The group made a strategic decision to circumvent Greenfield rather than risk encountering Dominion forces at the main gates. They diverted their path to reach the "Library," the secluded sanctuary of the Ozaris Chamber situated on the city's outskirts. As they parked their carriage and disembarked in front of the building, Varis exchanged pleasantries with a gentleman stationed by the entrance, who awaited the passphrase for entry. Regrettably, Varis had forgotten it, but to everyone's surprise, Amelia confidently approached the man and uttered the correct phrase: "Let Me Browse The Shelves Of Memories."
The gentleman granted them passage, and as they stepped into the sanctuary, they found only two individuals present: Master Enwain Solar and the sanctum's vigilant bodyguard. Enwain was taken aback by their unanticipated arrival and promptly attempted to probe their thoughts to discern their intentions. Her telepathic probe revealed Varis as the only one with benevolent motives, as he began to present an assortment of items he intended to leave within the sanctum: the severed head of Gorrekoth, Gorrekoth's Nightmare, and the Mimicry Blade. Amelia, in turn, produced a vial containing a sample of the abyssal black root.
The party noticed a peculiar cube, which they had previously brought into the sanctum, suspended in a state of suspended animation. Varis expressed an interest in inspecting it more closely, and though Enwain Solar was initially wary, she allowed him to proceed while keeping a vigilant watch. Varis's examination eventually unveiled the true nature of the cube – it was the Catalyst of Oblivion, a potent instrument of arcane obliteration on a grand scale. The sheer power it possessed gave Varis momentary pause, but he ultimately chose to release it from his grasp.
Zetra's Revelation
The group continued their journey and eventually arrived at the heavily guarded Arcane Academy, where massive constructs and owl guards stood watch. Upon entering the academy's halls, they immediately sensed a shift in the surroundings. Rooms had changed positions, and hallways now led to unexpected places. Undeterred, they explored different rooms, eventually stumbling into a class taught by the strict Master Emilia Weathers. As she attempted to use a gust of wind to force them out of the room, Varis skillfully countered her spell. Unfazed, Emilia confronted him, and things took an unexpected turn when Amelia made an inappropriate comment about her appearance. Varis quickly suggested they leave the room, as Emilia's magical fury was building.
Moving on, they reached another door and encountered a familiar face – Zetra Wildshade's bodyguard. Inquiring if Zetra was available, the guard instructed them to wait. Shortly afterward, Zetra invited them inside, where she was casually standing by some shelves, puffing on a pipe. Varis broached the topic of Whitechapel, the dangerous game they had been investigating, and mentioned Keira as a possible champion. However, Zetra remained unimpressed. Varis introduced Zetra as a skilled conjurer, and Keira attempted to demonstrate her abilities by conjuring an elk from a magical bag of tricks, leaving everyone momentarily stunned. Zetra's reaction was more one of surprise than admiration.
The conversation then turned to their presence in Riverend, which had not been mentioned until now. Varis hesitated, attempting to avoid revealing their prior visit, but Amelia quickly confirmed that they had been there. Zetra acknowledged that she already knew and expressed curiosity about their purpose. Varis began to piece together the clues, realizing that Zetra had been keeping tabs on them, including sending the crows and ravens that dissolved into sand when captured. She was particularly interested in the dangerous item they had been tasked with retrieving for Grandmaster Lupricall Maximus, though its nature remained undisclosed. Zetra hinted that multiple parties were searching for it.
Turning the conversation to the Lord of Riverend, William Karlstain, Varis assured her that he was safe with the people of Redmond. Zetra hinted that they might possess something of his, prompting Varis to reveal the Karlstain Diary. Zetra examined it, noting that her written spell remained intact. She entrusted the diary to Varis and offered her help, suggesting that if they ever needed it, he should recite the elvish sentence within the book.
