Academae Adventures: The Letters of Talla (cont.)

Father,
  I... have a friend. I have another friend, Father.

  I am both elated and terrified.

  Let me explain: in my last letter I told you of the mission to retrieve the body of the Shoanti Chief's grandson, the mission that was presented to us at the Royal party. While at the party we were introduced to her majesty Queen Ileosa Arabasti - a very beautiful young woman with lively red hair and a body the envy of all other females at the party. Yes I am quite aware of the "similarities" of a certain other person, Father.

  Continuing, we returned to our respective quarters to dress more appropriately for adventuring then met at the Gray District. Our adventure began in a tomb, and as we entered we were immediately beset by the animated dead. Skeletons of dead warriors - for these monsters were armed - assailed us viciously. Not for the first time I wondered why we adventured about without the benefit of a Cleric or two - but there is nothing to be done about that currently.

  After dispatching the Undead we began a  search about the entry, looking closely for any clues as to the grandson's passage. Not long into the search someone else entered the tomb:

  One Ileosa Arabasti.

  Yes, Father - the Queen of Korvosa was traipsing about the dark of night, in a tomb within the Gray District. It was as humorous a situation as it was dangerous; and yet, the hilarity increased as Seska appeared behind her. Asmodeus, himself, was obviously cackling with glee at this new complication. After a brief conversation, we discovered that the Queen had followed us because she "wanted to have a grand adventure" as well.

  I understood, Father. Understood well - but that night and that mission was not where she should begin. After imparting this to her we escorted her back out into the Gray District - and to the less-than-pleased mien of Sabina Merrin, the Queen's bodyguard. Through a brief conversation it was revealed that Merrin had not been in favor of this excursion, but a Royal order was a Royal order. We had no choice but to escort her Majesty back towards the safety of the castle - lest something untoward happen to her.

  As luck - or maybe some infernal machinations - would have it we did run into trouble: a quartet of rapscallions with demands of our money - or our lives. Father, at this point I must admit that my limited patience had run out. We were towing a missing Queen, a teaching Mentor from the Academae and the Queen's Bodyguard on a clandestine route back to the castle - and these four fools decided that now was a good time to bother us for "handouts".

   My counter offer to them was to move along - or die. They chose the latter, Father, I'm sorry to say. I felt little remorse for their deaths - likely they had caused enough of their own. Still, it was an unnecessary delay and we hurried to make up the time. Once we were in sight of the Castle Ileosa stopped us, stating that she and Merrin could make it back to the castle safely from there.

  "We will go on an adventure together, right? Because we're friends?" she asked. I turned to her at that Father. It sounded so similar to before - with Sister. I looked into her face - the Queen of Korvosa's face - and studied it.

  Father - I've been damned - again. Because she looked so sincere. I agreed, Father. Agreed to have another friend. It is a good thing I believe not in the gods any longer, Father - else I would be cursing them once again.

 I must sleep now, the candle is burning low. I will continue at another time.

Novaer, Father.

 Talla

Academae Adventures: The Letters of Talla (cont.)

Father,
Many more complications have entered my life since I last wrote, thanks to your machinations. The fruits of your labors have borne unto me the title of 'Hero of Korvosa', saddled me with mage peers, and involved me in the court intrigues of Korvosa.

Have I recently thanked you, dearest Father, for your efforts to enliven my life?

Where to begin? I suppose the first incident - leading up to the title of 'Hero of Korvosa' - began with the death of the Headmaster of the Academae. It occurred shortly after I arrived at the school: a familiar went rogue, transformed into an imp, and slew the Headmaster and several students. Of course, the familiar in question was - yes, Seska's. You recall the name, correct? The young woman I have been charge by Lady Leroung to protect?

Thus my assignment began in spectacular fashion. After much muttering, accusations, and general idiocy - it was finally decided that Seska should appear before Eodred Arbasti II, the current monarch of Korsova. Until then she was under school arrest - confined to school grounds. I also learned that Lady Leroung had arranged for me to be a participant in a 'cultural exchange program', whereby I was given magical courses to attend, in addition to my 'normal' classes at the University. Thus was the Headmistress able to place her "spy" at the Academae while simultaneously providing a means for said spy to bring out information.

About this woman, Seska. She apparently knows that she is the daughter of Lady Leroung - and seems to enjoy sharing this secret with nearly all and sundry. So far she has told myself and the cadre of students that have been tasked as her charges - of which I am one: Ashe, Sanjay, Slade, and "Crow-Eye" - no, the last is not a jest.

Ashe appears to be blind - though he seems more than able to navigate about with ease. Sanjay is a portly foreigner who wishes to impart his affluence by always dressing as if he would be meeting with Nobility. Slade, a Tiefling mage student. Finally, "Crow-Eye"... I have no words.

Thus far we have been embroiled in a combat within the Academae grounds when a Conjuration class to summon Celestial Daschunds went awry and produced a demonic ooze. We were asked to plumb the depths of a tomb to rid if of whatever was stealing the corpses interned within. (This happened to be the spectre of a woman lamenting over her lover's death).

There was also the infiltration of one Gaedren Lamm's child slavery operation, requested by the ghost of Zella who had been killed by Lamm. The foul "demon" - to call him "human" is an insult to the race - kept her head in a hat-box, along with her Harrow cards, after feeding her body to his alligator.

Seska was the victim of an attack by animated skeletons within the Academae grounds - you would think there would be better protections for the students at the Academae. One other event which came from this attack is that Ashe found himself a lover: a lovely red-haired student named "Trika", who had been coming to speak with Seska.


