/font][/color][i][font=vivaldi][/i][/font] [/li]

She looked down at the the three words of address written, the opening lines of a warm greeting to an old friend and confessor, then scratched the quill nib to the page once more.

[color=blue][font=vivaldi][size=75][i]I have been remiss in my correspondance with you for the last few weeks and, since leaving the nunnery, I know I have not done as I promised to keep you abreast of things....[/i][/size][/font][/color][i][font=vivaldi][/i][/font] [/li]

Again she paused, finding it hard to begin as so much had transpired since her last letter.

[color=blue][font=vivaldi][size=75][i]....which of course I hope to rectify now and bring you some more news of me I am sure you have been long awaiting for.[/i][/size][/font][/color][i][font=vivaldi][/i][/font] [/li]

[*Charybdis]

[color=blue][font=vivaldi][size=75][i]Firstly, let me tell you that all is well with me and mine, I am happy and maintain my usual calm and peaceful state of mind despite the rigors of the travelling I have undertaken by various and unusual means and the little shocks of returning to the abundance of life, manners and customs outside the walls and company that have protected, sheltered and healed me for the last four years.[/i][/size][/font][/color][i][font=vivaldi][/i][/font] [/li]

Peridot blotted the sentence carefully and dipped her nib to the ink well to take fresh lift of the blue ink.

[color=blue][font=vivaldi][size=75][i]My latest journey has brought me to an interesting plane and city of more temperate clime than you are used to. I cannot say I mind the balmier weather though the city is or can be rather smog filled with an abundance of raw smells that only a well lived in city mixed with life can achieve. There are fewer cold drafts about the streets and tunnels here abouts and even though I do miss you all very much I know you will smile when I write that I do not miss those.[/i][/size][/font][/color][i][font=vivaldi][/i][/font] [/li]

She paused there to blot again and take a sip of the hot tea she had requested brought to her room.

[color=blue][font=vivaldi][size=75][i]Acquaintances and friendships here of any worth are still slow to make but it is early days yet and they are not all of the easy nature and kindly persuasion or indeed simple races one might expect as that of my sisters and brothers and perhaps my own nature is too cautious and quiet at first to encourage. My beloved companion who I have joined and travelled with to this city is more adept at the public social graces and, coming originally from one of the wards here, is more familiar with how things function. [/i][/size][/font][/color][i][font=vivaldi][/i][/font] [/li]

Another dip of quill to the ink, a sip of tea and Peridot scratches the nib to the parchment again.

[color=blue][font=vivaldi][size=75][i]It is a far cry from former days but my Lady knows why and I cannot complain. I am hopeful this will change in time as I grow in confidence here and perhaps refind something of my former, if now older, self. If this will happen anywhere, as far as I can see from my days thus far in this odd city, this is as good a place as any for it to happen. [/i][/size][/font][/color][i][font=vivaldi][/i][/font] [/li]

[*Charybdis]

Peridot sat upright in the chair, scanning over the words written so far before adding to the letter with more.

[color=blue][font=vivaldi][size=75][i]Error was made on our arrival here both by omission of proper planning on my behalf to pack all we might need - my Lady forgive me - and by foul means when my love's coinpurse was stolen. Not to mention the barriers or wardings in this region that have weakened the powers of our respective prayers. It would seem that an open declaration or promotion of faith here is unwise given the laws set by the powerful allbeing known as 'Her Serenity' or the 'Lady of Pain' and so we both seek quiet solution and work to regain what is, hopefully only temporarily, lost to us. I find myself not minding at all to explore the outreaches of the city, or beneath its grim surface, widening my horizons is part of the process of my development and to use what we find to get by during our visit here. I have been used to the simple life for many years but it is perhaps more difficult for my love who has been used to the finer in more recent times though I doubt he intends yet to call upon his family's support here until he knows better how the land lies there. [/i][/size][/font][/color][i][font=vivaldi][/i][/font] [/li]

She chuckled to herself as she set down the quill and looked across the room to the table where the few trinkets, potions and scrolls were placed to be sorted for later resale. Peridot took a break from the letter writing to light a candle as the hazey light from the small window of the inn room was fading as the after-peak loomed more darkly.

