Candlekeep, the ultimate repository of history and arcane lore for the continent of Coia, was formally founded on 25 May 512. This formidable fortress was established by a cabal of mages deeply engrossed in the mysteries of the Void, an ancient and volatile power that predates even the Bukhara Spires. Strategically constructed on a volcanic crag, its very location was chosen to withstand the potential fallout of powerful magic.
From its inception, Candlekeep became a magical anchor for the entire region. Access to its legendary Inner Wards is famously restricted, requiring a unique "Price of Admission." Prospective visitors must donate a tome or scroll not already contained within its vast, unparalleled collection, a tradition that has ensured its archives remain unrivaled.
The library's critical defenses are maintained by the Chanters, whose continuous recitation of prophecies sustains the mighty Great Ward. This powerful magical barrier protects the precious collection from both the relentless salt spray of the ocean and, more crucially, from the extra-planar threats that frequently plague Coia. Among these prophecies, the now infamous and flawed Almundo's Prophecies are continuously recited.
Within its scholarly walls, Candlekeep functions as a vibrant city dedicated to knowledge and research. It houses the dangerous interdimensional mansion of the elven mage Fistandria, a library within a library dedicated to forbidden research. The fortress also hosts The Hearth, a lively tavern run by Verity Zanthish, which serves as a vital social hub, and the recently established House of Rest, an inn managed by the accommodating bugbear monk Skrel.
Centuries later, on 21 April 1248, a significant event known as The Fistandria Incursion occurred. To gain access to Candlekeep for his research, Jayson Boothebarrel enlisted the aid of the Dragonbone Vanguard to locate a missing sage. Their investigation led them to discover that the sage had vanished into Fistandria's interdimensional mansion, a perilous magical labyrinth teeming with dangerous creatures.
Venturing into the mansion's depths, the Vanguard battled animate objects and constructs, eventually uncovering the sage's tragic demise. Their courageous actions not only thwarted a hidden magical incursion that threatened Candlekeep itself, but also yielded crucial information for their own quest. Jayson Boothebarrel, inspired by these events, found a new purpose and began working at the legendary library.
Presently, Candlekeep faces immense pressure and its status is strained but resolute. The Great Ward, long a bastion of stability, has begun to destabilize due to a recent surge of Wild Magic emanating from the Iron Mountain. This new threat is stretching the library's magical defenses to their limits.
Compounding these magical challenges, the rise of Redevus's anti-magic ideology actively threatens the library's very existence and purpose. Candlekeep is currently overcrowded with refugees and scholars seeking answers to the world's unraveling magic. The dedicated staff frantically works to reinforce the wards against the spreading influence of the Iron Mountain's wild magic, striving to protect their priceless collection and the knowledge it holds.
