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Candlekeep

Fortress in The Sword Coast

Candlekeep is a fortified library on a rocky crag above the Sea of Swords, south of Baldur's Gate, holding one of the greatest collections of written knowledge in Faerûn.

Wind and surf beat against the crag while, inside the walls, the only sounds are turning pages, scratching quills and the soft steps of the Avowed.

Candlekeep at a glance

Type & size
Fortified library, About 300 Avowed (1492 DR)
Allegiance & rule
  • Allegiance: Independent
  • Ruled by: The Keeper of Tomes and the First Reader, with the order of scholars called the Avowed
People & culture
Scholars and monks of many peoples, and a small stream of visiting sages and adventurers; quiet, rule-bound and wary of strangers
Key exports & trade
  • Knowledge and research
  • Copies of books and spellbooks

Overview

Candlekeep is a cluster of towers within a high wall on a cliff over the sea. Its keepers, the Avowed, are scholars and monks who copy, guard and study its books. Among its treasures are the prophecies of the seer Alaundo, which the Avowed record and interpret.

Visitors are not admitted freely. The price of entry is a work of writing the library does not yet hold, and even then guests are watched and limited to the parts of the keep they are allowed to see.

In adventures

Candlekeep is a natural destination whenever a party needs lost lore, an old map or a forgotten ritual. Candlekeep Mysteries is a collection of short adventures, each starting from a book on its shelves.

At the table

  • The party needs a book that only Candlekeep holds; first they must find a work rare enough to pay for their entry.
  • A visiting scholar vanished in the library, and the Avowed would rather nobody asked why.

On the map

Map of Candlekeep and the land around it on the Sword Coast
Candlekeep at the centre, about 470 miles across.Open the interactive map

Roads from Candlekeep

Regions nearby

Nearby places

Distances as the crow flies, measured on our map.

Sources

Description written by justroll. Forgotten Realms and its places are property of Wizards of the Coast. justroll is unofficial fan content, not approved or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.