Evening in Candlekeep
Chapter 1: Strange Occurrence at the Bath House
The adventurers thanked Bookworm for the dinner and the promised tour of the library. And also, for being willing to let sorrow’s siblings have an extended stay in Candlekeep. They then strolled through the Court of Airs to the Bath House, eager to share the news with Sufferance, Still and Umbra.
They entered the building and made their way over to the hot tub, eager to soak away the lingering effects of their early morning escapade and the muscle tension from sitting and researching during the rest of the day. Seeing Sorrow’s family already soaking, Atalaya eagerly started to disrobe.
Her vambraces removed she looked up to see Vasilya stagger a little as he started tugging at the neck of his tunic under his light leather armor. He looked flushed and uncertain as he started pulling at his armor and clothing. “I’m not feeling well. I feel… I think maybe I should go back to my room.”
“Not alone!” both Atalaya and Nevil admonish simultaneously. Atalaya swiftly maneuvers around her friends to reach Vasilya’s side, takes his arm and peers closely into his face and then looks at Nevil.
Nevil asks Boz: “Is this one of your sight things?”
Boz shakes his head and his hands start tearing at his tunic and scratching around his leather jerkin. Atalaya feels him stagger again and begins looking around for an attendant. Seeing a gentleman standing near the doorway she finds Cirilli. “Find out where there is a private room that we can take Vaz.”
Cirilli races over to the attendant and speaks briefly with him. He rushes over, asking how he can help and whether or not he should send for the healers. We ask for a private place that we can take Boz and for some water. He peeks into the room behind a door near the front of the building. “No one is in here. You can take him in here.”
Atalaya sees a bench across the room from the door we enter. There are additional doors on the end walls of the room. The attendant provides some water and anxiously hangs around. Atalaya directs Cirilli to request fresh cold water and to get him out of the room. She hurries him out and shortly returns with more water and without the attendant.
The rest of us huddle around Vasilya as he continues to pull and claw at his tunic. With help he gets the leather jerkin off and then pulls his shirt over his head. Everyone gasps with shock as we see black feathers starting to sprout from his back.
Boz rolls off the bench, falling to his hands and knees. He then disappears. What is left of his clothing… his pants, belt, dagger and pouches are left on the floor. There seems to be something moving in? under? his clothing. Bird calls from the clothing as Atalaya helps to free a raven. It flips a bit as it tries to move. It moves very clumsily, barely avoiding running into the wall.
It tries to fly, but again its movements are very clumsy. It gets tangled up in Atalaya’s hair as it tries to land on her shoulder. Atalaya, recovering and believing she knows what has happened, works to free his talons from her hair and to get him settled on her shoulder. She then encourages him to move down to her forearm where she hopes that she can both steady him and provide some comfort.
Sorrow asks the Raven if he is his brother and the raven agrees. Cirilli looks even more shocked. Using yes/no questions we are able to determine that the raven is in fact Boz, undergoing the change to a wereraven as the other members of his adopted clan, the Scarlet Sash, do. We determine that he thinks that the change will wear off in a number of hours, not days or months. Sorrow tells us that he will probably learn to control the change with time like the rest of the Scarlet Sash do. He seems the least surprised of all of us at this occurrence.
Atalaya wants to take Boz back to their room in the Firefly Cellar. She asks Sorrow to give Boz’s and her regrets to his siblings and to tell them that she will see them at breakfast tomorrow. Cirilli scouts the main room and finding the way clear, Atalaya carries the raven swiftly out of the bathhouse and heads to the House of Rest. Nevil and Inman flank her and Nevil provides a steady hand whenever she needs it. With her attention on the raven/Boz rather than where she is going, she needs quite a bit of steadying and direction from Nevil.
Sorrow returns to his siblings to give our regrets and make up some type of excuse for our abrupt departure. He sets up the breakfast meeting, but forgets to tell them the news about tomorrow’s activities and that they might be able to extend their stay in Candlekeep for a bit. After spending a brief amount of time with his family Sorrow also makes his way to the Firefly Cellar.
