Standing atop a rocky crag overlooking the Sea of Swords, the massive citadel of Candlekeep has endured the elements for centuries and defied the degradations of time. Visible for miles around, Candlekeep has an eye-catching silhouette: a high wall interspersed with towers. This wall encloses a large space from which more towers rise. Those who behold the edifice say it looks like nothing so much as a cake decorated with an overabundance of candles.
The entrance to Candlekeep is a double gate that stands at the end of the Way of the Lion, the only road that provides access to and from the outside world. The route follows a lonely path across the peninsula where Candlekeep stands. Those who gain entry discover a cloistered community of scholars milling around inside Candlekeep’s walls, a place of enlightened conversation and friendly debate. No better place in the Realms exists for those who have a love for or a need of knowledge and who want to pursue such interests alongside fellow seekers.
Candlekeep has the largest repository of written lore in Faerûn, including the collected prophecies of an ancient sage named Alaundo the Seer. Those compiled divinations make up a tiny fraction of the accumulated knowledge and secrets contained in the library’s vast collection.
Not all knowledge preserved in Candlekeep is of historical importance. The library holds thousands upon thousands of lost recipes, old songs, collections of folklore, and journals written by folks whose time has long since passed. The abundance of these ancillary works makes finding notable tomes an exercise in patience and perseverance. Fortunately, a legion of scholars and sages called the Avowed look after the library and remain vigilant in the care and cataloging of all the knowledge it holds.
ADVENTURE BACKGROUND
One of you is in Candlekeep today, and a most unusual thing happened. A raven dropped a book on your head. Yes. A book. Of all things. It's on the floor, a black book. As you look up, it stares at you impatiently. It fidgets, watching you, wanting you to open it. The thin book bears no title inside or out. Its covers are cracked, unvarnished thin sheets of black oak covered with bird scratches and little indentations made by pecking beaks. Bound with black wire between these covers are thirty-three pages that have yellowed with age and wrinkled from moisture.
It's quite the coincidence, too, because you happen to be researching the Vistani and other planar travelers today. You have an urge to open it.
Please consider this, and adjust your backstory as needed.
"Well what have we here..." a lithe well dressed tiefling with coppery colored skin and jet black mane of hair says as he looks about finally spotting the raven.
He bends over and picks up the book and examines the cover "Did you do this my friend?" looking at the bird and running his clawed fingers across the scratches and peck marks. Then carefully opens the book.
Hino saunters through the gates and into the inner sanctum of the bookish nerds. She's never had much luck enticing many of them to her bed, for they typically are smart but rather dull and poor humanoids. But even though they may prefer the quill over the tickling feather, they all had ... needs ... and Hino was never far away when those ... needs ... presented themselves.
Rounding the corner, she collides face first into a dwarf who appears to be lost in inner monologue.
Picking herself up from the ground, she strikes a suggestive pose, and purrs as she winks and mutters quite suggestively to the dwarf "My oh my, you're a big strong fella....looks like you need some ... help ... lifting big, strong things?" She then twirls a pirouette and smiles again, as if she's offering wares to sell. Her wares.
'Dammit!' bellows an angry-looking red-haired dwarf as he slams the table next to a large, clearly old, book the same size as the symbol of two crossed silver axes on the tabard he's wearing over meticulously maintained chain mail, that gleams in the gentle lighting.
'They use a hundred words when one will do, and then say nothing new. Damnable scholars!' he calms down after his outburst, and looks to the Avowed stood next to the desk.
'No offence intended, sorry. It's just that all these words give me a headache. In this tome they talk about the founding of Gauntlgrym, but it was clearly written by someone who'd never been within a hundred leagues of it. It's all third-hand rumour and speculation. No real eye witness accounts of how the flame was harnessed. Did you manage to find anything else?'
My, what a marvel YOU are.. Barbär gives this strange built person?
Your frame im sure hides much of what you can do. Also, i enjoy a bit of metalwork, and seeing you my mind is overwhelmed by this craftsmanship! Are you from here? I was just lost in thought as I've never been here. Seems like a nice place so far.
