It didn't take the adventurers too long to transport their new prisoners back to Thistletop's prison, where Orik was relieved to see that Draul followed through on his word. Tsuto was locked away in one cell and Lyrie in another along with her familiar. While they were still unconscious, Draul took the time to tend to the cuts they sustained in battle to ensure that they wouldn't bleed out while in captivity. The rest of the adventurers stood guard, but by now, they came to believe that Thistletop had been mostly cleared out.

Afterwards, the adventurers retraced their steps, returning to the room that they had fought Tsuto and Lyrie in. Razvan opened the secret door against the wall, revealing a set of stairs leading down further into Thistletop. The group proceeded cautiously down the stairs, weary of any potential attacks. Draul led the way with Kennick behind him as the others kept their distance. Orik hadn't told the group of any remaining enemies but that there was a trap somewhere on the lower level. So far, he hadn't seen any sign of the trap, but with how honest the mercenary had been before, he figured that it was only a matter of time until they found it.

When Draul made it to the bottom of the stairs, he noticed several changes compared to the previous level. For one, he felt that the floor was slanted down toward his right slightly. It was hardly noticeable but it was a weird quirk of the level. He also took notice that the temperature was drastically different. The floor they were on was somewhat cold given that it was underground. Draul expected for this to be the case with the lower levels and was surprised to find that he was comfortably warm.

A stone door stood around the corner of the stairs to the left of Draul and was slightly ajar with a lantern on the wall revealing some of the details on the stone. The detailed engravings upon the surface had been damaged by chisel marks and hammer blows. What remained of the engravings showed gemstones. Draul approached the door, looking it up and down. He didn't think it was a trap, and when he looked back at his companions, he could see that they had come to a similar conclusion with how they let down their guard.

"This isn't the work of goblins," Kennick noted, gesturing toward the door.

"You're right," Draul nodded in agreement. "This floor is drastically different from the upper levels. The goblins likely weren't responsible for building the stockade, but whoever it was that came before them, I don't think they were responsible for the construction of this level."

"I can sense faint transmutation magic emitting from the walls," Mariel told the group. "It must be the reason why it's warm and why the air is fresh and not stagnant."

"Could Lyrie have enchanted the walls to make this floor warm?" Corita pointed out.

"She seemed rather weak to make a permanent magical effect like this," Mariel shook her head. "No, she's not responsible."

""So a group of unknown wizards made this part of Thistletop," Razvan said. "Wouldn't the magic have faded away at some point?"

"There is one group consisting of powerful and ancient magi that could have the power for their spells to remain to the present day," Mariel said, her tone cautious. "This could be the work of Thassilon."

Draul frowned. "So the Runewell beneath Sandpoint may not be the only leftover of Thassilon in the immediate area. That's rather concerning."

"This is just a theory at this point though," Mariel reminded Draul. "Perhaps we'll find the answers by continuing further along."

With a nod, Draul pressed the door completely open, revealing a decently sized chamber that was lit up by several lanterns on the wall. The group proceeded into the room, not finding it difficult to walk up the slight slant. Two pillars supported the ceiling of the chamber which was covered in soot along with many parts of the stone floor and walls. Along the walls to their left and right were two alcoves each containing the statue of a robed man wielding a glaive and a book. The statues had fallen towards the door likely as a result of whatever caused the slant and their faces had been scratched off by some ancient creature.

Mariel took several seconds to look over the statues while the adventurers looked down the hallway on the other end of the chamber. Draul couldn't help but think back on the elf's theory about this level being connected to Thassilon. He couldn't help but find that the features were similar to the underground complex they found underneath Sandpoint days ago. He wondered if the mysterious Malfeshnekor was connected to the ancient empire in any way. Mariel stepped away from the last statue, shaking her head as she was unable to recognize who it could be, and the group continued on.

"Hold up!" Razvan called out the second that he followed Draul and Kennick into the hallway. "I think that trap's right in front of you, Draul."

"It is?" Draul blinked in surprise.

"Take a look at the floor you're about to step on," Razvan told the paladin. "Notice anything that stands out?"

