Blackstaff Tower Description

Layout

Ground Level & Courtyard

• Courtyard (G1): A simple cobbled courtyard, with a circular path leading all the way around the tower. The gates of Blackstaff Tower are usually held open. The view of the tower from the courtyard is, however, enough to generally keep pranksters and wasters-of-time away: it seems to be a single, seamless structure without windows or doors at all.
• Gardens (G2): Khelben is an avid forester, though he doesn't have the change to go ranging as must as he likes. As such, he assuages that urge by spending time in his gardens. Though it does have some food plants and herbals useful in magic, its main purpose is to provide Khelben a way to relax. His apprentices know well better than to disturb him when he is crouched among the plants, which he never tends by magic, but only ever by hand.
• North Tower (G3): The denizens of this tower use this tower as a small stables, capable of comfortably sheltering up to two horses. Khelben does not maintain any horses, nor does he permit his apprentices to do so here (though he does not care if they stable them elsewhere, of course).
  • Secret Passage: Beneath a trough of hay, there is a cunningly-crafted trap door that leads down into the cellars beneath the tower.
• East Tower (G4): This small tower is used as a sort of general storage. Mounts brought in by visitors to the tower usually remove their tack and harness and store them here.
• South Tower (G5): Turned into a meditative retreat, this tower is usually kept fairly dark, with plenty of comfortable throw-pillows and large cushions on the ground. It has a small table with the necessary implements for making a soothing tea, and a selection of fine incenses.
  • Secret Passage: One corner that is kept buried in cushions actually bears a well-hidden trap door down into the cellars here.
• West Tower (G6): This tower is simple storage, where Khelben keeps his gardening implements.
• Entry Vestibule (G7): X
• Audience Chamber & Dining Hall (G8): X
• Kitchens (G9): X
• Pantry (G10): X

Apprentices' Level

• Library (A1): X
• Parlor (A2): X
• Apprentice & Guest Quarters (A3): X
  • X (a): X
  • X (b): X
  • X (c): X
  • X (d): X
  • X (e): X
  • X (f): X

Master's Level

• Laboratory (M1): X
• Spellcasting Chamber (M3): X
• Components Storage Vault (M4): X
• Wardrobe (M5): X
• Khelben's Chamber (M6): X
• Study (M7): X
• Rooftop (M8): X

Cellars

• Stairwell Landing & Records (C1): X
• Wine Cellars (C2): X
• Food Cellars (C3): X
• Master's Vault Space (C4): X
• Escape to Palace (C5): X
• Hideaway (C6): X
• Tower Passage (C7): X
• Donjon (C8): X
• Passage to Sewers (C9): X
• Passage to Palace (C10): X

Inhabitants of Blackstaff Tower

Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun

Archmage of Waterdeep. Human • Male • Wizard (Noble Background)
Khelben is the most powerful and influential archmage of the Sword Coast, and is widely rumored to be one of the rulers of Waterdeep (though he never has anything to say on the subject). Allied to the Harpers, and instrumental in keeping the Lords’ Alliance (of Silverymoon, Sundabar, Neverwinter, and other “good” cities of the North, with Waterdeep) intact, Khelben is always working to influence this or that occurrence or trend, looking years ahead. He is a forester and a painter, and has tutored many mages of note (including Malchor Harpell, Savengriff, and Nain). Khelben is a tall (6'’), well-muscled, bearded man with a receding hairline, black hair shot through with silver, and a distinguished manner. He is gravely wise, not pompous, and is fully learned in the history, lore, and traditions of magic as practised by humans in the North since the rise from barbarism.

The Apprentices

x

The Household

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