"Ah, good to know."  Sistri says,  mulling over their choices. "Candlekeep first? Or Arabel? I'm kind of thinking Candlekeep. We could go right away and be ready to investigate tomorrow." 

She again looks at Charlie. "Do we have a place to stay if we suddenly show up at Candlekeep?"  She gives him a smile. "And thank you for answering all of our questions."

Charlie smiles, humbly and slightly embarrassed, "Oh, my pleasure. I believe we're all business associates now!  Unfortunately I've never been that far west. Most exciting. As one of the most famous libraries in all the world, I presume there must be Inn's and so on in the surrounding area."

“Thank you.” He said to Kris as the sight of the guards dissapeared. “I think I was too reactive and prolix. Maybe may words didn’t sound threatening enough.” He pondered for a moment. She had done a far better work with threats. "And apologies about the name. I thought it was better to not give the ones we use. Although my name means 'grey' in Sylvan and the name I used to refer to you means 'silver' in the same tongue. Anyhow, to the Angel.”

The way back had no surprises, which considering the day before was a blessing. Arriving at the bookstore they waited for their friends. Despite not having explicitly planning anything of the sort, they all reconvene at Charlie’s. Sistri and Irmiel shareed what they learned from the old general. As expected, he was more than willing to share his knowledge, but unfortunately he could not arrange a meeting with the sage. To Llwyd the man sounded too pompous, the kind that would embellish his own accomplishments. Still the stayr believed Silvermace had his fair share of fascinating tales to tell.

“Thank you, Charlie and I’m afraid not.” He answered moving his eyes over the wizard. “We have better chance going to Candlekeep. Probably looking for information about the Anauroch.  According to the general it was the center of the empire, so it should be likely that a number of cities fell there and practically sure that people researching the civilization and their magic looked made incursions there.”

"Wait, "close enough"?! That would not do at all. I hope the teleport brings us directly into the keep. They have a draconian rule that you only can enter if you share a book, that they do not have in the library. If we land outside, we might never get in." But other than that she was ready to go to Candlekeep this instant (a rare case when "born ready" is the right expression). "Just in case, Charlie, can it be that you have some rare book you might be willing to part with? Anything will do, the key is uniqueness."

Kris smiles at Llwyd.  "Oh, silver!  A play on my name.  Very clever, I like it!."

She ruminates on their failed attempt to speak with the Sage.  "...but we shouldn't give up.  Just because one boring guard at one door wouldn't let us pass doesn't mean we cant try again, or find the Sage at another location in future."  

"Candlekeep sounds lovely.  What a nice name.  One does worry about the number of candles and open flames around so many books, but I suppose there's all manner of magic protecting the place.  Depending on what we find there, our next stop could be Arabel, and then maybe this elven vault."  She waits to see what Charlie says about a unique book, eyeing the many books in his collection.  "Have you ever written a book, Charlie?"

Charlie smiles at Kris' question, and looks embarrassed once again, "Well, ha..nothing of note really. I mean, I took a hand in it, but...it turns out you need something people want to read, if you're going to write and be successful. I wrote a book about childhood games and how they work to form the adults in our society, ultimately shaping the world around us. Called Societal Influences by Childhood Games. If you are looking for something truly eclectic, then you could take a copy. Otherwise, I have a copy of Crystalic Healing and the Psychometabolist, which should be unique enough." 

With the group having decided on Candlekeep as their next location, and with a fairly unique book in hand in case its necessary, the group looks outside. The day is waning and it's just before supper time.  The sky is blue and clear, but darkening with perhaps an hour of light left. Are you heading their straight away, or spending one more night in Suzail and going in the morning? 

Once they have the book and the group is ready,  Sistri suggests, "We ought to just go now. Then we'll be ready to start the research first thing tomorrow."

The sky is a purple and red haze to the west, with a deep azure stretching into the east. It's too early for stars, but it will be a lovely evening to watch the heavens above perform their slow motion dance. That said, there are a couple of twinkles hanging in the sky. Now really looking for them, you spot a half dozen sparkling spots in the sky above. They would be easy to miss in the bright of the day, and perhaps confused for extra bright stars at night. Each seems to have a particular hue to it. Now noting them, their initial beauty instead settles into your mind as a pressure....for though they may look pretty, if old Silvermace is right, they are an omen for something terrible happening to all magic. 

The streets of the city are calm tonight. Only two days on and the jittery fear of the city has already faded significantly. People still are extra vigilant, but with the increased military presence in the streets, the ease has returned in record time. Still, boarded up windows and  scorched stone, and occasionally stained cobbles can still be seen.  You arrive at the royal grounds. Llwyd and Kris, despite themselves, feel a bit of a nervous twinge as the thought of confronting the same guard arising. Luckily, for either them or him, he is not on station. The group presents their teleportation "coupon".  The soldiers nod, glancing at the group in a harsh judgemental sort of way.  "You're the fourth group to head through. I suppose we should have expected more if the procurement office didn't burn down. Anyway, follow Yuriy here, he'll lead you to the waiting spot."