The statues in the alcoves to the side of the floor were obvious but Draul noticed what caught Razvan's attention. The floor in the rest of the hallway was covered in a thick layer of dust aside from footsteps but the spot in front of him was scrubbed clean.

"Good eye, Razvan," Draul said with a nod. "Why would Nualia have this trap cleaned up?"

"Orik did say that Jagen was killed by the trap," Corita reminded the group. "The statues are wielding glaives so I think if there is a trap, it's the statues swinging those glaives down on that spot."

"Corita's right," Razvan nodded in agreement. "The floor would have been covered in blood if someone had been caught in it. That would have been a dead giveaway that it was a trap, but whoever Nualia got to clean that part of the floor hadn't considered that it no longer matched the rest of the hallway."

"So we jump over it," Kennick said.

"I don't feel confident in my ability to jump over the trap," Mariel shook her head. "I'm not as athletic as the rest of you."

"There has to be a way to disable the trap or else whoever cleaned it up would have been in harm's way," Draul noted. "Razvan, do you think that you can do anything about the trap?"

"I can give it a try," Razvan said. "Give me some space for my work."

Draul and Kennick stepped out of the hallway, moving past Razvan so that he could work on disarming the trap. He didn't look down the hallway while the rogue was at work with the different tools and picks he kept on him. Draul knew that his companions were skilled in their own way but he had to acknowledge Razvan's resourcefulness. Corita and Kennick helped to return to Thistletop, but from the story they told, the paladin recognized that it was Razvan that stepped up as the leader of the trio. Draul would have to see what else his friend was capable of in the future after they had finished up in Thistletop.

"And… finished!" Razvan announced. The floor tile was slightly pulled up from the floor on his end with a spike wedged into it. "That'll hold for a minute which is enough time for us to get over on the other side. I can disarm the trap again when we make our way back."

"Excellent work, Razvan," Draul said with a smile. "Now, let's get moving."

The adventurers continued down the hallway until it split into two separate paths. There was light coming down from the left and that was the path they silently decided to take, believing it would lead to their enemy. Stepping into the next room, the adventurers fanned out to see Nualia before them, clutching a sword made of dark iron in her normal hand. To her side was another yeth hound that growled at the adventurers, prompting the aasimar to turn in their direction. Draul hadn't expected a third yeth hound and reasoned that Orik likely didn't know about it either.

As for the room itself, the light originated from flames atop of four skulls in the corners and the walls were lined with red marble. There were several books, scrolls, and jars stacked up on stone ledges on the wall behind Nualia and three wooden chairs by the ledges as well. Past the ledges was a large fountain filled with clear and bubbling water. The water didn't look as twisted as the water discovered in the complex beneath Sandpoint but Draul figured that it was magical in some sense.

"I wondered if you would make it this far," Nualia said calmly. "Didn't you tell me that your friends were killed? I didn't take you for a liar."

"I was mistaken about what happened," Draul admitted.

Nualia glanced at the other adventurers and her gaze fell upon Kennick. "You've changed, Kennick. I hardly recognize you now."

"This was who I always was," Kennick told her with a grunt.

"Yet you kept your true self hidden," Nualia nodded. "I can see why. I would have liked for you to join Tsuto and I, but seeing as you've come this far, I can tell that you're loyal to your new friends."

"Tsuto still lives," Draul revealed. "If you surrender-"

"So what if he lives?" Nualia interrupted Draul and waved her demonic claw in a dismissive gesture. "He failed to stop you."

"Do you not care for him?" Corita asked with a frown. "We read his journal and know about your relationship."

Nualia shrugged. "I needed a way to earn his loyalty."

"So he was nothing more than a tool to you?" Corita shook her head. "How cruel…"

"Look, are we fighting or not?" Razvan asked impatiently. "I don't think any of us are going up after everything."

Nualia nodded, and in an instant, the yeth hound by her side charged forward. Razvan and Kennick each charged at the monster with the former stabbing it in the leg with his sword and the latter swiping his claws at its side. Mariel followed up on their attacks with a ray of fire burning the yeth hound's face. It let out a loud roar and Draul extended his powers as a paladin to shield his companions from the supernatural fear it tried to inflict on them. However, his divine magic wasn't enough to help Kennick, who turned and ran down the way he came from with a horrified expression. The yeth hound tried to chase after Kennick only for Corita to swing her sword at its neck before it could bite the coldborn.

