(OOC: I think I’ve come down on essentially playing her mother’s Eladrin culture as French, and her father’s as sort of Tudor English, Shakespeare if he was also a swordfighter. Bard X/Warlock X multiclass retired adventurer [his patron now also Erudisia’s], oh, also, I think she’ll never say her mother’s name. In a fey way, her mother has never given her true name to this child. Only Exemplar knows it. )
(Love it!)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
Shadi leads you through the heavy steel doors at a slow walk, allowing you ample time to view the fortress’ interior as you enter the wide plaza or courtyard which Shadi calls the Court of Air. Neither tree nor well clutters its cobblestone expanse. As they speak, it shortly becomes clear that Shadi has given this same tour dozens, if not hundreds of times before.
“Roughly three hundred Avowed live in Candlekeep,” they say. “The majority of us are clerks and assistants like me, or newcomers to the order, or scribes who handle the everyday work as part of their studies.”
Shadi points their bearded chin toward a line of robed individuals led by a middle-aged female dwarf, all chanting in unison. Meanwhile, at a slow, measured pace, they trace the perimeter of the courtyard. The harengon explains: “A chosen group of Avowed maintains a constant recitation of the prophecies of Alaundo the Seer. The Endless Chant, as it is called, travels throughout the keep day and night.”
At the opposite end of the courtyard, to which you draw closer with each step, is a tall double door of dark green stone that glows with an inner light. Standing before it: an elf woman, erect and proud, holding a long, narrow staff. During the several minutes it takes for Shadi to lead you to her, the harengon points out the various structures that surround the Court of Air. “The House of Rest, where you’ll be staying; the Hearth, where you can relax; House of the Binder – book binder, that is; House of Oghma, the other major deity worshipped here, of course; Erudite Outfitters & Clothiers, obvious; Smithy and Stables, also obvious,” they say with a smile; “and… here we are,” their voice drops to a respectful undertone. “The Keeper of the Emerald Door.”
The harengon turns to the elf woman and presents you to her. Now that you are closer, you notice that her staff, almost ten feet tall, seems to be planted into the ground, for roots reach out from its base, lending the appearance and stability of a long, branchless sapling. At its top, a gonfalon showing the sigil of Oghma: a partially unrolled blank scroll. Behind her, the fifteen-foot tall glowing door separates the Court of Air from the rest of the fortress, where rise the tall towers which give the keep its name.
The Keeper of the Emerald Door wears vestments of black and green, embroidered in fine white crystalline. Her eyes shine a deep, hypnotic royal blue as she addresses you.
“Welcome Seekers. Know that All who enter Candlekeep must agree to the Orders of Accordance,” she says, in a bright alto edged with arcane power as crisp as a cut gemstone.
“The rules are simple:
No fighting. All arguments must follow the rules of cordial debate and discussion. Violent altercations are not tolerated.
No stealing. This rule applies to all objects in the keep, not just the library’s works.
No copying. Visitors are permitted to take notes while studying the library’s works, but anyone who wants to make a full copy of a work must pay to have the manuscript created by scribes at the House of the Binder.
No damaging, marking, or otherwise modifying the works. This rule doesn’t apply to privately owned books, scrolls, and other documents that aren’t part of Candlekeep’s collection.
“You have heard me. Mark my words, for you must obey.
“The Day Clerk will ensure you are lodged and paired with an Avowed adjutant to assist with your research. You are welcome here for one tenday in exchange for your offering. During that time, may the guidance of Oghma, brightest light of inspiration, invention, and knowledge, known also as Curna, goddess of wisdom; and the perfection of Deneir bring you knowledge and clarity, Seekers.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
Erudisia's lips quirk at hearing the name of the Court of Air. The Archduke will certainly enjoy hearing that, if he does not know it already, but the thought is fleeting because there is so much to see.
She listens to Shadi as attentively as she is able but her eyes flick from place to place, sticking for a moment longer on the clothiers with a name so similar to her own, ten ideas a moment occurring to her as she conjures up and then discards plans for her brief window of time within this magnificent place. That is, until she sees the doors of the true keep.
She is quick to agree to the rules of the Keeper, and they are as reasonable and proper as anyone could've hoped for. She says little before the grand figure of the Keeper but waits until Shadi leads them to the lodgings to ask,
"Shadi, do we have a choice of adjutants? Are we allowed into the library only with our adjutant? As seekers, must we be always as a group as we are now, having gained admission on the same day? Who is Alaundo the Seer? What did he see?" The questions are endless, and cease only once Shadi begins to try to answer them, perhaps having to try more than once to start his reply in the face of her enthusiasm.
((OOC: Are the prophecies of Alaundo in common -- can we understand them from listening to the chant?))
Following the pronouncement from the Keeper of the Emerald door, Shadi bows respectfully, then answers your questions as they lead you back across the Court of Air toward the House of Rest.
Erudisia: “Do we have a choice of adjutants?"
Shadi: “Well, not really. You’re assigned one based on their availability”
Erudisia: “Are we allowed into the library only with our adjutant?”
