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[Knightfall]

From the Journal of Bactra Redwind, son of Minonus

The Great Expanse:
The battle with the flying beast left me uncertain of whether or not the adventuring way of life is for me. Dabuk was also melancholy for a while, but he seemed to move on, standing firmly in the belief that we hadn’t a choice.

Our horses quickly died without water, as we barely had enough for ourselves. Dvalin began struggling to keep up, as his wounds started festering. I couldn’t believe we had decided to go off adventuring without a cleric to heal us. The arrogance…

… Dabuk and Jeddar are soon half carrying the wounded dwarf, as we reached the edge of the Great Expanse. It's amazing how quickly the terrain had gone from harsh desert to verdant plains. The warm plains were a lot less dry, although not less warm.

Dabuk ordered us to stand guard over Dvalin while he tried to find some water to clean out our friend's wounds (and for our parched throats). Mesik insisted on going with him stating “It isn't safe for you to go off alone.”

If it had been anyone else but Mesik, Dabuk would have told him to “go kiss Hades”. They aren't gone for more than an hour, coming back with filled waterskins and huge smiles on their faces. They had found a small creek several miles to the south and Mesik had been fairly certain he had seen a settlement in the distance.

First thing though, Dvalin had needed tending. Dabuk and I cleaned out his wounds the best we could, while Mesik and Jeddar scouted ahead to see if Mesik had been right. I located some shoots of grass that looked like thistle-weed, a special herbal medicine that grows around Woodknot. Of course, we had tested it on one of Dabuk's minor cuts first, but trying it on Dvalin. It seemed to be what I thought it was and prayed to Rillifane that I hadn't made a horrible mistake…

…Dvalin soon got better, thank Rillifane. His breathing settled and he was soon awake and alert. Mesik and Jeddar returned to confirm that there was indeed a community ahead. From what they could tell, it appeared to be a village of halflings.

Mesik was very excited about going to meet them and learning if halflings are considered common in the south. His people had so few independent villages and homes in the north. Everyone agreed it was the best option and that Mesik should introduce everyone…

…The halfling village is more like a hamlet. Mesik had trouble containing his excitement, running ahead to introduce himself to the first halfling he sees. Luckily, it goes well and soon the entire community came out to greet us.

Th village is called Leverkan. They were a little less friendly towards the rest of us, however, thinking Dabuk and I were desert elves. Desert elves! I'd never heard of such a thing.

They we very concerned about Dvalin's health, however. Soon his wounds were thoroughly cleaned out and bound in clean cloth. They didn't have a local healer but we couldn't have been happier. A young halfling lass even helped tend Dabuk's and Jeddar's minor wounds…

…We introduced ourselves to the local sheriff, a middle-aged halfling named Cade Metalwater. He invited us all to his home for some much-needed rest and some pipe weed for Mesik, and anyone else who wanted a puff. We gladly accept.

His home is small compared what I remember of Mesik’s home but we all managed to fit inside. We told him about our homes and our journey from the Duchy of Minar. Then we tell him of the flying beast that stalked and attacked us and of the battle that ensued…

Cade listened intently to the story intently. After Dabuk finished the halfling sighed, "It sounds like you had no choice but it's trouble all the same. The beast you speak of is intelligent creature known as a dragonne and is revered by the desert elves of the Great Expanse.

They will soon learn of its death. Dragonnes are sacred to their god, Chaeon. If they track you here I cannot protect you. Desert elves may be honorable at the best of time but they can be very bloodthirsty as well. It's best you leave as soon as possible.”

“We were protecting ourselves.” Bactra scoffs at the idea that these desert elves had a right to judge their actions.

Just then, a noise came from outside Cade's home. Several community members knock on Cade’s door. They tell him that desert elves are at the edge of the village demanding the surrender of the Sacred One's murderers.

“You best leave right now.” Cade sighed.

"We are not going to run." Dabuk refused to just leave. He felt responsible and wished to try to explain what happened.

They went with Cade to edge of the village. There were more than a hundred desert elves. All decked out in war paint with a look of vengeance in their eyes. The elves carried wicked looking spears and other weapons.

“This isn't a good idea lad.” Dvalin fingered his axe, twitching with the anticipation of hostility.

“You might be right but we are not going to just run away without telling our side of the story.”

The desert elves were surprised that the murderers included an elf and two half-elves. Dabuk did his best to explain what had happened and that it hadn't been done out of hate or evil intent. However, the shaman leader refused to even consider their version of the encounter insisting they be brought back into the desert to face justice. He showed them a crystal globe that depicted the adventurers stalking and killing the creature in cold blood. They were shocked to say the least.

“It didn’t happen that way,” Dabuk insisted.

The shaman, Detyan Thundersand, wouldn't consider any version that didn't come from the crystal. Cade stood up for the group saying that they weren't the bloodthirsty sort. Several halflings stood next to them with pitchfork and clubs just in case the elves attacked.

The shaman screams a war cry to kill the infidels. The desert elves attack the village and chaos quickly ensues. Cade helps the group escape through the village, as the halflings try to hold off the desert elves. It is a little more than Bactra had given the halflings credit for. Obviously, they've faced the elves before.

They fled the village, with the angry desert elves in pursuit. Several miles away from the village the adventures turn to see several of the village's buildings on fire. Again, Bactra felt like he didn't have any right to be an adventurer.

“There wasn't anything we could do.” Dabuk stated grimly.

“Those elves are right behind us lads.” Dvalin was nearly back to his old self. “No time for feeling sorry for yourselves.”

“Right,” Dabuk led the way as the sun begins to set. “Let's get out of here.”

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