17 Marpenoth, 1371

Father,

"They" say that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. "They" have never met or dealt with the drow before. It seems my impulsive nature has gotten the best of me once again. My actions nearly cost the lives of my companions and I…OK more so mine…but I would do it all over again to prevent what I must now endure.

Since last I wrote, we have explored further into the Dordrien Crypts and came across a drow outpost called Szith Morcane. Our first attempt to access this outpost came at a guard station above the complex. Drow sentries had been alerted to our presence and were waiting for us. A great battle ensued between drow warriors, a drow spellguard, a wraith spider, and a new form of undead called a Quth-Maren. This grotesque undead resembled a drow who had been flayed. The creature constantly dripped acid. Cedar's arcane skill dispatched the wraith spider while Shane held off the drow warriors. I managed to destroy the Quth-Maren. When it appeared that the battle would be ours, a fearsome drow warrior appeared. His armor and shield were covered with razor sharp edges and spikes. His presence seemingly bolstered the moral of the drow defenders we had been facing. I shot at him… and he deftly intercepted and cut my arrow in two with his shields. A silent challenge went out.

He closed the distance between us and lashed out at me with his razor sharp shields, gashing me across my chest. I shot back at him four times…he intercepted my first arrow but was surprised to find he had missed the second. The shot was straight and true causing severe damage to my opponent, but he still managed to dodge my third arrow. However, to his surprise again, my fourth arrow found its' mark once more. I believe I would have prevailed, but the quick actions and power of Shane ended our little dual and my opponents' life.

Before long we were overwhelmed by a dozen drow and had to retreat. Thanks to a blade barrier by Primula and a wall of force from Cedar, we managed to retreat back to Shadowhold without incident. In an attempt to throw off our pursuers, I returned to the crypts to conceal our trail. We used a portal in Shadowhold to transport ourselves to Sigil and on to the Tooka's in Daggerfalls.

We had managed to bring back with us a drow prisoner who we turned over to Randall Morn. We explained to Lord Morn what we had discovered and he informed us that Szith Morcane was an outpost for the Drow City of Maerimydra. This city was said to be ruled by House Morcane- spider kissers all. Lord Morn suggested that we continue with our investigation and attempt to further infiltrate Szith Morcane. After meeting Peraus for item identification, resupplying, and an evening of rest, we were ready to continue our mission.

We began the 17th of Marpenoth with a hero's feast from and Primula and traveled back to Szith Morcane via her Wind Walk spell. During our flight, we witnessed new farmstead destruction and fires at Shadowhold. It seems the drow were not happy with our little incursion and furious at their inability to find us. Once inside the Dordrien Crypts, we attempted to slip past 2 drow sentries. Our plan worked a little too well and they ran thinking we were ghosts! I attempted to intercept one in my gaseous state but was unsuccessful. During our first entry into Szith Morcane, we came across a Wall of Stone next to the hole leading to the guard post. We rematerialized and Cedar cast Passwall on the Wall of Stone. We entered and he closed the entrance behind us.

The air in this area was stagnant, a sign that the area had been sealed off for some time. We encountered two huge spiders and two driders. It appeared that they were all that remained in this "dead end" cavern. They all had a look of severe hunger…apparently they would have attacked each other had we not arrived. We rested for a moment and prepared to assault the guard post once again.

Oscar used his spear to create an opening we could all escape from in Wind Walking form. We planned a quick strike to take the guard post. Invisible, Cedar and I descended into the hole. There were a few drow sentries and one Quth-Maren waiting, but they were unaware of our presence. Cedar cast Wall of Force to block off their retreat and any reinforcements, while I dispatched a couple of the sentries. The rest of the Wandsmen joined us and the battle was quickly over. We had finally got a foot hold in Szith Morcane.

Thinking we could use an "advanced" scout, I had purchased a scroll of Arcane Eye while in Daggerfalls. I gave the scroll to Cedar so he could explore the great chasm the guard post opened into. A huge spider web hung from the side of the cliff. Along the wall were a number of tunnel entrances and at the bottom of the chasm was a wide swift flowing river. We descended to the lowest entrance in our wind walking forms and looked inside. There, guarding the entrance were four Quth-Maren and two noble vampire drow guards. It wasn't until Shane was almost bitten by one of the vampires that their true nature was revealed. In her attempt to join the battle, Primula was knocked off Oskar's cat by a powerful enchantment and into the river below. Using polymorph self and some quick thinking, Cedar transformed into a brass dragon and quickly rescued a sinking Primula. Meanwhile the rest of the party had defeated the remaing guards. However, the vampires and one Quth-Maren had escaped. Realizing we had lost the element of surprise, we retreated to the drider lair discovered earlier. Once arriving, Cedar cast rope trick and we climbed in to discuss our next move.

