Terris,

You’re reading this, which means that you and the band have arrived safely in Scrubland Junction. How has your summer tour treated you thus far? How’s your new mandolin? I hope you’re staying hydrated. You’re probably in the Scrublands just in time to see the pyrebirds if you’re lucky.

I’m in Yonderwood; further north than you typically travel these days, and further east than we ever journeyed growing up. This is a scattered little village nestled between the eastern edge of the Circadian Forest and the western shore of Crooning Lake. I’d arrived here with the structural artisans caravan when they’d been hired to do repairs on the local inn.

I’ve since parted ways with the caravan, and I’m settling here permanently. While scouting the (continued on next image)

woods for resources, I came across the husk of a small stone house. Locals informed me that it’s been abandoned for decades; it’s mine now. I hired a handful of highly skilled friends from the caravan to help restore it. Prior, in our last town, I had happened across a massive flush of jewelbutton mushrooms, an event which I’d kept to myself and sold for a small fortune in town. So,
I had a nice sum of coin secreted away; enough to pay for materials, give each of my friends a handsome payout for their labor, and have a small amount leftover.

Anyways, I’ve been intensively scouting the woods here, which offer a rich bounty of resources if you know what to look for. Lots of untouched dry wood. There’s a good fishing pond just northeast of my house; various grains, greens, tubers, nuts, and fruits are scattered throughout the forest and (continued on next image)

along the lakeshore, it’s a wonderfully diverse area, really; the lake offers freshwater kelp; some edible fungi, in fact white bearthumb mushrooms are just starting to pop up; my bread starter is still going strong. I’ve been working on preserving tulsilla root, bobbernuts, and really anything of surplus, though I’ll become more serious about preserves come autumn. I’ll be needing to purchase more salt, among other things. I intend to ask around about work for hire. I’ve been rather solitary in my time here thus far, and I know that I ought to remedy that. Knowing and doing are two different beasts. I wish I could vanquish both, or otherwise morph them into one amicable creature. Speaking of beasts, I had to leave Warble with the caravan. I’ve never been without a steed, but she technically belonged to the caravan. I do miss her terribly (continued on next image)

though; we had such a strong bond.

There are signs that there’s someone like me here. I feel it. It won’t surprise you that I haven’t investigated, but I’ll let you know of new developments.

I think that’s it for now. May your steed be strong, your blade sharp, and your strings in tune. Stay hydrated. Seriously.

Love you always.

Clove

Oh, I almost forgot. I have a pet now. Or maybe I’m his pet? Either way, a strange, friendly little creature came with the house, more or less. I’ll sketch him below.

To: Terris Rambleroot
Flamewing Inn + Tavern
Scrubland Junction
South Leeward Saltmarrows

From: Clove Rambleroot
Betula’s Vittles + Inn
Yonderwood Village
Crooning Lake west shore