Akash opened his eyes to a much less full library and a fully animated Halimedes.
"Welcome to the party." Said Hal, clapping a hand on Akash's shoulder. "You also touch a book, or?"
"Nope, just brushed you. You were completely frozen, we tried to knock your hand off the book, but it didn't quite work out." Replied Akash, he turned in a circle taking in his new surroundings. "Where are we anyways?"
"I have no idea. I was going to explore a little, but just before you showed up something out there," he gestured towards the open door, "rumbled pretty damn loud, and I'm not looking to die alone."
"Good call, but we still need to figure out how to get back to everyone else. Have you tried any of the books here?"
"Yeah, they just seem to be normal, looks like the beginning of the collection from before though. You think we're back in time or something?"
"Maybe, but your body was still in the other library. More likely it's some kind of mental projection. I'm gonna look through the books that are here in case there's something here." After flipping through the first few pages of a book Gnoll, Charles, and Naivara all simultaneously popped into existence holding hands.
"Hey y'all, guess the gang's all here." Said Hal, welcoming their friends. "Quick version: probably a mental projection of the past, something big and loud outside that doorway, and no great ideas on how to get back to our bodies. Speaking of our bodies, you guys just say screw it and jump in together?"
"Yeah, pretty much. We couldn't get you or Akash to move so we figured we would try to get it sorted together. Kind of a leap of faith." Said Gnoll.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but we are now all stuck here." Replied Akash.
"True, but consider this. Now that we're all here we can go see what's making that noise." Said Charles. "Come on, how bad could it be?" He walked towards the open doorway and poked his head outside, and immediately recoiled. "Ok, uhhh, it's a skeleton dragon."
"Like the skull they were praying to?" Asked Akash.
"Maybe? Except this one has the full body attached, and is moving around." Clarified Charles, "We can probably still take it, just bigger than I expected. When we get out of the doorway fan out, I don't know if it can breath fire, but in case it can we shouldn't be bunched up. Ready?" Everyone nodded their approval and charged out of the doorway.
The outer chamber was amazing to behold. All traces of the kobold's presence were missing, along with the massive cave-in that captured the dragon's skull. In the cave-in's place was a massive set of dark wooden doors studded with black iron. The intersection of the walls and the ceiling was home to grand windows through which Akash could see a dark night filled with constellations he could not recognize. Before he could truly study these strange stars his attention was ripped away by the rattling bellow of a massive skeletal dragon that occupied the center of the chamber. In accordance with Charles' plan the cohort scattered, diving for cover behind the towering marble columns that supported the roof. Just before they could all make it to safety the dragon's call was replaced by a merciless breath that froze the air itself, the moisture turning to icy crystals that cut into Akash's throat as he inhaled sharply, attempting to prevent his own lungs from collapsing in the low pressure that followed the drop in temperature.
"So much for it breathing fire!" Yelled Halimedes from across the room, his armor coated in a thin layer of frost.
"It's not like I could tell what color its skin used to be from the bones!" Yelled Charles from behind his column.
""I'm going to get around to the other side, you guys distract it over here." Said Hal as he crouched to dash to another column.
"Ok, I've got an idea! Wait for my signal." Responded Charles. He put his fingers to his lips and let out a sharp whistle that resounded through the chamber.
"Was that the signal?" Asked Hal confused, "Are you going to do something?"
"Just give it a moment." As the words left Charles' mouth a spectral steed galloped out of the library, faint vines wrapped around its body. As it raced past Charles he grasped the vines and swung himself atop and cried out, "Charge!". Drawing his lance he faced down the dragon head on.
Hal took his opening to dash from column to column making his way to the backside of the dragon. While he made his move Akash, Gnoll, and Naivara fired off a round of projectiles and magic that barely made a chip in the old bones. The dragon snapped at Charles, its massive teeth closing inches from his arm as he leaned over the flank of his horse.
Charles responded to the bite by driving his lance up under the dragon's jaw, striking its skeletal palette. Hal made a deep passing cut on the rear tibia. Gnoll summoned a glowing golden mace that swung and missed at the dragon. Naivara's shot ricocheted around one of the dragon's blue glowing eye sockets.
As the battle continued to rage the dragon charged through one of the support columns and its bony wing sliced through another. The collapsing supports causing the room to rumble. Charles and his steed took the brunt of the attacks, his strength barely holding the line with Akash and Gnoll healing his injuries and maintaining his stamina. Halimedes' rear assault shattered several of the small bones, leaving deeper grooves on the larger. The rounds from Naivara's firearm continued to whizz through the chamber, few finding their targets.