Barbär is clearly deflecting the compliment with his modesty, though he is a striking figure in blue platemail with a sliver anvil wreathed in silver flame upon his breastplate, and helm under one arm. A well kept topknot hairstyle is paired with a short beard (by dwarven standards) that ends near the curve of his jaw where it meets a burn scar.
Hino, stymied, continues her attempt at gaining another customer. “Oh, I’m sure you’d enjoy my metalwork...but the question is...can you afford it?!” she coos as she gently runs her finger across the dwarf’s silver flamed breastplate.
“So, what brings you to town, my shiny new friend?”
Mavshoon, as you open the book, the raven continues to look at you very expectantly, but refuses an offer of food. Here's what's inside.
Bound with black wire between these covers are thirty-three pages that have yellowed with age and wrinkled from moisture. Each page bears tiny, blotchy brown script written in an unsteady hand by an unidentified author.
The Book of the Raven is the firsthand account (written in Common) of an anonymous author who, after falling off her horse and breaking her leg, was rescued and befriended by Vistani travelers who graciously nursed her back to health. The author and her horse traveled with the Vistani for three months, during which the author spent most of her time laid up in a Vistani covered wagon, where she took to writing this book to pass the time. Although a dozen Vistani are colorfully described in the tome, only two are mentioned by name: Drasha, a teenaged girl who applied bandages and poultices to the author’s wounded leg, and Darzin, a one-armed boy with a terrible fear of wolves who sang beautiful songs to help the author take her mind off the pain.
The book provides a detailed account of the Vistani way of life, with emphasis on their food and music. Their overland journey is also discussed, albeit from the viewpoint of one who spent most of it inside a covered wagon. The author describes rough roads, days of travel through impenetrable mist and thick forest, crackling fires on cold nights, wolves howling in the dead of night, and ravens pecking at the roof of the wagon in the wee hours of the morning.
Do you turn the page yet again? The raven quivers with delight.
Mavshoon chuckles "ravens pecking at the roof....sounds like someone else I know" he says looking up at the raven and continues reading. One of the reasons he was in Candlekeep was to research planar travel and often references to these Vistani appeared in various tomes.
Late in the book, the author writes of being able to hobble about on crutches. She describes the cheery mood of her benefactors as the Vistani caravan traveled a winding mountain road to the gates of a tall, dark castle. The book ends with a description of the castle’s dreadful countenance. The writing abruptly stops on the third-to-last page, suggesting that the book was snatched from the author in midsentence. The last two pages are blank.
The raven looks at you, still, and takes a few steps closer, but no more.
There is a map at the end of the book, folded, but yet as if meant to find.
"Quite peculiar.." he says looking at the map "it appears that perhaps the author met with an untimely end." as he looks at the last blank pages for more information.
Looking back at the raven "now why would a book about the vistani draw such curious behavior from you little one. Is this your book?"
My dear, ive only read of constructs, but seeing your design i can tell you are more than just that. I see you DOfunction with the original intent. However, i was meaning something along the lines of a bit of coverage for your sensitive equipment? Also, im afraid i do know what you are getting at, and im not in the market for a lady-friend. Are you... Looking for anyone in particular? I can offer what help i can. After all i am seeking information, and have very little of a lead.
Meera is a young woman dressed in clothing that's befitting of an academic. When the raven drops a book and Mavshoon opens it, she pays attention as its' contents are read aloud. "The abrupt ending likely doesn't mean anything good for our author, although it appears from the riddle that we've stumbled upon a treasure map."
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Definitely looks like a treasure map. It's very clear that this particular map is NOT part of the Raven book. Someone slipped this in here. The raven perched above on a bookshelf continues to study you all expectantly.
COMING NEXT WEEK
CANDLEKEEP MYSTERIES - LEVEL THREE:
BOOK OF THE RAVEN
CANDLEKEEP
Standing atop a rocky crag overlooking the Sea of Swords, the massive citadel of Candlekeep has endured the elements for centuries and defied the degradations of time. Visible for miles around, Candlekeep has an eye-catching silhouette: a high wall interspersed with towers. This wall encloses a large space from which more towers rise. Those who behold the edifice say it looks like nothing so much as a cake decorated with an overabundance of candles.
