A letter from Matilde to her professore in Padovia. It is written in a special code to avoid it being intercepted. Professore, I hope this letter finds you, and finds you well. Many terrible things have happened at home. There seems to be danger and tragedy around every corner. I need your help Professore. I feel my family will need all the assistance we can procure in the coming weeks. Firstly, please assist the lady Esssmerelda, whom has delivered you this letter. She is a scholar of the stars and hails from the Yuan-Ti. Esssmerelda tells me the stars brought her to Vanzenia. Maybe if the two of you work together you could provide us with some guidance in these troubled times? Secondly, my family rescued several innocents recently from Carnelio the Red Dragon’s house. While searching for a way out we stumbled upon a dark room filled with water and some kind of slime. We were desperate to escape so I, perhaps somewhat foolishly, touched the slime....
