"Thank you!" Irmiel made sure to pack the book back. One day Charlie might make his work a part of the great library, but not today - the book proved to be too precious to gift it on top of the already valid tickets. But it was good to know the book was valid. "All reasonable rules." Of course, there could not be any objection to such obvious requests. She looked at their guide.

"Irony." The guards were not joking but calling the name. "Nice to meet you. I am Irmiel, and these are Sistri, Kris," (she still tried not to mention Kristafelle's full name. Just in case.) "and Llwyd." Irmiel smiled friendly. "Could you please show us the Inn first? Just to leave our stuff there and maybe decide where to go. Are you familiar with the catalogues and can point specific sections, or will only escort us to librarians?"

Irony looks over at Irmiel as he leads the group through the main gates, through the thick walls of the citadel, and into a large, wide open courtyard.  There are several buildings clustered to the south, a gate to the north, and a large green gate on the far side. Otherwise this courtyard seems largely and rather empty.  Irony says in his nasaly voice, but with as much grandeur as the teen can summon, "The court of Air!"   Then he casually points about the place, "Uuuh, there's the blacksmith, House of Rest, the Hearth, it's a tavern, bath and steam house, temple, and the House of the Binder where you can have books copied for some money. Over there on the right is a store. The gateway on the right over there leads to the Pillars of Pedagogy where you can find private places to study and read. The main library is through the Emerald door, which you aren't allowed to go to. Since I'm your guide, I access the library for you. You ask for books, then I go fetch them from the library. I sign them out for you, and bring them back out and you can read them in the Pillars. When you want more books, I return the others and fetch more. You don't get direct access to the library yourselves. Wanna go to the House of Rest and get a room?  We've had a bunch of visitors from Candlekeep in the past couple days. Parmak over there," he points to a young man sitting on a crate just outside the door to the Pillars. The man seems entirely lost in a book. "He is a guide for some guy from the Black Talons. And over there, that is Fembris Larlancer."  He points to another young man standing outside the Hearth. When he sees Irony point, he brightens up considerably and waves with a super big smile on his face. "Ug. He is leading some guy around from Terry's Terrible Twosome. Some Flaming Fist reps showed up too, but they apparently had connections, cause one of the most senior avowed, and a member of the Candlekeep Council, Alkrist, granted them direct access to the library, so they're probably through the emerald doors reading in the main library somewhere." 

The first idea the name Candlekeep brought to his mind was that of a castle made of wax. He knew, of course, that such a thing was nigh impossible and expected the famed library simply had towers with the appearance of candles. Maybe it was because the portal had put them far too close, but looking at the fort, he didn’t find in them any likelihood to a candle. In fact, he was mostly unimpressed. Compared to the opulence of the royal castle in Suzail this place seemed bland. A notion he decided to keep to himself, noticing how excited the others, specially Irmiel, looked to be.

The check up in the gate was fast and soon their guide arrived. The wizard made the presentations while the druid took noticed of the inside of the citadel. Irony seemed to have been named like he was, or at least in a similar manner. Llwyd decided he liked that. It was a little sign that if one tries there is always a connection to be found.

“The half-elf at the gate did mention that one needs special privilege to access these Emerald Doors, but did not say what one can do to attain it.” He remembered as the tiefling mentioned the green doors, before turning his eyes towards her. ““But what if ask for a large number of books? Will you have to carry them all by yourself?”

"And how many books altogether can we ask for? I mean, in a single request? Also... Does the library work all they long? Nights too? No breaks? And what about you?" All the questions were asked on the way to the House of Rest. Should there be free access to the books, Irmiel would probably go straight to the library, but the books were off-limits and nothing was distracting the half-elf wizard from the search for accommodation first. 

The sore could be also an interesting place to visit, but maybe later. The group deserved a good rest with a good supper and a lot of questions to their guide.

Sistri had questions as well, though with her newfound friends asking so many, she held back for the moment.  Accommodations and eventually some food seemed like a good place to start. 

Walking across the courtyard she wondered, as Llwyd had asked, how they might get access beyond the Emerald door.  That seemed like quite the advantage to grant the Flaming Fists. She doubted her Order would have pull for such a thing.  Maybe Irmiel would be able to - she seemed like a scholarly type.

Kris smiles inwardly as the man approves Charlie’s book.  “I just knew Charlie’s book would be good!  We must make sure to tell him his work is worthy of Candlekeep!  He might to visit himself in the future.”

“Hello, Irony!  I’m Kris!  Pleased to meet you.”  Kris offers a handshake in lieu of curtsey.   

