The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks

Rhogar cocks his head to the side a little at Chill's question and stares for a moment, before -- as if struck by sudden epiphany -- letting out a chuckle and patting the Tabaxi on the shoulder. "Why the greatest gift one can ever present a wizard: Knowledge! Or at least, something novel that one might 'think' a wizard does not know. And though her interest and those of the Brethren were aligned to discovering more about the Netherese as a whole, and thus there is a chance she might already know a thing or two by now, it is yet the least we can do given the sacrifice she made on our.... on 'my' behalf." The dragonborn's demeanor explained, though towards the end his demeanor grew more subdued from clear feelings of guilt. "But with any luck, what was taken shall be returned to her, and if fortune yet smiles upon us, there'll still an entire city for her to explore pour over at her leisure once we've done what we've needed to do. Now, let us pick up the pace, shall we?" He said, flashes a small but toothy smile, and then returned to taking point on returning strut. 

And if there's no objections along the way, he makes a point of stopping by Veneranda and asking her (through the professor, if it was needed) about the names and titles of the other tower masters. But once the group step out of the building, Rhogar returned to being nervously and pointedly avoided looking at anything above ground level. 

"Let's hope so Rhogar, Vellynne helped us more than once in our quest." Krom adds as the group heads towards the Spire. The dwarf keeps his shield and hammer at the ready as they walk.

"Well said Mr. Nimbatuul." Says Kazri with a slight sense of relief. "I now know what I shall do. If we manage to finish this mission that is." She still feel guilty for Vellynne's blindness. "If we are not able to restore Ms. Harpel's condition. I shall be her eyes. And, if this place is still standing when this is over, I shall be her guide." Kazri is the last one to leave the building.

The party hurries back to the spire and are relieved to see that while force field is still in place as they approach it flickers out for a moment and allows them to pass."

Entering the spire again they find Veneranda who waits in the chamber you found her earlier.

"You return again. What have you discovered? Have you retrieved Iriolarthas’s staff of power?" She asks as you enter.

As the catalyst to the detour Rhogar stepped up and politely bowed at the waist. "Well met again, La-... Lady Veneranda. We believe we've discovered the key to accessing the very same staff -- or at least, a connecting clue to the very same wizard's study. However, as a precaution as some of the tower's defenses have proven deadly, we came to ask for the names of the other tower masters and their, uhm, specialty -- eh, the school of magic they mastered. So that we might position ourselves accordingly and unlock the way to the study." He explain. "Thus, we humbly ask if you could provide them all in full, so that we might make good on our effort to find this staff."

Krom also bows to Veneranda as the group enters her chamber. The dwarf remains silent during the exchange between Rhogar and the construct. "It's better to leave this matter to Rhogar." Krom thinks.

'"Good, good, so you are close. Excellent!  When you have the staff bring it to me so I can use it to restore the city to its former glory!"  She says with excitement knowing you are close.  "The names you seek are easy enough.  High Abjurer Taruth, High Conjurer Damorith, High Diviner Apius, High Necromancer Cadavix, High Evoker Zadulus, High Illusionist Ajamar, High Enchanter Ivira, and High Transmuter Metaltra." She lists them off for you.

Despite feelings of certainty in Veneranda's plan being for naught, Rhogar looked away and narrowed his eyes at a thought. But then following a curt shake of the head, he muttered "A moment", pulled out his journal, and set to work jotting things down using a charcoal pencil. "... Done and... done. Once again, you have our thanks Lady Veneranda. If fortunes favor us, we shall have everything in order in due time." He stated, bows, and then after sharing a look with the others, motioned for the exit before heading on out after them: There next destination now being the 'council chamber' (or so Rhogar suspected it to be) in the upper level.

Krom also thanks the construct and follows Rhogar outside the chamber. "Let's head back to the Chamber of the Ebon Star." The dwarf says gesturing forward with his hammer, "Hopefully, this time, we will be able to open the secret door."

You retrace your steps and again find yourself in the chamber facing eight doors, each marked with a different arcane symbol. On the wall above them is etched an inscription in Draconic.

"Rhogar, where do we sit?" Krom says after reaching the chamber and gesturing at the arcane symbols. "As you and I share the same enchantment, I'll stand guard, just in case." The dwarf adds taking position. 

"Mn, I can certainly do as much. I will need to see again what, uhm, magic everyone has been imbued with to confirm the school of spells it belongs to. But, I know in our case, Krom, or I suppose in /my/ case since you volunteered to play guardian, I will need to sit in for High Abjurer Taruth." He pauses, then squints at the inscription above the doors. "... Hmm... I wonder... If we have been marked as so, then..." He trailed off from there muttering to himself, then turned to regard the party.

"Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, if you, Chill, and Kazri can, uhh, summon the magic you've been imbued with right now, that would be appreciated. For while before we were neutral entities, now that we've been marked, uhm.... after a fashion, i-it would best if we do not walk through the same door as before, but instead go down the ones pertaining to he magic we've been imbued with. Just remember to say aloud the name I give you before opening and going through your door." Rhogar further request.

In the event his words are heeded, Rhogar notes to Chill that what he should say is 'High Diviner Apius', while Kazri instead would have to go with 'High Transmuter Metaltra'.

Kazri looks at Rhogar with an inquisitive look. "Very well Mr. Nimbatuul. I supposed there is no better time than now." Somehow, she knows what to do, and it is like she knew all along her entire life. She opens her palm, and shower of sparks comes out from her hand. Even though it is harmless, Kazri is still taken slightly aback from such demonstration. "High Transmuter Metaltra... Noted."

Chill nods to Rhogar and then casts the cantrip that he has somehow learned.  His eyes widen as the power rushes out of him.  

"That may be the first time I have ever felt what you call the weave.  Is it this rush, this feeling every time you do your magic?"

He looks around at the others who have skills to cast spells, something he has never had.

He nearly forgets the name he was given but then comes to his senses. 

"Uh, right.  High Diviner Apius." He says as he stands in front of the correct door.

None has ever truly seen Rhogar's expression light up as much as it did after Chill's words. But as he goes to answer, the dragonborn... hesitates for a moment, as if reflecting on the question a little more and searching inwardly for an appropriate answer. Finally, he just chuckles and shakes his head. "For better or for worse, accessing the Weave is so akin to breathing for me, that unless I make a conscious effort to push my limits, that rush power is less consciously pronounced for me these days. But, do not mistake my words for me taking it for granting. For though I was born with this inherit connection to it -- 'specially where it touches on more divine elements -- I know there are ways for it suppressed and even... stripped from me. So, I more subconsciously cherish every moment I'm able to call it upon to do great and goodly deeds in the world." He explained.

"But, even as much as it is apart of me, were I to lose this connection someday, I..." He pauses, bows his head, and again seems to chew over the next few words before finally looking up with a grin. "I know it not to be all that I am. Which is something, whether you -- all of you have realized it or not -- have taught me during this journey."

Standing in front of the correct doors, three of you speak the names given to you by Veneranda.  You can then open the doors and the gaping darkness looms in front of you, except for Rhogar whose visions allows you to see.  But this is not your first time walking one of these hallways and you can easily negotiate the short distance.  Again you make it to the Chamber of the Ebon Star unmolested.  

Nothing in the room has changed.  Glowing stars still hang in the air inside this chamber, slowly rotating on its axis. As the constellations move, they cast radiant starlight across the walls. Eight high-backed chairs, each bearing a different arcane symbol, face this starry miasma.

"Rhogar, let me know when the ritual is successful, so that I can too join the group within the chamber." Krom says as the dragonborn opens the door and walks into the Chamber of the Ebon Star.

Rhogar jumps a little, momentarily distracted as he was looking to make sure Kazri (and by extension Chill) had made it safely through their hallways. But after awkwardly clearing his throat, he would call back to Krom, assuring the dwarf could pass on through and join the rest in the Chamber of Ebon Star. "Now, uhm, let me find your seats." He says to Chill and Kazri, before then proceeding to circle the table and check every symbol.

With each one he could match to an appropriate school for Chill and Kazri, he waves them over one by one. "And remember to avoid gazing into those, uhm, constallations, if you would. Whatever magic they employed there has, uhm... has, uhh... I-It's hard to explain. Just.. take your seat and avoid them. For now. And, uhh -- Oh! Uhm, Krom?" He turns again to the dwarf. "See to that the balcony door is closed. Then, once we're all seated, use the key to open it once more. Hopefully then if all goes well, we should expect the space beyond to either be changed, or the door itself to transform into some kind of portal... At least, so I'd imagine."

As the dragonborn calls back to him, Krom nods and, following Rhogar’s instructions, joins the rest of the Fellowship in the Chamber of the Ebon Star. “Of course, Rhogar,” the dwarf replies, taking the set of keys and making sure the balcony door is properly closed.
Once the rest of the group is correctly seated, he prepares to open the balcony door.

Chill passes through the darkness and emerges on the other end.  He gives a nod to Rhogar when checked on. 

"All good here."

He then finds the seat he is supposed to occupy with the assistance of the dragonborn. 

"Ready."