Candlekeep

Candlekeep is a legendary library fortress and a vital repository for the history of the Sword Coast. Within its vast collection of scrolls, the lineage, secrets, and legacies of ancient civilizations are preserved for posterity.

Preservation of the Larellion Lineage

Among the precious genealogical records kept within Candlekeep’s archives is the family tree of Archmage Larellion, the quiet seer and steward of the Hand of Sehahine (also recorded as the Hand of Sehanine). Larellion was a central figure in the historic Pact of Phandelver, which united the elves, dwarves, and humans of the region. Candlekeep’s scrolls detail his descendants, including his powerful but short-tempered daughter Vyldara, and his gentler, knowledge-seeking daughter Agatha. While the Hand of Sehahine fell silent and vanished from common memory, these archives ensure that the lineage of its high mage is not forgotten.

Historical Context and Legendary Defenders

The preservation of such records in Candlekeep runs parallel to other historical compilations of the era, such as those written by the legendary Sage of Waterdeep, Elminster Aumar. These accounts, including his work The Rise and Fall of the Pact of Phandelver, keep alive the memory of the tripartite alliance, the creation of the Forge of Spells, and the tragic sundering of the Pact of Phandelver during the onset of the Calamity in the north.

In addition to housing the histories of the realm, Candlekeep has also produced figures who shaped it. Three centuries ago, Gorion of Candlekeep stood as one of the legendary heroes of the Lord’s Alliance who defeated the Chromatic Dragon threat. Though secretly affiliated with the Zhentarim, Gorion fought alongside Elminster and Lady Tanager Alagondar, helping to slay the green dragon Virethas, the Jade Queen, outside Neverwinter. Gorion was eventually killed by Sarevok in the years following those legendary exploits.

Infiltration and Espionage

Despite its reputation as an impenetrable vault of history, Candlekeep’s security has occasionally been compromised by outside factions. In recent times, the rogue agent Nezznar, known as the Spider, managed to establish a network of active spies within the library. These infiltrators successfully extracted confidential geographic and historical data, informing the Spider that the dwarven explorer Gundren Rockseeker had recovered the map leading to the legendary Forge of Spells.