As far as Astre was concerned, nothing transpired that night. No daring assassins, no spying Wizards, and certainly no invisible creatures. For a Tower rumored to be filled with Undead, it was painfully dull.

When Mallory and Idrianthe awoke, the handmaidens were there to attend them. Mallory's, a girl named Shanri who was hardly twenty, was somewhat nervous, clearly not overly familiar with the line of work. She pestered her about food, which she could arrange brought to the chamber, and about water and clothing, the latter of which she was unsure if she could even retrieve. Nor did she know much of the communal areas, such as dining halls, and nothing of any of the other Wizards' activities or whereabouts. But upon request, she maintained she would do her best to find out.

The Host Tower was quiet in the early mornings, but in the Spire's library, the most frequented communal room by its residents, sat the red-skinned Tiefling whom had flown by Mallory, Idrianthe, and Vellynne as they first ascended the stairs yesterday. As Idrianthe preferred to read rather than idle, she made another search for any interesting tomes as she thumbed across the shelves.

---

Attuning the Shield Guardian Amulet: The Shield Guardian which the Amulet controls is located  approximately 300 miles east-northeast and half-a-mile below the surface.

A long, dull night might have been a bother for Astre, but it was absolute bliss for Mallory.

Having the chance to rest somewhere so cozy and well-furnished, without constantly fretting about waking with frostbite having taken her digits in the night, was a boon she'd not realized she appreciated so much.  Living in Icewind Dale for any period of time really had a way of making one savor the simple things, that was for sure.  As was so often the case of late, the young noble's thoughts drifted back to Rhydd as she considered what sort of life he lived ranging about the Dale, and she felt all the more glad that she'd enchanted his boots for him.

The last thing Mallory expected was to be given a handmaiden for the morning; when Shanri arrived she'd find that the young noble had already dressed herself and was in the process of styling her long, dark hair.  Mallory might have been a noblewoman, but she was by no means the idle wealthy sort who didn't - or refused to - manage her own upkeep.  Nor was she dismissive of the girl; even as Shanri fretted and fussed with little capability for her task, Mallory was gentle with her and offered patient understanding, as well as words of advice.  Cluing her in to little tricks of the trade or how to best manage herself during the tasks, without overstepping into condescension.

"I'll be spending some time in the library this morning, then setting out to do some shopping around the city after a few hours.  I should be back mid-afternoon or early evening, but will announce my return either way." she explained her anticipated schedule to Shanri while she loaded her satchel and gathered her Lantern Rod in hand, ready to set out.  "I've been urged to speak with Maccath the Crimson and Dendybar of the Northern Spire at some point, as I've information that might suit their fields of research.  If there's any way you could run that up the grapevine, I would greatly appreciate it.  Mages do have a knack for knowing when they're being looked for."

---

The library itself was another welcome sight.  It was a good thing Mallory had not visited last night; if she'd found her way in there before bed, she would have spent the entire night in study amid piles of books rather than sleeping a wink.  The familiar scent of aged parchment, leather, and ink filled her with a reassuring sensation as she entered alongside Idri, unable to keep a smile off her face before she set about to peruse the shelves and rows of gathered knowledge as well.

Amid her wandering amid the times and gradually gathering a small stack of varied writings, the young noble did eventually come across a recognizable Tiefling woman set in her own work.  Mallory set her own books at the communal table near enough to chat without being a nuisance, and offered the Tiefling a congenial smile.  "Good morning, madame." she greeted politely; as much as she wanted to strike up a chat wherever she could, she knew better than to assume conversation would be welcome and was ready to be dismissed if the Tiefling was too preoccupied with her own work to tolerate interruption.

Astre, meanwhile, followed idly in pursuit of his companion.  He spent his time either draped about her shoulders or perched atop neighboring shelves where it was suitable for him to sit without disruption, always within range of Mallory.

---

Mallory will be looking for various spell scrolls/books during her reading, as discussed in the OOC.  Let me know if any rolls are required for whether or not she finds anything.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:44, Tue 26 Dec 2023.

"Good morning," the Tiefling returned, continuing to read the tome in front of her and making hasty notes. Either working in a frenzy was her predisposed tempo, or she didn't plan to spend long in the small library.

She was short, uncharacteristically so for a Tiefling, with sharply angled horns, raven-black hair, and completely white eyes. A neat silver and black robe was draped over her shoulders, more reminiscent of Drow spider silk than anything common in these parts of society, be they upper or lower. After a short while, once Mallory had some time to familiarize herself with the shelves, she pensively turned her way, her head rested in a palm. "You are Lady Bonheur, are you not? Lady Mallory Bonheur?" she said before turning to address Idrianthe, who was flicking through a book that only seemed moderately interesting. "And you Lady Mar? I've heard of your arrival from Icewind Dale, and that you have aided Vellynne in her projects. Not that I'm too familiar." She paused for a moment as Idrianthe put the book back in its place. "Oh, here you're only going to find things mind-numbingly boring. Most is just plain history, I'm afraid. The interesting reading is locked away in a secluded chamber." She unclasped a ring with two keys from her belt and rattled it enticingly. "And of course, the truly interesting reading is deeper down in the Roots . . . alongside other things."