Shadi: “Not exactly. You’re not allowed into the Great Library at all. But you have access to basically the whole collection through your adjutant. You ask them for what you need, and they find it and bring it to your study room.”
Erudisia: “As seekers, must we be always as a group as we are now, having gained admission on the same day?”
Shadi: “Oh, no, no. Everyone kind of learns at their own speed, you know? And each Seeker has their own, like, topic that they’re here to study.”
Erudisia: “Who is Alaundo the Seer? What did he see?"
Shadi: “Who is he? Oh wait, you’ve come a long way, so… So you know the Calendar of Harptos and the Roll of Years? Well he was involved in creating that. Yeah, like twelve centuries ago or something. I don’t know the specifics, my study is birds. But his prophecies, along with Augathra the Mad’s prophecies, give the names to the years. Hundreds of years. Thousands, maybe. And the names are for things that are foretold to happen.”
(@NycrolB: Are the prophecies of Alaundo in common -- can we understand them from listening to the chant?)
(Answer: They do seem to be chanting in the Common Tongue, but from a distance you are unable to make out much of what they are saying. Before moving out of the Court of Air, they chant, “Three barks ruin through dark earth’s sudden rising; beware aunt’s feast...”)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
Shadi now leads you back to the House of Rest. After entering the large wooden door, a human male, who is just on his way out, moves to step around you but Shadi puts out a hand, touching his elbow.
“Matreus,” Shadi says to him, “I’m glad to find you here. You’ve been assigned as adjutant to these five.” Shadi makes quick introductions, but then the harengon calls out to a wig-wearing middle-aged woman, her face caked in white powder, her eyes glinting under thick eyeliner, “Miss Bibi!,”and excuses themselves to speak with her to arrange for your lodgings here in the House of Rest and to reserve your study rooms in the Pillars of Pedagogy.
Meanwhile, Matreus, with shoulder-length white hair tied back with a simple cord, and wearing a brown cloak over a dyed indigo toga which reveals pale, vein-covered arms, welcomes you to Candlekeep, speaking in a Yartaran accent. His manner is cordial, if rushed.
“I shall aact as a guide and resurrrch assistant for the djuration of your wisit. I haave access to all the vesources of the Grrrreat Libwawy, and will be your intuhmediawy, for Seekuhs are not allowed such aaccess. Djo find your rrrrooms aand settle in first, of course. But I am qvite busy and the soonuh that you can inform me of your needs, the soonuh I can see to them.”
With that he offers a rather jovial smile and awaits your first requests, if you are prepared to make them.
He points you to a catalog summary – a very thick tome upon a lectern near the door currently open to “Currants, Uses – Curses, Removal” — which lists the number of items available under each topic heading without going into detail regarding their authors, titles, or contents. Other catalogs nearby are organized by authors.
Shadi returns a moment later holding two room keys on a ring for each of you.
“This small one is for your lodging, and this old-style one is for your personal study room. It’s pretty easy to find your way around, so I’ll be off. Errands. A runner’s always on their feet, right? Good luck with your studies! Oh, and…,” they turn to Erudisia and continue softly, “don’t let those old fogeys discourage you.” They make a cross-eyed funny face to Erudisia – an on point caricature of the oldest priest — then turn, give a good-bye wave encompassing everyone, and finally bound off and out of the House of Rest.
(OOC: It is now about 2pm. Each of you please post how you plan to spend the rest of your day.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
Bell will spend her time wandering about the Court of Air - familiarizing herself to that area and introducing herself to the various personnel. Of particular interest would be the House of The Binder and the Pillars of Pedagogy.
Rogi knew he should have been feeling relieved and excited, but his mind had already moved on from the accomplishment of bluffing his way into Candlekeep. He was dismayed that they would only be allowed 10 days. Somehow that part never came up before, and it caught him completely by surprise. He didn't know what he had been expecting but it wasn't this. And if he needed more time, he'd have to bribe them again? No wonder the world was so backward, if the brightest minds were denied access to the knowledge of their predecessors... He forced himself to focus on the task at hand. His masterwork, at this early stage, seemed to fall into three challenges.
First, in order for data to be accessible remotely, it needed to be stored in a form which could be easily transmitted. So, not books or scrolls. Teleportation magic could, perhaps, actually move the tome to another place, but such enchantments were far too complicated and - especially - expensive for what he had in mind. A magic item anyone could use would need to be relatively cheap. No, it would need to receive the contents of those books, not the books themselves. That meant a way would need to be found to separate the data from the parchment it was written on. Actually transmitting that data seemed like the easy part - a simple cantrip already existed which allowed a short message to be shared over small distances. And the final challenge was crafting a receiving item which was able to display it and allow the user to interact with it to easily select the data they wanted. Naturally, it would not make sense to have a one-to-one correspondence between tomes and receivers, so a single receiver - call it a tablet for convenience - should be able to access, receive, and display many tomes' worth of data. All of them, ideally.