"Kennick, it's dead!" Corita called out. "Come back!"

"The yeth hound's powers have a hold on him," Draul explained quickly. "We can-"

"We don't have time to help Kennick," Mariel shook her head. "Our fight is with her now."

Nualia had not stayed idle while her yeth hound gave its life fighting the adventurers. She took out a strange medallion tucked into her breastplate with her demonic claw and Draul could see a brief dark energy flow out from the item. She tucked it under her armor again and her blade became outlined with a blood red aura. Nualia knew that the adventurers were coming for her and Draul could only imagine the other magical spells she had prepared for them. Even though she was outnumbered four to one, she didn't falter as she stared at her foes, fury apparent in her violet eyes.

Draul led the charge against Nualia, swinging his greatclub in an overhand swing. Nualia raised her sword toward the club, and even though she held onto the hit with one arm, she was able to block the blow completely. She delivered a sharp kick toward him, and while Draul wasn't harmed, he was pushed back slightly and recognized her strength. Him being pushed back gave Nualia the space she needed to turn her blade to block Razvan as he tried to ambush her from a blind spot. Draul advanced to help Razvan but he was too slow to intervene when she slashed her sword across the rogue's shoulder. Afterwards, she struck out with her demonic claw at the paladin with blinding speed and he was barely able to block her talons with his club.

It was only when one of Mariel's conjured darts glanced across her skin that Nualia backed off from her foes to give herself face. She swung her blade in her hand, and despite the elf's magic, the adventurers hadn't yet to deal a significant blow. Meanwhile, Razvan bled from his shoulder and the rogue grimaced in pain. Corita started to sing an elvish song, bolstering the resolve of her companions while she kept her distance.

Draul looked to Razvan and tilted his head downward before looking back to Nualia. From his peripheral vision, the paladin saw Razvan nod, understanding what he had meant. With the plan settled on, Draul charged forward, yet again leading with the overhand swing as he did before. Nualia raised her sword to block the attack but left herself exposed when Razvan rolled toward her, getting past Draul. He slashed out with both sword and dagger, cutting across her exposed stomach with ease. She yelped out in pain, but even then, she held out against Draul's attack and shoved his greatclub away with ease.

"I will not fail you, Mother of Monsters!" Nualia declared and raised her demonic claw up into the air.

Nualia unleashed a cold and dark energy that expanded out from her, passing through each of her foes. Razvan screamed out in pain from the cold and Draul gritted his teeth to hold out against the supernatural attack. He glanced over his shoulder to see Corita hold out enough to keep singing while Mariel fell down to a knee. The elf rose back, and with a shake of her head, blasted a magical dart toward Nualia. The aasimar tried to block the attack but the spell leaned to the side to strike her in the shoulder. Draul followed up on Nualia's surprise with a greatclub swing, catching her across the chest. Corita advanced while singing but she was anything but subtle as Nualia blocked the bard's sword with ease.

However, blocking Corita's attack only left her open to Razvan, who slashed at her exposed stomach again with his shortsword. Nualia gritted her teeth in pain and stepped back from Razvan, swinging out with her sword out towards the bard. Corita tried to raise her buckler to stop the blade but Nualia struck fast, cutting through the bard's shoulder. Draul stood his ground when Nualia turned to face him, swinging her claw at him. He swung his greatclub at her hand, blocking the claws from tearing into him while striking at her. Nualia gasped, caught off guard by the attack, and barely maneuvered out of Corita's way as the bard tried to pierce her with her shoulder. Another magical missile from Mariel slammed into Nualia's shoulder and the aasimar scowled, growing annoyed with how the fight had turned against her. Nualia saw Razvan coming, and while she blocked his sword, his dagger slipped through to cut above her eye, leaving a nasty cut.

"Enough!" Nualia screamed out in anger as she backed up. "I will not fall here!"