She closed her book and rose. "What will it be?"

---

After searching for a few minutes, Mallory doesn't come across any books containing spells, and she's confident there are none here. Among the books she finds are copies of History of the North, Revendro's Rolls of the Passing Years, The Nelanther Isles, parts one and three of A Myth Drannan Amphigory, and a poorly preserved copy of the History of Kuldahar. There were also some originals present; Unell's Dissertation of Elemental Earth, On the Fey by a Eldulec, and a book in Laothan which Mallory translated with her eyes to 'Don't Eat This Book', a guide on edible and inedible fungi and plants.

Being recognized within the Tower was of no surprise and Mallory acknowledged her spotting with a demure half-curtsy.  She made no assumption of reputation though; no doubt all residents of the Brotherhood's base had been informed of their newest guests and warned to keep an eye on them, lest they make trouble of themselves.

"Speaking as a Diviner and scholar, I've always found history to be a most precious subject." the young noble rested a hand atop the aged cover of 'A Myth Drannan Amphigory''s third volume fondly.  She'd read the whole collection many times throughout her youth and had only pulled the available tomes from the shelves out of nostalgic indulgence.  The writings contained within were, in and of themselves, an overt indulgence to begin with on behalf of the author.  But the musings and observations of Elminster were such that Mallory had always been able to find meaning in them in different ways throughout her developing life as a mage.  A gloved hand plucked up and waggled a copy of the 'History of Kuldahar' demonstrably.  "For instance, a historical documentation on the druidic heritage near Icewind Dale could provide great insight, given their deep reverence of tradition and isolationist tendencies."

Mallory was of no mind to lecture on matters of study, however, particularly given the Tiefling's apparent haste.  Best not to eat up her time needlessly.  "Though if the Tower's secured archives hold magical scrolls and grimoires freely available for review, I'd certainly not turn down the opportunity.  I'm in the process of developing various spells and concrete enchantments at the moment, though I've hit something of a wall and could use the inspiration." The 'truly interesting' subjects were tempting, but Mallory had a feeling that also might've been overstepping both her permissions as a guest and her potential safety, which she had no desire to test.  Instead, she cut to heart of the matter primly.  "That said, my own research is only part of my itinerary.  I was discussing some recent encounters and acquired samples I've obtained with Master Harai, and he urged me to speak with a 'Maccath the Crimson' and a 'Dendybar of the Northern Spire', who would apparently take interest in my recent findings.  I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with the processes of the Tower, however.  Do you happen to know if they're about or how I might arrange an appointment?  Madame...?" Mallory let that last part hang with a gently imploring perk of her eyebrows, hoping to prompt the Tiefling for her name.

---

Mallory is quite open to taking up the offer for further reading in the Secluded Chamber, so long as it's actually permissible for her to be there.  She doesn't want to bend any rules or risk any sort of trouble, so she's keeping on her best behavior while visiting the Host Tower.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:54, Mon 01 Jan.

"Maccath," the Tiefling finished, still dangling the keys. "And I am granting you permission to attend me to the secured archives. One of the benefits of the Brotherhood is the latitude . . . well, maybe it doesn't extend this far, but one rarely gets far without misbehaving every once in a while." She lingered for Mallory's reply. Idrianthe, too, would be perfectly content with just history books and lexicons, although she wasn't as much of a Wizard as Mallory or any member in the Tower.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:01, Tue 02 Jan.

"How serendipitous!  By all means, lead the way."  Mallory gestured for the Tiefling to guide as she would and fell into step alongside her.  "Master Harai mentioned that you're the Brotherhood's leading authority on Dragons and have a particular focus regarding a White Dragon named Arauthator.  I happened to have a far-too-close encounter with Arveiaturace just a few days ago; Harai said that may take your interest?"

"Indeed," Maccath answered as she led the two guests of the Tower into the corridors, "I was his captive for nearly two months. Arauthator was among the Dragons who sacked the Host Tower – the previous Host Tower – more than a hundred years ago. I sailed out to Oyaviggaton, the iceberg he laired in, in hopes of studying a specimen up close, as he had suffered a wound during the War of the Silver Marches and a Drow who wrote us avowed his more . . . amiable nature, as far as Chromatic Dragons are concerned. Still I was nearly eaten, but I was able to elaborate on some of the artifacts still in his hoard and thus kept my life. Specks of it was genuine, but I made a lot of it up." She rounded a corner to a set of winding stairs, which ended somewhere in the Central Spire. "I helped him formulate an argument to convince Arveiaturace Meltharond was truly dead and gone, but if she's half as dense as Arauthator the soundness of the plea would hardly matter. I'm not sure what one can say at that point," she said as she climbed the stairs. This particular section of the Tower was cramped and dim, as it was mostly without windows. "So is she still carrying him?"