He retired to a room and spent the rest of the day planning which of these challengers he would tackle first, and in what way. It would not do to give away his actual purpose to the librarians, he knew that. If they found out that he meant to put them out of business, at best they would mock him, and at worst kick him out and forbid him entrance again. And since he was bad at deception, he would have to tell the truth creatively again.
Bell will spend her time wandering about the Court of Air - familiarizing herself to that area and introducing herself to the various personnel. Of particular interest would be the House of The Binder and the Pillars of Pedagogy.
(I have added some information about the House of the Binder and Pillars of Pedagogy into the campaign page. You each have a private study room in the Pillars of Pedagogy)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
Erudisia smiles at Shadi's final joke, the impersonation is quite good. She bids the others goodbye and heads to her private room in the House of Rest.
She takes in the eclectic selection of furnishings, and begins to unpack her few travelling clothes and belongings. What needs to be hung is hung, what needs to be smoothed over and folded and placed away is placed away. She finds her hands performing the motions and then finds herself startling, as she suddenly realises she is stood still, or that she is on the next section of her settling into the accommodation; her mind suddenly returned from some way away -- somewhere back in the tent, dissecting the moment of her performance and all its many failures.
She finishes before she is ready to be done, and has little more to distract her. The only thing without a proper place: the parcel of pasty pieces that Erudisia stored earlier, kindly given, by one much worthier than she.
She unfolds it now, and looks at it. She eats one piece with the proper comportment, though she cannot taste it. Then another, then another. She eats piece after piece until the whole thing is gone, though her mouth is dry and full and it is hard to swallow — the final handful crushed in her palms before they reach her teeth — and she has not enjoyed a single bit as she did this morning, suddenly furious.
She cannot bring herself to review her manuscript, nor to visit the clothiers, nor socialise as she might usually. She has a second private space, another key to use, and so she sets out for the catalogues. She has only a tenday, and she will show that old Sage (whose face she cannot now imagine, only Shadi's impression of it). She will show him what she is worth. She will accomplish much more than any could expect from her.
The first thing on her agenda must be to search the catalogues, to see the volume of possible knowledge about the Elemental Princes and Noble Genies of the four Elemental planes. Once her Patron's vanity is satisfied she will delve into story, into critique. She will show that she is avant garde, that she is fusing something that has not yet been fused and what's more she has done it well!
That night or the following morning, after quickly acclimating to your surroundings, you request that Matreus procure books and scrolls from the Great Library for your various studies and he does so, with a smile. You spend the next six days in a routine of diligent independent study, each in their own private room, followed by evening meals at the Hearth or alone over your books. Over the course of time, several new seekers arrive, and those who were there already when you arrived, leave. You five coalesce into a sort of cohort by default.
However, over the course of this time of intense research, two things transpire which at first seem to be mere annoyances, but as time passes, threaten to derail your studies.
First, Matreus. While the old scholar is happy to see to your needs when you find him, it has now been several days since your last request. You have learned everything possible from the texts he has brought you, and you only have a few days left before you will have to leave. But Matreus is nowhere to be found, and no one has seen him in at least two days.
The second development. Several days after his arrival to Candlekeep, Rogi receives a note from the eldest priest of Deneir to please see him in his chambers. When he does so, the priest’s questions are very difficult to evade. No one is able to find out about the existence of either author: the one who wrote the rebuttal Rogi submitted, or the author of the rebutted theory, Rogi is told. A few days later, the evening we pick up the story in fact, the eldest priest passed Rogi in the plaza and gave him a penetrating and doubtful stare, making to approach and recommence his questioning. But a second priest’s greeting to the elder created enough of a distraction for Rogi to continue on his way without seeming rude. At this very moment though, Rogi noticed the great Keeper of Tomes, the governor of Castlekeep, peering at him from a distance with his piercing gray eyes. Yes, it seems likely that Rogi's lie may soon cause him to be cast out of Candlekeep.
It is now the night of the seventh day. You are all at the Hearth, having finished your evening meal, and with nothing to do since you have no new books.
This is the problem you are discussing. You know where Matreus’ study room is. In fact, just this afternoon, one or more of you decided to look in on him, or to try to look in on him. But Matreus’ room was empty save for several books lying open. Beside one, a cup of tea, steam rising from it, and a plate of cookies beside it. You waited for him to return, since he had certainly only been gone a few minutes. But you waited in vain, and eventually gave up when the tea had gone cold. The door was slightly ajar, but you didn't dare enter.
(OOC: Go ahead and outline how the days have passed for each character, but in the present, you might want to discuss what to do about Matreus. The “mystery,” per se, begins here. You can ask informational questions in addition to posting RP, of course.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
A polite bow is just the thing to keep one's eyes from an accuser's glare, Rogi learned over the last few days. It was fortunate, because he was just about done with their nonsense. If they challenged him, confronted him, he would no longer dissimulate. Or even tell the truth creatively. He'll tell the whole truth, form it into a cudgel and beat them over their heads with it until they passed out. Metaphorically speaking, of course. They allowed a relative layman - who never studied magic as wizards do - to fool them with a fake treatise on magic, and it took them this long to realize it! He wondered how the world would take to knowing this fact - and its corollary, which is that countless other fakes may well be among their precious bookstacks. So let them expel him. He'd take great pleasure in ruining their reputation.