Once again, Nualia raised her demonic army up and channeled the same dark energy she struck the group with before. Once again, Draul stood his ground despite the cold energy flowing across his skin, and focused on the warmth he felt from following the Dawnflower to keep standing. However, Razvan and Corita couldn't stand against Nualia's divine powers and were blasted back against separate walls. Draul glanced at them in rapid succession, worried about if they were still alive, but he couldn't take his eyes off of Nualia unless he wanted her to finish him off.

"They're still alive!" Mariel assured Draul from behind him, her voice strained. "I can see that they're breathing."

"I'll finish them after I take your head!" Nualia declared and swung her sword at Draul.

"Rah!" Draul grunted as he blocked Nualia's sword with his greatclub. "I will not let you kill them!"

"You lack the strength to stop me!" Nualia screamed at Draul.

Draul knew it was now or never. He struggled to stand against Nualia's might and he imagined that Mariel must be on her last legs as well. Still, he could see that his foe was also faltering, and between her words, she took deep breaths. She had sustained many injuries from her opponents, and even if Draul fell, Mariel was likely to kill Nualia with her magic. If Nualia managed to use her dark powers to defeat the both of them, then Kennick would be able to defeat her once he overcame the yeth hound's fear. However, by the time he made it back, Nualia may have executed the others.

Nualia struck out with her demonic claw and Draul prepared himself. Stopping Nualia was up to him, not Mariel or Kennick. With one hand, Draul let go of his greatclub and raised his forearm to block Nualia's attack. Her sharp talons dug through his armor and drew blood but Draul was ready. He reached his hand forward and grabbed her by the forearm before she could pull back. Nualia's demonic skin was rough and burning hot to the touch and her eyes went wide, not expecting the maneuver. Draul held her in place, and while she tried to pull back, he kept a firm enough grip so that she couldn't escape. He knew he couldn't keep up the hold for long between Nualia's enhanced strength and her sword but she was left vulnerable for the precious few seconds he needed.

With his other hand, Draul raised his greatclub up to bring down on Nualia as she raised her sword with her free hand to forcibly remove the paladin's grip on her. Draul slammed his greatclub down onto her forehead and he felt her resolve to pull her claw free weakened. Her sword dropped down to the ground and her eyes closed. Nualia slouched forward, falling unconscious, with the only thing keeping her from hitting the ground was Draul holding onto her corrupted arm. He sighed in relief and released his grip on the unconscious aasimar, letting her fall down to the ground.

"It's over," Draul turned to face Mariel. "I'll heal Razvan and Corita to get them back standing, then we can take Nualia to the prison upstairs."

"You've spared her life after everything," Mariel noted, crossing her arms. "After everything she did and said, you still spared her life."

"Of course I did," Draul nodded. "Speaking from personal experience, sometimes, mercy is the start of a better life."

"Are you at least sure that we can keep her imprisoned?" Mariel questioned. "What if she tries to escape with her unholy powers."

"If we take away her symbol to Lamashtu, she won't be able to call upon her powers," Draul answered, stepping away toward Corita. "I saw her tuck away a strange medallion before we fought. You can check her for that while I make sure our friends live."

Mariel nodded and hesitantly approached Nualia, kicking her sword out of her grasp in case she regained consciousness. Draul left Mariel to search Nualia for the medallion and knelt by Corita. He took the bard by the hand and channeled a wave of healing energy to restore her strength. Corita gasped as her eyes snapped open when she regained consciousness. Draul smiled at the bard reassuringly before moving forward to heal Razvan. The rogue groaned when he regained consciousness, and by the time Draul helped him back on his feet, Kennick had returned, no longer frightened by the yeth hound's power.

"Is everyone okay?" Kennick asked, frowning. "I don't know what overcame me but that yeth hound's howl was too much for me to bear."

"It wasn't your fault," Draul assured Kennick. "It was powerful magic. We were fortunate enough to resist the yeth hounds we fought before."

"We're alright," Corita told Kennick, waving toward him as she sat up. "Nualia was powerful but we had her outnumbered."

