Explore the Ruined Tower

Explore the Ruined Tower is one of the main quests in Solasta: Crown of the Magister. It is unlocked automatically when the player completes the previous main quest and grants certain rewards upon completion.

## How to obtain the quest

You get this quest after completing the First Mission Accomplished quest.

## Objectives and quest log entries

**Explore the Area**

* You located the tower you were told about. Use caution and try to find proof of the Sorak’s existence.
* You approached the ruin and saw a group of men and women stabilizing an excavation under the tower.

**Find Out What the Workers Are Doing**

* You have reached the mysterious tower. Workers are stabilizing a tunnel beneath it. Find out who they are, what they are doing, and if they are linked to Sorak activity.
* The workers attacked you without warning! These fanatics might be linked to some kind of cult., as their A-shaped tattoos seem to suggest.

**Fight**!

* You approached the seemingly peaceful people, but they attacked you with unrestrained violence.

**Enter the Excavation Site**

* Something is obviously wrong here. Head down into the excavation – and be ready for anything!
* You entered the excavation and found a lone human who was willing to talk; despite being afraid. He was clearly under some kind of malevolent influence.

**Continue Exploring**

* The workers have gone to a lot of trouble to get into this ruined tower. Find out how far they got.
* Exploring further, you found a large library disturbed by some strange magical phenomenon.

**Follow the Light**

* Magical torches light up when you approach. Follow them and find out what this is about.
* You followed the torches to an exit door that seemed to be activated by a magical orb, but… it didn't seem to work.

**Find a Way to Open the Door**

* You’ve reached a massive door in this weird room, but the magical spherical system that opens it doesn’t seem to be working. Look around the room and find a way to open the door.
* You reached a strange place in the middle of the library and saw magic runes on the floor.

**The Rune Puzzle**

* You reached a strange place in the middle of the library and saw magic runes on the floor.

**Activate the First Rune**

* Find and activate the rune.

* You found and activated the rune.

**Activate the Second Rune**

* Find and activate the rune.
* You found and activated the rune.

**Activate the Third Rune**

* Find and activate the rune.
* You found and activated the rune.

**Activate the Forth Rune**

* Find and activate the rune.
* You found and activated the rune.

**Activate the Orb**

* After lighting up all of the runes, you saw a magical orb appear. Activate it.
* After lighting up all the runes, you saw a magical orb appear. You activated it and opened the way out of the library!

**Exit the Library**

* You found the exit to the weird library. Keep exploring – the Soraks can’t be far away!
* You have found where the Soraks were hiding!

**Kill the Soraks**

* You have vanquished the Soraks! You have your proof – but what is the artifact they were guarding?

**Seize the Artifact**

* You have taken the Crown that the Soraks were guarding.

**Bring Back the Crown**

* You have completed your quest. The Soraks are real, you have your proof. What’s more, you have taken possession of something they wanted to protect. Take the Crown to the Council for examination.
* You have safely returned to Caer Cyflen with the Crown.

## Walkthrough

### Arriving at the tower

Upon arrival, the party starts searching and may lose a day or two finding the excavation site (Province map). There, your heroes discover humans who are digging up a large structure.

* (Successful History check DC 12): Probably, it’s a magic tower, once owned by a Master of Manacalons’ Arcaneum. **20 XP**
* You have to choose how to approach the guards (openly or cautiously).
* Using the cautious mode, you can set up a surprise attack (bonus) by positioning your fighters close to the crates (cover, high ground) in front of the gate.
* The surprise attack bonus enables you to take out 2 or 3 enemies before they even have a chance to counter-attack.
* Advancing openly leads to…

**FIGHT (6 unknown humans marked with Arivad tatoos, 1 Cult Fanatic) – 187 XP**

* Murder, death, kill.
* Collect all loot. To reveal the stuff to the left side of the gate, you can use the cautious mode when you approach the woodpile.
* Open the gate and enter the cave. You receive the task to find 4 clues.
* Down some ladders, you find a chest and encounter an unknown human clad in black leathers.
* You talk to him and have to decide whether you leave him, kill him or ask him about the tattoo.
	+ Kill him: he dies by your hand.
	+ Leave him: he may cause harm to innocent people or not. He survives.
	+ Ask him about the tattoo: he dies for unknown reasons.
* In the chest nearby, you find a Tragic Love Letter to Tomaz written by someone named Merilyn.
* Use the cautious mode to discover the tracks leading east and follow them.
* Push aside a rock and crawl through the gap.
* Push forward the next block and see what happens.
* Move on until you enter the Manacalon Library.

### The Manacalon Library

#### 1. Green linie

* Follow the self-igniting torches (west, then south) until you reach the locked double doors.
* Use the globe next to the double doors.
* Move back to the point where you entered the library.

#### 2. Light green line

* Climb down the ladder, move on (east), push 2 stones out of your way, and climb onto the platform with the female statue.
* Examine the female statue (successful History check DC 15 will result in some additional lore and Archaeological Notes you can give to a chosen faction). **+ 20 XP**

#### 3. Dark yellow line

* Cross the next bridge and move close to the eastern wall. There you will find the book Myths of Solasta, which you don’t want to leave behind.

