Candlekeep Role Play

[maecius]

[ This thread is intended for Candlekeep-related roleplaying posts, whether or not you are in the Candlekeep faction.

For Candlekeep faction members, it can be used to let the other members of the faction know your character's actions and behaviors, or for when factioneers in different time zones need to interact and cannot easily do it in-game. ]

[sinsemilla]

Report:

Name: Maximus Angrius - Gate Warden of Candlekeep
Mission: Investigation of a possible Stolen Tome
Location: South Along the Trade way, North of Beregost.

Details:
En route to Beregost, Keep Physician Meagan Ap'Fawr, Guard Lathian Savorol, Guard Trainee Augustine and myself stumbled onto two wagons of a caravan, it was obviously that of a Dwarven Clan, We found the wagons ablaze and 20 or possibly more dead Dwarves, all who seemed to be quite well armed. However the bodies were found headless and the heads were not found at the location.
A closer search by a few others at the scene before our arrival produced a Diary. In the Diary were various recounts of travels; however the last though charred and barely legible allowed us some insight into what happen moments before. A small group of Drow hand been following this caravan, and suddenly attacked it.
However according to the journal they did not kill the Dwarfs immediately, rather they questioned them for a Tome. Since the diary was so charred and nearly illegible not to mention it was written completely in Dwarven, Nadia Swift translated what she could and then turned the book over to Me on my order.
I sent a messenger to Baldur's Gate to fetch a Fist officer who arrived at our location most hastily. Corporal Borton was the Fist officer, he made his investigation and left me in charge of the rest of the investigation as he traveled to Baldur's Gate to make a report to the Headquarters of the crime.

During the event a few spectators had gathered, some a bit to interested in getting their hands on the Diary, after question Nano later, told us that she was just going to throw the book in the fire.

We are still looking into the diary and more reports will follow.

[maecius]

THE RAID

Seadin came running up to Candlekeep, panting and sweating, and obviously exhausted. "J-Jonas!" He called for the paladin, who was standing in conversation with Valerius and several others.

"A drow raid! On the road north of Beregost!"

The response was immediate. As Jonas and the others began to arm themselves and move for the exit, an injured woman, also a survivor of the raid, staggered into Candlekeep, detaining them while Jonas stabilized her wounds.

"Move with alacrity, my friend," Valerius urged the paladin, even as Jonas finished binding the most serious of her wounds, "others need you. I will see that she is tended by our healers." Jonas and the others made haste to the south, assured that the woman would be taken into Candlekeep.

Several minutes behind the rest, after ensuring that the woman, Xellos, was well cared for, Valerius caught up to the relief party. He was disheartened to hear that the drow had escaped already, but the party was able to lead him to a portal.

An elf outside, a devotee of Mielikki, informed him that it was a portal to the Underdark, having slipped in and out undetected himself. It apparently opened up on the other side at what the elf believed to be some kind of school or college of magic.

Valerius took in all of the information, and then began to prepare a spell to tear down the portal, 'lest the drow should return. Even as he was casting his magic, the portal collapsed, however, apparently brought down by casters in the Underdark. This, at least, provided some solace, as it suggested that the drow would not be returning immediately.

The relief party broke up at this point.

THE JOURNAL

"Guards! Man the gate! No one enters Candlekeep without my saying so!" Maximus Angrius barked orders to the Candlekeep Guard, who were, to their credit, quick to respond.

Valerius, having been in conversation with one of his acolytes, a man named Tomar, was surprised by this sudden lock-down, but he was soon taken aside by Maximus, who gave his report.

Handing Valerius the journal, Maximus explained the situation. The immediate worry that came to the Guide's mind was that the raid had targeted a caravan that was en route to Candlekeep, making this their business. He assured Maximus that he would be looking into this, and took the journal into safekeeping.

MEETING WITH ULRAUNT

Valerius sat in the austere office of the Keeper of the Tomes, his hands nervously folded on his lap. Valerius still did not feel at peace with his office as Guide, and he couldn't help but feel that Ulraunt himself was disapproving of his election to the position. Nevertheless, Valerius swallowed his anxieties, and explained the situation to Ulraunt:

"Your Eminence, I fear that the caravan may have been en route to Candlekeep with a valuable tome of magic or lore," Valerius voiced his concern, sliding the journal across the tidily kept desk to the man on the other side. "Whether or not you can confirm that, I thought you should know what happened last night."

"If you have any orders, I will relay them down the line. If this is none of our concern, I will gladly drop the issue."

[sinsemilla]

Personal messenger to Maximus, delivers the following log entry to Valerius.

My Guide;,
I have investigated further into the attack on the caravan and have found that the tracks lead around Beregost and south further down the trade way, however seem to vanish in a mountain.

After going over all the events in my head, from the time our arrival, Those stand closest in my mind are; All of the Dwarf were beheaded, obviously an attempt to deny resurrection. This says to me that they wanted none to survive to tell the tale. Next; one Dwarf took time to scribble the final seconds of their life, as if he saw the others beheaded and felt it the only way to get a message out.
Burning the wagons indicates they also felt that if they did not find the Tome mentioned in the diary, that they would burn the wagons to make sure if it was there, it be destroyed.
Yet; Drow of considerable intelligence might be inclined to use that as a distraction of sorts.
And last, this Tome may have been of importance, that more than most. For the Drow would not risk so much as to attack a caravan of 20 armed Dwarf.

