The seekers are admitted into “The Court of the Air” – a wide, open courtyard in which small knots of seekers and Avowed stroll and converse. Each of the five new seekers are assigned an adjutant. However, it is early evening after a long day of journeying, and they are ready to relax with a beer. Sprig, on Waldo’s behalf, goes to the Pillars of Pedagogy to seek Matreous, who is surely ensconced in a study room, intent on his research. The group, including DU.EE. (who is not only happy to spend time with this new group of seekers, but also deeply intrigued by the bearer of the book featuring his name), accompany Waldo on his other errands. He delivers his shipment of bark to the grateful scribes at the bindery. He then leaves his trusty mount at the stable. The folks there are well acquainted with the placid ram and are happy to have him in their care once again.

Those errands complete, they visit “The Hearth” while they await word back from Sprig. The Hearth is a pub unlike any other they have seen: its interior dimensions exceed the apparent exterior dimensions. They learn that this feat is accomplished by way of a strange clockwork device suspended in a two-foot diameter crystal orb embedded in the ceiling above the bar.

They order beers, except for Grixori who orders tea. The bartender seems a bit baffled by this request, but he dusts off an old tin of tea leaves and after some searching finds a battered kettle to put on the fire. The pub is occupied by just a few patrons, some conducting small group discussions, some sitting deeply in thought. But one occupant captures their immediate attention. A huge ogre sits alone in a oversized armchair in a corner beneath a lamp. He reads a book that appears tiny in his huge mitts. He wears a gold headband, and smiles warmly as he turns the pages. A couple of the brave seekers decide to approach and introduce themselves. They learn that this oversized reader is known as “Little One,” a moniker he took in remembrance of a hapless halfling whom he callously killed just prior to his “enlightenment.” His regrettable act of violence was driven by shameful covetousness. He wanted the shiny gold headband the tiny halfling wore, and he took it by force. The gold circlet was scarcely more than a bracelet for an ogre, but it magically expanded to fit his ogre-sized noggin. Once he donned the headband, the brutal ogre experienced an epiphany, and he was immediately overcome by shame and regret. Since then, he has dedicated himself to intellectual pursuits, and has put aside all aggression and hostility.

As Little One concludes his story, Sprig hurries into the pub and declares that Matreous is missing. They swig their beers (and Grixori swigs his recently-arrived scalding tea) and they all, along with Little One, accompany Sprig across the Court of the Air to the Pillars of Pedagogy. She brings them to a small, iron-bound oak door in the side of one of the stone towers. Little One is too large to fit through the door, so he agrees to wait outside. Sprig leads them up a winding staircase, to a cozy room outfitted with a comfortable leather armchair, a couple of lamps, and a desk carrying several books, an inkpot, a quill, and a cup of cold tea. A cloak hangs on a hook. Here they meet Ferdinand, Mateous’ adjutant. He tells them that he left to bring a cup of tea and a couple additional books, only to return to an empty study room. He waited, spent time looking, and asking around, but but nobody has seen Matreous. When Sprig came seeking Matreous on Waldo’s behalf, Ferdinand felt hopeful that perhaps these visitors might know something, so he asked Spring to bring them.

The new visitors have no idea where Matreous might have gone, but as they ponder the question, they take note of a large leather-bound tome sitting open on the desk. The ornately decorated cover is laced with gold filigree and bears the portrait of an imposing spellcaster. The man depicted has a bald head, a pointy goatee, and a piercing gaze. This is a figure of no small renown and is quickly recognized as Mordenkainen, a powerful wizard, scholar, and philosopher. The title of the volume is “The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces.”

When asked why Matreous, an expert in curses, might have been reading about extradimensional spaces, Ferdinand replies, “Well, he wasn’t originally. He had been perusing several books related to curses and countercurses. But some time into his visit here, he became very excited, and asked me to bring him books that had been donated by Fystandia, including this one.” He goes on to explain that Fystandia had once been a regular visitor to Candlekeep as well, one with a special interest in the study of interdimensional travel, much as Mordenkainen had been. Upon her untimely disappearance a couple years ago, her personal collection of literature was donated to Candlekeep. This book, authored by Mordenkainen, came from her collection. They ask Sprig to run downstairs and inquire with Little One whether he knows anything about Mordenkainen or Fystandia. Meanwhile, they continue to examine the book.

Upon investigation, the group finds that the margins of the book contain prodigious notes, jotted in arcane shorthand. The page to which the book had been left open is marked with a ribbon. This page bears a particularly emphatic bit of marginal notation. Those with a modicum of familiarity with arcane writing recognize that these notes identify a “Command Word” and that word is “SCEPTER.” This word “SCEPTER” is boldly spoken and immediately an ethereal set of double doors materializes, glowing with an eerie green light. Beyond the doors, they see the shimmering figure of a slightly built, bespectacled man, with dark skin and a short beard. He looks up from examining a small winged, horned statuette. So startled is he, that he almost drops the statuette, but he smiles and opens his mouth to speak. The surprised seekers scarcely have time to register this strange sight, when they feel themselves abruptly pitched forward. As if being knocked into a hole, they tumble through a blaze of green light. Staggered and disoriented, they look up to still see a man on the opposite side of the glowing doors, but now he stands alongside a desk upon which sit a large book and a cup of tea. They all, including Ferdinand, find their surroundings changed. They now stand in the foyer of what appears to be a luxurious residence. The ceiling arches to fifteen feet overhead, and long hallways stretch out on either side of the foyer.

The shimmering green doors are weakening in luminescence and the man holding the statuette is becoming less distinct. He speaks, “I had been trying to find a way back out! Thank you for opening the door!” The doors are fading rapidly, and they presently hear his diminishing voice speak again, “Scept-aaaaaghh!!!” His voice trails off into a scream, followed by a solid “thump!” The doors cease glowing and their appearance seems to settle into that of an elegant set of solid, wooden doors with frosted glass windows. They push open the doors and are met by an unsettling misty, dark purple miasma.