Dear Lady Feysla

I hope this letter finds you in good spirits. My name is Aufberon Nightingale, though I prefer being called by my nickname, Slavik (pronounced [SLAH-vik]). I formerly resided in The Crossroads but have recently made my home in The Spire.

I am writing to you after encountering your recruitment notice for The Hermetic Assembly, which caught my interest. Though I am not yet a seasoned scholar — my education having been primarily rooted in artisanry — I am eager to grow and learn. Where I lack experience, I hope my dedication, curiosity, and enthusiasm will speak in my favor.

My current pursuits involve the collection and study of tales surrounding fables, supernatural sightings, and extraordinary artifacts. I am particularly interested in investigating the veracity of the claims concerning the rumored portal beneath the Vale of the Fallen. Additionally, I have a deep appreciation for gathering and preserving the accounts of adventurers and their remarkable journeys.

It would be an honor to contribute to the Assembly’s endeavors and to learn among kindred spirits.

Thank you for considering my application.

With highest regard,

Aufberon "Slavik" Nightingale

To a Mrs Feysla,

To begin, I offer my congratulations, as I have been told that you have recently been wed. As such, I do not expect a hasty reply.

To my main concern, I wish to either join the Assembly or, at least, be granted to the research within the confines in the Assembly. I am a former Tamohn University student, and my interests have taken me south from my home in the north to the Southern Reach. While I have my qualms with the university, it taught me of the Aedall; foremost, of their disappearance. I would wish to study their culture, history, and magics for our own use and benefit, while avoiding the mistakes of their past.

I do not expect you to have heard of me, as I entered town recently. However, after speaking to several townspeople, they have all pointed me towards the Hermetic Assembly as helping me further my research and knowledge. With the resources and collaboration of the Assembly, my hope is that we can build a better world.

Respectfully,

Liatris Ulasinki

A letter arrives, addressed to Callista Fesyla. It is sealed with an unmarked verdigris wax stamp, a sprig of fresh lavender fixed beneath. The handwriting is small and neat.

To the Esteemed and Learned Headmistress,

My name is Ofelia Dumont, and I am a third-year student of philosophy from the University of Tamohn. My academic pursuits have centered primarily on theology, ontology and ethics, though I harbor a peculiar and enduring interest in vampirology and the more esoteric branches of occultism. The collective of my curiosities has led me to the monument of the Aedall—this great heart through which magick beats—and, upon my arrival, I was at once directed to your Assembly’s bibliotheca. It is through this great series of connecting threads that I now write to you.

I am of the mind (polarizing though it often be) that there is no such thing as 'bad' knowledge. I intend to pursue that in which others might falter, whether by fieldwork, dialogue with the texts within your library, or personal research that may, in time, be brought to publication. To this end, I hope to be a great contributor unto your Hermetic Assembly.

I have provided a transcribed page from my journal as an excerpt of my portfolio, though all of my writings are available to those with the interest and resolve to read them.

With glowing regards,

Ofelia Dumont

As promised, included in the envelope is a single piece of parchment covered front to back in small, neat handwriting. It contains an introduction to an essay about the ethics of war.

Making a small bump after the event! If anyone has interest in joining the Hermetic assembly this is where you'd send the letter :)

A parcel containing three letters arrives to the desk of the Headmistress.
The first, below, is written on Tamohn University parchment.

Headmistress Fesyla,

I hope this missive finds you well. I am Lysander V, a former field medic in the Duchy of Rulan and a physician on retainer within the Valkian realm. I currently reside and research within the halls of Tamohn University, where word of your Hermetic Assembly has spread as a frontier institution cultivating culture and scholarship, captivating some of our wide-eyed and eager alumni. In penning this letter to you, I suppose I am captivated myself.

