// TOWN TEXT DATA
//    Town 23: Cave of Motrax


begintextlibrary;

20 = "As you start to walk over the rune, it glows brightly. You feel a tickling sensation on your right hand. Then the light fades. You must have adequate clearance to enter this area.";
21 = "";
22 = "This is a small, well-equipped magical laboratory. Cauldrons bubble and splash to the south, and flasks and other alchemical equipment crowd the tables ringing the room.";
23 = "The lab is dedicated to making large batches of potions, probably for military uses. Brews made here are given to Avernite soldiers to help them during special missions.";
24 = "";
25 = "";
26 = "As you start to cross the magic circle, the runes surrounding it glow faintly. You feel a ticklish sensation on the back of your right hand. Then the light fades. The gate remains closed.";
27 = "You've heard of runes like this. They are used by the Avernite government to block off areas which are off limits to soldiers with inadequate clearance. Like, it would appear, you.";
28 = "";
29 = "The cave to the north is huge. It is the base of a huge, natural shaft, and the ceiling is lost in the mist far beyond the range of your light. The floor is furrowed with deep claw marks. To the north is a large platform, upon which rests Motrax, the dragon.";
30 = "Everyone in Avernum has heard of Motrax, the kindly old dragon who has helped your people many times in the past. When you get closer, however, you can see that Motrax has been grievously wounded.";
31 = "He was an ancient creature to begin with, but now his body bears a number of vicious, recent wounds. He was attacked with both blades and magic. He lies on his side, weak and tired.";
32 = "If you believed such a thing was possible, you would be sure that Motrax is dying. He is not blind, though. When he sees you enter, he raises a claw and beckons you forward.";
33 = "";
34 = "This tunnel leads to the lair of Motrax. Motrax is a dragon, one of only a handful of this mighty race known to be alive. He is an ancient beast, very kind and respected by all of Avernum.";
35 = "Most of the guards here aren't human. Or alive. Golems, magical automatons crafted from stone, protect the lair. You are surprised that humans aren't helping to defend the ancient dragon. Perhaps the recent raid took a gruesome toll.";
36 = "A nearby sign says that you need to have soldier clearance to approach Motrax. In other words, that you are a full soldier of Avernum. Fortunately, you qualify. The golems do not react as you pass.";
37 = "This field of rubble is where Motrax rests. It's a wide field of jumbled and cracked stones. It doesn't look very comfortable. Some of the stones are stained with the dragon's blood.";
38 = "Dragons are reputed to possess enormous treasure hoards. You see nothing of the sort here. Just food, bones, and refuse.";
39 = "";
40 = "Remembering what Ostoth told you, you search the pile for the research tablet Motrax borrowed. It takes a while, but you manage to find it. The writing is faint and in a strange script. You struggle to understand it. It describes a powerful healing ritual ...";
41 = "The tablets on the pedestal are ancient and worn. You can't even begin to understand most of the writing, and you don't have the weeks it would take to try. You are forced to leave them alone.";
42 = "_Oh, did you? Well, good. Thank you. Saved us a little trouble. I'll put in a good word for you with my superiors when I get a chance. Might help you get a promotion._ You wait for him to give you an additional reward. He eventually takes the hint and give you a pouch of coins.";
43 = "";
44 = "You give Enla the drake fang. She eagerly shaves several long, dark curls off of it. You wait patiently as she inspects (and tastes) them. They pass the inspection. Eventually, she remembers the reward she promised you. _Well, I currently have little use for this item._";
45 = "_She removes a ring from her pouch and hands it to you. The army had better reimburse me for this! It's valuable!_ She returns to her work.";
46 = "";
47 = "In addition to the clean, carefully folded robes in this dresser, you find a key on a leather thong. The key is crafted from a single piece of feldspar, a shiny, black, dense stone.";
48 = "";
49 = "You enter a small Avernite fort. You have heard of this place, a walled encampment built around the lair of the dragon Motrax. All Avernites have heard of Motrax, the ancient dragon who chose to aid humans in their fight for survival in the underworld.";
50 = "Two things catch your attention. First, the wall has been blasted open. The ground is scorched. This fort was recently raided, and the wall was breached.";
51 = "Second, there are no human guards. All of the defenders are enchanted stone constructs. You can see them farther in, mindlessly patrolling.";
52 = "";
53 = "The cabinet is filled with charred bones, bits of stained scrolls, and small, sharp knives. Some of Avernum's magical research seems to be taking place in very dark and dangerous areas. You close the cabinet.";
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