After a week, without the assistance of Surx as he considered himself 'too good' to help out anymore, I, Ivor, Coranzen, and Loderr were approached by the golden pseudodragon representative of Seer, who we discovered was named Hising (though, that might not be the correct spelling as the pseudo dragon does not know how to spell), who informed us of our mission. We were to go back to the Wizard's tower, and are tasked with searching its interior and bring back as many books and scrolls as we can. After some preparation, and a very inspiring dance if I do say so myself, we were teleported back to the top of the tower in the swamp south of Parnast.
Somehow, it smelled worse than it did before. The corpses we left had begun to rot and melt away, and I recounted to those who weren't at the battle between the Syndicate and Mother Fingers how everything went down. We then began exploring, as the entrance to this place was not clear. I went to the statue to the northeast, casting prestidigitation to clear of the years of moss and muck. Others began to explore, and Cor came to confide in me that he was thankful to see me. We had a nice moment, as he admitted he felt like a fish out of water in this circumstance. I assured him he was needed, and I noticed the arm of the statue could move. I told him to give it a try, and it operated like a leaver, opening a divot in the stone table near the center of the roof. I also revealed the face of the Gargoyle, and a plaque that read: Earth Remains Strong Protecting All.
We approached the opening, and noticed it had prongs perfect to hold the amulet we looted off Mother Fingers. Placing it in its slot, stairs opened to the tower. After making our way down, we saw our first puzzle. A combination of 4 god's symbols, Candle and Eye for Deneir, Hand with a finger pointing up for Aezuth, an open scroll for Oghma, and a seven star for Mystra. Ivor gave us each a religious lesson, ordering them alphabetically, as a new door opened. We were greeted by a level with a plethora of puzzles and statues to each of those four gods. I was interested, but Ivor practically lost his marbles over it. We split up, solving the riddles around, or, in my case, disabling the traps to retrieve the items that each held. When it came to a door, I tried to disable it with Cor's help, but didn't have any luck, triggering the trap as it shot poison darts at us.
THIS MUST HAVE INCREDIBLY ANGERED HIM TO THE POINT OF LOSING ALL REASON, AS HE KICKED DOWN THE DOOR!
A gargoyle came to life in the room inside, and he and I took care of them quickly before the others could arrive. However, this inadvertently broke the abjuration spell on the tower, as it started to shake. It would undoubtedly fully sink into the swamp now, but not for a few days, at least. We checked out the north portion, and each, after pairing each offering with an elemental corresponding to the primordial the offering bowl was dedicated to, felt oddly blessed. We then continued on, further down into the tower.
Another puzzle, with colored doorways. There was a message about needing to sing their praises, and I suggested we all sing. It was a beautiful quartet, but did nothing. Still really special moment, in my opinion. We then realized that the poems on each of the offering bowls above were connected to each of the doorways, and went back to memorize them. We made our way through them, with some damage from one that none of understood, before we came across a workshop. Ivor touched a book, and started another encounter. It was over quickly as the magma babies were weak. Then, there were three doors, one hidden as we uncovered a treasure trove. I looted quickly, shoveling it into a chest, before we went to the other doors.
A library was behind it, with 5 undead watchmen standing guard. They didn't seem to move, just... watch. Loderr started to negotiate, but the main one at the desk held a boney finger to its lips. We walked out to discuss. Coming back in, we asked if we could take the books; it shook its head no. We left to discuss. I went back and noticed it was writing, since it couldn't speak, we got paper and let it communicate that way. I asked if it was cursed with eternal life, it wrote yes. I asked how to free it from this academic prison, it wrote death.
We walked out to discuss.
Ivor suggested a quite convoluted strategy involving doors and ambushing them as they rushed out in retaliation. It was... a plan. We started it, and the skeletons didn't rush after us. I peaked in, took an arrow for my troubles, and cast cloud of scimitars, and ran back. They shut the door.
A foolish plan, to assume that they would follow. They were told to protect the books, so that is what they would do. We all rushed in, and managed to take them down. Gathering all the books and scrolls we could possibly carry, we were paid handsomely after climbing a staircase that led to the ROOF SOMEWHERE??? HOW DID WE NOT NOTICE THIS BEFORE?!
