14 Tarsakh, 1371

Dear Master Zorthaster,

I knew our journey to Curst would be unpleasant. I just didn't have any idea how bad it was going to be. I feel lucky to have gotten out of there alive. Let me tell you about it. First, though, I should clarify and correct some inaccuracies that I may have written earlier.

When I wrote previously, I may have mentioned that we encountered a bariaur named Tarin in Sigil. He had asked us to help him. I had understood that we were to collect papers from a fellow named Gadwik in Curst. These papers would supposedly help clear Gadwick of some wrongdoing if we delivered them to Tarin. Well, we had gotten the information messed up. Tarin was the one accused of theft and murder and we needed to get papers from Gadwick to clear Tarin's name. Yes, I know, that throws a whole different spin on things doesn't it?

We gated to Sigil from Excelsior and went off in search of Ebb Creaknees. We hoped that he might recommend a guide to Curst as we suspected that Dreel would still be busy with the walking castle. As it turned out, Dreel had been back to Sigil before us and was looking for us. We did learn from Ebb that Tarin was now in hiding from the Mercy Killers, but he was still alive, still hoping that we might get the proof of his innocence from Gadwick. As we talked with Ebb about resolving the quest, we became aware that we had gained the attention of an evil creature from the lower planes, an abashai. It looked like trouble.

Ebb said that he could show us a gate to Curst (and provide the key) and that he would let Dreel know where we went. He further suggested that to get back to Sigil we use a gate at the Court of Light in the Outlands. This is the place where Faithful Servant Li works, so we were confident that if we could make it that far, we could get back. We ducked out of the Smoldering Corpse, hoping to shake the abashai and avoid a tavern brawl. Ebb took us first to a shop where he purchased a couple of rusty daggers. Then we were led to a place between two buildings where a walkway spanned the space above the street. Here Ebb rubbed the two rusty blades together until a thin stream of rust began to fall from the weapons. Just as it was about to touch the street, a portal opened and we jumped through to Curst.

It was warm, dry, and dusty. A metallic smell of blood hung in the air under black, rolling clouds. The town itself was circled by huge walls that appeared to be made of metal that had been rusting away forever. Still they were imposing and thick. The gate was open, guarded by a dozen and a half guards. They took little notice of us as we entered. We noticed immediately that the inside wall was thick with razorvine. I got the impression that entering Curst was easy, leaving might not be.

We asked the guards a few questions, trying to get oriented. They all seemed to have chips on their shoulders. I learned that Curst, known as a place for exiles and castaways, is filled with people that think someone owes them something. Everybody has a grudge. Even so, we were able to get some information about the layout of the city (concentric circles with stables/inns/houses, then craftsmen/work shops, then merchants, then the noble quarter, then, finally, the administrative district and jail.

We were also told that the inn called the Quartered Man might be a place to find out information about Gadwick. On our way there we ducked into a narrow street to consult the mimir about Curst. Before we had a moment to do so, we stumbled upon a fight between a woman and a group of thugs. She screamed for help, the paladin charged, and a big swords out followed. Some crazy priest and his lackeys joined in when they heard the scuffle. The city guard arrived just as things were getting under control. I tried to talk to the leader of the guard unit. I wanted to explain what was going on. I tried to say that we had just responded to a call for help when a fight broke out. My words seemed to mean nothing to him. He dismissed my explanation and gave orders to do a "typical cleanup" and kill everyone.

I fired my wand and took out a couple of the guards for a while but not the leader. Fortunately, I had cast Mirror Image early in the battle so the guards had a hard time focusing on me. Most of my companions were a little ways away, fighting the thugs and evil woman who had turned on us as we fought the thugs and the priest. We got everyone either knocked out or killed and ran from the scene. As we were bolting, a tiefling and demon came by, shooting the downed guards while they were helpless. They were laughing and having a great time, causing chaos and death.

When we finally found the Quartered Man, the demon and tiefling were just leaving. They were still laughing, but now appeared drunk as well. We stayed out of the way. Trying to be inconspicuous, we rented a room upstairs and hunkered down. The fight in the alley appeared to be over a couple of things carried by the woman and the leader of the thugs. We examined them carefully. One was a scroll, the other was a bag containing copper pieces. The bag held too many coins. Upon examination, it turned out to be a bag of holding. The scroll was a note. It was a letter discussing making an arrangement to return something the thieves guild has in exchange for something that Linth wanted. There was also something about a potion of intelligence in there. The coins were all struck with the same mark. We suspected it was the guild's mark.

