On early New Year's day, a strange thing happens: the leather map that Tulani found in the cave is talking. It introduces itself as Fyodr Dunkelstein, Chief Warder and Keeper of the Relics for Czar Justinian the Sixth of Sylvania. As he reveals, this map was made from his own hide (news that almost prompts Tulani to drop the map in horror!) and that his shade is bound to it, awakened on holy days (such as New Year's). The map, when combined with the keys, shows the location of a sword holy to Nala, which was used by Duke Phelix to defeat the Necromancer King … but the keys, the shade believes, were lost to Gallisian raids. The map itself was in the care of a Gigi priestess of Nala, until it was stolen by a cultist of Amena – who died at the cave where Tulani found it.

The map also reveals that the bead that they have contains the shade of that cultist, and that it can awaken his spirit, but only by blood. With some reservations, Arkold and Tulani both contribute some blood to activate the bead, which results in an image appearing of a strangely-talking ghost of a feline, who makes mention of someone named "Punja" in Abu Dhabi. The airship is going to be going to Abu Dhabi anyway, in order for Tulani to get paid … so perhaps she'll be checking it out.

Arkold volunteers to go along, as well, since he's interested in any additional bonuses that might be had in the form of treasure or reward. After they're interrupted by Sofie, they head out, and Arkold goes to make arrangements with the captain for himself and Raneah to make the ride to Abu Dhabi.