Page 79 - D&D - Player's Handbook

often pitch in with hands-on efforts when a particularly creating magic items and written copies of rare spells to
large chore needs doing. sweeten the deal.
The master readers are the sages and elder monks
who oversee the scribes and teach the acolytes. All SERVICES
are possessed of significant experience and dedicated Those who come to Candlekeep are permitted to remain
to the great library, and it is from this group that indi- for one tenday before departing, and must remain away
viduals are chosen to fill in the upper ranks when for at least a full month before returning. During this
positions open up. tenday, they may ask to read specific tomes known to
Above the master readers are other high-ranking be in the possession of the library, or they may ask the
posts, each with specialized duty, from the Gatewarden monks to find them tomes concerning certain topics.
who tends to the security of the keep to the Guide who These works are brought to the reading rooms in the
instructs and educates the Avowed. Of particular note towers that face the Court of Air. Guests are permitted
is the Chanter, who is responsible for continuing the to ascend into those towers and read (but not copy) the
ongoing recitation of the prophecies of the great seer tomes there, always in the company of one of the monks.
Alaundo, who once made his home here. One of Candlekeep's main sources of income is the
I remember the first time I came upon the Endless sale of books. Three kinds of such books exist: copies
Chant. It starts at the edge of one's hearing (I was one of of tomes of nonmagical lore, copies of spellbooks and
the first in the courtyard to sense it), and slowly grows other magical formulae, and works of the Avowed.
closer and louder. As it does so, everything else falls Copied Lore. The copying and binding of a work of
silent around you. In short order, a procession of Avowed nonmagical lore in Candlekeep's library is generally
arrive on the scene, and the only sound anyone can per- performed at a cost of 100 gp or so (though quite large
ceive is their echoing, sonorous chant. The Chanter or books are always more). This manufacture may take
one of his subordinates (called "voices") leads this proces- several weeks, particularly for large tomes, so it isn't
sion, and each of the Avowed is expected to lend his voice uncommon for those who desire such a work to commis-
to the procession occasionally. sion it in writing, along with advance payment, and then
It was through my friendship with Waldrop that I come to the gate to pick up the book, or pay an addi-
met one of the eight Great Readers, the council of elder tional price to have it delivered.
Avowed who oversee the operation of Candlekeep. She Spellbooks. In contrast, magical books of spells and
was tall, and I remember thinking that she was one of formulae cost much, much more-a spellbook might be
the most erudite folk I'd ever spoken with. Each of the priced at thousands or even tens of thousands of gold
Great Readers is given an arena of responsibility within pieces. Each simple spell or cantrip in such a tome costs
the Avowed, usually a topic of scholarly importance, and 25 gp or so, with the more complex and powerful spells
acknowledged and treated as the foremost expert in fetching 150 gp or more each.
that field. Works of the Avowed. Each year, the monks of Can-
Finally, above them all are two others: the Keeper of dlekeep release a small book stamped with the sigil of
Tomes and the First Reader. Where the First Reader's the keep, and credited to "The Avowed of Candlekeep."
focus is maintaining the integrity of Candlekeep's schol- These books are always focused on singular topics,
arship, and ever expanding its literary resources and and contain short essays, excerpts, and other writings
base of knowledge, the Keeper governs the great library. germane to the topic. They are sold at Candlekeep and
The Keeper's word is law, quite literally- each Keeper's by representatives in large cities for between 50 gp and
edicts are recorded for the edification of future Keep- 100 gp per book, though some are often resold for a
ers, and all are maintained as ongoing traditions until great deal more.
changed by the word of a future Keeper. Waldrop tells Candlekeep also buys books and even sponsors
me that traditionally the Keeper and the First Reader adventurers on expeditions to seek out lost sources of
are supposed to have an antagonistic relationship, one lore across the Realms. The exchange of coin in such
focused on the cloistered monks and the enlightened undertakings is, of course, open to the usual sort of
goals of the library and the other on the mundane negotiation.
aspects of scholarship and Candlekeep's interactions
with the outside world. DARKHOLD
Although these high-ranking monks keep most vis- I don't suppose you've heard of Darkhold. It's been
itors at arm's length, it isn't unknown for them to deal many years since folk whispered the name of the place
with adventurers directly when they need such services. in fear. After all, the Zhentarim, the organization that
While these scholars rarely have much coin to pay for gave Darkhold its evil reputation, are by all accounts no
the services of a company of venturers, they do possess longer the cadre of thieves, assassins, and evil wizards
the precious currency of Candlekeep: knowledge. I they once were. And strangely enough, according to my
know of many companies who have been shown lore source among the Zhentarim, that change in character
concerning lost ruins, then asked to brave some danger- can be traced right back to Darkhold. As it was told to
ous place and return with prizes that can be found only me, it came about like this ...
in that location. If the treasure that might be found in Zhentil Keep was burning. The Citadel of the Ravens
such places isn't enough of a reward, some Avowed are lay in ruins. The leadership of the Zhentarim died, were
empowered to offer inducements such as procedures for captured by the Shadovar of returned Netheril, or were
in flight. The vaunted Black Network was shredded.