Kerith went down to the common room to gather information about Gadwick while a few of us got food to bring up. The bard reported what he had learned over the meager supper. Apparently Gadwick is a big shot that owns the Swarro Warehouse, but no one that goes there ever comes back. He also likes to watch his favorite dancer, Jisimana at the Peery Eye tavern. I don't know how accurate this information would have been, for that was all I could remember of that night.

The next thing I knew, we were being released from manacles and made to fight some huge, four-legged bird in a gladiatorial arena. Only Shane was missing from our group. When we were through with the arena fight we were forced back into a cell and manacled once again. The manacles caused a dreamy haze to descend over my mind. I couldn't think straight when I had them touching me.

When next the fog cleared, Shane was removing my manacles. He had killed the guards that were watching us in the cell and had freed us. Later we learned that the innkeeper had poisoned us with the food and candles in our room. Gadwick's thugs came to haul us away after we were incapacitated. Shane had escaped after a brief fight by jumping through a window that had been shuttered and covered in razorvine. He survived the fall and slashing leaves of the vine, but had taken a nasty bump to the head that left him dazed and confused for days.

Our equipment was nearby and we quickly armed ourselves for an escape. It was only then that we noticed another prisoner. He was a strange man, thin, lanky and a bit more than 6 feet tall. His hair was in a top knot and his limbs strangely wrapped in cloth. A very bright great sword that lay amongst the equipment appeared to be his. Oskar told us that he could feel no evil from this captive warrior so we freed him. Immediately the swordsman took up his weapon and wanted to know where he could find Gadwick the abashi that had imprisoned him. Glyt'da  the warrior treated us like we were beneath him but he treated his weapon like a holy item. Even so, we were glad to have him along for the fight that was sure to come during our escape. Days later we learned that Glyt'da  was likely a githyanki. Though when I did a bit of checking, I learned that most githyanki are thought to be evil.

We had to kill three more guards before finding Gadwick and his companions in an open courtyard festooned with razorvine. We fought desperately for our freedom. The battle seemed lost for a moment until Dreel burst in from the doorway across the room and engaged the black abashai from behind. He shouted greetings to us and said he was glad to finally catch up with us. I was more glad. There was another scary moment when Glyt'da  fell under the clawing, biting, stinging attack of the abashai, but Primula was able to get to the injured warrior and cure some of the worst of the injuries. Glyt'da  lept back into the fray at once. I was able to get in a few spells, but the day was carried by the fighters with magical weapons. Abashai regenerate quickly and non-magical weapons have to do a huge amount of damage to have any lasting effect.

When the battle was done Glyt'da  faded away, thanking us and promising that he would remember us. Dreel remained and helped us piece together the bits of information we had. Gadwick was helping operate a slave ring, though he was not the ring leader. The arena was Gadwick's own entertainment venture. We found the papers we needed to clear Tarin, and learned that the Tooka was also tied up in this business. The papers showed a sale of a property that contained a gateway to Toril. Tarin sold the property to the Tooka but Gadwick had forged other documents that implicated Tarin and the Tooka in a murder and theft scheme to gain ownership of the gate.

With documents in hand, and with Dreel's help we left Curst and made our way to the Court of Light where we found Faithful Servant Li. He was able to easily arrange passage for us to Sigil when he explained to his superiors just how much we helped him when he was trying to find Golden Morning Radiance. Back in Sigil we rushed to the Hall of Records where we were just in time to intervene in the case brought against Tarin by Tall Tally of the Mercy Killers. Tarin was saved and Tall Tally was very put out. The Mercy Killer vowed to keep a close eye on us. He would be waiting for us to mess up. We decided to skip town for a while to let him cool off a bit and headed back to Daggerfalls to see if our friend Captain Briggah had become any less hostile towards us.

Back at the Tooka's shop we found a very pleased proprietor. He had had a run in with Tall Tally before and didn't seem to be too concerned about the threats the Mercy Killer made now that the forged documents had been revealed and the proper records had been put in place.

Our travels to Curst were successful, but I can't imagine ever wanting to go back. Even the thought of venturing beyond the gate town into the plane of Carceri fills me with revulsion. I think we survived the experience because of Tymora's favor, some important friends and allies, and staying focused on our objectives.

That's all for now. Please pass along my regards to the girls if you see them. I have written to my folks a time or two in the past months, but have left out a lot of the details that they might find worrying. If you happen to see them, please reassure them that things are going well.

Your student,

Cedar