The Tower of Vergil

After receiving a telepathic summons from a dragonborn wizard by the name of Vergil, you have made the trek south to the Desert of Adriok. Vergil's summons asked for your help to recover a treasure in return for whatever reward you desire, be it gold, magic, information, or something else. The travel was long and rough, but now the wizard's tower looms ahead of you, casting a long shadow over the dunes. Standing on the surrounding dunes, each of you can see two other figures making their way to the tower. Your approaches are interrupted by the sight of a figure emerging from the tower, awaiting your arrivals.

"Come." The voice of Vergil booms in each of your minds. "I have eagerly waited for you three to arrive."

As each of you makes your way towards the tower, the sight of Vergil becomes much clearer. He stands at a height of six feet and wears a set of dull gray robes over his deep blue scales. An ancient and tattered tome is connected to his waistbelt by a thin silver chain. He extends his arms outwards in a welcoming gesture, his amulets and rings clinking and clattering all the while.

"I thank you for coming to meet with me. Each of you bears certain skills and talents that make you suited to the task at hand. Ahh - but I have been rude." He bows and, as he reaches the bottom of his bow, turns his head up towards you. "I am Vergil. Please, we should enter my tower before we discuss business - better to be away from any potentially prying eyes and ears." He stands and, with a flick of his wrist, the door to his sandstone tower creaks inwards, revealing a room set with a table, four chairs, and a fireplace. "Take a seat - or stand, I do not mind." Vergil takes a seat at the head of the table.

Vergil smiles as the three of you each take a seat in front of him. "Yes, you three are the ones I have thusly chosen for the task at hand. Other candidates had been... considered, but you three have certain intrinsic qualities that make you rightly suited to what I have in mind." He snaps his fingers. "Speaking of, I suppose it would be prudent to discuss your job, would it not? The basics are as follows: there is a ruined keep three days march to the southeast of my tower. Hidden inside the keep is, supposedly, an occult tome. Embossed on the front of the tome is an hourglass emblem inlaid with silver filigree. I require this tome for future study and I am willing to pay fairly for its recovery. Now, the questions fall to you. Is there any information on the job that you require as of now, or shall we just discuss your payments before jumping further into this?"

Vergil first looks towards Flame."The tome is safe to carry." His gaze slowly shifts to Keks.

"You are correct in assuming that this is more than a delivery. It is also a test. Do well and I’ll be sure to keep your names in mind for future jobs. As for knowing more, it is true that I have handpicked you all. Ones as sneaky as you two," He looks towards Keks and Dagen, "are useful in all situations. I’m certain that the magical aptitudes of Flame and Dagen will also come in handy. As for difficulties, I can not equip you with much information. The tome is of occult origins, and as such I would find it unsurprising if cultists and their ilk were to guard it, both physically and magically."

He pauses for a moment before snapping a finger and magically producing the image of a stronghold onto the table. "This, Keks, is what a keep looks like. Although the one you’re heading to is in disrepair."

He then looks towards Dagen. "Now for your questions. The keep is further into the desert. The tome is just that - an arcane manuscript that I desire for my research. The information I have used to track this tome places it at the keep when it had not yet fallen into ruin and thus I am unsure who or what would currently possess it, though my assumption would be cultists of some type. The tome should be small enough to keep in a pack.