Candlekeep Correspondence

[Maecius]

[ This thread is for in-character letters to Candlekeep faction members, or to Candlekeep NPCs.

It may also be used by the Candlekeep Guard for making and delivering important reports. ]

[Hnefi]

A letter is delivered to Valerius;

Guide Valerius,

Since I could not reach you in person at this moment, I sent you this letter in the hope that it would find you quicker than I. I have urgent news: Maximus has been kidnapped.

He was challenged to a duel by a masked, kama-wielding elf who called himself Tonias Rin. He lost quickly, and though I temporarily disabled the elf, I was hit from the shadows and disabled myself by someone I did not see. They covered the area in darkness. Once I got out of the spell and restored light to the area, I found that Maximus and the assailants were gone.

I did, however, recover Maximus' sword and shield. Though I cannot scry myself, I am sure that any of our diviners would easily be able to find him - especially with these items available to them (OOC reference: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/scrying.htm ). I carry these items on my person for the time being.

The assailants dropped a rose crossed through with a dagger before disappearing. What that means, I do not know.

Seek me out if you have questions, or wish to have access to the items.

Yours truly,
Seeker Moldrister Karemen.

[rokranon]

A letter arrives for Valerius, with both the seal of the Weave Masters and the phoenix crest of House Rokranon. The Guide would have no doubt who it is from before evening opening it.

My friend,

There are a number of things I must ask of you. First and foremost, did Alistaria make it there? I stayed in Istari last night because I did not get done with Weaver business until very late, and have only just heard of the attack on Beregost. I can tell through our bond that she is very alive, but I can't tell location through it. I need some reassurance. I dispatched some of the lower ranking Weave Scouts to Beregost, but no word back as of this writing. If anything has happened to her, or the baby, I will find a way to the Underdark and slay every last drow I can find down there.

Secondly, I heard from the Duke that a drow was brought to Candlekeep? Tell me, she does not go by the name Aylssia, does she? If so she should be protected...perhaps I will join you in exile.

Lastly, I heard Crownsilver was healing there. Are you aware that Kierran is dead? Considering the copious amount of alcohol the Captain has been drinking lately and then beating the former assassin, I would not be surprised at all if he had a hand in it. But do you know if Crownsilver was drinking before the attack on Beregost? I think he needs help, but I doubt he will accept it from me. Choosing to try to redeem Kierran made an enemy of the Captain, it would seem.

I have some things to attend to, and I would like to see Beregost for myself. Perhaps our new cottage still stands...

May Torm protect you, my friend.

-Jonas Rokranon

[Maecius]

Valerius is quick to reply to his friend, sending his response out as soon as it is written, well aware that Jonas will be worrying over the answers until he has them.

The letter is sealed in an envelope with Valerius's arcane mark, but otherwise unremarkable. It reads:

Dear Jonas,

First, I have divined Alistaria's location for you, and she is indeed alive: You will find her in Beregost.

I do not know her condition, but you should visit her soon, for even if she is perfectly healthy, I am certain she misses and needs you. Beregost will have a hard time recovering from this latest raid, and you should be there to provide comfort to your wife, and to your adopted town.

Second, a drow by the name of Quavae'olin was indeed brought to Candlekeep. She was temporarily held in our care, before we transferred custody over to the Flaming Fists.

By the reports of several adventurers, she participated in the defense of Beregost: and nearly lost her life in combat with her kin. She claims to worship the Dark Maiden, Eilistraee, and to seek reconciliation for her race, but I have heard similar claims before.

While I would like to believe this woman, I should remind you that we have both been fooled by drow before, and we should exercise due caution before believing a person of a race notorious for deception and trickery.

Third, Justin has recovered from his injuries, and departed, so I am unable at this time to confront him about his hand, if any, in Kierran's death. I had not heard about Kierran's dying until your letter, and I write here that it is unfortunate and saddening to me, if not entirely unexpected. I fear we can do nothing but pray that he finds peace in the world after, wherever his soul is petitioning.

