Rosalyn prompted the lorist " See if you can get some more information out of Pomeer. Where is he taking us and when can we expect to run into goblins?"
Gailwind talked with the guide while the others explored the room. An ornate fountain centered the right wall and a relief-carved stone door centered the left. An open passage moved south beyond into dank darkness.
" He said that he knows the general area where the monsters are, but doesn't know for certain." answered the elf " They use this area to prowl around and... steal."

Nanith, disgruntled at the teams exiguous view of him, moseyed on over to the fountain and started inspecting it carefully. The cleric was busy showing coins and multi-colored cloths, attained from the others, to the kobold.

" It is clearly white then." identified the psionic after several minutes of group interrogation. He looked to the wizard for a reaction " It seems they got a dragon from the northlands."

Aramil paled slightly " This is not good. Whites are dangerous, unpredictable and vicious. I have nothing prepared that will be of much use against such a creature and, even with time, I may not have the spells I need. We cannot rely on magic, but wits for this search." The party grew silent contemplating if they were prepared for tackling such a legendary animal as this. If the wizard couldn't conjure a protection for them, would sheer force actually work if the wyrmling became combative?

" I think I found something!� alerted Nanith " You should have a look at this Gailwind." he suggested with a wave. " It�s something written in a language I don�t comprehend.� Ninnipin pointed to a worn inscription plate on the fountain base.
Gailwind walked over to the basin stepping beside the wee hobbit. " Any idea as to what it says?� queried the rogue with hands on hips. The lorist bent over to gain better insight. " It's like the cage room. An ancient language of dragons called Driscernic. It says " Fire, the pure way of life."

Suddenly, a radiant, red flash burst from a statuehead at the back of the fountain! The pair reflexively jumped back and watched as a glowing fiery substance started oozing slowly out of the wicked dragon statue's maw.
" What the..!" Nanith exclaimed in surprise " Do you think you've activated something by speaking the words?" He looked up at the lorist inquiringly. " I wonder if it's hot?" The rogue crept forward and extended the palm of his hand towards the flowing red gel.

" Stop!" shouted Aramil leaping forward to push Nanith's arms away. " If it is hot we may find ourselves with a one-handed thief. Use your brain man!" the wizard condemned. Though hard on him, the elf realized that the rogue was key to their mission.

The dwarf marched forward watching the red ooze spread out thickly after hitting the bottom of the basin. " Let him lose his hands! He is always asking for trouble and it would suit him well to see that he cannot always get what he wants." The priest was obviously holding a past grudge against the wee one and pushed Nanith forward so he can get nearer the florescent gel. Rosalyn agreed that that the rogue was asking for problems by tangling with the glob, but the curiosity of the rogue claimed him. He scraped a bit of it into his lead chalice and watched the ooze bubble.
" I never intended to touch the gel." defended Nanith with a scowl " You all need to learn to trust someone who will have you all live from one trap into the next."

Vrai spoke as if transfixed with the hobbit's chalice " He can at least hold onto the stuff to see if it helps us along the way." He looked at the others. " It couldn't hurt...right?"

The party didn't know what to say. They had wanted to believe that they were fully functional despite Aramil's doubts and their lack of full firepower.

The ranger played with the leash in his hands " Let's go south through the doorway and see where that leads. I don't want Promade to get tired and make us stop prematurely."