Candlekeep Role-Play

[Tsidkenu]

After having some lengthy discussions around the keep, first with Laitae in the Guide's office, then with Alexandra in the Avowed Quarters, Aeili would exit the fortress as far as the gatehouse with Rilae'ar'an after the latter was told to leave the keep by Laitae. She later returned from the gatehouse and met with Sveta Asperan and Celestia in the Inn for some some. Finally, the Mystran was seen dashing through the streets of the Library-fortress and she rushed out of the main gate. With a flash of teleportation magic, she was gone for the moment.

[Pimple]

Not long past noon on the 8th of Flamerule, the elf Sirion Te'Dwa enters Candlekeep with a bag of undead body parts to be delivered to Maddy Thunderkeg. After a few hours talking to the gate warden by the fountains outside the library, he leaves the bag with one of the guards, trusting it will be taken where it needs to be. The bag contains the head of the lich Chaos, the hand of a nightwalker, the torso, hand and heart of different vampires, as well as an undead chicken.

He leaves together with the recently returned physician, Zullo, apparently headed for Doron Amar. Later, he pays a very brief visit to Candlekeep once more, with a letter addressed to Alexandra Keenan.

[kleomenes]

An Ilmatari priest visits Candlekeep, spending time in the Avowed Quarters and the office of the Guide. Generally, it does not appear that the visit has been entirely to his taste.

During a discussion with Isabella Villame, the priest is struck in the face by a half-elf. They seem to have a tense exchange in a foreign tongue, namely alzhedo; the half-elf's tones angry, the priest's remorseful. The priest departs soon after.

[TarnishedSoul]

During her daily walk around Candlekeep for fresh air, the beleaguered scribe entered the Temple of Oghma and spent approximately a candle-mark in prayer alongside Loremaster Kivas Ulbright.

Some time later, after another candle-mark of much-needed rest, Alexandra Keenan seemed in better spirits and experienced no adverse effects from the artifact in her possession.

[Tsidkenu]

Aeili would return to Candlekeep today after her brief journey and spent some time with Alexandra Keenan in the Avowed Quarters. After a few hours of talking she would be seen to depart again, this time carrying all her belongings, and she made her way out of the Library-Fortress before teleporting away somewhere else on the Sword Coast. A letter would have been left in the Guide's office to the effect that she was returning to her usual duties elsewhere.

[NeonAvenger]

A blue clad gnome would be seen dragging a large, and rather rancid smelling, sack to the gates of Candlekeep. After a brief argument with the guards both gnome and sack would disappear inside.

[Rhifox]

Sometime in the morning of the 11th of Flamerule, a wild, screaming Tarina dashes through the streets of Candlekeep, running out the gates and nearly off the ledge. She is taken to the infirmary by the Candlekeep guards on watch at the time, who would have noticed that she was unresponsive to their attempts to speak to her. Instead she is heard apologizing and calling out to a "hearth". She is also heard mumbling about Seeker Keenan, a book they are researching, and demons and devils. Tarina is eventually roused with a few light smacks to the face, appearing very confused.

Examinations by any attending physicians would find that she seems to have recently lost a lot of blood, which might be believed to be the cause of the scene. No injuries are found however except for some already-healed scars on her hand.

[Chryo]

A letter has been delivered to the Guide's office bearing the symbol of Mystra.

[Ithilan]

The young bardess Shandril Brightmantle is seen at the gates of Candlekeep, requesting to speak with Isabella and claiming to have an adequate donation to match the draconic entry fee she says smiling and tighly holds on to a book wrapped in a thick clothing whilst holding her peculiar Lantern in the other hand.

Whilst waiting Shandril makes no attempts to hide she seeks admittance to the library in order to study an ancient text on the "War of Light and Darkness", beliving the original to be found in Candlekeep.

[Friend In The Mist]

A bearded young man has taken the robes of an acolyte. He tends the gardens well enough, but tends to enjoy assisting the others in basic research. Occasionally he will disappear for a day or two buy can be seen in the wilderness practicing his swordplay and taking notes on the night sky and the creatures that roam the land. Occasionally he can be found discussing philosophy and the fate of humankind with fellow scholars. He is no orator, and though he does attract rival philosophers and engages in lengthy debate, he has established no following for his outlandish philosophy, but if this bothers him, he does not show it. He seems for the time being, content.

[Nyeleni]

A golden-eyed Squire to the Order of the Silver Rose leaves a message for Guide Laitae Lafreth after speaking with Gatewarden Isabella Villame in the Candlekeep inn.

