Sun Apr 20, 2003 3:51 pm
A letter arrives at the residence of Governor Gad`Phuri; delivered by runner, it consists of a letter-sized fold of soft black leather, bound shut by a single strand of black cord that is then secured around a small circular silver fitting, like a shirt button, on one side. Within is a single sheet of fine parchment, bearing simple, precise script in the Common tongue.
Greetings Governor Gad`Phuri,
I represent a Lord of my land, a personage of no small wealth and power, who wishes to bring to you a proposal that we believe will be mutually beneficial to all involved. My lord wishes to arrange for the purchase of an area of land no less than five acres' size in the Northwestern region of Myrken Wood, for the purposes of building and establishing a residence and hunting preserve. My Lord has taken the opportunity to visit this area of Myrken Wood several times, and is taken with both the scenic beauty of this area and the abundance of challenging game to be found within. In return, my Lord will not only deliver fair payment for the lands and game rights of same, but will also make available five hundred of his best troops in the eventuality of any incursion from hostile forces along the Northwest border of Mirken Wood, with the understanding that these troops will ultimately be at His command alone, to dispatch as He sees fit. If this proposal interests you, I can be found at the Broken Dagger, where I have secured lodging for myself and my two companions and I will remain there until contacted by yourself or your representatives. I look forward to our meeting with great enthusiasm, Governor Phuri, and I await your response. Enclosed you will find a small payment, for your time and consideration in reading this dispatch.
Regards,
N`Ylim Fath`ir
Within the fold of leather, beneath the single sheet of parchment with its simple and efficiently penned missive, are six coins snugged into circular depressions cut into a more rigid pieces of black leather. The coins, obviously newly minted and struck, gleam with the silver-grey glint of pure platinum. One side of the coins bear the image of a great tower, of singularly unusual architectural design, rising above a cityscape dwarfed by the massive edifice. The reverse bears a sigil of a stylized Death's Head, the grinning skull set in the middle of eight weapons crossed at the coins' center. A scythelike sword, a double-bitted axe, a longbow with a cluster of arrows and a spike-backed warhammer are easily identifiable. However, the other four weapons, if they are indeed so, are so alien of design as to be unidentifiable. An enigma, to be sure, but one that promises to be quite profitable to whomever might decide to try and decipher it...