I do not know whether Justin was drinking before the attack in Beregost, but by all accounts, he behaved admirably and fought valiantly in defense of the town, even losing his hand to the drow, before passing out.

Either way, good luck, Jonas. I hope this letter has proven informative, and thank you for writing me.

Keep well, and may Torm and Helm guard you on your path.

Your friend,
Valerius

[VanillaRose]

The following letter is delivered to the Candlekeep barracks. It is encased within a matching envelope and sealed with a simple wax seal.

[mademan77]

Dearest Valarius,

Please be assured that my dwarven heart will not be content until i am granted entrance into the grand library to gaze upon its wonders. It is the promise i made a dying friend and one i plan to uphold if it takes me all my waking life to do so. I have spent the fortnight scowering the many ruins around the sea of swords to find a tome worthy of entrance but alas my search continues.

You and the most esteemed Gate warden are always in my thoughts as i subject myself to the many perils of the open road. With grace from Moradin himself I will be successful in my quest, and god willing I will someday stand beside you as ally and friend in defense of Candlekeep.

Sincerely,
Rugnar Rocksmasher

[Maecius]

A letter is left for Selis Vhaire at the Blade and Stars inn. It is sealed with the blue wax seal of Candlekeep. It reads:

To Miss Selis Vhaire,

Thank you for your letter. Though we have already met in person regarding this matter, I thought I should write simply to let you know that I have let the Avowed know that they are free to write for you, should they so desire.

I hope that this helps, but as the Gatewarden warned, please expect to receive as many dry theses and dissertations as publishable pieces. I do hope you like to read.

Your friend,
Valerius
Guide of Candlekeep

[Maecius]

The next time Rugnar Rocksmasher is in Candlekeep, he is handed a letter. It is sealed with Candlekeep's emblem, and written in a careful hand. Once opened, it reads as follows:

Sir Rugnar,

It warms my heart to read your words. I assure you here that your devotion to Candlekeep has not gone unnoticed.

Although I cannot bypass our thousand-year traditions and allow you access to the library proper before you have donated a valuable text of lore, you are always a welcome sight at our monastery, and I am honored that you seek to stand at our sides in times of trouble and strife.

I will speak once more with the Gatewarden, Isabella Villame, on your behalf, and we will try to meet with you the next time you are in Candlekeep.

Axe high, friend,
Valerius
Guide of Candlekeep

[ragnarok1983]

*a letter with a hefty package attached is hand-delivered to the gatewarden sealed with gold-flecked wax stamp showing the image of a sword and shield.*

To those tireless souls responsible for research,

For some time now I have been trying to solve the cause of my memory loss to no avail. For this task I am willing to pay accordingly, though my funds would be limited to several thousand, but not to exceed anything in the vicinity of five-thousand gold pieces.

Now for the facts about my person that may be relevant:

At the moment, my earliest memory is that of myself sitting at Elfsong Tavern with a fresh brew, one not so much as even sipped at the time. There were no signs of head trauma, and I was thankfully fully clothed in decent quality and tasteful plate armor. Thanks to assistance from the churches of Torm and Helm, we have discovered that the unique birthmark on my neck is indeed mark of Helm. This mark has been associated with my occupation and I do not consider it related to my symptoms.

I think of myself as human, though I know some of my race have trace amounts of otherworldly forefathers. I am fairly tall and broad for my race, but not so much as to be in the realm of "abnormal." I have no knowledge of my lineage due to my condition, so this is a variable I assume is still of some consideration, though I am unaware of descent having any effect on memory loss.

There is a unique state of memory that I hope will offer some assistance, though it is nothing more than a difficult mystery for yours truly: Though my first memory is that of myself in the tavern... not a single person there has reckognized me. As a matter of fact, not a single person I have come across in all these lands is in the least-bit familiar to me. It is as if I simply "appeared" out of thin air. The interesting twist on this situation is that the lands, the cities, and the nearby towns all seem very familiar to me. Recently, I have discovered that the structures that appear out-of-place in my mind, are the youngest of the buildings; most younger than thirty or forty winters. From what I can tell, I am a man approximately in my thirtieth winter. Had I been here as a young child... I doubt I could recount these lands with such vivid memory. But again, it is not a possibility which I can discount.

