18 Marpenoth, 1371

Dear Master Zorthaster,

We have pushed further into to realm of the Drow and have encountered fearsome foes. Oskar, my close friend and moral guide has fallen in battle against a terrible dark warrior. I was too slow in aiding him. He died heroically but I am stricken with grief and look to Primula to seek his return to us through Corellon's power.

Let me back up a bit and describe how we reached this tragic event. Perhaps by explaining it to you I might come to accept it myself.

We finished our day yesterday by ransacking the barracks area, looking for more information and searching the prison cells for signs of recent inhabitants. They were cold and empty with no furnishings save for manacles fastened to the walls. A stay in a drow prison looks to be a cold and miserable affair. We did find a secret compartment in one chest. It contained a wand, a scroll (haste and suggestion), and a fancy gold comb.

Primula used Corellon's power to compel the dead guard officer to speak with her. She asked about the forbiddance spell shielding the lowest chamber. We learned that the only way through the spell was to for your heart to be filled with chaos and evil. Small chance of that with this group I thought. We determined that we would attempt to dispel the enchantment in the morning when the priestess and I would have had a chance to prepare the proper spells. In the meanwhile, we disposed of the dead bodies by pitching them into the river far below. We are beginning to fear that the drow priestesses of undeath would find the corpses all too useful for their evil plans.

All of us except Xan and Mina spent a restless night in the rope trick just outside the door to the main crypts. The ranger and his owl stayed on guard throughout most of the night in case the drow once again came out from their lair to attack the dalefolk. We wanted to be ready to show them the error of attacking these innocents, but they either stayed in their caves or have another route to the surface nearby. Our watchers did not detect any dangers and we were able to get some rest.

In the morning both Primula and I prepared spells against the enchantment that hedged us out of the lower chamber. Once again the priestess cast her spells that allowed us to travel as vapors and we entered the crypts. Our attacks must be hurting the drow at least a little, for there were no guards in the upper chambers where we had fought so desperately before. Between the two of us, Primula and I were able to finally bring down the forbiddance spell. I had an unpleasant encounter with the spell effects when I thought that I had dispelled it only to find that it was as strong and invisible as ever. It was painful and I don't really want to ever experience that again.

The chamber was guarded by vampire drow as before, only this time they were not as immediately visible. They were hiding or were at least posted out of sight. We attacked them and between our spells and fists an blades and holy power, they were either destroyed or caused to flee. Following that short, terrifying battle, we discovered a tortured and severely wounded captive drow warrior, a female, Dessa Sic-Morcane. She was not a noble, but through either deeds or relation, was made an honorary member of the house Morcane. She asked us to release her so she could fight the traitors that caused the downfall of the house and take her revenge on the T'sarrans. "Give me armor, a blade and healing!" she demanded of us through bloody lips. "I will see their heads broken!"

Shane cut her free of her chains and gave her a sword while Kerith and Primula brought her back from death's door. Meanwhile, we had discovered the coffins of the three vampire guards. One contained the misty essence of a slain vampire according to Oskar. I polymorphed into the form of large, powerful celestial and carried the coffins to the edge of the chasm. They were thrown into the raging river below where the coffins rapidly broke to bits and the contents washed away in the clean, powerful water.

Our new ally led the fight into another chamber where we clashed with vampiric driders as well as one of the fleeing vampire drow. Dessa fought well and enthusiastically. I just wonder what might occur when our common foe is defeated.

On into the next corridor we surprised a pair of drow twin sisters behind a door. They had four quth-maren with them and the fight was challenging. Dessa attacked with a rage and fell to a powerful spell from one of the drow priestess delivered with a sneer and a slight touch of her hand. To make matters worse, moments after we engaged the priestesses and their horrifying guards, a dark drow warrior, accompanied by a fiendish displacer beast, rounded the corner ahead of us. We were being attacked on two fronts now by dangerous and powerful foes.

Oskar moved immediately to confront the evil pair of warriors down the hall. He did what was needed so we would have time to finish off the twin priestesses. It also spelled his doom. He struck the blackguard with an amazing ferocity but was unable to kill his foe before being struck by the displacer's horny tentacles and the drow's dire flail. The blows threw him from his saddle and he lay in a crumpled heap behind his cat. I was finally able to finish my summoning spell and brought in a celestial dire bear to aid us. The bear and the rest of the Wandsmen finished off the blackguard but the displacer beast kept coming. I hit it with magic missiles and drew its attention. It tried to get to me but Xan and Primula got in its way. Primula nearly paid with her life as the beast clawed and bit and raked with its tentacles. We were finally able to bring it down, but it was difficult. The monster's ability to appear to be in a different location made it a very challenging and frightening threat. I almost paniced when the monster locked its evil eyes on me and advanced. Xan stepped directly in its path though and I regained my nerve.

When the monster fell, we all rushed to Oskar's body. He was gone. I looked at Primula. As ever, she looked strong and determined and confidant. She did not speak, but I could see in her eyes a refusal to accept defeat. With that look she seemed to say "The drow shall not be victorious over this one. Oskar will live to see them vanquished."

Your faithful student,

Cedar