"It looks like we're taking her prisoner as well," Razvan noted, watching Mariel stand up from Nualia. "Are we sure that we can keep her contained?"

"I believe we can," Draul answered with a nod. "Mariel, were you able to find her symbol of power?"

"Take a look at this," Mariel beckoned for the others to join her.

Draul and the others walked over to join Mariel and looked at the silver medallion she took from Nualia. He blinked in surprise at the design of the medallion. It was a disc with a seven-pointed star engraved into it. A single ruby was embedded in the center of the star and the medallion was attached to a leather cord. Draul didn't know much about the religions of the world but he didn't recognize the seven-pointed star as a symbol of Lamashtu or any other deities.

"What is it?" Draul asked.

"It's the Sihedron," Mariel told the adventurers. "It's a symbol of Thassilon's authority as each point of the star represents one of the Runelords and their respective vice."

"How did Nualia end up with this?" Corita questioned,

"Between this part of Thistletop and the complex underneath Sandpoint, Nualia had plenty of opportunities to find old Thassilonian artifacts," Razvan pointed out and crossed his arms.

"Which means there must be more treasure somewhere around," Corita said with a grin. "I wonder what else we can find down here."

"Malfeshnekor is somewhere here as well," Kennick pointed out.

"We'll explore the rest of the dungeon tomorrow," Draul told the group. "For now, we should lock Nualia up with the rest of her group so that we can rest and recover. Tomorrow, we'll put an end to Malfeshnekor.

"While I do approve of exploring the rest of this complex given that it's likely connected to Thassilon, are you really suggesting that we should fight Malfeshnekor?" Mariel asked with a frown. "Whatever Malfeshnekor is, it could be more powerful than any of us can deal with."

"Be that as it may, if Nualia was able to find out about Malfesknekor, others may as well," Draul explained. "We can either have someone guard Thistletop forever or we put an end to the threat tomorrow."

"If we stop Malfeshnekor, we'll truly be heroes," Corita said with a nod. "Count me in!"

"It'll be dangerous," Razvan said, tapping his chin in thought. "I think I need more time to think it over."

"It wouldn't be a good idea to go after Malfeshnekor with Nualia and her allies around," Kennick said, gesturing towards the unconscious aasimar. "What happens if they break out and come after us? We'd have to fight on two fronts."

"Kennick has a point," Mariel nodded. "Additionally, we still have that deal with the goblins to kill her. They won't like it if we go back on their deal."

"Be that as it may, we have no choice," Draul told the two. "We're not going to kill them now that they're defeated."

"I don't want to kill them," Kennick admitted, his voice quiet. "But they know what I am. If we take them back to Sandpoint, they may tell others."

"Trust me on this, Kennick," Draul said, smiling. "I know that some of you might not think that they can be saved but I have a story I'd like to share with you all that will show you where I come from with wanting to save them. Let's take Nualia upstairs and we can talk then."

"Very well," Mariel sighed. "Corita, grab those books. We might learn more about what we're dealing with from them."

"Right!" Corita nodded eagerly.

Draul and Kennick picked up Nualia by her arms while Corita gathered the books. Razvan went ahead of the group to disarm the trap in the hallway with Mariel following behind him. It was a tough fight and they had come close to defeat, but together, they had defeated Nualia. Greater challenges awaited the group in the days ahead. Draul could only hope that his friends would stand by his side even when he revealed his bloody past. He knew that it was time to reveal the truth to them after they had come so far as adventurers.

It was important to Draul that the group was united when it came time to face Malfeshnekor tomorrow. They would have to be able to trust each other completely against such a powerful foe. It was only together that they were able to come as far as they had, and if they fell apart, they wouldn't stand a chance against Malfeshnekor. It was a gamble for Draul to tell his friends the truth when they were approaching what could be their most difficult battle but it was a necessary decision.

A/N: I really enjoyed writing this chapter, especially with the fight scene. It was one of the more exciting fights to work on.

As a heads up, we're ending the near of Burnt Offerings. There are only a few chapters left in my notes. It'll be a little bit longer before I finish it but I'm hoping to have this story done by August or September.

Until next time.