Father,

It has been a long time! I find myself wondering of all the stories you have not told me…in hopes that I would one day experience the world for myself. I have done just that.

After rescuing the "good" Tren Noemfor and turning him over to Peraus Wands, we continued with our Zhentarim deception. To make a long story short, we explored an ancient unburied city of Netheril, recovered 2 of the famed Nether Scrolls, destroyed our Zhentarim associates, and met Lela Suud- the "Night Lion"- who turned out to be Kerith's father! We have since returned to a changed Dagger Falls. It was a long and difficult journey thru the Anauroch, but with Solonor Thelandira's blessing we have succeeded in our mission. After a much-needed rest, we took on a mission for Lord Morn to look into recent drow raids located in outlying farm areas.

During our first day of travel, we happened to meet a rather strange fellow named Rodriguez. Curious…he had the mark of the "Lady of Pain" from Sigil. He told us a tail of Sallust, a fallen paladin who murdered his wife and children. We were informed that Sallust resided in Castle Shadowhold. This place of evil only appears on certain nights when Selune is full. Soon after his tale, Castle Shadowhold appeared and we began the "end" of this tragic tail. We managed to defeat Sallust, his "undead" wife and children and the creature which had whispered evil into Sallust's ears- a fiendish shadow dragon! Kerith discovered that this dragon was the granddaughter of Shimmergloom- the great evil shadow dragon of the North. Our actions have allowed Shadowhold to return to this world and "the light" once again. We have claimed the rights to this castle and hope to one day make it our home. That was 2 days ago.

Cedar, Oskar, and Kerith returned to Dagger Falls to sell / identify treasure we had recovered, resupply our group, hire help for our new keep, and inform Lord Morn of our situation. During that time, I scouted the area for clues to the drow raids Lord Morn informed us about. These raids concern me father. Living in Deepingdale, you and I have seen our share of drow raids…but not like this. From what I have seen, these raids seem to have but one purpose…terror. The drow had brutally murdered everyone and everything! No slaves or goods were taken! Just slaughter!!!

I tracked the drow to an area just north of the Daggerhills. Here I located the ancient Dordrien Crypts. Lord Morn had mentioned to us that his scouts had also tracked the drow to this place. After a day of observation, I returned to Shadowhold. Oskar, Cedar, and Kerith had returned and we all set off for the Dordrien Crypts this morning.

At the entrance of the crypts, we found two small stone mausoleums. I have spent half my life studying the undead and I was not about to leave ANY of these crypts "infested" with their evil presence. Oskar seemed to have the same idea. It did not take us long to find our foe. We discovered one vampire and two of his spawn in the smaller structure…they did not stand a chance! With the power of Moradin and Corellon, we destroyed them. After completing our search of the mausoleums, we made our way inside the Dordrien Crypts.

Inside we found a most interesting site. Five dead drow lay before us in the hallway. From what I could discern, they had been killed with poisoned tipped hand crossbow bolts- a favored tactic of the drow. I looked for house insignia, but they had been stripped clean of all markings and valuables. Drow killing drow is nothing new, so at the time I did not think much about what we saw.

Further inside we found many undisturbed crypts. One was guarded by a glyph that summoned two celestial dire lions. Another contained a glyph of Slay Living and a statue. It is also home to a ghost! My instincts told me that a ghost was responsible for the footprints found on the floor of this "undisturbed" crypt. I had cast Alarm and it went off…but nothing was in the room. Not thinking, I cast See Invisibility and entered the room with Primula…and there was the ghost! Father, I know a lot about ghosts but nothing prepared me for the horror I witnessed. Thankfully, the power of Corellon drove her away.

We continued making our way deeper into the crypts. Carved stone hallways soon gave way to natural tunnels and caverns lined with what appears to be "commoner" crypts. Shane and I have been scouting ahead of the group. For an elf, Primula is way too loud!! Not far into the natural cavern, we encounter a statue of the ancient God, Jergal. This god is the guardian of tombs…best to leave the dead in peace. Further on, we encountered a Roper. We dispatched it with haste. While Shane was searching the area around the Roper, I searched for secrete doors. I found instead, an illusionary wall and proceeded to gather the party further away to inform them of my discovery. Thanks to Shane's "enthusiasm", we hastily passed through the illusion and found ourselves in a large cavern face to face with two Bebelith Demons!! With my new bow, "Prey Seeker", I brought down one of the demons before it had the chance to harm anyone in our group. We managed to defeat the other fiend, but not before it tore apart Oskar's magical armor. Thankfully, Oskar was not seriously injured.

After a thorough search, we discovered another illusionary wall in the back of the cavern. On the other side were two Aranea! We dispatched these foes and proceeded to do another search. Again, we found another illusionary wall! This time we reached the last cavern. Inside we found 4 drow Spider-kissers!!! One, a female, was a priestess of Loth. The other three were males and included two "guards" and one wizard. The battle was short but intense. These drow would not live!!! I made sure they would no longer live!!!! When they lay dead at our feet, I cut off the heads of the ones nearest to me!! No one seems to understand why. Except of course, Primula. She too had decapitated the drow. Only she understands the drow like I do. They are a plague that must be exterminated!!

I have since calmed down and find myself wondering about something. It just occurred to me, that the drow priestess of Loth never once called upon her bitch goddess to aid her and her evil kin. Strange. What is also puzzling is that these drow were hiding!! They had supplies and were guarded by the demons and aranea. Loth drow don't hide!! They conquer and dominate! Could it be that the dead drow we found at the entrance of the crypts were also Loth worshipers? If so, what other clan of drow is in control here? Are they worshipers of Vhaeraun or Kiaransalee or maybe even Ghaunadaur? I am uncertain. Safice it to say, these are questions we may soon have answers to.

After an hour of rest and a Hero's Feast from Primula, we continued on our original path through the crypts. Shane and I eventually came across a cavern off to our left and entered. Inside I witnessed a ghoul-like creature change form into an elf. I immediately drew my bow and called for Oskar. Shane could not see anything. I believe the See Invisibility spell I had cast allowed me to see this creature. Oskar entered and instantly detected "great intense evil"…I fired and dropped the creature where it stood. It returned to its' original form and Cedar was able to identify it as a Maurezhi Demon. And so father we continue. I am unsure what we will encounter next and I have many disturbing questions that need answering. Something tells me that we have stumbled upon something that may affect much more than Daggerdale…I fear for all the Dalelands. Until next time.

Your son, Xan

P.S. The halfling (Shane) still looks at me funny. I don't think he trusts me. Must be that mirror incident.