Letters.pdf

Requires the use of the Dungeons & Dragons ® Player’s Handbook

Letters

by Carla Harker

Athenaeum Arcane:

Letters

Introduction

The items contained in this PDF are let-

ters from various periods in a generic fanta-

sy setting and are intended to spice up treas-

ure hordes, spur player characters toward

their next quest, or simply provide a meas-

ure of verisimilitude to the GM’s world.

Each entry includes a physical description,

the entire letter, and any relevant back-

ground information and notes. Use these

letters as is, or let them goad your imagina-

tion to create new ones.

quest, or it may provide additional

information for an existing quest.

Historians may be willing to pay small

sums of money for these documents.

Archaic: The letter is over two hundred

years old. Many of these documents

are quite valuable to historians and

sages.

Type: This section suggests one or more

ways in which the letter is intended to be

used in a GM’s campaign.

Curiosity: The letter does not contain

anything of value for the PCs, in terms

of information, quests, or money; it is

intended only to add realism to the

GM’s world. A word of caution: for

some players, every handout takes on

an importance far out of proportion to

its intent. GMs may find PCs are mov-

ing in unintended directions if they

add letters that have no real signifi-

cance to the campaign.

Historical: The document contains

information of value, usually to histo-

rians and sages.

Quest: The letter is designed to send the

PCs on a quest.

Treasure: The document has some mon-

etary worth, usually for its historical

value.

Background: This section gives any

relevant background information on the

people, places and events mentioned in the

letter.

Special Notes: This section may list

suggested quests, monetary values, skill

checks needed to understand the informa-

tion as it is presented, and anything else not

found in previous sections.

L AYOUT

Each of the twelve entries follows the

same format: appearance, date, type, letter,

background, and special notes. An explana-

tion of each of these sections is explained

below.

Appearance: This section contains a

physical description of the letter, including

anything noteworthy about the handwrit-

ing.

Date: This section contains a recom-

mended time period in which the letter was

written.

Current : The letter is less than six

months old. The PCs might still be

able to affect the events and actions of

the people mentioned in the letter.

Outdated: The letter was written more

than six months ago but is less than ten

years old. Some letters in this category

can begin quests, but any information

might be of limited use to the PCs. The

letter could also be nothing more than

a curiosity.

Antiquated: The letter is between ten

years and two hundred years old. The

information may propel the PCs onto a

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Athenaeum Arcane:

Letters

C ONFESSION

Appearance

The handwriting on this parchment is

shaky, and many words have been crossed out

and changed by a different hand.

Date: Antiquated

Type: Curiosity

Letter

I write this today to release my conscience

from the burden of my sins. I, Rolorn of

Eldaeth, confess to the crime of killing mur-

dering the Tander family and eating their

flesh. I performed this heinous act because I

am a depraved person monster, and no amount

of mercy justice will be enough to make up for

my crimes. I beg the friends and relatives of

the Tander family to forgive me and rest

assured that the day of my death execution

will be my first day of an eternity of damna-

tion.

Special Notes

None.

D ECREE

Appearance

This letter is written on a sheet of thick

parchment and bears a royal seal in gold on

the back. The handwriting is very formal.

Date: Archaic

Type: Historical, Treasure

Letter

To His Grace, Lord Tyndalim, Duke of

Keldeg,

As has been witnessed this day by the hon-

orable Chancellor Refgar d’Sureson, the fol-

lowing is true and untainted.

His Royal Majesty, Graced By The Light,

Defender Of The Realm, Heir To All, King

Oslorn IV, has taken into his council your

words in regards to the widespread crime and

alleged starvation of the peasant population.

His Majesty has decreed that all peasants

are to return to their homes promptly at dusk

each evening. The penalty for disobeying this

order is the forfeiture of a hand for the first

offense, death for the second offense.

His Majesty has also decreed that the

King’s Forest is not to be opened to hunters.

His Majesty has investigated the situation and

has not found any evidence of rampant hunger

among the commoners. Furthermore, His

Majesty feels that allowing the commoners to

keep one-third of their crops is more than gen-

erous. Anyone found poaching in the King’s

Forest is to be executed immediately.

Signed this day in the sight of justice,

Rolorn of Eldaeth

Background

Almost two hundred years ago, the small

town of Eldaeth was shocked by the slaughter

of the entire Tander family. The cannibalistic

killer was never found, so the people of the

town were surprised when the shy, quiet

scribe, Rolorn, confessed to the crime.

Rolorn was innocent of the charges to

which he confessed, but an evil magistrate by

the name of Alstiir wanted to be re-elected. He

knew the easiest way to do so was to catch the

killer. He chose to frame the scribe, because

the man once insulted him in public. He con-

vinced Rolorn that grievous harm would come

to his family if he did not confess to the crime.

The magistrate received his re-election and

Rolorn was executed by hanging.

