Disappointing Alexander

Entering the house, the heroes, once again, met one of the most powerful wizards of all time, Bigby. They were told the following:

• After Stephen and I finally gave up at the Citadel of the Seasons, I wandered the land, helping where I could, till I remembered the Harpers had found something long ago at the abandoned city of Ekul.
• Arriving there, I found what the Harpers had been studying, that teleportation machine. It’s more an area of planar flux that can be partially manipulated. Their wizards had done their best to control it, but their knowledge of such things paled to my own.
• I researched and studied there for years. It eventually became apparent, even to me, that I might not finish my research before I died, so I went in search of a place where time did not move as quickly. I eventually found this place. A small mote in the Astral Sea, long forgotten, or maybe never discovered, but here all the same. It bends to the will of its inhabitants.
• Anyway, I was able to continue my research, uninterrupted. I have no idea how much time has passed, but I have had many successes. With that, he pats a large book next to him. In this book, are details on how to access many of the most dreaded, secret locations in the Astral Sea, and beyond. Unfortunately, they are only accessible from the caves under Ekul.
• Turning to Kuppies, I see you wear a ring similar to my own. If I recall correctly, the last time I saw that ring, it was on the finger of my dearest friend, Stephen Amber. Please tell me what happened to him and how it came to be in your possession. Kuppies related their tale
• Bigby will offer the tome to Kuppies along with his ring, so that the tower may be raised.
• Bigby will inter his essence into the ring so that he may be part of tower and a 5th person will not be required.
• Bigby says the warning about not being able to return was an old entry and he has since figured it out. It is the first destination in the book

Alexander was not willing to simply accept Bigby interring his essence into the ring, he wanted Bigby to return with them. When Bigby explained that if he did, he would die, from old age, in minutes. Alexander, always looking to gain an advantage then requested that Bigby stay alive and students could be brought to the astral mote and Bigby could teach them. Bigby explained that he did not want to teach, that he simply wanted to pass on. After 1000 years of research, his time was done, he had managed to stay alive long enough to pass on his discoveries and was even willing to pass part of his essence to the Tower Kuppies was to raise.

Alexander was unable to hide his disappointment. In an effort to help Alexander understand, Bigby insisted Alex wear his ring during the raising of the tower and participate in the ritual.

Finally giving up, Alexander agreed and the heroes returned to Idera, boarded their ship and set out for the Valley of the Mage. I had some fun here, since we use the map of Greyhawk, I pulled it up on the projector, cranked some Indiana Jones, and drew the red line as they traveled across the land in their flying ship.