At the top of the stairs was room with a locked iron gate leading to the archives, small window, a slanted desk, drawers, and shelves containing frequently used tools and materials such as parchment, ink, and quills. A large, empty bird cage was situated next to the desk underneath the window along with a bag of seeds. But perhaps most interesting was the blue Pixie who zipped into the room and hovered above her own tiny quill and piece of parchment.

"Good morning, Nest," Maccath greeted the Fey creature. "I'm instructed to show our guests into the archives. This is-" she gestured to the guests she had brought along, but was interrupted by the Pixie.

"Mallory Bonheur and Dame Idrianthe Mar," the Pixie answered with her tongue protruding in concentration as she dipped her quill and recorded the entries. "I know their names. I know everyone's names, I do! You may proceed!"

"Right . . ." Maccath answered as she went to unlock the gate before changing into a low whisper. "That was honestly easier than I had anticipated."

Beyond was a complex of tightly spaced shelves, divided into four quarters with additional iron gates separating them. Here, all of the Host Tower's sections' more confidential writing and valuable tomes were collected, but Maccath's key only went to the Southern Spire's. And even if it could have opened the other sections, doing so was probably unwise. But from here, most of the tomes, grimoires, spellbooks, and folios could be accessed and withdrawn. Maccath gave the two free berth to search and inspect the myriad contents.

---

Give me an Investigation check, and I'll tell you what Mallory is able to find.

Idrianthe's investigation in the Host Tower's archives
DM Bears, on behalf of Idrianthe Mar, rolled 23 using 1d20+7.

The very idea of being held captive by a Dragon for any period of time was a daunting one, let alone within such odd conditions.  Mallory knew that White Dragons were on the low end of intellectual acuity - contextually speaking, for their own kind - but the thought of deceiving one was quite remarkable all the same.  Though mention of Meltharond being truly dead brought a look of surprise out of the young noble.  "She did indeed have a skeletal rider on her back.  Wait, you mean to say he's not an Undead?" she gawped at the prospect for a moment.  While her immediate wonder was of what sort of deluded state of mind Arveiaturace must be in to tote around a corpse like that, a more practical curiosity bubbled up.  "I wonder how it stays intact...?"  she muttered thoughtfully to herself.

As they traveled up the stairs, Mallory raised a gloved palm and urged a gentle flare of arcane energy through the air that manifested into a simple illusion.  The spitting image of the very Dragon and presumed-Undead in subject, as she'd seen them soaring out across the half-frozen waters of Maer Dualdon.  "My group encountered Arveiaturace just off the banks of Maer Dualdon.  I assume she was hunting, as her approach was quite direct and she made no effort to converse.  While I was able to hide away most of my group in an extraplanar pocket to avoid detection, two in our company were left to face the Dragon.  She appeared to toy with them, for the most part, and snatched one in her jaws to be carried away." she summarized the experience, using the illusion to recreate the scene as she recalled it, which helped to illustrate where the Dragon had approached from and flown away toward.  "I feared the fellow dead and devoured, but if Arauthator merely captured you for his own interests, I wonder if there's a chance of survival.  Particularly since the fellow is a form of Lycanthrope - they're terribly difficult to kill without resorting to spells.  I still have some of his belongings... I wonder if a modified Scrying ritual could...?  Hmm..."

The young noble was briefly distracted in her own thoughts as the group arrived at the more controlled archives of the Tower's collection.  Mallory offered a polite curtsy to the Fey librarian, though she leaned nearer to Maccath at the Tiefling's own muttering.  "Is it usually more troublesome to get in here, or is bringing guests the issue?" she whispered back.

---

Given the uncommon opportunity, I'd like to assure a certain level of success and will burn my 14 Portent.  With Mallory's +7 to Investigation, that's:
Investigation: 21

"Dead as a rock," Maccath answered when implored on Meltharond's state. "From what Arauthator told me, Arveiaturace seems to be a few marbles short of a set. Keeps talking to him as if he's there."

Inside the archives, Maccath seemed to head to a shelf with a purpose. "No idea," Maccath shrugged as she addressed Mallory's question on the difficulties of getting in, "I sort of assumed I would have to state on whose authority I am allowed to bring you here, to which I would have had to lie." She looked to the now closed gate, then around. "We shouldn't speak much of it. Nest has a way of learning things she shouldn't. Also, I will advise you not to steal anything. Some of the items here are worth thousands upon thousands of gold."

---

Mallory's Investigation to find spellbooks and tomes of interest in the locked archives [21]: Mallory is able to find quite a few things of interest, listed below.

