@abits, narrowly on this point:

[I assume it's a mistake because your character doesn't even know the tower exist by that point in the game regardless of your allies]


If your character is a drow the guards right before the grand hall with priestess gut will ask if you are one of those moonrise types and make it clear that the moonrise 'types' usually only deal with higher ups. Then if you get near the floating eye and then eavesdrop on the goblins before the worg pens they will complain about the eye reporting everything to moonrise and wondering why the uppity drow need to be checking in on you. So with a drow PC you can make a no conflict beeline to Minthara, find out that the real bosses are at moonrise and that Minthara is key to getting you in there.