If you're new, you might want to start at the beginning of these letters
The Tenth of Spann, 468th Year of the Empire
Dearest Relishing Readers,
We find ourselves out of the woods. Beyond the borders of the copse our timekeeping and spells have informed us that we are well into the month of Spann. Back home, I'm sure the farmers are preparing for their harvest as we leave the warmer months behind us. The Whispering Woods show no sign of the change as we enter the harvest season. No loss of green, no hint of the change as we grow closer to the snow and ice in the coming months as we near the end of the year. I cannot imagine how you must have feared for my safety in the absence of my letters for so long. I assure you we emerged from the woods unscathed.
Physically at least.
Before our exit from the woods we wandered aimlessly through the forest. Hearing voices and whispers in the darkness. Each of us heard something different from our past. None in our party shared what we heard, and I do not wish to burden you with my personal pain, but needless to say, I do not wish to revisit the jeers and calls from my past. Each of my companions responded in a similar manner. Whatever we heard pained us. It drew from our past fears. From our past pains. It was hell.
Then, it was silent. As we reached the clearing at the center of the Whispering Woods, we stumbled into a clearing and it was silent. And by silent, I do not mean the whispers stopped, I mean sound altogether ceased. No sound of the leaves crunching or twigs snapping beneath our feet. Total and complete silence. If you thought the constant whispering was unbearable, the silence was worse. We found ourselves unable to communicate. The silence bore into our brains. I witnessed Aliasbe screaming into the sky with not even the slightest sound emitting into the open clearing.
I fear the silence would have overwhelmed us (I know I felt my grasp on reality sinking rapidly) had it not been for our brave cleric. Selenar approached the standing stone in the center of the clearing and extended Meher's holy symbol toward the large gray monolith. At first nothing happened, but slowly hairline cracks appeared on the stone, branching and spiderwebbing down the face until the entire monolith shattered and crumbled into a pile of broken stone. As the final piece hit the ground, all sounds rushed back and washed over us in a cacophony of sounds.
Bird song, a swift breeze, the sounds of my own body, and everything else came back in a blissful cascade. As we all adjusted to the return of sound, Selenar explained what they had done.
The woods were cursed. The monolith, the whispering, and the silence was a trap to capture wandering adventurers such as us. Without Selenar's connection to their deity, I do not believe we would have been able to make it out. We are once again fortunate to have such a skilled cleric amongst our midst.
With the breaking of the curse, our sense of taste returned as well. That, with our exit from the woods, gave us reason to celebrate. I offered to cook up a savory meal for us and Aliasbe provided a freshly killed deer for our meal.
Utilizing my collapsible kitchen and my culinary prowess, I prepared a fine venison meal for the party that will grant us a boon in our
I present to you, Hathorn's Venison Stew:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound venison meat, cubed
- 2 tablespoons rendered animal fat
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 parsnips, peeled and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups beef or game broth (I had some on hand, but you can make fresh with the venison on hand)
- 1 cup red wine (substitute with additional broth if desired)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
- 1 cup turnips or potatoes, peeled and cubed
Instructions:
1. Heat the rendered fat in a large cauldron or cast iron pot over an open fire or in your hearth.
2. Add the cubed venison and brown it on all sides. Remove the meat and set it aside.
3. In the same pot, add the chopped onion, carrots, and parsnips. Sauté them until they start to soften.
4. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute or two until fragrant.
5. Return the browned venison to the pot and pour in the beef or game broth and red wine.
6. Add the dried thyme and rosemary, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Cover the pot with a lid or use a wooden cover and let the stew simmer over lower heat for about 1-2 hours. The venison should become tender.
8. After the initial simmer, add the sliced mushrooms and cubed turnips or potatoes to the stew.
9. Continue to simmer for an additional 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until the vegetables are cooked and the flavors have melded together.
10. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Serve and enjoy this hearty meal that will enhance your clarity and vigor.
Until our next time,
Hathorn Rophine
PS- if you enjoy these letters, and want them to continue, I encourage you to toss a few coins to this enchantment to keep them coming.
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