Candlekeep
Candlekeep was the famous library-fortress that stood proud as a bastion of enlightenment and knowledge on the Sword Coast for many centuries. It housed a magnificent collection of books and scrolls of lore, considered the greatest collection of the writings in all of Faerûn. The keep was the home of the Avowed, a group of renowned scholars and people of learning.
The city has its own currency, which is accepted at many major cities in the area.
Demographics
The Avowed
Roughly three hundred Avowed live in Candlekeep. The majority of them are low-level assistantts, newcomers to the order, or scribes who handle the everyday work in the keep.Sages and Master Sages
Candlekeep's resident lore experts are master sages and sages who dedicate themselves to scholarship above all.Keeper of Tomes
The Keeper is the highest-ranking member of the Avowed and the governor of Candlekeep. A Keepr of Tomes chooses their own replacement. If a Keeper dies or departs before making that choice, the council of Gread Readers votes to determine who among them is elevated to that position. Tie votes are broken by the First Reader. The current Keeper of Tomes is the human archmage Janussi, a devoted follower of Denir, the god of knowledge.First Reader
The first Reader constantly expands Candlekeep's literary resources and base of knowledge. Acquiring unique tomes and scrolls falls under the First Reader's purview. The current First Reader Bookwyrm, a dragonborn master sage of green dragon ancestry.Great Readers
Candlekeep maintains a council of eight Great Readers, senior Avowed who oversee day-to-day operations. These erudite scholars and gifted spellcasters are chosen from the ranks of Master Readers. Each is acknowledged as Candlekeep's foremost expert on a particular area of study.Master Readers
They oversee the scribes and teach the adjutants. These learned Avowed possess tremendous institutional knowledge.Chanter
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. It's led by either the Chanter or a hand-picked subordinate. The current Chanter is a middle-aged shield dwarf priest of Milil (god of poetry and song) named Benedora Stoneforge.Gatewarden
The Gatewarden maintains security at the front gates, through which all visitors must enter. The current Gatewarden is Kalan Strongbranch, a human archmage.Defences
Candlekeep is fortified by a fifty-foot-tall, fifteen-foot-thick, iron-reinforced stone wall with a double gate facing east. Although most of the Avowed are humble scholars, a number of potent spellcasters fill critical posts.
Districts
The Court of Air is a wide courtyard that contains several important locations where seekers and tourists alike reside until they gain access to the Library Proper within the Inner Ward.
Tourism
Any person seeking entrance to Candlekeep and access to its resources is aptly named a "Seeker". Anyone attempting to gain access must submit something to its vast library that it does not already contain. Exceptions can be made for rare or unique versions of existing texts.
Architecture
This massive citadel has endured the elements for centuries and defied the degradations of time. For miles around, Candlekeep has an eye-catching silhouette: a high wall interspersed with towers.
Geography
Candlekeep stands atop a rocky crag overlooking the Sea of Swords
Natural Resources
Why, Knowledge, of course!
Type
City
Population
1,000
Location under
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