Dear Lady Ramield,
You do not know me, nor I you. I know only of you through the happenstance of meeting one you call friend. The bartender at the Sizzling Turtle Tavern, Brynleigh. Through the gifts of ale, Old Toby and polite conversation, I believe I have discovered a kindred spirit and friend to The Cause in our dear bartender. I had hoped our conversation would have concluded with a formal partnership but Brynleigh instead referred me to your authority.
With that said, I would like to discuss with you, a partnership that I believe could be of mutual benefit.
I am well known among the mercantile district of Bree and throughout Eriador simply as The Prospector and one with the ability to acquire that which one may want or need but is otherwise unable to come by. You see, I deal in the most-rare, sometimes unusual but always useful. Items not of mere trinkets but rather tools of war.
Although, I am delighted to say that I have found more like minded individuals in spirit than I had ever hoped to in my travels, there are few willing to put themselves at physical risk. I am well acquainted with the heroic exploits of your knights and delighted to discover the location I was scouting was under your guard.
What I now propose is this. In exchange for your protection for my kinsman and I along the roads as well as sanctuary in Hookworth, allowing for my men and I to conduct our business unimpeded, I offer to funnel a generous share of our inventory to your soldiers on a regular basis as compensation for your service.
It is my wish that we meet in person. Unfortunately, I fear I am under careful watch from those who wish to put an end to me and I will not risk putting you in danger as well. Instead I have appointed a most trusted friend as my Hand and negotiator of this partnership. His name is Cynraede, my most faithful and trusted friend. You need only put the word out and he will come to you to conclude what I hope to be a long-lasting partnership.
With Humbleness & Humility,
–Duramarth IV
Defender of the Southern Kingdom, Silent Protector of the Free Peoples of Middle Earth
