I am indebted to Flint, I doubt I would have made it through these past few months, since my expulsion from the Citadel. Alone and unsure of where to go or what to do, Flint was waiting for me outside, he had a place to go, a village many miles away, during the time we have spent travelling together he has become a brother to me.
Adjustment has been hard for me as people see the two of us one a Dwarf and the other a Human/Elf/Filthy Half Breed, only Flint sees me as a fellow Dwarf. I am coming to terms with this perception slowly. Flint has taken to this lifestyle with an enthusiasm I must confess infectious but I still have moments of melancholy. The Citadel is my home, sorry, was my home and to know I will never see it again saddens me.
We have travelled through Waterdeep, (our exploits are all noted in my other journal), and we find ourselves on the road again. Flint keeps on about Dragons, he wants to see one and I must admit I am intrigued. I have already seen many wonders in this world, many I would never have witnessed had I not been……
After joining different caravans and traders I have very little worthy of note, there was this one Elven woman, who was jabbering away, I paid little attention to her as I couldn’t understand a word she said but she got very upset that I was ignoring her, and she couldn’t believe I didn’t speak Elven, and thought I was being rude, but honestly I didn’t realise she was talking to me. Maybe this wasn’t worthy of note either…….
We have arrived at a small hamlet and secured rooms at an Inn, the Istwa Wote, we are now only a day’s travel away from our goal, and I am more than a little worried. I am worried that Flint once he reaches his goal will feel the pull of home and return. It is selfish of me I know, and I must be grateful for the time he has afforded me already but in my heart I am a Dwarf, although on the outside I know I am not, and Flint represents the last embers of my life and all I hold dear. I know I am being silly as Flint has a wanderlust I have never seen in a Dwarf before and a finer friend/ brother I could not wish to have. Flint decided to spend a couple of days at this place, the journey is all but over and this has given us some time to relax and unwind. This is a very interesting place with many people coming and going, even the name of the Inn the Istwa Wote, translates to the Tall Tale, and we have heard many.
We have come across some other none humans and we have sorted of banded together, there is:
A Tiefling called Issy, she plays an instrument and has a quick wit and is always more than happy to perform a song.
A Wood Elf called Maria, she is very curt in her attitude but seems friendly enough and feels nature in the very root of her soul.
A gnome called Jebediah, he asks more questions than me and that is saying something. Although small he bends the world to his whim through magic.
Finishing off our group is a Dragborn called Oz, who has the calling to his God (Tempest the God of War)
We make a fine group, I am the closest to a human we have and I am a Dwarf/ Half Elf thingy. We are also all travelling to the same place. Maria is quite excited about it, although she is a Wood Elf this is her adopted home and for the obvious reasons that strikes a chord with me.
We decide to set off straight after breakfast as the light nights of the summer gives us a few extra hours and we take advantage of it, by having a lie in.
We travel all day and into the early hours of the evening, we make a good group and we are all enjoying each other’s company. It is a shame like all good things that it will come to an end.
A mile or so out from the village we see smoke rising into the evening sky, making the sky look on fire with orange hue from the sun and the smoke. We rushed forward to find a vantage point to look at the village, cresting a hill we look down at a scene of carnage. A dragon is circling the area and other creatures are attacking the villagers and the screams of the innocent fill the evening. Maria cries out at the killing and destruction of her adopted home. Flint breaks out at a run and I follow him, he is easily outpaced by everyone but the gnome, but I am used to running at a dwarf’s pace and keep in stride with him, the others follow suit.
We cross a stream and enter the village. In front of us we see a man limping as fast as he can and three children running with him, just behind them is a woman, they are being hotly pursued by six Kobolds. She turns round staring at certain death, but buying the others precious time to get somewhere safe. This is possibly the bravest thing I have ever seen, and feel bound to help her family. I rush forward and place myself between the woman and her family so the Kobolds will not be able to break past us both. I draw and release my short bow, killing the one closest to her outright. She looks round and realises she is not on her own. My brother Flint rushes forward but his legs will not carry him the full distance required to reach them, he extends his arm releasing a dagger at the one closest to him but he misses. Issy rushes forward and defends the woman. Maria in a rage enters melee range and a sound of thunder erupts from her, killing one and sending another flying backwards. Jebediah kills one with his magic and Oz attacks two but in his haste misses. The battle is over quickly and the woman thanks us, they are trying to get to the keep in the centre of the town it is the safest place, and Flint says we will escort them.
We move quickly in a direct line towards the keep, only ducking as the dragon passes overhead. The screams of the villagers ring in our ears, but even the bravest of hero’s knows we cannot save them all. The place is being looted by Kobold’s and human cultists. We come across a group wishing to cause us much harm. We are lucky and despatch this group quickly. We round a corner and see the keep, people are waiving us forward when a group of looters spies us. The doors on the keep start to close. The quick thinking of Issy saves us as she casts a spell, charming one of the cultists into thinking she is an ally and by extension we must all be okay, they move off to cause harm to someone else, and we just make it inside the keep as the door slams behind us.