I apologize for this lengthy correspondance and I hope it finds you all well. Any assistance in this area will ease my soul a great deal and would truly be appreciated. I look forward to both the resolution and supporting your establishment with what funds I have. Your services are indeed priceless.

Your Humbled and Forgetful Patron
Caedis Praedurum

Post Script -
If you have any questions at all, forward the correspondance to the Blade and Stars Inn of Baldur's Gate. I shall be staying there until further notice. Do not be too surprised if I stop by your keep as I travel often, and use your facilities to restock on some of those occasions.

In the package that came with this letter, there should be one-thousand gold pieces as a down-payment for services rendered. If this is too much, accept the rest as a donation to your library. The package has a simple ward on it, which I'm sure would be easily removed my your staff. It was a necessary precaution against the knaves of the Trade Way. Accept my apologies for this inconvenience

[Flasmix]

Jade leaves a folded piece of paper on Valerius's desk. Upon inspection, it reads as follows;

Valerius,

I have made my initial inspection of Candlekeep's state of disrepair. Here is a list of what I have found, listed in order of what I believe to be priority.

1. All of the door hinges are rusting due to the salty sea air. I have put an order in to the city Blacksmith to make new hinges. I will pick them up in two days and replace all of them.

2. Mold is growing in the food storage cellar. I am going to require the use of an alchemist to create a substance to eliminate the mold. I will also need to ventilate the room. Except construction.

3. Evidence of Rats has been seen in the food storage cellar as well. I have found droppings and some cracks in the base of the wall where they may be living. I will require rat poison. I will perform the construction to fix this and ventilate the room at the same time.

4. There are cracks along the outer portions of the walls. This is at a low priority because they will not collapse soon but should be repaired nonetheless. I will require the assistance of a Monk to make sure I do not plunge into the sea while I repair the wall on the outside.

5. Missing cobbles. Some of the cobbles are missing, making the ground look odd. I will be going down to the sea shore to look for suitable replacement rocks that can be chiseled into what we require. I would like to have magical assistance for transporting the rocks to the keep so I may work on them here.

Please respond either by letter or when you see me next to make sure everything is in order. If you wish for me to re-prioritize, please tell me what you wish me to work on.

Signed,

Groundskeeper Jade Redford

[Longshot]

Dear Valerius,

I hope you like potatoes.

Sincerely,
Joan DeGaulle

[broham1]

This message is delivered by a man on horseback to the guards at the gate. The man tells the guards that it is to be delivered to Valerius and none other. Then turns and makes his way back north...

Valerius,

I regret to inform you that the expedition will not be needing the two that were offered. As you know I have close ties with the Weavemasters and to promise Candlekeep every scroll that we find would be a dagger in the back of some very close friends of mine. I hope you understand. I will bring you any books or journals that we find. I too wish to see history preserved as you do.

I do hope that your offer to introduce me to the Bronze you have befriended still stands. I would like to ask Plantagonox if he knows anything about this white named Laximyrcion. Any knowledge that we gain beforehand may lessen the number good folk that are lost to the Wyrm.

I do hope that you understand and know that the Wyndsouls mean no ill will by declining your offer, and hope that we may still call upon you in the future for aid if need be.

Your friend and ally,
-Dallenthel Wyndsoul

[rokranon]

A letter is delivered to the Guide of Candlekeep; the elegant script would be instantly recognizable to Valerius.

Valerius,

Hello my friend. I write to you on business, sadly. I wish to know anything you can tell me about a strange occurrence some time ago concerning Miss Cat and an intruder into the Keep, having to do with a Soul Stone. Anything at all you can tell me about this strange individual responsible would be helpful.

I wish I had more time to write, but the twins have decided to return to Athkatla and there are preparations to be made.

Your brother-in-arms,

- Jonas Rokranon
Paladin of Torm
Weave Guardian Knight

[Maecius]

Valerius responds to Jonas as promptly as he can, and sends the letter to the Istari Tower. It reads as follows:

Jonas,

Hello, my friend, hello.

