Cassius Leaves Holdfast

[snow_gnoble]

The next morning after the town defeated Nero, Snow gets up and takes care of some tasks the impending battle prevented. He commissions a new bow, and he makes himself an axe for proper wood cutting. He's not seen much after lunch that day. Late today he goes to the inn, talks briefly with some of his friends, and gets ready to leave. He leaves a thin leather bound journal at the inn titled Holdfast Chronicles, and without a word he leaves. He's wearing his large pack, the one he had on when he first came to Holdfast. As he opens the door to the inn the sunset shines through the door and outlines Snow's silhouette. He looks sad, but determined.

[snow_gnoble]

A letter arrives from Snow dated Saturday, November 9th. It's addressed to the inn, care of Corkin or Emelia.

Greetings my friends.
I've addressed this to Corkin or Emelia, but unless I've written "Private" on the envelope feel free to deliver my letters to any of my good friends within Holdfast, as they are meant for any of my friends to read. At least until I return from this trip.
I have made my way to Nier Batin. As you may know some people are looking for me. Alodie Fishere of the Fishere crime family wishes to collect on my father's debt. She may not be able to get much money from me, but my head on a pike will deter future delinquency the same way the heads of my parents and little sister surely did. They might not be much of a crime family, but they have a handful of impressive connections and I do not want my whereabouts known to Alodie until there's a knife sticking out of her chest.
I've taken a chance on reaching out to an old acquaintance who lives here, Thomas Lynstone. That chance paid off. Someone I care about sent Thomas a letter to pass on to me. Jeannette... She knew I was fleeing to the island and sent a letter to Thomas in hopes I would cross paths with him. My plans to visit Alodie and settle the score may have to wait. I'm still going to the mainland, but my main priority is getting to Thulud. That is where Jeannette is, or at least was. Her letter suggests she is desperate. It was meant to find me on my way to Holdfast, which was months ago.
Thomas owes me a couple favors. He's managed to secure me passage on a ship that stops very near Thulud. I need only to annotate and notarize some documents for them, and assist their cartographer with some research. I'm assuming I'll need to scrub a deck or two as well, but there's nothing to be done for it.
In all the chaos I did get some very good news. Something that lifted part of a great weight from me. My father had purchased Jeannette as a concubine when he became jealous of our affection for each other. I was young and could do nothing, so I left. It would seem that without my nose to rub it in, my father lost interest. My mother was able to convince my father to sell her to someone else before anything... happened between them. She was sold to one of my father's textile trading partners in Thulud to be a seamstress. She lives very modestly, but is treated well.
However, while I may have unwittingly saved her from my father, she is still a slave. I cannot allow that to continue. She would still be living free, and probably teaching music, if she'd never met me. I have to find her and free her.
Take care my friends. Wish me well, and wish me luck.
For Jeannette's sake.

P.S.
While taking a look at Thomas' library, I saw a reference to an elven artifact called the Pluteum Dryadalis. It would seem the artifact was once hidden in Applevale and has never been recovered. I may try to gather more information on it when I am able. I will sent further correspondece if I find anything.