Io's Labyrinth

[Anastasia]

Ahead is a dull, craggy room of dead stone. Here a great heap of gold sits, and atop it sits a dragon of power. A dragon that looms above all, a wyrm of the purest gold. It speaks in the tone of a hero, a conqueror. "I am the Champion," it announces.

[Corwin]

"Champion of what?" Seira politely inquires.

[Nephrite]

Where in the world does all this wealth even come from, Moore wonders.

[Anastasia]

"I was created to protect dragonkind, but I was not needed with the rise of Bahamut, Sardior and Tiamat." The golden dragon declares, "Thus I sleep in a throne of gold and a world of ash. For what is a champion with no victories to win?"

"A champion who finds a new purpose," Jetina says immediately, "Especially as Io seems content to keep things and not destroy things. ...rather like a dragon's hoard, actually."

The wyrm smiles - all too sharp teeth shown with hints of fire - "So it is. We come by our hoarding instincts honestly, one may say."

[Corwin]

"How about protecting dragonkind by fighting Shar?" Seira wonders out loud. "That's surely a cause all of us will agree on, even that worthless Tiamat."

[Ebiris]

"Dragons are as threatened as anything else by her," Alicia agrees with that.

[Anastasia]

"To battle Shar, I only could if I were freed," The wyrm says, speaking slowly. "For this throne is where Io left me, and did not leave me the ability to go beyond this place."

[Ebiris]

"Many of the other dragons here have bemoaned their long captivity here, and I intend to speak on their behalf when we meet Io. You would of course be included, Champion," Alicia promises.

[Anastasia]

"Ah." The Champion smiles and bows his head to all of you, almost to the ground, "Then you have understood the lesson Io wished to understand: Mercy and compassion. For it is those that brought Lord Io back, rather than leaving Creation to its fate."

Before you a key of solid gold materializes, "Take this with my blessing."

[Ebiris]

"Gladly," Alicia takes the key to add to their collection. "I'll look forward to seeing your own contributions to Creation after we conclude things here."

[Anastasia]

Loot update.

"Victory to you," The golden wyrm declares.

"Victory to you as well," Antenora seconds, "Forward."

[Ebiris]

Alicia salutes Champion with her sword before she leads them back through the teleporter. Now to use their wall of force routine to go down the West end through the electrical discharges.

[Anastasia]

Thus the party heads back.

"Progress," Oberuth says, "Three powerful keys - it may be time to go walk the path to Io."

"Or finish exploring first," Amaryl counters, "But we're making progress, as the oak grows taller and taller."

[Ebiris]

"I doubt there's much in this direction, and after we explore it that'll be everything covered," Alicia says. "Lets be thorough and finish up, we're almost done."

[Corwin]

"Agreed!"