A/N: And here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons. I only own my original ideas.
Chapter 36: The Ritual Chamber
We continued down a corridor to the east, following as it wound around, and caught a whiff of a metallic odor in the passage, as we turned the next corner, we saw the stairway leading deeper, with another path continuing on this level.
"What do you think?" I asked, "Stay on this level, or go deeper?"
"I vote for deeper," said Lydratir, "cults like the kind that would have resided in this temple often keep their information about rites and rituals in the deepest part of their temple".
"I agree," said Narcrath, "The sooner we get out of here, the better".
With the decision made, we made our way down the stairs. The passage turned from the worked stone of the halls above to a cavern, its roof supported by columns of black stone, carved with the images of strange demonic creatures. Further ahead, we could see what appeared to be an ancient ritual circle. The very air was stained heavily with the fell powers that were summoned here.
We moved into the ritual site, and began searching for any clues to the information we were seeking. We each took a different set of shelves, seeing what we could find. I seen found something quite interesting, a scroll of heavy parchment or possibly vellum. I noticed writing in both Draconic and a language I couldn't understand, but looked similar to the symbols engraved on the ritual circle. It looked promising.
"I think I may have found something," I said, "Narcrath, take a look".
He hurried over, and took the scroll. He unrolled it and looked it over. As he did, he looked excited.
"T-this is it!" said Narcrath, "If I'm reading this correctly, this is the cure we've been seeking!"
"…and you'll never leave this place with it!" said a voice roiling out of the darkness.
A large droplet of dark slime dropped down from the ceiling, followed by another, and another. As we watched, they coalesced together into a long, serpent-like form. The creature stood on four legs, and resembled a Lindwyrm. It was another dracooze, but something was different about this one, a dark intelligence resided between its baleful red eyes.
"You will not stop me from making Vorlianax my servant," said the dracooze, "and you shall become mine as well!"
These words revealed exactly what I was feeling from this creature: the Demon Lord Jiublex was using this form as a mouthpiece. There would be no backing out of this fight, no need to hold back.
I reacted the fastest, bashing the dracooze with my tail, got a solid hit, only to hiss in pain as its acidic form seared my right back. Garurt pulled out his greataxe, and let out a feral snarl and slammed the flat of his blade onto the dracooze, sending it reeling. Lydratir focused his aim on the Dracooze and after a small flare of mystical power fired an arrow, which struck with great force.
"All will be consumed!" said the Dracooze.
It then lashed out at Garurt, biting him fiercely, but he managed to dodge its claws and the writhing coils of its body. Krisyra planted her staff in the ground, summoned a flame for her hand, and then launched it. As it flew, it expanded into a flaming sphere, which engulfed the Dracooze. Our foe roared in fury as the fire started burning away the acidic slime with composed its body.
"It's weak to fire!" shouted Kirsyra.
Narcrath responded by pulling out the diamond he carried, and used it to summon a chromatic orb of fire. The fire tore into the Dracooze, leaving a crater where it impacted. Charles took aim with his heavy crossbow, and fired, sending the dracoozed stumbling a bit. I could tell that our foe was getting weak, and slammed it again with my tail. As I did, the abyssal magic holding it together finally dissipated, leaving the area clear.
We carefully checked the area, making sure there no more surprises, but there were no enemies to be found. We now had the time to better examine the scroll we'd uncovered.
"Let's see here," said Narcrath, "It seems we're in luck. The ingredients for this treatment are all fairly common plant and animal parts. I think we can produce this without much difficulty".
"Then let's get out of here," I said, "the faster we can get this cure make, the better.
We made out way up an alternate path out of the ritual chamber, which lead us out a concealed door a short distance from the main temple. Garurt helped us find out way back across the swamps, and back to Vorlianax's lair.
"You've returned," said one of the shamans, "do you have it?"
"We believe we've found the cure for Volianax's condition," I said.
Narcrath handed over the scroll. The shaman looked it over, and nodded.
"We shall begin work immediately," said the shaman, "Rest for now, we shall inform you when the treatment is ready".
For the next few hours, we rested up, watching the lizardfolk tribe hurry about collecting ingredients from their stores and bringing in fresh meat from the hunt. Eventually, we were called to the chamber where Vorlianax rested. Nearby, there were several simmering cauldrons of strange smelling brew.
"You have done well," said Volianax, "I regardless of the results, you have my gratitude. From what I have been told, all I must do is drink this concoction, and I shall be cured".
He quickly stuck his snout into one of the cauldrons, and drank down the contents. As he finished, his face contorted at the taste, but he swallowed anyway. The results were near instantaneous. The parts of his body which seemed to have been effected the worst seemed to re-solidify, and the pool of ooze at his feet dissipated. He stood and stretched slowly, testing his strength. He wasn't without scars from his ordeal: the mass of his body which the curse had consumed was leaving him gaunt, but he was alive, and in his right mind.
"Never have I tasted something so foul," said Volianax, "but it was worth it for my survival. Thank you once more, Valignatirisk, you are as the rumors said. I must ask you and your companions to stay a while, as my honored guests. As well, I would recommend consuming a dose of the curative yourself. I don't wish to see you become afflicted with the same curse as I".
I stepped over to one of the cauldron, and drank the potion. It tasted absolutely terrible, but I swallowed it anyway.
"I see what you mean about the taste," I said, "This cure, I believe we should make a copy of the formula. That way, others could benefit from it".
"An excellent idea, this curse must be eliminated," said Vorlianax, "For now though, I would ask you and your companions to stay for a time, as my honored guests".
"We accept your offer," I said, "Thank you got your hospitality".
A/N: And there we go! Another life saved, and a Demon Lord angered. A good day's work, I if go say so.