We uncovered the possible resurrection of an ancient dragon - Kazavon. Providing a timely warning to both the University and Academae caused the "defeat" of the dragon while it was "trapped" within a building in Korvosa. Father, you have told me stories of the destructive power of the Great Wyrms - and now I have witnessed it first-hand. I say this: even with all of the wizards arrayed at the Academae throwing their power at the beast, they were only able to "bring it down into a building." Yet, a single mage strides into the building and drives the dragon off?

Even if he is the "new" Headmaster, Father, you must admit that is suspicious.

This "warning" is what had given me the "honor" of being graced with the title of "Hero of Korvosa", along with the new Headmaster. "Honor" they call it - noose, I call it. I had been summoned to appear before the Court of Korvosa dressed in finery - FINERY! To also share the floor with that dubious Headmaster - it was infuriating. The only consolation was that my magical "peers" were also commanded to appear at court, as guests of the Headmaster.

The final insult was our - myself and my peers - "conscription" into matters of Korsova aristocratic intrigues: it seems that a Shoanti chieftan had arrived at Court to request aid in tracking down his grandson - last seen in the Gray Quarter of the city. My peers and I head out to the city's graveyard on the morrow.

At the least I will be rid of these Courtly clothes and back into my leathers.

I will write again once we have finished our trek into the depths of the Korvosa tombs.

Love always,

Talla

Academae Adventures: The Letters of Talla

My friend and fellow gamer, Ed, has been the defacto scribe of our weekly gaming sessions beginning with his tales of 'The Amazing Trevor' - his character - during a Castles and Crusades campaign, to now producing a running log of our current adventures in Golarian and the city of Korvosa.

Our current GM, Kirk, also had entries for his character Katherine, also during the Castles and Crusades campaign. I figured it was my turn to add some flavor from our campaign. My character is a female Elven Rogue, Talla Sleipnir. For my part, I'm going to impart the adventures log as letters from Talla to her 'father'. Hopefully you'll get some enjoyment out of reading her thoughts.

---

"Father",

 So, as per your wish, I have arrived at this place of Korvosa, as a student of the University here. You failed to mention that the Headmistress of said University was a Leroung. Not just any Leroung, mind you, but the head of the house - Eliasia Leroung. Truly a bit of forewarning would have been appreciated, thank you, what with the scare that ran through me upon hearing her name.

I truly believe you enjoy tormenting me with these "jokes" of yours - though I wonder how much you would laugh if your "daughter" was shipped back to Cheliax in manacles. Still, I have managed to remain out of her eye for the beginning of my education here. However, I still fail to understand why I couldn't simply stay at our home and learn - why did you send me here?

I know better than anyone that you'll deign not to answer that query. You will simply cock an eyebrow, turn your mouth up into that infuriating, self-knowing grin and give a small chortle. As always, I shall need to seek my own answers.

Wizards.

You are remembering to visit Miss Turlance for your meals, are you not? Of course you aren't - hence I have written to her as well to ensure that you eat. And bathe. Even if she must half-drown you in the trough to do it.

You loving "daughter" always,

Talla 

---

"Father",

Six months have come and gone, and I find myself ever under the casual scrutiny of Lady Leroung, or one of her informants.  The spot between my shoulder blades itches fiercely, which can only mean that my "dear father" has engaged in some clandestine machination to bring another level of complexity to my life.

Well, so be it - I welcome the challenge. Though I would enjoy to know how you managed to bring special attention to me, I will do my utmost to see your scheme meet with failure. I will manage to make myself as uninteresting as possible - which has proven difficult as the courses here are geared towards scholastic knowledge and little application. Include the disturbing fact that most of the students within my "path" - my "peers" - are simple Aristocratic minor troublemakers with delusions of grandeur and it takes a great deal of effort to remain within the status quo.

However, I shall endeavor - else I wouldn't be your "daughter", now would I?

Ever yours,

Talla

---

"Father",

It seems the failure is mine. After a full year at the University I have been graced with Lady Leroung's full attention. My efforts to remain among the sheep of my peers bore fruit with all but the most important shepherd - her ladyship. She was rather amused at my attempts and impressed with how well they worked on her staff. So much so that she has entrusted me with a very important mission.

Me. An important cog in a Leroung mission - I can hear my "sister" laughing in her grave at this turn of events. Even more so considering the mission is to protect Lady Leroung's daughter - Seska. A Leroung child which has been kept secret from the other houses. To make matters worse is that this Seska is not even a student in the University. Of course she isn't, as then Lady Leroung would have no issues with keeping close scrutiny upon her. No, the "Noble child" is a student at the Collegae -  an institute of magic.

Your Alma Mater, I believe. Yes, this 'coincidence' has your scent all over it. I know not how you and the Lady Leroung are connected, or why you have sent your beloved daughter into this wovles' den, but rest assured I will come through intact. But, of course, you know this - do you not?

You and your machinations - 'wizards' indeed.

Your daughter,

Talla  

First Post

Greetings!

First, let me say don't read too much into the name of this blog. I am by no stretch of the imagination a bard, nor has anyone attempted to censor me. I was looking for a unusual name for this blog and that one charged out of the recesses of my mind and grabbed me by the shoulders, then began shaking insanely. Thus, for the sake of my spine's connection to my head I acquiesced and thus the blog was born.

The main purpose of this blog is... well, really I'm just going to put the logs of my various Role-playing sessions - both as a Game / Dungeon master and player - here, typing as the characters I'm playing. I got the idea from a friend and fellow gamer, Ed, when he detailed the Adventures of the Amazing Trevor, his character from a recent (and now on hiatus) Castles and Crusades campaign run by our friend Kaiser (a long story - possible for later).

There are fourteen chapters of the Amazing Trevor and the read is rather excellent - and humorous. Everyone involved in the campaign looked forward to the updates. If Ed allows I'll post the first of the blogs.

I'm certain I'll have other things to post - maybe - but that's the gist of why this blog exists.