After the ghostly arm of Throzahk had been retreated he heard an announcement, it rang with a mechanical voice.
{Mark Acquired! Mark of Quilrorry: Acolyte!}
This announcement was met by turmoil in the skeletal kobold mind "WAIT, WHAT… I don't want to be a priest… priests must live in chastity don't they!?... no way in hell! I won't be a damn priest!" said the skeletal kobold on his mind, while shaking uncontrollably in scorn and revulsion at the prospect of priesthood.
Looking at the kobold's reaction the spectral Throzahk he broke into booming laughter calming down a bit later [You, Hah, you tought you would be a priest, did you not?] asked Throzahk, his question was swiftly answered with a nod from the kobold's skull.
Once again the spectral man broke in to a thunderous laughter [No, no, you won't become a priest, there is no one to make the rites to ordain you as a member of Holy Quilrorry's priesthood… no, you will be an acolyte! Which means you will be able to learn more easily… but you won't become a priest] said Throzahk, his voice still containing some of the mocking tone of laughter, he then raised his spectral arm and pointed towards the white tomes.
[Those tomes… the center one is the writings of Samandiel Withersong, quite an eccentric man, he dedicated his life to the research of curses and their cures.] said Throzahk pointing at the white tome in the center of the slab.
He then moved towards another tome [The left one, it was written by my master Olqejia, it contents are the rituals used for divination, scrying the contents of souls and some basic healing rituals] said Throzahk, pointing towards the leftmost tome on top of the stone slab.
He then moved towards the tome on the right, and explained [And this one, it is from the master arcanist Jashiel the Quicksilver, from the Mage's tower of Strumma, it contains basic forms of mana manipulation, that includes cores from undead and the like, held in high regard for its usefulness in teaching basic manipulation of meager quantities of divine energy… it seems that High Seeress had to put a protection on them, that is to be expected, after all these tomes are the only true valuables of the temple…] after that he then proceeded to look towards the skeletal kobold, before speaking to him.
As he moved to the center of the slab Throzahk said [Acolyte! I will be needing your assistance, as I cannot touch the tomes you will be the one to turn the pages, first open the tome of Samandiel] Commanding the newly appointed Skeletal Acolyte.
"Fine then, if I get to learn something this may not that bad… yes yes, let's get knowledge, specially the one pertaining to cores, yes yes…" thought the Kobold Acolyte who obeyed the command of the spectral Throzahk.
The Skeletal Acolyte moved towards the center tome, moving the cover to the side, what he saw where strange runes, that reminded him of an archaic language, the scriptures were written in long stokes, the runes were wedge-shaped symbols, some with long tails, and others without them, it looked very different to the runes that formed the seals on the room that he had seen.
He then moved his skull at angle, and put his hand on his jaw in a puzzled and confused expression "This looks like very similar to Akkadian writing, it seems my internal library of useless knowledge can be of some use here, although I don't know what the heck does it say! Yes yes!" thought the Kobold acolyte.
Looking at his new Acolyte puzzled look Throzahk spoke to him [This is Álfar Speech, the language of the Álfar, particularly the Adelig Álfar, or the Noble Elves, Samandiel was one of them, he gave this tome to the temple in exchange for healing, he asked only that, normally an Adelig Álfar would ask for the highest ranked and most experienced of healers for their treatment, but being the eccentric man that he was, he asked not for the most experienced or high ranking but for fast and effective healing, not caring much for the hierarchy… any way, turn to the next page] said Throzahk.
With a simple movement of his arm the skeletal kobold turned the page, this time he was met by strange symbols arranged in several patterns [No… this one is not the one] said Throzahk, reading with swiftness the passages of the second page.
[Next…] ordered Throzahk, and the page was turned by the kobold acolyte.
On this page there was only text, a big wall of text, the Akkadian lookalike scripture contained almost no spacing, only small wedge-shaped symbols seemed to set the words apart, [Hmm, no this passage contains details on the Curse of Elaran the Withered One, quite a nasty curse, but none the less not quite what we are looking for, Next!] ordered the spectral voice of Throzahk, and once again the passage was turned by the skeletal kobold.
And so the wall of text continued [No, this one is details the effects of the Curse Elaran, Next] ordered Throzahk, and the page was turned by the kobold acolyte once more.
This time they were met by a drawing of a man, completely naked, looking towards the readers, the drawing of the man, it had four arms, four legs and two tails, but they seemed to be superimposed, it was surrounded by a square and a circle, and it seemed like the circle was made of small and very delicate yet twisted and maddening runes and the other page contained once again an enormous wall of text [Hmmm… this is useful, this details the studies on the curse of Baleful Polymorphy, yet this version contains something that is most unusual, it details the effects on our kind… it meddles with our blood, and changing us, and it cannot be reversed… most insidious and evil… Next!] ordered the spectral man, the skeletal kobold obeyed with swiftness, turning the page with care, as to not damage the tome.
