Letter Home
Den of Derahtu

I believe that my faith has been strengthened by the day's events. We have dared to look into the face of evil and our resolve held fast.

After leaving the protection of Ceder's "rope-trick," we cautiously delved further into the depths of the drow stronghold. After a brief encounter, we found ourselves at an entrance to a long hallway ending at a closed door. Oskar cautioned us that great evil resided beyond it. Shane led the way with Oskar, Xan and I close behind. Shane was treading lightly so as to surprise our unsuspecting foes when he inadvertently set of a trap at the end of the hallway. The ceiling fell and large flag of stone came crashing down. Xan and I were spared its descent, but not so Shane and Oskar. I held my breath, waiting for the dust to clear and the ringing in my ears to abate. Before the dust had cleared, Xan leapt forward and opened the door! Ceder and I exchanged worried glances and rushed past our comrades to the threshold of the room beyond. In it, we saw roughly ten drow. Were these the source of eminent evil that Oskar detected? We were not sure and we were not willing to wait for that secret to reveal itself.

I called upon Corellen for help and she delivered a pillar of fire to smite our foes. Ceder added one of his infamous fire balls for good measure. I believe that he must have read the same tome as I: "…when it comes to evil, kill 'em all and let Corellen sort them out." The few fell souls that remained, were quickly liberated from their bodies by Shane, Oskar and Xan.

About two-thirds into the room was hideous wall. Describe it I shall, but my words will hardly do its base demeanor justice. Spanning the breadth of the room was a wall of bones. They were somehow animated into a moving, protecting barrier for those on the other side. It produced a crepitous noise that added to its intimidation. On its far side, were several drow, as was to be expected, and, infront of a large alter, was a draegloth! I paused, momentarily, to contemplate how best to dispatch this new evil. Just then, the wall parted slightly, and skeletal warriors began to pass through. I tried to turn the undead that we saw before us, but only the skeletons were affected. Shane, shrugging off the pain he endured from the trap, charged forward and forced his way through the wall. Through the writhing mass of bones, we could see his small figure trip and dispatch one of the figures inside. Oskar and Xan rushed forward and forced their way inside as well. Kerith and I tried to follow, but were rebuked by the wall's strength. I tried with all the strength I could muster for one more charge at the wall. I was forced back violently and fell to the ground. When I looked up, I saw Shane's body slump to the floor. I screamed in anguish as another one of my friends fell (three in as many days.) Once again, I was unable to prevent the death of one of my pride.

I had now time to mourn, for as I watched in horror, his body was pulled into the wall, adding his bones to its own. Xan and Oskar fought on while we watched; unable to help. They quickly delivered justice to those inside and when they finished, the wall fell down. We all franticly searched through the pile of bones until we found those of our friend Shane. To render a new body and return his soul was beyond my skill. Fortunately I had some help in the form of a scroll that I picked up in a yuanti labyrinth. Kerith aided me as I called upon Corellen to return our brave friend to us. She acquiesced and Shane was delivered to us, full of venom for our foes.

We quickly dispatched the rest of the denizens of this stronghold and searched it throughout. Among the many items we found, was a letter to Derahtu (the draegloth.) It was from a Cult of the Dragon nearby. They apparently were close to creating a dracolich and suggested joining forces against the Shar. We also found a crude map that would lead us to the Cult. We also learned that this was the last of a drow clan. They once had a high priestess that conceived the draegloth to help them fight against other clans. They eventually challenged the phaerim and were driven from the underdark to here.

Brave or foolhardy we are off to stop the Cult of the Dragon before they get too strong for their own good. Let evil stand watch, for the pride of Primula, the Wandsmen, are coming.

Respectfully,

Primula