Naheem

23rd day of the 11th Moon of year XXXX, winter.

Winter seemed by far the best time to bring my journey to the Ashfall Waste, though I must admit I did not quite anticipate how hot an active volcano would actually be, even in winter. While trying to catch my breath in the smog I was found by a small patrol of dragons, guards it seems, who led me back to their clan to rest.

Hidden behind a lavafall on the edge of the molten scar is the clan and settlement called Flameshroud. When I told the guards of my studies they quite immediately pointed me to the Sardonyx Repository, and how right they were to show me there! The repository is equal parts museum and library and the collection of books, scrolls and artifacts there are enough to make any dracopologist drool.

After spending far too much time in the repository, I began asking around the clan about the leadership of this friendly, yet oddly secretive clan. They spoke of a council, various dragons who each spoke for one of the clans factions, but i could find no answer on who actually made the decisions. It was only when I found Baojing buying a bouquet from peculiar mushroom-shaped shop, that the shop's owner, Nagi, told me a bit about Flameshroud's leadership. The Veiled Queen, she told me in a whisper, was the true leader of the clan, no one in the clan but her Speaker, Ziirfiar, had ever seen her. Nagi swore the Queen was some sort of tortured ghost that stalked the dark corners of the clan, always watching those who live there, and those who visit. Mere superstition I believe though Baojing was convinced we were now haunted.