First Contact from Alwen

Teacher,   I want to say so very much more than time permits and I apologize for all of the unanswered questions this will leave you with. The Empress in whose darkness we rest told me that you had found an ally at Oathbreaker’s Keep but that if we didn’t move quickly we might lose our opportunity to send you any material aid.   First, both Tira and I survived the ambush that interrupted our ritual. I know that the plan had been for both of us to proceed to Drae’la pass to negotiate with the Kindred for another method to cross the barrier, but that changed when we captured one of the assassins that disrupted the ritual. From our prisoner, we learned two things. First, one of the assassins managed to escape and followed you into the barrier. According to our prisoner, he may have allies on that side of the barrier. Be on your guard for they hunt you even in the furthest corners of the world. Worse, this seems to have become personal for one of the High Caretakers of The Collective. They didn’t just target us and the ritual, they targeted you and your family, root and branch.   Tira continued the mission and left for Drae’la pass. I turned back towards Lonael and your family. I managed to evacuate your parents, brother, nieces and nephews along with many of the villagers ahead of the Collective’s raid. Your grandfather, I’m sad to say, never recovered from his illness. He chose to give what remained of his life to The Empress in final service. Your sister and her husband stayed behind with the local garrison to buy time for the evacuation. You would have been proud of her courage. I do not know if they survived, but we have reports that at least some of the garrison escaped the raid and they may be among the survivors.   Your parents and the rest of your family accompanied me back to the capital. Your steward has them well attended to at your villa outside the capital where they could live among your fruit trees. They’re in good health and more comfortable there than they would have been in the palace. Your mistress has detached a hundred of her personal guard to watch over them. I only had a few moments to let your family know that I was sending word to you but in the time it took me to collect what I needed from the villa, your mother had wrapped a jar of your father’s marmalade and wouldn’t let me leave until I promised to make sure you received it.   The Empress in whose shadow we walk gave explicit instructions about what we could risk sending. The tomes, she said, are for my younger sister-student. Two of them I understand, the third fills me with questions and a small amount of fear. The banners are for the keep you’ve taken. As long as her banner flies, her shadow can lay over the keep and those who reside there. At this distance, the shadow may be faint, and will only allow for occasional use of the Shadow Gate, but as you continue to weaken the barrier, the shade will darken.   The staff is the result of the research on the barrier that Tira and I were able to complete. Very little actual power can cross the barrier, but the staff combines her gift and mine to act as an amplifier for your own magics. As a tool, it pales in comparison to Dusk Reaper or Day Breaker but it should give you enough power to begin attacking the Barrier Wards directly. I wish there were more I could send.   The scroll was penned by the Second Hand of Darkness himself. I’m told that you have gathered retainers who are unbound to The Empress and the shelter of her shade. If there comes a day when your retainers should be admitted to her service, the scroll contains an appropriate rite. The rest of the package, I believe speaks for itself.   Assuming that you aren’t able to destroy any of the Barrier Wards before then, the Shadow Gate will next be usable one moon’s cycle from now. Next time, we’ll plan for a smaller package. You should be able to send something at the same moment, as long as it masses less than five kilos. I’m trying to discover if the magic of a Dreaming Stone can pass the barrier or   Forgive me, the time is now.   Your student eternally, In the Shadow of the Empress, Alwen