In the room they had been given the previous night, Atalaya and the raven/Boz settle on their bed with Atalaya encouraging Boz to walk around and get used to his raven body. He does so, slowly gaining more and more control. Nevil, Inman and Cirilli watch his progress. When Atalaya feels like he has mastered basic walking she encourages him to try to fly up to her shoulder again. He just manages to do that. Realizing that flights from her shoulder down to the bed would probably be easier at first, Atalaya encourages him to work on that. And then to extend the flight across the room to the empty bed. He manages that and then the return flight to Atalaya. She encourages him to keep working on that.
Nevil questions whether or not Vasilya was told that this would happen. Both Atalaya and Sorrow say that he knew this would occur. Atalaya says something about his being adopted by the Scarlet Sash that included something to bring this about.
Inman and Nevil decide to head upstairs and spend some time looking over the books that Sprig had brought over and left for us. Sorrow stretches out on his bed, and starts to fall asleep. Cirilli also stays watching Boz attempt to control his flights.
Cirilli expresses her concern about what is happening to Boz. We talk about how Aunt Kalusa and my cousin Talina are druids and shape shift. How she has seen Macterah shape shift. Cirilli thinks about that and then says that Grinda shape shifts too. We discuss how it should get easier for Boz as he becomes accustomed to making the change and to controlling this new body. Cirilli slowly becomes accustomed to the idea that Boz can do this new thing.
Krinkle comes by with Bacon sandwiches. Atalaya meets her in the doorway of the room, not allowing her to see into the room and thanks her and takes the tray from her. Atalaya and Cirilli both take a sandwich. Atalaya asks Sorrow if he wants one. He says yes, but makes no move to get up to eat one. Boz begins investigating the sandwich and Atalaya quickly breaks one apart, placing it on the counter near but not on the tray with the rest of the sandwiches. She says, “I bet I know what you want,” and holds out a piece of bacon. Boz takes it and then eats all the parts of the sandwich.
As Boz’s movements become more controlled and he is able to transition from place to place with improved accuracy and without the undertones of frantic movement Atalaya pulls out her Stone of Sending. It was a birthday gift to her from Boz. He hops over to her as she sits thinking about what she will say to Ivar. Finally deciding on what to say and being sure that she has it trimmed down to 25 words she focuses on the stone.
Her message to Ivar is: “Had an interesting day. All are fine. Research will continue. Expect to be here a full ten days. How is the ship? Where are you?
She feels that the message was sent and then sits back to wait for Ivar’s answer. Shortly she hears: “Ship fine. Gave crew shore leave in Skyhorne. Lots of free beer there. Restocking for trip home.”
After a couple of hours Inman and Nevil return to the room.
Atalaya does not make any Goodberries, all her level one spells were used during the morning altercations with Shemshime.
The night passes peacefully.
2nd of Elient
Chapter 2: Morning
Morning dawns above the Firefly Cellar. Atalaya responding to the call of the morning shakes herself out of her trance feeling healed and refreshed. As she shifts to get off the bed, she feels an arm tighten around her waist and pull her close. A slight gasp escapes her as she quickly turns to see a full human and completely nude Vasilya lying next to her. She quickly hopped out of the bed and then made sure that the blankets completely covered him. She then as quickly and as quietly as she could Atalaya prepared herself for the new day. She then placed a clean set of clothes on the bed for Boz. Looking around at her friends and seeing them nestled in their beds she silently slipped out of the room and went in search of sunlight and the sea breezes.
(See story thread)
The others wake up. Nevil, seeing a once again human Vasilya asks, “Boz, how was it?”
Boz answers, “It was a really weird feeling at first. I was kind of panicked. I didn’t know it would come up so fast.”
Nevil: Well you appeared to handle it pretty well. I imagine it would be pretty unsettling to not know when it would happen. Did they give you any clues when it could come on?
Boz: “They told me to be aware of the full moon.”
Nevil: “Well at least it happened at a good time. Did it hurt? Hopefully it wasn't all bad?”
Boz: “Not so bad. I kind of like the flying part.
Nevil: “You’ll get better.”
Boz: “I hope so. The flying in the room was scary at first, but fun.”
Boz explains that for now the change will just occur on the full moon. But he should begin to learn to control it and be able to initiate it at will like Renic once he becomes more familiar with the change.
