Greetings Father,

It has been many rides since last I wrote you. Much has happened. It seems I am no longer the wide-eyed ignorant and impetuous youth I once was. I have seen too much, experienced great pain and forgiveness.

I never told you this…but I was always angry with you after mother died. I never understood how you could remain so calm and strong. I believed that you did not care about her death…I understand now how wrong I was. It must have taken you a long time to forgive yourself. Always wondering if you could have done something different, that she would still be with us. The Wandsmen and I learned this lesson all too well. Our rash actions cost the lives of a father and his two young sons. We were never really the same after that. It took an odd twist of fate and a trip to the Abyss to teach us the price of being heroic...the likely and possible loss of innocents. We realized that what we do, the good we try to live our lives by, the battles we face to help make our world a better place often comes with loss and with loss must come self-forgiveness. I now understand you father…and I gather strength from the fact that we, you and I, have lost and have forgiven ourselves.

As you may have heard, the Wandsmen and I managed to put an end to the invasion of the Kiaransaleen Drow. However the price was high. Battledale, Featherdale, and Tasseldale, have suffered greatly. Most of their populations were destroyed by an undead army led by a High Priestess of Kiaransalee named Irea T'sarran.

The battle took place at the City of Maerimydra in the Underdark. When we arrived, the city was completely deserted. No bodies or any other sign of the former inhabitants. We did, however, come across a Shade by the name of Ambassador Wyrruth of Shade Enclave. He said we would find Irea T'sarran at the Undying Temple. The Gap of Skulls, Shadowhold, the library at the Temple of Spirit Soaring, and now here. It seems we have run into the Shades everywhere.

We managed to gain entrance to the Undying Temple. We were greeted by many foes...even the Temple itself was sentient! We battled hard, determined to put a stop to Irea T'sarran. Even after reaching what we thought was the top, we discovered that the temple had an ethereal part to it! Again we pushed on until we met Irea and her strongest supporters. We defeated her and later discovered a way to destroy the temple. You see father, the temple was powered by a planar "bubble" between our plane and the negative energy plane. This caused a major disturbance in the weave, the effects of which radiated for miles around. We later found out that it affected the ability of clerics in Morn's army, to heal the wounded. When the temple was destroyed, the weave returned to normal.

We met up with Lord Morn's army on 5th of Alturiak. We presented him the body of Irea T'sarran. We had won. Or did we? We were told of the fate of the three dales mentioned earlier. Many refugees had gathered with the army. We informed Lord Morn that we could house them for the winter at Shadowhold. With that, Lord Morn presented us with land grants for the old, abandoned farmsteads and estates in the Dordrien lands. Our keep was also progressing well, thanks to the timely and efficient dwarves of the Brightblade Clan.

Soon after settling in the refugees at Shadowhold and preparing our keep for the remaining winter, I left to ride with the Far Rangers of Daggerdale. During the six weeks I was with them, I witnessed Zhent caravan after Zhent caravan fleeing out of the Anauroch dessert. Many looked as if they had been in battle. Kerith also learned from his father, that flights of blue dragons were destroying Zhent caravans as well as large Bedine settlements. No dought the Shades are claiming Anauroch as their own.

We have also heard other news including: the breaching of the Sharn Wall (releasing the Phaerimm), the battle for Evereska, the destruction of Tilverton, the melting of the High Ice by the Shades (which has caused this unusual weather in the Dales), the Lord's Alliance aid to Evereska (which has prompted the Shades to recall their representatives from the northern cities), and lastly the attempt by some of the High Harpers, including some of the Seven Sisters, attempt (and failure) to destroy the Mythalar in Shade Enclave. However, we have reports stating that their actions did disrupt the Shade spell that was melting the High Ice.

Sadly, we also recently learned that Cedar's youngest sister, Larissa, has been kidnapped by Leevoth, a captain of Shade Enclave. You may recall that I had shot him when we visited the Plane of Shadow during our time at the Gap of Skulls. Primula has also learned that her family wants her to come home immediately and end her adventuring ways. She has also received word, that it is important for us to go to Highmoon. You will understand if I say that I can not tell you why. Suffice it to say, it is very important.

Father, our experience with the Shades tells us that they can not be trusted. Their motives are undeniably sinister in nature. As a high ranking member in the Swords of Deepingdale, you need to inform Lord Theremen Ulath to be very wary of the Shades. We also have reason to believe that with the tremendous loss in Battledale, Featherdale, and Tasseldale, the Zhents or the Sembians may take advantage of the situation. This would not be good for all of the Dalelands.

Well father I must take my leave. I hope all is well and that I will see you soon. By the way, have you been looking after "Uncle Danali's" place. I am sure it would be important to him while he is away. Till next we meet.

Your son,

Xan