From my professional journal during the Keep on the Shadowfell missions, entry two, part two:

We rested briefly after our battle with Ironteeth, and discussed continuing on to investigate The Third Sinister Rib. We had expended much of our energy, true, but we all felt we had more than enough left to at least look into it and go from there.

After a few hours of travel we came upon a large pit where we could tell some vaguely human creatures were working, and Lodi and I once again attempted to convince our less-than-stealthy companions that they should stay put and let us do our jobs. Seriously.

Unfortunately the pit was guarded by a pair of large lizards, one of which sensed we were near, so we were not able to do more than confirm there were a number of humans and some foul mouthed creature with an inhumanly high pitched voice. We decided to try again from a different vantage point but unfortunately we picked a place prone to rock slides, and our position was compromised. Humans, lizards, a Halfling, and a detestable Gnome came boiling out of the pit hell-bent on doing us harm. I am guessing they had never encountered an Elf in the woods before, and evading them required little more effort than simply standing and watched them chase Lodi, the Ranger who cannot hide in the forest. After the enemy Halfling peppered the woods with his impotent stones it became less amusing, and we decided to lose the bumbling city dwellers and join back up with our friends.

You may ponder for a moment that a Rogue is calling others City Dwellers, but remember that I am first and foremost an Elf. I am familiar with the ways of civilization to an extent, but it is still the forests that call to me. Disregard that at your own peril, for I am the wolf in the shadows, and your life is mine to ignore or claim however I choose.

Now that we had a good idea what we were up against we decided this was well within our means, especially given Lodi and I had mapped the area and knew where the best tactical place to attack was. We decided that Lodi and I would set up in a wooded area where we could attack the lizards as they struggled across difficult terrain, while we ourselves could be sheltered from ranged attack somewhat. The rest of the group would await our signal before attacking, which they more or less did.

The plan went off well and Lodi and I were able to surprise them, dropping the first lizard in short order. The damned enemy Halfling managed to pelt us with a hail of stones, injuring both Lodi and I before Zar'za put the fear of the underworld in him and sent him on his way. After that it was relatively simple work, as the team once again accounted well for themselves with the blood of our enemies.

We did manage to take a prisoner and interrogate them after the battle, but in the end he was a simple hireling with minimal information. What he did have, however, concerned The Third Sinister Rib. We gave him a gold piece to help us search the pit, where we recovered not only the rib but also the unfortunate remains of Douven Stahl. We were all saddened by his fate, but at least it was known now, and he could be given a proper burial.

The only other notable find was a magical locket the Gnome carried, containing a picture of a beautiful woman that none of us could identify. Apparently the Gnome had foul intentions concerning her, and I found myself feeling quite satisfied that he would not have the chance to pursue them. The locket itself we gave to Krova, since its properties would bolster his survivability. Given recent events, we all felt this would be something he would desperately need in days to come and the rest of us would benefit from him having.

Now that our two main melees are more able to stand on their own, I can begin to do what I am truly good at: making the fight shorter. I will be the wolf to Korva's bear and Zar'Za's tiger, darting in to hamstring and bleed, dancing back out of harms way again. I will worry them with fangs of steel and rob them of all choices save which form death will take, and which of the pack will deliver it.

We returned to town to discover the gate guard did yet again greet us anew, as if he had never laid eyes upon us. Even my subtle reminder that I knew of his flask brought no remembrance. There is something very odd going on here, and I begin to believe the laxness of the keep is not all due to a simpering Lord. This requires careful investigation, and I have not settled on the method or the priority yet.

When we presented our information to my contact we were met with surprise at our findings and dismay for the body of Stahl. We were told that there were no contingencies for this, and my contact would need to go get counsel on the subject. Meanwhile we are tasked to continue the investigation in any way we see fit.

Ninaran was conspicuously absent, which while not entirely out of the realm of possibility for a Ranger, it certainly was odd given her intensity when tasking us with dealing with Ironteeth. I cannot help but have misgivings about it.

Even though it was late we decided that it was important enough to wake Valthren to seek his advice, and to retrieve the information he promised us if we could prove ourselves worthy. He said he would get this confirmation from Ninaran, true, but we felt he would concede under the circumstances. It was an accurate assumption.

On our way to his tower we passed Delphina Moongem the Elven flower girl, as I mentioned earlier in my journal. I will not fail in my next attempt to trail her, nor shall I trust a Ranger to do a Rogues work.

When we presented ourselves to Valthren he let us in and listened carefully to all we had to say, and spent a good deal of time inspecting our finds. He told us about the information he had found, and that we had confirmed his dire suspicions. He thinks that a group is trying to open a gateway to Shadowfell, and that the rib could be an important piece to those attempting it. The intent, it would seem, is to free Doresain so that he might in turn prepare this realm for the coming of the Demon Lord Orcus. Doresain was apparently imprisoned in the Shadowfell not far north from here, in a keep that has long ago turned to ruins. Given that other small evidence has pointed to something odd happening up that way, it would make sense that the keep would be our next place to investigate.

Valthren also gave us a copy to this poem:

In shadowed keep of tumbled stone,
A peril hides, for years unknown,
The Kinslayer's spirit guards it yet,
'Gainst the very child he did beget.

The thing of evil sent dark dreams,
Nightmares wrought of tortured screams,
The vowed defender's sword did rend,
Murder to fate's hand forfend.

Awakened to the awful truth,
Shattered bones of men and youth,
His wife and children, pride and joy,
Seen as demons, he destroyed.

The Kinslayer met his death alone,
For wicked deeds he would atone,
So awaits he for the fated time,
Forgiveness grant for hated crime.

Visions echo through the halls,
Ghostly blood runs 'long the walls,
None can face those cursed remains
Fear like water in their veins.

If seek ye treasure, fame or greed,
Kinslayer's words be wise to heed,
Be ye born of purest light,
None can withstand the endless night.

I cannot imagine the agony one would feel at discovering they had killed their own family, how much worse must it have been for a Paladin of his stature? Apparently enough that he felt the only way to atone for it was to guard the gate for eternity. His story and his warning rest heavy on my mind, conjuring dark images and darker thoughts.