The Qualinesti Exchange

[Dungeon Master]

(The following Letter is to be dated 4-15 in the year 382 AC, to be delivered to the hand of Gilthas Solostarin, Speaker of the Suns of the Qualinesti Elves.

It is written in perfect Elven (Qualinesti dialect).
There are no enchantments of any kind on the paper, only a blob of black sealing wax with Karnea's sigil imprinted in it. The letter was carried to the border of Qualinesti by a nondescript human bearing no weapons.
The only words he spoke to the elven guards at the border were "A letter for the new Speaker, from my mistress.")

Your Majesty, Speaker of the Suns, Sovereign of Qualinost, Head of House
Royal,

Greetings. The reason for my correspondence with you this day is of grave importance, so I shall dispense with further pleasantries. As you are no doubt aware, House Ambrodel has been Cast Out of the Qualinesti Nation, forever to live as Dark Elves, their lives forfeit should any elf see fit to slay one of its members. As you are also no doubt aware, one of the elder members of House Ambrodel is the wife of one Talidaar Arbagon, Grand Druid of Ansalon, and a former compatriot of mine. You may also be aware that yet another elder member of that great House,
Damara Ambrodel, Honorary Knight of the Rose and retired captain of the Windriders, was also a companion of mine in the time immediately following the War of the Lance.

I am not a person who is particularly noted for goodness, or for helping people for sentimental reasons. However, I must urge you in the strongest possible way to see to it that House Ambrodel is vindicated and restored to its rightful place among the Qualinesti. My wrath is great, and it would be in the best interests of your fledgling rule to heed my warning.

If my demands are not satisfied with all due haste, I will have no choice but to retaliate in a manner that you will likely find most distressing to your sensitive elven mind. Bear in mind that the great dragons are not likely to ignore your nation as they have that of your cousins in Silvanost, and that these dragons respect those who have power. I retain my power, young Speaker, while those wizards of your nation do not. Do not cross me.

Yours Truly,
Archmagius Karnea Dragonbane, Mistress of the Tower of Schallsea,
Ruler of Limbo



(The following letter bears the same date as the one above. It is to be delivered to the hand of Talidaar Arbagon, Grand Druid of Ansalon. It is written in Common, and was delivered by the same method as the letter above.)

Talidaar,

It has come to my attention (for even though I may be away from Krynn, I yet retain minions that keep me apprised of events there) that the
Qualinesti nation has made the regrettable mistake of Casting Out House Ambrodel. Do they really believe that given the current chaos they can hope to survive without its most notable family of military aptitude?

Does this new Speaker really have so little control over the Senate that he can allow this to pass without incident? No matter. I have written a rather terse letter to the new Speaker urging him to reconsider his folly, and explaining to him the consequences of such an action. Already I have dispatched a small team of "specialists" to watch over Damara as she makes her way to join Alhana and Porthios. I trust that you have taken similar precautions to safeguard Lashia. Should you require my assistance in this matter, you may send word to the Tower of Schallsea, and one of my servants there shall relay your message to me. Until we next meet,

Karnea
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

As far as what actions I would like Karnea to take, I would like to
send a small force (no more than 10) of Wolverines (drawn from the ranks
on Soreal, rather than Krynn) to The Roaring Griffon in New Ports in an
effort to find Damara and offer her assistance and protection from any
elven assasins that may be lurking about. Ideally, this unit should be
composed entirely of humans and/or dwarves...so long as there are no
elves in the unit. If Damara doesn't accept their protection, they
should attempt to stay near her anyway, watching from a distance and
acting only if they detect someone trying to harm her.

[Dungeon Master]

The Letter is depoisted on the Shallsea Tower Boarder, inside the Barren Desert that surrouds the Tower. The Reply is in Qualinest Elven. The date is one Month later to your


Mistress Karnea,

Normally I would not answer to a student of the Dark Arts such as yourself, but I feel I must make clear The Situation that you so eloquently refer to. House Ambrodel voted in descent of the New Speaker of Suns, Gilthas Solostarin. It has long been House Ambrodel's Mission to serve and Defend House Royal. I am sad to say, there is evidence that certain Members of House Ambrodel spoke traitorous words and a plot to abduct our new and Rightful Speaker of Suns was uncovered. My contacts now tell me that Damara Ambrodel, among others of that family has joined with the other traitors, Alhanna and Porthieos, to fight in a rebellion against us.
Now, to educate you of the happenings to bring us to this impasse, Diplomats of the former Speakers of said names above were deep in talks with the other Races to form a treaty that would bring open Qualinesti boarders, and let the ilk of human and demihuman kind in as punishment for not being Silvanesti. Porthieos has spent 20 years with the Silvanesti, He wished to close down Qualinesti and bring them back under the rule of the High Blooded, Haughty Silvanesti. He and his Silvanesti Witch of a wife would sell us out, even when it was us that took the Silvanesti in during their exile.
The Traitors, Tanis Half-Human, and the "Golden General of the Human Men" Laurana cast their lot with Alhanna and Porthieos, Now only their Son was is decent enough to realize the horror almost inflicted upon us, he will lead us to glory of tomorrow.
Your Interests in this is personal I realize and so, if Commander Ambrodel walks away from her role in the "rebellion", I can Personally assure her, and her family's lives. You spoke of the Grand Druid, and his wife Lashia, Even they understand what is at stake and they have chosen, albeit, wisely to stay out of what is a Internal Matter. I assure you, our Wizards are up to task in protecting us from Evil, Just ask Lord Dalamar. Our country will not be dictated to in our policy of the Just.

