Letters of Squire Maurice to Lady Andrella
My Liege,
The ne'er do wells continue to plot dishonourably, to my dismay, but as your command wishes, I will continue to support their cause as it aligns with those of the Baron and his lineage.
Interrogation of the prisoner revealed an army being forged in the depths under the estate of the Mountain King, the crevasse in the estate grounds being a feeding hole to dire creatures within, and a number of ape beasts kept in the stables.
Thy patience was drawn to breaking as they discussed the use of poisons to sabotage the breeding monstrosities, to my disgust, thy chef recommended to use of a particular fungi to invoke death on ingestion and described the plant to use, henceforth we set off to gather specimens to concoct the foul brew, and to fill a barrel from the fountain that spewed mysterious waters.
Some leagues eastwards we came across a fallen tree covered with the described fungus, our dwarven hero ventured forwards to recover some samples when the log moved to crush him, as spindly legs emerged indicating a arachnid monstrosity within. I spurred my mount towards the creature as arrows and blades flew from our compatriots, using a donated magical trident I endeavoured to skewer to beast, and on my third charge I dealt a killing blow, as I dismounted to retrieve the weapon I discovered gems that would fund our expedition.
Riding back to the chef, we were able to secure some carcasses laced with the deadly fungal poison and a barrel, we made our way to the estate to discover the northern section ravaged by the fires we had lit before, under the cover of night we secreted the fouled meat to the crevasses and to the apes and then withdrew.
The next morning we returned to find guards posted overlooking the fountain, the thieves distracted them using donated coins and the mage cast a spell of sleepiness on them, the dwarves gathered water into the barrel and we returned safely.
The barrel of enchanted water proved to be a ritual imbibe, and some of our party partook of its magical effects, making them stronger and more agile as a result, I declined to sip the tainted water as my vitals are in fine form already.
I continue to serve with honour, my lady.
Squire Maurice