A/N: And here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons. I only own my original ideas.
Chapter 13: Calcryx
Once we were prepared, we continued checking the area. To the west we entered a small stockade, a chamber of complete squalor filled with rusty manacles. There were four creatures in the room: three kobolds and a gnome. As we stepped inside, the kobolds looked at us suspiciously, until they noticed Meepo and I. Charles stepped over and forced the gnome's cage open, while the others freed the kobolds. The kobold look at me in surprise.
"You three should head back the way we came, through the fountain room," I said, "we can handle the rest".
The kobolds nodded swiftly, and hurried off back to their clan's domain. I then turned back to the gnome.
"Thanks for the assist," said the gnome, "quite an eclectic group, aren't you?"
"You could say that again," said Narcrath, "who are you? What's brought you to this place?"
"Name's Erky Timbers," said the gnome, "months past, I was on my way to seek my fortune on the Old Road. My bad luck that the goblin bandits caught me; I've been here since. My deity's blessings have kept me healthy; otherwise I'm sure I'd be dead from starvation and abuse".
"Why are the goblins here?" asked Charles.
"I've heard the goblins talk about the Twilight Grove down below," said Erky, "A wicked old human called Belak— a spellcaster, I suspect— tends to an enchanted garden and harvests fruit from something the goblins call the Gulthias Tree".
"Gulthias Tree," said Krisyra, suddenly quite serious, "are you certain?"
"Yes… that what they call it," said Erky, "they only speak it in the most terrified of whispers. The enchanted fruit grows on the Gulthias Tree".
"Krisyra, you sound like you know something about this 'Gulthias Tree'," I said, "what exactly is it?"
"It's a long story," said Krisyra, "but to simplify, long ago, a powerful vampire named Gulthias was plaguing the land. However, a hero rose up and stopped him, driving a stake through the vampire's heart. That was not the end, though. The stake absorbed the vampire's essence, and sprouted into the first Gulthias Tree. These plants, and the blights spawned from them hunger for the blood of the living… a rare case of an evil plant. We need to destroy it: the Gulthias Tree is abomination against the natural order".
"Gods! That's sound horrid!" said Erky.
"We heard that a group of humans came through here not long ago," said Narcrath, "what do you know about them?"
"The goblins caught three of them over a month ago, and they were captives with me in here for a while. They said their names were Talgen, Sharwyn, and Sir Bradford. The goblins kept them in here only about a week before they removed them. Belak wanted them, and that's the last I've heard about that".
"You should come with us," said Lydratir, "safety in numbers, right?'
"Sounds good to me," said Erky, "what with you and the kobolds, by the way?"
"They asked us to recover something of great value that the goblins stole from them," I said.
"I see," said Erky, "Got any spare gear? I'm currently lacking any".
"Well, while it wouldn't be my first choice," said Charles, "but you can probably scavenge some equipment from the goblins we've fought".
We got Erky geared up, and continued north. As we did, I caught the scent of another dragon. I led by companions west down the hall, barely stopping in time to avoid the trapdoor near the end. Meepo stepped up to examine the trap, shook his head disapprovingly, and disabled the trap mechanism. I noticed the scent of the dragon was much stronger here. Once more, Meepo stepped up and fiddled with the lock, swiftly popping it open.
We stepped into what appeared to be a trophy room. Mounted and stuffed animal heads adorned the walls, as did several kobold heads. Smashed and broken cabinets littered the room, as did patches of frost. I stepped around the debris, and there was Calcryx. The white-scaled wyrmling stood there, ready to fight. Around its neck was the remnants of the chain that once held her.
"Don't come any closer!" said Calcryx.
"What's a wyrmling doing in a place like this?" I said.
"Don't think you can trick me!" said Calcryx, "I can smell the kobolds on you. You're here to try and take me back to them!"
"They are worried about you," I said, "why, do you not want to go back to them?"
"I'll not be their pet any longer!" said Calcryx, "this place is far more favorable".
"They may treat you like that for now," I said, "but you are still a wyrmling. You need to be protected for now until you grow stronger. The kobolds wish for you to be their clan's dragon, to be their lord, once you're stronger".
"I… but… fine!" said Calcryx, "but I'll not let them cage me again! They will treat me with greater respect!"
"I think that can be arranged," I said, "I think we should head back for now. Yusdrayl will wish to know that Calcryx here is safe".
Meepo stepped up carrying a leather collar, causing Calcryx to take a defensive posture again.
"Oh no you don't," I said, "Calcryx will be coming with us willingly. None will bind him. speaking of which, remove the chain".
Meepo dropped the collar, and swiftly removed the binds on Calcryx, who then collected a few small items she was hoarding. We started back the way we'd come, eventually making our way back to the kobold's domain. We were swiftly brought to Yusdrayl's throne, where she was looking at us approvingly.
"Ah, It seems you have fulfilled you end of the bargain," said Yusdrayl, "now what do you desire in return?"
"Calcryx has requested that you not cage her anymore," I said, "having had experiences with such things before, I can agree".
"Very well," said Yusdrayl, we shall endeavor to do so. However, you still must be properly rewarded for you service to our clan. If you and your companions need to rest, you may do so in our halls. As well, I believe you may be able to benefit from this".
Yusdrayl extended her clawed hand, and cast mage hand. Using it, she retrieved a key from a sculpture off to the side of the room. She handed it over to Narcrath, and then spoke to me again.
"This will open the passage to the south of the access point to the surface," said Yusdrayl, "my clan avoids that area, as there are signs of a powerful creature caged in that area. However, you have proved yourselves strong enough to deal with whatever may lay there".
"Thank you," I said, "What do you plan to do once Calcryx grows stronger?"
"I see what you mean," said Yusdrayl, "you need not worry. We are not the most combative for our kind, as you've likely seen. We have no quarrel with the peoples of the World Above. At worst, we will return Below, and deal with our foes there".
"In that case, we should be on our way," I said, "we've learned that Belak is nurturing a vampiric tree. We need to stop him before his actions cause any more problems".
I set off with my companions in tow, heading for the southern wing.
A/N: And there we go! Next time: our heroes explore the southern wing of the Sunless Citadel. See you then!