Suddenly a grin showed Throzahk's ghostly face [Now, now… this is quite interesting… there should be 4 more pages here… yet only the torn pieces lay here…] said Throzahk, his voice contained slight hints of glee [I knew it! This were the pages of the Curse of Bewitchment… it seems that Kolztak fell to temptation due to this… damned be that Harlot!] shouted Throzahk.
After a moment Throzahk seemed to have calmed down and he once again ordered the kobold to turn the pages [Next!] he said, [This one is the curse of Unhealing Wounds, not useful Next!] once again he ordered and the page was turned, [No, this one is not it either, this is the curse of Withering Will… Next!] and so the pages were turned, once and again, until they neared the center pages of the bulky tome.
[Aha! This is one of the two curses, the most harrowing of the two, Ushragotz's curse of Stone Imprisonment, in other words the curse of petrification afflicting the egg… or at least its original variant for that matter] muttered Throzahk [its compents are quite simple yet uncommon enough, fur from a Barghest, eyes from a giant crocodile, Shambling Mound spores, and the heart of a Water Hag… Hmm it seems that Koltzak and Icceamond changed the components almost completely, as the effects should last at maximum some two years or so… but it has been too long since the egg has been afflicted by the curse… damned be Arae!] a deep sadness and hatred flowed from Throzahk's voice.
[This is to be expected since they used black scales… those traitors used their own bodies as ingredient to ensure a long-lasting effect! But no matter, the curse shall be lifted] said Throzahk, this time his voice sounded solemn at the prospect of fulfilling his duty.
[Use the piece of cloth on the outside of the tome to mark the location acolyte! After that turn the page!] Commanded Throzahk, urging a swift and energetic response from the skeletal kobold who turned the page.
"So that thing about the egg… how long have you been dead!? Can it even hatch after being cursed for Gods know how long!? I need to learn more! Yes, yes" Thought the skeletal kobold, becoming accustomed to the role of acolyte to a ghost. Forgetting for mere moments that he may become part of Quilrorry priesthood.
And then the process repeated itself once more [Next!] he said and so the pages were turned, once and again, and once more, until they reached the final pages of the bulky tome [And here it is! Dorn's curse of undying corpse… By holy Quilrorry! This curse spreads around like a disease if left without attendance, it infects everything around the initial area! DAMNED BE ARAE AND DAMNED BE KOLZTAK AND ICCEAMOND!] a deep burning hatred overflowed from Throzahk's voice; palpable anger could be felt in the air.
Throzahk tried to calm himself, but to no avail his deep burning anger flowed once again from his voice [WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE THEY THINKING! BETRAYAL IS NOT ENOUGH TO DESCRIBE THEIR ACTIONS! BLASPHEMY IS WHAT IT IS! DAMNED BE THAT HARLOT! WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ACEPTED HER! I TOLD MY MASTER AND THEY DIDN'T LISTEN! AND NOW LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED] shouted the spectral Throzahk with ever growing anger slamming his spectral fist thru the arm of the stone chair, yet despite his anger it didn't shatter nor did the stone stop his fist.
He then turned towards the skeletal kobold and spoke, this time more calmly [Icceamond was kin, bu she was thin-blooded and to make things worse, Dökkálfar ancestry... Gods... apparently "rescued" from a cult dedicated to that damned Arae! Yet I never believed for a moment that she was held as hostage, but I was alone in this belief, no one listened to me!] said Throzahk with visible anger growing evermore evident on his face.
[Acolyte! I would ask that you go and retrieve the vials in the apothecary, however I must do something about the egg, your orders are to go and study PROPER draconic in the archives, there should remain some books with the basics, search for a red book, it is the introduction to Draconic by master Falka Zaidred, and if that tome is not there search for Jiagoss Basic Lections on Draconic, it has a blue and silver cover... meanwhile I will study the condition of the Egg, and for that i will need time, I hope by blessed Quilrorry, that it may be able to hatch] said Throzahk.
Looking at the hesitating kobold Throzahk oredered once again [GO! I need you to learn, so you may become more useful in this endeavor] with thunderous voice, ordering the skeletal acolyte, while pointing in the direction of the archives.
After the skeletal kobold had left the chamber Throzahk approached the petrified egg, letting out a heavy sigh before speaking [I wonder... my usual appraisal works on my acolyte due to him being an undead... i wonder if it would work on you...] said Throzahk, moving his arm towards the egg.