Chapter 6: Calamity Caves

"It is the dragon we have been forced to worship by Ashen Swale," explains once the dragon disappears out of view. "She is probably out hunting, or just stretching her wings. It is just her, we have never seen any other dragon."

She looks to Iroven. "She spend most time in her glacial palace. Though she sometime go out to hunt. Your following can be a problem, I suggest hiding them in forest south of her."

You follow the limestone stairs up and across the bridge into a cavern with unnaturally smooth floor and ceiling. Cave paintings cover its walls. The central painting depicts a white dragon shooting ice from one outstretched claw and fire from the other as people grovel and offer tribute. The painting seems to be magical as it sheds bright light across the room. "Venexus," Eokoe curses.

A large bowl filled with ash rests before the painting, surrounded by offerings (primarily bones, polished stones, carved rocks, long-horned bison skulls, pelts, and clay vessels).

Before you enter the room, Tomas and Artesia senses something amiss, they suspect the bowl is part of some magical trap.

"I have heard of this shrines before," Eokoe offers. "Ashen Swale has trapped them, so that anyone not showing proper deference to Venexus will be punished."

You do recall that you found a religious symbol on the dead necromancer outside the castoroides hut.

Eokoe shrugs. "Don't know how it works," they say. "If nothing else it would send a signal. Not that I think many come here to give worship. These caves have a certain reputation. That's the reason we came here. A place no one would be fool enough to pass through. Luckily we were wrong and you were here."

Eokoe gasps as you take out the holy symbol. "The symbol of Venexus!" he hisses. Wide eyed he's wondering why you're carrying it.

With the holy symbol you are able to approach the shrine. You are unsure what would have happened without it though. In the offering bowl you see among the mostly mundane items an uncut diamond that looks to be valuable.