[Under special seal]

My Lord,

I write to report that an undead and apparently all-but-invulnerable creature called a death knight appeared and attacked us both on the road and in the Guilder Murdock Halloravant's estate last night. The creature apparently kills its victims and assumes their shapes, although peeling back the surface flesh will reveal black, gothic, and probably Shadowforged plate armor beneath. Until then, however, it seems able to disguise itself quite cleverly, possibly even drawing upon the slain victim's memories to perfect its imposture. The creature speaks normally and casts spells, possibly through the glowing red symbol in its palm. We were unable to recognize the symbol, but the spells' effects were to lock Viscount Phoebes Halloravant in some sort of stasis, to create discord among the group, and to eat away a woman's flesh. Moreover, the creature is very dextrous and quick, and wields a magical dagger that can cause great harm to any it strikes and that slices through magical force walls as though they were made of the sheerest gauze.

We were unable to defeat or even seriously harm this creature, although Loremaster Faraji called upon Avanalae's sunlight and seemed to cause it some discomfort, burning away its surface layer of flesh to reveal the armor beneath. The creature vanished through a black gate that it summoned and closed behind it, but I fear that it wasn't our efforts that made it retreat so much as its belief that it had accomplished its mission of death.

I understand that such undead creatures have also been encountered in the Khinasi lands and are assumed to have been sent by the awnsheglien known as the Magien. This latest indication that the awnsheglien continue their incursions into Anuire distresses me, especially as I know that your attention must soon turn to Avanil. I beg that you do not forget to defend yourself and Boeruine against the threat of the awnsheglien, and hope that you will surround yourself with clerics and mages capable of detecting any such shapeshifting servants of the abominations that may seek to infiltrate Seaharrow and threaten you or your family.

Your grace, please remember me when and if you should go to war. My loyalty is and ever will be with Boeruine. I am, my lord, your loyal liegeman, and I pray now and always for the day that you shall in your magnanimity and kindness recall me from this duty and reinstate me in my former post, where I can best serve you as have my fathers before me.

I remain Your Grace's most obedient servant,

R.