Letter from Speaker Lara

Dear Kenzo, Delwath, Riswynn, Wellby, and Seeker,

The blessings of Laka be with you, and may his divine grace guide my words to your hand. Your long silence has weighed heavily on my mind, and when I heard that Riswynn was in Tokra, and was assured of your continued presence among the living, I was grateful, taking the opportunity to pass on what news I can.

We have had no word of Johar for more than a month now, and tensions in Tokra only increase. I received a letter in August, a short message from Johar to say that he had arrived safely in Darba, thanks to your aid. And another soon after Aagirvala (Aagir’s feast day, generally in early Oct), saying he had arrived safely in Nayahar. But nothing since. No word of negotiations, no word that Karnas has even spoken with him. I fear tensions are only increasing. With Havdar pressing for war and accusing the Chardonians of cursing him, we are balanced on a knife’s edge, and the slightest false move could tip Tokra into war. 

Worse, Laka has given no guidance I can understand, despite our constant prayer. My dreams are filled with nightmares of war, of the rotting corpses of my people; it is clear enough the gods do not want Dunmari to fight Dunmari. And yet until and unless the Samraat Nayan Karnas will speak to his sister, in good faith, I see no clear way to prevent bloodshed and destruction. 

I fear to place more burdens on you, for I know you are weighed by many troubles, perhaps some greater than the fate of Dunmar. And you have saved the Dunmari twice over already; I cannot ask more of you. So I do not write to enlist your aid. I only wish you to know where things stand, and to ask that should you see a path through the darkness, to guide me to that path. 

Yours in fellowship and in the divine light of Laka,

Speaker Lara