And getting expelled would do him no harm. His time here has been a complete waste and he was no closer to solving the challenges facing him. It turns out that no one has attempted such a thing, didn't even consider it - or at least didn't write any notes on it. He was beginning to think he'd have to invent the whole thing, and not just the concept. He had hoped to be able to climb onto the shoulders of giants to see better. But there were no giants here. Only mental midgets who hoarded knowledge that might illuminate the world.
With that in mind, he didn't feel particularly alarmed when Matreus disappeared - since he had so far been of no use to him. He almost passed by the study room, but paused to green his erstwhile companions and see if they fared better.
Bell feels Time is mocking her. Seven days of study -- On the basics of Magic Creation by Elminster as well as other authorities (according to the books delivered) and her additional requests which went far afield from her original thoughts of 'just learning one spell' -- Bell felt like she had barely scratched the surface of 'Knowing'.
Plus she was constantly having to spend some of her sleep time grinding up the soot from the fireplaces and measuring the salt she 'borrowed' from the tables at meal time. She was feeling the lack of good, restful sleep. But, the tiredness was worth it when she could use Comprehend Languages to make reading the books so much easier than having to decode ancient texts, ancient languages and quirks of phrasing.
With a sigh, she half listened as the others debated what to do about Matreus. Fliiping through her sheets of notes, she tidied up the pile and gave her full attention to the group. She needed every minute (AND BOOK) she could look at before the tenday expired. She felt she barely had a toe in the door of so much 'MORE' that was just out of her reach.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Meredith was quite relaxed and at ease, she slept most days and was up well into the early hours of the morning taking notes and studying the Naturalist and Zoological volumes the old man provided. Malaka spent her time visiting the rest of the cohort and hunting for rodents, bats and birds. As much as she was happy to continue her own research she occasionally allowed herself to be drawn into observing the others in her group.
Something was up with Rogi.....but she wasn't sure what or how to tell..Bell was.......intense.....the others not much less so....of them all she seemed most at ease and took to taking breaks to assist others with chores, and providing snacks and tea.
She had a soft spot for old Matreus and when he went missing she began asking around trying to discover when any of the guards or menials of Greater Candlekeep had seen him last. Finally resorting to searching his room.
It is now the night of the seventh day. You are all at the Hearth, having finished your evening meal, and with nothing to do since you have no new books. This is the problem you are discussing.
(OK, Meredith is leaving the Hearth to go to the Pillars of Pedagogy to search Matreus’ study room, yes? Is anyone going with her?)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
Meredith was quite relaxed and at ease, she slept most days and was up well into the early hours of the morning taking notes and studying the Naturalist and Zoological volumes the old man provided. Malaka spent her time visiting the rest of the cohort and hunting for rodents, bats and birds. As much as she was happy to continue her own research she occasionally allowed herself to be drawn into observing the others in her group.
Something was up with Rogi.....but she wasn't sure what or how to tell..Bell was.......intense.....the others not much less so....of them all she seemed most at ease and took to taking breaks to assist others with chores, and providing snacks and tea.
She had a soft spot for old Matreus and when he went missing she began asking around trying to discover when any of the guards or menials of Greater Candlekeep had seen him last. Finally resorting to searching his room.
Insight:- 13
Investigation- 5
(There are no guards per se, however, asking Shadi, Bibi, the Keeper of the Emerald Door, and any of the priests of Deneir who might pass results in variations on the same answer: no one has seen Matreus in two days, but he does have a habit of losing track of time while deep in his studies. “He’s certain to return shortly.” That was yesterday.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
Erudisia stands to go with Meredith, her evening repast only half eaten.
Her last few days have been profitable and the embarrassment of her admission has cooled into a sore tooth that hurts only when her tongue probes it, almost forgotten when she is in her books. And sometimes inbetween them too.
Her first find had been a copy of an old mage’s explorations of the Plane of Air, and his long capture by the Prince of Howling Air Yan-C-Bin. Some notes on its content have remained untouched within her Genie Space, waiting for her Patron to review them, and see whether they might want the Binder to create a full copy of the volumes.
For herself, she had struggled the next five days to find something that truly held an insightful analysis of structure that chimed true, that was more than rote formula without an agreeable insight and analysis of underpinning logic.
Erudisia feels that her most recent book, Into the Woods, a five act journey into story: Act 1 hints at what she seeks. But it is no more than an introduction. She needs to review four more volumes in only three days.
"So everyone you asked said Matrues has not been seen the last two days? Did any one of you see him three days ago?" Bell asks as she looks about the room. "If the front gate guards did not see him leave. And no one saw someone fly from the grounds, he HAS to be in Candlekeep somewhere, right?"
"I mean, does this count against our 'tenday'? And why aren't the Archivists more worried about Matrues having gone missing? Is there a keep guard we can talk to?"