Senatator Rashas
Regent Of Qualinesti



This Letter arrives a day later, by a Kagonesti, hey treads deeper into the desert then the other messanger, When he arrives to the perimieter, he set the message down and looks around, then leaves. It is in Kender-Ken and a appolagy for using it.


Lady Karnea,

I must apologize for the strangeness of the arrival of this letter. Needless to say, This is not a official state approved letter, and let us keep at that. I am Speaker in name only, oh yes, I live in the Tower and lavished with the royal trappings, but my words are drowned out by the cries of xenophobia, and fear of the outside world. There is corruption present, I hate the way I have attained power, and yet if I did not come, then it would be 100 score worse, I am trying to change my people, and change for Elves does not happen overnight.
To address your fears for your friends, It is not my wish for anyone to endure the stigma of Darkness. Let me just say House Ambrodel has friends in High places, and it is my hope to honor House Ambrodel, not cause them.
I respect your power Lady Karnea; I know the way the leaders of the Senate deliberated your letter, and how to answer. They fear your power; please do not strike out at whole of Qualinesti for what the few has done. They will be dealt with, of that, I can speak no more.
I have heard stories of you and your friends believe me, the Kender-ken Longshot has come by my family's keep many a time, even with increased security. I will endeavor to rescind the Rite of Darkness that has been inflicted on House Ambrodel. Maybe in the future you would honor me with an audience; it is now though that life is very difficult, I'm sure you will find a discreet way to keep in correspondence. Good Marrow



Gilthas Solostarin
Speaker of the Suns

[Dungeon Master]

(The following letter is to be delivered May 30, 382 AC, addressed directly to Senator Rashas, Regent of Qualaesti. It is to be delivered by a Qualanesti border guard who has been killed and raised as a zombie. If he is attacked, he will explode outward, showering anyone within 10 feet in a hail of rusty nails, doing minor damage (1d6-1). The letter itself bears no enchantment, but is quite impossible to destroy by any means known to the Elves. It is written once again in perfect Qualanesti elven, in a reddish black ink that might be blood.......)

Senator Rashas, Regent of Qualinost,
Thank you ever so much for your reply to my recent missive, terribly late though it might have been. I must ask, is it you who speaks on behalf of the great nation of the Qualanesti, or the Speaker? Perhaps it was my own folly that caused me to believe that a letter written to your Sovereign would be replied to by a mere underling. I am sure that the young lad is quite busy learning to be a backstabbing bastard, and simply does not have the time to reply to his own corrospondance. At least he has the most able instructors in all of Krynn to teach him the fine arts of leading his people to ruin....
Perhaps it is you who needs to be "educated" in this matter. It is well doncumented history that the nation of Qualanesti was founded on the very principle of cooperation with humans, dwarves, kender, and the like. Your shunning of them smacks of arrogance, as well as hipocrisy, for you denouce your cousins in Silvanesti for the same haughtiness you so readily display. And if memory serves me correctly, it was the Silvanesti who opened thier homes to you during the last war, for they reached the Ergothian Isles well ahead of your refugees. Or perhpas you keep different histories in your close-minded lands....
It is interesting that you mentioned the esteemed Head of the Conclave in your reply. I am most certain that you need not be reminded of your dealings with Dalamar, which led to the current situation. If your memory fails you, I will be most happy to fill in any details that may have been conveniently "forgotten" concerning your meeting with the Head of the Black Robes, and the deal you struck with him.
In closing, Senator, know this: I am watching you, every minute of every day. There is no place on this world nor any other where you can hide from me. Move further against House Ambrodel at your considerable peril, sir, and know that the moves you make have serious repercussions.
Sincerely,
Archmagius Karnea Dragonsbane, Mistress of Schallsea, Ruler of Limbo, Destroyer of Worlds.


(This letter is to be delivered to Speaker Gilthas, via the following method. Karnea will use the 8th level spell Etherealness to walk the Border Ethereal through the Qualanesti lands, into the Tower of the Suns, and to the Speaker's private chambers, where she will briefly return to material form, leave the letter on his writing table, and return to the Ethereal to leave Gilthas' chambers. While still in the Border Ethereal, she will then go to Rashas' chambers and leave a single nightshade mushroom on his pillow to let him know that she can find him anytime she wants. While Ethereal, she is undetectable by any means short of a True Seeing spell, and cannot be harmed by beings on the material Plane. The letter to Gilthas is written in Kender-Ken, and should be delivered on the same day as Rashas' letter.)

Gilthas, Speaker of the Suns,
First of all, I would like to express my thanks for your candor in your personal reply to my recent letter. I feared that that xenophobic fool Rashas would see fit to usurp your power to speak for the Qualanesti. I also commend you on your cleverness at smuggling your letter out of your gilded cage, no doubt at great personal risk to your well-being. Perhaps you don not seek praise from one such as I, but you have it nonetheless.
I fear that there are great changes afoot in this world, changes that no one is well-equipped to deal with. I have only the slightest hint of what may be in store for Anasalon, for all of Krynn. Already the Queen of Darkness marshalls her forces in a renewed effort to dominate the land. If you are going to attempt to change your people, Young One, you must act in all haste if you wish to ensure their survival.
I bear no particular grudge against your people, but rest assured that I will smite any who seek to do harm to House Ambrodel. My duties elsewhere prevent me from taking a more active role in assisting the Ambrodels, but know that I am aware of their well-being at all times and will not hesitate to destroy utterly any who threaten them.
In short, Speaker, seek powerful allies for the times ahead, for your enemies are also powerful. You have the blood of heroes in your veins, and I suggest that now is the time to live up to the legacy handed you by your birth. Tread carefully. I shall be in further contact with you should the situation warrant it.
Yours Truly,
Archmagius Karnea Dragonsbane