The entrance to Candlekeep is a double gate that stands at the end of the Way of the Lion, the only road that provides access to and from the outside world. The route follows a lonely path across the peninsula where Candlekeep stands. Those who gain entry discover a cloistered community of scholars milling around inside Candlekeep’s walls, a place of enlightened conversation and friendly debate. No better place in the Realms exists for those who have a love for or a need of knowledge and who want to pursue such interests alongside fellow seekers.
Candlekeep has the largest repository of written lore in Faerûn, including the collected prophecies of an ancient sage named Alaundo the Seer. Those compiled divinations make up a tiny fraction of the accumulated knowledge and secrets contained in the library’s vast collection.
Not all knowledge preserved in Candlekeep is of historical importance. The library holds thousands upon thousands of lost recipes, old songs, collections of folklore, and journals written by folks whose time has long since passed. The abundance of these ancillary works makes finding notable tomes an exercise in patience and perseverance. Fortunately, a legion of scholars and sages called the Avowed look after the library and remain vigilant in the care and cataloging of all the knowledge it holds.
ADVENTURE BACKGROUND
One of you is in Candlekeep today, and a most unusual thing happened. A raven dropped a book on your head. Yes. A book. Of all things. It's on the floor, a black book. As you look up, it stares at you impatiently. It fidgets, watching you, wanting you to open it. The thin book bears no title inside or out. Its covers are cracked, unvarnished thin sheets of black oak covered with bird scratches and little indentations made by pecking beaks. Bound with black wire between these covers are thirty-three pages that have yellowed with age and wrinkled from moisture.
It's quite the coincidence, too, because you happen to be researching the Vistani and other planar travelers today. You have an urge to open it.
Please consider this, and adjust your backstory as needed.
Ah. Candlekeep. Well this does seem to be a good place to start... the dwarf ponders with inner monologue.
Perception (for civilians that don't look busy) 18
"Well what have we here..." a lithe well dressed tiefling with coppery colored skin and jet black mane of hair says as he looks about finally spotting the raven.
He bends over and picks up the book and examines the cover "Did you do this my friend?" looking at the bird and running his clawed fingers across the scratches and peck marks. Then carefully opens the book.
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
Hino saunters through the gates and into the inner sanctum of the bookish nerds. She's never had much luck enticing many of them to her bed, for they typically are smart but rather dull and poor humanoids. But even though they may prefer the quill over the tickling feather, they all had ... needs ... and Hino was never far away when those ... needs ... presented themselves.
Rounding the corner, she collides face first into a dwarf who appears to be lost in inner monologue.
Picking herself up from the ground, she strikes a suggestive pose, and purrs as she winks and mutters quite suggestively to the dwarf "My oh my, you're a big strong fella....looks like you need some ... help ... lifting big, strong things?" She then twirls a pirouette and smiles again, as if she's offering wares to sell. Her wares.
OOC: Barbär, that's you...
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
'Dammit!' bellows an angry-looking red-haired dwarf as he slams the table next to a large, clearly old, book the same size as the symbol of two crossed silver axes on the tabard he's wearing over meticulously maintained chain mail, that gleams in the gentle lighting.
'They use a hundred words when one will do, and then say nothing new. Damnable scholars!' he calms down after his outburst, and looks to the Avowed stood next to the desk.
'No offence intended, sorry. It's just that all these words give me a headache. In this tome they talk about the founding of Gauntlgrym, but it was clearly written by someone who'd never been within a hundred leagues of it. It's all third-hand rumour and speculation. No real eye witness accounts of how the flame was harnessed. Did you manage to find anything else?'
My, what a marvel YOU are.. Barbär gives this strange built person?
Your frame im sure hides much of what you can do. Also, i enjoy a bit of metalwork, and seeing you my mind is overwhelmed by this craftsmanship! Are you from here? I was just lost in thought as I've never been here. Seems like a nice place so far.