"Didn't they say he often disappeared like that? If they're not worried, I don't see why we should be. And, yes, I'm sure this is counting against our tenday. Just because he's our only source of new books, and he's been gone so we can't get any, doesn't mean they owe us anything. It's a great way for them to get maximum value from our contributions." He shrugged. "Well, lets go talk to someone in charge, if you want. I'm not getting anything useful done, so if we can help them in some way it may be beneficial. At least, you should all get someone else to pull books for you."
It is now the night of the seventh day. You are all at the Hearth, having finished your evening meal, and with nothing to do since you have no new books. This is the problem you are discussing.
(OK, Meredith is leaving the Hearth to go to the Pillars of Pedagogy to search Matreus’ study room, yes? Is anyone going with her?)
Rogi follows Meredith with a shrug, not really seeing what the big deal is.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
(Love it!)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Shadi leads you through the heavy steel doors at a slow walk, allowing you ample time to view the fortress’ interior as you enter the wide plaza or courtyard which Shadi calls the Court of Air. Neither tree nor well clutters its cobblestone expanse. As they speak, it shortly becomes clear that Shadi has given this same tour dozens, if not hundreds of times before.
“Roughly three hundred Avowed live in Candlekeep,” they say. “The majority of us are clerks and assistants like me, or newcomers to the order, or scribes who handle the everyday work as part of their studies.”
Shadi points their bearded chin toward a line of robed individuals led by a middle-aged female dwarf, all chanting in unison. Meanwhile, at a slow, measured pace, they trace the perimeter of the courtyard. The harengon explains: “A chosen group of Avowed maintains a constant recitation of the prophecies of Alaundo the Seer. The Endless Chant, as it is called, travels throughout the keep day and night.”
At the opposite end of the courtyard, to which you draw closer with each step, is a tall double door of dark green stone that glows with an inner light. Standing before it: an elf woman, erect and proud, holding a long, narrow staff. During the several minutes it takes for Shadi to lead you to her, the harengon points out the various structures that surround the Court of Air. “The House of Rest, where you’ll be staying; the Hearth, where you can relax; House of the Binder – book binder, that is; House of Oghma, the other major deity worshipped here, of course; Erudite Outfitters & Clothiers, obvious; Smithy and Stables, also obvious,” they say with a smile; “and… here we are,” their voice drops to a respectful undertone. “The Keeper of the Emerald Door.”
The harengon turns to the elf woman and presents you to her. Now that you are closer, you notice that her staff, almost ten feet tall, seems to be planted into the ground, for roots reach out from its base, lending the appearance and stability of a long, branchless sapling. At its top, a gonfalon showing the sigil of Oghma: a partially unrolled blank scroll. Behind her, the fifteen-foot tall glowing door separates the Court of Air from the rest of the fortress, where rise the tall towers which give the keep its name.
The Keeper of the Emerald Door wears vestments of black and green, embroidered in fine white crystalline. Her eyes shine a deep, hypnotic royal blue as she addresses you.
“Welcome Seekers. Know that All who enter Candlekeep must agree to the Orders of Accordance,” she says, in a bright alto edged with arcane power as crisp as a cut gemstone.
“The rules are simple:
No fighting. All arguments must follow the rules of cordial debate and discussion. Violent altercations are not tolerated.
No stealing. This rule applies to all objects in the keep, not just the library’s works.
No copying. Visitors are permitted to take notes while studying the library’s works, but anyone who wants to make a full copy of a work must pay to have the manuscript created by scribes at the House of the Binder.
No damaging, marking, or otherwise modifying the works. This rule doesn’t apply to privately owned books, scrolls, and other documents that aren’t part of Candlekeep’s collection.
“You have heard me. Mark my words, for you must obey.
“The Day Clerk will ensure you are lodged and paired with an Avowed adjutant to assist with your research. You are welcome here for one tenday in exchange for your offering. During that time, may the guidance of Oghma, brightest light of inspiration, invention, and knowledge, known also as Curna, goddess of wisdom; and the perfection of Deneir bring you knowledge and clarity, Seekers.”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Erudisia's lips quirk at hearing the name of the Court of Air. The Archduke will certainly enjoy hearing that, if he does not know it already, but the thought is fleeting because there is so much to see.
She listens to Shadi as attentively as she is able but her eyes flick from place to place, sticking for a moment longer on the clothiers with a name so similar to her own, ten ideas a moment occurring to her as she conjures up and then discards plans for her brief window of time within this magnificent place. That is, until she sees the doors of the true keep.
She is quick to agree to the rules of the Keeper, and they are as reasonable and proper as anyone could've hoped for. She says little before the grand figure of the Keeper but waits until Shadi leads them to the lodgings to ask,
"Shadi, do we have a choice of adjutants? Are we allowed into the library only with our adjutant? As seekers, must we be always as a group as we are now, having gained admission on the same day? Who is Alaundo the Seer? What did he see?" The questions are endless, and cease only once Shadi begins to try to answer them, perhaps having to try more than once to start his reply in the face of her enthusiasm.
((OOC: Are the prophecies of Alaundo in common -- can we understand them from listening to the chant?))
