A few months ago, I completed my rigorous training and emerged victorious as the champion of the arena. My triumph earned me an additional layer of prestige on top of my title as Prince of Falkirk¹. Unrivaled in my skills, I was sure that I would win the heart of my beloved Naldela, who was destined by a binding contract to be the mother of my children, the heirs to my dynasty.

In the early days of Ches, 1488, I embarked on a quest to find Naldela. The beginning of my search was on the shores of Dark Lake, where I discovered the charred remains of her home. Not far from there, Cadran and Faral had been laid to rest in well-kept graves. While exploring the neighboring Drow towns, I stumbled upon a bounty poster. It led me to the House of Zarethi's Mage Academy in Menzoberranzan. But the academy was in ruins, a testament to the alleged slaughter perpetrated by Naldela and her sister. Only one of the mistresses of the house was left alive. I was puzzled as to why the bounty was only on Naldela, a question no one seemed willing to answer.

In order to ensure that Naldela was captured alive and unharmed, I doubled the substantial bounty that was on the table for her capture. I had to make sure that she had to have been unquestionably able to bear children.

Rumors in Menzoberranzan indicated that a bounty hunter named Claudia Crane had discovered a trace in Ramshorn, but had disappeared. Upon my arrival in Ramshorn, I only found an abandoned homestead that was being renovated. The locals had stories of an unusual pale drow with piercing black eyes who had been wreaking havoc.
I later learned that the estate belonged to Ykril Rëihlar, a herbalist who had settled in Ramshorn and caused a stir by attending a soirée with a drow female companion. The noblewomen were particularly envious of the drow, whom the peasants described as a breathtaking beauty with jet-black eyes. Her presence had even eclipsed that of Princess Irulan and had earned the wrath of the nobility.
Guided by the information I gathered from my scouts, I set out on a journey of several days to the Rëihlar farm, arriving at the end of Tarsakh. The journey turned out to be worthwhile.
Contrary to my expectations, Ykril was not a renowned herbalist. He was just a simple farmer. Furthermore, I discovered that he was Naldela's lover, and had recently been the subject of a marriage proposal. While his parents seemed to oppose the marriage, and his brother was hostile to drow, I thought these factors might work to my advantage. In spite of their objections, Naldela has accepted Ykril's proposal. However, Naldela's views and experiences may have been shaped in a way that was more in line with human customs, given her unique circumstances with a human father and a contract binding her to me. Like marriage, which I learned was unusual in drow society.
I was informed by Ykril's parents that they had left that very day, on their way to Luskan, their planned settlement. Realizing that Luskan was on the other side of the continent, a sigh escaped my lips. This woman had led me on a relentless pursuit across Faerun. Intrigued by her swift movements, I wondered if she had the ability to fly, or perhaps even a mastery of portal magic.

After months of back and forth, my men were exhausted and demotivated. The frigid cold of Luskan, where we lost all trace of Naldela as if she had never arrived at all, turned into a negative mood that was especially evident among my men.
We made a brief stop in Waterdeep on Hammer 13, 1490 DR, on our way back. Just as my men were about to start a tavern brawl, I caught sight of her. She was the most stunning drow I had ever seen. Her alabaster hair, cut shorter than usual, contrasted dramatically with her inky, luminous eyes. Traces of dark purple makeup framed her eyes and accentuated her seductive lips. Despite her modest attire, her bright smile lit up the dimly lit corner of the tavern. It even surpassed the faint glow of the lantern. She appeared contented and happy.
Naldela's companions were somewhat unusual. Scurrying across the table was a small lizard wearing a miniature hat. A lively Tiefling woman was sitting next to her. But it was a baby in a high chair, playfully tugging at her hand and exploring her thumb, that caught Naldela's attention. The empty chair at the table was quickly filled by a man with short auburn hair and striking blue eyes. As he leaned in for a tender kiss with Naldela and gently stroked the baby's head, it was clear to me that this man was Ykril and their toddler. I finally began to realize how much time I spent in search of Naldela.
This meant that I couldn't just walk up to her and pick her up. I tried to reassure my men and discussed the next steps with them.

We worked out a surveillance plan, assigning at least one man to constantly monitor her movements. This would give me real-time updates and allow me to strategically plan my approach. I knew that I would have to tread carefully to gain her trust and make her feel safe with me, as I wanted to ensure that she would continue to cooperate with me and that my lineage would continue. Any misstep could jeopardize my plan. Until I had neutralized the competition, I had to avoid provoking her in any way. With what I'd learned about them so far in my search for them, it would only lead to a fatal end for me and my men.