She perks up at the mention of the bath and steam house.  “There is a… spa?  We don’t have to study every minute, do we?   We can work in shifts to allow others to rest, or have a bath!”  And maybe a massage, she thinks.

Irony seems to be trying to stay professional, but gingerly places his hand out to Kris and receives a vigorous shake which seems to stun him a bit, followed further by her excitement about the bath house. "Spa...?  I mean...I suppose...I don't know what a spa is....but...i suppose you could get a massage there?"  The question in his voice revealing his utter cluelessness about such things, and likely about much of the world if he's spent most of his life in a library. 

He walks you all into the House of Rest while answering questions. The rustic accommodations of the Inn include both private rooms and common rooms. In addition to comfortable lodgings, the House of Rest offers guests peace and quiet, it's clear. Nobody here is drinking or eating or making much noise. There are several cubbies with a chair, table, lamp, and quiet. The man at the front desk is apparently a half-sheep...with curled horns and curly white fur instead of hair that travels down his back. He's dressed nicely enough. Llwyd recognizes him as a Bariaur.  He whisper talks to the group as they enter. 

"Common room is 2 copper for the night. Private rooms, single, double, or for four run 1 silver per person per night. Food can be found at the Hearth, as well as....more vigorous conversation. Quiet hours in the House of Rest are 24 hours a day.  We do have a small extension to the library below in the Firefly Cellar if you're looking for something to read or prefer picking out your own books."  He glances meaningfully at Irony. 

Irony meanwhile, as the group purchases rooms, continues answering questions in a whispering tone.  "You can ask for up to 2 books each. Yes, I have to carry them all, but....I can make several trips, don't worry.  I work from 6am until 9pm. Outside those hours, you just have to read what you have.  Access to the main library and past the Emerald door?  I mean, I don't really know how one arranges such a thing. Usually people plead their case to the door man at the Emerald door...or..they know someone already.  You know?" 

"Pleading... Hmmm..." It had some potential, but first things first. Irmiel chose a single room - she did intend to discuss what everyone read but first, you need to read it. Preferably, in peace and quiet. "What time is it now? We are a bit off with the teleporting. But if you still work, can we get as many books as possible about known Netheresian cities? If there are works specifically about Lathery, Jethaere, Jockteleg, Selunarra, and Spiel, then those but please, make sure no one but you and librarians knows what we are asking for. Also... " It seemed pointless now but Irmiel could not give up so easily, "about the High Melt Lake. And maybe the frozen Narrow sea that used to be in its place."

Irony nods, "Um, it's just past 6pm.  Yeah, did you know that time travels across the world, chasing itself from east to west. Your old selves are probably still standing back in Cormyr, about to travel here! When you travel westward with teleportation, you travel BACK in time, and then if you travel eastward you travel FORWARD in time.  There's a book about it, it's quite amazing. Anyway, ok, so you want information on ancient history, the netheril age. Or, local books about the geographical region of High Melt Lake.  You're going to have to write those city names down for me.  I should be able to find you a couple of books before I'm off tonight.  And you don't want me to chat about what you're researching. Ok...though I know that the terrible two's guy is definitely searching for the same thing. It might be quicker for me to ask Fembris since he's already been lookin for these books....but I'd have to tell him what I'm lookin for, so if you don't want me to say anything, i'll have to look myself."

"Oh, you can freely ask your Fembris about netheresians in general - please, do ask even! - just do not name him specific cities. And the lake, Ok? And do not lose this paper." Irmiel listed the cities for Irony on a small piece of paper. "You know, later I might ask about that "time-book" you mentioned. Sounds intriguing." She fancied herself sort of an expert in the field but it never hurt to see what others think on the matter.

Sistri gives Irmiel a brief stare as she tells Irony about all the Netherese cities and the specific geographic areas they were interested in. But then again, how else would they get the books they wanted. "Irony, we just don't want information about what we're researching to go to other visitors to the library.  But with the Flaming Fist on the other side of the Emerald  Door, won't they just be able to see everything we've asked for? And what happens if all the books on our subject have already been taken?" 

She will arrange to have a private single room for herself, hopefully close at hand to the others. 

Irmiel seems to have the details of the request covered.  "I think it would be fun to share a room," Kris offers to Irmiel and Llwyd.  She also looks toward Sistri.  "I'm not shy.  Also, it will be easier to confer on our reading.  And..." she hesitates.  "It would be safer.  With the Netherese themselves in the region, and all these mercenary bands competing for the information, who knows what might happen."

