Rune Mysteries

Ariane: Valina, the tower is in danger. I need to speak to Archmage Sedridor.
Wizard Valina: I'm sorry, Ariane. The archmage was clear. Maybe if you told me why, I could pass on a message.
Ariane: I can't explain. Listen, if the archmage can't see me, perhaps I could speak to Wizard Ellaron.
Wizard Valina: I'm sorry, Ariane, you are barred from entering the tower for any reason.

1. What's happening here?
2. Can I come into the tower?
3. This is none of my business.

Wizard Valina: This is none of your business, outsider.
Ariane: No, wait, I remember you. You helped me with the troll shaman in Taverley. Will you help me again?

1. Sorry, who are you?
2. What can I do to help?
3. This is none of my business, Goodbye.

Ariane: Could you take a message to Archmage Sedridor for me? Depending on how he reacts, I may need your help with other things.

Thank you just go to Archmage Sedridor and... Wait - no - too late. There's something happening.

Wizard Borann: By Saradomin the Holy Archmage, begone, spirit of the Abyss!
Ariane: Come on! My message can wait. Let's see what's happening



Cast Air Strike at the vortex! Draw it into the power beam! Grab Borann's mindspike, if you need one - he's dropped it next to him.

1. How do I cast Air Strike?
2. What's going on?
3. Are you okay?
4. Okay, I'll deal with this!

Ariane: Thanks, adventure. Talk to me again outside the tower if you still want to help.
I can't believe Sedridor would set up a ward to keep me out. I didn't realise he saw me as that dangerous.

1. What was that thing in the library?
2. Why aren't' you allowed into the tower?
3. What do you want me to do?
4. Goodbye.

I need you to go into the tower for me. Talk to the wizards and find out what's happening in there. Archmage Sedridor is the head of the tower, so you should talk to him. I think Wizard Ellaron might help as well - he was my mentor while I was here. You should talk to the other wizards, as well; ask if they've seen anything unusual lately. One of them must have seen something that 'll help us.

1. Other questions...
2. I'll get on it.

Wizard Ellaron.
What Can i do for you on this glorious day, adventurer?

1. Who are you?
2. Ariane says the tower is in danger.
3. Goodbye.

Are her premonitions still troubling her? I feared as much. Please let her know that I take her seriously, even if no one else does. I will do everything I can to convince Archmage Sedridor to take action.

1. You know about her premonitions?
2. Thanks.

Ariane might be pleased to hear that Wizard Ellaron is still on her side.

Wizard Tralborn
Ello young thingummywut.

1. Have you seen anything unusual lately?
2. What's a thingummywut?
3. Teach me to be a mighty and powerful wizard.

I've seen them in the power beam, you know thingummywuts.

1. Thingummywuts?
2. In the power beam?

I like to look at the power beam sometimes. There are so many things we see every day but never look at, aren't there? Or look at every day but never see. I see things in there... thingummywuts. No one else sees them. They think I'm mad.

1. Thingummywuts?
2. Where do these things come from?

Didn't you know? This tower was built on the ruins of an old tower. That's where it come from. The swirly thing. I saw it come up through the floor of the library.

Ariane might be interested by Wizard Traiborn's information.

Archmage Sedridor
Welcome, adventurer, to the world-renowned Wizards' Tower. How can I help you?

1. Your wizards did well against the Wise Old Man.
2. Can you teleport me to the rune essence?
3. Tell me about the Wizards' tower
4. Ariane says the tower is in danger.
5. Nothing, thank. I'm just looking around.

Yes, I'm aware of that. Wizard Valina told me she was here. You can tell Ariane that her concerns have been noted. I'm preparing to deal with the anomalies in the power beam so there's no cause for concern.

1. Don't you believe her?
2. Why won't you let Ariane into the tower?
3. What are you going to do?
4. Other questions...
5. Goodbye.

I'm preparing an Icyenic Purge. It 'll send a surge of energy through the power beam, which should overpower whatever creatures have managed to enter it.

1. Don't you believe her?
2. Why won't you let Ariane into the tower?
3. Other questions...
4. Goodbye.

Ariane might be interested to hear about Archmage Sedridor's plan.

Have you learned anything from the wizards in the tower?

1. I've got a question...
2. I've spoken to some of the wizards...
3. Goodbye.

So what did you learn?

1. Archmage Sedridor said he's preparing an 'Icyenic Purge'.
2. Archmage Sedridor said you're a demon-worshipper.
3. Wizard Ellaron told me about your premonitions.
4. Wizard Traiborn said something came through the library floor.
5. Other questions...

Through the library floor? But that means... it was something from the old tower.

1. The old tower?
2. Then let's get down there and investigate!

Good idea! It's not going to be easy, though: Archmage perien sealed the lower levels when he built the second tower. There's rumour that the door can be opened using the Water Surge spell, but many wizards have tried casting that spell on the door and failed. It's more likely that there's a key hidden somewhere in the tower. Could you go back into the tower and find the key? I think Wizard Ellaron will help us if you tell him what we're doing. You should start by talking to him.

