Sighing in relief and exhaustion, Cardia knelt down to retrieve the source
of the glow, a fist sized red magicite shard, and promptly vanished!

....

As soon as his eyes had adjusted to the dark, he began to investigate his
location.  It was a huge cavern, made of obsidian.  If he had more light,
he could see more.  Uttering the words of a simple spell, a lamp appeared
in his hand.  Up ahead, he could make out a stairway, leading down.
Totally lost and beginning to feel afraid, Cardia went in that direction.

He wished he still had a sword, not that it would do him much good.  He
hadn't wielded one in a good six thousand years.  As he reached the
bottom, he gasped in amazement.

Beyond was a chamber filled with long rows of capsules, each containing a
living person!