Marpenoth 16, 1371 DR

Back for only a month and we are already plunging headlong into the fray once again. Thankfully there was plenty of time to visit the school and workout with the other students before we accepted our next mission for Lord Morn and the good folk of Daggerdale. I made sure to send word home to mom and dad in Highhill that we were back and well before we rushed off in search of marauding drow.

I am beginning to feel that this will be another test of my newfound faith in the Lord of the Dawn. It was a challenge in the blistering heat of the Anauroch to remember that the dawn heralds rebirth and renewal, rather than suffering and death, but Primula's council helped me to keep things in proper perspective. Now I fear that I may not see the blessed light of the dawn for many days. Hopefully the new texts that I was able to obtain from the temple of Lathander will help me to remain optimistic and hopeful as we pursue drow - no doubt into dark tunnels far beneath the sunlit world we are all so used to.

Hmmm, only a day spent in the darkness of the Dordrien Crypts and already I miss the light of the sun. I fear that I will already need to seek Primula's council and meditate upon the wise words that she is always so quick to provide. Perhaps some of this pessimism is the result of our second foray into the darkness of the Plane of Shadows. Perhaps another journey into the sun-baked lands of Anauroch, after we finish with the drow will do me some good.

Yes, I've mentioned drow several times and have made vague references to a place called the Dordrien Crypts. Lord Morn had asked us to look into raids that he suspected were the work of the drow. Good dalefolk were being slaughtered in lightning-fast raids. I am proud to say that my companions, without hesitation, agreed to come to the aid of the dale once again. It is heart-warming to see how everyone in the group, despite our diverse backgrounds, has come to consider the dale their home and the people of the dale their friends. And so we set out from Daggerfalls in search of some clue as to the whereabouts of the drow. Xan's excellent tracking skills, and some leads from Lord Morn's far rangers, led us into the Daggerhills where first we encountered a bard named Rodriguez and the tragic Shadowhold, haunted by the evil of its ruler Sallust and the restless spirits of his wife and daughters.

From Shadowhold, Xan located what appears to have been the base of the drow raiding the dale farmlands. These Dordrien Crypts, as Kerith and Cedar have identified them, are ancient, natural tunnels filled with the dead. After a frightening run in with some vampires and a ghost, we discovered the bodies of several drow within the crypts. Moving deeper, we found a bizarre statue that Cedar and Primula were able to identify as a representation of the ancient lord of the dead, Jergal. Seeing this enormous and intimidating guardian within the deeper crypts we were all glad that we have left the remains of the dead at peace. We have all agreed, and rightly so, that we are here on an important mission to protect the people of the dale. We are not here as tomb robbers and we will avoid disturbing the dead unless it is absolutely necessary in pursuing and slaying the drow.

Interestingly, Xan and Primula are convinced that the drow near the entrance to the crypts were slain by other drow. And, based on my limited knowledge of drow I would have to agree with them. Most of their injuries seemed to have been inflicted by bolts from the tiny handcrossbows that are apparently very popular amongst the drow. However, I will try to keep an open mind as we try to solve this mystery along with the others that I am sure will emerge as we trek deeper into the Dordrien Crypts.

Xan and I have been scouting ahead for the party. We have all discussed this tactic and decided that the drow have a distinct advantage against us here in the darkness and on what is presumably their home territory. The group simply makes too good of a target with everyone bunched together and illuminated by torches. So we scout ahead in the darkness, trying to surprise any sentries or other guards as best as we can. Thankfully, Xan was able to supply Cedar with a magical scroll that has allowed me to see in the dark as well as he can.

Not far past the statue of Jergal we were surprised as a stalagmite suddenly burst into action, flailing at Xan and me with tremendously long tentacles. But a quick flurry of arrows from our archer quickly put an end to the threat. Cedar and Kerith, again drawing on their obscure knowledge of the bizarre were able to tell us a little about the creature. It is known as a roper, a creature that looks very much like a stalagmite and can often be found in caves and tunnels hiding amongst natural stalagmites and stalactites waiting to surprise the unwary.

Not far at all from the roper's hiding place, we discovered an illusionary wall, hiding another cave from our view. Forging ahead into the cave, I was startled to find two huge spider-like creatures waiting for us. The evil creatures, which Cedar identified as bebeliths - lower planar creatures of vile disposition - attacked as soon as we entered the cave. I rushed forward to join battle with them while Xan hit them with a barrage of arrow fire. I was amazed to see that my attacks did nothing to harm them and was shocked to see Oskar's armor shredded into pieces as one of the creatures lashed out with a hooked claw.

Luckily, between Oskar's lance and Xan's arrows they were able to make short work of the creatures. Even a lightning bolt from Cedar failed to phase these hideous things. Beyond the bebelith room, we were able to discover two more illusory walls, each hiding another cave, and with some small effort to get everyone through the walls. In the first chamber we encountered a web trap guarded by some strange drow-like creatures with fangs that seemed to be able to shift into a spider-form as well. What these creatures could be I have no idea. Perhaps they are some odd, Underdark form of lycanthrope? Were-spiders? I really have no idea and despite all their odd bits of lore, Cedar and Kerith were unable to identify these creatures.

Our most difficult encounter yet lay within the final concealed chamber. Past the spider-drow guardians we encountered a well-prepared band of drow. As we were still negotiating the illusory wall, their wizard pounded us with hail and lightning. Knowing that Cedar, Kerith and Primula could not withstand those kinds of attacks for long, I rushed into the room trying to get myself into position to harass the wizard. I nimbly dodged past two drow warriors waiting in ambush as Xan fired another barrage of arrows over my head.

With Oskar joining the fray and magical support from the rest of the group we made quick work of the drow. I discovered later that Xan's first target hadn't been the wizard at all, but a priestess of Lolth that I had not seen as I rushed into the room. Luckily, he managed to kill her before she could call on the deadly powers from her hateful goddess.

After some further reconnaissance, and a run-in with a strange invisible ghoul-like creature, we retreated back into the caverns hidden by the illusory walls to rest and recuperate. These rope tricks that Cedar creates have proven to be extremely useful for removing ourselves from harms way and resting while in dangerous areas. I had best get some rest after I speak with Primula. I hope she has some way of putting my mind at ease, for I'm sure the morning will bring yet another day of darkness and drow. I hope we will not have to remain in these lightless realms for too long.