Descent into Avernus

~ :z

CANDLEKEEP

Candlekeep is a fortress perched on a spur of rock

overlooking the Sea of Swords. It is reached by a single

road, the Way of the Lion, which branches west off the

Coast Way.

Candlekeep is always open to visitors and boasts one

of the finest libraries in FaerOn. The monks of Candle-

keep also preserve the predictions of Alaundo the Seer,

a singular sage whose prophecies have proved correct

over long years. Upon the seer's death, Candlekeep be-

came a haven for both the veneration of his prophecies

and the accumulation of all knowledge. If there's a se-

cret to be learned, the clues to finding it can probably be

found in Candlekeep.

The encounters in Candlekeep focus on social interac-

tion and exploration. The following events unfold here:

• The characters arrive at Candlekeep, where the price

of admittance is a book- specifically one not already

contained in the monks' library.

• The characters meet with Sylvira Savikas, a tiefling

sage who knows the secret to unlocking Thavius

Kreeg's infernal puzzle box.

• Sylvira advises the characters to leave the Shield of

the Hidden Lord in her custody, but Gargauth makes a

good case for taking the shield with them.

Sylvira makes arrangements to send the characters to

Elturel, and gives them an unreliable map of Avernus.

Reya Mantlemorn offers to go with the characters,

while Falaster Fisk chooses to stay behind.

Read the following boxed text to describe the charac-

ters' final day of travel to Candlekeep:

Over the past four days, the weather on the Coast Way

has gradually worsened. Dark clouds release heavy rain

until the road runs thick with mud, yet you trudge on,

passing by friendly merchant caravans heading north.

On the morning of the fifth day, the rain subsides but

the dark clouds remain. Ahead, you see a path branch

from the wider road, heading to the sea. A raven perches

solemnly on a leaning post bearing two signs that point

l

like arms toward the west. One says "The Way of the

Lion." The other says "Candlekeep."

Characters who head west a long the Way of the Lion ar-

rive at Candlekeep by mid-afternoon. You can show the

players the illustration of Candlekeep, and can describe

the view to them by reading the following:

The afternoon sun shines through the clouds to illumi-

nate the gray walls and pale spires of a timeworn fortress

that stands majestically atop a rocky promontory over-

looking the sea. The trail leads straight to it.

CllAP'Tr.R I I A TALE OF TWO CITIES

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