16 Marpenoth, 1371

Dear Master Zorthaster,

Believing that we have found the source of the drow raids into Daggerdale, we are exploring ancient crypts of the Dordrien Lords. We have yet to see a live drow, but already we have faced terrifying dangers.

Before we found the crypts we had a few loose ends to tie up with regard to Shadowhold. We wished to claim it as our stronghold if Lord Morn would allow it. Oskar, Kerith and I returned to Daggerfalls to do three main things, meetings with Master Wands, Lord Morn, and the Bladebright dwarves. I went to Peraus Wands and he identified the magical items we had recovered in Shadowhold. He did it so quickly after leaving the room where I waited that I had to ask him how he did it. He just smiled and said "I have a lot of time to work with." At this I had a wild idea of asking him to give me several months to study the scrolls so I could master them without delaying my companions and our quest. I do not know if it was wisdom or fear that made me hold my tongue. Regardless, Master Wands was excited enthusiastic about his recent studies of the scroll I loaned him and also showed me that he had unearthed all of the Sand Gate. He showed me drawings of strange carriages that needed no horses to move and told me that I should seek out a Master DaRoni come springtime.

Kerith went to meet with Lord Morn. He was unable to speak with the man himself, but got on his schedule for a couple of days hence. Oskar met with the Brightblade dwarves and told them all about our mission to fight the drow, the return of Shadowhold, and our need for repairs at the keep. Most of the dwarven engineers were away for the season, working at the place where we found the tellstang. We may get some dwarves to help us with the repairs, but it was not likely to happen before spring.

After meeting with Master Wands, I went to the Merrydale Delvers Guild and spoke with Feris. I explained that we would need to hire staff for the keep, assuming that we were granted our request from Lord Morn. After explaining that we were going to be busy with pressing business and away from town for a while, I asked his advice on recruiting help for the keep. He was willing to help, saying "I'm a pretty good judge of character myself", I smiled and had to agree. I hired Feris to begin putting a staff together for us. I was even able to do a bit of shopping, getting supplies for our explorations. I expected that we would be going into the underdark so I picked up extra spell components and equipment for myself as well as purchasing items from a list Primula gave me.

I was happy to sell off the staff of shadows that we had found. I swear that as the shadows grew long near the end of each day, I could almost feel it whispering to me. I was glad to be rid of it. Instead I kept a staff of fire. It felt comfortable and was properly quiet.

The following morning Kerith was still not able to get an earlier appointment with Lord Morn so we left a written report and made our way back to Shadowhold. The report told Lord Morn all we had learned about the keep and asked for a grant of use as our stronghold. We also suggested that in the short term at least, the keep might be a useful place to garrison troops and provide refuge for settlers plagued by drow raids. On our way in to town we had discovered more evidence of the raids. It was gruesome to walk amongst the burned out homesteads and see the remains of people tortured and killed by the drow. It spurred us to take care of our errands quickly and return with great speed. We hoped that Lord Morn would not take offense at us for failing to wait to meet with him in person. None of us had slept easily, knowing that drow could very well be out in the dale, cloaked in darkness, killing and torturing more innocent people.

We left early and rode hard for Shadowhold. Oskar and his cat pushed us hard. We had to slow eventually when Kerith's horse began to strain to keep up. Pushing faster would have killed the poor creature. We arrived at the broken gate after the sun had set. Our companions remained safe. Xan had been out scouting nearly every moment and believed that he had found the Dordrien Crypts and that that was the route used by the drow raiders. The keep seemed less haunted by restless spirits that night. I do not know if this was Primula's work or a simple result of its strengthening connection with the life of the place where it was once again firmly anchored. I suspect, though I have no real evidence, that the very presence of Primula in the keep does much to cleanse the structure of the dark shadows that once haunted it. I got a feeling that the place was almost reflecting a little of the holy power that Primula wields for Corellon, and the calm, solid spirit of the halfling. Perhaps I just have an over-active imagination lately.