The group make their way to The Hearth (Atalaya joining them as they walk across the courtyard). Looking around they do not see Sorrow’s siblings or Sprig. They sit at one of the larger tables in the main area and Leaf comes quickly, bringing a pot of coffee and begins filling the coffee mugs sitting at each place setting. Completing that she takes their breakfast order and quickly returns with their food. They are making significant inroads into it as Sprig arrives, carrying a stack of books.
They greet him, grab their plates and coffee mugs and follow him into one of the soundproof rooms. Once the door is closed, Sprig greets us. “Good morning. I have more notes for you.”
Inman says, “I’ve been looking over the notes and drawing the ghost gave us. I’m pretty sure what she drew out is a teleportation circle.
Nevil: “I wonder if he knew what he was doing/”
Inman: “I don’t know.”
We talk about the Wave, Whelm, And Blackrazor, the artifacts we found in White Plume Mountain, Atalaya explaining to Nevil that this was the destination of our trek through Julkoun, Secomber and Zelbross that she had related to her when she first joined us. Sorrow recounts Boz’s “Seeing” that initiated the trip. Inman and Nevil are interested in the story and the fact that we in fact have the artifacts. They look over the notes that Sprig has supplied regarding the items and are shocked at the evilness of Blackrazor. Atalaya agrees, saying that the sword is really creepy. That it wants a new soul to feed on each three days. And that according to the sword it would accept the soul of an animal. None of us are sure that it was telling the truth about that. Nevil thinks the sword should be destroyed. Everyone agrees that would be a good idea once The Eye is destroyed if we can also destroy the sword, we should.
Notes from Sprig:
Wave:
This trident is an exquisite weapon engraved with images of waves, shells, and sea creatures. Although you must worship a god of the sea to wield this weapon, Wave happily accepts new converts. It's energy comes from the element of water.
The weapon can warn or danger and command fish. It can confer water breathing to its wielder.
The weapon is sentient and communicates telepathically with its wielder. It can speak, read, and understand Aquan. It can also speak with aquatic animals as if using a speak with animals spell, using telepathy to involve its wielder in the conversation.
Personality. When it grows restless, Wave has a habit of humming tunes that vary from sea chanteys to sacred hymns of the sea gods.
Wave zealously desires to convert mortals to the worship of one or more sea gods, or else to consign the faithless to death. Conflict arises if the wielder fails to further the weapon's objectives in the world.
The trident has a nostalgic attachment to the place where it was forged, a desolate island called Thunderforge. A sea god imprisoned a family of storm giants there, and the giants forged Wave in an act of devotion to — or rebellion against — that god.
Wave harbors a secret doubt about its own nature and purpose. For all its devotion to the sea gods, Wave fears that it was intended to bring about a particular sea god's demise. This destiny is something Wave might not be able to avert.
Whelm:
Whelm is a legendary warhammer forged by dwarves. It contains the element of earth.
Wielding Whelm causes the wielder to fear the sky.
It can be thrown, and it returns to the wielder's hand. It causes a powerful shockwave upon impact of a target.
Whelm gives its wielder the power to see secret and hidden doors and passages.
The weapon is sentient and communicates telepathically with its wielder. It can speak, read, and understand Dwarvish. Giant, and Goblin. It shouts battle cries in Dwarvish when used in combat.
Personality. Whelm's purpose is to slaughter giants and goblinoids. It also seeks to protect dwarves against all enemies. Conflict arises if the wielder fails to destroy goblins and giants or to protect dwarves.
Whelm has ties to the dwarf clan that created it, variously called the Dankil or the Mightyhammer clan. It longs to be returned to that clan. It would do anything to protect those dwarves from harm.
The hammer also carries a secret shame. Centuries ago, a dwarf named Ctenmiir wielded it valiantly for a time. But Ctenmiir was turned into a vampire. His will was strong enough that he bent Whelm to his evil purposes, even killing members of his own clan.
Blackrazor:
The legendary greatsword Blackrazor shines like a piece of night sky filled with stars. Its black scabbard is decorated with pieces of cut obsidian. It contains the element of air.
The sword is a soul devourer, feasting on the souls of those it slays.
Striking the undead with Blackrazor causes the wounds to appear on the welder. If the welder is killed, Blackrazor will devour their soul.
The weapon is sentient and can speak, read, and understand Common, and can communicate with its wielder telepathically. Its voice is deep and echoing. While you are attuned to it, Blackrazor also understands every language you know.
