"What does that entry ticket mean?" Ryan had sorted out the logic of the situation and asked about the part he cared most about.
"You're so clever. Why don't you think about what might require a Nether Scroll as an entry ticket?" The old mage raised a white eyebrow, putting on an air of mystery.
"The Nether Scrolls, Netheril... Wait, could it have something to do with the Netherese Empire?" Ryan immediately caught on, thinking of that ancient, powerful magical empire that had dared to stand alongside the gods as their equal.
"Exactly. You really are quite clever." Alexander looked at Ryan approvingly and continued, "A while ago, a group of adventurers were exploring the Sword Mountains when they encountered a strange magical construct. Following its trail, they found a peculiar ruin, which appeared to be a remnant of the Netherese Empire. Unable to find an entrance, they came to Waterdeep to look for records and information.
"After receiving the news, the Mages Guild immediately sealed off the site and tried to keep it quiet. But with so many people involved, word eventually reached the Zhentarim. That's what led to everything that followed."
"So the Nether Scrolls are used to open the ruins?" Ryan was beginning to see the full picture. He now understood exactly how Waterdeep's recent turmoil and undercurrents had come about.
"Correct. After extensive research and consulting numerous records, we've confirmed that the ruins in the Sword Mountains are indeed a remnant of the Netherese Empire.
"Moreover, they weren't built by just anyone. Otherwise, a Nether Scroll wouldn't be needed as the key." Alexander paused, seeming to reminisce about something.
"Teacher Alexander, whose work are those ruins?" Ryan was intensely curious about the person this legendary mage admired so much.
Alexander didn't answer right away. Instead, he picked up his staff and began casting another spell. Once he had completed a series of gestures, he let out a breath and continued, "Just listen to what I'm about to tell you. Don't repeat it to anyone.
"At the height of Netheril's glory, the magical empire was filled with prodigies and powerful figures. Talented people were everywhere, yet some still shone brighter than the stars themselves.
"There was once a legendary master who was fascinated by the power of steel and the endless potential of living beings. He sought to combine the two.
"He spent his days studying and improving Iron Golems, diamond golems, and all sorts of other golems, hoping to create a one-of-a-kind, all-purpose construct. He was also an expert in biological engineering and live-body modification, and tried to create new species and devoted followers through artificial alterations and chemical control.
"Even more astonishingly, he tried to give machines mature minds by creating artificial souls. That trespassed into the gods' domain, and they would not tolerate it."
"Did he succeed?" Ryan asked, full of curiosity.
"Don't interrupt!" The old mage glared at Ryan over his beard, then continued, absorbed in his memories. "The mainstream mages of the time considered his research heretical and paid it little attention. But he ignored their opinions and continued to focus on his work.
"It wasn't until the great battle that brought down the magical empire that his disciples brought his creations to the battlefield. His constructs, known as 'Gundam' and 'Unit-01,' shone brilliantly and swept all before them, earning great distinction. Only then did people recognize his talent and genius.
"Unfortunately, it was too late. When the mages went looking for him, they found his tower deserted. Some said he had been unfulfilled in Faerûn and left the Material Plane for the Astral Plane to pursue his dream. Others said he had suffered divine punishment and died in some forgotten corner of the world.
"It's a shame that such a genius of a mage streaked across the sky like a meteor, then vanished from Faerûn forever."
The old mage, lost in memories, didn't notice Ryan's remarkable expression as he listened nearby. Ryan's eye twitched, and inside, he was freaking out.
"Boss, you're incredible! Boss, you're the GOAT! I bow to you!" Ryan cheered inwardly for the predecessor who had created a Gundam and Unit-01 in another world.
"So the ruins in the Sword Mountains were left behind by this master?" Ryan felt he could already guess what would happen next. Faced with the remnants of the magical empire, Waterdeep's factions would undoubtedly fight over them. The Zhentarim, the Harpers, adventurers, and the Mages Guild—it would be chaos. Ryan resolved to stay out of it. He'd already gotten the benefits from the mission, and once he returned and sorted through the knowledge he'd gained from the Nether Scroll, he'd surely be able to advance another level.
"That's right. That legendary mage's flying city was near Waterdeep. Even now, some of his creations remain in the city, such as the magic-addicted Goblins in the sewers and the mad mage living in the underground chambers." Alexander looked a little awkward as he spoke. He certainly wasn't going to tell Ryan that he'd once been bested by the mad mage.
"Wait, aren't those just Waterdeep street legends?" Ryan asked in confusion. He was beginning to feel that the stories he'd heard as a child had some truly shocking truths behind them.
"Child, you're still too young. Remember, the truth is often hidden in jokes and buried beneath the depths." The white-haired old mage gave Ryan a meaningful look and offered this warning.
"Why not just open the ruins and go in to find what this predecessor left behind? Time is running out. Won't dragging this out give the other factions time to react? Surely the bigwigs in the Mages Guild could manage it?" Ryan quickly spotted the obvious flaw.
"That mage had a particular hobby: he loved teaching. Whether they were stupid Goblins, Ogres, or rare dryads and sprites, he taught them all without discrimination.
"So, in the ruins he left behind, he set things up so that only young people below the level of senior mage could enter and receive his legacy. If anyone forced their way in, all the knowledge and inheritance within would self-destruct." Alexander explained with a smile, as if to say that young people just didn't understand.
"Then why haven't I seen anything about him in any books? A big shot like that should have students all over the world. Surely he'd be mentioned in all kinds of autobiographies and legends?" Ryan had searched the character biographies in his system, but couldn't find any legendary figure who fit the description. He asked, baffled.
"Ahem. This master had a rather unusual teaching style. I've spoken with a few of his students, and whenever I brought him up, their faces changed and they refused to talk. They must have had their reasons for keeping quiet.
"Besides, his experiments were too taboo. The gods sealed away all information about him and destroyed all his creations. That's why, apart from old-timers like us, no one in Faerûn knows of him.
"That's also why we're taking this ruin's discovery so seriously. We've spared no expense to suppress every channel through which news might spread and sent most of the Guild's forces out. Your teacher even contributed the Nether Scroll she'd been keeping in her collection." Alexander finished, smiling silently at the handsome young mage before him.
"I get it. So I've been roped into this again, huh?" Ryan gave a wry smile.
"Hahaha! You can choose companions to go in with you. You won't be the only group entering; the younger members of the Mages Guild will be going in as well. How much you gain depends on your own abilities."
"By the way, can I ask this mage's name?" In the end, Ryan couldn't contain his curiosity and asked the Guildmaster Alexander about the powerful figure who might have been a transmigrator from another world.
"His name was Adam Morgoth, a powerful and wise mage." The old mage spoke the name with reverence.
Ryan quietly repeated the name to himself. His gaze grew distant as he yearned to witness the peerless bearing of that legendary figure.
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