A/N: And here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

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

Chapter 56: The Boiling Bubble

We made our way up the passage, pushing open three sets of heavy doors door as we went. They weren't lock, but they looked to be indented to block something from their northern side. He stone corridor gave way to a semicircular passage seemly formed of some transparent material. Outside this narrier, we could see the roiling waters of a geothermally heated lake. I gently touched the wall, and found it to be quite hot. The transparent skin went taut under my paw, and I looked at it carefully.

"Whatever you do, don't pierce this wall," I said, "I don't feel like being boiled".

We continued down the passage, and soon it opened up into a dome of sorts, resting in the water of the boiling lake. I noticed an outflow to the northern end of the lake, likely leading to the geyser that issused form this moutain's summit. My examiniations were interrupted as we spotted something moving at the far end of this dome. It was a huge crab, with a copper band attached to one of its claws. From the bones littering the ground, this crab was likely placed here long ago as a protector of this place.

"Watch your aim everyone." Said Charles, "I don't want to learn what might happen if we break this bubble".

I reacted fastest, moving up to the crab and striking it with my claws and fangs. Narcrath fired off a chromatic orb, blasting the giant crab with lightning. Krisyra morphed into the shape of a large bear, and charged at the giant crab, biting it, but the crab fended off her claws. Lydratir moved in as well, drawing his rapier and taking careful aim. He drove his rapier into the crab, dealing some good damage. Charles stepped in as well, carefully postioning his greatsword so that he wouldn't risk damaging the wall, and swing at the crab, and it seemed to be weakening. The crab attempted to grab Krisyra-bear with its claw, but she dodged away.

I tore into the crab again with my claws, and sunk teeth into in once more. Narcrath pulled one of the stars from the colloar of his robe, and launched it at our foe. It split into seven comet of magical force, slamming into the giant crab and senting it stumbing back. Krisyra-bear struck again with claws and fangs, finishing the giant crab off.

We searched the area, seeing what this giant crab may have been left to guard. We found a chest, firmly attached to the floor, containing 1000 gold, a rather valuable stash of gems, a set of goggles with dark-colored lenses, a highly polished piece of agate, and a finely crafted trident.

We backtracked again, heading back to the chamber when we ran into the soldier and the werewolf, making use of the barracks there to rest up a bit and examine our finds. My allies prepared a meal, supplementing it with some meat from the giant crab. While we waited, Nsrcrath looked over some of the items we found.

"Let's see here," said Narcrath, "these goggles will grant their wearer the ability to see in the dark, or improve your ability to do if you already possess this ability. This armor has minor protective magic upon it, and will improve its wearer's defense. This agate… interesting, I've seen depictions of these things. I believe this is a luckstone".

"Luckstone?" said Charles.

"Yes, it's basically what it sounds like," said Narcrath, "If you attune yourself to it, you will be granted better luck. Charles, why don't you take the armor? you're to only one among us who wears heavy armor. As for these goggles, any of us could make use of them… well except for you, Valignatirisk, they wouldn't fit you. As for the Luckstone, you can have it big guy".

I accepted the Luckstone, placing it in one of the storage puches I wore.

"What do you think? So far the only hint we've seen to the Shadow Triad has been from that soldier and Werewolf, and they weren't much for talking," I said.

"There's still one more section of this place to explore," said Lydratir, "perhaps we'll learn more there".

"I hope so, it almost feels like we're chasing shadows at this point," I said.

Once everyone was ready, we headed out again, returning down the main corridor to the initial junction. We only had one more wing of this palce to explore. As we made our way down this hall, but stopped quickly when we noticed a gap in the floor. it was almost invisible what the water covering the floor, but we managed to spot it in time. We carefully made our way around the pit, and continued down the corridor.

The passage turned due north, and even from here I could feel the heat emanating from the walls. I could see a series of copper-colored metal plates lining the walls of path before us. I took an experimental step into the corridor, feeling the heat wash over me. It didn't seem to be sufficient to be harmful to anyone, but I worrid for anyone wearing metal. I moved back to my companions, and gave them the news.

"The hall ahead is lined with some sort of magically generated heating device. I'd bet that anyone wearing metal armor would be harmed," I said.

"Let me take a closer look," said Narcrath.

He moved into the hall, and soon returned having made a decision.

"It looks like the further you go to the hall, the stronger the effect becomes," said Narcrath, "However, If we can counteract the effect, we should all be able to get through with nothing worse than some discomfort".

"How large an area?" asked Krisyra.

"Roughly the last 40 feet of the section lined by metal plates," said Narcrath.

"I have an idea," said Krisyra, "let's go.

We proceeded down the corridor together, and just as we were 30 feet down the hall, Krisyra raised her staff. An icy wind blew through the hall, and the metal plates ahead dimmed. We hurried down the hall, arriving beyond the plates just as they reactivated. Hoever, we weren't in the clear yet. A concealed door burst open, and a pack of ghouls slowly emerged, looking hungry.

A/N: And there we go! Next time, the adventure continues! See you then!