Exploring The Arcane Academy
The party expressed their gratitude to her before moving forward. Their escapades continued as they stealthily entered various classrooms. Varis managed to persuade the group that it was a customary practice. Amelia made multiple attempts at picking locks without success, while Keira effortlessly navigated the locks. In one room, they stumbled upon a sealed Crystal Alchemical Cauldron brimming with a healing elixir. Rather than filling vials and bottles, Rayenne audaciously stashed the entire cauldron in her bag. They also discovered five blank spell scrolls but chose to leave them untouched.
Their journey through the academy led them to the artificer workshop, where they encountered Igast Longstrider and Matthius Highstool. Varis spotted Sabre in a corner of the workshop. Matthius informed him that Sabre had remained dormant since their last parting but that he had repaired some of his damaged components. Varis requested everyone to step aside, preparing to reawaken Sabre with his electrifying glove. As Sabre sprung to life and reconnected with Varis, they exchanged waves and renewed their acquaintance. Amelia noticed a mobile lantern on a table and inquired if she could purchase it from Matthius. After exchanging some platinum, she acquired the Automaton Lantern.
They then ventured into another unused workshop, where they discovered a sizable Cloud Crystal. Varis decided to extract a fragment using his tools. In addition, they encountered a locked chest, which Keira effortlessly unlocked, revealing a couple of Dragon Scales and an Obsidian Rock. They collected these valuable finds and departed from the workshop.
Their exploration eventually brought them to the dormitories and cafeteria within the academy. They helped themselves to some fruits when someone called out for Varis. Swiftly, Varis cloaked himself in invisibility. A young man entered the room with a drawn sword, inquiring about Varis. Keira, giving him a mischievous look, teased him while attempting to discern his identity. The young man explained that his girlfriend frequently spoke of Varis and wished to meet him. Since Varis remained concealed, the man departed. However, Keira secretly followed him and discovered him conversing with Alara Croft. She then playfully interrupted their conversation, teasing and taunting them, as they were eager to meet Varis. Upon realizing that Keira was not divulging any information, they eventually left.
The Academy Vaults
The party eventually found their way to the chamber of Grand Master Lupricall Maximus. There, they shared their achievements and managed to persuade the Grand Master to grant them access to the vault containing dangerous artifacts within the Academy. They were strictly forbidden from touching anything within. As they entered, they encountered a spacious chamber with numerous cells sealed behind warded gates.
Among the artifacts, they noticed a dimmed mirror that had once been used for interdimensional travel but had lost its power over the years. Nearby, they saw a cracked urn believed to imprison a maleficent djinn. Further down, a massive black sapphire held the abyssal fiend Nirsyrum captive. Despite their attempts to communicate with Nirsyrum about the events in the Stormwoods, the fiend had been imprisoned for countless years and could offer no answers.
In another cell, an old tombstone adorned with infernal carvings drew their attention. The Grand Master revealed that a demon had been interred there, refusing to return to its infernal realm. Those who touched the tombstone had met a gruesome fate. Bartimaeus Brightheart attempted to commune with it, seeking answers, but the Grand Master intervened as the infernal and psychic power surged, preventing Bartimaeus from meeting his doom.
Moving deeper into the chamber, they discovered a small, unremarkable chest containing the remains of a wizard, a close friend of the Grand Master. The wizard's remains were believed to be dangerously possessed. Varis inquired about the wizard's demise, and the Grand Master cryptically implied that curiosity had led to his untimely death, hinting at Varis' own inquisitive nature.
They then encountered a heavily chained and padlocked black chest that emitted violent energy when approached. The Grand Master adamantly prohibited access to this cell.
While the rest of the party continued their tour, Keira Everron lingered near another cell and heard a whisper from within. To her astonishment, it was the voice of Mary Whispermouse, who explained that she had been captured on her way to her church and desired to be freed. Keira attempted to bypass the magical ward on the cell but was unable to. She enlisted Varis for assistance, who was both surprised and suspicious upon seeing Mary. After dispelling the illusion, the fiend behind it was revealed.
