Chapter One: Candlekeep

Nestled atop the cliffs which rose from the Sword Coast, the Citadel of Candlekeep housed the most comprehensive library on the face of Faerun. It was secluded, highly regimented, and it was home. It was also infested with a terrible menace. One unknown to the scribes who spent their days gazing upon stars when their noses weren't firmly in the books.

Now it fell to a few to put a stop to the menace, once and for all.

Charname crept through the darkness scanning for his enemy. The situation was indeed grave. Candlekeeps feline forces had turned traitor, and the rats were on the offensive. It now appeared that he was the only thing standing between the keep and the rodents. Thus with a heavy heart, he'd steeled himself and made his way in with only a stick.

Then he saw it, a creature darting through the warehouse. He was after it in a second, stick in hand and struck. Wham, he got it, and it keeled over screeching. Another came out of the boxes and leaped at him with mouth snarling.

Charname swung at it and knocked it from the air, and it hit the ground and lay still. Others coursed from the boxes and he hit them too, smashing around with the stick he'd been given. More and more of them were hit. Meanwhile, the cats who were supposed to be hunting these things lay around and licked their paws — useless beasts.

Finally, it was done. No more rats emerged. He was victorious.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, he made his way out of the warehouse and saw Reever. The dwarf was waiting for him there, clad in heavy mail with an axe. The dwarf smiled at him.

'It's done.' said Charname. 'The rats are finished.'

'Ah, I saw the whole thing from here! A glorious battle the likes of which the world has never seen!' He drew out some coins. 'Here is five gold pieces, don't spend them all in one place.'

'Thanks, Reever.' said Charname.

Five gold pieces. He was five gold richer. Hardly the greatest of all hauls, but it was a start. Actually no it wasn't. Charname made a mental note never to join the armed forces. They never inform you of the full danger your in, and they give you squat when you leave. Five pieces for nearly losing his hide to those things.

'Hey kid,' said a voice.

Charname looked up and noted Hull waiting around by the gate. The large watcher had a staff in hand, but he bore no sword. Odd. Had he been drinking again? 'Yes, Hull? How may I be of assistance?'

'I woke up late this morning and left my sword in the barracks before going on duty. If you want to get it for me, it's on the chest at the foot of my bed on the right side of the barracks. You'll also find an antidote there. I think Dreppin needs one for old Nessa.'

'It will be done.' said Charname.

Business as usual. Running errands.

The barracks was actually fairly small, for it mostly catered to off duty watchers. On duty watchers, in contrast, usually slept at rooms nearer to their task. Charname was well at ease there, having been instructed by some of the men there during his time.

Fuller looked like he was working off a hangover as Charname approached him. He spoke before Charname could. 'Ugh, what a mead filled night. That Hull is just too much. Poor sap had to go man the gate this morning, too. I don't know how he does it.'

'Yeah, the mead would explain why Hull forgot to put his sword on this morning.' said Charname 'He sent me to fetch it for him.'

'Sure, sure. It should be in the chest over against the right wall there.' said Fuller, motioning blearily.

'Thank you.' said Charname.

The chest was unlocked, and Charname recovered both the antidote and the sword. Looking up to Fuller, he came up with a morbid thought. Before he could stop himself, he spoke it aloud. 'I was just wondering if you had any errands I could run.'

'Errands?' asked Fuller. 'Yeah. I need a quarrel of crossbow bolts. If you could get some off Winthrope at the inn, I'll reimburse you.'

It was a meaningful silenchich passed between them.

'Oh, very well, there'll be a few coins in it for you too, so you can stop giving me that look.' said Fuller.

'It will be done.' said Charname.

Charname rushed back to Hull, by now growing more than a little sick of errand running. But he pursued the trade out of a sense of obligation. He came to Hull and offered him the sword carefully. Hull grabbed it quickly and buckled it onto his belt.

'Thanks, kiddo. Gorion didn't bring you up half bad, did he?' asked Hull. 'You're lucky to have grown up here in Candlekeep, to be honest. Sometimes I think that the world outside these gates has gone mad, what with all this fighting over iron shortages and all.'

'Is it that bad?' asked Charname.

'Worse.' said Hull bleakly. 'Amn and Baldur's Gate will be at war before the season's out, mark my words…' He shook himself alert. 'Anyhow, I'm on dirty. Here's twenty gold pieces for saving my skin from the chief.'

And he was twenty gold richer. He walked with it, tossing the bag up and down as he considered what to do with it.

Then again, it wasn't as if he had anything better to do.

Making his way to the drill yard he began to practice with his swords. The wielding of two weapons at once was difficult, that was why he had chosen to take it. To strike down the wicked and uphold the right with a sword in either hand? It was a fantasy, but it sustained him.

He could fight with other weapons, of course. But the duel swords was something he enjoyed greatly.

