Candlekeep

Candlekeep is a famous library-fortress that has stood proud as a bastion of enlightenment and knowledge on the Sword Coast for many centuries. It houses a magnificent collection of books and scrolls of lore, considered the greatest collection of the writings in all of Faerûn. The keep is the home of the Avowed, a group of renowned scholars and people of learning, that revered great seer Alaundo and his collection of prophecies that foresaw many great events that passed throughout the ongoing history of the Realms.
“Those who destroy knowledge, with ink, fire, or sword, are themselves destroyed.” — Candlekeep's one absolute rule.
Candlekeep is a spectacular sight from the surrounding lands, a formidable fortress that comprises scores of towers, of varying heights and styles. The keep's skyline rises high above the coast, set within formidable walls of stone and iron. Its numerous towers ascend into the skies above, creating a unique silhouette against the skies over the coastal sea.
The keep's enormous double gates, which stand three times as tall as a man, form its main entrance facing east. Its doors are forged from a strange black metal, each of which features the sigil of Candlekeep, the image of castle with flames set atop each of its towers.
Immediately beyond the imposing front gates is the Court of Air, a vast cobblestone courtyard around which are Candlekeep's establishments and amenities that cater to visitors and "Seekers", those who arrive with the purpose of finding knowledge and wisdom.
To venture beyond the Court of Air into the sheltered Inner Ward of Candlekeep, Seekers must pass through the magnificent, and magically-protected Emerald Door. The Inner Ward houses the Great Library of Candlekeep, the great repository of knowledge known far and wide across the Realms, along with the personal living quarters of the keep's Avowed.
Beneath the keep is a series of secured chambers used for spellcasting, catacombs, sewers, and subterranean passageways inhabited by unusual creatures. Deepest of these is the Chamber of Lost Lore, a continually-illuminated room that allows those with permission to commune with long-deceased scholars and sages.
Geography Candlekeep is situated upon a rocky outcropping on a narrow peninsula from the cliffside along the Sea of Swords. The path leading to its entrance is called the Way of the Lion, which extends from the Coast Way along the Sword Coast. The keep is located south of Baldur's Gate.
The library-fortress rests atop a volcanic crag that juts out from the side of the Sea of Swords. Set within this volcanic rock is a series of tombs and sepulchers that serve as the resting place for a number of Candlekeep's sages.
The western side of Candlekeep is sometimes bombarded with mist and waters from the Sea of Swords, and ices over during winter. During these cold months, several of these towers may be abandoned as they become too hazardous to live within.
Government While Candlekeep does not possess a true government as a village of similarly-sized settlement might, the monks of the Avowed are led by a group of their order who ascended the ranks on a meritocratic basis. While all of the Avowed swore themselves to protect the keep and the contents of its halls, their leadership makes allowances for them to fulfill their duties with structure and order. The Keeper of Tomes is the highest-ranked member of the order, an individual who appoints those believed well-suited to take on leadership roles within. In all practical applications, their word is considered law in Candlekeep.
The Keeper is served by the First Reader, who tirelessly works to obtain new books, scrolls, and other pieces to add to the libraries' collections; along with the Great Readers, eight learned sages that are each considered to be the premier authority in their selected field of study and research.
In addition to Candlekeep's absolute rule, forbidding the destruction of knowledge, Seekers and other visitors are asked to abide by the Orders of Accordance, a set of rules that are enforced by banishment. Violence, theft, and the damage or copying of any documents in the library's collection are not tolerated under any circumstances.

Aliases
Derogatory: Citadel of Lies Castle of Tomes
Region
Sword Coast, The Steadfast, Western Heartlands
Major Imports Books
Major Exports Knowledge, books, spellbooks
Politics Meritocracy Ruler: Keeper of Tomes