COMING SOON

CANDLEKEEP MYSTERIES - LEVEL FOUR:

"THE JOY OF EXTRADIMENTIONAL SPACES"

Adventure Background: All of you have come to Candlekeep seeking aid for a stricken town, which could be the home of one or more of you - that is up for you all to decide. The settlement has withered this year. Crops have failed, the livestock stands in the fields like stick figures, and the rain has dwindled. A local mage determined that a curse had been levied on the land and recommended that the town seek aid from a sage named Matreous. After some inquiries, the mage found that Matreous was studying in Candlekeep and has sent you all to find him.

Choose one, or however many of you, to be the one who's town had been stricken with this mysterious curse. This chosen person(s) will provide motivation for risking your lives in this campaign.

LEVEL STARTS AT LEVEL FOUR.

Please post in the recruitment thread, not here. Thank you.

From the journal of Emporious Palantine

//I have rerurned home to Altus only to find the hamlet of my youth unrecognizable. The orchards where my father toiled are sparse with fruit as are the surrounding fields. The drought has affected the livestock as well. Many appear to be on the verge of starvation. Of course as soon as I arrived I went to see my mentor. Myrrodin seems to believe the village to have been cursed.  His own search for answers has proved as fuitless as the surrounding trees. I told him of a library that I had heard of to the south. Perhaps the answer lies there. I leave at first light.//

Emporious sets out early the next morning, stopping just long enough to see his parents. His mother, ignoring their own need of course, insists that he take some dried fruit and cheese with him on the journey. She rebukes his protests but does reluctantly accept a single silver piece as recompense for the gesture. The young wizards visage is grim but hopfully determined as he leaves his childhood home by the rough trail that  heads south. As he passes one hovel after another he notes that several families have moved on. He also sees that many, whether it be from hope, stubborness or a lack of another place to go, have remained. Their hunger sunken faces peer at him from doors and windows as he passes. It is at that moment that he makes a silent vow to himself to find an answere to this blight that he may save his own family as well as those others that remain. Taking out his spell book he begins studing the spells he copied from Myrrodins personal spellbook the night before.

The news of famine in Altus spread to nearby towns and villages. Isa was happen to be in a nearby village several days south. She heard of the need for help and traveled with a family who was bringing provisions to the people of Altus. As they neared the town she noticed a man studying what appeared to be a spell book. Intrigued at the thought of a fellow sorcerer, she timidly approached and asks “What happened here?  Why is this famine only affecting Altus?”

Emporious hears a wagon approaching and without looking up from his book, steps to the side of the road to allow it to pass. Hearing a timid voice address him, he raises his head to respond when suddenly an owl swoops in silently to perch upon the leather patch on Emporious' right shoulder interrupting his reply.

"Hel..  Archimedes! Don't be rude!"

Emporious admonishes the owl. Turning back to the lady standing before him he says,

"My appologies. He thinks he has to be privy to all my conversations. Go! Find mice you silly owl."

He shoos the owl away before continuing.

"Hello I am Emporious Palantine and that was my familiar Archimedes. I'm sure you've heard of me." He watches her response intently.

A look of disappointment flashes across the wizards face when his new acquaintance obviously shows no signs of recognition.

" Ah well someday..." he mutters.

Before continuing he places his spellbook inside a pocket on the back of the specialized vest he is wearing. The vest has several pockets. A couple appear long and narrow and contain scroll tubes. Both shoulders have heavy leather patches to protect him from sharp owl talons. His wrists are also clad in similar heavy leather bands.

"Sorry what was your question? Oh, right. The famine. Well it would appear that Altus may be under a curse of some sort. If I were you I'd continue on. Not much here for travelers. I my self am headed to the library at Candlekeep to see if I can find a solution in the tomes housed there. What might they call you?"

OOC: sorry forgot her description earlier.

IC:

Isa is a young woman (19 or 20 in human years) about 5’ 6” tall with medium short brown hair.  Her eyes are a dark brown and she is wearing lightly tattered traveling clothes.  She has a dagger on either side and a light crossbow slung over her shoulder  As she walks along, she carries a staff.

A bit startled by an owl swooping in, Isa jumps back a bit not know what the owl’s intentions are.  As Emporious speaks to the owl, Isa is intrigued - “Familiar?” She whispers to herself. 

As Emporious introduces himself, she gives him a bit of a blank stare “No, sorry I haven’t.”

Isa watches as he puts his spell book away into this amazing vest... ‘Could this be a master sorcerer that could train me?’ she thinks. 

“Isa” she replies. Several small scares can be seen on her right arm as she pulls the hair out of her face and tucks it behind her right ear. “I, I came to help bring provisions to Altus.”  Seeing that this might finally be her chance she continues “but... maybe I could be of better help to you in searching through some of those tomes.”

