Report from the Surface

The scouting mission on the surface is a huge success so far. In fact, I think that we may have underestimated exactly how soft these humans have become over the years! Case in point- they had misplaced a scroll which contained enough magic to cast a powerful teleportation spell. Naturally, hearing the word "magic", I offered to retrieve it for them. From their description, I expected great demons and a terrible battle for possession of the scroll. But, as it turned out, the humans had been deterred by a family of bears who had taken up residence next to their precious hiding place!

I think that the perfect time for a raid may be coming very soon. It seems that they have been fighting amongst themselves, and quite a few of the residents have left camp and are actively fighting against their former companions. Of course, I'd leave too if I lived in a camp where the inhabitants were afraid to fight a simple porcupine. For now, I am able to make a decent living fighting the rebels, plus a variety of local wildlife. The fool villagers will pay me for walking out into the forest, and bringing back items that used to belong to them! They certainly deserve to be parted from their gold if they are too weak even to re-arm themselves. For all of their softness, though, they are not very cautious. I have taken a few pains to conceal my identity, and that seems to have been enough to gain their trust. One of their fighters now accompanies me, although if she's their best and brightest then I'm amazed they've survived as long as they have. For now, she is useful to me. Her appalling lack of caution causes the monsters to pay far more attention to her than they do to me. Most of them never even see the bolt that kills them! Amplisa will be easy enough to dispose of when she is no longer helpful to me.

There is but one thing which gives me pause- if these humans are truly as stupid and weak as they appear, how have they been able to hold their camp for as long as they have? How are they able to support themselves, and afford to pay me to run their petty little errands? Clearly they are hiding something, or perhaps only one of the humans is hiding her true power, while the rest of the villagers live in ignorance. I will find the source of their power, but until then I must bide my time.

The magic of the surface is different than that of the underdark, and small amounts of magic can be found concentrated in the tiny shrines that scatter the wilderness. I have been studying these with great interest, and I can feel my own magical power growing stronger by the hour. I have already harnessed the power of the ruby and from that created flaming arrows. I think that this may be the key to the bolts of fire that those wretched little creatures shoot. I shall return to the underdark much more powerful than I was when I left. I may even learn spell magic that can rival your own, big sister! I trust that you will give news of my safe arrival to our mother, and I will send word should I learn anything else of interest here.

-Grizt

(Griselda's note- Grizt is a Drow Mage, and she wrote this letter shortly after beginning her travels at the surface, as I was learning how to get into character and trying to figure out why, exactly, an evil character would help the humans at all.)