A collection of brief Spellbooks wrapped as a bundle. Most of them are unbound and written on crude, aged paper.
Otto's Irresistable Dance: Consisting of only three pages, this record written in Midani details an enchantment spell by one named Otto, transcribed by Snilloc. (Otto's Irresistable Dance).
Bigby's Hands: This contains quite a few spells from the portfolio of the legendary wizard Bigby, though all of them are to varying degrees lost to the withered pages. (Bigby's Forceful Hand, Bigby's Interposing Hands, Bigby's Clenched Fist, Bigby's Crushing Hand, and Bigby's Grasping Hand). DM's note: These can be compiled into Bigby's Hand.
Seven sheets with no title: In these are contained the spells of Drawmij, of which only one can be found in its entirety. (Drawmij's Instant Summons).
The Works of Galder Fendt: This collection provides some detail on a wizard named Galder who hailed from Erustral and fell under the tutelage of a Niren. He led and won a long war against Drow, and established a university in his later years of peace. This is but an excerpt, anonymously annotated by one of his students. (Galder's Speedy Courier, Galder's Tower).

Standalone tomes
Akdam's Traveling Spellbook: This is an original, thin spellbook containing several simple spells written during Akdam's travels. (Alarm, Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Light, and Fog Cloud).
Libram of Lathintel: This spellbook penned by Lathintelof Athkatla is well preserved despite being nearly two hundred years old. It is bound in glossy red leather. (Arcane Lock, Dispel Magic, Enlarge/Reduce, Feather Fall, Fly, Levitate, Unseen Servant, and Tongues).

This message was last edited by the GM at 21:27, Mon 15 Jan.

While Mallory wasn't keen on the idea of being somewhere she was genuinely not permitted, she could at least hold some level of acceptance in the whole affair with Nest allowing her inside.  After all, if anyone did try and call her out, Mallory could reasonably claim ignorance and point to how she'd been both invited and allowed into the archives by members of the Brotherhood, not through any subterfuge of her own.  Though part of her wondered if Vellynne had perhaps arranged for her and Idri have access ahead of time...

"Oh, don't be ridiculous.  I'd never dream of it... especially since I'm sure every tome in here must have a security glyph inscribed on it." What looked like a musty old library to most people was indeed a genuine treasure trove of value to arcane practitioners like them.  Mallory couldn't even say it was 'priceless' as it was actually entirely likely the Brotherhood knew the precise value of its magical assets down to the copper piece.  The fact that there was a Fey in charge of archival was an even greater dissuasion against mischief.  She'd sooner choose to rob a Dragon's hoard than ever dare take anything from a Fey's care.  Sure, they were nowhere near as powerful as the general population feared them to be, but Fey were creative and stubborn - not something she wanted to risk having annoyed at her.

Of course, she couldn't admit some level of temptation despite all that.  To delicately handle the genuine writings of arcanists like Snilloc and Lathintel was, in and of itself, a treat that Mallory enjoyed with great relish.  But, alas, such original works were not for her collection.  Copied versions of their contents, however, was another matter entirely.

"I'm left curious; what's your interest in the likes of these White Dragons now?  Master Harai seemed quite intent on directing me to you when I spoke of Arveiaturace.  Are you tracking them?" the young noble chatted with Maccath as she skimmed over various logs and listings, quick to set some aside for closer inspection.

---

So how does it work at this point?  Does Mallory only have this one chance to scribe whatever spells she can afford into her spellbook and that's it? Or can she take non-functional copies of the spell notes to be fully scribed into her spellbook later on so long as she has the time and funds for it?  I'm reluctant to spend gold first thing when I don't know what sort of items might be encountered while shopping later this same day, as it would be all too easy to blow a ton of money in one shot on just spells.

"No. I am not researching White Dragons at the moment. I've exhausted my literary avenues and find myself content with a thrilling first hand experience. It won't come soon, but I might someday compile my findings in a compendium to rot on some deserted shelf. Like this one," Maccath said, thumbing through a heavy tome of her own. It was a comprehensive history on a select few Red Dragons, and she stopped to skim the entry on one called Hephaestus, although it didn't seem to contain what she wanted — there were multiple Dragons going by 'Hephaestus' — so she closed it with a thud. "After I escaped from Oyaviggaton I was involved with the Cult of the Dragon for a bit. Sorry, not involved — against. My current efforts, which pertains Dracoliches, are an extension of that."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:04, Mon 15 Jan.

"The Dragon Cult?  Has yet another cell of theirs emerged lately?  I swear, it seems like they never know when to quit..."  Mallory muttered at mention of the particularly troublesome cult.  Rather, whichever version of it had cropped up.  The Dragon Cult had a very mixed history and there were plenty of splinter factions, or even completely unrelated groups just using the name.  But they'd been around for a long time in many iterations, with many different goals, and none of them were ever up to any good.