[color=blue][font=vivaldi][size=75][i]We have made a few forays beneath the city and even explored one plane reached by portal where unseelie fey and treant roam. Indeed, we encountered fellow travellers of more beastly countenance - that of a blue dragon and an interesting gnoll - as well as one fellow in the undersigil who was attempting to research the mating habits of goblin! But all were far more approachable and helpful than those inhabitants of the plane who attacked on sight. There is so much more happened but I am conscious of the time and wish to get you this first letter off without delay now I am more settled. I have found a messenger service that seems trustworthy to ensure delivery to prime worlds, but I cannot say whether this will reach you in a day or a few months, as I am not familiar with the passing of time or portal travel here yet. I hope the former, so that I might hear word from you soon in return. Please give My Lady's blessings to all Your Sister and friend, Peri[/i][/size][/font][/color][i][font=vivaldi][/i][/font] [/li]

Peridot sealed the letter with wax from the lit candle and organised for its sending with the Innkeeper before retiring to join her beloved to bed.

[*Charybdis]

Peridot divested herself of her light golden flowing cloak after entering her room and shutting the door, she laid the cloak neatly over the back of the chair before pulling off her new skin-fitting leather gloves and settling again to the writing desk to begin her second letter.

[color=blue][font=vivaldi][size=75][i] Dearest Brother Aaron, As I rush to begin my next letter to you and not yet received word of my first's successful receipt, I cannot help but realise how I miss you, my dear brothers and sisters and the simplicity of the nunnery sometimes. Yet the days pass as a mix of times for quiet reflection and for the most part in comfort with few worries other than how I will pass the day and who will be the next new acquaintance I make smile and pleasantry to and what other portal of interest might appear before me. [/i][/size][/font][/color][i][font=vivaldi][/i][/font] [/li]

She smiled to herself and refreshed the ink to the quill nib, scratching to the parchment once more.

[color=blue][font=vivaldi][size=75][i]I know there will be more, should be more and I look forward to the challenge of pushing the boundaries of what I have been the last four years to wider horizon. The gods know I have much to thank my Lady's clear plans to have placed me in the path of one follower of the Lady of Luck. A fortuitous crossing of paths despite the odd contrast of faiths. Yet mine is not so fervent and devout, my nerves and confidence not so shot as to turn away this moment and not grasp the opportunity for mine; one chance, a strong one, to hurdle high and clear to follow strategy and course that is quite made for me. The strategy continues its course here now too in the planescape. The planescape. Sigilians and planeswalkers. This is a rich concoction for any one to take in, where devil dances with celestial blood and modron shakes mechanical 'hand' with imp. I tell you dear Brother, never have I seen such strangeness yet remain fascinated in the extreme to explore more, carefully. [/i][/size][/font][/color][i][font=vivaldi][/i][/font] [/li]

Peridot realised she was drifting in her letter, without concise structure or plan and paused for a while to move and pour herself a glass of water, to take stock to gather her thoughts.

[color=blue][font=vivaldi][size=75][i]From a presumptuous tophatted changling to a kindly brother monk of the Yellow Rose, from a scared kobold, to a purple haired spell nerd, this place has it all. I consider my trials and tribulations quite normal in the face of it all. My explorations with my love have taken us further into a dusky plane known as the Brux. When I awake early it is here I go to train and take constitutional exercise. The air is fresher if the inhabitants are less friendly to say the least. Oddly, Elijah takes unusual pleasure to see me lay into the attacking sirens. I presume that is a man thing? I could not see the same of you however, but then he is not a celebate monk and neither are you a virile knight. Funds are a little short here so we are having to be careful. This is no great effort really but requires good planning and prioritisation. I splurged all I had on a beautiful set of enchanted gloves the likes of which I had not seen and likely would never come across again, when we had agreed that a new spear was the priority. Still, once he had seen them he understood why I grabbed the opportunity. Elijah is a proud man and is biding his time to approach the mansion house in the lady's ward where his family reside. While he is a man of means and power elsewhere, I wonder if he feels he has to reprove himself in his home city again before facing them? Time will tell. I will leave this letter here Brother dear and hope you will pass on my news to Sister Anya. Please tell her I will write to her soon also. My Lady's blessings to all Your Sister and friend, Peri[/i][/size][/font][/color][i][font=vivaldi][/i][/font] [/li]

The letter was sealed with wax and taken to her messenger service to send off.