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PM sent

[Tsidkenu]

A rider on horseback arrives at Candlekeep with a saddlebag loaded with various tomes and correspondences from around Faerun. Amongst the new acquisitions by the Library-Fortress are eight, brand new volumes authored by one Priestess Aeili Azenci under the singular title: The Eight Schools of Magic. They are addressed to the attention of Guide Laitae La'freth, and sent with deepest regards.

Hidden: show

((8 new books added to the IG database. This can be considered the IC donation of copies for archival. Enjoy!!))

[Tantive]

Elyssa and Viridiana entered Candlekeep after having received word of an attack on Wesmille. They stayed for a time to inquire on his wellbeing and moral support. A message was left behind for the Warden of Candlekeep.

[Tantive]

A missive arrived for 'Guide Laitae Lafreth' from Doron Amar, sealed with red wax stamped with an espruar rune, decorated in a field.

[Tantive]

Travel Plans.

---

A young woman stood by the fountain at Candlekeep. Tall with long red hair. Dressed in black robes that didn’t belong to her. The night’s sky still light by the stars and the moon. She spent the few days in rest after an incident which brought her to Candlekeep. But she was eager to leave. But it was still night time, and dangers prowled the roads.

A moon elf sauntered over to a bench, promply claiming it as his own laying flat along it’s length. “Have I not seen you somewhere before?” the elf asked.

The woman adjusted her spectacles eyeing the bench elf. “We have met. You were uncomfortably close with that torch. It was quite rude.”

“Oh. My apologies” came his reply.

The drips of rain had slowly come to a halt. The woman shook out her sleeves with a sigh looking up to the sky. Still night. She fluffled her hair to get rid of the raindrops still in them , unavailing. “Hells. Might as well”, she complained - casting a small cantrip to dry herself.

“Are you waiting for someone?” the bench elf asked of her, seemingly fine from the rain.

“I'm contemplating where to find myself a proper dress.” She pinched the robe between her gloved fingers. “These were borrowed.”

“Hm”, came his thoughtful hum. “Sis always buys hers in Seven Suns, in Baldur's Gate.”

“What, the one in the palace district?”

“Precisely.”

“Overpriced!”

He smiles a bit at that. “I would tend to agree. Sis also keeps gemstones in a box. How about that place in the district near the east gate?”

She stood contemplatively. “Mmm. There is a shop there.”

“The name escapes me, but it is on the opposite end of the scale, possibly too cheap, if there is such a thing.” The elf looked ‘down’ on an approaching half elf, from his horizontal seat.

“Sorcerous Sundries may be a better choice.” Her attention too turned to the approaching man, eyeing him.

“Possibly.”

“Evening.” The half-elf greeted the pair.

“Greetings”, the woman replied.

The two of fair folk blood seemingly familiar with each other started in small talk, giving the woman an excuse to enter the library reception. She excused herself going inside. To her surprise a new selection of books on magic lay on the shelf, available for the public to read. She picked up a few of the volumes skimming through them with interest. She quickly examined the contents of her coin pouch, noting there was little to enjoy her own copies of the books, not with her expenditures still ahead. Disappointed she headed back outside approaching the pair outside still engaged in conversation. It was still dark outside, she sighed looking to the stars.

“Welcome back, Maura” the hatted half-elf greeted.

Maura smiled briefly back at him, hoisting the backpack to a more comfortable position.

“Headed out, or are you still against travelling at night?”

“I am not going out at night. Nuh-uh.”

“Thought so. Did I mention the vampire Liam and I encountered yesterday?”

“V..Vampires!?”, she stuttered. “Where?”

“Lion's Way. Only one. And it was most likely under someone's control” the half-elf postulated.

“Hm. No trace of who?” The bench elf asked.

Maura’s shoulders slumped with a small whimper, eyeing the gate.

“Nope”, came the half-elf’s reply. He eyed Maura. “Oh, don't worry. You'll be fine.”

“Bandits, necromancers, vampires…” She started. “Ofcourse it'll be fine”, she said in a sarcastic tone to the half-elf.

“There's always been all of those. Right Sirion? Should have been here last year, Maura. There was a whole army of undead.”

“Mm.” Sirion hummed. “Well, there was the ship full of undead crashing and sinking just south of here the other day. Not surprised you would find a single vampire.”

Maura adjusts her spectacles. “Word of it was well in the north, waited exactly until it was over for travel preparations.”

“Yes. Ah I see. Well, you've still got plenty of undead to see. Lucky you, right?” the half-elf quipped.
“Undead sailors!? Are none of the routes safe?”, she grunted.

“Yes, Isabella and a few others attacked the ship. Vampire Lord got away, right?” He paused. “Define… safe.”

“Yes he or she did. And no, nowhere is safe and you are going to die.” Sirion added.

