Role

Chapter 1

Dearest Finn,

It is I, your truest and dearest friend Firflenurbin. I write to you now from
beneath an ocean of sorrow and pain, for I know now that you are well and
truly lost to me. I have no words worthy of my regret, no words that could
offer an apology that wouldn't feel as empty and worthless as what remains of
my heart. I have failed you, and that is the truth of it.

Please know, that I did everything I could. I know the last time you saw me
it did not appear so. It is true, I put up no fight against those savage
Outlanders. I cowered and kowtowed, and hoped those lawbreakers would leave
us be if I but gave them what they asked. And yes, I soiled myself. I'm not
proud of it, and I'm sure it was not what you wished to see as your last
sight in the lands of mortals. But I won't hide it now.

That moment will haunt me forever. Standing there, my britches soaked,
begging for them to let us be... watching you swirl and swirl away forever.
Of all the horrors they could have invoked upon us, why oh why, did they
flush you, Finn?! I'll never forget your sideways body, your one eye looking
up at me, as your poor fins struggled so bravely against the currents of my
wretched toilet bowl.

Did you know that when I went to the sheriff of Hillcrest seeking Justice he
just laughed at me! It stung, I tell you true. But I was not deterred. I knew
I would have to dive the depths of the Nanthor if we were to be reunited. And
I knew that I did not have the requisite skill. Of course, if I had, maybe I
could have stood up to that gang of ruffians in the first place.

The path was not easy, for gnomes are not usually the ranger kind, much less
trained in the ways of the mariner. In fact, I was rejected by all the
respectable guilds. "You're too short to survive the waves," they said. "Your
fish is dead, man."

I was not to be deterred. Eventually, I found a teacher in the Emerald
Forest. It was a water sprite by the name of Gill-bert, who primarily taught
synchronized swimmers, but he showed me a few moves. Fortunately, as you well
know, I am a wonderful dancer, and so I took to the training immediately.

I impressed the Pixies with my dedication and fanciful swim routines, and
when I told them I was going on a quest to find my dearest friend Finn, they
taught me to use a bow. Can you imagine, Finn? Me swimming with a bow! I wish
we could swim together now more than anything.

With my newfound skills, I set off for the river Nanthor in a desperate bid
to rescue you. Weeks I searched, my skin pruny, resting only when the
exhaustion overcame me and I nearly drowned. I lost my pointy hat no less
than four times, but still I pressed on.