"Do you mean to say whatever current faction has sprung up is involving themselves with Dracoliches?  As in, finding them or... ugh... creating them?" the young noble shuddered at the very idea.  She knew from historical context that the Cult of the Dragon often conscripted Dragons to their cause when they could manage it, but the prospect of them having access to an Undead Dragon was absolutely loathsome on its face.  Mallory leaned to peer over Maccath's shoulder at what she was reading just long enough to catch a glimpse of the specific name she'd skimmed, though she tried to look inconspicuous and quickly look back to her own tomes once the book was snapped shut.

Another thought sparked to Mallory's mind and she canted a curious tilt of her head Maccath's way.  "Out of curiosity; do you happen to know if the Cult of the Dragon has been active north in Icewind Dale, and if they're making use of Kobolds in particular?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:30, Thu 18 Jan.

"There's a rift in the Dragon Cult," Maccath went on to explain, "dividing it into two camps; those who still believe that Undead Dragons are the only Dragons worth heralding for their 'Coming Age', and those who have turned to living Dragons. And yes, a large part of the former's focus is seeking out living Dragons and persuading them to undergo rituals to achieve Undeath. They have also captured Young Dragons and forced these rituals upon them, referring to them as 'Fettered Dracoliches'. It is all depraved. All of it. Perhaps the only thing more wicked I have come across in all my years of research are Brainstealer Dragons, and even then I'm not sure . . ." She shuddered at just the mention.

It appeared Maccath had gotten what she wanted out of the visit to the archives, but still she took another glance at the array of titles before her. "As far as I know, the Cult's reach hasn't extended as far as Icewind Dale, and I wouldn't soon expect it to. They suffered a rather decisive blow a couple of years back. What the Kobolds in the region are up to I don't know, but if I had to guess, their focus is on Arveiaturace and Arauthator since they make up the largest Draconic presence in the area. Typical Kobold behavior, in other words." She stopped to think for a bit. "Although, Vellynne did inquire about them when she heard they had infiltrated . . . was it Termalaine? I couldn't tell her much. She's more informed on Icewind Dale than I am, so it would be best to speak with her directly on the matter if you're truly curious."

"How ghastly..." was Mallory's comment on the whole affair of the Dragon Cult and their development of home-made Dracoliches.  Like the Tiefling, she was suitably perturbed and made no effort to keep it from her expression either.  The very idea of a Dragon being tethered to Undeath was mind-boggling; they were nigh immortal to begin with, so convincing young Dragons to condemn themselves to such a horrid state of being... well, 'depraved', as Maccath put it, was a very apt term.  "Surely the like of the Harpers must have heard of this abomination by now.  I dearly hope there are others moving to counter this sort of endeavor before it can take further root."

On the comparatively lighter subject of Kobolds, Mallory raised a palm once more to conjure another small illusion.  She presented Maccath with the uncovered corpses of long-dead Kobolds the Party had discovered outside the Spire.  It had been an oddity that itched at the back of Mallory's thoughts; a mystery without enough clues.  "While my group was exploring further out past Kelvin's Cairn, we came across these remains half-buried in the snow.  The strange part was that there were fresh tracks, yet the bodies were clearly long dead and decayed." The odd holes along the Kobolds' faces around their mouths had been of particular note, though whether it was merely a part of the decomposition process or some kind of purposeful scarification was beyond her own understanding.  "If they were Undead, however, that would explain things - corpses could leave fresh tracks, in that sense.  Honestly though, I was surprised to find that there were Kobolds that far north at all.  I've no idea how they'd survive the climate.  Geothermal activity allowing for pockets of volcanic warmth beneath the mountains, perhaps?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:47, Thu 18 Jan.

"Kobolds are crafty creatures," Maccath said as she leaned in . "I'm not sure there is any climate they can't adapt to. But it doesn't seem like these fared too well . . . and from what I've gathered, Icewind Dale doesn't exactly offer prime conditions for decomposition. If you saw their tracks in the snow, it has either not snowed for a looong time, or they made them in this state."

---

I think we should look to move on. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Yeah, I'd say we're good to go.

"This is . . ." Idrianthe began as she drew a tome from the shelves. "Excuse me, Miss Maccath, do you know when you received this?"

For it was unmistakably a book that stemmed from Witchholm. Maccath could of course not answer the question, since her involvement in contributing to the archives of the Brotherhood had been negligible at best. Nor could Nest answer, having only been in employment since the Host Tower's reconstruction not even four years ago. Idrianthe's best bet was to somehow get an audience with the Overwizard Jendrik, and Maccath doubted Idrianthe could achieve that in a day. Though he was certainly busy, she went on to explain, the Overwizard fancied himself exceedingly so.

Aside from being bound in a material resembling the skin of a Magmin, the book itself was only moderately interesting. The Codex Pyrologica, it was called, and it was penned by Arbrand, an Azer Knight who had served the Order at its heights. Though it taught few functional spells, it contained a great deal of information on specifically fiery evocations, how to brace oneself against them, and various beings from the Elemental Plane of Fire. It had served Idrianthe well when she had first worked metals other than those commonly found on the Prime Material.

