Nina takes a deep breath, pushing aside the unsettling atmosphere to focus. She pulls out the items recovered from the Whispering Woods: the energy emitting crystal, now faintly pulsing in her hand; one of the small, ornate boxes filled with the strange pungent herbs; the single, iridescent blue feather; and the collection of skulls scavenged from the remains of the adventurers. She lays them carefully on the guild master's desk. "Guild master," she begins, her voice clear despite the tremor in her hands, "I believe initial task has... evolved. The investigation into the missing adventurers in the Woods led me to a tomb of an ancient being I only know as Xalzar."
The guild master leans forward, his eyes widening slightly. He runs a hand through his already dishevelled beard. "Xalzar... The legends speak of hi, but..." he trails off, his gaze flickering nervously towards the still-open guild doors. "The Whispering Woods... we thought it contained his influence, but..."
"It's not contained," Nina interjects, her voice firm despite her own unease. "He was manipulating the forest, weaving the remains of the missing adventurers into its very fabric. I recovered these items from his tomb. I believe they are connected to his power." She gestures to the crystal, herbs, and the feather. "I also encountered Ronan inside the tomb, he was trapped down there as well. He worked with me to escape the tomb. At the deeper part of the tomb though we came across a temple that housed a being we only know as The Keeper. The Keeper revealed the extent of Xalzar's influence and offered a choice; to reclaim the remains of the fallen that had yet to be absorbed or focus on stopping him directly. I chose to recover the remains."
The guild master stares at the items, his brow furrowed in concentration. "The remains... integrated into the forest... that is... unheard of. And this... Ronan?" He looks at the being in question. "Is allied with you?" Ronan doesn't say anything but does give a small nod, his presence filling the room. "These facts change everything, Nina. This... this confirms our worst fears. Xalzar's influence isn't limited to the woods. His power... it's spreading." He pauses, his voice low and grim. "And Elara's disappearance... it's all connected." He leans back in his chair, the weight of the situation heavy upon his shoulder. "We need to act, and quickly." His gaze returns to Nina, a spark of determination flickering in his eyes. "Tell me everything you know. Leave nothing out."