One of the guards leads, while another follows, carefully escorting the group across the royal grounds until you reach a large open garden that stretches around a circular cobblestone center area. Arcane marks are carved into the very stones in a ten foot radius circle. Stone benches are placed around the outside of the circle, up against some short hedges that separate it from the gardens. There are four soldiers here, perhaps twenty feet away, facing the circle.  Glancing around, you also note a few archers in tower or strolling along parapet studded walkways near the tops of a couple buildings, their keen eyes watching the gardens carefully. 

In the dim light a rather young looking man approaches. He must be no older than 25, and has a clean shaved face with light, short cropped brown hair. Green speckled eyes appraise the group. He wears loose fitting silk pants and a shirt with puffy arms and a untied 1/4 cut opening at the top, it's strings hanging limply. He's well built and rather fetching.  With a voice that is obviously used to being obeyed he says, "I will open a portal to the Candlekeep circle. It is outside Candlekeep proper. You should have a token to gain admittance."  (which you do). 

Without much pomp or ceremony, then promptly raises his hands up and then begins moving them about in a complex pattern. His motions are smooth and practiced and he almost seems bored as he weaves the powerful magic.  As he's doing so, you feel....more than hear....a subtle 'twang' in the air.  He lets out a mild curse as he continues his spellcasting. Nearby, perhaps 30 feet away and floating 6 feet above the ground, you see a green wavering thread that is glowing.  It appears to have been cut in two, the separated ends lazily flapping about, while the other ends of the strings seem to fade away into nothingness.  

Irmiel, and Kris, you can both feel that the thread is tightly bound to enchantment magic. You also both feel a sudden and distinct urge to act.   Make a wisdom DC 12 save each.

Irmiel Wis 12 save: 21

Kris Wis: 6

Kris and Irmiel feels an instinctive pull towards the thing. Irmiel manages to pry herself away from the feeling, but Kris's face seems to go a bit slack...as she begins casting a spell at the thread. Normally her magic would only be able to help herself, but....somehow she twists the spell....allowing the magic to flow across the open space towards the thread. A sparkling stream of energy leaves Kris' hands and flows into both ends of the thread...which flutter towards each other....and then bond once again, the sparkling energy tying them together.  The thread seems to go taught and then with a dull flash it vanishes all together. 

Kris shakes her head a bit, clearing her mind.  (one 1st level spell slot is used up). 

Then the wizard finishes his spell, and a glowing purple tear in space appears in the center of the circle.  He steps back, glancing around, then looks at Kris..."Oh...thank you dear, well done. You may all travel through the portal now, you have one minute to go through."

Irmiel watched with wide-opened eyes how that worked. She even took off her glasses to see the event better. The general was right after all - some kind of thread that disappears if magic is used on it. Used or supped from a nearby magic-user? She felt the "pull", the compulsion. Are the magic users just conductors, so to speak, or do they lose something when answering that "pull"? So many questions! And no time for a single answer at all! Well, it meant they had one more subject to inquire books for.

Irmiel gave one last look to the space where the thread disappeared, "tsk-ed" in disappointment, and stepped through the portal. The night might not be the best time to visit the keep, but Sistri was right, with four groups before them, they did not have time to waste.

Sistri takes a moment to step close to Kris, "Are you alright?" She doesn't tarry too long though, lest the portal close. "Come on, we should go." She'll wait on Kris and then follow after. 

Two days had passed, but Suzail looked like a different city already. It was not only the lack to fire and smoke, but the voice of the place had changed. Screams had given place to what Llwyd could only suppose were the common sounds of the capital. People seemed tense, guarded, sure. How could they not? But in comparison to the days of the attack? The night was vibrant, full of lights and life. The satyr made hos way back to the castle with his eyes wandering through the streets, as if it was his first time walking them. A childlike fascination easy to notice in his eyes. Everything was so different to what he used to see and hear. One more week or so and things will be even livelier, he imagined as the gate came into view. Only by them he remembered the guard from earlier and some discomfort started to settle in. Another long explanation to be given, he expected. Fortunately, the guards were different.

They were promptly guided to the point of teleportation and there he stranged Kris’ action. Before he could make any comment on it the wizard, or at least the druid imagined the man was a wizard, warned about their time to enter the circle. Sistri seemed to assist with the other two, so he decided it was best to follow her suggestion.

“Meet you on the other side.” He said entering the portal.

As the group steps through the portal, there is a dull rushing feeling and a momentary spot of utter blackness that you pass through before stepping forward and emerging onto a stone circle.  You notice that the light in the sky is immediately brighter than where you'd left. The sun is still above the horizon, just starting to dip below, the sky just gathering a reddish glow.  It's almost like you stepped back an hour in time. The stone circle is set amongst large stone monoliths, some with more stone topping a pair. The sharp tang of salty sea air greets your nostrils as you gaze past the stones. The landscape around you is wide open, rolling grasslands with patches of rocky outcroppings, to one side, and then an abrupt sharp cliff that tumbles off to the crashing open ocean below. A narrow dirt road cuts through the  grasslands and heads ride beside the teleportation circle you've emerged from.  Your eyes are then immediately drawn to the nearby huge edifice of what must be the great library of Candlekeep, surrounded by high curtain walls, with numerous tower pinnacles reaching up from behind the gateway. 

