Briar’s letters to her friend and mentor, Herkus the Helpful, a druid gnome.
Latest Letter
- Letter 69Athair mo ghràidh Herkus, Do you remember the first time I used wildshape? I don’t think I was older than 12 summers at that time. I was gathering berries and got completely tangled in thorny vines. I kept calling for you and when you finally came over you folded your arms and tilted your head. I recall the conversation going something like this: “What would you like me to do?” “I want you to come in here help me get out! Aren’t you called Herkus the Helpful?!” I was crying and carrying on, and you simply sat on a log nearby and waited ...
All Letters
- Letter 1H, I made it to the Sour Vintage with Clio the dryad. We didn’t talk much on the way here. Once we got here, we found the others with the marks. All mortals. There was Heath a human, Shadow a cat person, and in the tavern what I can only guess is another human by the name of Actaeon. He never showed his face. He has a lot of armor. Oh, and Dia. She’s a bard who I guess is meant to “help us.” No mark on her, though. People keep staring at us. I hate it. I don’t know what ...
- Letter 2H. Finally went to see the Oracle. Got delayed by stupid fire fiends. Got burned, but I’m fine. Fought a few other nasties. Heath changed his form several times. Never knew a mortal could do that. He tried to play it off as magic but even I know that’s not how that works bc he could still cast spells. Anyway, I’ve decided I hate doors and rugs. I tried opening a door to go into a basement (already an annoying task with my four legs) and 4 swords attacked me. We went to the basement to “save” the oracle or whatever. ...
- Letter 3H. Met a minotaur named Torag. He’s also chosen. I’m not sure how I feel about him. Although I will admit maybe having someone else around who is also cursed is oddly comforting. Not that I wish a curse on anyone but maybe I can talk to him sometime and I don’t know. Talking takes so much effort. Went to Woodhike. Have you ever been there? Lots of tiny folk like you. I got to use a bit of the gnomish you taught me. That was nice. Killed some bandits. Almost died. Flee saved me and then broke down. I tried to comfort ...
- Letter 4H. Changed my mind. The bull is… Ugh. I mean. I can’t even, I have no clue what to write. He implied that I should pull a cart. I think he did anyway. I was too busy being offended to really listen. We called each other a couple of names that reflect various beasts of burden. I feel bad now. When I sit and write this out I don’t think he meant it that way. Not sure I’m ready to apologize yet. B.
- Letter 5H. Khar’shan can go sit on a pointed rock. She infected our dreams tonight and I woke up unable to speak anything but gibberish. Same with Flee. The only one okay was Shadow. Clio, Torag, and Actaeon all had their own horrible afflictions. Dia was able to help us. Thank goodness. I think I like her now. B.
- Letter 6H. Altea. What can I really say? They have good grapes and a drunk for a leader. He’s Torag’s father. I kind of did something mean to Flee. She (she/he?) was panicking and I dumped water on her. I like her and I hope I didn’t make her hate me. I know you’ll make fun of me for saying this but I do find I enjoy some of the other’s company. Clio is a lot less trusting of mortals but they confuse me just as much. It’s nice to speak fey with her. I’ve missed how it rolls off the tongue. ...
- Letter 7H. Met a man in the vineyard. His daughter is missing. There are times when I can’t help but feel… What’s the word? Like I need to take care of some of these mortals. I know I have my problems, as do many fey, but these mortals. It’s like when we would help wounded animals in the forest. I’m torn because I know what my tribe taught me. I know what you taught me. They are conflicting statements. I know not all mortals are bad. Of course I know that. And I know I shouldn’t feel superior. I shouldn’t… A centaur ...
- Letter 8H. Went to a play. Some actress was hitting on Flee in her Heath form. Her Heath form is attractive I’m sure, but I didn’t trust the actress. She wanted something more than a nice evening with Heath. Clio warned Flee but she might have interpreted it wrong. Wish I could hear back from you. Are you even getting these? You might get a bunch all at once. Sorry. B.
- Letter 9H. Well, we went to complete a task and the Horn of Selesnya was stolen from the shrine. So that will add some time to our task but we might be able to look for the man from the vineyard’s daughter while we are out and about. That’s good. B.
- Letter 10H. Goatlings rank up there with doors and rugs, if not worse. I tried out a new spell and was actually able to help in the fight more than usual. I used my quarterstaff as a brace and reared up to cast Thunderwave for the first time with success. Then Corinna (the vineyard keeper’s daughter) who we found told us that her friends were being kept at the deeper temple. So off we go. B.