Following the pronouncement from the Keeper of the Emerald door, Shadi bows respectfully, then answers your questions as they lead you back across the Court of Air toward the House of Rest.
Erudisia: “Do we have a choice of adjutants?"
Shadi: “Well, not really. You’re assigned one based on their availability”
Erudisia: “Are we allowed into the library only with our adjutant?”
Shadi: “Not exactly. You’re not allowed into the Great Library at all. But you have access to basically the whole collection through your adjutant. You ask them for what you need, and they find it and bring it to your study room.”
Erudisia: “As seekers, must we be always as a group as we are now, having gained admission on the same day?”
Shadi: “Oh, no, no. Everyone kind of learns at their own speed, you know? And each Seeker has their own, like, topic that they’re here to study.”
Erudisia: “Who is Alaundo the Seer? What did he see?"
Shadi: “Who is he? Oh wait, you’ve come a long way, so… So you know the Calendar of Harptos and the Roll of Years? Well he was involved in creating that. Yeah, like twelve centuries ago or something. I don’t know the specifics, my study is birds. But his prophecies, along with Augathra the Mad’s prophecies, give the names to the years. Hundreds of years. Thousands, maybe. And the names are for things that are foretold to happen.”
(@NycrolB: Are the prophecies of Alaundo in common -- can we understand them from listening to the chant?)
(Answer: They do seem to be chanting in the Common Tongue, but from a distance you are unable to make out much of what they are saying. Before moving out of the Court of Air, they chant, “Three barks ruin through dark earth’s sudden rising; beware aunt’s feast...”)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Meredith listened attentively to the rules which didn't seem too burdensom.
" House of Rest? Wheres that. I need some shut eye."
Shadi now leads you back to the House of Rest. After entering the large wooden door, a human male, who is just on his way out, moves to step around you but Shadi puts out a hand, touching his elbow.
“Matreus,” Shadi says to him, “I’m glad to find you here. You’ve been assigned as adjutant to these five.” Shadi makes quick introductions, but then the harengon calls out to a wig-wearing middle-aged woman, her face caked in white powder, her eyes glinting under thick eyeliner, “Miss Bibi!,”and excuses themselves to speak with her to arrange for your lodgings here in the House of Rest and to reserve your study rooms in the Pillars of Pedagogy.
Meanwhile, Matreus, with shoulder-length white hair tied back with a simple cord, and wearing a brown cloak over a dyed indigo toga which reveals pale, vein-covered arms, welcomes you to Candlekeep, speaking in a Yartaran accent. His manner is cordial, if rushed.
“I shall aact as a guide and resurrrch assistant for the djuration of your wisit. I haave access to all the vesources of the Grrrreat Libwawy, and will be your intuhmediawy, for Seekuhs are not allowed such aaccess. Djo find your rrrrooms aand settle in first, of course. But I am qvite busy and the soonuh that you can inform me of your needs, the soonuh I can see to them.”
With that he offers a rather jovial smile and awaits your first requests, if you are prepared to make them.
He points you to a catalog summary – a very thick tome upon a lectern near the door currently open to “Currants, Uses – Curses, Removal” — which lists the number of items available under each topic heading without going into detail regarding their authors, titles, or contents. Other catalogs nearby are organized by authors.
Shadi returns a moment later holding two room keys on a ring for each of you.
“This small one is for your lodging, and this old-style one is for your personal study room. It’s pretty easy to find your way around, so I’ll be off. Errands. A runner’s always on their feet, right? Good luck with your studies! Oh, and…,” they turn to Erudisia and continue softly, “don’t let those old fogeys discourage you.” They make a cross-eyed funny face to Erudisia – an on point caricature of the oldest priest — then turn, give a good-bye wave encompassing everyone, and finally bound off and out of the House of Rest.
(OOC: It is now about 2pm. Each of you please post how you plan to spend the rest of your day.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Bell will spend her time wandering about the Court of Air - familiarizing herself to that area and introducing herself to the various personnel. Of particular interest would be the House of The Binder and the Pillars of Pedagogy.
Rogi knew he should have been feeling relieved and excited, but his mind had already moved on from the accomplishment of bluffing his way into Candlekeep. He was dismayed that they would only be allowed 10 days. Somehow that part never came up before, and it caught him completely by surprise. He didn't know what he had been expecting but it wasn't this. And if he needed more time, he'd have to bribe them again? No wonder the world was so backward, if the brightest minds were denied access to the knowledge of their predecessors... He forced himself to focus on the task at hand. His masterwork, at this early stage, seemed to fall into three challenges.
First, in order for data to be accessible remotely, it needed to be stored in a form which could be easily transmitted. So, not books or scrolls. Teleportation magic could, perhaps, actually move the tome to another place, but such enchantments were far too complicated and - especially - expensive for what he had in mind. A magic item anyone could use would need to be relatively cheap. No, it would need to receive the contents of those books, not the books themselves. That meant a way would need to be found to separate the data from the parchment it was written on. Actually transmitting that data seemed like the easy part - a simple cantrip already existed which allowed a short message to be shared over small distances. And the final challenge was crafting a receiving item which was able to display it and allow the user to interact with it to easily select the data they wanted. Naturally, it would not make sense to have a one-to-one correspondence between tomes and receivers, so a single receiver - call it a tablet for convenience - should be able to access, receive, and display many tomes' worth of data. All of them, ideally.
