Candlekeep Role-Play

[Hidennka]

*A sealed letter is to be delivered to Candlekeep by an errand boy. He waits patiently at the gates until the Reader Laitae is available to receive it personally, instructed to give it to none other than her.*

<PM sent>

[flying-aces]

Acolyte Sorfeil Sal'adonan, often seen perusing the books in the Acolytes quarters, seems quite engrossed in some sort of reading most of the time. However when she isn't busy with her nose in books she cheerfully starts cleaning up the acolytes quarters or heads over to the infirmary to apply her knowledge of healing or to learn more about the art of medicine from the nurse. Always a bit inquisitive when approached, though in a friendly way as if she's really just curious about specific things. Those who interact with her however, mention that she tends to go on about useless facts a bit, and gets easily sidetracked when something she considers interesting occurs to her or she comes across something that she doesn't know an answer to.

[Deathgrowl]

A red haired female elf was seen leaving Candlekeep along with another hooded female elf and two plate armoured apparently human men. Upon coming outside the wards of Candlekeep, they all teleported away.

[Deathgrowl]

In the middle of the night, light bursts out from the side of the road where the path up to Candlekeep meets the cliffs along the coast, and three figures materialize out of it. A tiny red haired female elf, and two plate wearing apparent humans a female and a male. They exchange some words, smiling, before the elf starts walking up towards candlekeep and the two knights walk the other direction.

[Hitman Hard]

Guide Teo,

After receiving certain information in regard to Candlekeep-- I am compelled out of duty to bring truth to the masses and vertify the validity of these claims. Just know if you agree to meet me it shall be scribed for the first edition of The Herald.

With Regard,
Valiant Blinncraft

[NegInfinity]

Red-haired tiefling known as "Raven" arrives in Candlekeep library with a book she would like to donate.... in exchange for library access.

((PM sent

[Arakis]

Few days ago

*Packing has become the activity that she indulges in quite often as of late, but the girl does not mind. Accompanied by quiet humming she wraps the small piles of books in paper and places them into the box, from time to time she glances up to look at the former warlock sitting slightly hunched at his desk. Redhead can feel a smile creeping on her lips so she retrieves to her packing responsibilities, trying so hard to shake off the irrational feeling of being somehow victorious. She is well aware that even if she was a vector in his decision it wasn't like she made him to do this to hurt Teo. Still it brings a half-ironic smile to her lips when she lets her thoughts go this way. The girl run her fingers through the long waves of fiery hair then gets back to her task, putting those limited belongings into the box, securing each one with a wrapping and a string. Once she is done, she just sits on the carefully closed box, waiting. Time passes by slowly, but after a while he motions her over, so she finds herself standing at his side, glancing over his shoulder at the letter, green eyes traveling across the parchment. Redhead hands him an envelope and then she places a seal on it, to close it off. They both look around the room, that once was their home, for the last time before their departure. Few minutes later the former warlock, and soon-to be, former Reader of Candlekeep places a letter of resignation addressed to the Guide in the little wooden correspondence box. Blue skinned tiefling and his hooded companion leave Candlekeep's ground without hurry. Once they crossed the gate girl chuckles softly, turning her head to face the former warlock.*

"So.. Pirates you say?" *her tone playful*
"You sure like to get your way snips..."
"Oh... You have no idea...whatsoever.." *Young woman smiles crookedly in the shadow of her hood before placing a mask on her face* "Yar Yar..."

[Tsidkenu]

A blue and white robed individual knocks on Reader Laitae's door in Candlekeep, querying whether she might assist her in the common matter they share in Beregost.

---------
*typed from my phone. I will be away until tuesday

[XyrisMourn]

There was noticeably less traffic on the road up to Candlekeep over the last few days, and those that did reach the gates were grumbling and complaining. The gate guards took note of the sour faces, but took no other action as less traffic meant they didn't have to venture out of their dry guard's room to inspect arrivals in the rain. It was only when one of those travellers mentioned the source of their displeasure to Gorion that awareness reached the scholars of the Keep themselves.

It seems a small group of bandits had set up what they referred to as a 'road resurfacing tax' at the crossroads with the Tradeway. A gnomish wizard calling himself Hannazathrall the Almighty, with a couple of pet golems and a beardless dwarven guard were gathering coin on Candlekeep's behalf... apparently to resurface the road.

Clearly a number of travellers had been apprehended by these men, and fleeced for taxes, but by the time the Candlekeep guard passed the road on patrol, the bandits had moved on.

...Will they be back? Will they have another cunning plan? Even the seers of Candlekeep cannot divine their nefarious plans...

[7threalm]

A few dwarves from Kraak Helzak can be seen entering candlekeep, then exiting an hour later.

