Rhogar couldn't help but chuckle. "It seems we are more of a like mind than I gave credit!" He admits. "But, as much as I know about Night Hags in general, my lessons in the occult is too lacking to offer a vote of confidence towards a bit of, ehh, warranted vandalism. With more time and study of them things might be different. But if there words are to be taken as truth, we have not nearly enough of the latter."

Having said all that, Rhogar turned as if to make his way to the portal. But in spying the look on Kazri's face, obscured in part though it might've been by the helmet, he hesitates for a moment, before going over and trying to practically engulf her in a big hug. It wouldn't much to stop him, yet if allowed to, he holds there for close to a minute without saying anything before letting go and parting ways for the portal. During that moment between letting go and moving away, any could see the look of someone wanting to say something, but in failing the find the right words deciding to put on a warm smile written on Rhogar's face.

"Just in, uhm, case of any shenanigans, I'll be one of the last ones through. But have no fear, as I am more than equipped to manage in such an event." He'd later assure, assuming the portal hadn't been plainly widely enough for all four to walk through at the same time. In which other case he would make sure everyone exits at the same time.

The same gut wrenching feeling comes over you as you step back through the doorway.  You are back in the Tower of Conjuration.

"I feel better now that we have left that eerie abode," Krom says as the group steps back into the tower. His tension eases slightly, but the dwarf remains alert. "Where do we head from here? The nearest tower is the Tower of Abjuration, but we could visit the House of Arcane near this tower." 
Krom pauses for a moment before continuing. "If the hags told us the truth, the Drow are also trying to learn the eight steps to access the Ythryn Mythallar. We may need to pick up the pace if we wish to enter before them." 

"Yes, we are not the only ones in the city.  We have to contend with that woman also, the one that fled from us, the cultist.  We do not know if she is in league with the drow or what.  We must be wary as the drow are close as well as I believe we saw them in the library. I think next tower is the right call."

Chill says as he shakes off the darkness of the hag den.

Kazri is completely taken aback by Rhogar’s bear hug, and then her halo starts to shine with a bright celestial radiance. The Paladin is silent in the beginning. Not for the lack of words, but for a big not in her throat. After what seems like an eternity, she manages to say something, as she slowly returns the hug. “I thank you Mr. Nimbatuul, for waking me up from the hag’s false promises. I apologize for losing faith in myself and believing in lies that could have cost us dearly.” At that moment, Oli also hugs Kazri from the back with another Owlbear hug. “Let us leave this cursed place.”

Back in the Hag's Den...

"U-uhm... y-yes, well, uh, no apology necessary. I-I might've, uhm... *ahem*... Nevermind." Following that flustered attempt at a reply, Rhogar looked and more than readily returned with the others back to the tower proper, grinning and bearing through the uncomfortable return through the portal. 

Back in the Conjuration Tower...

Rhogar listened, but the moment Chill eluded to hitting up the next tower, both dragonborn and psuedodragon pair shook their head 'no'. "As tempting as it would be to try and outpace them, our knowledge regarding what they know is just too limited. Right now we at least have an idea on where they are, and provided those hags haven't gone out of their way to alert them, best we confront them now that we at least know roughly where they are." He suggests prior to motioning for the group to walk and talk on their way back down to the 1st floor.

"At best we might actually find some unexpected allies in them. At worse, we'd be eliminating dangerous competition, and perhaps even save ourselves the trouble of needing to visit certains towers should we yet manage to retrieve the information we need from them!" He further assert with a grin and a clenching of a fist to further emphasize his last point. "And even if they have absconded elsewhere by the time we reach the library, we know at least roughly their final destination should their goals be alike our own and plan around it." He pauses there to let the words sink in, though Gorrah is not nearly so content. Instead, she sends to the group images of the group bursting through some double doors and surprising a group of what looked to be purple skinned elves.

"The library yet also could provide the means by which we can deal with those hags while we're at it. Perhaps... perhaps these Drow had the same idea after brokering their deal with the hags. As I doubt -- at least from what little I know of their history along the sword coast -- they would so wantonly sell their memories for momentary safety and secrets without lingering resentment, ehh, influencing their actions going forward. Would you not all agree?" He asks. "As for our tiefling competition and her cultist, I doubt she'd have been contact with them. Yet. Though she remains someone to keep in mind as well I'll admit."

Chill grinned and a mischievous look appeared in his eye.  "I think you are right.  Let's go visit the drow.  We know where they are.  And like you said we can either team up with them or remove them from the equation.  And if we are lucky they'll have clues that help us save some time."