Personality. Blackrazor speaks with an imperious tone, as though accustomed to being obeyed. The sword's purpose is to consume souls. It doesn't care whose souls it eats, including the wielder's. The sword believes that all matter and energy sprang from a void of negative energy and will one day return to it. Blackrazor is meant to hurry that process along.
Despite its nihilism, Blackrazor feels a strange kinship to the trident Wave and the hammer Whelm, two other sentient weapons. It wants the three weapons to be united again and wielded together in combat, even though it violently disagrees with Whelm and finds Wave tedious.
Blackrazor's hunger for souls must be regularly fed. If the sword goes three days or more without consuming a soul, a conflict between it and its wielder occurs at the next sunset.
Information from Inman and Sprig:
Lord Yellowcrest was away from Waterdeep on business, then returned to find his wife, his sons and daughter, and the manor’s four servants brutally murdered. Shocked into a deep depression by the tragedy, Lord Yellowcrest left Waterdeep to be alone with his grief.
Rumors seemingly spread by members of the City Guard after investigating the murders hinted at some sort of cult activity, but details of the killings were never revealed. No suspects were ever identified or charged.
The Yellowcrest family had a good reputation, with no hint of personal or public impropriety. No one ever accused the grieving Lord Yellowcrest of having any connection to the murders.
Information from Sarah:
Yellowcrest Manor stands on Delzorin Street in Waterdeep’s North Ward.
Lord Viallis and Lady Maria had two sons, Malik and Janus, and one daughter, Tianna.
The family owned several tanneries and shoemaking shops in Waterdeep, but most of its wealth was inherited on Maria’s side.
Lord Viallis’s closest business associate was an elf named Faerl, who visited Lord Viallis twice a tenday.
Sarah had a romantic relationship with a young squire named Vecken, who lived close to the manor on Immar Street.
Chapter 3: Morning continued
We continue to try to integrate all the information that we have uncovered so far. We talk about what Sarah told us and her wanting to be put to rest. We feel like she was killed for what she oversaw and feel that her lord was connected to the Vecna cult. We decided that we must go to Waterdeep to figure out what was happening. We discuss whether or not it is safe for Atalaya and Vasilya to be there. Someone points out that Inman might be able to at least smooth things out for Boz with the guard in Waterdeep. In the end we decide to have Cirilli stay here in Candlekeep with Sorrow’s siblings and for the rest of us to go to Waterdeep. We hope to go and return in a single day. We plan to go tomorrow morning. Sprig reminds us that there is a teleportation circle here in Candlekeep that will take us to the library in Waterdeep. We decide to ask Bookworm about using it when we tour the library this afternoon.
Sorrow’s siblings join us. We clear away all the notes that Sprig brought and any that we added while discussing what we are discovering and the information about the artifacts that we have found.
Nevil asks them what they think about the news. The siblings look confused. Sorrow never did tell them about it last night. Nevil explains that they are going to get a trial extended stay here in Candlekeep. At least it looks good that they will be getting that. Bookworm was amenable to the idea, but must discuss it with others in the Avowed.
Sufferance says that he is liking it here. He says “It’s exciting.” Still says that he is making friends. “I like it here.” Umbra agrees that she could stay here for a while. It doesn’t sound like she would want to stay here permanently, but it seems to be a good place to hide away from her family for a bit.
Nevil then tells them that we have been offered a tour of the actual library behind the Emerald Gate, and asks if any of them are interested in attending. The siblings, including Umbra express interest, even extreme interest in seeing what lies beyond the Emerald Gate.
Atalaya asks Cirilli what she wants to do this morning, offering the choices of more research with the rest of us or spending time with Still. She chooses to spend time with Still. After everyone finishes eating we head out to do our separate research. Plans are made to meet at the Emerald Gate sometime between 11:30 and noon. The tour is planned for noon and no one wants to miss it by being late.
Atalaya, Nevil, Inman, Boz and Sorrow head back to the room that Sprig had prepared for us yesterday and continue working our way through the books that Sprig has brought and looking through his notes. There are bells that ring, marking time and when they indicate that it is 11:30 we quickly straighten up the books and our notes and make our way to the Emerald Gate to meet Cirilli, Sorrow’s siblings. The air is filled with anticipation as we wait for Bookworm to arrive.
