3

DispatchAccountOther

by The Office of The Caer Sidi Royal Post. . 55 reads.

The Aquired Letters of Sir Greenbottle

Welcome, aspiring scholar! Here you can find a compilation of all our aquired letters from our dear Sir Greenbottle. Not much is known about him beyond the letters that we've found, but he has shared with us quite a journey. His letters dive into different aspects of Caer Sidi, one by one. New letters will be posted here as well as our Linkoffsite forums.

The First Letter, On Warrens

Dear Reader,

I hope this finds you well. I don't know you, and I highly doubt you know of me, but I wish to share with you something of great import. Something whose very nature is so vast and grand, that great thinkers (and not so great thinkers alike) will ponder its substance for aeons to come. Something so intangibe and scarce that no man or woman may lord over it, no matter how powerful he or she may be. I wish to share with you... knowledge.

I'm sure you're just as excited for this gift as I am to give it, but first a bit of knowledge on who I am, yes? I am the illustrious, the magnificent, the very broke and highly in debt, Sir Cade Greenbottle. No doubt you've never heard of me. I'm a writer, as I'm sure you can tell, but for some reason that escapes me I have yet to sell a single word. I've yet to look for common work as well, which is why in such a precarious condition of “owing grand amounts of Caer Sidian coin for outstanding credit” and am now fle-, erm, adventuring throughout the lands.

I must write, as is the nature of the writer, so I've decided to write to you, whomever you are. I will write of my travels, my learnings, and my troubles. Maybe something novel, or even grand will come of it. Maybe I'll be eaten by a troll. Either way, this is the first of my many letters, and it seeks to explain the foundations of our very own existence. So without any further exposition I will now write to you of The Warrens.

Ah, The Warrens. Musn't forget the capital letters, as The Warrens are something magnificent indeed. But what are they, you might ask? The warrens are like an untold number of facets on the brightest gem. Each facet a plane making up a fragment of existence. Not the most is known, or well, not much has been made known, of the extent of our knowledge of The Warrens. From the great scholars of Syvisa there are tomes full of conjecture and theories, but only a handful of facts and knowledge of what's true.

The original Seasonal Queens were both a bit of somebodies in Syvisa. High born nobles with a penchant for mischief and curiosity. Their lives were largely devoted to magic research, including the magic of finding other Warrens. Years went by, and decades, and research and experiments were fruitless. Until one day, a very fateful day, our Syvisa was torn open by their experiment, and before long our home was lost. How sad you say? Indeed. But before Syvisa was lost the same experiment opened one more portal into our new home. Which is at least as good as our old one, just a little newer. So don't be too sad, dear reader. Tis the cost of knowledge.

At the moment our reality tore asunder we knew that we were not alone. There could be untold amounts of Warrens in existence. After Syvisa was lost and the Seasonal Queens took their rightful place upon the thrones leading the survivors, research into Warrens was kept minimal, the focus was on sealing Aimsir. Once that was done, it was deemed too dangerous to pursue unsealing the way to any other Warren, and travel was forbidden. Some research goes on to this day, but it is tightly watched and regulated, as we don't want another incident, now do we?

Perhaps one day we will have the power and the means to safely explore, but for now we must enjoy what we have.


The Second Letter, On Syvisa

Dear reader,

The hour is late, but I yearn to write to you. I'd like to regal you with tales of our beloved Syvisa. I've enough wine to last us the night and I'm already halfway through! How did I get the coin for it you ask? Oh, you didn't ask. Well, it's really of no high importance anyway. Onto the tale!

Syvisa was a magical, well actually not very magical but magical in a metaphorical sense. I'm sure you understand what I mean. Magic in Caer Sidi is much more prevalent, and powerful, than it ever was in Syvisa. Only the high born folk were permitted more than the most mundane of magics, with the ability to cast spells and enchantments reserved for the most esteemed. It was the noble scholars, however, that spurned the research into greater and more powerful magics. Syvisa was a curious place, with many scholars dedicated to bettering life in the realm. Both halves of the beloved Seasonal Diarchy were two of these such scholars, leading the research into harnessing magic to explore other realms besides our own. The King poured vast amounts of money into what would eventually be his downfall. How sad when you think of it. But anyway, The Queens were of the Kings favourite however, and he more than indulged in their studies.

