Journal Log: 6-4-05

Brother;

Well, consider this an official reply. Yes, you don't need to avenge me. It all worked out, not the way I was expecting, but none the less it worked. We have done a lot of traveling since my last letter. I am almost home, we are just outside of the Duke's keep. It seems they are reading their great war machine against the orcs. Good rid dens the orcs have been a pain in the Free Ogre Nation for the past century, maybe even more. I hope they destroy the orcs, but if they don't maybe it will give the FON a little incentive to finish the job.

We have been scouting an old dungeon. Needless to say it didn't go well at first. We spent a lot of time fumbling our way through the maze of various rooms and corridors. Our first encounter with any type of sentient life and we find ourselves surrounded and being overrun by dire rats, giant rats, and wererats. Hell, we managed to loose both the bard and the druid before the fight even begins. They were washed away in the stream. How the heck did they managed to do that I have no idea. Oh well, maybe they will wash up again in the future, if not to hell with them we don't really need more wood rats and human scum anyway. Way too many in this party already. We managed to destroy the rats thoroughly. Although one of the scoundrel wererats managed to sink a rapier in my shoulder, it hurt like hell. In ogre tradition I kept fighting. I even raged out and did a bit more carnage than normal.

We continued to go through a lot of rooms and corridors. The security expert was very thorough. It took a lot longer that it should have, but he managed to get us through safely. Humans, they are so funny. Afraid of a little trap. Oh well, at least he is able to do his job thoroughly. At least now I get my full share of the treasure! Finally, something working risking my life over. Man, oh man, we came to this one room the halfling opens the door and surprise, surprise an ogre is waiting for us. He crashes through the door and within a couple of hits takes out the ranger. Then he moves in on me. I have never seen that many stars in one location. He clobbered me right in the face with his magical giant club. Down I went I hardly even hurt him. Sort of embarrassing, but lucky for us the knight stepped in and cut him down. Although, I heard even she had a hard time taking him down, but down he went. Not much in the room though. Although his carcass came in handy a room full of dire rats. I just fed the rats, justice if you ask me. Although the knight was rather quiet, I believe the entire party found it disgusting, but it was actually practical.

We continued though a number of more rooms being ever so cautious. We finally arrive in a room full shriekers and intelligent mushroom people. Amazingly enough the mage rushed in and started taking them out with his beads of fire, but there was too many of them. Soon we were being forced back to the entrance. It seems none of the tree rats, halflings, and humans were able to withstand the magic these shrooms had (sucked your constitution). Finally, the devised a plan and fire beaded the whole lot. Amazing little wood rats (knight and sorcerer). I find it ironic the knight was devising plans. Hmm, is there more to this wood rat than meets the eye? No way, there is no way in hell that wood rat could be just acting. If she is then DAMN we have one heck of a problem!

Well lucky for us the cave was actually the exit from the dungeon. I don't think this party would have lasted much longer. Afterwards he ran into the captain we had met earlier from the Duke's keep. He invited us to travel with him back to the keep. Once there we wined and dined with the 'rich folk'. This Duke maybe human, but at least he understands his people, even though he surely doesn't understand the FON. Well there is a lot more, but I have been sworn to secrecy.

Take care of the little "Os" and give the little human scum tramps a good one from me! damn I need some soon.

Sincerely,

Archi

-M51