Melarn's Door

The dwarf introduced himself as Dagnar, yardkeeper and janitor. He said that dinner was being served for the Melarn's Door community but that they were welcome to check in at Becky's Inn and Tavern, a  where travelers can stay the night. Safad and Rya asked if the large pretty building was the library--they were eager. Dagnar said it was. Off they went.

Inside, the library was beautiful. Vaulted ceilings, intricate archways, white stone smoothed with the passing of many feet over many years--every where the impression of light. On the left and right side of the building, two spiraling staircases curved down to a lower level and up to an upper level. And in the heart of the building, row upon row of bookcases, and in every corner, comfortable chairs in which to read them, with high pile rugs to make the nooks a little more inviting. They noticed that while all the solid building material were clearly imported, the décor, items, and objects were mostly of High Moorish origin--they recognized the patterns of the Night Wing and Mist Crow on woolen blankets and tapestries; as well as the traditional fur work typical of the Red Tusk. The juxtaposition formed an curious but appealing aesthetic. The lightning all seemed to be magical flame, imitating the real thing without giving off any heat. A few students were scurrying about, working.

As they approached what looked like a front desk, they saw a beautiful, multicolored stone mosaic, prominently displayed on the South wall, with the inscription, "In Memory of All Those Who Gave Their Lives in Service to Knowledge" and below it a list of names including:

Safad paused as he read the inscription. Bedouir Coulain? Wasn't that the---wasn't he..didn't they read his journal? He perished in the Greypeaks, right? Safad was pondering all this when Rya introduced herself to the shorn-headed and severe-looking half-elf woman who was standing at an oval marble desk. 


"I am Jo-Dot the Archivist here at Melarn's Door. And you are.." she appraised them, "hmm, fascinating. Chaosborn and--", she sniffed the air, "--blue dragon lineage. Sorcerers...wonderful. Welcome!" A spellbook was open next to her and with some unspoken communication jumped to the ready on its own accord and started recording lines of text on an open page as it circled the Archivist's head. The sorcerers introduced themselves. 

"Yes, so, Bedouir Coulain...we know about him." Safad began. 

"Oh?" Jo-dot asked. "Familiar name, then?"

"No, no, I can tell you the contents of his journal while he was doing field research in the Greypeaks, we came across it while adventuring there." 

Jo-Dot muttered something to her spellbook and looked down from the desk at them, her face an open book of surprise. "My impulse is to think you are fooling me to curry favor somehow, but no, I detect no malice in you. Well, then, wellmet indeed, Safad Kulius and Rya Rezna. Apprentice Coulain was before my time, but Expert Lillidus and High Madame Selanie would love to hear your story. And Praxton here," she indicated her spellbook, "and I would love to record that knowledge for the annals!" She added somewhat hungrily. 

She explained that she was a Master in the Order of Scribes and chronicling all things--any thing!--was delicious to her. Safad told her the tale of what he knew, and she seemed delighted as 'Praxton' went about recording. Every now and then the spellbook seemed to communicate something to Jo-Dot and she would interrupt with a clarifying question, and Praxton would carry on, ink magically appearing in line after line of the spellbook as Safad spoke.

After they were done, they discussed research, and looking for knowledge of gods and goddesses. The Archivist explained that this was a wizarding college and as such their collection did not go very deep into religion, but that maybe they could find what they were looking for with a better formed research question. They told her they had been sent by Bhin, from the Mootscarp, and asked about this set of keys he had given them. The Archivist took them downstairs to the lower level and presented them with a massive stone double door with intricate inlay on it. It was difficult to read at first, but they could make out among the detail words in the common tongue: 

If you are looking for something that has been lost...
...those with malice in their heart shall not find their way here

Safad and Rya tried the keys, which entered the locks, but they wouldn't turn. They noticed etched in letters on the keys, now that they held them closer, "SRDIFS". 

Jo-dot muttered something about magical doors, shrugged, and went back upstairs. 

After trying all sorts of remedies, Rya and Safad gave up and returned as well. The archivist told them they could still make the end of dinner and that the High Madame would be delighted to meet them. She hurried them across the campus to the great hall where there were around 75 people gathered at communal tables. All eyes turned to the trio when they walked in. Jo-Dot paid them no mind and walked directly to an elf woman seated very rigidly at one of the tables. 

"High Madame, these two are visiting sorcerers, and scholars, it would seem, travelers on their way to Candlekeep. I've just had an excellent interaction with them. Interestingly, they also have firsthand knowledge of Apprentice Coulain's final writings." 

Conversation at the table stopped, and the elf woman looked up at them, and smiled warmly--a welcome that melted what had seemed like ice on her stern face. 

"Well met, sorcerers, I am Selanie Surnal, the High Madame of Melarn's Door, Wizarding College." Rya and Safad introduced themselves courteously, and the High Madame continued, "First of all, we do not often have visiting sorcerers in our midst--", at this mention, some of the students--people of all the major races, dressed in many varied garb, aged somewhere between 15 and 35 in human terms--had all quieted down and a couple snickered haughtily at the mention of 'sorcerer.' The High Madame silenced them with a look and carried on, "--and second we would welcome an explanation or demonstration of your craft. What's more, if this is true about our lost student Bedouir Coulain, you would do honor to his memory in sharing what you know of his demise or his final days."

So they think sorcerers are inferior, aye? Thought Rya and Safad. They looked at each other and smiled. "Perhaps we can accomplish both of your requests." At this point, the entire dining hall was paying rapt attention to the two visitors who had been hurried in and directly brought to speak with the High Madame. 

The High Madame opened her arms in an assenting gesture, "By all means, we typically have a short session on the day's lessons after dinner, but seeing as Expert Lillidus was preparing the one for this evening and Coulain was her student, I'm sure she would oblige." A gnome woman seated nearby nodded vigorously. 

A few students yelled out of turn, including a young halfling woman who caught Safad's eye, "Come on, show us what you can do!" 

Safad whispered a silent message to Rya.

"Well, let's not disappoint them, let's show these wizards what it means to be a sorcerer!"

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