Excerpt from Northmage Archives: Major Figures of the Lotus Wars
Compilation and editing by Sarren Holt.
The effort herein found is the compilation and re-production of various documents concerning major figures of the Lotus Wars. The following is transcribed from the letters of Javen of Lothford, dated (per the records of the Ventian Library of History) years P.V. 971 to 973, retrieved with special permission from the Councilor of Histories.
[Date estimated to Winter P.V. 971]
Mother,
I do not know what I’m fighting for. I am not marching to war. War has marched to me. I do not feel I have a choice. I do not want to sit alone and watch as others die.
It was long getting here. My body is tired. I do not have many options here. I am not comfortable. Sleeping has been stiff. The food is not good. I am not happy to see how my fellow soldiers are sometimes. They do not train me well. I wish I had more people to sit with. I am upset by how many are women here. I do not understand this.
I will hope the war to be over soon.
–J
[Date estimated to Spring P.V. 972]
Mother,
I do not know how well the couriers reach you. I am writing to tell you I am still alive.
–J
[Date estimated to Spring P.V. 972]
Mother,
I have found time to write at greater length. My last letter was because I knew you must have heard of the battles. The valley is clear so there are many fights there. Many died. Do you remember Shem the tanner’s son I used to play with? He is dead.
I am still not happy with the army. There are many leaders from many parts. They speak in many accents. I cannot understand some of them. It makes me upset that the one they answer to most is a woman. She is not here now but I have heard many stories. The leaders speak of her return often. They speak like they need this woman to tell them what to do. She is not even a woman yet. I have tried to speak to some of this. They sometimes tell me they do not understand it either. Some have told me that I do not yet understand but that they do and this upsets me more.
I am hoping the fighting will be done soon.
–J
[Date estimated to Spring P.V. 972]
Mother,
Do these couriers reach you? I would like a letter from you. Not many soldiers here get letters.
–J
[Date estimated to late Spring P.V. 972]
Mother,
Is the family alright? How is Daron? When I left he was ill and I would like to know if he is better. Sometimes I am worried about all of you and I miss you very much. I hope the fighting is done soon and I can come home and we can all have soup together.
–J
[Date estimated to Summer P.V. 972]
Mother,
I made a very good friend who is dead now. I knew him for only a few weeks but he was kind to me and made me laugh and made me feel I belong here. I did not see him die but I saw his body on the field. It is the fourth battle I have been in. I have seen many bodies. I told you about the tanner’s boy I used to know. I still did not realize how wounded I could feel by a person’s death. I am sorry that if I die it will injure you. I only knew him a few weeks but I have been your son for much longer. I did not think of that when I left.
I should wish like I have that the war would be over and I could come home. To see him die does not make me want that even though it seems like it should make me want that. I want to keep fighting. He told me he was here to fight for his families so they would not have to be controlled by mages and tyrants. I feel I must fight for that now too.
–J
[Date estimated to late Summer P.V. 972]
Mother,
It has been some weeks since my last letter. There is not much to speak of. Though the girl the leaders answer to has come back. She brings with her another army. Maybe this is why they spoke so much of her return. It is true that spirits are lifted with so much greater help.
I have tried to be a good friend like Hale was to me. I have tried to help others who are new here to feel they belong. I still miss home very much. I have tried to make your carrot soup but I am not very good.
–J
[Date estimated to Autumn P.V. 972]
Mother,
My leg is injured but I am not dead. I am away from combat now and they are worried there could be infection. I will not die if there is but I may come home without a leg. Another injured man told me I should carry the leg into battle if they cut it off and that I can use it as a club. I did not think it was very funny but he has lost an arm already and I think has lost an eye which is bandaged so I tried to laugh with him. I think it is very good that he still tries to laugh even though he is so injured.
–J
[Date estimated to Autumn P.V. 972]
Mother,
Wanted to let you know my leg is still on. I limp and I may always but I can move well enough when I need to.
I would still very much like a letter from you.
–J
[Date estimated to Winter P.V. 973]
Mother,
The girl who leads the leaders has spoken to some of the men. It was not me but the men she dines with who are the leaders. They are speaking very much of it now and speaking of her as if she were the greatest warrior since Ventius walked the mortal realm. I still do not understand.
–J
[Date estimated to Winter P.V. 973]
Mother,
I do not know if this letter will reach you but I wanted you to know that I am thinking of you right now and if I die in the battle tomorrow I will still be your son and I will be very proud to have fought to help protect you and to protect Daron and our farm.
–J
[Date estimated to late Winter or early Spring P.V. 973]
Mother,
I saw her today on the battlefield. I did not think she would be in the fray with the men but she was.
Mother I understand now. I know why the other men speak so much of her and will follow her and trust her. I have seen two fists of battles and I have seen the mages of the enemies call to the elements. This girl is an element of herself. I do not know what can be said more but I am sorry for speaking doubt of her. I knew she brought others but it is not the reason they listen to her. It is herself they follow. I will now speak only reverence when telling of the one they call White Silk.
–J
According to Councilor of Histories records, the letters were retrieved from Liselle of Lothford, the recipient, who first read the letters after the Lotus Wars ended. The courier in question had been intercepted and the letters used for intelligence about enemy plans and position. Javen of Lothford died in battle during the spring of P.V. 973. Notes in the official records indicate that Liselle wished it made known that her son died heroically, though the details of said heroism are not thoroughly documented.
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