Signed This Day,

His Royal Majesty, Graced By The Light,

Defender Of The Realm, Heir To All,

King Oslorn IV

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Athenaeum Arcane:

Letters

Background

King Oslorn IV was a corrupt, tyrannical

ruler who was overthrown during a revolu-

tion when he did nothing to relieve the suf-

fering of his subjects after a famine caused

mass starvation. This decree is considered to

be the catalyst for the revolution, but scholars

have been unable to prove it existed.

Special Notes

A DC 30 Knowledge (history) or Bardic

Knowledge check gives the PCs the back-

ground information for this letter, and a DC

25 Appraise check recognizes the document

is worth 500 gp. If this letter is also found

with the letter in Rebellion, scholars are will-

ing to pay 1,000 gp for both.

I simply cannot attempt to deliver your

shipment until these bandits are taken care of.

I hope this letter reaches you.

Sincerely,

Shurus Alemakers

Background

The Green Jasmine guild has set up

camp a few hundred feet away from a main

road between two cities. They extort a toll

from any who want to use the road, and

more than a few people have died when

they refused to pay or attempted to outrun

the bandits.

Special Notes

As a quest, Jhulvian Yhamel might ask

the PCs to get rid of the Green Jasmine ban-

dits and escort his shipment of ale to him.

The PCs could also come across the body of

the messenger near the bandit camp and

find the letter still on him.

D ELIVERY

Appearance

Written on a cheap piece of parchment

that has been scrubbed and reused several

times, the handwriting is poor and ink spots

blot some of the words.

Date: Current

Type: Quest

Letter

To Jhulvian Yhamel,

I have run into a problem with delivering

your latest shipment. The Green Jasmine

guild has decided to take control of the road

between our two towns. I don’t know if you

remember how the Green Jasmines almost

destroyed commerce between Sarlyn and

Ilag’s Hill with their extortion and highway

robbery, but this is a serious problem, and the

guards are either unwilling or unable to do

anything about it.

F AMILY L OVE

Appearance

A fine scroll of high-quality cotton

paper, this letter has gold edging and a bor-

der painted in an intricate design.

Date: Current

Type: Curiosity, Quest

Letter

Father,

Aezumon, Relbar, and I have a matter of

utmost importance to discuss with you. As

you no doubt are aware, there is significant

costs connected with living in the city and

properly associating with peers of our

social standing. Sir Tuarl, the agent in

charge of our trust funds, claims our month-

ly income is limited to four hundred gold

each. We three have discussed this and find

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Athenaeum Arcane:

Letters

the sum to be appallingly low. We would

like you to authorize Sir Tuarl to double our

income immediately.

Do you remember, about five years ago,

a certain young countess by the name of

Lolaerie? She was the wife of the Earl of

Bendinway, was she not? Beautiful woman,

if I recall, and rather fond of you. Did you

know she has a son? I believe the young

heir is about four years of age now. I’m sure

the old earl is quite proud, considering the

priests told him decades ago that he would

be unable to sire children after his war

injuries.

But enough reminiscing about old times.

I do hope you’ll reconsider our current

financial arrangement. We are your only

children after all.

G IRLFRIENDS

Appearance

Written on fine linen paper in a girlish

hand, this letter is dotted with tiny drawings

of flowers, hearts, and other assorted doo-

dles.

Date: Current

Type: Curiosity, Quest

Letter

Dear Maithyn,

I have so much to tell you. We returned

from the Taldyn’s ball very late last night. I

believe it was a quarter past two. Oh, the

fun we had! I wish you could have been

there. Mother let me wear the red gown,

you know the one that shows a positively

scandalous amount of cleavage.

I danced with Sir Pelnol, then Jonnor

Saendon, Mekarris the Bold, and Lord

Izenil. Lady Urmae was so jealous! You

should have seen her; I’ve never seen any-

one so green. I don’t know why, though.

She danced with Sir Ethrael Barlon. Oh, he

was so devilishly handsome. Mother

wouldn’t allow me to dance with him. She

claims he’s something of a rake, but I

would have so liked to meet him.

We must get together for tea soon. I

shall call on you tomorrow afternoon, and

we will ride to Melyn’s Tea Room together.

Your doting son,

Ghallid

Background

Volurin Dzoulish is a very wealthy man

who deals in rare imported furniture. He

was a distant father, and his three sons,

Aezumon, Relbar, and Ghallid grew up to

be spoiled and selfish. Now the three are

attempting to blackmail their father to

increase their allowances by threatening to

expose his affair with the Countess of

Bendinway.

Special Notes

One possible quest has Volurin asking

the PCs to convince his sons to give up their

blackmail scheme. Another might have the

brothers employing the PCs to deliver the

message to their father.

Your sister in spirit,

Ilderia

Background

On the surface this appears to be a friv-

olous letter from one adolescent girl to

another. In reality it is a carefully-coded

message. Sir Ethrael Barlon is the head of a

powerful crime organization and the

authorities have recently uncovered his

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