Barbär is clearly deflecting the compliment with his modesty, though he is a striking figure in blue platemail with a sliver anvil wreathed in silver flame upon his breastplate, and helm under one arm. A well kept topknot hairstyle is paired with a short beard (by dwarven standards) that ends near the curve of his jaw where it meets a burn scar.
Hino, stymied, continues her attempt at gaining another customer. “Oh, I’m sure you’d enjoy my metalwork...but the question is...can you afford it?!” she coos as she gently runs her finger across the dwarf’s silver flamed breastplate.
“So, what brings you to town, my shiny new friend?”
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Mavshoon finishes the last bit of cake he had left over from breakfast but offers a piece to the raven as well.
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
Mavshoon, as you open the book, the raven continues to look at you very expectantly, but refuses an offer of food. Here's what's inside.
Bound with black wire between these covers are thirty-three pages that have yellowed with age and wrinkled from moisture. Each page bears tiny, blotchy brown script written in an unsteady hand by an unidentified author.
The Book of the Raven is the firsthand account (written in Common) of an anonymous author who, after falling off her horse and breaking her leg, was rescued and befriended by Vistani travelers who graciously nursed her back to health. The author and her horse traveled with the Vistani for three months, during which the author spent most of her time laid up in a Vistani covered wagon, where she took to writing this book to pass the time. Although a dozen Vistani are colorfully described in the tome, only two are mentioned by name: Drasha, a teenaged girl who applied bandages and poultices to the author’s wounded leg, and Darzin, a one-armed boy with a terrible fear of wolves who sang beautiful songs to help the author take her mind off the pain.
Turn the page?
"Where did you find such a curious book dark one..." he says absentmindedly as he turns the page. "....and what secrets might you know."
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
The book provides a detailed account of the Vistani way of life, with emphasis on their food and music. Their overland journey is also discussed, albeit from the viewpoint of one who spent most of it inside a covered wagon. The author describes rough roads, days of travel through impenetrable mist and thick forest, crackling fires on cold nights, wolves howling in the dead of night, and ravens pecking at the roof of the wagon in the wee hours of the morning.
Do you turn the page yet again? The raven quivers with delight.
Mavshoon chuckles "ravens pecking at the roof....sounds like someone else I know" he says looking up at the raven and continues reading. One of the reasons he was in Candlekeep was to research planar travel and often references to these Vistani appeared in various tomes.
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
Late in the book, the author writes of being able to hobble about on crutches. She describes the cheery mood of her benefactors as the Vistani caravan traveled a winding mountain road to the gates of a tall, dark castle. The book ends with a description of the castle’s dreadful countenance. The writing abruptly stops on the third-to-last page, suggesting that the book was snatched from the author in midsentence. The last two pages are blank.
The raven looks at you, still, and takes a few steps closer, but no more.
There is a map at the end of the book, folded, but yet as if meant to find.
"Quite peculiar.." he says looking at the map "it appears that perhaps the author met with an untimely end." as he looks at the last blank pages for more information.
Looking back at the raven "now why would a book about the vistani draw such curious behavior from you little one. Is this your book?"
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
My dear, ive only read of constructs, but seeing your design i can tell you are more than just that. I see you DO function with the original intent. However, i was meaning something along the lines of a bit of coverage for your sensitive equipment? Also, im afraid i do know what you are getting at, and im not in the market for a lady-friend. Are you... Looking for anyone in particular? I can offer what help i can. After all i am seeking information, and have very little of a lead.
Barbär gives an apologetic half bow as he speaks
Meera is a young woman dressed in clothing that's befitting of an academic. When the raven drops a book and Mavshoon opens it, she pays attention as its' contents are read aloud. "The abrupt ending likely doesn't mean anything good for our author, although it appears from the riddle that we've stumbled upon a treasure map."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Mavshoon hands the map to Meera "What do you make of this? I have not heard of a place referred to as Wytchway.."
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
Definitely looks like a treasure map. It's very clear that this particular map is NOT part of the Raven book. Someone slipped this in here. The raven perched above on a bookshelf continues to study you all expectantly.
Can Meera make any checks to see what she knows about Wytchway?
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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