25 Kythorn 1491
Brightreef
Send to the Pearlsdeep Family: Adanthe, Nessa, and Sovemil
Hello mothers and father,
May Deep Sashelas keep calm the currents of fate for you as always.
As of just this last day, my adventuring party and I have set off from camp and entered the undead-infested jungles of Chult in an effort to end the Death Curse. I’m afraid this expedition is much more difficult than I expected. I hope that this letter can be written and sent to you someday, but for now, we must carry on.
At camp, I renewed my fervor to my oath to protect the light and nature and realized that my devotion to Deep Sashelas has slowly waned these past few months. Seeing the widespread devotion to Ubtao and seeing two of my colleagues dedicate themselves to the worship of Ubtao has made me want to pick up my meditations and exercises. While at camp, some of the other paladins taught me powerful wards to protect my friends from magic and to boost their resolve. (My other colleagues also trained in the way of dual-wielding and tapping into their inner anger. These training sessions made me think of the long sparring sessions spent with Mother Adanthe and Tristand growing up. Who would have thought all that training would lead me here today?) Once this adventure finishes, I think I will visit home again. I do miss you all.
My colleagues and I cleared a desecrated temple to the legendary Almiraj. We fought creatures that could turn us to stone, petrified adventurers (scared, yes, but also literally encased in stone), and a fiend with a face like the abyss and with the power of the scorching vents of the deep sea. Through wit and teamwork we destroyed the fiend and saved the adventurers encased in stone.
Yet, we are unable to rest for long. We must carry on. Undead swarm the forests and terrifying plants try to eat us at every turn. (Did you know I am a burgeoning botanist now, Father Sovemil? Taking after your inspiration, I have been studying the local plant life since I got here. Too bad our mission is preventing me from going very deep into my studies.)
Either way, I am alive and safe for now. I have to go.
May Deep Sashelas watch over you.
Keryth