All posts by Reddieeddie

The letters of a young Dorwinion Merchant to his wife at home. Hopefully more will be added over time. Please share your thoughts, constructive criticism especially.

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#written by reddieeddie
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#author:{name:Gondor_male}
#title:To my wife
#types:Dorwinion, Rhun
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My dear (name:Gondor_female),

I am now more than a week into my journey, and I believe that the time has come to make good on my promise to write to you. After traveling through Dorwinion for several days, my party has finally reached the lands that lie to the east.

My first encounter with our eastern neighbors came when we crossed the Golden Ford. They keep a small garrison of soldiers there, maybe a score or more, to prevent unwanted intruders. We were immediately confronted by two of these soldiers, who told us to hand over our goods for inspection.

Fortunately, my father (name:Gondorian_male) had warned me about these guards. "They'll take your {choose:sweetest wine/choicest grapes/prettiest flowers}, if you let 'em", he said. "But like any Easterlings, they can't resist a taste of our fine wines." Remembering his words, I put on a disarming smile, and showed them my goods. "Here we have the produce of Hallas, whose vineyards are the finest north of the Celduin. Would you two, perhaps, like a taste?"

The guards glanced briefly at each other, and shrugged. "Eh, why not?", one of them asked. I gave them each a tiny bit of the wine in their flasks. They were delighted, and soon asked for second, then third helpings. By this time, the wine (which was the strongest I had brought) had done its work, and the guards could only mumble their assent when I requested to move on.

The days since then have been filled mostly with travel. The land is rather pretty, but is, of course, no match for the beauty of the countryside of Dorwinion. Just yesterday, we ran into a small village, whose populace was mostly farmers. I stopped there, and spent most of the day advertising my wares. Yet the people seemed mostly to simply look at what I offered, without buying anything. I did, however, sell a few flasks of wine, as well as an old Vintner Guard helmet (the man who bought it claimed to be a "collector of unique miscellany"). I also sold several crates of grapes to an intrepid farmer who plans to start his own vineyard. I wished him well, but also commented that his produce would never be able to compete with the abundant vintage of Dorwinion. He simply laughed.

So my first trades with the Easterlings have been made. Nevertheless, I have not
yet had as much success as I had wished for. It is my hope that the goods of Dorwinion will be more popular in the larger cities.

I sincerely hope this letter finds you in good health. Give my regards to {name:Gondor_male} and {name:Gondor_female}, as well as their children. May the wine in our home grow ever sweeter and stronger!

Edit: fixed title ~Milk

Timur Khan opens his arms and throws himself from the balcony's rail. Right under the balcony there is an enormous pile of wine jars, at least that is what his vassals thought, because when the body of Timur falls into the pile of jars, they all instantly brake by the sheer strength of the impact, but instead of wine, what leaks from the jars is a sea of blue flames which, in a blink, swallows the majestic feast hall, and quickly spreads to the countless hallways and rooms of the palace.

Timur Khan opens his arms and throws himself from the balcony's rail. Right under the balcony there is an enormous pile of wine jars, or so his vassals thought. For when the body of Timur falls into the pile of jars, they all instantly shatter from the sheer strength of the impact. However, what leaks from the jars is not wine, but a sea of blue flames which, in a blink, swallows the majestic feast hall, and quickly spreads to the countless hallways and rooms of the palace.