A hopeful look crosses her face as she looks upward at Emporious and then quickly back down towards the ground. 

"I'm sure the provisions will be greatly appreciated. On behalf of my parents and townfolk I thank you." replies Emporious. The wizard purses his lips for a moment as he considers the offer. "I suppose an extra set of eyes would be helpful. I guess I wouldn't mind you coming with." He reasons. " But your responsible for yourself. I don't have time for foolishness or shenanigans. We must hurry if we are to find a solution to this problem. Now I've tarried too long already. So if your ready let us be on our way." Emporious says curtly. He starts walking again pulling out his book and returning to his reading. With in a few steps Archimedes returns to his perch in the right shoulder of Emporious. 

Meanwhile...

A table at The Hearth, Candlekeep's tavern, finds four weary adventurers - two dwarves, a suave tiefling and a strangely artificial woman - sat around, drinks in hand.

One of the dwarves, a short battle-scarred ex-soldier with fiery red hair and beard, wearing well-kept silver chain mail with a crimson tabard emblazoned with silver crossed battle axes, raises his tankard 'To Meera, I'm sorry we couldn't protect you from the unholy wight...' his eyes are dark, troubled - and perhaps carry a hint of the darkness of the Shadowfell with him still. He lets out a long sigh, as though only just allowing a great weight to fall from his shoulders.
'We must be more careful with the secrets of the library - they may be bookish, but as we discovered, no less deadly for it...'

He pats a bag full of books next to him - containing the collected journals of Baroness Brantifax, and fragments of a book authored by Drovath Harrn ‘That said, we must hope these books will grant us a longer stay - for myself at least, the ancient works of Gauntlgrym are proving challenging even for the Avowed to find...’

With somewhat of a surprised look she just stares at Emporious for a moment, she didn’t really expect him to say yes. Suddenly she composes herself “Give me just a moment to get my pack and say goodbye.”  Isa turns and runs over to the wagon, grabs her pack and quickly explains to the family, that she had been traveling with, that she was off to help Emporious find out why this famine and blight was happening.   She turns and notices Emporious already walking down the road with his head in his book. She runs after him “Wait, wait, I’m coming, I’m coming.”

The two walk in silence for nearly an hour, which is usually how Isa likes it, but she had questions and just needed to ask “Kind sir, is that a book of magic that you are studying?  Are you some kind of Sorcerer?”

Emporious' eyes narrow a bit in a side long look as he clutches his spellbook a bit tighter.

"Young lady a wizard dedicates themself to self improvement through diligent study of the fabric of the universe. We take charge of our destiny. We do not obtain our power through happenstance." he says in a some what pompus self important tone.

" To do that one must study." he accentuates the point with a slight wave of his spellbook.

 His cast a quizical gaze over the young sorcerer as if questioning the reasoning behind the inquiry. He continues in a cautionary tone, "A wizards spellbook is an extremely personal item and I would caution you against any any machinations that would attempt to seperate one from its owner. Why do you ask?" 

Feeling a bit scolded, Isa looks down towards the ground "I meant no ill with my questions, I've very sorry." 

She reaches her left arm over and rubs her right arm a bit "I simply ask because I am curious.  I too know and understand some magic but I have never had to study a book... it... it just comes to me.  I've been searching for a new master who understands true sorcery and can see how this magic is in the very fabric of our existence."  She stops for a moment obviously recalling something in her past "I had a teacher once but.... well... he's gone now..." her voice trails off as her eyes well up a bit remembering the elderly farmer who understood who she really was.  "I do... "  she pauses for a bit "I do miss him."

Realising he may have come off a bit harsh, Emporious relaxes his posture slightly as the pair continue to walk along. 

"No, no. A person seeking knowledge of any kind should never appologize for asking questions. It's just that one can never be too careful when dealing with strangers they've only just met." Emporious replies. 

Never having much been one for sentiment, Emporious ia unable to empathize with Isa but never the less he tries to offer some advice. 

"I'm sure, just like singing a song, playing an instument, or any other natural talent, the more practice one has the more control and skill one obtains. Focus your search inwards. It stands to reason that since that is where the talent lies then so to do the skills to control it." 

In an attempt to find a less emotionally charged subject Emporious changes the topic by asking, " I am curious though as to how you came to Altus. Are you new to the region? I was raised here but I have been away in the north for some time doing research. I'm was only passing bach through to visit with mt parents."

Listening carefully to Emporious she nods "yes, that's exactly what my last teacher said, it's much like a natural talent for music or singing.  That does make sense."

