Excerpts from the journals of Saladin of Odehr and his banishment from his homeland.

Since the murder of my beloved uncle and the false accusations against me, I have little choice but to leave my camp and escape a certain death planned by the conspirators against my family line. The High Emir has decreed by banishment, to return only if I am willing to suffer the Rituals of Torment administered by the unholy monks of Xanxilash as penance, purification, and absolution of my accused crime: a rite that few survive. With the hope that Narmia will have pity on me I travel westwards away from my beloved home into the barbaric lands of Mach and beyond.

For many cycles of the twin moons of Narmia the moon goddess of compassion I travel. I do not stop, traveling from city to town of these inhospitable Machlanders, further away from Odehr and Ishtarier itself. Despite their fiendish manner and revolting lack of culture, I find great solace in the invigorating new, if foul, experiences of these barbarians. I eventually past the barbaric nations of enemies of my ancestors until I arrive in the lands known only as the Dales . . . .

Spring 10 The New Era