Behind the Gilded Curtain - Glint - 15/06

Esteemed Maestro,


I am pleased to inform you that my teleportation to Kantas went as smoothly as could have been desired. As I write you this letter from my new office at Daring Academy, my mind wanders back to our last communal supper, where you have entrusted me the important task of studying the wonders of the new continent, and beseeched me not to come back until I document every single one of them, including the most dangerous, noxious, fey-infested, or potentially lethal ones, with a marked preference for the latter. But as you wished me a safe trip with that sincere smile of yours, I couldn't imagine what extremes you'd go to in order to ensure it to be safe indeed! Surely, an escort of armed guards was too much for a simple researcher like me. One of the teleporting wizards even asked the guards if I might try to run away! He probably thought the guards were there on my account, the simpleton! But I appreciate the gesture nonetheless.

Anyway, I digress, for you probably wish to hear of the wonders I have encountered in Kantas upon my arrival. I am delighted to inform you that I have seen some of this place's miracles as early as on my first day.

Daring Heights is a large city, worth exploring for the delights it offers on its own. The smell of every type of street food I've ever encountered, the sight of every type of trader imaginable, and the sound of a million voices assaulted my senses as I was walking around the Portal Plaza, intent on finding one of the local colleges, or perhaps even an academy. You will then appreciate the irony of the first building to catch my eye being a casino. Do not worry, my old life is not catching up with me, but the Gilded Mirror is a hard building to miss. It stands out like an exuberant water fountain in a Zakharan desert. Before I could even practice exercising restraint, a most extraordinary character by the name of Leocanto, a highly celebrated bard, as I was to find out later, burst out of the doors and all but dragged me and several other passers-by inside. I must confess, the experience was a most peculiar one, for one is much more likely to be dragged out of the casino rather than in.

And thus I ended up in a rather opulent room with several others. We were tasked with going into the Feywilde and search for a Dragonborn by the name of Steef Crimsonscale. I might have turned down the request altogether, but the missing fellow was a wizard, and I felt that helping a colleague in need would be the right thing to do. Besides, after a short negotiation, our host agreed to pay a hefty sum for the return of his friend. Such a nice person!

We were warned not to open our eyes while traveling to Feywilde, but rest assured, I heeded no such warning. For what is a little danger to the scholar of the world? I must say, I have never seen the shades of color the likes of those. Not even the plane of fire can compare. The Feywilde itself is beyond description: it has its own inertia and rhythm, and to a spellcaster it feels as sweet as the best wine. And to think I have seen two new places in one day!

Our little party explored the Feywilde for a bit until we've arrived at the market. It is a peculiar one, for it does not trade in gold. An enchanting lady called Myriad offered us masks at the cost of our memories. I must say, in my past life, I'd gladly give out all my memories for an assortment of disguises such as hers! The lady knew of the person we were seeking, and, in exchange for a healthy bag of secrets (a commodity I regretfully have in abundance), pointed us towards a hat stall. And when I say it was a hat stall, it looked exactly like a wizard hat.

The owner of the place, a goblin named Cobbler, was less cooperative. Angier, our elf companion, tried to intimidate him by hovering over him, which I must admit might have had quite an effect given the difference in their heights, if only Cobbler wasn't looking the other way at the time and thus completely missing out on the whole intimidation thing. A straight-forward question from our Halfling cleric Kelne made him change his mind and spill the beans, and we continued our search.

The next stall we attended was run by an elf and a satyr, oh, what a couple they are! Unlike other traders, they deal in gold, but they give it away instead of taking it. They have an assortment of cursed boxes, and pay people to trigger them. Celina, the fearless tiefling of our group, opened one, and her natural gifts spared her the curse. When talking about the missing wizard, the proprietors were less forthcoming. Angier tried intimidating them with an arrow (the man can definitely hold his bow-string back, such strong shoulders!). They remained unimpressed, but I persuaded them to divulge some information. Perhaps the prospect of Angier trying to intimidate them over and over was intimidating enough on its own.

It turned out that Steef opened one of their boxes and got turned into a lizard, only to be sold to a pet shop nearby. We left the box shop with heavy hearts, and some of us with heavier purses, and if the proprietors have found their chest to contain slightly less gold than they expected, well, turning folks into lizards will cost you. Please do not think ill of me, maestro, for I spent all my time talking to the proprietors.

After some dalliance in the market, we finally reached the pet shop. While part of our group was distracting the owner, a rather flirtatious pixie, with purchasing a hawk for Angier, Celina and Alonso, our energetic rogues, explored the depths of the shop, and found the lizard we were looking for. As they broke it out of the cage, I cast a minor illusion to cover up our operation. I do not condone theft, not anymore, as you know, but wizards make for poor pets.

And thus we left. Despite the many temptations of the market, the only dalliance I allowed myself was to use my mage hand to steal some candy along with Celina. The candy was delicious – it tasted purple and smelled of kindness. Feywilde is a peculiar place, and I hope to return there many more times.

Upon our return, we were taken to the temple of Celune, where Steef was returned to his normal state. I've struck an easy conversation with him, and he gladly agreed to make the necessary introductions for me. A wonderful fellow, I definitely do not regret time we spent saving him!
In the evening we have attended a concert by Leocanto, and let me assure you that his fame is entirely deserved. The next day I was introduced at the Daring Academy, and although they are not currently hiring for full-time positions, a head of cartographic department agreed to give me an adjunct position for a grant they have recently received. Apparently, even the locals do not know all the miracles of Kantas and all that populates it, even rivers and mountains tend to change their place from time to time. Thus, I have gladly taken a position of an Adjunct Researcher with a stipulation that I will do my utmost to reveal the secrets of the land and communicate them back to the academy. I was given a new office, refurbished from an old broom closet as I understand, which should be just enough to hold a desk and several books I should be borrowing from the library. I must say, I almost felt nostalgic, for it reminded me of every scholar's office I have ever encountered.
Therefore, I can assure you, maestro, that you should hear from me shortly with more accounts of this fascinating place.



Sincerely yours,

Glint

Adjunct Researcher of Unfortunate Biology and Locomotography at Daring Academy

The Heights, Daring Heights


P.S. Please pass my kindest regards to your wonderful twin daughters. I left so abruptly we had no time to say our goodbyes, but please assure them that they will each hold a special place in my heart, and yes, I can tell them apart very well indeed.