My brief stint as a guest lecturer in healing at Tamohn University immersed me not only within the spirit of competition I had grown quite inebriated with during my time in court, but also gave me a taste of a shared pursuit - of contributing to a greater, communal knowledge. I have since been searching for such a fruitful endeavor, but the vines of knowledge only seem to grow along Tamohn's walls to cultivate prestige - not spreading outward in an endless search. While I am currently assisting basic medicinal training within the University, I often act as a reader on matters of the body, magic, and Fables. I have heard that the Spire is rife with new revelations concerning these disciplines each and every day.

My present and utmost goal in potentially joining your Assembly is embedded within its name. An 'assembly' implies cooperation, collaboration - a lack of willingness for such in my youth has made me wildly successful, yet terribly singular in my academic and personal pursuits.

I have included letters of recommendation from my former Duchess and the mistress of an Orphanage in Rulan, in hopes that this may shed a holistic light on my character. I may also appear before you once I arrive in the Spire, if you'd like - but I cannot promise I will be as deft in language compared to the words I have written here.

Yours in knowledge,
LYSANDER V

One of the remaining letters is sealed in a gray envelope, crisp and pristine, stamped with a Valkian sigil. Not one of much renown, but intimidating and clean nonetheless.
The other is in a cream colored envelope, enclosed with a dried, pink flower, reminiscent of the one proudly displayed on worn Rulan flags.
Their contents are quite similar, detailing the lady's attention to detail and quick wit.

[A letter arrives to the abode of the Assembly. The letter is wrapped in an old parchment. Opening it reveals an even older parchment, yellowed by age. The penmanship itself was quite eloquent if a bit too perfect. Lacking much variation.]

Dear Mistress Callista Fesyla.

I am a prospecting scholar looking to house my personal endeavors within the walls of your Assembly. I a new arrival to the boundaries of the Southern Reach. I am a tailor and graduate of the university with Tamohn in The North. I came to the south looking for scholastic opportunity, but found the initial means of study wanting. I write this letter to petition my membership of the Hermetic Assembly.

My current pursuits are mainly in astronomy, astrology, mathematics, geometry, and the strange. My life's pursuit has been to study, chart, and unveil each and every secret amongst the heavens. I hope you would consider my devoted membership of use to you and yours. I may provide samples of my current findings if you require further convincing. I hope with the collaboration of the various scholars under your membership I might be able to finish my thesis.

Sincerely, Gaétoile Audibert d'Claire

Headmaster Callista, 

I heard of the Hermetic Assembly and was curious if I could aid in some way or form as a volunteer if possible. I lack much scholarly practices but I'd be willing to aid with that since I've been curious of all the things buried up underneath the muck here. You can find me walking about town or in the tavern mostly, I live right down the street as well with the home with my name signed onto it. Thank you if you take your time to read this and send me one back if you are willing to meet me about talking over me volunteering, and have a good day. 

-Demascar

[This letter is scrawled in messy penmanship, and appears to be more picture than it is writing. The letter is first marked off with a doodle of a jester's mask]

Greetings Ms. Feyla! If only you could see my form through the parchment, then you'd witness the most humble bow your like has ever seen! [he has attempted to render himself bowing for her. It is a mere stick figure]. In truth, I find myself new to the Spire, but it feels to me as if fate itself has guided me to your stoop. I've been an inquisitive sort of late, and in my discovery the name of your organization has passed my ear twice now, such high praise demands an inquiry!

I seek answers from the arcane, curiosity and hunger alike both drive me, y'see. I lack the words, the background, the skill and the knowledge I best bet your fine mages hold, but fair Ms. Feyla I would risk my very being to learn more! care not if I am subjected to all but the finest horrors, in fact I wish to seek them! I wish to learn more of the fey beasts of this realm, they hide somethin' more, I just know they do. I ask you, humbly, to allow me a position no matter the size and dirty-work! I promise I'll make it a worthwhile investment to contract my services. 

Signed,

Tarvoch Canavan 

[At the bottom of the page, he has doodled a number of amorphous dots of light amidst trees, which he has since attempted to scribble out. Seems his quill ran out of ink, leaving the doodle scarred in a number of blobby ink stains.]