Lady Aephiryll Redwillow sends two couriers with sealed letters on the two fastest horses of Lonebeach Hold. After hearing news from across the Steppes and taking in several dozen refugees, there is no time to waste in seeking to cool tensions and properly direct the anger of the Emeraldites.

Letter to Eastlake

Lord Mikael,

I write to you regarding the urgent matter of the recent attack and the subsequent chaos. I have taken several dozen of your people into my keep as refugees from the bloodshed, and I have received the news from our Queen-Regent. The idea that this tragedy was deliberate was hard to stomach but not unbelievable, even so, I must caution you that Lady June Nieroi of Dawn's Reverie is not the enemy she has been made out to be.

You and I spoke previously some months ago about the topic of Lady Nieroi and Von Derk, and I in that time I have continued my investigation. There has been no sign of foul-play from Lady Nieroi or her people, though I have found nothing to call into question Von Derk's loyalties either. I believe the lack of evidence here points to both of their innocence, and my most trusted attendants have uncovered other answers to my questions.

Before I continue, I must offer my condolences for both the loss of your son, Jonner, and the loss of your guard captain, Ser Doyle O'Hearthstead. Though I did not know your son personally, I was acquainted with Ser Doyle. He was a kind, joyful, and honest man, and he was working alongside my own attendants regarding the recent investigations and events. It was Ser Doyle himself who sent me word not a full day prior to his death. We had set a time to meet and discuss further, but the tragedy obviously prevented it. I have included the message he sent me, a brief, spoken warning that has only been spoken by him and one of my most trusted couriers: There are signs of Wytchcraft at work in Grastagg and across the Steppes. It is a strange curse-work that I have never seen. Let us meet tomorrow so that you can examine it yourself.

As we were unable to meet, I could not examine what he uncovered. My courier states that Ser Doyle believed it too dangerous to be handled by anyone but himself. I plead that you will search his chambers and pray that you locate this evidence he gathered... though I fear with his death the wytches have left us with a dead-end.

I know this is a trying time for you, from one Lord of the Steppes to another - this is a trying time for us all. I ask only that you trust in your allies. That you trust in the work Ser Doyle undertook for me. That you forgive me for not being able to protect him when it mattered most. Most of all, I ask that you protect your people who still live. Lady June's spells protected both Lonebeach and Wood's Edge from the curse-work of the wytches. I believe these are the same wytches that have kidnapped our King. I believe they have set us against each other, servants of Planu against servants of Ephales.

I am writing to Queen-Regent Jocelyn too. I pray that you will support me in my endeavors. We must prevent war at all costs or none of our peoples will survive.

Blessings of the Gods Upon You,

Lady Aephiryll of House Redwillow, Lord of Lonebeach

PS - My men are gathering supplies to aid your own. Expect them by nightfall.

Letter to Grastagg

Queen-Regent Jocelyn,

I write to you regarding the urgent matter of the recent attack and the subsequent chaos. I have taken several dozen refugees into my own hold for their protection, and I have received your own warnings. The idea that this tragedy was deliberate was hard to stomach but not unbelievable, even so, I must caution you that Lady June Nieroi of Dawn's Reverie is not the enemy she has been made out to be.

Over the past several months, I have kept a close watch on Lady Nieroi as well as Von Derk. I had my suspicions about both, but they appear to be unfounded. Lady Nieroi has only been spotted providing aid to the sick and troubled of both my hold and Wood's Edge, and my attendants have found no reason to doubt Von Derk's loyalties. Despite the lack of news regarding these two, there were other developments. I enlisted the help of Ser Doyle O'Hearthstead, a knight of Eastlake and one of the deceased from the tragic attack on our peoples. Not a full day prior to his death, he had sent word to me regarding his investigations. This is what he wrote: There are signs of Wytchcraft at work in Grastagg and across the Steppes. It is a strange curse-work that I have never seen. Let us meet tomorrow so that you can examine it yourself.

He perished before we could meet and I have yet to locate these curse-work he had uncovered. I fear the wytches killed him in the chaos to hide the truth of their schemes.

Queen-Regent, please, though there may be differences between you and Lady Nieroi, I pray to the gods that you will put them aside and focus on the real threat. I believe there are wytches turning you against one another so that the Steppes will erupt in bloodshed. I believe these are the same Wytches that have kidnapped your father, and I believe they will not rest until every single Emeraldite has perished. If we go to war now against Dawn's Reverie and the children of Ephales... then we will simply be falling into their hands.

It should also be known that Lady Nieroi's own magic has protected many of your people. Both Lonebeach and Wood's Edge were spared from the recent attack due to her magical wards. Dream magic saved us from the curse-work of the wytches. If Lady Nieroi was truly a villain, her magic would not express such kindness and mercy, certainly not on loyal Emeraldites in your service.

