A/N: And here's the next chapter! What might our heroes find today?

Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons. I only own my original ideas.

Chapter 29: Idalla

We continued our explorations, and checked the door to the south next. This room appeared to have once been a library or study. Bookshelves stood against the walls, with plies of books lying on a reading table in the middle of the room. The air reeked of moldy paper, but I could resist smiling at the memories of studying with Quoros in his library. However, we weren't alone: a slender, dark-haired human woman sat in a chair near the table, looking quite sad. Her clothes were well-worn, but she had an almost unnatural air of beauty about her. I noticed Lydratir looking at her with narrowed eyes. As she noticed us, she swiftly leapt to her feet.

"Oh, thank the gods!" said the woman, "you must help me!"

"What's wrong ma'am?" said Charles.

"My name is Idalla," said the woman, "I'm being held prisoner by s mad wizard!"

"Where is this wizard?" asked Lydratir.

"H-he resides below this level," said Idalla, "I-I think he wants to use me for some sort of experiment!"

As I listened to her, something about her words rang false to me.

"Would this wizard be named Arundil?" Narcrath asked.

"Yes, that's him!" said Idalla, "please help me!"

"One more question," I asked, "what can you tell me of the dragon who resided in this area?"

"Oh, it is a mighty, ancient dragon!" said Idalla, "It resides in the caverns below the Foundy!"

"How interesting," I said, "assuming I believed you!"

"H-how can you say that?" said Idalla, "are you going to let this beast talk to me like that?"

"We will, because we know you're not what you appear to be, fiend!" said Lydratir.

Idalla sighed, and then her form dissolved, revealing wings, claws, and a tail: She was a Succubus!

Lydratir acted quickly, drawing his rapier and striking a glancing blow against Idalla. Narcrath launched a chromatic orb of lightning at Idalla, but it didn't seem as effective as it should have.

"You magic is weak, sorcerer," said Idalla, "You, noble warrior defend me from these brigands!"

A glazed look came over Charles' eye for a moment before vanishing.

"You won't turn me against my allies!" said Charles.

I moved in, and struck at Idalla with my claws, but like Narcrath's spell it seemed like she was resistant to my attacks. Charles took a swipe with his greatsword, aiding in slowly wearing down our foe. Krisyra waved her staff, and Idalla was outlined by greenish light.

Lydratir took a step back, and drove his rapier into Idalla with great precision. The succubus reeled from the blow, but she was still up. I heard Narcrath reciting the incantation of a reduce spell, and watched as the spell swirled around Idalla, having its intended effect. Idalla struck back at Lydratir, her claws still finding purchase. I struck at Idalla with my claws once more, and could see she was wearing down. Charles brought his greatsword around for a powerful strike, and sent Idalla flying backwards into a bookshelf. Krisyra moved up to Idalla, and struck with her staff, which she'd imbued with mystical energies. Lydratir stepped over to where Idalla was lying after being launched across the room by Charles' attack, and brought his rapier down, finishing our foe off as its essence dissolved back into the lower planes.

With the area cleared of any imminent threats, we searched the area, discovering a musty bedchamber to the east. As my allies searched the room, I was distracted by what that succubus, Idalla, had said. Could there really be an ancient dragon residing down here? Part of me wanted to discard the notion as just anointer lie from a fiendish creature, but at the same time I knew that Idalla had been telling at least a half-truth. I knew there was a dragon other than myself down here.

I saw that Krisyra had found a secret compartment in the wall, containing some gold, a cat's-eye gem. A further search of the library revealed a collection of dwarven lore that a scholar would love to see, as well as a collection of spell scrolls. With everything of interest collected, we returned to the common area, and then made our way down the corridor to the south. Was we made our way along, I spotted the Duegar watching us from a passage off to the west, but the let us pass in peace.

Soon enough, we came to the end of the hall. Here, the dwarves who'd built this citadel had broken through into a natural cavern. The hallway dropped off into a chasm. And across the way, I could see the stream from earlier in the caverns cascading down into the darkness below. Over the thundering of the waterfall, I could hear the splashing of the stream continuing its course at the bottom.

"So, how do we get down there?" asked Charles.

"I found a ladder!" said Krisyra.

I saw that she was correct, there was a ladder leading hidden behind a rocky spur.

"We'll head down the ladder, and meet you at the bottom," said Narcrath.

I watched as they started making their way down, and leapt off the edge, carefully flying down the chasm. After descending about 120 feet down, I reached the bottom. The waterfall's plunge pool was next to me, and I spotted the end of the ladder nearby. I then spotted the tracks on pool's muddy bank. My own feet fit well into the shape of the tracks. The other dragon couldn't be far now. At least from what I saw here, I knew that Idalla had lied about how powerful the dragon residing here was. It couldn't be much older than me. I was shaken from my thoughts as I heard the sound of my companions approaching.

"What had you found there?" asked Lydratir.

"Tracks of another dragon," I said, "Idalla was partially telling the truth. There does seem to be another dragon down here. However, I doubt it's too much older than me".

"What kind of dragon do you think it might be?" asked Narcrath.

"Based on what I saw earlier, It's most likely either a Copper or Black dragon," I said.

"Well, let's hope it's willing to be civil," said Charles.

"I hope so as well," I said.

With that, we continued deeper into the caverns, towards whatever laid ahead.

A/N: And there we go! our heroes have defeated thus fiendish creature, and entered into the final area of these ruins, Ahead of them lies the Black Lake, and the one who resides there. See you then.