Quiven catches one of the creature's unaware and puts an arrow in it's neck, then Omrax smites it down.
Leastrie, Mordrak, and Talhaearn join forces to slash down the second.
Fredrik begins to cast a spell of protection, but finds nothing left to protect anyone from.
Free to explore the chamber, you find that each column is sealed by a magical barrier. Through each barrier you can make out titles and dates indicating past auctions of the Sun Orchid Elixir.
The one exception, however, is the northernmost pillar, which contains only a single shelf of books written in a strange language.
It looks like there were many more books, but some were recently removed.
The bottom shelf of the column contains an unlocked chest full of platinum, gold, gems, and magical items. Atop the small trove rests a handwritten note, saying simply, "To get you started."
The language is Tekritanin. The books contain records of all bids, both winning and unsuccessful, over the last 100 years, constituting 20 auctions. The records contain no names, however, merely long series of coded numbers to distinguish bidders from one another. There is no evident cypher for the code.
You do manage to make out what you are sure means, "Copy 4 of 7." This possibly means that Ofarah intends for you to simply take this copy rather than force you to make a copy.
With the auction records secure, you exit the Conundrum through the ring gate mounted on the wall, using the vials of gaseous form Ofarah assured would be waiting for you. When you arrive back at the Thuvian Embassy, you find yourselves in an empty guest room with a ring gate fixed to the wall. Upon exiting the austere chamber, you startle a passing guard who had no idea that any guests remained from the night’s festivities. She escorts you out of the embassy, informing you that Ofarah has boarded a ship bound for Lamasara.
When you report to the Grand Lodge, Kreighton Shaine greets you all with an eccentric bow and squeals in delight at the information you present him. He seems less interested in the actual contents of the books, however, than excited about the challenge of deciphering the codes that are used within.
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"How a person can be so excited about a book is beyond my abilities to grasp."
Omrax turns to his companions.
"It has been my honor to serve with each of you on this mission.
May the Inheritor guide you and someday our paths may cross again."
He pauses in a moment of silence as the group departs.
• I will suffer death before dishonor.
• I will be temperate in my actions and moderate in my
behavior. I will strive to emulate Iomedae's perfection.