---

When both Mallory and Idrianthe was content with their visit, Nest informed Maccath that it was not possible for Mallory and Idrianthe to register tomes they wished to bring with them in their name. The workaround was to register them in Maccath's name. Though the tomes were indeed fortified with Glyphs of Warding set to trigger when brought outside Host Tower, this still didn't sit entirely well with the Tiefling, who had Mallory and Idrianthe once more promise not to steal or destroy them, accidentally or otherwise. "I will personally hunt you down for the gold I'd owe, that I vow," she had said.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:58, Fri 26 Jan.

Continued from msg #73 in Chapter 4-F.

---

There was great opportunity in the Host Tower that Idrianthe was hesitant to so quickly abandon. Just the fact that one of the tomes she had come across stemmed from Witchholm was testament to that, and although she wouldn't accept the invitation to join their ranks, she still wanted to tap into the Brotherhood's resources to the extent they would permit. A quick talk with Vellynne upon her and Mallory's return led to an agreement – Idrianthe could stay so long as she lent her expertise for Vellynne's further study on Ythryn, who herself had errands to attend and lines to pursue here in the tower.

This left Mallory to teleport to Bryn Shander on her lonesome. Harai arranged the communication he had promised earlier on Mallory's specifications, and wished her the best of luck going forwards as he bid his farewells. In parting, he gifted her a Pearl of Power¹.

The final matter to conclude in the Host Tower was the meeting with Dendybar the Mottled of the Northern Spire. Apparently, an entire ordeal had been made of it and Dendybar was expecting Mallory in his offices by Eventide.

Compared to the cordial conversations with Harai, and to an extent Vellynne, the one with Dendybar she would find trying. The Northern section of the Tower already had a distinct, more quiet atmosphere to the point of gloom, the cold wind sweeping through it like quiet whispers. It somehow felt even more empty than its southern counterpart. Dendybar had the second largest study in the Tower, and it was certainly more extravagant than Harai's humble lodging but in a dreadful and morbid manner. Skulls and skeletons lined the walls and shelves, both as decoration and as research subjects, and live spiders crawled about plentifully. There was no shortage of tomes, both opened and close, and the entire study had a stale, dusty air to it. The wizard to whom it belonged was lounged in a divan, sipping wine as he watched the sunset in the distance.

Dendybar was a corpse, or at least the close approximation of one. His skin was a pale grey, and his hairline consisted of grey strands countable on a single hand. Except for offering her some wine, he wasn't exactly cordial and was arrogantly disposed toward Mallory and the entire meeting. It was clear he didn't expect her to tell him something he didn't already know.

The Gnome Ceremorphs was a surprise, but he didn't consider it an impossibility like Colmarr had. Anomalies did occur, after all. The Bulette he understood, but Gnome Ceremorph were unfamiliar to the learned necromancer. He proceeded to quiz her extensively on the matter, and, should she reveal the Ceremorphs' crashed vessel, chastised her quite harshly for not investigating it. Not because they might have posed an immediate threat to the Ten-Towns or the rest of the realm, but simply because it was a research opportunity forfeited.

In the end, neither party would leave feeling they had learned much.

---

¹  Pearl of Power.

In the time since returning to the Host Tower, Mallory found herself busy with meetings of various sorts.  Her first order of business was to speak with Harai at the first possible convenience; both to recover her borrowed hand wagon and all its toted goods to stow into her new Portable Hole, and to tell him of her experiences with Colmarr.  While she was a bit loathe to take advantage of the Saru's welcoming manner, he was the most open and friendly member of the Brotherhood she'd met and was thus the best option all around.  It was to Harai she expressed her interests and dealings regarding Colmarr and his inventions, fulfilling her part of the deal in handing off the tidy submission portfolio she'd worked up from the Gnome's chaotic notes.  As well as the unfortunate encounter with Tamthan's shoddy loyalties.  The latter was more a case of warning for the Brotherhood itself; she had no interest in seeking out punishment or vengeance on Tamthan despite what he'd tried to pull, but it was best the Brotherhood know of such minor treacheries with the guards they contracted.  If there was anything to be done about it, she was content to leave that to the discretion of Luskan laws and wipe her hands of the whole affair.

Ultimately, whether the Brotherhood showed any concern to involve themselves with Colmarr or investigate the corruption among the guard was their own prerogative.  For the young noble herself, she was intent only on fulfilling her agreements properly.  The whole of her time within the Host Tower was about making such connections and conversations, after all.

