I am not sure if not doing the cooks quest will cause you to not be able to continue. I don't think so. Most of the side quests have minimal influence on the main story line, if any at all. They are just there to earn you more experience, and make the game more fun. As far as the lava goes, that to isn't going to stop you. There is also a way out at the end of the level. You just take the stairs. I think the main thing is that you need to go to Samuels lair and defeat his death Knights. You get the keys that you need to continue there as well as a battlefield key. Whenever you find a battlefield key, make it a point to go there and play out that dungeon. You gain valuable exp. and can usually find some valuable items. If you think a little bit, you can really use the battlefields, and the merchants there to your advantage. I don't know how much experience you have playing these types of RPG's, but never leave any stone unturned. Explore everything. Open every box, barrel, or chest. Talk to everyone. I think that you can still proceed, you just blew a few quests, which can happen to the best of us. Good luck.