Mid morning today found us climbing the hills and bluffs that flank the northwestern edge of the Daggerhills. We wound our way around jutting boulders that were scattered in abundance. Between the rocks were thick patches of briar that greedily tore at cloaks and robes as soon as one let down his guard. Ciercie found it great fun to scramble through the briars and across the rocks as she sought out every little seep and spring that came out of the hills. Xan obviously knew where he was going, and before long he had us into a draw that deepened until we could see two small stone buildings guarding a great set of dark stone doors. Wind and rain from uncounted years had worn away all but hints of the carvings on the stonework. Only in one place were a few letters still legible on the smallest of the buildings. We puzzled out the words "Cahir" and "Together for eternity" but that was all.

Primula and Oskar were scowling. "Undead" the priestess reported. Oskar told us that there were three evil auras present. One was very strong. The cat began to push at the door of the mausoleum with one great shoulder and many hands and backs quickly joined in. With a crash the ancient stone gave way and for a moment the darkness and a cloud of dust kicked up by the falling rubble was all we could make out. Oskar commanded the undead to return to their graves and I saw a vapor, like grave mist, swirl for a moment in a pattern that was clearly not falling dust. Shane burst into the room and pushed the cover off a stone sarcophagus. Inside, the swirling mist thickened and seethed. I fired into the coffin with magic missiles and knew they hit something. These had to be vampires! Only one had survived Oskar's command, but for that one to have survived meant that it was very powerful. Suddenly it was out of the coffin and coalesced. He was a handsome man with dark hair and a fine chiseled beard. He wore an elegant, gem studded cloak. Standing on another coffin he grinned and his long fangs were revealed even in the darkness. He fired a lightning bolt at me but I was able to dodge its effects. Rock chips showered me as it slammed into the stone wall behind me. It was only then that I realized that I had entered the crypt. More magic missiles struck the vampire. I was gripped with terror. Even in my fear, I fought to aid my friends, though I do not know how I was able to focus my mind through the fright. Primula and Shane dragged the vampire's coffin out into the light of day. The sun came round the hill and shined onto the gave soil as they dumped it to the ground from the coffin. I don't know if it was another powerful command full of holy power or just the damage from spells and blades, but suddenly the vampire turned to mist and tried to flee. It had to flee and seek its coffin even though its supposed refuge was in the sunlight. As it died it screamed in a voice that hurt my ears even though I think it made no sound.

It was clear that these undead had been preying on travelers and adventurers. They had a collection of gear and magical items commonly found only amongst adventuring groups. We pulled the remaining coffins out into the sun and emptied the dust from them. I wanted to let the sun into every corner of the mausoleum, but we would have to take it apart stone by stone to accomplish that task.

Ahead, the giant stone doors beckoned. Carvings of armored warriors had been deeply inscribed into the doors, for we could still make out the shapes even though they had been badly weathered. Their helms were open to reveal skeletal faces. Perhaps they were placed there to instill fear into any who would pass. Despite the passage of years, the stone carvers did their jobs well for when I looked at them, I was afraid.

The doors were chained shut from the inside. Shane was able to get in and unlock the chain, allowing us to get the doors open. The chain was made from a dark purple adamantine. I know of no one around here who uses such metal. It was marvelous stuff. The passage itself was hewn from solid bedrock. The floor was a bit uneven, and someone pointed out that running would be dangerous across such a surface.

Just inside the doors we found five dead drow. Three were male, two female. They had the symbol of a silver spider on them. They had died from wounds inflicted by very small crossbow bolts. Their deaths happened less than a ride ago and they had been stripped of anything of significant value.

Moving along cautiously, we discovered several undisturbed crypt rooms. One was guarded by a glyph that summoned two celestial dire lions. Another room held a statue and several doors. A ghost and a glyph that nearly killed Primula guarded it. The ghost could have been even more deadly but it turned and fled from the holy power of the priestess and the paladin. When the others had opened the door I hid myself out of the way, around the corner. I could see clearly the bright line of light that spilled through between the two door that led outside. I wondered when I would next feel that sunlight on my face. It was terribly shameful. Hiding out and hoping to be in the sunlight again when we had only gone a hundred and twenty feet into the crypts. What will it be like if we have to spend days underground or weeks in the underdark? The brave folk ahead closed the door before the ghost should return and I crept back up to join them, feeling ashamed at my cowardice. It is possible that the doors in that room led to something important to our mission, but it seemed unlikely. The room seemed undisturbed by the drow and we were not here to steal from the dead. The evil we were after was a living and malicious one. Our search for it will continue.

Yours,

Cedar