We were visited by a dark stranger last night. He told a tale of a Paladin who died and is a restless soul. And anyone who helped him he would give great treasure to. Apparently he died defending a city against some ogres. A valiant deed. And then the stranger disappeared into the night. We eventually settled down and went to sleep. When I awoke this morning I could hear running water. It had been a while since I bathed last so I decided to find the source and do so. Vorn insisted that he escort me. His excuse was that I had no voice and if any danger arose, I would not be able to call out for help. Sound advice...But from the way he was looking at me, I think there was another possible motivation. It wasn't until then I realized that he was attracted to me. Physically at least, but I wonder what he thinks of me personally...After all...I am starting to consider him a good friend....and he is a drow. You don't see many of our race on the surface. Of coarse there is Carlon.....I don't know what he is. I'm just not sure what to make of him. He proclaims to follow Eilesstrie...But I can't get that image out of my head....Of him when he turned into something that wasn't a spider. I should confront him with it. He did save me....Although something has changed about him. I can not tell if it was from that moment or something else. I just can't quite put my finger on it.... Anyhow, I seem to be wandering on personal notes. We went down to the stream and I heard a soft moan. Curious, I followed the sound and found a ruined city. I'd of bet my last copper that this was the city that the stranger told us about last night. So we headed back and Vorn told the others of the city. Eclipse and Woody decided to go back to Waterdeep, seeming that Blade and the three ogre heads had disappeared into the night....They didn't seem too pleased. And neither did Han Solo. I just shrugged it off. I knew that history was working the way that it should. It did irritate me a little that after I had sacrificed so much to bring him back to life that he would do such a thing. But in hindsight...he's been living as a street waif all of his life. It is a dog eat dog world where he comes from. It's hard enough to survive, much less to get any recognition that was welcome. If he could get some small amount of fame by bringing back three ogre heads...and possibly get a foot in the door, to live without having to wonder if you'd starve tomorrow....Under such desperate odds....I guess I can't really blame him. The rest of us went to the ruin. Where we found the remains of the Paladin. We buried him in the cemetery. I did the best I could of the funeral rites doing a ritual dance. It was difficult I suspect for the Paladin of our group. We did find a bag with an seemingly endless flow of money. Carlon took charge of that. After all was said and done, it was far to late in the day to start heading back to Waterdeep. We began to search for a building to sleep in for the night. The Paladin went off to pray, and Han Solo said he was going to exercise. We decided to inspect the house to make sure we would not have any midnight surprises. We spilt into pairs of two and began exploring. Not to long into the search I stumbled upon a trap door. Upon trying to open the heavy trap door we used Demetry's staff to get some leverage. Suddenly the staff was snatched from Vorn's hands. When it was fully opened, a horrible stench and fog came out of the hole in the floor. I backed away. I thought that perhaps we had accidently opened a door to the abyss. I ordered the door shut and sealed. Vorn approached the door but was grabbed by a robed arm. Talia and I grabbed him to keep him from being pulled in. Even with our combined strength it was difficult. Vorn demanded to know who it was that had grabbed him. I found myself becoming enraged. I was not going to let good people die. Die just because curiosity had gotten the better of me. The thing in the pit asked who was the leader of the group. I eased my grip and stomped on the floor. The hand let Vorn go and grabbed me. It tried to pull me under. I knew that there would not be a way for me to get away. Most likely, under this powerful grip, I would be pulled in the pit. Besides I was curious as to who this spector was and I was damned tired of being cowed. I jumped into the pit. Foolish...yes especially since I wasn't sure how far the drop was. I landed safely and got my bearings. And my heart just about exploded. I don't know how...But there stood Cash! I was astonished! I jumped up and down and threw my arms around my long lost friend. There are not many who I could truly call friend in my life. I even started crying. Sweet, bizarre Cash! I could not believe it. Next thing I know, Demitry and Talia were down beside me. Poor Cash, it had to be confusing to him when I couldn't talk. Vorn called down from the top of the hole. He had found a small human girl child. I found this disturbing. Especially after the tale she told. She said that her and her family lived in this city and that when it was attacked she hid where Vorn had found her. Now I know that her story didn't coincide with the age of the ruins and the remains of the Paladin. She would be much older than she was. Humans age very quickly. Which only meant one thing....She was a ghost. I became very uneasy. She was distressed and obviously wanted comfort, but according to what I was taught as a young drow, if we touched she would age us. Besides, given Cashs' reaction, there was something more to this child. He was so agitated...Then he told me why. I just wanted to separate myself from this strange place. We ended up spending the night and Demitry announced that he was taking the child back to Waterdeep in the morning . I said he would be responsible for her. But she wasn't there when we woke up in the morning . We found a note from Han and the Paladin saying they would meet us in Waterdeep. Traveling out of the ruin, Demitry saw the girl and we waited while he chased the apparition. While they were gone, Vorn confronted me about Carlon. He said he had to kill him because he was a follower of Takahissis. His proof was the time when our dieties came to give us gifts. Takahissis was there, He knew that Talia, Demitry, and I follow Eilesstrie. Han follows Thor, and the Paladin couldn't possibly follow her. His reasoning was sound, and for a moment I bit back the bitter taste of betrayal. I wanted him to confront Carlon about it. To see if it was true. In thier confrontation, Carlon all but admited that he did follow Takahissis. He even made a very good aguement of why he did. I felt betrayed...I pray that Eilesstrie will forgive me for not preventing Vorn and Cash from killing Carlon. I only hope that she felt the same way as I when I found out that he turned to evil Takahissis. When he came back, she had given him some gifts for being nice to her. Perhaps, sometimes, I am too suspicious. Oh well...Better to trust my instints and the instints of my friends than to leave myself open to death.