Ah, I never thought you would really show up! A person neither Deva nor Morokai…

I never imagined I would be able to meet someone such as yourself, but then there’s Ezra as well…

Haile and Korzan went looking for you when you didn’t show up.

But seeing as you're here alone, you must have missed them.

Well, you must be Hans. We’ve been expecting you… I suppose.

Allow me to introduce myself…

I am Avani, Chieftain of the clan Rih’alnase, the Children of the Wind!

We have chosen not to involve ourselves in this senseless war and bloodshed

and welcome those who share the same sentiments of freedom and peace.

I have heard good things about you from Haile and Korzan.

To have received such praise from people like them, you must be quite the talented person!

I am curious to see what surprises you have in store for me as well…

And before I forget, allow me to thank you for the assistance you have already rendered.

This debt will not be forgotten. Any friend of my family is a friend of mine.

Pardon me Hans, but before we proceed I have a question…

I’m sorry, but I can’t help noticing you look a little worse for wear. Something must have transpired* on your way here.

Care to share what happened on your way here?

That cheeky young lady... how many times have I told her not to run off on her own! *Sigh*

I hope you know that she was lying to you. A terrible liar she might be, but she is a smart lass.

She knew that we would be out looking for you and took the opportunity to sneak out.

I believe she intends to accomplish the task we originally hoped you would help us with by herself.

So now on top of the original mission, we must search for her as well…

Let me bring you up to date about our current situation.

Just a week ago, a sandstorm unlike any other appeared to the north of this village.

While such storms are not uncommon here, they never usually last more than a few days.

According to our mage Allanon, he detected traces of dark magic used to artificially create the storm.

And it seems that something about this dark magic troubles him greatly.

He’s an unusually chirpy fellow who goofs around most of the time. Never have I seen him so upset about anything else.

Two days ago he and little Nyami, our best scout, departed for the sacred city of Ostagoth.

He thought that perhaps they could find some answers to this riddle there.

But before Allanon left, he warned us not to approach the storm no matter the circumstances.

And I have no reason to doubt his judgment... Regarding matters of the arcane, his knowledge dwarfs that of Haile’s. *

But that is something I simply cannot do.

Before the storm struck, I sent a small group of outriders to survey the land up north.

It is home to a powerful beast... A prize I had set my sights on.

However, they have yet to return…

My outriders are not incompetent novices, nor easy prey to the beasts of the badlands.

They must have been caught in the sandstorm and trapped in there.

I will not stand back and do nothing while my people are still out there waiting to be rescued.

This is why Ezra is on her way there now as we speak—to save them. I must find her before she gets there…

...and bring my people back, no matter what dangers lie ahead.

Hans, this could be something I cannot handle alone. But I refuse to put any more of my clansmen’s lives at risk.

Both Haile and Korzan seem to have high opinions about your ability and strength.

This might seem a trivial matter to you but… please, won’t you lend me your strength?

Help me save my family!

You will? I cannot thank you enough! Rih’alnase shall forever be in your debt.

You’ve helped us once before, and now we’ve come to rely on your help once more. We are eternally grateful to you.

Well, without further ado, let us be on our way.

I believe finding Haile and Korzan will not prove to be such a difficult task. Their bickering can be heard from a mile away!

But I do hope that they’re all safe out there…