1. Tell me about the old Tower.
2. I'll get right on it.

What can I do for you on this glorious day, adventurer?

1.Who are you?
2. How can I get into the old tower?
3. Goodbye.

1. Ariane said you'd help
2. You do know, though?

No one except Archmage Sedridor is allowed to know the secret of entry to the ruins. Naturally I've heard the rumours.

1. You privately want to help us?
2. Ariane said you'd help.
3. You mean the rumour about Water Surge?

Many young wizards have wasted runes casting Water surge on the door to no effect. A few, however, have speculated that the key might lie not in casting the spell but in understanding it.

1. You privately want to help us?
2. Ariane said you'd help.
3. What do you mean, the key lies in understanding Water Surge?

It was the Archmage Perien first archmage of the new tower, who sealed the lower levels. He had an idiosyncratic understanding of magic and its relationship to other arts. Perien had the pipe organ installed in the library, and he wrote a treatise on the relationship between magic and music.

1. So you're saying there's a clue in Archmage Perien's book?
2. It's such a pity you couldn't help me. Maybe I'll visit the library.

That's a good idea. I hope you find something interesting.

By Perien, apprentice of Unaia, First Archmage of the Reborn Tower

It is already well known that the harmonies of music are expressed in the motions of the heavenly bodies, but I believe that they can also be found in the relationships between the runes of magic. This I have proven to my satisfaction by both reason and experiment, and it is further confirmed by Samuel Scourduel, who writes in his Third Voyage that the elves of the western lands can shape magical crystals by sounding harmonies on enchanted flutes.

Just as there are twelve notes on the chromatic scale, there are twelve runes used in the magic of the tower mind, air, water, earth, fire, body, comic, chaos, nature, law, death and blood some have theorised the existence of other runes, but they do not figure in the Harmony.

We can therefore assign to each rune a pitch, beginning with mind=A, Then Air=A# and so forth up to scale (see attached diagram)

For the apprentice learning the spell-book of the tower, this linking of magic and music provides an aid to memorisation, since the runes used for each spell can be expressed as a melody. It is for this reason that I have commissioned the building of a pipe organ in the tower library

I submit, however, that he Harmony of the Runes is also a profitable contemplation for the experienced wizard, and the meditation on the music of magic can provide a key to the deeper levels of the Rune Mysteries.

By Jalarast, apprentice of Traiborn

This volume lists the runes reqired by the old method of casting spells, as used by Archmage Perien and the wizards of the old tower. These sequences differ from the new method of casting spells and are of little practical use, but they are preserved here for their historical interest.

Water Strike
1 Water, 1 Air, 1 Mind

Water Bolt
2 Water, 2 Air,  1 Chaos

Water Blast
3 Water, 3 Air , 3 Death

Water Wave
7 Water, 5 Air, 1 Blood

Water Surge
10 Water, 7 Air, 1 Blood,1 death (see attached diagram)

You take the key.

Have you made any progress with getting the key to the old tower?

1. I've got a question...
2. I've got the key to the ruins.
3. Goodbye.

The key to the old tower! Who knows what's down there? There could be knowledge that's been lost for a hundred years!

1. We're just going down there to find out what attacked Wizard Borann.
2. We should find out all we can.

I just hope it's well preserved. It would be terrible for knowledge to be lost forever. The entrance is on the east side of the island. Come on!


Come on! Open the door and let's see what's in the ruins.

This is amazing. We may be the first people to come down here for a hundred years. This must be the Chamber of Shrines. The Senior wizards used it as a meeting room, and wizards joining the tower would pledge allegiance to one of the four orders here. I've read about it but i never thought i'd see it! The greatest magical innovators of Gielinor once walked this room

1. Yes, It's inspiring.
2. We should keep our minds on the job
3. Is there anything valuable we can loot.

I wish we could spend more time exploring the ruins. If I can I'll stay down here after we've done what we came for.

1. You said there were once four magical orders?
2. Okay, what should we do now?

We need to get deeper into the ruins, to the source of this power beam. It looks like that rune guardian is blocking the door.

Rune guardian

Wizard, you have proved yourself worthy, All that remains is to determine the order to whitch you will belong. Are you ready to be tested?

Ariane
It Thinks we're new wizards joining the tower! Originally you wouldn't be able to get to this room without passing the entry tests.

1. Ariane, what is this creature?
2. What does the test involve?
3. I'm ready to be tested
4. I'm not ready yet.

Rune guardian.
The first question:

You are behind in your studies due to illness, and a test is coming up. Your place at the tower is safe, but if you fail you will lose some respect. Another apprentice offers you an opportunity to cheat.

1. Cheat only enough to make up for my illness and catch up.
2. Cheat as mush as I can
3. Don't cheat, as I wouldn't learn anything.
4. Don't cheat, as it would be wrong.

