Comintarii di Belis Occitalis
by Genais Claudia Odonata
1153 BT
Excerpt from the book:
They were a brutish people when Odonata first personally encountered them, although she didn't underestimate them as her grandfather's eyes were pulled by these people. Standing to a little taller than the average Gnome, they looked to be fat compared to either a Dwarf or Gnome. The first thing the local chieftain tried to impress her with is by welcoming the general to his home than showing off his collection of decapitated heads, everything from rivel Mideis* to Orcs did he display. It seems they would happily roll around in mud if it means they get to live in their underground hovels as there was plenty of mud which made up the floor. Gathering them for a special religious celebration, wine, and burnt food was brought before them to feed on. They were about to throw a Mideis into a great basket before filling it with rocks then burning it, the weight, smoke, or fire was going to kill him. From then on as the natives cheered, Odonata knew what she must do. For here and now must she bring civilization to these barbarians with ending their blood rituals. Disgusted with the mere sight of the unnatural slaughter, the governor excused herself from seeing the ritual as she fainted sickness. Quick to pack up her luggage, the diligent Gnomish slaves were already stringing up the formal attire once she signaled them over while drinking some wine. Odonata told her cavalry commander, Urepitis Laiustis son of Urepitis Hapusis, "Make ready for my departure, I can't withstand this display." He quickly waves his hands about and was already ordering his warriors to reorganize to leave camp at dawn.
Even for traveling through the countryside, they still encountered bandits and monsters who thought a governor was easy prey. Little did they know that simple harpies and brigands were no match for Odonata and her skilled bodyguards. The monsters were the first to attack only two days away from the village. While on the road, if one were to call a muddy dirt path as one, the forward mounted guards were the first to hear their screeching. They covered their ears and dismounted to grab their bows. The other Elves in the group also jumped out to draw their weapons as the slaves took cover behind wagons and baggage. The first harpy descended to fell a Dwarven slave carpenter who fashioned the governor's celebratory chariot back in Marsail. Angered with the death of a good servant, Odonata drew her long sword to throw it and sink it deep into the breast of the flying hybrid bird that killed him. Thankfully, the other two harpies were slain by Laiustis with his bow and Haipacia, the very same heroine who ended a rampaging minotaur inside Marsail, who threw her javelin and caught a harpy in it's left wing.
*Mideis is the name given to Halflings in Alfen**, meaning "Half-People".
**Alt Alf or Alfen is the language written and spoken by government officials of the Elven Polis League and then the Elven Empire.