Candlekeep

Candlekeep is a renowned library-fortress on the Sword Coast, standing as a bastion of enlightenment and knowledge for centuries. It houses the greatest collection of books and scrolls in all of Faerun, attracting scholars and adventurers from across the realms. The fortress is home to the Avowed, an esteemed order of scholars who dedicate their lives to preserving and studying the keep's vast troves of knowledge. Central to their reverence is the seer Alaundo and his collection of prophecies, which have foretold many significant events in Faerun's history.

The keep is an awe-inspiring sight, with its skyline dominated by numerous towers of varying heights and styles. Its 50-foot-tall stone and iron walls form a formidable defense, rising high above the surrounding coast. The entrance is marked by enormous double gates, each three times the height of a man and forged from an unusual black metal. These gates bear the sigil of Candlekeep: a castle with flames atop each tower.

Perched on a rocky outcropping on a narrow peninsula, Candlekeep overlooks the Sea of Swords from cliffs about 100 feet high. The only route to its entrance is the Way of the Lion, a path branching from the Coast Way, which runs along the Sword Coast. Located 120 miles south of Baldur's Gate, Candlekeep stands as a beacon of knowledge and history, its silhouette a defining feature of the coastal landscape.