As he practiced he imagined facing real enemies. True opponents who slaying would gain him great renown and day he would face them. And if events were any indication that day would be soon.

'Working on your skills as always, child?' asked a grave voice.

Charname looked up to see Gorion. The old archmage was looking at him, clad in flowing white garments. He lowered the sword in his hand and sighed. 'Yes, Father. I was hoping to put them to use.'

'I am certain you'll have the chance soon enough.' said Gorion. 'For now, I should keep your aspirations in the here and now.'

'Father,' said Charname, 'I will be twenty in a few days. At my age there are people who have become great heroes, you've told me all their stories. I've heard them all my life. And yet I have done nothing. I want to help the Sword Coast. I want to fight the bandits who have been preying on the innocent.

'I… I want to join the Flaming Fist.'

'You must learn to be patient child.' said Gorion. 'Things are happening now, which would make such a position exceptionally unwise.'

'Why?' asked Charname. 'Does it have to do with my heritage?'

'I have told you many times, Charname,' said Gorion. 'I will tell you of that subject when the time is right.'

'And when will the time be right?' asked Charname.

'Soon,' said Gorion, 'and when I reveal all, you will have my leave to do as you will. But not before.'

'Yes, Father.' said Charname, putting away his sword. 'I'm going to see how Imoen is doing. With your leave.'

'Of course.' said Gorion 'Do say hello to Firebead while he is there. He has had a long journey and a dangerous one at that.'

'I will.' said Charname.

When was Father going to let him DO something?

Winthrope's Inn was a great two storied building which had long before been the manor of a nobleman. These days it housed many nobles who came to read. It was normally a bustling affair. Emphasis on normally. At present, however, it was almost empty except for a die-hard readers. Most of them had already been here for months. The Libraries of Candlekeep were vast and could take a thousand lifetimes to read. Perhaps more.

Even so, there was a merry fire burning in the hearth. Firebead Elvenhair was sitting there, sipping a frothy mug of ale. He was a tall, elven man with white hair, dressed in green and gold robes. By him was Winthrope himself and the two were talking with one another.

'Bandits on the roads, iron reserves all tainted, and word is that it's all Amn's doing.' mused Firebead. 'Times are troubled; there is no mistaking it.'

'Even in Candlekeep things have been a bit off.' noted Winthrope. 'Folk aren't coming like they used to, what with the roads. I hear tell that it is a Zhentish plot.'

'Perhaps,' mused Firebead, 'though the situation doesn't sit right with me. Charname, has your father said anything about all this?'

Charname hadn't even known he'd been noticed, but that was the way of mages. One never could tell what they were thinking. 'No, he hasn't. Though he seems concerned about it, he's been a bit odd lately. But he never tells me anything.'

It was the sort of statement he didn't like making.

'I shouldn't feel too bad about it.' mused Firebead. 'Gorion is not one to tell anyone anything they don't need to know.' He leaned back in his seat. 'Ah, I'm back in the hallowed halls of Candlekeep. With this iron crisis upon us the trip from Beregost was more hazardous than I care to relate.' He looked to Charname as though for the first time. 'My you have come into your own, if you'll forgive an old man jealous of youth to say so.

'I left an identify scroll with Tethoril, in the inner grounds. He should be done examining it by now, so if you could fetch it for me, I'd be grateful.'

'Of course.' said Charname, desiring to be of assistance, and he raced off.

It was only once he had already gone that he realized that he was doing errands again. This did not bode well for his future adventuring career.

Doing errands was almost a reflex for Charname by this point. A way for him to remain relevant when he had nothing he could do with his life. This realization troubled him. In an act of pure irritation, he veered off from his course toward the gardens and instead took the long was around.

As he walked, he came across an elderly elven woman, clad in blue garments who ran up to him. He knew her at once and judging by her distress; he could already guess what it was she needed from him.

Of course, he pretended he had no idea of what she wanted, just to be polite.

'Hello Phlydia.' he said as she approached.

'Oh, hello! Hey, have you seen my copy of 'The History of Halruaa' anywhere?' she asked.

'No, I'm afraid not.' he said. 'Have you misplaced it again?'

'You know how I can't stand the constant shuffling of arthritic feet up in the library…' said Phlydia. 'So I thought I'd get a bit of fresh air just east of here and… Oh I hate being so absent-minded! Please if you find it I really do need it back.'

'Of course, Phlydia, it will be done.' he said.

Dear absent minded Phlydia had lost another one of her books. What a remarkable turn of events on an amazing day. Of course, this present crisis was as nothing compared to last time. Last time she was in Candlekeep she lost an entire four-volume set in the hay they kept for the cows.

That was where he should look first.

He made his way along the wall until he reached the area where the hay was stored. Dreppin smiled as he approached. He had a look that said he guessed exactly what Charname was doing out here. 'Phlydia left one of her books in here again. It's in the hay, there beside the cow. If you could run it over to her and then come back, I've got some plans for you.'