Chapter 4: Exploring Behind the Emerald Gate
He greets us and asks if we are ready. Everyone eagerly agrees and he opens the doors to the inner area of Candlekeep. The Emerald Doors are huge and look to be made of green crystal… emeralds? As we step inside and he closes the doors we stand aping in awe as we try to take in what we are seeing. The place is huge. There are columns and towers and there is a fairy tale castle ahead of us. Bookworm explains that this is Exaltation.
Exaltation is where the Avowed live and work. The library is all around that. It begins just north of the entrance from the Emerald Gate and spreads out to the east, north and west sides of the castle. To the south the area is filled with parks, trees and flowing water.
As Bookworm guides us through the area he explains the history of Candlekeep and all the libraries. He takes us into a few of them. They are beautiful and stuffed full of books. The shelves go to the ceiling and are made of dark wood. Some of the shelves are 100 feet tall. We see floating discs with books on them moving through the libraries. There are more floating drift globes like in the area where our research room is located. We also see a weird looking creature that Bookworm tells us is a Monodrone. He explains that they are organic creatures from another plane of existence. There are 13 of them in Candlekeep. The one we see is carrying and placing a single volume before flying off to get another one. Bookworm says that they can only shelve one book at a time, but that it always goes into the correct place. Bookworm says that they escaped from their plane of existence and found shelter here in Candlekeep. They are beings of absolute law. They can only manage one book at a time. He adds that “They don’t make mistakes.”
At one point Bookworm says that Candlekeep has lots of secrets.
At some point Nevil asks him about using the portal to Waterdeep to handle Sarah’s request to be put to peace. When Bookworm seems confused Atalaya reminds him that we told him about the book we found yesterday at dinner last night. He remembers the conversation then and agrees that we can use the portal. He repeats that Candlekeep owes us.
After touring us around for a while, Bookworm asks us if we want to meet Miirym.
We ask him who Mirym is. He says that in the basement is a silver dragon. We immediately expressed interest in meeting her. Bookworm seems pleased. He leads us down many many many stair cases until it smells and feels like we are reaching the level underground of the water table. He leads us into a crypt somewhat like the Firefly Cellar.
As we enter he calls out, “Mer, I brought you some guests. Come out and speak. I feel like you have a lot to talk about.
To our amazement what we see is a spirit form of an ancient looking silver dragon. Silver mist fills the room. Her wings are Big Wings.
Miirym: “Well met. I love visitors. Have you come to say hello?
Nevil answers her: “We couldn't pass up an opportunity to meet one such as yourself.”
Miirym tells us that she has been here for fifteen hundred years.
She is a beautiful thing. We are all standing there with our mouths open, barely able to put a coherent thought together.
Miirym continues: “I keep watch over this place. Welcome to my horde.
Nevil asks if she means the books here in this crypt.
Miirym replies that she means all the books of Candlekeep are her horde. She adds that, “I always welcome those who seek knowledge.”
Bookworm bows to her. He then explains that Miirym broke into Candlekeep years ago because she wanted to add the books to her horde. She never left.
Miirym thanks us for visiting her. She adds, “I am still here to protect Candlekeep from any invaders. It is my destiny I guess.” She also adds, “Our hordes are always under threat. It is a worthy treasure.”
Nevil flatters, ”Such generosity to allow others to benefit from such a vast treasure. An unparalleled horde most certainly. With such vast amounts of knowledge at one's fingertips, and millennia to seek, what is your favorite subject of study?”
Miirym replies coyly, “I have many interests.
Bookworm finishes our tour and we go back to continue researching… have dinner and settle for the night.
Atalaya will make Goodberries tonight. She is very glad that no spells were used today. She makes a total of 32 Goodberries.
3rd of Elient
Chapter 5: Morning
We have breakfast and say goodbye to Cirilli, assuring her that we will be careful and back soon. She looks worried, but scampers off with Still forcefully intent on having fun.
Bookworm meets us at the Emerald Gate and takes us to the building that holds the portal. He reminds us that it will take us to the Fount of Knowledge, the library in Waterdeep. The portal is translucent. We can see a dim shadowy image of a library. Taking a breath full of anticipation we approach the portal.
Game ends
