Into the heart of darkness

Returning to Dagger Falls has been bitter sweet. I long for the innocence of just a year ago and at the same time I feel empowered to finally right some of the wrongs so many of us have learned to suffer. For far too long the Drow have over stepped our patience and wrecked havoc upon our homeland. It now seems that their boldness has led them to lead sorties out of the forests and into the relm of man. It has long been their practice to feed off of the labor of others and to enslave and sacrifice the weak in order to appease their Gods. The followers of Lolth have raided the countryside near Dagger Falls. Killing and pillaging where ever they go. I praise Corellen that I now may have the strength to cull Lolth's apatite.

After securing Shadowhold, Ceder, Oskar and Kerith set out to Dagger Falls to inform Lord Morn of our progress in stopping the raids. We have also offered the keep as a refuge to those poor settlers that the Drow have begun to prosecute. Ceder was kind enough to secure some items for me while I stayed at the keep with Xan. Xan kept busy scouting out the lands near to the keep looking for signs of the Drow and their access to the Underdark. Little can escape his keen eyes and he soon tracked the Drow raiders to the doors of the Dordrien Crypts.

Ceder, Oskar and Kerith returned to us just as fast as their steeds could carry them. The horses were foaming at the mouths trying to keep up with Oskar's mount. The actions of the Drow along the road to Dagger Falls compelled their haste. Fore there was evidence of much bloodshed along the way. It appeared to them that it was worse the closer they came to the keep.

We decided to immediately investigate the Dordrien Crypts in the hopes of stopping the Drow. Just outside of the entrance to the Crypts were two free standing crypts. Oskar was able to feel the presence of evil in one of the crypts. Oskar, with the help of his mount, was able to push open the door. We looked inside and saw a swirling mist and two coffins. Oskar commanded the evil to dissipate and it appeared to except that he still felt some lingering hostility in one of the coffins. Remembering some ancient religious lore, I rushed into the crypt and begun to pull the coffin to the door. I thought that if we could just get the coffin into the daylight, all would be well. For this kind of evil cannot suffer the light of day.

Unfortunately, the evil in the coffin was not going to cooperate and coalesced on top of the other coffin. It was a handsome gentleman with a charismatic voice. He laughed as he told us that he too came here to rob the dead. When he smiled I think I saw two fanged teeth! He loosed a lighting bolt at Ceder who deftly avoided its path. It exploded against the doorway showering us with debris. Ceder returned his challenge with some magic missiles that struck true. Our evil host then dissipated and fled to the coffin. With Shane's help, I was able to move the coffin into the sunlight witch dispatched the Vampire!

We all breathed a sigh of relief when Oskar told us that the evil was gone. Inside of the crypt we found some items that the vampire must have collected from some unsuspecting travelers.

Detecting no evil from the other crypt, we decided to leave the dead in peace.

Upon the doors to the Dordrien Crypts, I saw the carvings of skeletal faces. No doubt a sign of what was inside. Xan informed us that the Drow tracks led into the doors. Shane deftly unlocked the doors and we proceeded cautiously. Inside we came across the bodies of five Drow. They appeared to have been in a battle with other Drow. Their possessions were removed, but Xan and I both recognized the markings of worshipers of Lolth. Is doesn't surprise me that these Drow were killed by their own kind. Lolth often delights in pitting her worshipers against each other. This may be a weakness for us to exploit. If we disguise our actions like one of the Drow factions, we make help precipitate a blood feud and hide our transgressions at the same time. Nothing would satisfy me more than to see evil turn upon itself. It is their inability to trust each other that will ultimately be their undoing.

Further inside the passageway we came across several doors. We were conflicted on what to do. Should we leave the dead in peace and search out only the source of the Drow raids? Or should we explore every passage, ensuring that no enemies are behind us as we progress further into the depths of the Underdark?

After setting off several traps designed to protect the eternal slumber of the dead, (and making quite a racket) I hope we can conclude that we need not tread where evil is absent. If we are to be successful, we must not announce our presence to the creatures of the Underdark.

Before us is a passage that leads down into darkness…..