Irony gives Sistri an offended look, though....not that offended, "Candlekeeps knowledge is shared with everyone on an equal basis!  Any other visitor that wants the same information will be able to get the same books. Though the Flaming Fist people may be on the other side of the Emerald door in the library....the place is very extensive, and the chance they'd even see me, let alone be able to watch what books I find is not..you know...big. It's small. They won't even know. And there is no book hoarding at Candlekeep. Even behind the door, they're only allowed to remove two books at a time from the shelves or risk getting kicked out. You are all very paranoid. Check it at the door. Candlekeep is safe and protected, and you're all going to be fine. Now, I'll go look for these first few books."   Irony heads off, leaving the group to discuss rooms, with Kris seemingly wanting to share a room.

 “We are not that paranoid, Irony. It’s just that we were inside one of the buildings that was recently target by the Netherese. It was a government structure in the very capital of Cormyr. We saw the attack happen, fought it even. We are still in alert because of that.” He explained to the Tiefling in a soft voice. One could never be too cautious and if the attack on Suzail had show something was that those mages of yore could attack when and where one expects the least. A fact he kept to himself, not wanting to incite the Avowed to speak further and more passionately about his confidence on Candlekeep’s security. “Now talking about books, if you can ask the other guides, not only Fembris, about what the other companies are seeing I believe your search may become faster and demand that you carry less books. I wish I could help with the weight.”

Llwyd was genuine in his comment. The idea of forcing their guide to literally carry alone the weight of their research didn’t sit well with him. Still, he understood there was nothing to do about it. The formality at the gates was enough to show that the library wouldn’t bend their rules.

“I agree with Kris on basically everything. Also, should we look into the Anauroch?”

Sistri considers Kris' suggestion about sharing a room. "I suppose our cost is the same to share a room, but we'd have a private space to discuss our research and discoveries.  If Irmiel is okay with the idea, I'll go along with it."  She watches Irony go, hoping he is correct about there being plenty of books to go around.  Her experience in Suzail made her skeptical, although she had to admit Irony was right about how big the place was.

It takes Irony longer than you expect to return with some books. The group manages to secure a single room for the four of them, and drop their heavy bags of traveling gear in the rooms. Soon enough though, you find yourselves twiddling your thumbs and making small talk as you wait for the Tiefling teen to return. The sky darkens outside and magical flame in sconces alights around the courtyard and amongst the buildings, casting a warm yellow glow about the space. Lights can be seen twinkling from the many tower windows.  

Occasionally other Avowed or other Seekers move about the courtyard, to and from the Pillars of Pedagogy, or amongst the Hearth and the House of Rest. You have a fairly clear view of the courtyard from your third floor room which lets you keep an eye out for Irony's return. You watch as a man in a black cloak, wearing dark brown leather armor, a rapier clinking at his side, emerges from the towers. He is no more interesting than any other folk until you see Fembris the Avowed approach the man with an overly happy smile and a dopey wave.  The man hands a book back to Fembris and though you can't hear the interactions, the slump in Fembris' shoulders reveal that the man in the dark cape is disappointed for some reason. Fembris heads off with the book, heading for the Emerald Doors.  The man walks away into the Hearth tavern. 

Do anything else while you wait? 

"Competitor," commented Irmiel. "You know, we have an advantage here - our biggest competitors are well known and even advertise themselves with the emblems and stuff. We do not. Does anyone want to talk to this man? Does not look like he learned something (yet) but his guide has access to Emerald Doors..." Irmiel was many things but charming conversations were not her forte and here the situation called for subtlety.

"As he's a competitor, do you think we'd get anything from talking to him?" Sistri asks.  "Although..."

Suddenly the thought occurred to her that with the information General Silvermace had mentioned,  maybe they all should all work together.  "Do you think these groups might work together? It might hurt our money making, but if there's a danger to the Weave, perhaps people should come together."

Irmiel looked towards the Emerald Doors very skeptically. "Doubtful. They are adventurers, mercenaries after the money and glory." She probably had to say "we" but it would take some time to get used to being an official "adventurer". "Should that be a group of paladins of Mystra I'd believe for them to care, but like this... Unlikely. Still, can be the first question, like "why don't you all work together?" I think. So, who is willing to ask it?" Irmiel was realistic about her own abilities here. 

"I can,"  Sistri volunteers. "Though I wonder if Fembris would be more helpful.  She watches the Avowed heading for the Emerald Door. 

"There's also the books downstairs. We could at least try our luck until Irony is back. But first we'll give talking to this competitor a chance."

Sistri would then quickly head downstairs to try to intercept the man,  wherever he was going.  She's hoping one of the others will accompany her.  She eyes Irmiel, hesitating before leaving.