Caio comes along as well, eager to get a look at the region in question. He stands silently behind Astrid looking down at the map, inspecting every detail.

Nikolai follows along quietly, absorbing as much of the presented information as possible...

"Eazim is especially well known for the tales of witchcraft and dark magic that stem from the region," Master Gul elaborates with a glance in Caio's direction. "The densest regions of the forest are isolated and safe from prying eyes. It is not unknown for cultists to seek out such hidden places for their communes. Of course, such communities must also contend with the forest's natural threats."

He replaces the map, before turning to face the shadow elf properly.

"The White Lady is a different beast entirely. The last sighting of her was long before the advent of the new millennium. What kind of information do you seek?"

“Do you have any further insight on these ‘densest regions’? Field guides or first hand accounts perhaps?” he presses. “As for the dragon, any information you have could be useful. The last sighting of her was quite recent actually. She has forced a tribe of orcs to steal live children from Bednik, we intend to hunt her down after dealing with our more urgent business. Why might an ancient dragon require live children?”

"Such sects rise and fall too quickly for detailed records," Master Gul elaborates, "the locals of the logging villages along the Great Corridor would likely be able to tell you more than I. As for Shizani, that is most troubling news indeed. Are you certain that she is responsible? I will have to commit some time to researching the matter."

    Astrid nods as she takes in the map, noting in her mind the outlet's distance from Tanemberg for the river leading to Riezlern. She starts to protest the Master putting the map away but decides against it.  "Besides your typical beasts that are normally found in the Forest, are there other threats that are known to be found there?"

"Oh, I'd guess that less than half of the Eazim forest's residents are counted in any Sarameian census," Master Gul replies with a good-natured chuckle. "The truth is that most creatures in the region are not humans or demi-humans. They are, for lack of a better term, monsters. Werewolves are infamously a plague on the region, but they are hardly alone. Many living - and some undead - menaces terrorise the local villages. There are dragonkin, fey, giants, goblins, kobolds and the widest variety of lupine creatures in all Adrianus!"

Nikolai steps forward to address Master Gul's last statement. "We do not know for certain the threat is actually Lady Shizani. We know an orc tribe believes that Lady Shizani has threatened them with destruction should they not do as this dragon demands. Whether it is actually true or not remains to be seen. More likely, I feel the orcs are being deceived by some other wyrm looking to make a name for themselves and using the terror of the name Shizani to prevent would-be dragon slayers like ourselves from seeking them out."

Nimue trails behind the group, lost in her own troubled thoughts. Something sharp pierces her shoulder, and she remembers the bird sitting there, though how she had forgotten escapes her. "What am I going to do, Ghoul?" She murmurs, twirling a lock of hair absently around her finger.

The old sage nods in agreement with Nikolai.

"That may well be the case. Dragons are nothing if not wily and cunning."

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Nimue trails behind the group, lost in her own troubled thoughts. Something sharp pierces her shoulder, and she remembers the bird sitting there, though how she had forgotten escapes her. "What am I going to do, Ghoul?" She murmurs, twirling a lock of hair absently around her finger.

"You'll stick with us and we will help you find your answers," answers Alaris from their comfortable leaning spot against the far wall, with a warm half-smile.

Nimue's eyes meet Alaris's, and she finds surprising warmth in them. She returns the warmth with a smile of her own. "Thank you, Alaris. What a curious thing, to find friends among strangers." 

"And you doubted me, Melda? When have I ever been wrong?"  Oh shut up, Grandmama. She breaks off another piece of bread from the piece in her pocket and passes it up to Ghoul.

Caio nods at Nioklai’s comment. “Yes, so any information on any dragon activity that could be related to this issue would be appreciated.”

"Also, Master Gul... in regards to the information I mentioned previously. This is regards to creatures known as fleder. We encountered something rather interesting here in the city. I wondered if you perhaps have some information regarding these beasts and if you would perhaps like to examine something we discovered while encountering them. I would love to get your insight in what you think perhaps it would mean."

"Fleder?" Master Gul remarks, wrinkling his nose. "Foul creatures. Somebody in the city has been creating fleder? Has the commander been informed? He would also be the one to ask about recent dragon spottings," the loremaster adds to Caio as an aside. "I am a historian. The library does not handle incoming intelligence and I'm afraid that my knowledge of abominations such as the fleder is purely theoretical. What is it that you wish to discuss?"

Nikolai shrugs in response to the first question. "Not only have they been creating them, but whomever is behind this has found a way to breed them, Master Gul. If you will..." he removes his journal from his backpack and thumbs to the location where his sketches and notes from the thing they located in the church and his dissection of the sac are located. He holds the open book out with a nod. "I have notes and a drawing here of what we saw. Perhaps you would be interested in this. Something about this was very unnatural and fiendish in nature. As I said, I think you would be very interested in what I have to share. I would also greatly enjoy anything you might have to share with me?"

"Hm, yes, most troubling indeed..." Master Gul agrees wearily, nodding along with Nikolai's story. "The commander should certainly be informed. Do you perhaps have a copy of these notes that you could leave with Hanna?"

Nikolai shakes his head. “Not currently, but I would gladly scribe it all for your organization. Also, tell me, Master Gul…” he starts, thinking back to the last few days and the strange visions they have been experiencing. “Do you know anything about a being by the name of Dagon? Or possibly a city by the name of Charn?”

"I'm not familiar with a city of Charn," Master Gul replies with a note of confusion, "but 'Dagon' is a name given by some cultures for a great creature or God of the sea. Particularly amongst primitive Sarameian cultures.

"Strange," Caio says as he turns to Nik. "That is not what I would have expected to hear based on the depiction we saw in Temnitsa that night. Master Gul, do you have any more information on this ocean deity?"