[This portion of the parchment bears the embossed seal of Ashaela & Darke. Glimmering golden lines form the curlicued letters 'A' and 'D' bisected by a smaller silver ampersand at the point where the stems meet, all set within a glimmering ornate cartouche. The words 'Established since 1st Miraman, 852 AF' are proudly displayed in bold silver lettering beneath the graphic.]

Greetings Sapience,

In the year 857AF, the firm of Ashaela & Darke hosted the first battle of the A&D Cooking Underground within the Asdharke Underground Cooking Arena in Cyrene. The Cooking Underground's purpose is the ongoing search for the best chefs in Sapience on behalf of an ancient gourmand of impeccable taste and culinary expertise.

The first competition saw Assai Anemides best Sphera Muireadhaigh-Zviera in a contest with bear as the main ingredient. Assai was declared the winner, but it seems that Sphera's use of potatoes have caught the eye of a mystery challenger, who has sent Ashaela & Darke the following letter:

To the exceptionally foolish Miss Muireadhaigh-Zviera,

Mere words cannot even begin to describe the stultifying nature of your dishes. That you would deign to serve such venom to the masses is a testament to your inadequacies as a cook and your laughable skills as an adventurer.

This insult to the exact science of cookery shall not stand. Let this missive be an official challenge to you, pompous but surprisingly well-dressed mallard that you are, to a battle of potatoes. You believe your trite methods to be competition worthy?

I know better.

And I will show you.

[A stylised fox head has been meticulously sketched here, its curvilinear features perfectly represented with shimmering black ink]

~*~

When prompted for a reply, the demon duck of underground cooking passed along the following statement:

My duck minions and I accept your challenge. Prepare to be dazzled by our glorious potato baking arts. Until then.

[A childish doodle of a fluffy duck swinging a vastly oversized knife with its wing is depicted here. Its menacing frown is only slightly undercut by its need to adjust a giant chef's hat due to the force of the swing.]

~*~

So it is to be a battle of potatoes!

Ashaela & Darke is pleased to invite all present and future enthusiasts of underground cooking battles who are not enemied to the city of Cyrene to join us in the Ashdarke Underground Cooking Arena on the 18th of Aeguary, 860AF to bear witness to this epic struggle.

The A&D Cooking Underground: Two chefs! No Delos! All mayhem!



In service,

Kaden Vas'amaen-Ashaela and Aina V. Darke
Partners, Ashaela & Darke

[Written at the bottom of the parchment, in very fine print, are the following words: The A&D Cooking Underground is a creative undertaking by the firm of Ashaela & Darke, who retain all rights to its proceedings and imagery. The A&D Cooking Underground is a production for the purposes of entertainment, and is not, to the best of our knowledge, in fact illegal under the laws of Cyrene or any other territory within Sapience. Messrs. Ashaela & Darke are happy to field any queries with regard to the event. Any complaints or claims however should be brought to the attention of our Legal Department care of our Chief Solicitor, Curwen the humgii, so that it can be processed accordingly.]

Penned by my hand on the 8th of Glacian, in the year 859 AF.