A missive from Strenum

Cullen, my cousin, I hope this missive finds you well.

I will admit my feelings and … anger … towards you for sending me on a simple mission as a messenger rat was unwarranted. Once I completed my trek with the Toad Folks and found this group, I realized you sent me to do more than just tell them the Drow were following them…which they pretty much ignored.
The information of the Drow was more of a side discussion as if we were talking about the best way to pluck a chicken before roasting. Instead they decided to head across a deeper portion of the swamp to face a dragon. Yep, a dragon. Not only that, they all agreed on a plan to cross the swampy water and then proceeded to do their own things as they moved closer to the scaly overgrown reptile.
Not sure how, but we survived. They lent me a bow and some arrows, but they were not strong enough to peirce the hide, so I was little to no help against the beast. Please do not think what you are thinking – it was a very thick hide…like your head.
So far, they haven’t asked for the bow back and seem like they may let me hang on it. I checked, and the guy that took the bow back from you when you are traveling alone is dead now. Apparently he was a decent guy, so I didn’t bring up the fact that he was a jerk to you when you needed a bit of support.
The others are somewhat like you described. A collection of misfits trying to get along with each other and a make a difference. Your informants were right as well. This group believes if they collect the scepter and the ring, one of them will be the king and ruler of all they can see. And you were right to worry.
Their oddities and unique manners make them a bit likable when you are with them for a bit, but not enough to win over the people of this land and gain support in their uprisal.
Maris, the big guy who talks to the dead is a very likeable guy and willing to do everything for his friends. He would be a wonderful ruler if he could only stop telling people that he doesn’t want to lead, doesn’t want attention, and would rather talk to their dead relatives than the living ones. That’s creepy and it doesn’t get any easier to watch.
Ford is a bit off. Well, a bit off of the people that are a bit off. I think these guys hang out with him more out of curiousity to see what he tries next rather than loyalty in any sense of the word. He talks down to people, makes little sense of his diatribes and seems to have no strategy in his methods whatsoever. Rather than hear me out about the Drow, he started a speech of nonsensical banter and talked so long that I had time for a few side discussions with the rest of the group and filled them in about the Drow. But damn can he swing a sword.
Anders is a quiet and effective man who takes pride in protecting his friends, standing up for what he believes, and making sure his enemies know where they errored. He was a bouncer, as he told you, and still acts the part of a bouncer. I’ll appreciate him more in town when we’re at a bar.
Azarkain is much like you described. He likes himself and thinks more of himself than others, and that doesn’t deter him at all. He continues to press forward in hopes that one of his ideas will actually stick with the group, and yet he doesn’t realize that nobody’s plan and idea sticks with the group. Bless his heart.
Roo has not matured much at all since you saw him and described him to me. It seems he would still rather have his mamme tuck him into a sleeping roll than be out here in the wild. But as soon as the fights start, he is pretty coniving and viscuos, and quite tactical in the way he distracts and flanks his enemies. Granted, I only saw him fight a dragon, but if he does that to a dragon, simple humans would not persuade him to act differently or quell his bravery.
Krag is a new dwarf. I wanted to call him Gorock since he matched your description perfectly. He is a dwarf, though, and dwarves are…well…you know, dwarves. His intellengence seems to match that of his parents, who must have thought long and hard to cleverly name him after a rock formation that few people in his tribe knew had a name.

I spoke with the Frog folk and let them know we are watching this from afar and very interested in the outcome. Though there were sceptical of Ford’s diatribe, they seem to realize this could be for the greater good and are willing to provide the level of support they are comfortable with. That is, they will help and not hurt, but they are not ready to raise their battle flags from what I can see.
If this makes it you, they will agree with my statements, as I have sent this word back through their channels.

Be well.