Dear Uncle Aleister,
I know it has been a long time since we have spoken and I was honestly quite shitty to you and Mum when I did. I suppose it's the arrogance of youth but its a pretty flimsy excuse. So, I am offering an olive branch as it were as I really am sorry for that. I know you are under no obligation to accept it but it is vitally important to me that you know anyway. A lot has happened so you will need to forgive me if I overlook any details. I was recently involved in...a situation and found how awful it can be if something were to happen and no one knows. It made it clear how anything can happen, to anyone, at anytime so I suppose it put things into perspective for me and I want to rebuild bridges. Not with Dad - maybe in the future but not right now. However, I would like to have more of you and Mum in my life, even if you are so far away.
I did graduate with a degree a while back. Politics and History. I did do some TA work inbetween performances but before the PhD, they did recommend I get some world experience so I joined an adventuring guild in Sharn. It's pretty interesting as the work I am currently doing is related to research on manifest zones by Provost Nigel Faurious. We are collecting artefacts that have been steeped in planar energy Fernia, Mabar etc. It's taken me across Khorvaire - from the Eldeen Reaches to Kaarnath. We even spent a rather more boring time in Daanvi of all places. I have made some good friends - Damien is a beautiful dragonmarked man from House Orien, Ruckus is a genius goblin who stays in Sharn, Yashira is a smart detective from House Medani, Ban is the best cook in the world (House Ghallanda) and Nerysdeth Soranath is a dwarf from the Mror Holds who has some spectular magic related to storytelling. I am sure Mum would get on with them. I have never felt so close with a group of people before, their abilities and personalities are astounding and I would trust them with my life.
It's funny. I was im Thaliost recently before heading to the Eldeen Reaches. One of the artefacts got stolen unfortunately. I even mentioned to my companions that you and Mum stayed there. Damien's mother was born in Thaliost too. It seemed a rather beautiful city except when the riot broke out. The artefact and the riot were not linked, to confirm but it did make things a bit more difficult than anticipated. Perhaps if I had been less of an ass, we could have met up, could have introduced you to my companions. It is easy enough to say that in hindsight. I hope you two kept safe during it. Are you still teaching? Is Mum still writing? I go into bookshops often but never dare to check for her name. Perhaps, now I can.
Please, the next time you are in Sharn, let me know and I can make up for lost time. There's a playwright who is a friend of mine and I am sure you both would adore her plays. I would be happy to introduce you as she is very important to me as she supports my own artistic endevours outside academia and adventuring. Her name is Luca Syara, she's...on the shy side but she is a key part of my life. I have written my address so you know how to write back or if you wanted to visit. I might be travelling however but I am very keen to listen to everything that's happened that hasn't been bestowed upon me second hand and I am very keen to fill in the gaps myself. There's also...things that I do not think travel well within the written word and would be best to discuss face to face, as it were.
Yours Sincerely,
Charlie