~A copy of a letter written by Bel'qualyn Do'neld, Qu'el'faeruk of Qu'ellar Vraevir. Presumably the Qu'el'faeruk donated it to Sorcere's records.~

Malla illharess,

As requested, this is a report of my investigations concerning the threat to Udos posed by the creatures known as "rippers". I have conducted extensive research using a variety of methods both magical and mundane, in order to provide advice that it as complete and informative as possible.

The Rippers are about the height of a Drow, but bent over, winged, and possessing many sharp claws. They are extremely tough, quick and resilient to most forms of attack, possess excellent senses that are not fooled by illusion, and are rumoured to eat mithril. The Orb is yet more of a bane to these than it is to our people; they are said to be destroyed by its touch, and utilise incantations such as ours to cloak their forces in blessed darkness. They need but one individual to create others, and thus a single creature can beget a new colony, five fold each generation.

They are known to Sunlanders, for they have attacked the surface world before. Currently resident in the Abyss, they are not native to the Plane, and are resisted by the inhabitants there - though representatives of the Abyssal Queen claimed them as servants, I believe this to be false based on information gathered more recently.

These creatures are exceedingly numerous, and while in small numbers a skilled patrol can deal with them, I am in no doubt that the hordes I have Seen are a direct threat even to the might of Udos Dro'Xun. One has been to our gates; they know where to find us.

It is possible to communicate with these creatures. They are believed to be empathic, that is, they can sense the emotion of the one or ones they communicate with. Kivvilen have negotiated with them before, and arranged a truce that the Rippers said would last until they were next attacked. The source of that attack I am unsure of, but I believe it occurred when a band of these creatures trespassed on our land. The kivvilen believe them to be remorseless and relentless, and extremely unlikely to be swayed.

I have expended considerable effort in search of suitable resolutions. All options I can present are distasteful, but they are as follows.

Firstly, I have engaged the kivvilen who negotiated with these creatures before. They believe that the return of these creatures is a threat to the Sunlands as well as to Udos, and I have naut sought to dissuade them of such. It is possible, though naut likely, that these sunlanders will be able to persuade the Rippers to depart our Plane.

Secondly, I have looked into the possibility of opposing them by force. My apprentices and I performed a great ritual in Sorcere to pierce the veil of the Future and discern our fate. I hesitate to scribe the results, for many might see it as heresy. I thus write this with a shaking hand, assured solely by the knowledge that this warning is real; that the results of my investigations are not mere superstition or doomsaying. Though a very great number of these creatures would fall, Udos would be rendered to dust, and our people would fall. I do naut know what would become of Lloth's chosen; the fate of the Yath is closed to my Sight.

Thirdly, and most curiously, I have been approached by one Jenna Basalt, representing a transplanar organisation known as Indigo Prime. This Jenna apparated directly into the Tower of Sorcere, an indication of considerable power. She claimed to be able to change the future... to avert this fate from our city. I have researched her organisation, and it appears that as impossible as it may sound, she does indeed possess the power to do such. The price she offers is the remaining Egg of Ystimaar which she claims to indubitably be in the possession of our city.

It is not my place to advise the Council of Illharessen on the path forward, but as the expert on these creatures and the threat they pose, I can only say that the clearest resolution is to accept the offer posed by Indigo Prime. I have given into your keeping the means of summoning their representative, which may be used at the time of your choosing should you wish to question her direct, and to give the answer of Udos Dro'Xun to her proposal.

Lloth tlu malla, Qu'el'faeruk Vraevir