Master Eloquan frowned slightly as he turned to Nakoda.
"Celwynvian, the City of Emerals Rains? Hmm. I am not sure I can give you a definitive number young woman.
"You are human, yes? Well, I have come to understand that time flows differently for you than for us the Eldri. It could be thousands of years, or hundreds of thousands." He said, his eyes drifting.
"This was one of our peoples first dwelling places after we had traversed the void from the First World." He mused aloud.
He blinked and turned back to Nakoda.
"Or did you mean this Library?"
"Have you encountered any...peculiar elves? Pale hair, like mine, but dark grey skin?"
With a deeply intrigued expression Zane moves over to the bookshelf looking at the titles and see what clues there were to be gained about the dark elves' activities.
Zephram watches carefully, his mind racing as he tries to imagine all the knowledge that might be found here.
"Have you encountered any...peculiar elves? Pale hair, like mine, but dark grey skin?"
Master Eloquan's eyes unfocused as he thought.
"Hm. Well it is hard to tell. Elves are here from all over the world and beyond, with all their many shades of hair and skin and eyes... If the ones you seek came here, I might not have noticed.
"Many sages come to the Library here to research any information they can about the blot. The seers have predicted that the 'blot' will actually fall on Golarian, and soon."
He smiled wryly.
"And they also believe that the 'blot' is being brought down upon the world as punishment for the Azlanti empires' hubris before the gods."
He turned to you again.
"Hm. Perhaps if you want to speak to some of the sages, you could go see Ekardani or Talgoren. By a strange coincidence, they are the only two humans left in the city."
Over at the bookshelves...
It takes more than an hour of searching, but you find matches to the tomes you found in the modern drow's possession, but no longer time ruined and incomplete; they are in original condition now.
Reading through them, the tomes discuss the mutability of the shadow realm in some very high-level technical detail. It would take a week or three to really go through them in detail, but they contain eye opening Spellcrafting pointers at creating demi-shadow realms/planes.
The books adjacent to the books you sought are of some interest as well.
They concern the heavens and what is said to lie above, including stars, planets, and meteors.
One of these tomes even describes powerful magic that might be used to manipulate these objects.
Eloquan stops by to mention that these books have been quite popular as of late, but he does not remember who has been looking through them.
Eloquan also provides directions to the sages if you desire.
"Thank you, sir. Farewell!" Once the study is complete, Cynara addresses the others. "We should really follow up with these human sages as well, since we know how to find them. Shall we?"
Zephram closes his eyes, visualizing the book's pages in his mind, using the tricks he'd learned in his training to try to keep every iota of the new information, then nods at Cynara's suggestion, "Agreed. Let's learn all that we can - it may help us figure out the drow's plan... and the knowledge itself is very valuable."
Master Eloquan hands you a tourist map, suitably marked with the sages homes he mentioned.
TOURIST MAP WITH HUMAN SAGE RESIDENCES MARKED OUT
Zephram looks at the map, then suggests, "I think it would be logical to start with the closest of the sages, and then fan out as needed."
"Let's not split up, though. I would prefer not to give our hidden enemies any chance to defeat us in detail."
Zephram nods, "I concur. That would be the module intelligent approach."
"Then let's get moving." Zane replies, starting to head towards the nearest location on the map.
Following the tourist map through the secondary avenues of ancient Celwynvian is a distracting job, the flora and pathways arranged with an artistic elegance of a bygone age.
Magic is everywhere in use, but not in an overpowering way. If it weren't for the malignant blot in the sky overshadowing everything, you could see yourselves playing tourist for weeks.
You come to an elegant townhouse a couple of blocks south of the Library. Aside from the normal decorations, you also see the dramatic black, red and yellow flag of the Thassilonian Empire!
The tabards and insignia indicate that this is a Consulate of the Runelord Alaznist (Runelord of Wrath).
Apparently seeing you approach, a tall distinguished woman strides out of the entranceway towards you; she wears the vembraces of the Eldritch Knights of Thassilon and carries a flaming ranseur.
Zane's eyes widen in shock as he recognizes the tabards and insignia. "Alaznist.....the Runelord of Wrath? How is that even possible?" he whispers to the others.
As they approach he notes the woman, an Eldritch Knight, arcane warriors lost to legend, most likely someone of substantial authority here.
