D5 EM: To Candlekeep for RESEARCH!

[Thaddeus]

Thaddeus pats Illiam on the head and scratches Cornelius under the chin, "I can't stay mad at you." he says to the mini-goat, "And don't look glum, 'tis not your fault. He's wooed many a heart."

Turning to the door and taking lead for the guards he tells them, "Well, let's head on to Ulraunt so we can get this exchange under way."

[Illiam'iira]

That gets big puppy dog eyes. Thank goodness. Cornelius gets a little kiss at the base of one of his horns. Yep, he's won her over.

"Yes!" Illi chirps, happily following where she's lead. Unlike Fyne the sunlight does wonders for her, making her skin's natural sparkle go wild -- Illiam's taking deep breaths of the fresh air as she gazes up at the sky. Funny how much you miss the things you take for granted.

[Fyne]

"Smells like home," he says with a smirk at Illiam'iira. "Well, sort of. Underdark smells a bit different. But still relatively fresh in comparison to the smog. A lot of fireplaces and furnaces in such a small area."

[Illiam'iira]

"Smells like home," he says with a smirk at Illiam'iira. "Well, sort of. Underdark smells a bit different. But still relatively fresh in comparison to the smog. A lot of fireplaces and furnaces in such a small area."

"Yeah..." She smiles too. "My grandmama always told me the Underdark smell like real old forests, all musty and earthy." Makes her miss home. Then she raises an eyebrow. He was joking. She thinks. Illiam'iira's a little leery to ask which in this situation.

"What're you gonna look for here?"

[Fyne]

"My missing memories, in a roundabout way. See the things that were taken from me so I can maybe figure out why they were taken. When I first woke up I didn't understand what was going on. My body felt weird, like it wasn't mine and I had so many new scars. Dozens... enough for multiple lifetimes. And I remembered none of them. Then I started having "nightmares" during my meditation. Waking memories that I thought might have been hallucinations. But some of them matched some of my unremembered scars. So something happened. A lot of somethings happened. And I can't remember them. So I'm looking for a way to reach them."

[Flession]

You all chat about things and are eventually approached by the second gate and the Keep proper as a old man stands before you at the gate, favoring his staff and looking at you all curiously.



"I must say, I was not sure what to expect when I was told that I would have some unique guests who sought entry into our library, but anything I would have conceived pales in comparison to reality. Still, we do not judge you based upon who were born as, instead the same thing will be asked of all of you as is everyone else. To enter into this place, you must contribute something that is not within our books that is worth keeping." He does not seem frightened by any of you, merely curious. "If you cannot provide that form of payment, then I am afraid you must be sent back to the planes, of which you so claim to be from."

[L'Orr-hui]

L'Orr-hui moved forward with unfathomable calm. With a turn of the wrist the scroll case at their belt rose an moved toward the man in white

"You will find this to be more then adequate"

[Flession]

He grabs the scroll from the illthid's hands and gives it a glance. "Hmm...a treatise on Ceremorphosis." He glances it over. "From a inside source, as it were. Most interesting..." He closes it down. "I will give it a look thru at a later time, but until then, you are all welcome within these walls. I merely ask you keep in mind be careful with the books and be sure to get what you need while you are here. You cannot take any books with you, nor will you be allowed to return once you leave without paying the next fee. Until then, I am Ulraunt, and I welcome you to these hallowed walls." He extends his hands to each of you as you cross thru the gate before walking thru it. Though, he does follow L'Orr-hui around with some interst.

"I am curious, mind flayer, how is it that you've broken thru the control of your elder brain? As I understand it, it's not something your kind can do easily?"

[L'Orr-hui]

"You can call me L'Orr-hui, ser Ulraunt" the illithid replied as they shook the man's hand, ready to venture into the library

The library's care taker had an interesting question to ask, however.

"Yes, it is never an easy thing. I would like to extrapolate on the subject but since information is a price of entry...I wonder if I am not better served keeping this for a future entry?

They tilted their head, tentacle shitting slowly

"Unless, of course, entry in perpetuity is an option on the table"

[Flession]

He looks at you as you spoke and responded with a long laugh. "You're quite clever, quite clever indeed. No, suffice to say, the price we pay for entry is to ensure the means for us to continue to increase our library and our knowledge base. Very few have such a luxury for permanent entry, and even then, they offer payment in other ways. Though, should you ever get tired of plane walking, we could offer you the opportunity for a sabbatical here, assuming you could find the means to secure a stable food source, of course. We would be quite interested in understanding your kind a little more, and there is much someone as yourself could discover within our hallowed ground."

He lets go of his hand and motions to the a Avowed monk and nods to him. "Please guide these fine Seekers to whatever sections they wish." He then turns his head towards you once more. "You may stay here for up to a tenday, should you choose, but once you leave, we ask you not return for another month or so. The scholars may also assist you in your research, but they will ask for a fee. I would also caution that next time you come in to the front door from the outside, perhaps using a gate within Baldur's Gate, but considering the...circumstances, the means of your entry may be excused this time."

The wizard clutches the scroll in his hand and smiles. "If you need anything further, please ask any of the Avowed for assistance. Now, if you'll excuse me, it seems I have some reading I must partake in."