The Bodric Letters
These are the letters of Bodric the Dwarf in his missives home.
Late Summer 807
Dear Mum and Dad,
The guild is a strange place but there is plenty of Gold for a hard-working young Dwarf. I have been working hard at the guild helping in the kitchens and sweeping up a lot. They have lots of training available and after speaking with Mr Thoric now now how to lead dwarves in battle and inspire them to great feats. I was surprised to discover that this involves forming a wall of people and moving together but Mr Thoric says that's the best thing to do so I have promised him I will.
The others are well and I am sure they will have written there own letters. They have been working with the Guild as well but have been working away from Seagate and in Lyrics case only just got back. The others seem to have made a good deal of money though and I look forward to joining one of these missions in the hope of sending more money home. I enclose 10 Golds I made when I first started. It is not as much as I would like to send but life is quite expensive away from the holdings and you have to pay people to learn how to wield weapons better. Heiney is still the same but the Girls seem a bit different since they got here, I think Mavric has become friends with an Orc and seems to think he is ok no matter how much I remind her of your lessons in the deviousness of our ancient enemy. I have been working hard to become a great warrior so I can help defend the holdings from their villany. Lyric keep going on about lying in the sun with her vest off which seems a bit odd, apparenty she has been making friends with Elves and painting her feet. I will try and return them both to the right way of living.
I will write again soon
Your Son.
Bodric Henrickson
End of Autumn 807
Dear Mum and Dad,
It has been a much more exciting few months than I expected, under the watchful eye of a senior guild member I was sent on my very first Guild Mission. Henric and the Girls came as well and we went to a place called Novadom to do some simple tasks like escorting horses and asking some barbarians to move along. But then they also asked us to kill a monster and get rid of Goblin bandits. Enclosed is a necklace of Goblin ears from the vanquished foe. None of the opposition were a match for us well trained as we are, thanks mum! Everyone is still alive and well and at least for the last few months no-one has got into trouble or spent too much time with elves. Henric and I are going to set up a trading post near the Dwarven caverns Henric mentioned in his letter and use the profits to help the folk in the tunnels below. Life at the Guild is kinda fun but I don't want to abandon the folk who need help, it doesn't seem the honourable thing to do.
I will be coming home for a visit soon as my armour got a little damaged in one of the scuffles. All my money has gone into the building of the trading post and assistance for the folk but I hope to be able to send more Gold once we are established.
Your Son.
Bodric Henrickson
End of Winter 807
Dear Mum and Dad,
Well the winter has been pretty exciting, we have cleaned out a number of rooms in the old fort and learned how to build cots so we have a reasonably sized dormitory although we found our stables were not quite large enough for a big caravan. We had our first traders through and they seemed reasonably pleased that there was a traders rest on the pass and gave us the latest news of Novadom. Hopefully some traders from Brastor will arrive soon and we can pass on the news while it is still current, I think such news may be a valuable service for a hostlery. We are getting by although sometimes it is hard to save the good food for potential customers while the supplies are low, but we have broken ground on a small garden outside the fort and we have high hopes for crops in the coming months. The troops in the fort are pretty friendly and they have helped us from time to time because we are in the middle of nowhere and they get pretty bored. I have been helping out as a cook for them in order to practice for paying customers and also to gain a little extra coin for supplies. I will be heading home in the spring for a visit. See you all soon.
Your Son.
Bodric Henrickson
End of Autumn 808
Dear Mum and Dad,
Well it has been all go here. Henric got a bit bored here and has headed off to Seagate again to hone his skills. The traders are coming to figure a stay here into their travel plans and this winter should be easier than the last. We had a Guild party through here a few weeks ago, they paid well for food but our ale supplies will have to be restocked. The garden is coming along well and we have purchased some sturdy barrels to begin brewing hopefully after the next harvest, hopefully all the tips on Brewing I got from Uncle Algard have been remembered! Lyric has come to stay here recently and is providing fine entertainment to the troops and visiting traders. Her stories about Seagate are particularly droll.
Hope to see you again in the spring.
Your Son.
Bodric Henrickson
End of Spring 808
Dear Mum and Dad,
It has been a funny few seasons. Henric went missing and didn't return last winter so I loaded up some trade goods and headed on the trek to Seagate to see if I could find him. It turned out he had joined the army, not sure why given that he could have done that at home and got much better training. Finding him safe I spend some time in seagate talking to traders and looking into other hostelries for idea's but unfortunately got dragged by Henric and the Girls into another job for the Seagate Guild of Adventurers. This one involved peices of a Mad God that were scattered around the town thus explaining why this town is as crazy as it is. I will be encouraging my siblings to spend more time around Gryphon Pass in the hopes this madness does not affect them too much although in Mavrics case I think it is too late. She has fallen in with Theater folk and has gone a bit strange.
Other than these strange events all is well and I am prospering.
Your Son.
Bodric Henrickson
End of Summer 809
Dear Mum and Dad,
All is well here in the pass, building continues a pace although not as quickly as it should with Henric constantly wanting to practice being a soldier. I realise maintaining skill at arms is important but there is a time and a place. Lyric has been here some time now and has settled in well and is making her presence felt in all matters. We are well settled here and continuing much as we were at home, but in a more confined space.
I have heard tales from the traders of great wealth to be found across the Grass Sea and am investigating such.
Your Son.
Bodric Henrickson
End of Winter 809
Dear Mum and Dad,
This may be my last not for some time as I am heading off to seek my fortunes in the East. I am leaving a note for the others but if fate leads them to miss it please do not worry at my disappearance. Building up the business has been good for a few years but I struggle under the shadow of my brother and his constant interference. I will be seeking my own fortunes and so am setting off with a trade caravan as a guard with plans to learn and save with hopes of developing my own trading house. My apologies for the lack of gold with this letter but I must save what I have for the times ahead.
Your Son.
Bodric Henrickson