You were expecting a large, but singular building of some sort. Instead, massive walls contain a plethora of buildings that form a huge community within. 

But before you blocking the way are the enormous double gates of Candlekeep, standing three times the height of a human and wrought of black metal. Both doors are emblazoned with the sigil of Candlekeep. From here, a couple hundred feet away, you can tell that one of the two gates stands open far enough to admit visitors while the other is kept shut. A small contingent of perhaps a half-dozen men, bedecked in purple vestments, stand about outside the main gates in light discussion. 

Other than the walls and buildings of Candlekeep, there appears to be no other structures as far as the eye can see. The road winds its way out of site. The coast is free of any town or other buildings to the north and south. 

"No town?" Sistri says. "This doesn't look very promising for lodgings."

After making sure everyone made it safely, Sistri will approach the open gate and the people in purple vestments.  "Hello. We have a pass to the library from Suzail. Is there perhaps anywhere to stay? We had hoped to do some research tomorrow."

No, Irmiel did not expect a singular building - any scholar knows about Candlekeep and dreams about a visit there - but one thing is to read or hear about something, and another is to see it with your own eyes. She could stand there simply admiring that temple of knowledge for hours but more practical companions returned her to reality. "Sistry, it is a city. A very restricted city, very compact but it has everything, including an Inn. Or so I heard. And our pass is this." She showed the book from Charlie to the closest guard, though could not help it to keep glancing inside the keep.

Kris shields her eyes as they emerge from the darkness of the portal.  "Incredible!  That was my first time teleporting anywhere before."  She didn't understand the details of teleportation magic, nor the strange occurrence with the thread, but she supposes magic is full of all sorts of mysteries, and the genie that had given her some magic abilities wasn't exactly the professorial type.

"It's so beautiful," she murmurs, entranced by the site of the colossal library complex.  "I'm sure there are accommodations inside.  One we get in."  If, she thinks to herself.  "Wow, Charlie's book will become part of the Candlekeep library!  He's practically famous now."

The group follows Sistri out of the circle of menhirs and you walk down the road drinking in the site of Candlekeep, before arriving at the front door. Sistri approaches and says her bit. Irmiel has Charlie's book ready, knowing that most require admittance only via a book. However when Sistri pulls out the "coupon" from the package of goods, one of the men in purple vestments nods and steps forward, plucking it smoothly from her hand. He is middle aged, with a black beard, balding head, and bright eyes. You think you see half-elven ears peaking out from his cowl.

"Welcome to Candlekeep. Suzail has made many fine donations to our library and you are thus granted access."  His eyes flicker to the book in Irmiel's hand, "I see that you had come prepared, just in case. Very wise. May I examine your tome?"  Irmiel hands the book over and the man begins flipping pages. The minutes begin to tick by as he skims page. Eventually he nods, and hands the book back. "A fascinating theory and area of study. Social engineering and development is, I believe, the key to our future success as a group of species. Though unknown to me, I believe this book would have been sufficient to gain you passage, had you not already been pre-granted such." 

He steps aside, as do the other men in vestments, making way for you.  Though before you can step forward, the man says, "You are welcome to Candlekeep. You hold the title of Seekers while you are here. You will be assigned an Avowed to act as your guide while you are here. This guide has access to all the resources of the library, with the exception of the vaults that contain the rarest and most dangerous works. Seekers can appeal to higher-ranking Avowed for permission to peruse these off-limits works if so required. Through these gates you will find the Court of Air. There you will find an inn, some shops, smith, and so on, everything you should need for your stay. You will request books from your Avowed guide, and they will fetch them for you. The Pillars of Pedagogy are the series of tower to the north side. They contain all the facilities you may need to read and study. The Emerald Door, and the great library beyond are off limits except by special privilege, which your access does not include. We have several rules for all guests at Candlekeep." 

His hand waves smoothly up to a large stone plaque engraved with four simple rules. 

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.

He then glances at one of the other men in vestments, "Who is up?" 

One of the others nods, "Irony."  

The half-elf nods, then says loudly, "Irony!"   A tiefling who must be barely into his teens, with two short horns and a black tail dragging from under his plain brown robes comes striding out of the doors.  "Irony, these are your latest Seekers. Please show them to the house of rest and answer their questions, and do your duty as guide." 

The halfling speaks in a nasally voice, "Yes sir. Please, Seekers, follow me." 

Sistri thanks the man for granting them entrance.  She doesn't quite understand the exchanges around the book, not knowing much about Candlekeep beyond it being a famous library. Now here though she can see that this is a library beyond any scale she'd imagined.  "It is very good to meet you Irony. Thank you for helping us." She eagerly follows him inside, interested to see more of this place.