He retired to a room and spent the rest of the day planning which of these challengers he would tackle first, and in what way. It would not do to give away his actual purpose to the librarians, he knew that. If they found out that he meant to put them out of business, at best they would mock him, and at worst kick him out and forbid him entrance again. And since he was bad at deception, he would have to tell the truth creatively again.
(I have added some information about the House of the Binder and Pillars of Pedagogy into the campaign page. You each have a private study room in the Pillars of Pedagogy)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Erudisia smiles at Shadi's final joke, the impersonation is quite good. She bids the others goodbye and heads to her private room in the House of Rest.
She takes in the eclectic selection of furnishings, and begins to unpack her few travelling clothes and belongings. What needs to be hung is hung, what needs to be smoothed over and folded and placed away is placed away. She finds her hands performing the motions and then finds herself startling, as she suddenly realises she is stood still, or that she is on the next section of her settling into the accommodation; her mind suddenly returned from some way away -- somewhere back in the tent, dissecting the moment of her performance and all its many failures.
She finishes before she is ready to be done, and has little more to distract her. The only thing without a proper place: the parcel of pasty pieces that Erudisia stored earlier, kindly given, by one much worthier than she.
She unfolds it now, and looks at it. She eats one piece with the proper comportment, though she cannot taste it. Then another, then another. She eats piece after piece until the whole thing is gone, though her mouth is dry and full and it is hard to swallow — the final handful crushed in her palms before they reach her teeth — and she has not enjoyed a single bit as she did this morning, suddenly furious.
She cannot bring herself to review her manuscript, nor to visit the clothiers, nor socialise as she might usually. She has a second private space, another key to use, and so she sets out for the catalogues. She has only a tenday, and she will show that old Sage (whose face she cannot now imagine, only Shadi's impression of it). She will show him what she is worth. She will accomplish much more than any could expect from her.
The first thing on her agenda must be to search the catalogues, to see the volume of possible knowledge about the Elemental Princes and Noble Genies of the four Elemental planes. Once her Patron's vanity is satisfied she will delve into story, into critique. She will show that she is avant garde, that she is fusing something that has not yet been fused and what's more she has done it well!
She sets out, determined. And a little sick.
Matreus The Missing
That night or the following morning, after quickly acclimating to your surroundings, you request that Matreus procure books and scrolls from the Great Library for your various studies and he does so, with a smile. You spend the next six days in a routine of diligent independent study, each in their own private room, followed by evening meals at the Hearth or alone over your books. Over the course of time, several new seekers arrive, and those who were there already when you arrived, leave. You five coalesce into a sort of cohort by default.
However, over the course of this time of intense research, two things transpire which at first seem to be mere annoyances, but as time passes, threaten to derail your studies.
First, Matreus. While the old scholar is happy to see to your needs when you find him, it has now been several days since your last request. You have learned everything possible from the texts he has brought you, and you only have a few days left before you will have to leave. But Matreus is nowhere to be found, and no one has seen him in at least two days.
The second development. Several days after his arrival to Candlekeep, Rogi receives a note from the eldest priest of Deneir to please see him in his chambers. When he does so, the priest’s questions are very difficult to evade. No one is able to find out about the existence of either author: the one who wrote the rebuttal Rogi submitted, or the author of the rebutted theory, Rogi is told. A few days later, the evening we pick up the story in fact, the eldest priest passed Rogi in the plaza and gave him a penetrating and doubtful stare, making to approach and recommence his questioning. But a second priest’s greeting to the elder created enough of a distraction for Rogi to continue on his way without seeming rude. At this very moment though, Rogi noticed the great Keeper of Tomes, the governor of Castlekeep, peering at him from a distance with his piercing gray eyes. Yes, it seems likely that Rogi's lie may soon cause him to be cast out of Candlekeep.
It is now the night of the seventh day. You are all at the Hearth, having finished your evening meal, and with nothing to do since you have no new books.
This is the problem you are discussing. You know where Matreus’ study room is. In fact, just this afternoon, one or more of you decided to look in on him, or to try to look in on him. But Matreus’ room was empty save for several books lying open. Beside one, a cup of tea, steam rising from it, and a plate of cookies beside it. You waited for him to return, since he had certainly only been gone a few minutes. But you waited in vain, and eventually gave up when the tea had gone cold. The door was slightly ajar, but you didn't dare enter.
(OOC: Go ahead and outline how the days have passed for each character, but in the present, you might want to discuss what to do about Matreus. The “mystery,” per se, begins here. You can ask informational questions in addition to posting RP, of course.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
A polite bow is just the thing to keep one's eyes from an accuser's glare, Rogi learned over the last few days. It was fortunate, because he was just about done with their nonsense. If they challenged him, confronted him, he would no longer dissimulate. Or even tell the truth creatively. He'll tell the whole truth, form it into a cudgel and beat them over their heads with it until they passed out. Metaphorically speaking, of course. They allowed a relative layman - who never studied magic as wizards do - to fool them with a fake treatise on magic, and it took them this long to realize it! He wondered how the world would take to knowing this fact - and its corollary, which is that countless other fakes may well be among their precious bookstacks. So let them expel him. He'd take great pleasure in ruining their reputation.