“Bah!” Maura exclaimed with arms to the sky. She walked on grumbling, down the stairs towards the gate of the keep. Their voices still heard as she walk away.

“We are both vampires by the way. Come here, let us turn you”, came the half elf’s voice.

The bench elf hissed.

It was still dark outside, but she had hoped more travelers would come by to pose a request. She sat herself down on a rock, with her staff laid across her lap. Waiting.

Time passed by when the half-elf walked with quiet step behind her. The rain had started to fall again. He took off his hat unnoticed, placing it atop the red haired woman’s head, sitting down next to her. She eyed him in surprise.

“What? It is raining.”

“Is it? I hardly notice”, came the voice of Sirion approaching. A spell was cast it appeared. A invisible tangible force keeping the rain from touching him. “You two did not get very far.”

Maura grumbled discontentedly.

“Well sure, if you want to just use magic”, the half-elf returned.

The elf cast the same spell on the two sitting. “I do, frequently.”

“I'm aware.”

“Why are you both sitting there?” Sirion asked.

The half-elf shrugged “I have nothing better to do.”

Maura eyed the spell enveloping her. She recognised it well. Though a spell she was not yet capable of without study, but he used it for the rain. A small dejected sigh left her lips.

The half-elf looked at her. “I think she's just waiting for morning. Mauraning?”

“That’s terrible”, Sirion told him.

Maura poked the half-elf on his head with her staff. It made him chuckle.

Sirion looked to the sky and back at them. “It should not be long now.”

“Hey Maura?”

“What?”

“Lighten up.” And the half-elf rested a hand on her shoulder for a moment, speaking a command word. A light sprung up over her head. She groaned in reply seeing to what he had done.

“I hate that ring.” Sirion told him.

“I find it very useful. And not just for jokes.”

“I find it hateful. The other day we found a ring that somehow held a pit fiend. I hate that ring less.”

“That has the ring of exaggeration to it.”

Sirion stared blankly to the half-elf for a few moments, then burst out in laughter.

“You laughed.”

“Ah... good one.”

Maura had walked away for a moment from the pair. Free space for a casting of abjuration. Her fingers motioned and the words were spoken. Dispel. The light vanished from above her. She walked back with a triumphant smile to the pair.

The half-elf steps over, reaching to take his hat back. “You realize I can cast it an infinite number of times... right?”

Before his hand found his hat, she grabbed it from her head and held it up high. She was much taller then the half-elf.

“Oi.” He stepped higher on the rise, reaching up for it whilst she waved it evading from his reach. He gets out his bow and tries to whack it off her hand. Maura sputtered, as her flails had pushed the branches of the nearby pine tree, brushing the needles over her face.

“Needle little less trees in your life?” His bow touched the hat, which flicked it from her grasp onto the floor. He bent down to pick it up. “I win”

As he did, Maura hit him in good spirit with the staff onto his head. “I have the high ground.”

He put his hat back on. “Hat's true, but...Sirion, don't suppose you can cast Enlarge Person?”

“Mm, indeed. I can.” And he did indeed cast the spell for enlarge person. On Maura. With a second spell he cast reduce person on the hatted half-elf.

“...Rude.”

Maura looked down to the miniature half-elf, from a high above with a grin. She nudged him with her boot.

“C'mere, I'll bite your ankles.”

“Can you even reach?”

“Probably”

She lifted her foot. The mini half-elf attempted to push the tree of a woman down with his tiny arms, to no avail.

“Sirion you traitor.” He exclaimed to the elf while trying to push again. She stepped back when he did. “Hold still.”

“Nuh-uh.”

He started to cast a spell to strengthen and hasten his small form. Speed was with him.

“You're not quick enough to be a quickling.” She told him.

“Hmmm...Hardly treason, is it? You are both with Candlekeep, no?” The elf asked. “Internal conflict, I think.”

“Don't think she is. Unless that's changed recently.”

“I’m not.” She answered. “These robes are borrowed”

“Oh? ... alright, maybe it is treason.”

The half-elf grabbed onto her robes and tries to yank her down with little effect. “Oh good. Well then.”

Sirion cast reduce person on her turning her back to normal size. Then a dispell was cast which removed enlarge on Maura, and reduce on the half-elf. With the size changing, Maura held onto her robe, exposing her legs as the half-elf grew with the robe gripped still in his hand. The guard however shot Sirion an angry look. The elf excused himself away.

“Hey”, Maura said, tugging her robe back into her hands.

The half-elf looked down upon her in her small size. “He extended the spells.”

She regarded herself in kind, and the change of perspective. “I'm not leaving the keep in this form. Seems I'm stuck here.”

“You're a mauratiure person.”

“Oh hush.”

“Just making a small joke.”