Society then was most assuredly split by class, but the realm was unified and the King was benevolent and generous. There may be a fog of nostalgia, but they were happy, and stable times. Stability was not what Syvisa was always known for, but that would take many more words than my consciousness will allow me to write tonight. Let me tell you instead of what Syvisa looked like.

Syvisa was much more colourful than we know Caer Sidi to be. Many buildings in Caer Sidi gleam white and silver and gold, while the buildings in Syvisa were as varied and rich as gems. Market squares were filled with brilliant rugs and intricate carpets, and all manner of brightly glazed pottery. The land was fertile and rich through most of the realm, with a very fair climate. The land was rarely ever bleak as places such as The Marshes here in Caer Sidi. The wild life was very similar to Caer Sidi, though Caer Sidi seems more varied, as we've found plenty of beasts we had never seen before. The Fae were never a part of Syvisa, and after some negotiation a hesitant alliance was made during the war, and there has been peace between Syvisans and the Fae ever since.

Dear reader, my eyes begin to betray me as much as this wine. I fear I must rest but I assure you I shall write again.


The Sixth Letter, On Caer Sidi

Oh Caer Sidi! My home, my heart, and my debtor, how you shine so....

Okay I'm not going to lie to you, me and this Warren have a problematic history. Seeing that I owe large amounts of money to the Crowns, I can't travel in the open. Inns and reputable taverns are off the table since I can't risk being seen. At best I have a friend in whichever Holdfast I'm travelling through, but that's not a particularly high chance. You'd think I'd hate this place, and well some days I do, but there's a certain magic in the air that draws me back. Eventually...

It really is a beautiful Warren and the Queens have done wonders from their palace, Bastion. From the early days right after The First War to now they've been hard at work, helping the region to flourish into what it is today. The Houses of the Oireachtas stay busy, hammering out the regional law that shapes Caer Sidi, while the Hierophant and the Grand Toscaire nurture its beauty and diplomacy respectively. Even the Interior Council, as clandestine as they may be, seem to exude the sort of fervor that only working for a better tomorrow can produce.

Yes, I'm drunk and no, I'm not being paid by the Council. Yet.

But enough of institutions! Let's discuss, dear silent reader, the geography of Caer Sidi! And look, I've even included a crudely drawn map I stole so you could follow along! I'm sure you know of Queensland, the peninsula in the center of our region, as no doubt you live somewhere relatively close to that “bastion” of culture. That is the Holdfast of, you guessed it, our loving Seasonal Queens. It contains the region's center of commerce, Chail, and one of the most beautiful forests in all the land. To the east of Queensland everything grows less and less...well less green and much sandier, actually. The Logyrian Wastes, popularly called The Marshes, are where the final battle of The First War was fought, near the Citadel of Aimsir itself.

To the North are some places I've never travelled to, but i hear that they have small and squat bearded people in the mountains somewhere. The east is a mysterious land as well, as all who've sailed there so far have either never returned, or only come back to go mad. The South erm, well the South... has bears or something. I haven't actually been there, or heard much about it actually.


The Fourth Letter, The Great War Against Chaos

Dear Reader,

It has been some time since my last letter. I've been making my way through the holdfasts and getting my fill of local taverns. The mead does muddle the mind, you know. But alas! My adventures continue. Today I'd like to write to you about the war against Chaosium, and how the horrible event unfolded over the course of decades.

Firstly, I must take you back to the beginning. Yes, where everything started, as it usually does. When the Syvisans came to Caer Sidi we were vulnerable and many perished from the old realm. We arrived in what's now known as the Queensland, and set up camp. The first while of living in Caer Sidi was survival. The nights were long and full of beasts roaming the area. A guard was quickly established and our camp became more into a settlement. The Chaolich did not believe we would survive. We expected an overwhelming attack in order to wipe us out, but it never came. So we built in secret. We hoarded resources, established the Night Watchmen, which later was enveloped into the Diarchy's army. Slowly we grew in silence. A few decades passed without interference from the Chaolich and his monstrosities, and the battered Syvisans had finally carved out a place for themselves, grew their population and mustered enough troops to comfortably defend themselves and their peninsula. The Chaolich took notice. It was our time to move.