As always, it is good to hear from you. The topic you write to me about is an unhappy one, but I will do my best to fill you in on what I know.

Apparently a man masquerading as a traveling monk slipped into Candlekeep unnoticed by hanging on to the bottom of a cart that one of our workers was dragging into the monastery. Once inside, he found Miss Catrina and tried to hire her to steal for him a valuable gemstone out of Beregost's temple of Lathander.

Rather than accept the man's proposition, Catrina went to Kelddath Ormlyr in Beregost, and explained the situation. Ormlyr said the temple guards had overheard someone chatting about using the gem for a Trap The Soul spell, but could not describe him for Catrina. He did give her the gemstone in question, which she brought to me, with the story.

I identified the stone as a flawless, immensely valuable rogue stone. I presently still hold it in my possession. After hearing the story, I thought it best to confirm that the man was no longer in Candlekeep, first of all, and further, to confront him about all that we had learned.

So, yes, as you may have heard, we eventually tracked him down outside of Candlekeep, where it was discovered he wore Infernal writing on his arms and wrists. This would seem to mark him of the cult that threatened Ulraunt and Justin Crownsilver a few tenday back, the Vholk Rah, or Iron Hand ...

Except that the markings were not quite right. I believe they may have been faked, but I did not get a good look at them, as he quickly pulled away and became increasingly combative, until such a time as he opened a gate to the Nine Hells and escaped into the woods as we fought off the dozens of devils that came streaming out.

I was able to close the gate, and we were able to fight off the devils.

The man in question appeared to be human, but he may have been tiefling. I believe he was a warlock, too. He claimed he would be back, spoke Infernal, and, most troubling, he called me his "brother."

I do not believe he insinuates any sort of relationship, outside of my happening to be a tiefling. Warlocks, strangely, have approached me with "kinship" arguments before: not long ago, in fact, a Mister Lokie tried to call me his kin as well.

In any event, this is, in essence, what I know of the man. Before this, I had received reports of a warlock demonologist inside Durlag's tower, who had given some adventurers a bit of a fight. The two incidents may be related, but I have no conclusive proof.

As for the twins, I am glad they are both well. Are you sure they cannot be convinced to stay? The Coast Plague is pretty bad down there, right now, and they may be safer here in the Heartlands. See if you cannot convince them to hold off, at least until the plague is ended. People die by the dozen daily in Amn, by my reports.

Also, take care of yourself, my friend. I think you still owe me and Isabella a dinner with Ali and yourself. We will want to set that up, one of these days, when we both have a quiet evening.

If ever we both have a quiet evening!

Hope all is well,
Valerius

[rokranon]

A letter is delivered to Valerius' attention, written in Jonas' elegant script.

Valerius,

My dear friend, for the past several weeks, I have been learning all I can about this warlock threat to not only the Weave, but innocent lives in general. With the help of Ramu, a family friend among the Weave Scouts, I have learned that this warlock has the disturbing desire to become a full blooded demon. He captures tieflings of demonic descent and drinks their blood. This misguided man, whom I have only been able to catch his last name, Darkstone, is a fallen aasimar.

Unfortunately, my time in Baldur's Gate has drawn to a close. Ramu has informed me this warlock has gone north, to Waterdeep, and I intend to follow. It is my duty as a paladin to do everything in my power to eliminate the threat of this fiend. In a few days, I will be going by boat up to Waterdeep with Alistaria, my daughter Inara, and Ramu. Ramu is trying to contact his cousin, Samah; for a mage would certainly be handy in this endeavor.

It has been a great honor to call you friend, and have you call me that in returnl. It pains me to take my leave, but duty comes before personal desires. I shall notify Candlekeep of any further moves I make, so that if something dire comes up, I can be recalled to region to lend my sword and service.

Farewell, dear friend. May the Light always shine down on you, and Torm protect you.

Sincerely,

Sir Jonas Rokranon
-Paladin of Torm
-Weave Guardian Knight
-Radiant Heart Auxiliary