20th of Tarsakh:

I don't even know where to begin, it feels like the days have all blurred together. The last time I tried to write I was interrupted by another undead attack. And since then I haven't had the opportunity because last night we found her cave. And today we found her.

Last night we decided we would camp just outside of the cave. We had a peaceful night for the first time in a while, which we all needed. In the morning it was incredibly easy to follow the winding passage through the cave to its end, it honestly felt too easy. And what's more, from the moment we stepped into the cave every one of us had the feeling we were being watched. But strangely we never saw anyone or anything, not until we found her with some of her monsters. They were two small shrunken-looking humanoids bouncing on the bed along the cave wall.

It was as if she knew the exact moment we would step into the room. She turned around from the desk, shushed her creatures, and greeted me, "Hello Zira. I was hoping we would meet, just not quite this soon," and then more quietly, "Sorath why didn't you warn me they were so close?!"

She took a step towards us, hands raised as if we were arresting her. The moment she moved, Yukouth, from my right, immediately stepped almost in front of me, protectively.

"I didn't realize you had your protector already. Wait he's not… anyhow…" She shook her head a little. "I mean you all no harm," she stopped moving, kept her hands raised, and continued speaking, "I meant it, I didn't intend for us to meet like this."

I barely caught her glance over at the small beings on the bed, she had put herself in between us and them. They had stopped jumping and were looking at us menacingly.

I stepped forward next to Yukouth and said, "You really have us at a disadvantage since you know my name and suggest that you know other things about me and my friends. And I don't even know your name."

She interrupted me, "But you do know some things about me. Yes?"

She didn't give me a chance to answer and continued, "I'm sure you have someone whispering to you and sharing your dreams, just like I do," while twirling her fingers by her ear.

I must have looked shocked because she added, "Yes. I know you're an aasimar just like I am. Only your family loved and kept you because until your accident you looked just like everybody else. But not me. Not the baby with this ghostly pale skin and hair whiter than snow."

And when she pulled down her purple hood I expected her hair to be white, I had seen her in a dream after all, but in person, I think it might be even whiter. At that moment, I really felt for her. I know what it feels like to be ridiculed for the way you look, something you have absolutely no control over. I can't imagine what it would have been like if my scarring had happened when I was a child. But I know Mom, Dad, and Envon would love me no matter what, they've already shown me that. So my heart hurt for this woman.

From what seemed like nowhere, shadows emerged and surrounded us.

Now as I write this, I realize it was because she had been purposefully distracting us.

The shadows had been following us through the cave the entire time, staying out of sight until she needed them to help in her escape.

I watched as she picked up her two creatures and cradled them gently. Then her eyes turned dark black, two skeletal, ghostly wings grew from her back, and darkness appeared from behind her. It may be the most unnerving sight I've ever seen and I saw terror in the eyes of all my companions.

As she disappeared into the darkness we heard, "Goodbye Zira and her friends. We will have to do introductions the next time."

And then from the darkness came, "I'm Eldora."

The shadows reached out towards the four of us who were closest to them. Both Israel and Elisha quickly slipped away, but Yukout and I were caught in their grasp. I felt my strength drain away and was thankful my celestial lineage kept it from being a lot worse. Yukouth looked weak, but still, he attacked, his handaxe slipped through the shadow that attacked him like it was going through smoke. The same happened with Elisha as his rapier slipped right through the shadow.

"Midir!" I shouted as shadows made a second attempt on the brothers, and a flash of light streaked between Israel and Adrala disintegrating the shadow, and leaving behind a dim mystical glittering light for a couple of seconds.

"Thanks! But I had it under control," Israel called out.

I responded, "I know and you're welcome. Help your brother."

Israel stepped back for a better shot and shouted, "Fly free!" All three of his missiles slammed into the shadow in front of Elisha. For a moment I thought he had banished this one too, but there was still a wisp of black. I am so thankful for Israel's magic.

Right next to me, Adrala attacked first with one handaxe, then the second one and she struck again with the first one! I have never seen her move so fast. Maybe it was adrenaline from watching her friends' strength drained. Like Yukouth's handaxe, all three of hers slipped through it like smoke, but surprisingly it looks like she damaged it quite a bit.

I clutched my badge of Kelemvor and prayed for protection from these shadows, "Kelemvor help me banish these creatures back to the shadows." As I finished my prayer, I watched the three remaining shadow monsters retreat and disappear back into the shadows of the cave.

I didn't sense any undead in the area, but we didn't know what else could be lurking. So, Elisha, Adrala, and Israel searched the cave to make sure it was empty, while Yukouth and I set up camp. Once we finished Yukouth sat down to rest and I searched through Eldora's possessions.

I started with the desk she had been standing at, there were notes about her necromantic experiments and attempts to extend the mortal body and even life itself scattered across the desktop. I pushed them aside to get a better look at a purple-bound book with Eldora's symbol of Velsharoon on it. I flipped it open and realized I had found her spell book. I picked it up to give to Israel to look at.

The bookcase to the left held books full of more notes on her's and other's experiments. There was a small table next to the bed that held a lamp. To the right, I found another small room that looked like it could be closed off and something was living in here recently. I wonder if it was the two creatures on the bed?

The place felt like it was her home and I felt a little guilty poking around her personal life. Well, I am pretty certain Eldora wouldn't think twice about poking through my things. And it would help to learn more about her since she knows so much about me.

Marat, I feel so blind.

When the others returned Elisha told us he had set a trap at the cave entrance and we would know if someone or something tried to come in. I told them about what I found and we looked for how Eladora escaped, but couldn't find anything.

We didn't find any clues to Eldora's next moves. So, we plan to rest up here and then return to Thornhold to reassess the situation. We're not doing watches tonight because we feel confident in Elisha's trap and my ability to sense undead, plus everyone is just exhausted.

Z

Edited 4/25/24 - I added to Eldora's escape. After rereading for inspiration on what to write next, I realized I needed to write about Eldora using her aasimar power and Darkness spell as part of her escape.