She made her way towards the inn for Candlekeep with the half-elf following. “I'll stay in my room and just ...do nothing I suppose until this wears off.”

“Don't you have dispels?”

“I had one memorised.”

“Ah. Well. See you in... probably a few hours.”

She entered the inn with the half-elf following inside. Her gaze went up as she approached the counter. She couldn’t even see Winthrop, much less him her. She stood annoyed silently.

“Having a problem?”

Maura walked around it, starting conversation with him. “Just hand me the key.” Payment was rendered and the key held towards her.

“Can you reach the doorknob?”, the half elf asked her. She offered no reply.

Her staff was put away to her backpack and she reached to accept the key. The key struck the wood. It was too heavy for her.

“Need help?”

“I've had enough help today.”

“No, I do mean actual help this time.”

Maura resumed dragging the key over the floor, all the way towards the door to the stairs of the inn. The half-elf could only bear watching silently for a few moments, before he cast a spell.

“Here.” He touched her back, and the spell brought a rush of strength to her.

She looked at the key with a small grumble, lifting it up.

“I'm still doubtful as to whether you can open the doors, though.”
Maura put the key to the floor and jumped with her small size to the door handle. She couldn’t quite get a hold on it. The half-elf took a step forward and opened it for her. A small thump sounded, as the miniature woman was bumped aside by the door.

“Oh. Sorry.”

“Hey!” she yelled out at him.

He reaches down to help her up.

“Thats enough help!” She said rubbing her head, her arm flailed defensively.

He pulled his hand back.”Well you weren't getting that open by yourself. And that scroll isn't lasting forever, you know.”

And he was right, as the spell started to fade in strength. Maura stood up, trying to pick up the key again. “Uhnnuinuinui…” came her strained voice. With effort she managed to pick it up and carry, huffing and puffing.

“How're you going to get it up the stairs?”

In a strained voice she replied ”One...at the...time.”

“Oh, just give me that.” He reached down for the key.

“Hey!” she complained, the key slipping from her grasp.

He held it in his hand. “Just going to open your door for you. Since I'd rather not have you hurt yourself due to messing around.”

She grumbled a non reply.

And with much effort, she began the long climb of the stairs, one step at the time. Slowly, but surely. Step by step. He walked behind her, equally slowly.

“Once again, this would go a lot faster if you would just accept help.” He watched for a few moments and could only hum a small sigh.

The climb took its time, though her stubbornness did not slow her constant pace in the task. Step by step. The half elf stepped forward touch her back, muttering a few spells. She ascended the stairs swift and with more grace. She finally reached the door to the room she used.

“Still don't think you can reach the doorknob right.”

“This one is lower”, she said pointing to it.

“Alright”, he shrugged. He set the key upon the floor next to her.

“Hnng!” She strained picking it up.

“Need help?”

The key was held in both her hands, pulling it up from the floor. Hoisting it higher. With a reflexive step she managed to stop her from tipping over with it.

“Okay. Now put it in the lock. It's the key to success.”

“Stop...talking”, she returned in desperation lifting the key high enough.

“Why? It's my method of support. Since you won't let me actually help.”

“Hnngg.” And with a little help of support against the door, the key reached the hole. Just the tip held on, preventing it to fall. She pushed it further in. She stepped back watching the key. Her tiny hands grasped the key, attempting to twist it to unlock it. It was of little use as she struggled, letting out a big sigh in failure.

“Can I help now?”

Maura dejectedly bumped her head against the door, demurely without a word pointing her finger towards the key.

“Hey, not your fault. Blame the spell.” He stepped forward and unlocked the door.

A deep sigh escaped the red hair miniature woman.

“I'd ask if I could come in, but I get the feeling you're rather annoyed with me now.”

“I want to rest”, came her exausted reply.

“That too. Either way. Have a good night.”

Maura pulled the door handle down, having much better grip with the size of this door. It was pulled open, turning to the other side pulling it shut. The half-elf remained to watch just in case something would go wrong. He stared at the key for a few moments. She had left key still on the other end. He took the key out and slid it under the door.

“Forgot something.”

“What?” Came the sound of the woman on the other end. Then a grumble. The sound of metal dragging across the wood then another grunt as there was a pause.

“You can't lift it, can you?”

“I... can”, came a strained voice.

“Can you do it without hurting yourself? I can hear the strain in your voice.”

The sound of the metal dragging across the floor grew more distant into the room.

“Right well. Have a good night.”

The same metal object struck the wooden floor on the other side, accompanied with a relieved sigh. “Good night”, came a hesitant reply.

“Night.” And the half-elf left for the stairs.

Maura’s journey would have to wait for another day, at least until the spell had wore off.