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