Battle At Peppermint Hill

Dear Brewmaster Tet,

I am pleased to say that the battle of Peppermint Hill is going well. The encroachers from the Northern continent have just received our second volley. I cannot wait to hear the pained noises from our double-brewed attack; As per your instructions, we have mixed together cinnamon, ginger, and subtle amounts of marshmallow root for the sneak-attack. If we mixed it right, their mouths will burn today and their stools shall be loose by tomorrow.

However, the sneak attack last night robbed us of much-needed spices. We lost three bundles of dandelion and two rosemary bushes, and our primary kettle has been compromised. I’m writing to request additional supplies and extra Loose-leafs to be added to to the Strainer Division.

We will take this hill and beat the Northern continent back into the wild flavorless jungles.

Your Faithful Sommelier,

Lipto.

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Faithful Sommelier Lipto,

I regret to hear about the sneak attack. Unfortunately any Loose-leafs available have been directed to the fight with the Milk-Drinkers over on the Muslinbag borders. They are brewing harder and harder, and we must hold the border if we want to win this war. I have sent the messenger with extra supplies, however, as we cannot afford to lose the rights to Peppermint Hill, and managed to procure an extra few kettles. I am afraid they may not be as well-made as your primary, but I have high hopes and confidence in your Division’s ability to brew a better tea.

I pray to The Great Infuser the encroachers cry out in pain as their stools run without quarter. You have permission to strike back by any means possible, including a raze on their supplies. Although I pray it does not come to that, as you have been an honorable Sommelier in the past.

As a last note, I have included a few new ingredients to your supply chain; may these new herbs make the next volley the last one.

Stay Saffron-Strong,

Brewmaster Tet

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Dear Brewmaster Tet,

I thank you for the extra supplies. The encroachers delivered their response last night, a brew so noxious our Division could barely stomach it. We are expected to give a third volley by tonight, but I am unsure how many Steepers will be able-bodied enough to prepare the next batch. We have figured out how to use the special supplies you sent us, our Specialists having written the recipe that is sure to decide this battle. So long as our Loose-leafs do not fail us.

Great Infuser keep you,

Sommelier Lipto

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Brewmaster Tet,

I am writing to say that we have done it! The ingredients you sent us worked exceptionally well; The encroachers drank the mixture and came running to the lines waving empty bags in defeat. We have won the battle! Peppermint Hill is ours! The surrendered Milk-Drinkers have been rounded up and put to work gathering Peppermint bushels and handing over their supplies. We will set up trusted Specialists to supervise the defeated, and connoisseurs to tend to the sick and nauseous too ill to come with us.

I thank you again for your special supplies. Who knew teak wood and cilantro would be the secret ingredients to victory!? We combined it with lemon and ginger and the other side could not stomach the mixture!! The peppermint is now ours, and we will bring defeat to those at the border!

I hope The Great Infuser has kept you well, and to see you soon.

Sommelier Lipto

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From the Garden-Direct District

Dear Sommelier Lipto,

We regret to inform you that Brewmaster Tet has suffered from a nasty volley involving turmeric, cinnamon, and jalapeno seeds. He is being treated for severe heartburn and is unable to fulfill his duties at the moment. Brewmaster Argo has taken over his position at present. The Tin Division will begin supervising the CTC at Peppermint Hill, while you and the Strainer Division will report to Brewmaster Argo at Lavender Pass.

Congratulations on securing Peppermint Hill. Winning the rights to the strains of mint on that hill will help us greatly in the upcoming battle. Your Division has done us a great service.

The Honey Estate thanks you for your service and bids you well in your next volley.

Signed

Brewmaster Twining

The Robusta Tactic

Brewmaster Lipto, Journal Entry

The battle at the Muslinbag borders has not been going well. We lost Brewmaster Tet to a nasty volley. Brewmaster Argo has been less than helpful. He’s allocated resources in odd ways that have cost us too many volleys, and then disappeared one night with half our saffron rations. I’ve sent some Loose-Leafs to find him, but we have few too many as it is. Divisions have been pulled from other battles to reinforce our stance at the borders, but I am unconvinced of our success.

The Milk-Drinkers have discovered a new tactic; using Arabica and Robusta. I am not sure how they’re using it, but recon spotted the beans being delivered. It has caused anxiety and sleeplessness among our troops, and those not affected that way have sudden bouts of hysteria and hyperactivity before crashing. It has shaken our lines and our tea-making abilities to the core. We have had to start using our calming teas more often, and the medical tent is running out faster than planned.

I am sending scouts out before our next volley is due to talk to both the Specialists at the Honey estate and into the fields beyond the border to see what they can find. If we do not figure out how to beat this latest volley with a stronger, more effective tea to beat what they’ve done to us, I fear we may lose the border.

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Brewmaster Lipto; our teabags have not found anything useful. The fields here are useless and flavorless. There’s hardly anything worth stewing and drinking here. Even the Milk-Drinkers are using their own supplies, making and drinking the same horrible concoction they served us. We are heading back to our lines.

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Brewmaster Lipto, Journal entry

My scouts have reported something interesting; the other side is drinking their own bean-water concoction. From what the scouts have told me, it is having no side-effects on them. They were functioning perfectly. This may mean they either gave us a bad batch or a higher concentration. But this gives me an idea.

I have brought in Specialists to analyze what remains of the previous volley. The few Loose-leafs that went unaffected by the volley at first have shown signs of addiction, a craving of the new substance. If this is truly a side-effect of their newest concoction, perhaps we can use it against them.

I also have further doubts about this war. The scouts reported back that there was nothing worth drinking on their side of the border. Nothing with flavor. We cannot afford to lose our borders, but can we not afford a treaty? A truce?

I know what the Honey Estate will say, which is why this journal is being stored privately, away from discovery. Should I get called back, I will destroy these pages.

The tea leaf blows with the wind. I will write again with my findings.

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Specialist Harney Report:

The newest volley seems to contain high amounts of caffeine, a potentially addictive substance. The beans were ground and processed slightly differently than tea leaves, giving an odd reaction in the cup and body of our Loose-Leafs.

On a separate note, the ones ingesting it with no side-effects at first have developed withdrawal and will have to be on watched bedrest. A few have already tried escaping to the other side.

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Brewmaster Lipto, Journal entry

That’s it! The Specialists have reported back what I thought. And if the other side is drinking their own similar concoction, the results should be the same.

I am gathering spies to slip past the boundaries, with orders to destroy all the coffee they can find. Any of it. All of it. They must not get captured, but they have free reign.

I am not asking permission from the Honey Estate for this. It will take too long, and we are on the verge of our response. If we cannot come up with an answering volley, we will be pushed back. But, if they have no supplies, our answer will not matter.

May the Great Infuser forgive my dirty tactics.

Long live the Tea Leaf!!

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From the Garden-Direct District

Dear Brewmaster Lipto,

Congratulations on winning back the border! Destroying their coffee lines was excellent work, and we have received reports of surrender from multiple factions. Evidently, a majority of their coffee stock was sent to the borders, so the destruction of that supply has reached even the farthest battles. We hereby grant you a promotion on your great work, congratulations Grand-Brewmaster!

Unfortunately, negotiations for entry of our District cannot be granted at this time. They have caused much damage to our fields and supply chains. Current orders from the Estate are to return and meet with the other Grand-Brewmasters. If you wish to discuss your proposal in more detail, you may do so at that time.

The Honey Estate thanks you for your service and welcomes you home.

Signed

District Manager Stash