The Second question:
An elderly wizard - the last practitioner of a unique branch of magic - dies. Her diary might contain details about her unique magic, but her will states that the diary should be destroyed on her death.

1. Destroy the diary without reading it.
2. Copy out the most important information, then destroy it.
3. Pretend to destroy the diary but actually keep it for myself.
4. Put the diary in the library so all wizards can study it.

The third question;
A rival wizard is spreading lies about you and has made you the laughing stock of a nearby village. They believe you are of low intelligence and poor moral character, and throw vegetables at you when you visit. What do you do?

1. Challenge the wizard to a magical duel in front of the village.
2. Try to reason with the villagers and convince them he's lying.
3. Appeal to the wizard's better nature and ask him to stop
4. Play practical jokes to knock him down a peg in return.

Th fourth question:
You have become a senior wizard and are asked to take on an apprentice. The boy is talented but undisciplined and does not apply himself outside his areas of interest. What is your approach?

1. Constantly challenge him, forcing him to learn discipline.
2. Show patience and compassion so he has a safe place to grow.
3. concentrate on his weaknesses so he receives a balanced education.
4. Give him the resources to develop his areas of interest.

The fifth question:
A senior wizard ask you to take part in a ritual that will greatly benefit the tower. Before the ritual starts, you discover that he learned part of it from a demon. The ritual appears safe, but demons are expert liars.

1. Study the ritual and make up my own mind about its safety.
2. Stop the ritual; it may be corrupt in a way I can't detect.
3. Make sure the demonic influence is balanced by other influences.
4. Go ahead with the ritual but focus on my personal safety.

Welcome, (COLOR)  Wizard.

Ariane: I guess we'll need to find a way across here.

1. I could jump that.
2. Can't you teleport us?
3. Can we use the power beam somehow?
4. Let me look around. I'll think of something.

Hey! What are you doing?

1. I'm making us a bridge.
2. I think there might be something valuable behind here.
3. Nothing, I'll come back down.

You're what? That's statue of Eritona the Green, who negotiated the treaties with local rulers that let the wizards transport runes from the essence mine. You can't just push her statue down!

1. Do you have a better idea?
2. Nothing, I'll come back down.

Well no, but... be careful, okay? try not to damage the statue.





This is it! The heart of the old tower - the central spellcasting chamber where the old wizards performed their most powerful rituals. It's amazing - I never imagined I'd see it in person.

1. I wish I could have seen it.
2. Try not to get overexcited.

So do I, most of the spells we use today were invented in this room. Wizards of all four orders cooperated for the sake of magical research. These Vortices look like the one that attacked Wizard Borann. I want to find out what they are. I'll need you to attract a vortex into this circle and keep it there while I examine it.

They're NOT ghosts. At first I thought they might be ghosts, but they're... They're soul fragments. I've heard about putting parts of yourself into your work, but the old wizards literally put part of their souls into the power beam.

1. Why would they do that?
2. Never mind the history, what does that mean for us?

I think there was an enchantment keeping the vortices here, but someone has removed it. Now they're able to go up the beam to the new tower, and you saw the trouble they can cause.

1. Who might have removed the enchantment?
2. Okay, so what do we do?

I can replace the enchantment that was keeping the vortices here, but it 'll make some time while I do it you need to go back to the new tower and delay Sedridor's casting of his Icyenic Purge.

1. Why do I need to delay Sedridor?
2. How can I delay Sedridor?
3. Okay, I'll do that now.

Archmage Sedridor
Please be quiet adventurer. My assistants and I are casting an Icyenic Purge and we must have silence in order to concentrate.

1. You have to stop the Icyenic Purge!
2. Could I just distract you for a moment?
3. Sorry to bother you.

Archmage Sedridor ignores you and continues casting his spell.

Please don't do that, adventurer. The Icyenic Purge is in a critical stage and it is essential that all participants be able to concentrate. (Play again) adventurer, I must insist that you step away from that organ.



Break my concentration once more and you will feel the wrath of the grand archmage of the reborn tower!



Quickly, wizards! We must finish the spell at once! The purge is complete. Thank you, fellow wizards: Whatever these entities where, they could not have survived such a powerful wave of magic. Adventurer, I suggest you leave the library and find your friend Ariane. Tell her not to worry; we have dealt with the problem without any help.

It was close, but I managed to restore the enchantment. The vortices are trapped in the ruins again. Thanks for your help, adventurer. I couldn't have done this without you.

1. I've got a question...
2. I'm happy to help!
3. Is there a reward?

Well, thanks again. I found some things in the ruins you might be interested in they're yours if you want them.

Ariane gives you 70 mind runes.
Ariane gives you an air talisman.
Ariane gives you an archaic wizard hat.

I'm going to head back down to the ruins to study the vortices. I want to find out what happen to the old tower, and who released the vortices from the ruins. Meet me down there if you want to help.