#### 4. Yellow line

* Follow the bridge south, climb down the ladder where two columns are stacked upon each other
* Drop the lower one and have your rogue character ready for a long jump over the gap to unlock, open and empty the chest on the other side (good loot).
* Push the stone next to the chest, and you don’t have to jump back.
* Drop the upper column and cross the gap. Beware of the trap on the right-hand side.
* Examine the lizard statue (successful Nature check DC 12 will result in some additional lore and Archaeological Notes). **20 XP**

#### 5. Orange line

* Disarm the trap and go on.
* Switch to the cautious mode if you don’t want to fight hidden spiders or…

**FIGHT (4 Badlands Spiders, 2 Phase Spiders) – 325 XP**

* These spiders can be tough, especially during the first round when they use the bonus of a surprise attack.
* Move west as far as possible, push 2 stones and make your jumping rogue climb up the Southern wall rim, where you can find a chest up on a platform. Loot it and walk east on top of the rim, then north until you find the chest at the end of the rugged floor and loot it (it's the highest position you may access in the library).

#### 6. Purple line

* Go back to the now accessible floor with the male statue.
* Move north across the rugged floor and examine the male statue (successful History check DC 12 will result in some additional lore and Archaeological Notes). **20 XP**
* Follow the bridge north, then west, climb the ladder to the large bookcase and loot the chest next to it (good loot).
* Again go west, drop a column over the southern gap and carry on.

### The Rune Puzzle

* There are runes painted on the floor. Step on the first rune and another one will appear. Push aside obstructing stones. Have each of your heroes stand on one of the runes. To unlock the double doors, use the globe that appears when all four runes are covered (solving the rune puzzle). **+ 50 XP**

### Fight for The Crown

* Move through the double doors. You will find a campfire.
* Have a long rest and prepare your party for a tough fight.
* Go west towards the next door. You can unlock it by causing any magic damage to the blue magic lamp.
* Use cautious mode before you open the door.
* Carry on. If you sneaked in, you may position your fighters and initiate a surprise attack on the lurking Soraks.
* If you rush forward…

**FIGHT (2 Sorr-Akkath Saboteurs, 2 Sorr-Akkath Warriors, 2 Sorr-Akkath Skirmishers, 1 Sorr-Akkath Acolyte of Sorr-Tarr) – 362 XP**

* The Soraks have a good healing skill, enabling them to heal some HP every round. Focus on one target until it’s dead.
* You should take out their ranged fighters (saboteurs and skirmishers) first.
* Have one melee fighter hidden behind the statue and ready for a melee attack. This way, the first Sorak charging the stairs will be attacked with advantage.
* Your Rogue may use ranged attacks only and stay hidden as long as possible to be able to use the sneak-attack bonus.
* Use special arrows or bolts (flaming, flash, acid etc.) to increase the damage or to counter the Soraks’ healing ability
* The Acolyte can fly, so you can't perform any melee attacks or use touch spells on him.
* Move your tank characters (high AC/HP) closer to the Acolyte than your ranged fighters are. They can stand the pain. Have them equip their shields if available (+AC).
* Collect all loot and have a closer look at that altar.

**THERE IT IS… THE CROWN…**

* Choose one of your heroes to pick it up.
* Move back the way you came.
* It’s possible to level up your heroes back at the campfire. Don’t forget the Tricky Chest you might have had to leave before.

#### (optional) Tricky Chest

* There is a doorway west of the lizard statue, but only a small piece of the floor still exists. There is a chest (randomized good loot, e.g. Magnificient Belt, Soul Gem) on the far side, which you can only reach with the Fly spell or a combination of Spider Climb and Misty Step. On your way back, drop the pillar and rejoin the party.
* If you don’t have these skills yet, don’t give up, you have to come back here for another quest anyway. Just keep acquiring those skills/spells in mind, or bring the proper spell scrolls next time you come to the Manacalon Ruin. Furthermore, this chest is known to make players desperate. You need to use the SHIFT-key when using Spider Climb with your hero to be able to make him move to a spot on the wall where Misty Step can be used to reach the far platform. See more

### Leave the Manacalon Ruins

* Go back to the excavation site and leave the area.
* Travel back to Caer Cyflen.

On your way back, your crown-bearer becomes a little sick.

## Rewards

* **Relationship Gain:** Principality of Masgarth +5
* **XP Gain:**
	+ Killing minor enemies: **1086 XP**
	+ Solving the Rune Puzzle: **50 XP**
	+ History/Nature checks: **80 XP**

## Important loot

* Tricky Chest: Magnificient Belt, Soul Gem (randomized, you may get different loot of similar value)
* Crown room: Crown of the Magister
* Manacalon Library: Myths of Solasta, Archaeological Notes

## Quest Maps

Fight for the CrownGet through the LibraryFind a way down to the Manacalon LibraryAt the excavation site