Missive from the Emperor

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My ally,

Inefficient as written communication is, it will suffice to cover the distance between our minds these days. I write to express my regret that I will not attend your celebration - though I thank you for thinking of me. I have not forgotten you. As I move to restore my influence I shall be sure to call upon you when the need arises, and I hope that you will respond to such a call. Ours was a very beneficial partnership, and I see no need to curtail further opportunities to collaborate.

Your friend,

The Emperor

My friend,

We do not communicate as illithid should, but I will allow it. Consider it an indulgence towards your former life, a life that you cling to yet with this notion of 'celebration'. I cannot fault you - I myself did the same. It was some time before I myself grew to accept my own evolution, and to recognise that it was indeed evolution.

Make what memories you must tonight to ease your passage into the future. In time, those you cherish so dearly will become just that - fond memories, and nothing more. And when that time comes, call on me. My mind will be ever open to you

The Emperor

As you grow into your new power, you will learn to communicate as an illithid should - but I will admit it is a pleasant novelty to set pen to paper once in a while.

I have made the necessary adjustments to my headquarters - our headquarters. The Knights of the Shield must be rebuilt, the rooms repopulated in time, but for now the chambers beneath the Elfsong will provide safe harbour, and a means to move around the city unobserved.

Take what comfort you can from your old companions this night, and judge them not for the all-too-human faults that only your illithid mind can see. Your old life will be a comfort to you in this period of adjustment - so long as you do not let it hold you back from the new.

The Emperor

I write to bring you happy news on the night of your celebration. I have completed my tour of the syndicates of the Sword Coast. Amn, Cormyr, Waterdeep, and Calimshan prove promising leads. I have communed with the illithid Nihiloor of Xanathar's Thieves Guild and made an ally of him. Through him, we will control the flow of riches through Waterdeep, and extend our influence to far north Luskan. Meanwhile, in the south, I have established 'contacts' in Calimshan - they answer wholly to me. Inland Cormyr will be the trickiest - there I believe we will have to manoeuvre around the restriction of the law, but with the right representation in our control, that too will fall to us. Make merry with your former allies, for we may yet have need of them. Keep them close, and wait for my word. Soon, my friend, neither word nor thought will traverse the Sword Coast without our knowing, nor our desire.

Until we reconvene,

The Emperor

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