Honorable Commander Simms,

My name is Edward Mariot, the only son of Cedron Mariot, a former Spellguard under your command. I received a letter from the Spellguard sometime ago making me aware of my fathers death in the line of duty, but it gave no details as to how this death actually occurred, or why. I wish to know more information of my fathers death -- what his assignment was when he died, where he died, and who his killer was. Any of this information would help my emotional healing process a great deal, and I’d really appreciate it. If you’d rather not disclose any information in a letter, let me know when a good time to possibly meet you in person might be.

Hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, Edward Mariot

-The Mariot family insignia rests at the bottom of the letter-

The letter is recieved at the Spellguard Enclave by Officer Barkley, who complains to the courier about the design of his chair.

A flickering projection of Commander Simms recieves the letter from Officer Barkley. He places a hand upon his neatly-trimmed beard as he slides the missive open and gazes down at the family insignia. A solemn, curious expression passes over his face, and noiselessly, he drifts out of the Spellguard common area and back to the quiet section of Tower Spellguard where his corporeal form has secluded itself.

An elven courier in a light crimson tunic delivers a reply to Edward Mariot when he next sets foot in Upper Sanctuary. Once having passed on the letter, she blushes and skips off quickly toward the Town Hall. The letter is sealed with a circular blob of wax, stamped with the insignia of the Spellguard. Once opened, it reads...

Dear Edward Mariot,

Your father, Cedron Mariot, was a respected mage of the Spellguard and was quite worthy of his considerable reputation as a brilliant arcanist, a wise researcher, and an honest and principled man. It aggrieves me to recall the details of his unfortunate death in the line of duty, but I understand the necessity that you know precisely what happened.

Cedron Mariot perished in the line of duty while conducting a reconnaissance mission in the proximity of the drow city of Traensyr. He was observing, in coordination with Mendrick Archibald and Agent Lorrius Kesler, the activity of several individuals whom he had identified as renegade members of the "Seekers" organization, whom he had reason to believe were attempting to provoke a drow attack upon Sanctuary as a pretext for a citywide evacuation and a subsequent exodus from Dunwarren. What follows is the report in our archives about this incident, written several days afterward by Agent Kesler.

Operation Logbook: Entry #23 Kythorn 19th of the Year 144 Agent Lorrius Kesler

We observed the subjects leaving Sanctuary and proceeding along an efficient route to Traensyr. When it was verified that they had breached the predetermined radius of the drow city, Agent Mariot and Mendrick Archibald joined me. We attempted to close in and confront the group, but were forestalled by the sudden collapse of the cavern in which we were located. Immediately after embarking upon an alternate route to intercept the subjects, we were attacked by traditional ranged weaponry (crossbow bolts) and arcane evocations. It is unknown whether our attackers were the subjects in question, or were patrolling drow. Archibald and myself sustained serious injuries, and Agent Mariot (who was caught unprepared) was killed outright. Our attackers retreated beyond our reach before we could mount a counter-assault. Once we were in condition sufficient to move again, the subjects of our reconnaissance were nowhere to be found. Under the cover of several illusions, we carried the body of Cedron Mariot back to Sanctuary, and reported the failure of our operation to the acting Spellguard Commander.

Commander Simms [Spellguard Crest]