And getting expelled would do him no harm. His time here has been a complete waste and he was no closer to solving the challenges facing him. It turns out that no one has attempted such a thing, didn't even consider it - or at least didn't write any notes on it. He was beginning to think he'd have to invent the whole thing, and not just the concept. He had hoped to be able to climb onto the shoulders of giants to see better. But there were no giants here. Only mental midgets who hoarded knowledge that might illuminate the world.
With that in mind, he didn't feel particularly alarmed when Matreus disappeared - since he had so far been of no use to him. He almost passed by the study room, but paused to green his erstwhile companions and see if they fared better.
Bell feels Time is mocking her. Seven days of study -- On the basics of Magic Creation by Elminster as well as other authorities (according to the books delivered) and her additional requests which went far afield from her original thoughts of 'just learning one spell' -- Bell felt like she had barely scratched the surface of 'Knowing'.
Plus she was constantly having to spend some of her sleep time grinding up the soot from the fireplaces and measuring the salt she 'borrowed' from the tables at meal time. She was feeling the lack of good, restful sleep. But, the tiredness was worth it when she could use Comprehend Languages to make reading the books so much easier than having to decode ancient texts, ancient languages and quirks of phrasing.
With a sigh, she half listened as the others debated what to do about Matreus. Fliiping through her sheets of notes, she tidied up the pile and gave her full attention to the group. She needed every minute (AND BOOK) she could look at before the tenday expired. She felt she barely had a toe in the door of so much 'MORE' that was just out of her reach.
Meredith was quite relaxed and at ease, she slept most days and was up well into the early hours of the morning taking notes and studying the Naturalist and Zoological volumes the old man provided. Malaka spent her time visiting the rest of the cohort and hunting for rodents, bats and birds. As much as she was happy to continue her own research she occasionally allowed herself to be drawn into observing the others in her group.
Something was up with Rogi.....but she wasn't sure what or how to tell..Bell was.......intense.....the others not much less so....of them all she seemed most at ease and took to taking breaks to assist others with chores, and providing snacks and tea.
She had a soft spot for old Matreus and when he went missing she began asking around trying to discover when any of the guards or menials of Greater Candlekeep had seen him last. Finally resorting to searching his room.
Insight:- 21
Investigation- 5
It is now the night of the seventh day. You are all at the Hearth, having finished your evening meal, and with nothing to do since you have no new books. This is the problem you are discussing.
(OK, Meredith is leaving the Hearth to go to the Pillars of Pedagogy to search Matreus’ study room, yes? Is anyone going with her?)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
(There are no guards per se, however, asking Shadi, Bibi, the Keeper of the Emerald Door, and any of the priests of Deneir who might pass results in variations on the same answer: no one has seen Matreus in two days, but he does have a habit of losing track of time while deep in his studies. “He’s certain to return shortly.” That was yesterday.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Erudisia stands to go with Meredith, her evening repast only half eaten.
Her last few days have been profitable and the embarrassment of her admission has cooled into a sore tooth that hurts only when her tongue probes it, almost forgotten when she is in her books. And sometimes inbetween them too.
Her first find had been a copy of an old mage’s explorations of the Plane of Air, and his long capture by the Prince of Howling Air Yan-C-Bin. Some notes on its content have remained untouched within her Genie Space, waiting for her Patron to review them, and see whether they might want the Binder to create a full copy of the volumes.
For herself, she had struggled the next five days to find something that truly held an insightful analysis of structure that chimed true, that was more than rote formula without an agreeable insight and analysis of underpinning logic.
Erudisia feels that her most recent book, Into the Woods, a five act journey into story: Act 1 hints at what she seeks. But it is no more than an introduction. She needs to review four more volumes in only three days.
The adjutant must be found.
"So everyone you asked said Matrues has not been seen the last two days? Did any one of you see him three days ago?" Bell asks as she looks about the room. "If the front gate guards did not see him leave. And no one saw someone fly from the grounds, he HAS to be in Candlekeep somewhere, right?"
"I mean, does this count against our 'tenday'? And why aren't the Archivists more worried about Matrues having gone missing? Is there a keep guard we can talk to?"
"Didn't they say he often disappeared like that? If they're not worried, I don't see why we should be. And, yes, I'm sure this is counting against our tenday. Just because he's our only source of new books, and he's been gone so we can't get any, doesn't mean they owe us anything. It's a great way for them to get maximum value from our contributions." He shrugged. "Well, lets go talk to someone in charge, if you want. I'm not getting anything useful done, so if we can help them in some way it may be beneficial. At least, you should all get someone else to pull books for you."
Rogi follows Meredith with a shrug, not really seeing what the big deal is.