As the party recovers from the arcane explosion, they discover an Elf Paladin standing in the doorway. Zion who has been hired by Xanathar to track the party given that he wants to know the whereabouts of the Wizard Orion. Zion agrees to stay with the party as they investigate the tower.
The Party finds a hatch on the floor that leads to the sub level of the tower however it appears there is some type of magic or seal blocking anything from heading down the ladder. So the party makes there up the tower.
The room on the first level of the tower is relatively tidy, with a table to the eastern edge containing bottles of unknown chemicals, and alchemy supplies, a table to the north west containing a book, quill and a stack of scrolls (none of them spells, all containing diagrams of human/humanoid anatomy), and a number of bookshelves filled with books on ancient animals (Dragons, etc.), necromancy and rituals.
In the center of the room, there is a magic circle drawn in blood. The party learns that this circle is used to summon undead and bind them to a task. The party discovers a glass orb, The glass is completely clear, but filled with a red, swirling liquid, that seems to move about inside without any external stimulus.
After some time investigating and troubleshooting the party learns they are able to teleport to the second floor of the tower by giving the orb blood sacrifice.
As soon as the party arrives on the second floor, the first thing they notice is the darkness. There are no windows in this room, and no natural source of light, except for the orb they used to get in, and a faint glow from a crystal to the north of the room.
The party is attacked by Ghosts and Shadow monsters when they touch the crystal. After defeating the monsters and breaking the crystal which dispels the enchantment that was blocking there way to the sub level the party heads underground.