1) Galadriel is not responsible for Khalin's death. It was caused by, as Teron has stated, a cursed wound. But though Galadriel's ritual did not cause Khalin's death in and of itself, the stress of the "surgery" (as the power called it) did hasten Khalin's demise. I am not stating this to persuede Galadriel not to sacrifice herself, I care little of the details of this matter. I am simply stating what I have learned.

2) Simply sacrificing someone, an exchange of life-force for life-force will probably not solve this problem. Teron seems to know more of this than I, but my belief is that though an exchange may bring Khalin back from the Halls of Mandos, it will not cure his curse. Something else must be done, and the power alluded that he may know of some beings on this world that may know a ritual to end the curse.

If you wish my assistance, simply send a pigeon to my coop.

Caladam slowed his horse now, securing the burden he carried with him. Lying across his mount in front of him was the body of Khalin Wael, wrapped in a shroud. He had taken the body from the Hall in Tel'Ruid not long before. After his long ordeal with finding Khalin, Caladam was now taking him back, back into the forest. It was a decision born out of desperation. The spell preserving Khalin's body was ebbing. Once the body began to decay, there would be no hope for the elf's restoration. This he had learned from a dark elf named Azazel whom he had met shortly after his initial return to the Glade after having found Khalin. She had been waiting at the edge of the forest, almost as if expecting him and his find.

"You must take him to my master. Only he can help Khalin now." She had said.

"Who are you?" Caladam asked.

"A friend, a friend who wishes to help. My name is Azazel, and you will need my assistance if ye wish to see Khalin alive again."

Caladam had not trusted her. His suspicion grew when he heard the female drow mention her master's name. He had learned from the others in the Glade that the one of which she spoke was someone who was not to be trusted. And so he had declined the drow's offer, trusting in himself and the others to bring Khalin back.

"Very well, but when you change your mind, and you will, come and meet me. I'll be at the moongate west of here." With that she had taken her leave.

The next night he learned that an attempt had been made to restore Khalin. Melyanna and Talanithus had tried to bring him back. It had worked, almost. However, whatever dark influence held Khalin in his state had resisted their efforts. Caladam feared that no one at the Glade would be able to help Khalin, and the elf needed help very soon. The paladin could think of only one option, the one that Azazel had spoken of, but he knew that those at the Glade would never consent to it. It was for this reason that he had stolen into the Hall and taken the body.

He dismounted and began leading his horse to a clearing up ahead. In the center was a blue shimmering gate, surrounded by a ring of stones. Leaning against one of the skeletal trees on the far side was Azazel. Caladam stopped, eyeing the drow suspiciously.

"I have come."

"Yes you have," she said smiling.

She lifted her arms and began intoning arcane words in a tongue he had not heard before. When the incantation was done, she lowered her arms pointing to a spot on the ground. A sparkling gate of pitch black issued forth silently from the earth.

"We must go, my Jabbuk awaits."

With that she stepped into the gate, fading into its depths. Caladam sighed, looking back in the direction he had come, and then faced the gate. Determinedly, he walked through, leading Valoria behind him. The gate descended back into the ground as quietly as it had arisen.

"Friends," he said aloud, addressing the people sitting, "I need your help. I have been told a way to restore Khalin to life." A few more eyebrows rose at this. "I know we have tried already and failed, but this time I believe we will succeed. Not many of you know me well as I have not been at the Glade long, but I ask you all to trust me now. Khalin needs our help and I believe I know what needs to be done..."

It was my first time back since my search began. The air was as stale and oppressive as ever. Our search first led us to the pentagram. It seemed the logical choice, as that was where most events of import seemed to transpire within the Yew Crypts. Finding nothing of note within the main exterior building, we moved back down to explore the lower levels of the catacombs. We eventually stumbled upon Tarsis, a necromancer of note who seemed a bit defensive at first due to our intrusion. However, after explaining to him our plight and his predicted role in helping us, he seemed to warm up a bit. We related to the necromancer the story of how Khalin came to his current state. Tarsis stood for a while, deep in thought. He then said that he would need a necromantic tomb, "The Grimoire of Zalananthia," if he were to be able to help Khalin. He then stated that this tome was in the hands of a necromancer by the name of Thingizzard (I am still trying to get over the peculiarity of this woman's name). Tarsis would have to go there himself, but he asked us to escort him on his journey.

Thingizzard lived to the north of the Crypts, on one of the peninsulas jutting out of the Deep Forest. I wish I could say our trek there had been uneventful. However, it was everything but. The assaults we endured on our way to the Yew Crypts had been nothing compared to the monster attacks we sustained on our way to this Thingizzard's. Every manner of creature from trolls and ogres to reapers and rabid dire wolves set upon us. Although a little battered and lighter in the reagent bags, we eventually made it to the necromancer's abode with all of our numbers.

It was almost as if the old woman had been waiting on us. She stepped out of her cottage and she and Tarsis began speaking. He related to her who he was and what he and the rest of us sought from her. She did indeed have the book, but was not readily willing to just hand it over. After some thought though, she decided there was something she would exchange for the book. She had discovered that a friend of Tarsis', a powerful necromancer by the name of Mephistos, had kept a journal of notes concerning his studies. The man had secreted these notes away along with his other accumulated treasures. Thingizzard claimed to have discovered the location of this treasure trove with her scrying talents. She stated that if we were to bring her these notes, she would exchange "The Grimoire of Zalananthia" for them. With much reluctance, Tarsis agreed to the exchange. The woman happily handed over a map to us, saying that it would direct us to the cache. After all of this, the group decided to retire to the Arrow. It had been a long day, and we needed to rest ourselves for the journey.

Melyanna sent for a friend of hers, a man by the name of Hewey, to assist us. She says he has a knack for reading maps and finding hidden treasures. He will prove to be very useful I am sure. We leave tonight for Serpent's Hold. It seems that the map indicates the Isle of Deeds as the location of Mephistos' hidden trove.

But that mattered not. He watched each of them, scrying from afar through the crimson pool of blood. Each piece was in place. And it was all going according to plan. Soon, there would be another Scion in place. Another one to feed their master. And then...

Then they would shatter paradise.