- Letter 11H. I’m not sure I will send this letter with the rest. I’m so, so, so sorry Herkus. I feel like you getting transformed is somehow my fault. Like it was the curse that caused it. Is it because I told you I loved you before I left? I will find a way to free you. As cute as you are as an owlsquirrel, I miss talking to you. Why did this happen? You’re sitting in my hair chittering right now. I’m so sorry. I know I need to focus. There are goatlings and angry dryads and other sad things happening, ...
- Letter 12H. My companions are looking at me like I’m crazy. I found some goodberries and decided to eat them. I was hurt. But the human boy the goatlings chomped on was more hurt. Well then, they should have spoken up sooner! I’m not used to others needing my help like that. I mean, you taught me to be self-sufficient. So that’s what I was doing. Of course, you also taught me to be helpful. I’m so tired of feeling like a four-legged contradiction all the damn time! Would you PLEASE stop biting my ear, by the way? It tickles and I need ...
- Letter 13H. The thing that cast a dancing spell on me, I wish would have improved my dancing skills. Which yes, I know are non-existent. I have four left feet and that stupid spell did nothing to improve it. Did you see all of that? Could you hear the commotion? Oh, the way the dryad was making goatlings. I don’t have a weak stomach but yuck. Those poor girls. I can’t help but feel bad for the gygan. I didn’t think there were any left. But… I didn’t realize. Herkus, she targeted Clio. It was horrible. Clio… I’m so glad we could save her but ...
- Letter 14H. I’m not much of a drinker and after partaking from the Horn of Selesnya I don’t know that I will imbibe often. What a strange trip. Something about a boat, the Gjallarhorn, and horrible things, like skeletons and such. No thank you. I did NOT enjoy that. And I woke up with a kink in my neck from passing out on the floor. B.
- Letter 15H. Please, please, please don’t tease me about the satyr Lorius. Everyone is teasing me. Yes, I woke up with flowers in my hair. Flowers everywhere. So many flowers. They were very pretty but I promise you I have no interest in him. I couldn’t help but blush when he gave me attention. He even gave me some verdant wood as well. I could tell you wanted to lecture me. I’m just happy to have you back but that doesn’t mean I want a lecture on romance with a Satyr. There’s no romance on my end I promise! Please stay safe. ...
- Letter 16H. Okay, maybe we do need to talk about some stuff. I don’t know if I’m embarrassed or concerned or both. Actaeon has no shame! He stripped and changed in front of me! Not fully… Anyway, oh my gosh Herkus, I thought mortals had more shame. I mean, it’s not like many fey are that modest but I was so surprised bc I always thought mortals were… Well, frankly like YOU! And his back has a huge tattoo. I want to ask him about it. Did he do that on purpose? WHY? Why would anyone choose this? Anyway, I have a haversack ...
- Letter 17H. We had a nice time by the river today. I haven’t known any of these individuals long but there was something very comfortable with our interactions. Flee was excited to fish. We talked about why Clio and I don’t eat meat. I didn’t really explain, I just sort of told her I stopped after I left my tribe but that sometimes I would eat bugs if necessary. I mean if I was starving then sure I would eat it, but I will always remember our conversation before my first wildshape. Once you can change into a specific animal and communicate ...
- Letter 18H. What is wrong with me? Why can’t I just BE one way or the other? Sometimes it’s all I can do to not reject my kind for what they did to me in the past. And other times… I have such pride in my race and I feel it so personally when… Oh Herkus… We were attacked by some Vega. It was awful. I couldn’t help but start crying. I’m not sure if it was more from fear or frustration. I feel like such a coward. I watched my comrades and I thought of the Oath of Friendship and I ...
- Letter 19H. Well, we can’t just travel. We had to go after a space rock for the OX and ended up in yet another fight. It was not a great location for me to fight in. They had poison darts and an allosaurus. We all did the best we could. You might be proud, I used moonbeam and it worked! Flee used some powerful spell from her Sunlord. How appropriate considering we were after the space rock that we used spells that have to deal with celestial bodies. Actaeon and Shadow make a couple kills, and Clio was swift and deflected many attacks ...
- Letter 20H. I met members of the Noya! I don’t know much about the Noya, not many do, unless you are part of their clan. It seems that they don’t blindly follow Amalj’aa. Chief Hakar seems very kind and considerate. I didn’t expect that. I admit I was perhaps a bit awkward around all of them. I just don’t know how to act. He gave us a few warnings and requested we keep an eye out for some fallen members of their tribe. I guess we are heading out now. They gave us a horn to use if we needed their aid. I ...