The following letter is from one of your contacts in the Veiled Alliance. The parchment seems to be old, and as you touch it, writing begins to appear. After reading it, it seemingly crumbles to dust, taken away with the wind.

Greetings dear friend,

It is with utmost difficulty that I have come to trust the incredible information I have gathered about your fate. From reports I have obtained, your training with Marama, a man as dear as he is rotund, was interrupted. Never mind it was in one of our secure locations, for none of our locations was safe that day from the True. Thankfully you and your companions made a daring escape. Only to encounter a mul named Obadias… controlling a flaming whirlwind?

After your narrow escape, if circumstance and other reports bear fruit, you and your companions were immediately enslaved, or willingly sold yourselves into slavery, to of all people the merchant Avram? All to rescue Sartaj? I wonder who paid to get her on that caravan? You were then, with Sartaj's help, able to break free during a Giant attack on the Caravan. Is it true you even caused the Giant attack? You do not do things by halves my friend.  Oh, I found it humorous that Sartaj's agreements do not seem to hold much sand, as your report speaks of an ambush by the brutes shortly after your escape.

After defeating the ambush through extraordinary tactics and strength of arms, you and your companions came across an oasis infested with Crodlu? It seems from the reports that while some of you rode, others ate heartily that night. What a tale of survival in the wastes; this is why we call upon such capable allies as you.  We then have reports of Sartaj leading your group into the merchant city of Altaruk, to meet with Arisphistaneles.

Arisphistaneles , Lord Aris as I often called him, is the governor of Altaruk and a fine Balican noble if ever I did meet one. Indeed, he invited you to dinner within hours of your entrance into the city. That dinner – which I refer to as the “Hour of Mourning” - was the final feast Aris would ever attend.  That was dirty business, foul as I have ever seen - assassins striking during meal time. Scouring sands! Yet, Sartaj was ever true and lead your group to safety as the watch closed in. Murder most foul, the guards blaming your companions for it.

Thankfully, with enough cool level-headedness your group made it through the city without being caught, buying yourselves valuable time to obtain evidence needed to clear your names.  I have a report that it was an elf with a strange tattoo named Deevo that had committed the heinous crime. Yet even as you brought this evidence to the magistrate your group was attacked by a mob of all things. Halves, my friend, halves. Never you.

From here, reports are sketchy, it seems as if Sartaj had separated from your group earlier, and gotten herself caught yet again. It seems as you then barreled your way through the mob and guards to make your way to the Magistrate, the Lady Alensia, whom sadly allied herself with the True in an attempt to gain political power.  Reports vary on what happened, but what I can certainly attest to is that you, your companions, and Sartaj are alive.  I hear Lady Alensia is pardoned and most cowed, serving Sartaj. Perhaps one day we shall meet, and you might tell me over a cactus ale. 

I have from another report garnered by allies of House Wavir, that they had seen the assassin Deevo escaping as your group engaged the Magistrate. And, that after the melee was over that the most incredible chariot chase that has been seen in ages took place. If I am to take this correctly, he dashed through a shimmer Spider's lair, and your group bravely followed through, escaping the spider's wrath, and with your lives, by the skin of your teeth.  Daunted but not stopped, you surged forward gaining on the villain, before crashing his chariot.

Splendid, absolutely splendid!  You managed to catch up to Deevo, and get him to talk! I do hope you did something with him when you were done, but sadly only you, my friend, could tell me. I'd also like to know what happened with his mercenaries, as again, only you and your compatriots were witness to any desert justice.

From the crash site, my scouts were able to determine that you went to an old Elemental temple, and from what I can learn reviewing your reports to your superiors, the temple had been desecrated.  It must have been a bloody battle, fighting inside the temple; I hope you somehow managed to turn the elements to your own aid.

My own elemental priests tell me that whatever you did in the Temple worked, revitalizing the old sacred site. The scene of the final battle in the Temple of Water, my friend, how did you withstand it?  We have reports of an elementally infused Half Giant, and of desecration done. Surely a defiler at work, attempting to create some foul ritual? To what end? Something involving Kalak? Good that you prevailed, and let us hope this ends their bid for power.

My letter finds you in good spirits, I hope, for rest is often short lived in this world. I am sure it won’t be long until those behind the veil have need of you once again. I don’t doubt you will be ready to once again enter the fray, to sway Altaruk to our cause, to fight the tyranny of the True, and someday to restore our place in Tyr. May the water be cool and plentiful..

Your friend.....