As I swore so long ago, I am your loyal servant. I will uphold my oath to protect my people and all the people of the Steppes. Please do not be tricked by some unseen curse-work. Please stand strong and protect your people.

May the Gods Guide You to the Truth,

Lady Aephiryll of House Redwillow, Lord of Lonebeach

PS - My men are gathering supplies to aid your own. Expect them by nightfall.

A letter is delivered to your keep, bearing the mark of the Eastlake Guild. The penmanship is not quite as precise as it once was.

Dear Lady Redwillow,

My deepest thanks for your aid in these times of crisis. I have not been in contact with the Queen as of yet, and I pray this letter reaches you before you attempt to do so yourself.

I say this not as an official, but a neighbor. I recommend against drawing any attention to yourself thay you have been involving yourself with those of Dawn's Reverie. In times of war little good comes about as being portrayed as a sympathizer or traitor and I do not wish to see our soldier's blades pointed at someone as loyal as yourself. I know you have had meetings with their leader, but I recommend that you cease such or at minimum keep it more discreet.

As to your cries for peace, I too wish the same. I have seen too much death already. This cycle of bloodshed doesn't end well. Unfortunately, you must remember that it is Dawn's Reverie who declared hostilities against the Kingdom, going as far as demanding us to sacrifice an entire city of people.

If you truly wish to pursue this route, and can convince those against us to sit down for peace, I shall support you in trying to set up a meeting. Though even in such a case I doubt the conditions of it will be favorable.

May the Divines bless your path,

Guildmaster Mikael

You receive no response from the capital.

A letter bearing the royal crest arrives at your doorstep, delivered by a royal messenger.

To my loyal vassal, Lady Redwillow,

I thank you for your diligent work in investigating these matters, though I am afraid your conclusions have been incorrect. This war has been entirely defensive in nature, to give up now would be to openly declare that when we are attacked we will roll over. I have made a promise to the people that I will not let the acts of Dawn's Reverie go unpunished. 

Something you have written concerns me, however. You have stated you were protected by wards put in place by those who have long since been declaring their open hostility to us. You are to report to the Capital at once to discuss any potential risks your fortress may have been exposed to, and to ensure that you yourself have not been effected by dream magics, for your safety.

Please also prepare your report on any involvement the other forces may have had in any of the attacks thus far that you have uncovered. Fighting a multiple front war would be quite disadvantageous if we do not know of it ahead of time. Ensure your fortress is on high alert while you are gone. While Dawn's Reverie has yet to attack any military targets, and has only aimed for civilian ones, we are not certain this will remain the case.

May the Father-God watch over you,

Queen Jocelyn Kilvaro

A letter bearing the crest of House Redwillow arrives at Castle Grastagg.

Queen Jocelyn,

I write to you on behalf of Lord Aephiryll Redwillow, as I am now the Lord-Regent of her hold. I am Ser Caius Thorn, a lesser cousin of both House Redwillow and House Kilvaro. I have been in Lord Redwillow's service ever since you granted her this hold, and prior to yesterday's events I was the captain of her personal guard.

Without any further delay, I report to you everything that has conspired here.

Lonebeach was attacked by a horde of bandits from Fort Gateport across the Great Lake. Lord Redwillow used the full extent of her magic to defeat them and sink their ships, but such efforts have left her unconscious for the past day with no signs of waking. As such, I have taken command of the keep and its forces.

Despite my loyalty to Lord Redwillow, I share the concerns you express in your letter. Those of the Dreaming God cannot be trusted, and I believe they may have instigated this attack. As such, I have ordered all suspicious townsfolk, retainers, and travelers to be locked up for questioning, and I have put men loyal to me in charge of the various guard regiments. A pair of retainers, specifically those who had been working with Ser Doyle and Lord Redwillow regarding the surveillance of Von Derk, escaped during the chaotic battle, though I have sent men after them. I ask that you post bounties for both of them: Aldun Mreyv & Dortus Fohl. Both claimed to be Emeraldite by blood and had features to support it, blond haired and emerald eyed. Of course, if they are servants of the Dream, their very appearance could have been a trick.

Please send word if you require anything of me. I am your loyal servant, and I swear to defend this keep and Lord Redwillow until such a time as she has woken and come back to her senses. It will take some time to repair the keep and ensure it remains protected from all threats to our people. I will send word as soon as Lord Redwillow wakes or in the event that our enemies make a move.

May the Father-God watch your path and strike down your enemies,

Ser Caius Thorn, Lord-Regent of Lonebeach Keep & Warden of the Eastern Steppes