[sblock=Three Flowers]
Letter #1, reads:
“Deer Vasti, I no that yo can help peepul ho need help and I no you hav peepul ho hav help yo with things like wolvs and that I am riting yo becos we hav truble with local gang ho ar paper lantun gang and hav evul spirits ho they put on us if we dunnot pay them we are in cort of shading wilow by we I meen all peepul of cort but I canot say my nam in cas paper lantun gang wil put evul spirit on me can yo help”
Not being local to Cormondal, Three Flowers doesn't know where the Court of the Shading Willow is. A Paper Lantern Gang is a type of criminal gang that uses magical threats for extortion.
Letter #2, in good calligraphy, reads:
“To: Most Wise Aru Leng, Vashti of Manrupashnar,
From: Tenjandrin, Magister of Morning and Orchids for Cormondal District
Greetings, noble Vashti. Please allow me to offer my congratulations on your new position, and my commiserations for your predecessor’s sad demise. As Magister Administory for Cormondal and the surrounding District I think we should become better acquainted so that we can work together for the betterment of our town. To that end I would like to invite you to dinner at the Magisterial Residence at a time convenient to you. I also understand that you have several individuals working for you who have done much good in the service of Cormondal and her greater security, and I extend my invitation to them as well.
I await your reply with great anticipation.
Your Humble Servant,
Tenjandrin”
A Magister of Morning and Orchids is the second rank of Magister Administory, usually in charge of a city, or several small towns.
[/sblock]
The Vashti looks thoughtful as Annika describes your adventures.
"I think Sister Herbalist should take a look at you," she says to Shakou. "In fact, I think we should all go to see her."
******
Sister Herbalist is a short, round, busy woman of older years. She clucks and fusses over Shakou's wound, complains that it would have been best left unhealed, puts a foul-smelling poultice on it nonetheless and gives Shakou an equally foul-smelling drink. "Drink this, M'Dear, then get some rest and plenty of fluids," she says. "Now, Aru, about these girls. I think I might have something for you."
She takes a heavy leather-bound ledger down from one of the laden shelves in her tiny infirmary, and begins searching back through the pages.
"Ah. Here." She turns the book around and points with a fleshy pink finger to an entry dated from about thirteen years ago. "Start here."
"18th Day, Sixth Month, Llazan Independence Year 137. Delivered today twin girls of mother, Jacaranda (or perhaps Jacaranda Flower). Abode of Mother: unknown, currently resident at narvinda. From aberrations of one of the twins, mother must have been infected by wombtwist poison at some point in gestation. Through the grace of Manrupashnar we were able to deliver child without significant physical harm to mother. Other girl shows no sign of mutation, a most unusual case with wombtwist (check for precedent). Mother and children recovering under sedation.
19th Day, Sixth Month, 137LY. Monitoring twin girls and mother. Second twin shows no effects of wombtwist. Mother showing signs of emotional distress. Continue sedation. Have noted signs of concern in the Vashti. She brought Jacaranda into the narvinda. Does she know more of this case?
21st Day, Sixth Month, 137LY. Magister Ten has learned of the wombtwisted birth. The law states that the children must be killed by exposure to the elements. Tried to argue that one child is unaffected, to no avail.
22nd Day, Sixth Month, 137LY. Sentence of exposure conducted on twins. I do not know where they were taken, I do not want to know in case my heart compels me to find them. I cannot believe that the Vashti would sanction this, but I see that she is not pleased either. This has not had a good effect on Jacaranda. I have had to maintain sedation to prevent her harming herself or others.
30th Day, Sixth Month, 137LY. Magister Ten has ordered Jacaranda be sent to the Island of the Moon-Touched for her safety and the safety of others. I do not like this development, but they are better suited for the treatment of distress that I am."
"Mother and children so callously disposed of like that," Sister Herbalist shakes her head. "And Vasu Leng, the Old Vashti, she knew something about the situation. And now... it looks like the little girls survived! Can you get them here? Or take me to them?"
[SBLOCK=Theroc]
Shakou lost 6 points of strength. The medicine restores 2 points, the rest is a matter for rest, although she can be treated as long-term care by Sister Herbalist which will restore full strength in 1-2 days.
[/sblock]