Slowly, we fought our way to clear the entire peninsula, and began to send out scouts to survey the surrounding land. Many were lost on their travels, whether it be to the elements or the roving beasts. It was then we found Aimsir, and after studies realized that it was the conduit for bringing Chaosium into Caer Sidi. We knew that in order to defeat the Chaolich, we must conquer Aimsir. But how, you ask? With time and much effort, indeed. The Syvisan refugees were not alone however. Fae had lived in Caer Sidi for eons, but had become overrun by Chaosium beasts and were largely in hiding. The Diarchy sought out the upper echelons of the Fae hierarchy and made peace. The Fae did not have the most to offer, but the alliance was a start that the Diarchy needed. The Fae were excellent scouts and brought a wealth of information about Caer Sidi and it's land. Without the Fae, some say the war would have been lost.

Armed with knowledge and a sense of purpose, the Diarchy formally began to expand and attack the Chaolich, and of course were met with great resistance. Thirty-four years the war lasted. We lost so many, but as you know the ending to this story, you know that their sacrifices were not in vain. During the war, troops were divided under the two Queens. This division later led to the formation of the clans, Summer and Winter. The Summer clan were the personal guard and the army of Aynia, crowned Summer Queen. The Winter Clan were the followers of the Winter Queen, Cthoria. Not long into the war the Diarchy and their advisors came to the conclusion that brute force would only take them so far. They decided to split tactics, with the Winter army taking front lines and brute force, and the Summer army providing support, healing, studying magic that would harm or banish the Chaolich, scouting, and in times of need, fighting to back up their brothers and sisters in the Winter army. The tactic worked well, with Summer focusing on harnessing powerful magics, the likes that had never been seen in Syvisa.

After many, many years, the armies finally overtook Aimsir. The great wizards of the Summer Clan were able to combine their energies to seal off every portal in Aimsir, effectively cutting off the Chaolich's forces. Thirty-four years into the war, the armies finally faced the Chaolich himself. In his weakened state and with not much support left, the armies overwhelmed and destroyed him, removing him from Caer Sidi and solving a problem that had plagued the warren for decades. Now that isn't to say that the beasts and forces of Chaosium were gone. Many were left roaming the lands, to be picked off piecemeal until numbers dwindled and it was safer to venture out further.

Nowadays, you may find a Chaosium beast roaming the wild, but many holdfasts mounted hunts against them, and they have been all but wiped out of the warren. But who knows, maybe in my travels I will come across one. And promptly run away. Dear reader, I hope you have learned something from this letter, and I hope my letters are a source of knowledge to be passed along to later travellers in Caer Sidi. I do believe however, that a stein of mead is calling my name, as well as the tavern wench, but we will see how that story goes maybe at a later time. Until next time I must bid you goodbye, and wish you safe travels.


The Eighth Letter, Inside Chaosium

Reader, oh reader...

I have spent many fortnights with magical folk, integrated myself and met and mingled with some of the greatest minds of Caer Sidi. I must admit I accomplished this task with a bit of forgery, some bribery here and there, but I credit most to my quick wit and quicker thinking. The things I do for you, dear reader, to bring you knowledge of our wonderous and gracious home. But enough with that! What I'd like to regale you with today are the facts and stories that I've learned from our own great learned ones. Facts and stories about Chaosium...

You see dear reader, Chaosium is... different. It is a place like no other we've ever dreamed. While the Warren that swallowed Syvisa was mostly void, Chaosium is living and breathing, full of creatures and magic. It's a dreadful place, dreadful enough to make grown men shiver at the thought. The land is filled with beasts of all shapes and sizes. Large, small, but all ferocious and without beneficence in any way.

We have not seen much of Chaosium, but there are accounts of Caer Sidians falling prey to visions when encountering some plants and animals coming out of Chaosium. The reason for this is unknown. The visions, however, were horrible enough to drive many of the victims to madness. Of the ones that came out unscathed, their stories were shall we say, more than concerning.