[7threalm]

hours later, Kebur Balderden delivers a book called "What is Moradin", and leaves it with one of the scribes

"The Book Reads"

Hidden: show

“What’s Moradin? Well to be a dwarf is to be Moradin, and to be Moradin is to be a dwarf… Trying to explain it any more than that is like trying to describe the colour of gold to a blind man. You both get frustrated, and accomplish nothing other than ending up a few hours older.” Gerrath Deep-Law Dwarven priest speaking to the high theurge of Pelor.

Moradin (or Mörádŗiin in old dwarven) is quite unlike human gods, indeed quite unlike any other gods known to exist. Most humans have anthropomorphized Moradin, imagining him as some smith obsessed with honour and law attempting to give him a personality, goals and a series of edicts similar to their own gods but the truth is both much simpler and more complex than that. Moradin actually means “Dwarf” in the ancient dwarven language and rather than being a god who can act directly in the world Moradin is both an exemplar and an amalgamation of the ‘perfect’ dwarf. Dwarves speak of achieving Moradin, or following Moradin, but when they do so they are speaking about the various standards of behaviour, traditions and honour that govern their lives, not a physical deity. There are no holy books in Moradin’s name, no prayers or rituals, and certainly no evangelism but rather a perfect being who exists only in philosophy and represents everything that an individual dwarf wishes to be. Every dwarf has a slightly different understanding of what Moradin represents and generally speaking, does his or her personal best to live up to those standards.

It is not abundantly clear where dwarven clerics draw their power from, the dwarves don’t talk about it, and it’s unclear if even they fully understand. What is clear is that in addition to being extremely rare, a dwarf is either a cleric or he is not; the dwarf himself seems to have little say in the matter. A dwarf will generally ‘become’ a cleric during the ritual he undergoes when joining his warrior society, even a dwarf probably couldn’t explain how it happens or even what happens when it does… It just is, and for the most part Dwarves seem happy to leave it at that. One popular theory among those familiar with Moradin is that some dwarves have a certain connection with Moradin within them, which allows them to draw on the collective history and power of the dwarves as a race to cast spells, but this is unproven. Dwarven clerics are typically driven into different spheres of priestly power depending on their own personal beliefs and what they value as individuals though the practicality of their nature means that the divination sphere is almost always closed off to them.

That said there are generally accepted standards of what Moradin represents. To achieve Moradin a dwarf must follow the ancient laws, sagas and traditions that govern his people. These have been handed down orally over the generations and they are so engrained in the dwarven psyche that dwarves who break their laws will more often than not turn themselves in rather than face the personal dishonour of having failed Moradin. Most dwarves would rather face a decade of indentured servitude for having broken an oath, rather than face the personal shame of having dishonoured themselves.

Dwarven laws are relatively simple (at least to dwarves) and most centre around the making and keeping of oaths. Only the most basic rules for civil behaviour are actually codified, and even fewer of those are written down, instead simply being backed up by the weight of tradition and collective memory.

It is important to note however that most Dwarves have little or no real respect for laws other than their own, and do not apply their own standards of behavior to non-dwarves. They generally follow the local laws, but only out of convenience and the fact that many of them generally coincide with their own standards of behavior. That said, a dwarf is perfectly content turning a blind eye to other peoples indiscretions so long as they do not run afoul of another oath that the dwarf has already sworn, after all it's their honor at stake, not the dwarves . For example if a companion of a dwarf steals something from a shopkeeper the dwarf won’t likely turn him in, but if that same companion steals from an employer who the dwarf has promised to protect he would be honour bound to intervene. It works the other way too, a dwarf who has sworn to help a friend will lie, cheat and steal to keep that oath, even if that friend runs afoul of other 'unimportant' laws.

[Tsidkenu]

A rather friendly pigeon arrives at Candlekeep and bobs about near the fountain outside the library cooing incessantly. Upon further inspection a small tube seems to have been tied to its leg with the name "Laitae" enscribed upon it in the Espruar Elven script.

[Tsidkenu]

A scroll arrives for Reader Laitae in Candlekeep, rolled and sealed in blue wax with the imprint of the seven-pointed star of Mystra.

[Grimcheese]

A young woman huffs and puffs as she stumbles up to the gates of the insular library and fortress, an oilskin sack slung over one shoulder. To the armoured men watching over the gates, she reaches up to slip a sheet of paper and card through the eye-slats.

Once assured that the missives are in their possession, she turns to run back through beetle country.

[ I'll have the PMs ready before two hours, cross my heart Sent. ]

[Synde]

A letter is left at the desk of the library addressed to the acolytes of Candlekeep

I write in regards to a matter of urgency. I have recently been involved in a series of events that cause me great concern. I had previously left a letter ((IG)) but have not yet received a reply. Circumstances however, have evolved, and I now have reason to believe that your library may be in direct danger. I cannot risk writing more, as my knowledge, though limited, may be the only advantage I hold against my foes. I implore you to seek me out. I can often be found at the Friendly Arms Inn. If I am not there you may leave a letter with the Inn-keep. Address it to W. Stone. ((PM me))

~Warren Stonebrook