'It will be done.' said Charname. He was confident that the plans in question would be as exciting as what he went through.

Returning to Phlydia, he offered her the book with a careful flourish. She snatched it as a child does candy and with as much joy. 'My book! Oh, you remind me so much of Gorion when you grin like that. Raising you has been hard on him, I know, but he says it's a toil of love, a toil of destiny even.'

'Really?' asked Charname.

'You must be a very special child indeed to draw such praise from a man of his silent nature.' said Phyldia. 'Here, take this gem of mine. Maybe Winthrope will give you a little something for it.'

It was a large, very smooth polished blue gem and Charname took it.

Candlekeep, it seemed, continued to defy all laws of economics. The more books it holds, the more valuable they became to those who read them. The greater the supply, the greater the demand. All this thinking made Charname's head hurt, and he decided to just pawn the gem and see what it was worth.

Except he still had to get the scroll from Tethoril. And then there were the crossbow bolts he'd forgotten to get before. So back to Winthrope's Inn he went. As Charname entered the room, Winthrope's face brightened and he made his way over.

'Why hello there, young one! Come to visit your old pal, Winthrope, have ye? Well, don't forget the 10,000 gold piece entrance fee, as per Candlekeep's custom, don'tyeknow.'

Ah, terrible jokes. Best not to acknowledge them. 'I fear I do not have that kind of entry fee with me. I suppose I shall return when I do.'

'I fear ye have spent too much time among stiffnecked monks and mistaken my attempt at humor for a serious demand.' said Winthrope. 'Perish the thought that I should charge for your company. Any child of Gorion is more than welcome in my inn.

'So, is there anything I can do for you?'

'Yes,' said Charname, 'is Imoen here? I was hoping to speak to her.'

'Ah, the girl is out and about like always.' said Winthrope. 'I expect you'll see her soon enough. 'Anything else?'

'Yes, how much could I get for this gem?' he asked, offering it to Winthrope.

Winthrope took it and looked over it curiously. After a moment, he set it down. 'Lynch Eye gem, hmm? Well, I'll give you seven for it.'

'Fine,' said Charname.

'Aren't you going to haggle?' asked Winthrope.

'I don't really care about money all that much.' admitted Charname.

'Admirable in theory, but you might consider taking profit seriously.' said Winthrope. 'Here, seven gold richer.'

'Thank you.' said Charname. 'Please don't tell Firebead I was here, I got a bit sidetracked.'

Winthrope winked.

Charname made his way along past the cow pens to where he found Drepping looking after them. The man seemed troubled and did not at first notice him as he approached. Charname gave him a minute. Then he lost patience. 'All right, Dreppin. I'm back.'

'Nice day isn't it?' asked Dreppin suddenly.

'A fine one, indeed.' agreed Charname. What did he want?

Drepping sighed. 'Too bad Nessie ain't enjoying it though, her bein' sick an' all. I need to get her one of them potions of antidote off Hull. He stayed up drinking last night and got hauled outta bed to man the gates early this morning. I bet he's got a few of them lyin' around somewhere.'

'Hull mentioned something to that effect.' said Charname. He removed the potion from his bag and offering it to him. 'Here you are.'

'Heh, ye're a wonder, you are. Stick with me, and we'll go far…' said Dreppin before his brain caught up with his mouth. 'Well, okay, stick with me, and we'd probably never leave the walls of Candlekeep, would we? They say the bandits out there aren't after gold and gems anymore, but plain old iron.

'It's one of them whatsamacallits, paradoxes or whatever. It's dangerous, so you want to wear some good solid plate and carry an axe that'd make Tempus jealous. But rather than protectin' ya, it just makes everyone want a piece of you, right?'

'So which will it be?' asked Charname. 'Terrible adventure? Or boring peace?'

'Given my druthers, I guess I'd better just stay right here.' said Dreppin. 'Getting late, actually, isn't it?'

Charname looked up and realized that the sun was setting. He must have been at all this for longer than he thought. Amazing how time could fly when running errands for everyone in the entire keep. 'Yes.' he said, 'I think I'd best get back to my room.'

'Right,' said Dreppin, 'well see you tomorrow.'

'See you then.' said Charname.

Today had been… busy to say the least. Charname would be glad to get to sleep.


Author's Note:

Okay, I'd like to explain my reasoning for the choices I took regarding Charname. First off, the story indicates that Charname is twenty years old. If he were a dwarf, gnome, halfling, or elf, he'd still be a child at the time of the story. So that left humans and half-orcs.

That left narrative decisions. I felt the story would be told best if Sarevok was presented as a foil to your protagonist. Since Sarevok is a well-educated, evil human warrior, I wanted Charname to be the good counterpart. A well educated, good human paladin. I choose to make Charname male because Imoen is female. Therefore it would be best to have a Baalspawn protagonist of both genders.