Aramil gave his crossbow a maintenance check before addressing the lorist.
" Gailwind, tell me more about the land of that final battle if you could. Truth or fiction, I would appreciate more knowledge if you have it." Roslyn leaned forward perking her ears to any insight she might be able to cherish.
The elf covered his nose with a silk kerchief as he sat in the corner away from the smelly hole. " What about the icy country would you like to know?"

The wizard sat upright. " Well, how about what lives there and the temperatures we may face. If there is a tendency for bad weather, we may need to know how to equip ourselves."

The sage nodded with cautionary understanding " Dregis Eyne is actually a very peaceful domain with a mixed populace of kulgal [ice] dwarves, common barbarian men of various clans, and an abundance of rare plants and animals. I should describe them in absolute detail once I can show you in person. The average temperature ranges about 0-20F in the hottest summer month and it can be as cold as -60F in the most frigid of winter. From the Nalmiar, it could take someone three months to get to that realm without any hindrance and holding to all the common thoroughfares." Gailwind paused briefly to finger through a notebook " I take it that you wonder of Nyrglash? The bastion of the old witchking?"

Aramil twisted a smile " You mentioned that a great battle was fought there. Is the iceland as brutal as I might imagine? Can our team explore the hall without being molested and tortured by the conditions? Does this dominion even still stand?"

Roslyn glanced beween the two like a kid waiting to be given a candied gumdrop. Her anticipation about all flora and fauna sparked her fancy and she was dying to be fed more information.

" To be honest Aramil, I do not know if this hellhold still stands. By now, the entire vicinity may be covered in layers of ice and snow so thick, we may never find the exact location." The elf coughed and wrinkled his nose. " Even so, with the maps I would put together, I doubt that it would still be used to house another ancient evil. Besides, I warn against walking in that unmaintained region. Vents miles wide may still be opened from the earth itself topped with a fragile icecrust in this new age. Any disturbance can crack the foundation as easily as an eggshell and you will fall in never to be claimed."

Aramil listened intently " Then this leaves me to wonder where we will go after this. For I have sincere doubt that we could venture in that land safely." The wizard changed topics as he scanned the vacant walls of the circular room. " I often think about what you mentioned back in the Landretta's, Gailwind. Exactly how many different orcs exist in this world? I mean, are their demeanors different with each race? Can any aid us?"

The elf sniffed " There are at least seven different species that inhabit Lavenrae. Some are truly dire as opposed to the common variety that we see here in this battle. The Tahga pester the flatlands out west and are kept in balance by the city of Selendra and we have the Krumcrut that run unchecked in the Dreka region."
Suddenly, the oration was broken up by a commotion from below!