"Well, I was south west of here about a weeks journey when I started hearing rumors of a famine in these parts.  About three weeks ago, I was in Dorman and met a family who said they were on there way to Altus to bring provisions - they were trying to get some of the locals to donate some supplies before heading out.  I asked if they needed any help and they were excited about my offer to help them gather supplies to bring to Altus.  That's who I was traveling with when I saw you walking along the road.  If it weren't for the stories they started telling of some wizards in this area, I may just have missed meeting you.  Wizards and magic completely fascinates me!  I want to learn as much as possible so that I can understand this power that I have."

Isa turns her head and looks at Emporious "So, is he always with you, like a pet?" she says as she points lightly at the owl on his shoulder.  "What was his name again? Archi..." she pauses and thinks for a second "Archi.. Archimedes?  I don't think he likes me, he keeps staring at me." she says a bit nervously.

"Archimedes is a bit more than a pet. He is a familiar, a magical construct I summoned to assist me with various tasks. He also serves as a traveling companion. He's grumpy because we're traveling. A naturally nocturnal creature, He hates it when I make him move about in the day light. Best to just ignore him. I assure you he bends to my will and I assure you he is no threat. Should he disobey I'll simply banish him and summon another."

“Oh, I see.” She replies as if to completely understand.  She suddenly feels sorry for this ‘familiar’ as he calls it.  ‘I think it’s more like a slave, having to  end to his will and do what he says or he’ll banish the poor thing!’ she thinks to herself. 

Isa quietly continues to walk with Emporious down the path they are traveling toward Candlekeep. 

Barbär looks around this now yet smaller group very solemnly. He scratches his plate gauntlet across his bearded chin audibly as he is deep in thought, zoning out on a point in the distance

Aye. To Meera. 

Its like she knew it was gonna happen.. Almost like she devised the whole going to the Shadowfell. I dont know.. *he leans back in his seat, and takes a small drink* Makes it feel like i didnt help enough tor her, didnt see something, didnt put it together...

"Ooooh shut it, Master Barbär.  Meera knew just as well as the lot of us what she was getting into.  We all chose this line of work.  This curiosity.  Knowing that curiosity leads our noses to where it don't belong is all part o' the game."  Hino quietly adds.

Continuing, while raising a glass not filled with liquor, rather, a different, foul smelling oily liquid, "To Meera!  May her curiosity help her find what she's looking for, in whatever plane she now exists on!"

A while later, during another morbid lull in the conversation, Hino pipes in "Soooooooooooo, what now?  You lot apparently aren't willing to part with your coin for a piece of this" as she once again slaps herself on the bum.  "A girl's gotta make a living, you know.  And I ain't making any coin just sittin' here on my beautiful little bum."

Mavshoon sits there with his companions, in one hand a cigar that smells faintly of brimstone, that when asked about, always reminds him of home.  You can't be sure if that's his literal home where he grew up, or just a play on his infernal heritage.  He is a rather finely dressed, his leather armor tailored more akin to a three piece suit than the standard fair, and a fedora perched atop his head.. One of the signs of his infernal ancestry, his horns, poke out from under the hat and curve forward over the brim.  Curiously, perched upon his shoulder, a Corvus corax, also known as a Raven.   In the other delicately clawed hand an elegant glass of fey brandy that he lifts in salute to their lost companion.

"To Meera, may Kelemvor judge you a full hour before, my great great great Grandfather knows you're dead...." he will then smirk and down his glass.

"While that last adventure was curious to say the least, it was less than profitable for my tastes..." as he puffs his cigar "This is the great library of Candlekeep, this place has to be filled with lost treasures and artifacts just begging to be released from their tormented prison.  Perhaps quite like some of the scholars here think, when cornered by our overly lusty friend here." indicating Hino.  "There must be something else we can do while we're here." and he'll scan the area for interesting souls.

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.

ENTERING CANDLEKEEP

The required entrance fee for admission into Candlekeep is a work of writing not already collected therein. Those who show up at the gates without such a gift are kindly but firmly turned away. The enormous double gates of Candlekeep are three times the height of a human and wrought of black metal magically warded to foil attempts to damage them. Both doors are emblazoned with the sigil of Candlekeep. One of the two gates stands open far enough to admit visitors during the day, and the other is kept shut.

What book will you offer to enter?

Adventure Background: Emporious and Isa have come to Candlekeep seeking aid for a stricken town. Crops have failed, the livestock stands in the fields like stick figures, and the rain has dwindled. A local mage determined that a curse had been levied on the land and recommended that the town seek aid from a sage named Matreous. After some inquiries, the mage found that Matreous was studying in Candlekeep and has sent you all to find him. 

EMPORIOUS, ISA: You find yourselves in the situation above. You'll need a book to enter Candlekeep so you can find people to assist you in your mission to find a man called Matreous, here, in Candlekeep. But you're going to need help. You have no idea what dangers could reveal themselves during your investigation.
BARBAR, HINO, MAV: You guys need more work. You need gold. Perhaps these two new people at the Candlekeep gates need help?