They encountered a cell housing three bookshelves filled with forbidden texts on divination magic that had been banned by the Church. Varis begged to enter and was granted access, with the strict warning not to take anything. Rayenne searched for information on dragons or angels, but the texts only contained limited references to the angels of the Silver Prince. Bartimaeus hoped to find information about the Order of the Grail Knights but discovered a mention of a surviving knight, Sir Asher Karlstain, who was later killed by the Church in the city of Vindrik, which was subsequently destroyed.
They realized that the location of Vindrik was now known as Highmarsh, a significant revelation. After perusing the books, Varis mentioned the voice he had heard, prompting the Grand Master to caution against heeding its words. The voice was an ancient draconic entity trapped within an obelisk. Varis attempted to learn its name and inquired about Nauzzagin, receiving minimal information.
In a seemingly empty cell, Varis used enchanted sight to uncover a tiny fairy figure hidden in the corner. The fairy revealed that it was imprisoned for playing pranks. Despite the Grand Master's warnings, Varis engaged in a conversation with the fairy, eventually earning its trust and learning its name, Eywhin. Varis secured the fairy's release but, before doing so, the Grand Master transformed Eywhin into a grotesque bat creature, limiting its magical abilities. Varis placed the creature in his bag of holding.
The party concluded their tour, expressing gratitude to the Grand Master. Keira returned to the artificer workshop to collect her enchanted armor from Matthius Highstool, who awkwardly averted his gaze during her changing. When Varis inquired about his bullets, Matthius directed him to the workshop but inadvertently walked in on Keira changing, prompting her to react with anger. Bartimaeus also witnessed this and retreated. Keira noticed her new armor's lightness, enhancing her agility, but kept this discovery to herself.
Once they left the workshop, they found that the elk Keira had summoned earlier was blocking their exit. Bartimaeus summoned his own elk steed, which helped them create enough space to slip through the gate. They then decided to rest in the dorms before departing the Academy.
Spending Time By The Shelves
After a night spent at the Academy, the group slowly began to stir. Keira was the first to awaken, and she promptly readied herself before making her way to the Academy's main library. Her goal was to research books related to the Dominion faith and the hierarchy associated with the enigmatic Silver Prince.
Not long after, Varis also woke up and noticed that some of their companions were still sound asleep. He decided to take matters into his own hands by setting up a magical alarm spell on his own bed. When activated, it jolted the rest of the group awake, except for Rayenne, who remained stubbornly in bed. Bartimaeus, in his own unique way, resolved to get her out of bed. He grabbed a glass jar from a nearby shelf and hurled it against the window, shattering the glass. The loud crash did the trick, and Rayenne begrudgingly rose from her bed.
Not to be outdone, Bartimaeus then produced a handgun and fired a warning shot into the room. The gunshot startled Rayenne further, and Varis quickly used his magical prowess to mend the broken window. This unexpected commotion drew the attention of two Academy guardians, who cast stern gazes in Bartimaeus's direction. Varis handed them a piece of paper, and after a brief exchange, the guardians left. The group then hurriedly prepared to depart, with Bartimaeus going outside to check on Archibald, who had spent the night in the carriage with Beastbane just outside the Academy's boundaries.
After breakfast and getting their things in order, the party regrouped in the library, where they found Keira engrossed in her research. The group discovered references to the Silver Prince and his offspring in the books they perused, but these figures were deemed heretical and abominable by the Church.
Varis approached Jane Strongpage, who was working in the library. She noticed his presence and realized something was amiss when she saw Rayenne with him. Varis introduced Rayenne to Jane and asked if she had the books he had previously requested. Jane dispatched an elemental automaton to retrieve the requested books. It returned with a binder containing four books on the history of Highmarsh and the enigmatic Word (Silver Prince)
As they continued to explore the Academy, Rayenne stumbled upon a statue positioned in front of a concealed door. She brought this discovery to Varis's attention, and they commenced attempting to manipulate the statue. Though the statue appeared to be fixed to the floor, signs indicated that it could move sideways. Their initial attempts to unlock its mechanisms proved unsuccessful, but they were soon interrupted by Master Zetra Wildshade.