The lands were dark and foul, with areas covered in wastes, swamps, lava pits and dangerously thick forests. In barren areas the cliffs shot into the sky like rocky spikes, their reddish brown hue almost fading into the bright red sky. In swamps the water glowed bright green and blue with swirls of magic. The forests were almost black, the absolute of darkness always pressing against the senses. Unforgiving and horrifyingly unique and beautiful, the land made obvious it's hostility and lack of welcome.

There are beasts with mouths full of razor sharp teeth. Creatures that seemed an amalgamation of abominations, creatures of darkness, fire, and smoke. Creatures of poison, ooze, and venom. Creatures, that were very dangerous to Caer Sidi indeed. They both walked and flew and swam in the murky depths. It was an experience for those with visions of the great flying beasts, as there are nothing like them in Caer Sidi, nor are there accounts from Syvisa. When a few of those beasts made their way into Caer Sidi through the portal, they were dispatched. Not without struggle though, mind you.

Of course not all creatures could fit through the portal or withstand the travel of Aimsir and we had the Goddesses blessing for that. Though the creatures that did come through brought the corruption with them. Wicked plants with thorns and poisons sprouted from the ground. Glowing moss choked out trees and stripped their leaves, the grass withered and died away leaving behind dust. The water turned foul, unable to be consumed. The meat of the animals touched by corruption was tainted and many people fell ill from hunting too close to the lands corrupted by Chaosium.

It is unknown how long Chaosium reigned, but it was only with Ea's blessing the land was not completely turned into a barren hellscape just like the Warren of Chaosium. Or perhaps it was as some scholars speculate, the magics within Caer Sidi herself that fought off the infection of the open wound hiding inside Aimsir, I suppose we'll never know.

For now I must leave you, dear reader, for the rest of my day is packed full. Sir Thorton Merryweather has many an appointment today, and he doesn't want to keep the wise wizards waiting.


The Eleventh Letter - On Aimsir

Dear reader,

It's been a while now, but I have travelled far and have made it to the great tower of Aimsir. I wish to tell you all about it in this letter. But what have I been up to you ask? You didn't ask? Well dear reader, I shall tell you anyway.

I've traveled vast amounts of Caer Sidi, but the wastes around Aimsir have always been intimidating for a man such as myself, used to creature comforts and smooth travelling. I've travelled far east, and it was time for me to make my way more south.

How should I describe the wonder of Aimsir to you, dear reader? It's majesty and size are almost too much to comprehend. The intimidating stone tower reaches far into the sky. Smaller towers built as defenses sit around it, encompassed by thick stone walls, though the defense force of Aimsir has long been dwindled down to a handful of bored soldiers. There isn't much activity in the outlawed tower, and the most interesting parts of a guard's day is chasing away sight seers and those obsessed with the lore and concept of the tower.

I've talked to several people who have walked the spiraled halls of Aimsir, and they tell me that the inside is just as splendid, if not more so than the facade. Intricate carvings into the very walls, elaborate tapestries and ornate rugs. There are libraries inside Aimsir holding many tomes, copies of original research transported to Aimsir after it was conquered for the wizards residing there to study. The tower of Aimsir was as decorated as a fine soldier, though it was peculiar that it was so lavish considering entrance to it was not permitted to anyone except the Monarchy, wizards, and selected guardsmen.

But no matter, for I have more to tell. Aimsir is made of a wide, spiraling hallway from top to bottom, with some rooms towards the inside of the tower but every so often the walls are dotted with large circular stone frames, as if a picture should be inside although the only thing there is the wall. These, my dear reader, are the places where portals to other warrens become activated. The portals are towering, at least as large as three men, the hallways wide enough that five men could stand arms length to arms length and still not touch the walls of the hallway. The ceilings are arched, with heavy wooden framing helping to support them.

It's been said Aimsir is the quietest place in the Warren, that walking it's hallowed hallway makes no noise under your feet, and sounds are whisked away by the thick rugs and heavy tapestries. What a delight, dear reader, to be able to experience it for yourself! But alas, it is off limits to us folk, and we shall never have the pleasure of the experience. However I do hope this letter has enlightened you and sparked your imagination.

I know I am no artist, but I've been doing a few drawings in a journal I bought long ago. I shall include a drawing of Aimsir with this letter.



The Office of The Caer Sidi Royal Post

Edited:

RawReport