Dear Basileus Agaenos Phidion (reply here)

[Andrea Marsilia]

Timestamp: Ioannes, Era X, Summer

To the Honorable Basileus of the Hoplites of Abestat at Abestat, Principality of Prime, comes a cordial communication.

Most puissant Master Agaenos Phidion.

Unto you I send warm greetings from Tirisfal. In case you may not recall, we briefly met at the Kaldres Manor in the Centripaxian Heartlands, sometime in early Ioannes of this era, if my memory does not fail me.

Long have I heard of the exploits of your…‘band’…as I believe it is called, and being a kindly man I should very much like to support such a noble endeavor. Unfortunately specie in my purse is limited at the moment, but aid in other form will hopefully be accepted.

I have in my possession a parcel of land which I currently have as a leasehold, located within the municipal jurisdiction of Tirisfal, in the Sodality of Carmelyn. Likewise, I have residential and other property within the bounds of the city of Medonia, in the Sovereignty of Enamoria, as well as in Riparia. I am freely offering use of said holdings as follows.

Should any of your membership require lodgings for a sufficient period of time, I should very much like you to tell them that a room is available at a humble apartment in Riparia; and that the door at 1789 Faillegrove Park in Medonia is always open, and hot food and a warm bed is likewise offered therein, with enervating conversation or tales of recent adventures the sole price of admission. Secure storage space more than sufficient for your needs is likewise yours for the taking in a secluded warehouse nearby. In the same manner, should any person happen to pass by Tirisfal, a bedroom at the top of my shop along the western part of the town lies vacant, or if more than three are in passage, I offer quarters at my manor at my Lake Athena leasehold.

Likewise, I have set aside a certain portion of the produce of said leasehold for your use. This keration I give unto you, roughly one out of every twenty-four of the produce of said leasehold, that is to say, four out of every hundred. I know not how much is being made out of the land, for my many affairs abroad keep me long overdue, and so I believe I shall next come across the area come at around Kalendryas of this era, if Ioannes in His Wisdom shall will it. Do hand my reeve, Osmund, this portion of my missive should you wish to come claim provisions. I do apologize that I have insufficient wealth to further secure transport of foodstuffs from Tirisfal to Abestat.

Do send General Sheng Kaldres my regards should you come across him, and pass him the word that any men-at-arms seeking adventure should present themselves to Frigid River at Lauryl. If yourself or any of your phalanx are likewise available, please feel free to stop by. I am told by Riconus himself that a bit of a swordfight may soon be at hand.

I have the honor to remain,

Your most obedient servant,

Andrea Marsilia.
Marsilia's, Dock Road, Tirisfal.

[Agaenos Phidion]

When the letter arrived, Agaenos read it with amusement plastered upon his face, though with his features shone with gratitude as well - who would have ever guessed that idea of his that Brightening upon the White Dragon Inn and Tavern had spread so rapidly, so far over the Empire as an uncontrolled inferno would? Taking a piece of parchment, his trusty quill and the pot of blue ink which had served him well, he submerged the writing instrument within the liquid, filling it up with sufficient staining colour, before crafting his reply upon the parchment, his writing elegant yet flawed in some places, and refilling the quill intermittently to prevent it from running out of ink.

To the Most Honourable and Generous Andrea Marsillia,

I very much desire to take this opportunity to give my full gratitude and thanks for your letter and warm greetings. We have indeed met in the Kaldres Manor within the Centripaxian Heartlands, and your memory serves you faithfully. If mine does not fail me, it should have been during the very last day of Spring. It had been a most cordial meeting on that occasion, something which I still had a fond memory of.

Whist we are no more than a small group of people with the same ideals, I have intentions and ambitions to nurture the Hoplites into an army for the rightful cause eventually. Please, honourable master, do not lay blame on the amount of wealth you possess - the aid you have bestowed upon us is beyond the description of our gratitude, and we accept the your kind, special offer to the Hoplites with our utmost gratefulness.

If my curiosity is allowed to be satisfied, there is one query I shall wish to inquire upon: how much Crowns, in a vague estimate, do the two properties produce every month or Cycle? If we are allowed to gain knowledge on this matter, it would give us a good gauge on our income, which shall become useful to us later on.

As for General Sheng Kaldres, I shall certainly send word to him, although I must regret that we currently have insufficient numbers and equipments to lead a force to Lauryl and participate in battle, and therefore we have no choice but miss this opportunity, though if anymore appear in the future, we shall be prepared for it, when our force becomes sizable.

Once again, I express my fullest gratitude and thanks on behalf of the Hoplites of Abestat.

Corporal of the Abestatian Military, Basileus of the Hoplites of Abestat,
Agaenos Phidion.
The Military of Abestat.