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With the dwarf Drommel in tow, the group proceeds down the last of the mine tunnels, toward the ancient lair of the dragon. Since the wyrm's death, the dwarves have sealed the mine entrance to the cavern with a set of huge adamantine doors. The doors are over a foot thick, and carved with runes that serve as a reminder of the long-ago battle: "Last battleground of Thorlin Broadblade. To pass this way is to dishonor the first king." The doors are slightly ajar; the old barricades removed. Everyone agrees that charging right in would be suicide, as there would no doubt be a larger force of derro and duergar inside the cavern, guarding the priests performing the ceremony. Instead, Theranion uses his Ring of Invisibility, and Zendril quaffs a Potion of Invisibility he looted from one of the derro. They silently enter the cavern, and scout the area.
The cavern is immense, spanning over 600 feet in diameter with a 150-foot-high ceiling, and a 100-foot wide tunnel leading diagonally out of the mountain above. Though their infravision is almost useless beyond 60', they are able to make out several figures within a circle of torches in the center of the cavern, where the priests have gathered. As Theranion scouts the perimeter of the cavern, Zendril slowly makes his way to the center.
Throughout the cavern are about 50 to 100 derro and duergar, all watching the ceremony from a "safe" distance. In the center of the cavern are a collection of derro and duergar priests surrounding Graylin and a large summoning circle. Surrounding the circle of priests are the bones of the dead wyrm, spanning over 300 feet from its nose to the tip of its tail. The dragon's horde lies next to it, completely untouched by the attendees to avoid retribution from the dragon once it is resurrected.
As Zendril nears the circle of priests, he begins to worry. One false move will betray his presence, followed shortly by a painful death. He sneaks past the chanting priests, and into the circle where Graylin stands holding the axe. Zendril steadies himself, and prepares to make a quick grab, followed by a mad dash back to the dwarven mines. As he reaches out for the axe, the summoning circle starts to pulse with energy. Zendril makes grab for the axe...and MISSES!
Being invisible, he misjudged the position of his hands, and instead grabs at nothing but air. He holds his breath, ready to bolt in case the priests heard him. Their droning continues, and he steadies himself once again. He goes to grab the axe one more time, but a sudden cold draft stops him dead in his tracks. He turns to look behind him, and comes face-to-face with the spirit of the dead dragon forming above the circle...it can SEE him!
Zendril turns back around, makes a desperate grab for the axe (YES!), and takes off at full speed for the exit just as the dragon's spirit dispels his invisibility. The priests are caught completely off-guard, however, and cannot react before he is beyond their range of sight. The duergar and derro warriors are also caught off-guard, but they quickly pursue, shooting their crossbows as they run after him. With the priests' concentration interrupted, the ceremony is ruined, and the dragon's spirit is pulled back through the circle; back to the darkness from which it came.
Theranion sees Zendril suddenly running out from within the circle of priests ("Uh, sh**!"), and makes a dash for the exit with plans to cover Zendril's escape. Zendril is barely through the door when Theranion conjures up a wall of fire to block the dwarves' pursuit. Then, with Nataya's and Drommel's help, he closes the huge adamantine doors, and locks the barricades in place.
Zendril, in the meantime, continues to run as fast as his legs can carry him. He winds his way back through the mine tunnels, setting off a number of tripwires as he goes. None of the traps manage to spring before he is well out of their way. He keeps running until he reaches the dwarven halls. He runs right up to the leader's hall, then holds out the axe and says, "I found your axe...", before collapsing to the floor, completely out of breath.
Zendril manages to recover his senses about the time the rest of the group enters the hall. Drommel respectfully approaches Mordran, asking forgiveness for his misguided judgment in helping Graylin. He also asks for a private audience, so he can recount to Mordran what has transpired in the past two days. A half-hour later, a grim-faced Mordran appears before the group.
While he is overjoyed at having the clan's most prized treasure safe once again, he is also disturbed at how close the clan came to being destroyed. They had no idea prior to the group's return that Graylin was trying to resurrect the dragon, or that he had allied with the duergar and derro. Concerned about what other trouble Graylin and his allies might cause in the near future, Mordran has to decide quickly how to deal with him. Graylin comes from an important and noble family within the clan, and having to order him hunted down and killed was a sad task for Mordran. Facing Graylin's family with the news will be even more difficult.
However, for their efforts in foiling Graylin's evil plans, and saving the clan from the red wyrm's vengeance, Mordran offers a special reward to the Zendril and the rest of the group. Each is allowed one magic item of their choice from the dwarves' treasury and armory. They are also made honorary members of the Bladebright clan, the highest honor the dwarves can bestow to an outsider.
Now, all that's left is to complete Randal's little diplomatic mission...
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