One other small thing that need be mention, Two people meant to have that Diary; Nadia Swift who is an honorable Lady of the Law, surely meant to investigate the matter further; obviously not of Ill reason. And Nano, one who clearly wanted to destroy the book, and after hearing Lady Nadia translate the writings. Now added with attacks on Acolytes and threats of a siege on the Keep with undead. I might suspect she either a part of or is interested in hiding what happened there.

Perhaps the scribes could reconstruct the writings, and more light be shed on this Tome; the Seekers along with Lathian and Augustine; the top members of the Guard could seek it out, even if below in the cities of the Drow.

I shall ponder these things further and await a time, maybe you could discuss this further, and shed a bit of insight, that we may Solve this puzzle.

In Honor of Candlekeep,
Maximus Angrius

[rokranon]

Jonas walked up toward Candlekeep as any other day, but received quite a shock as he approached the gate. There standing in the middle of the path, plain as day, was an Illithid. What could it want? Surely it would have no need of the books of Candlekeep, but there are plenty of brains. No matter, they would never let it in...

The paladin watched in horror as the gate guard, Isabella, led the aberration inside. What?! Jonas followed, his hand on his sword hilt at all times. He followed them up next to the fountains by the library. Shortly after, Valerius answered some summons and arrived. Surely Valerius would turn away the thing...

No, no he talks to it. Seems willing to work with it. What is wrong with these people? Do they not understand what Illithids -do-? They are not called mind flayers for nothing. Wait...they had let drow in too, right? Maybe they have no idea... Gil at least seemed as appalled as Jonas. And Arivain did not seem as calm as he let on. Valerius suggests letting the thing stay at the inn so it can write something out? The same inn Alistaria was staying at? Never! A mass exodus of guests of the Keep finally drew attention to the fact that maybe, just maybe that Illithid should not be there. In the end Valerius went to consult with Ulraunt...

And returns and asks the thing to leave. Finally! By this point Jonas was fuming, glaring balefully at the mind flayer and his hand still never having left his sword. The Illithid did not take kindly to being asked to leave, and moved to take the information he wanted straight from Valerius' mind. Jonas moved quickly to cut down the foul creature.

Hopefully this will signify a policy change on who is let into Candlekeep. Jonas fervently hopes so.

[sel]

A man dressed in a bucklers hat and a red and black outfit arrives to the Keep to deliver a letter that is handed to Maximus Angrius the Gate Warden

To whom it may concern,

I'm kindly requesting any books in regards to the 11th Hour.

I'll return in two days time to see if my request will be approved an honored.

Sign

Sel Darkmore

[maecius]

Mind Flayer Mayhem: The Tale of the Tentacled Visitor

Valerius entered his office, eager to sit down and enjoy some solitude for a change. His relief did not last. Easing down into his chair, he groaned on seeing the stacks of papers and scrolls waiting for him. More forms to go over?

He had had no idea that the office of Guide would keep him so busy. How many days had it been since he'd even left Candlekeep, he wondered, as he signed his name on a research request, before realizing, with a furrow of his brow, that he hadn't even read it.

After ensuring the request was properly filled out, and worthy of the funds requested, he set it aside, and began reading a second form, when there was a knock at his door.

"A guest is waiting outside for you, My Guide," the acolyte said with a smile. Valerius returned it, nodding, suddenly eager to get away from the paperwork and back to the socializing. He had no idea what was waiting for him in the courtyard, though ...

Valerius was utterly stunned when he realized his guest was an illithid. He approached it cautiously, intending to deal with it swiftly, when he suddenly felt a wave of amicability towards it. Why of course it could stay at the inn! It was a guest of Candlekeep! Oh no, we do not carry fresh brains, but I am sure we can supply you with something else.

He didn't even notice as his genial attitude towards the illithid slowly annoyed his friends. It was only when he realized visitors were leaving Candlekeep, and thus reminded of his duty to protect Candlekeep and its guests, that he shook the feeling, understanding with horror that the creature was attempting to manipulate his thoughts.

He pulled back into the library, and conferred with Ulraunt. It was decided that Valerius would lead the creature out of Candlekeep, and destroy it outside the gate. His mission now guiding him, he returned to the front, taking on his former obsequiousness, hoping to lull it into following him.

Unfortunately, the mind flayer made a desperate attack, instead. It was almost instantly cut down by Jonas, Valerius's friend. Frowning at the severity of the situation, Valerius decided to let the others think that he was acting on his own, and not nearly manipulated. He made his report to Ulraunt, the body was removed, and the Guard has been informed to let in no more drow nor illithid.

Valerius is hoping, now, that he can find the Guard an object that prevents mental domination, which they can pass to each other whenever they go on duty at the gate ...


The Eleventh Hour

When Sel Darkmore returns to Candlekeep, he is handed a letter. It bears the seal of Candlekeep. It reads:

Dear Mister Sel Darkmore:

I regretfully write this letter to inform you that no books have been written on the Eleventh Hour at this time. It was a fairly recent organization, and does not appear to have attracted the attention of any of our scribes.

I can tell you, from my personal knowledge of the organization, that it was a firm dedicated to the investigation of mysteries: missing persons, unknown informations, and so on. There were many unsubstantiated rumors about the organization that I can neither confirm nor deny.

If you seek more information on the Eleventh Hour, I suggest you speak with local adventurers and former clients, as well as the administrative officials of Baldur's Gate.

Best of luck on your search, I am sorry that I could not be more help.

Yours in service,

Valerius
Guide of Candlekeep