Finally, a slight light blue glow began to seep out of the cracks and cuts in the dragon's bones. Sensing the end of the battle, the cohort redoubled their assault. Akash pulled back the stream of magic that was healing Charles and gathered it in his palm. The small bead of white light intensified before he thrust out his hand, palm forward, causing the energy to streak forward as a bolt that struck the skeleton's right eye socket. The eye flared a striking blue, the energy raced along the cracks expanding them until they exploded outwards. For a breath they remained, suspended midair, dark and lifeless. Then with a thundering cacophony the skeleton collapsed inwards, being still once more.
"See, told you guys we could take it." Said Charles as he wiped the sweat and blood from a cut on his forehead.
"Are you guys also glowing?" Asked Naivara from the back of the room. She walked out from behind one of the remaining columns as the rest of the cohort looked down to see their own bodies disappearing in a faint light.
"Well, that's not normal." Were the last words that came from Charles before he winkout of of existence followed quickly by Gnoll, Naivara, then Akash, and finally Hal.
Akash sucked in a deep breath and stumbled back a step as he found himself back in the overcrowded library of the kobolds. A small ring of kobolds had formed around the group. Their excited chittering filled the space as the cohort began to move.
"They're surprised that you survived." Translated Tizaak, who was pacing back and forth along the shelves, paying more attention to the tomes than the recently returned party. "Also, the books should be safe to read now apparently." He noted excitedly as he reached up to pull one off the shelf.
"Good to know." Said Gnoll, who also began excitedly piled books into his arms.
"Is everyone alright?" Asked Akash as he began doing a quick once over of the group. "It looks like none of the injuries we took have transferred over. But, man am I exhausted after that." He grabbed a couple books that were written in Celestial and sat down to read. One was just a collection of poetry, but the other, titled The Westward March chronicled the journey of an ancient race known as the Elders and their exodus West. After a while he felt his eyelids grow heavy, "I'm going to sit in the main chamber for a second, yell if you need me." He then ducked out of the doorway and sat on the worn floor, letting his head tilt back and rest on the cool cave wall.
Inside the library the rest of the cohort was still abuzz with energy pulling books out of piles and off shelves before flipping through them only to be set aside after a moment. Naivara focused her energy on texts written in Abyssal, the demonic language of The Abyss, many of which carried descriptions of various demons and their territories within the many layers that make up The Abyss. One such passage stood out to her, it was a descriptor of The Prince of Deception and his history of scheming for power and influence across the planes of existence.
After an hour or so everyone was thoroughly exhausted from the research process, except Tizaak, who was himself surrounded by a veritable throne of books and scrolls.
"Alrighty, I need a nap." Sighed Hal, snapping shut one final book. "Anyone find anything useful?"
"I might have found something." Said Naivara, "I'll tell you guys about it when we get back up to the refugee chamber."
"Alrighty, sounds good. Let's check out the armory then head back up there for some shut-eye." Hal led the group out of the library and gently shook Akash's shoulder. "Dude, wake up. We're done in the library."
"Uhhh, hey. I'm up." He said, rising to his feet. "Armory?"
"Yup, we're gonna head there before we leave."
"Alright, let's go." Said Akash as he looked at the rest of the party. "So, what exactly are we looking for?" He continued as they all began making their way across the main chamber.
"I'm looking to upgrade my armor, see what they've got down here." Answered Gnoll, "I doubt any weapons they have down here will be worth much. Although, we might be able to get some good spear heads or something."
"Yeah, I'm also looking for an armor upgrade, maybe even some barding for Buck on the off chance they've got it." Contributed Charles. "Some full plate would be great since I'm always on our frontline."
"How are we planning on paying for this by the way? I suspect they'll want bulk metal for the goddess." Mused Hal.
"I've got some candlesticks and chains that they'll probably want. Not to mention I can probably just trade up my current armor for something of higher quality with the extra scrap metal." Replied Gnoll.
"I hadn't really thought about it, but Gnoll's plan is pretty good. My chainmail and some spare silver can probably get me pretty far." Said Charles with a shrug. "Anyways, we're here, let's see what they've got." The chamber was filled with racks of and racks of scale embossed metallic green armor, spears, and piles of the baubles and scraps of the refugees. "Jackpot!"
"No kidding. Although, I'm not sure if they have anything in my size." Remarked Gnoll, picking through the racks.
"I'm sure we can get something resized up to you." Said Charles, sizing up a chestplate for himself.
"With my dad's tools I bet I can do it for you." Said Naivara, while she inspected one of the armor sets.
"That would be amazing if you could." Replied Gnoll. "Have to actually get it first. Anyone seen Tizaak?"
"He's still in the library I think." Replied Akash.
"Great." Gnoll flagged down one of the kobolds who seemed to be overseeing the armory and began gesturing to his own armor and he set he was holding. Charles joined in the charades and after several minutes of back and forth they managed to barter for the new armor, a handful of spearheads, and even an extra shield for Hal.
"Alright, looking good folks." Said Charles as he bundled the armor together in his pack. "I'm beat, let's head back up to our chamber." The statement was met with a responding agreement.