While inside the rope trick, Primula had figured out that the spell which threw her into the river was Forbiddance. If she is to enter that area again, it must be dispelled. Our party agreed not to rest and instead push on, keeping the drow off guard. Our next target was one of the upper entrances. Once again, we used our wind walking forms to reach the entrance. Shane and I scouted ahead. The narrow tunnel opened into an inverted hexagonal shaped tower. Shane had discovered arcane writing on an archway leading into the tower space. In his attempt to disarm this apparent trap, Shane set it off. We heard several clicks and doors along the tower walls disappeared.

Moving with speed and stealth, Shane and I quickly dispatched two Arcane Guards at the entrance to another tunnel about 30 feet away. Inside was a small entry way with a door. I could hear a couple of drow talking about tests, magic, and their Master. I realized then that this must be a wizard's tower. I quickly opened the door and Shane and Oscar rushed in and made quick work of the two drow. I remember hearing one of the drow mention something about an Arch-Mage before I opened the door….oops. Inside the room was a curtain and behind it, another arcane guard (now dead).

While all this was going on, Cedar was contacted by the tower's master…a drow Arch-Mage named Solom Ned'rozak. He told Cedar that he had a proposal that would benefit both parties. He asked to speak with Cedar personally and that we stop killing his students (oh well father…one out of two isn't bad). The rest of the story frankly, just sickens me. It is also why I began this letter the way I did. In exchange for leaving his "Inverted Tower" alone and ridding Szith Morcane of the worshipers of Kiaransalee, Solom would pull his Arcane Guard support from these Kiaransalee worshipers and agreed to stop the drow raids in Daggerdale. Sounds great….if your foolish enough to believe him.

It seems I had no choice in the matter. While Cedar was having his "nice little chat" with the resident viper, Kerith had asked me to stop removing items from the drow we had just dispatched. He had failed to mention why, although I was quite certain of the reason. When I had not stopped, a wall of force sealed me in the room I was in. I guess the Master of the tower was not pleased with me. He informed Cedar that I was being "punished for my common thieving actions" which he could NOT tolerate, and that I would remain there for 24 hrs to think about my actions… and this coming from a drow. Realizing I was not going anywhere, I returned the items and sat on the floor. Cedar managed to convince Solom to let me go…for a price of course. I gave up a 500 gp diamond. I immediately was released and we departed the tower. By Solonor Thelandira and my bloody broken arrow I swear a blood oath that I will finish this "hunt". Oscar is right…this fight was over the moment we were discovered. Our mission must come first.

The rest father is a "red hazed anger" blur. We attacked another chasm tunnel entrance, a drow barracks, and wiped out it's inhabitants. I stayed behind to survey the dead and their equipment while the rest of the Wandsmen searched the remainder of the barracks. Frankly, I could have cared less about the bodies…I just needed some time alone with my thoughts. They almost lost Oscar to a Noble Salamander, but Primula's quick action saved the honorable dwarf.

We have discovered that this little "war" in the Underdark between House Morcane (followers of Loth) and the followers of Kiaransalee is much bigger than my fellow Wandsmen realized. It would seem that the Kiaransaleeites control the City of Maerimydra…which means our fight is long from over. I also believe that Solom's "promise" is very much underrated. I believe these raids are the tip of something much bigger.

So here I sit father…contemplating my actions and those of my companions. I know what I did was foolish, especially given the circumstances. However, I expected A LOT more from my companions…especially Oscar and Primula. They know…they know the drow can't be trusted. And then there is Cedar…the trusting fool. With all due respect father…short sightedness is one human trait I have problems dealing with. We could have just left the tower. Solom's "promise to stop the raids" was at best a lie to save his own neck. He is obviously NOT in charge here and it is just a matter of time before a new "puppet master" arrives to pull his strings. Until then, we have a mission to complete and yes…my friends and I…still need each other.

Your son,

Xan