May 2015
THE COMPANY
Maurice "the Muscle" de Granville, a Dreaman Fighter of Weanople
- Athelwine, a Geating Hunter (Normal Man) of Acworth
Orhan, an Alfarn Spellsword
Osric de Mandeville, a Dreaman Warden
- Urien, a Weallack Oblate (Normal Man) of Carlton
Oswald, a Geating Fighter
- Demoleon, an Ellasene Thief
Zephyros, an Ellasene Mage
- Ansger, a Dreaman Fighter
- Dudda, a Geating Thief
- Guilbert, a Dreaman Fighter
- Xenocrates, a Dreaman Mage
From the Papers of Osric de Mandeville, a Dreaman Warden:
MASSACRE IN THE RATMAN STRONGHOLD
[While the company prepares the guard roster, Osric sits down to write in his small journal:]
After being told to wait for an audience with Big-arm, Maurice started gambling with some of the possum-folk who guarded the main entrance. Word eventually arrived that their chieftain was willing to speak with us, but only one, our scarred captain, Zephyros, was to be allowed an audience with his rattishness.
After a quick discussion, we disregarded that idea and tried to convince some of the small ones to start a coup d’état. Sadly, their cowardice was more persuasive than our appeals, and some just decided to run away…
The group decided against further idleness and instead chose to press forward, much to the chagrin of Long-nose, whose knowledge of what would follow put tears of desperation into his beady little eyes. He proved to be prophetic: the bloodbath that followed will truly be well-remembered. The snot-nosed little beastmen fell by the dozens under our onslaught as we pressed deeper and deeper into their warren.
Mace, sword and arrow managed to dispatch these sniveling abominations with ease. Maurice especially gave them no quarter as he led the charge against the possum-men with righteousness and valor. Even when we found ourselves separated on different fronts after breaking their resistance in the second large room, he handled the situation remarkably well. These filthy little creatures unleashed a giant armadillo in their efforts to turn the battle by brute strength and numbers. But, they all perished, and we decided to use their barricade to protect ourselves while resting, treating our wounds, and giving me the chance to pen these words.
This place here seems to be an old temple of some heathen goddess of fertility. We certainly must make sure to explore this place more thoroughly. Who knows what else might be buried under the refuse of these ignorant creatures?
Now I should also write about these four-armed giants that Zephyros “convinced” with his mind tricks to join our cause.
There is no best way to describe these two brutes. For the casual observer, they would be nothing more than four-armed, green-skinned reptilian abominations clad like the barbarians of the mountains, wielding scavenged swords and axes. Yet, after sharing the company of these savage beasts for a few days, watching their behavior and fighting prowess, one is hard-pressed to not be impressed. Their lust for battle is remarkable and their kin seems to be well-known by the widdig-men. Their behavior is crude but proud, and they seem to put great stock in their combat ability.
Not without reason! While their strength is still no match for the likes of Maurice the Muscle, their four arms and size give them a huge advantage in hand-to-hand combat where they seem to enjoy singing what probably amounts to battle hymns while slaughtering the terrified vermin who live in these tunnels. This really makes me wonder if the Maker in all His glory decided to give these savages some resemblance of culture, or if they just mock what they might have seen of Mankind in ages past.
Now its time to rest, not to ponder. I would be surprised if these sneaky rat creatures do not try something when they think our guard is down, so I better get some sleep while I may.