She then switched to Elven.
"Who approaches the Consulate of Mighty Thassilon? Speak! I have not seen you in the city before." She said sharply.
Cynara squints momentarily, one eyebrow raising slightly, then bows respectfully to the woman before replying in Elvish. "You perceive correctly--we are newly arrived here. I am called Cynara Eruthiel; my companions and I have come in search of counsel regarding the phenomenon in the sky."
Noting the spell that the woman cast Zane nods. "The wisdom of Thassilon is spoken of far and wide. If there are answers to our questions, I have no doubt they lie here." she continues in Elven as well.
Zephram's excitement builds as he realizes where they are, The knowledge here... I could just lock myself in that room for a decade and unlock so many lost secrets... He then sighs, But there's no point in pursing knowledge at the expense of the world... especially if these drow are trying to break the world.
He bows at the sentinel, but says nothing, letting the others speak.... partially in fear of the hundreds of questions swirling in his mind escaping the moment he opens his mouth.
Is this a human woman?
"I am called Cynara Eruthiel; my companions and I have come in search of counsel regarding the phenomenon in the sky."
She squinted at you suspiciously, then inhaled deeply.
"And I am Ambassador Ekardani."Alright. You lot are too much of a mixed bag to be Azlanti." She declaimed loudly.
She twirled her glaive with impressive authority and slammed the butt of the shaft onto the ground with a thump.
"And you don't smell bad enough to be Karzoug scum.
"And you don't dress or look like anythink I've ever seen before.
"AND the elves hereabouts don't mix with us hairless monkeys without an entourage of bodyguards and perfumeries.
"So." She said and nodded.
"This brings us around to who you REALLY are." She glared at you, as if daring you to lie.
Zephram offers, "I am Zephram, a Varisian traveler and follower of Zols."
Cynara shrugs with a small smile. "The world is not always as you've seen it thus far. I am indeed from near here, but have traveled extensively, and I assure you that I have had far more redolent companions of the road."
"You may find that your thoughts on elves is less than accurate." Sylvianna adds."I have no qualms with humans simply because of race."
"Zane Argentus, Cyphermage at your service." Zane says with a slight bow.
Listening to your talk, she snorts.
"A whole lot of mealy-mouthed nothing talk." She sneered.
"But you say you have questions that only I have answers to.
"Well? Out with them!
"Let me hear them, and I'll judge them worthy of my time!" She demanded hotly.
Cynara makes a slight bow. "Many thanks, honored ambassador. First, what do you know of the nature of the blot in the sky? Second, are you familiar with a variety of elf with pale hair, charcoal-grey skin, and red eyes?"
Though difficult and suspicious (and prone to anger and profanity), with patience you learn a few things from her over the course of several hours.
"First, what do you know of the nature of the blot in the sky?"
She says that knows that the elves believe humanity is responsible for the darkness in the sky, a claim she rejects as preposterous. She says that the elves are fleeing in fear of a new age of humanity, and that an Age of Runelords is prophesized by the coming darkness in the sky--why else would the runelords have retreaded from their empires to seclusion, if not to work a great magic to usher in such a new age?
"Second, are you familiar with a variety of elf with pale hair, charcoal-grey skin, and red eyes?"
She says she's seen a few like that lately; Southern elves, their skin burned black in the strong sun and moving about disdainful of everything they saw of their northern cousins. They were a little furtive though, always keeping to the shade or at night.
"We are in your debt. Is there a particular place where you've seen more of these Southern elves?"
She shook her head.
"Why would I need to do that now?" She looked at you shrewdly.
"They do not have the best interests of Kyonin at heart, let us say. Defeating their purposes would put the nation in your debt."
She continues to speak thus with you, carefully hinting and encouraging you to elaborate.
You realize that she doesn't know anything more you'd find of interest, but is simply maneuvering to draw more information from you.
"We thank you for your valuable time and information my lady, but we must continue with your journey." Zane says aloud with a bow.
Zephram nods at Zane's statement, "Indeed. Our mission is rather urgent."
She tries to argue for you to stay, and even looks for a moment like she was going to physically (magically) restrain you... But she reconsidered after glancing at your armaments. She simply lets you go while frowning at your peculiar grouping with the off kilter questions.