That said, her meeting with Dendybar was a far more restrained matter.  The lavish surroundings and grim atmosphere were taken in stride, particularly when Mallory had to hold her focus on maintaining a prim demeanor in the wizard's direct presence.  She had no particular fear of the Undead, at least not in the way superstitious folk did.  She was much too learned for that, but instead held sharp awareness of their potential dangers with a healthy respect and wariness.  Her feelings about the Undead ranged from pity, to patient tolerance, to immediate rebuke depending on what form they took and how great a threat they posed.  Dendybar rested as comfortably in the middle of that spectrum as he did on his lounge.  To swallow one's own opinions and operate in a civilized manner regardless of the circumstances was practice that had long since been drilled into Mallory's soul both as a matter of noble and business etiquette.  As ever, she held herself with impeccable manners; polite and prim, and curtailed her usual chattiness down to more concise statements as she felt Dendybar was not the sort to indulge in others spending his time with loquaciousness.  The instant she sensed he was beginning to detach from a given point of conversation, she was quick to transition to a different topic along with a subtle compliment to his involvement or knowledge, as suited the flow of such meetings with one's presumed betters.

To that same point, she abbreviated her full report rather specifically: she made absolutely no mention of the Illithid ship nor The Spire itself beyond referring to it merely as Netherese ruins within the far tundra.  She didn't want to hand out such vital and potentially extremely dangerous information freely - especially not to an Undead - and would simply leave it to Vellynne to disclose such specifics since it all fell under the purview of her contracted assignment originally.  Similarly, she excluded any mention of the encounter with Auril.  That was a matter she felt best kept close to her breast no matter what.

When their meeting came to a close without much gained either way, Mallory graciously thanked Dendybar for affording her some of his valuable time and expressed her usual desire to make herself of use.  Her travels took her to odd places and even stranger discoveries - as the Gnomish Ceremorphs exemplified -, and she was happy to offer her services should he find use for them in the future.  But, frankly, she was glad to just be out of Dendybar's presence after a while and set to recovering from the meeting by going about returning her borrowed works back to the Library.  A brief bit of time amid literature would help her decompress quite nicely.

---

Ultimately, the time came for Mallory to say her farewells to friends and associates, new and less new alike.  Harai was thanked profusely for his companionship throughout her visit and even more so for the gifted Pearl of Power.  Normally Mallory wouldn't accept such a precious item without considerable resistance but, given what she faced ahead in Icewind Dale, she swallowed both pride and etiquette alike to accept without argument.  Idrianthe, meanwhile, was absolutely smothered in a fond embrace and half-whimpered assurances that Mallory would write whenever she could.  The two had only known each other for a few days but the young noble felt they'd developed quite a strong rapport - any time the Elf wished to return to their company, she would be welcomed back with eagerly open arms, and missed sorely in the meantime.

"I must say, this has been a remarkably productive visit.  I do look forward to the next time I might darken the Brotherhood's doorstep." Mallory sighed in prelude to the Teleportation Circle spell's preparation.

Vellynne was crystal clear on Tamthan's conspiracy — this was an outrage of dimensions. She didn't much care for Mallory's opinion on the extent of punishment, she was a guest with the Brotherhood so it was now the Brotherhood's matter. It would likely become a case of their word against the guard's, but Vellynne severely doubted the Captain would readily side with the guard. And if she had her will, the man would never again find work anywhere on the Sword Coast.

When Colmarr was brought up to Harai, the Saru did have some of his own insights to offer. He had been the one to witness the machine prior to Mallory's visit, and he certainly recognized the potential in it. He did also doubt the commercial viability of it if the source of the raw materials were revealed to the public, which Harai would insist upon should he be involved in the project. Furthermore, sewage was disagreeable for a reason, and he wanted to know if any sickness could surface despite the potions' healing effects, and that would require exhaustive trials. Harai also knew nothing of business and therefor had not the confidence to impulsively speak on the behalf of the entire Brotherhood. In the end, he had made no promises to the Gnome, but had likewise far from written him off, despite the impression Colmarr seemed to have been left with.

Idrianthe was of two minds upon her and Mallory's separation. On one hand she did very much want to exchange many letters with Mallory while on the other she hoped their reunion would come soon. After all, she had determined the Host Tower of the Arcane wasn't her home and she was still eager to lend the troubled people of Icewind Dale her one helping hand.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:18, Wed 20 Mar.

In regard to Tamthan and the other would-be muggers, Mallory deferred wholly to Vellynne's judgment.  The elder noble was quite correct in her assessment of Mallory's status as a guest of the Tower making what happened to her an affair of the Tower as well.  It was that same reason she didn't act more overtly in the moment or try to scare off the brigands with a boast of her connections or a display of magical prowess.  She was there on the Arcane Brotherhood's generosity and was not a citizen of Luskan - it wasn't her place to pull anything that might embarrass her hosts or put them in a difficult spot.

