Party confirmed Oscar’s undead minions reduced to husks.
Belmir searched Oscar’s body: recovered two staffs (one ebony, twisted; one long plain white staff), a large research spellbook (200–300 pages on delirium, dregs, husks), four scrolls (two arcanely familiar, two alien with octarine inks), three delirium crystals, and ~60 platinum.
Delirium crystals safely stowed using Mage Hand into special pouches.
Library environment and conditions
Massive anti-gravity breach with swirling debris and eldritch lightning; visibility limited by maelstrom.
Elevators destroyed; vertical shafts present on every level; stairs intact below the breach, obliterated above ~40–50 ft.
Initial reconnaissance plan
Belmir and Gus advanced upward using psychic flight speed = 10 ft Ă— INT mod (min 10).
Decision to move slowly together (20 ft increments) to maintain visual contact and safety.
Ascending the Breach
Hazard navigation and lightning strikes
Multiple staged D6 hazard checks while ascending ~180 ft breach.
Observed: debris density increases after ~50 ft; frequent dodging required.
Gus evaded an eldritch lightning strike (Dex save + Evasion; no damage).
Near top, both rolled 1s; Belmir used Absorb Elements to halve 33 lightning damage (noted “lightning but not natural,” eldritch arcane feel). Casting inside breach caused odd reactions: nearby debris/books sprouted limbs momentarily, indicating wild/unpredictable magic surges upon casting.
Reaching upper level
Gravity gradually returned on stairs above breach.
Found an obsidian double door leading to director’s audience chamber with an astrolabe, Amethyst Academy sigil, chandelier of celestial rings, and an iron side door. A chest stood beside the throne.
Director’s Chambers and Nexus Discovery
Room checks and findings
No traps or arcane runes on doors; chamber quiet except mechanical astrolabe ticking.
Side room (iron door) opened via Mage Hand: revealed a five-foot-wide vertical torrent of octarine light rising from a rune-inscribed dais. Runic circle showed transmutation and conjuration markers; Belmir assessed it as a transport-related construct (likely Nexus-related), not a standard teleportation circle.
Chest contents assessment
Inside: clockwork components/gears, a large metallic “rock,” and a bowling-ball-sized glass sphere containing a delirium crystal.
Arcana suggested parts likely related to the Cosmological Clock Tower mechanisms.
Glass sphere taken via Mage Hand into Bag of Holding; heavier components left in place (Gus later staged the chest to the stairwell but did not attempt passage with it through the breach).
Party Split, Risk Realization, and Regroup
Restlessness below and attempted ascent
After ~1–2 hours, Octi and Tyrius attempted ascent (INT flight 10 ft/round). Tyrius was struck by eldritch lightning in the first 10 ft (38 damage), prompting immediate retreat and reassessment; healing via potions.
Conclusion: low-speed ascent is prohibitively dangerous for most of the party.
Return of Belmir and Gus
Belmir descended at full speed safely; Gus descended with multiple checks, dodging a final lightning strike at the breach exit.
Debriefed team: discovered probable Nexus transport room and director’s chamber; retrieved glass sphere (delirium), logged two staffs and research materials; chest components likely important for Clock Tower; moving all members through breach unsafe without control or shortcut.
Withdrawal Planning and New Threat
Rest vs. exit
Considered short rest on research floor; acknowledged others had partial recovery time while waiting.
Decided to withdraw from tower toward Emberwood Village when feasible; avoid further breach crossings until controls understood.
Incoming adversary
At the base of the stairwell on the research floor (still in anti-gravity zone), Belmir and Gus heard heavy mailed boots approaching from the library side—similar to prior clockwork/golem sentinels.
A female voice called out: “So I see you found the staff,” implying hostile awareness and imminent confrontation.
đź“‹Overview
Recovered critical loot from Oscar Yoren: two staffs (one plain white, likely significant), research spellbook, four scrolls (two alien), three delirium crystals, ~60 pp.
Library breach is a deadly maelstrom with eldritch lightning; casting within triggers chaotic effects; fast movement reduces exposure.
Discovered director’s audience chamber and a transport-like Nexus room powered by octarine light and runic circle (transmutation/conjuration).
Chest of clockwork components likely ties to Cosmological Clock Tower; heavy and risky to transport through breach; glass sphere with delirium safely retrieved.
Attempt by Octi/Tyrius to ascend confirmed hazards too great for low-speed characters; regrouped plan to avoid breach until controls found.
Decision to withdraw and rest; interrupted by arrival of armored foes and a female adversary who seems aware of the staff.
🎯Todo List
Belmir:
Study “The Inscrutable Nexus: The Tower, The Magics Within” to identify Nexus function, controls, and the role of the staff; preliminary findings next session.
Identify both staffs (attunement checks, detect properties) to confirm if the white staff is the Inscrutable Staff; start immediately.
Analyze four scrolls (catalog known two; research the two alien octarine scrolls) for usability/risks; after safe rest.
Gus:
Secure and inventory valuables: platinum, delirium crystals, glass sphere; ensure safe containment; before leaving tower.
Plan extraction routes and fallback points on research floor; coordinate with Octi/Zadok; before engagement with incoming foes.
Octi:
Coordinate immediate defensive posture against approaching mailed enemies; assign positions/cover in low-gravity environment; now.
Evaluate alternative egress down the tower vs. holding position for a short rest; decide with consensus post-contact.
Zadok:
Support Arcana/Perception surveillance for incoming threats; maintain Guidance and healing triage; ongoing.
Assist Belmir in cross-referencing tower schematics from found book on the Inscrutable Tower (pre-catastrophe diagrams) with observed rooms; after combat or during safe window.
Tyrius:
Heal up (potions/abilities) to readiness; confirm status for potential immediate combat; now.
Prepare tactics for construct/golem-type foes based on prior encounters; now.
Team:
Decide whether to engage, evade, or parley with the approaching female and mailed forces; immediate.
If disengaging, set course to Emberwood Village for rest, item identification, and planning; post-contact.
Plan a return expedition with: attuned staff, clearer Nexus understanding, and a method to bypass or disable the breach hazards; before next ascent attempt.
D&Detail 