Krom nods in agreement at Rhogar's suggestion, "A sound plan Rhogar, let's go after the drow. It's better to meet them on our terms than theirs."  

"I agree with Mr. Nimbatuul. However, we must keep in mind that most likely they also know where we are, and they might be watching us." Kazri readies her sword and shield. "Nonetheless, we should meet our enemies head on. The sooner the better."

Once the party is outside, Kazri and Oli will try to find signs of the drow and get a better understanding of their numbers.

Kazri Survival: 15

Oli Perception (by scent): 18

You had seen from the tower that the drow had gone into the library which was a short walk away from the tower you were now in.   You dismantle the barricaded doorway to the tower and exit.

As you approach the library you see that this colossal building has many lofty turrets in a state of disrepair, the ground below littered with their rubble. A giant-sized door at the base of the structure stands stands open with signs that it was recently pushed further open.

Kazri notes that there appears to be 3 sets of footprints leading into the building. 

Krom points at door at the base of the structure. "It seems that we are on the right track. Let's stay on guard as we enter, we could encounter traps or worse."       

Kazri approaches the door and stays to the side. Oli comes right behind her. She takes a peek of the interior to check for any presence by the entrance inside of the building.

Perception: 21

"Tracks leading in but none coming out.  Looks like the drow are still here.  Three only as well though there is always the possibility that others are in the area. "

Chill looks around the area to see if there is any sign of other drow that might be close by or watching from afar.

Perception 19

"Let's not also rule out the possibility of them having left via magic now." Rhogar said from next to Krom, then held up a finger. "But... a fair point about there being others. We know at least they were last seen followed by some of those mono-eyed creatures as well, if I recall correctly. Though, it serves us not to speculate overly much, I suppose." As the dragonborn spoke, Gorrah busied herself looking about behind the group, searching for any traces of the "shadow rat" possibly following the group.

-Perception: 22.(9)

Once Kazri gave the 'all clear' Rhogar eagerly maneuvered to step inside and sea the interior for himself, only to pause briefly upon entering to take a deep breath through the nose and sample the smells. 

Kazri looks inside the library. What she sees is a small entry area. Past that the library looks to be a maze of knowledge, with towering shelves lining every wall, stretching from floor to ceiling. Each shelf is crammed with books on every conceivable subject, creating an overwhelming sense of discovery and mystery. Narrow pathways wind through the labyrinth of shelves, inviting visitors to explore the countless volumes that fill the space. The atmosphere is thick with the scent of aged paper.

Chill looks about the area.  He sees only signs of 3 humanoids, presumed to be the drow, coming from the west.  He sees nothing that would indicate there are others in the area or the area is being watched. 

Chill reports to the others and then joins Kazri at the doorway.  "Looks to be Rhogar's kind of place.   Let us enter and find these drow. "

Krom chuckles at Chill's comment then follows the rest of the group inside. The dwarf, expecting troubles, remains alert. He grips tightly his hammer as his gaze darts around the narrowed pathways.    

"That and Vellyne as well before... my overcaution led to that incident before." Rhogar appeared to deflate somewhat at the admission, but only just for a moment. "Ahem... R-regardless, let's see if we can find our missing drow, or failing that, perhaps some sort of 'forbidden' section. In either case, I'd bet they'd be towards the back." He suggests before hurriedly adding, "But do remain cautious touching anything. We've already seen sensitive some of the construct guardians here can be, and who knows what other sort of protections have yet survived the fall of the city."  Rhogar then made to move down towards one of the centermost aisles, though would reluctantly concede ground to Kazri or Krom, if either were of a mind to take point. 

With her hopes of catching the rat dashed at its lack of presence outside the Hag den, Gorrah settled more comfortably upon Rhogar's shoulder and took to keeping a general eye out from there as the group proceeded with their search. 

You make your way down one of the narrow aisles as you go deeper into the library. You travel a short way, making a couple turns but having no real direction to go.  At one point you turn and come face to face with an eyeless, white, 5-foot-tall penguin in a leather harness dragging a small cart laden with books.

"Hello there," says Krom as the group encounters the eyeless penguin. The dwarf studies the odd creature. "Another arcane construct? What do you make of it, Rhogar?" Krom asks to the dragoborn. "Or... could it be an actual animal modified by the arcane arts? What do you think, lass?" Krom adds, glancing at Kazri.
"By the looks of it, it seems harmless," the dwarf adds, tapping his hammer thoughtfully. "but with those Netherese wizards, you never can be sure."