Mallory supplied Vellynne with all the evidence she was able to.  Her handheld illusions of the whole event portrayed misty images of the situation as it played out from a bird's eye view - or rather, a Tressym's - and she presented more detailed images of the individuals she and Astre had been near enough to get a good look at, in case they were known figures around the city.  Further, she explained how she'd warned Colmarr of the matter before it happened and that he would be a suitable witness if someone needed to be asked for the sake of establishing timing.  Whatever would become of Tamthan and his cohorts beyond that, however, was nothing Mallory concerned herself with.  They had made their own bed and would have to sleep in it.  Even if Mallory spoke on a desire for them to be shown mercy, she doubted it would do any good - getting on the bad side of both the Arcane Brotherhood and an heiress of the Harpell family was not a fate so easily escaped.

---

In regard to Colmarr, Mallory expressed agreement with Harai's concerns.  They were much the same she held as well, though she explained that she felt she'd gotten through to Colmarr the importance of those same worries during her workshopping with him.  She had emphasized the absolute necessity of testing and refining the involved processes before anything else could even be approached, after all.  Further, she told of the letter of reference she'd written on Colmarr's behalf for aid from her family's accountant.  She prompted that it would be best to keep an eye on Colmarr in the coming weeks to see how his affairs settle with the assistance of a proper bean counter helping to get him organized, and then perhaps extend another visit with the aid of a more business-minded sort on the Brotherhood's behalf as well.  Best to let those more natively fluent in such matters be the filter through which decisions were made and conversations were carried.

At the very least, she requested that some word be sent to Colmarr to confirm that Mallory had held up her part of the deal and assure him that he had not gone overlooked.  With luck, that would hopefully light a fire under him in the meantime and set him to more keenly seeking the more specific troubleshooting Mallory had urged him toward.

---

In regard to Idrianthe, Mallory quite understood her feelings on the matter.  But they both had seen firsthand how expansive and useful the Brotherhood's assets were, so the opportunity to lean on them a bit longer wasn't one to be squandered.  She encouraged her friend to make the most of the chance and, in all honesty, expressed a bit of playful jealousy that Idri would be getting to enjoy a warmer climate and better food for the immediate future.  When next they met, Idri should very well come bearing some souvenirs and treats for the rest of their companions as well!

When the two of them had a moment where no other eyes were upon them, Mallory took the chance to covertly cut and bind a lock of her own dark, wavy hair into a quickly braided knot.  Most people might see such a keepsake as oddly intimate, but it was a matter of practicality; Mallory didn't know what kind of access Idri might have to scrying and tracking magics but that lock of hair would be most useful in helping Idri find Mallory directly should the need arise.  It was for Idri alone, though - Mallory didn't necessarily want the Arcane Brotherhood to have knowledge of such an item purely out of an abundance of caution.  If they really wanted to keep an eye on her, they clearly were more than capable of doing so... but she felt no need to make it easier on them herself.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:48, Wed 20 Mar.

"Do you want one from me as well?" Idrianthe asked. The piece of hair was accepted with the perfect understanding of its purpose, but their time together had been too short to assess Mallory's proficiency with scrying and the importance she placed upon it. While Idrianthe possessed no such tool currently, at least without the aid of the Brotherhood, she could likely adapt.

"If you'd trust me with it, certainly.  I am a Diviner, after all."  Mallory smiled warmly and offered her knife for use.  Her remark was made half in jest.  In all the time the two women had been with each other, Mallory had honestly shown little in the way of her actual innate calling, to the degree that she felt a little silly expressing it as such.  No doubt, in Idri's eyes, Mallory was much more of a scholar and craftswoman than anything else.

---

Also, last bit of housecleaning, as it occurs to me - Mallory would want to have taken time to study the permanent Teleportation Circle in the Host Tower in order to put it to memory, if she's allowed to.  She'll do the same when she arrives at Bryn Shander, so long as there's nothing that forces her to immediately bail out when she gets there.  The spell details for "Teleportation Circle" say that it takes a minute of study for a spellcaster to memorize a Teleportation Circle for later access, so Mallory would want to have them in mind just in case that becomes important later on.  If that feature doesn't apply because she has yet to actually acquire the spell herself, she'll manually copy the Teleportation Circle sequences into her notes for later study, if allowed/available to do so.

Idrianthe was happy to oblige. She cut a lock from her own platinum hair and handed it to Mallory.

---

Sure, she'll have the opportunity to do so. It also now occurs to me that Mallory will want to do the facsimileing of the Spells she found in the library. Does she need another day for that? We can definitely afford it, I only want the record straight so I can properly timekeep.

Funny that you mention it; I had the same thought and double-checked that earlier.  We'd discussed it in our PM thread, post #334 - Mallory had spent the bulk of this same day making carbon copies of two select spells (Speedy Courier and Arcane Lock), then spent the latter portion doing shopping and visiting Colmarr.  If another day can be freely afforded without messing up the timeline, she'd certainly take advantage of that to copy down a few more spells, but she's good to go if we have to cut it off right here and now.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:13, Wed 20 Mar.