Master Zetra questioned their activities and explained that only students or individuals working directly with Headmaster Ixon Mond were permitted to pass through. However, he did not disclose the specific method for doing so. Keira approached Zetra and discreetly shared the password phrase, "Shielded in stone, wisdom's home," which she had learned. But before she could use it, Varis used his arcane abilities to manipulate the statue and gain access.
Leaving The Academy With A Bang
They continued their exploration of the academy, and while they were wandering through the halls, Rayenne made an intriguing discovery – a statue that appeared to conceal a hidden door. She promptly alerted Varis to the statue's suspicious location, leading them to ponder how to manipulate it. Despite the statue being firmly fixed to the floor, they detected subtle signs of lateral movement. After their initial attempts to unlock its mechanisms failed, their actions drew the attention of Master Zetra. He inquired about their activities and clarified that only students or individuals associated with Headmaster Ixon Mond could proceed beyond that point, without revealing the exact method. Keira discreetly approached Zetra and whispered the secret passphrase to access the area: "Shielded in stone, wisdom's home." However, before she could put it to use, Varis used his arcane expertise to shift the statue, revealing a staircase leading to another level.
Upon ascending the stairs, they encountered two doors. Rayenne tried to open one, but it was locked. Keira stepped forward and effortlessly unlocked it, but their actions were witnessed by Alara Croft. She questioned their motives and expressed curiosity about Varis's presence since he was no longer a student. Varis tried to explain that he had an appointment with his favorite former teacher, but Alara remained skeptical. To avoid further scrutiny, Varis knocked on the door himself, and Keira recited the passphrase given to her by Zetra. There was a moment of silence before the door unlocked, and a voice invited them inside.
Upon entering the chamber, they discovered Master Ixon Mond engrossed in his work with a large Scarlet Gemstone. He turned to face them, initially expecting Alara. Surprised by their presence, he greeted Varis and inquired about their visit. Although they inquired about the Scarlet Gemstone, Ixon offered minimal information but sternly cautioned them not to touch it. Varis asked for assistance against nightmares, prompting further inquiries from Keira to clarify their situation. Ixon retrieved scrolls and even inscribed some on the spot. Alara entered the chamber, her gaze fixed on Varis. Keira caught a glimpse of Alara's notes, which pertained to the Scarlet Gemstone, but couldn't discern the details. She handed the notes to Ixon.
As they remained in the chamber, Bartimaeus and Sabre stood outside, engaging in a staring contest with Alara's elemental automaton. In a mischievous moment, Bartimaeus cast dispel magic on Alara's companion. The resulting loud crash drew the attention of the others as they rushed outside to see the automaton in pieces on the floor. Although Alara was furious and saddened by the sight, she maintained her composure. She silently blamed Bartimaeus and attempted to probe his thoughts, but her efforts were in vain. Bartimaeus noticed her attempt and pointed it out. Varis contacted Matthius Highstool, who arrived promptly to assess the situation. Together with Alara, they collected the pieces of her automaton and departed for the workshop.
As Alara and Matthius left, the party decided to investigate the room from which Alara had emerged earlier. They unlocked the door and found an empty room. However, Bartimaeus sensed the presence of magic within the room. They realized that the door itself was enchanted, and Bartimaeus employed dispel magic once more. This time, a much louder crash echoed, and when they tried to open the door, they discovered a pile of furniture and items that had been forcefully pushed against it, preventing it from fully opening. Frustrated by their inability to access the room, they decided to walk away, believing they had merely disturbed Alara's private quarters.
They prepared to depart from the Academy, but Varis had one final matter to attend to. He and Rayenne visited Master Imorn Ironbeard's chamber to retrieve Varis's gun. The Master had completed his notes on the weapon and returned it to Varis. They also introduced Rayenne to the Master, and after a friendly exchange, they mentioned her quest for dragons. The Master chuckled and informed them that there were no dragons in the academy at that time, unless they were extremely well-hidden. Varis expressed his gratitude and retrieved his weapon before bidding the Master farewell as they left the Academy.