Places of Knowledge

For characters looking for a more expansive list of places to seek knowledge, this is a resource for useful and interesting options for those looking for a more expansive list of places to seek knowledge.

Each location may have an entry fee or a fee to review material, and some may be specialized in a certain area of study. When conducting Research under a certain topic that is supported by the library the character has chosen, one of the associated checks may be made at advantage.

Travel
The following table shows the required GP and DTP cost to travel to the listed places of study.

Keep in mind that the costs listed below are for one-way travel, which means that you will need to double the described cost. If you find yourself in one of these cities at the end of an adventure feel free to use what the city offers to you. While there are no DTP costs for travel in adventure sessions, you will need to find your way back to Luskan after your business is done.

Candlekeep
Location: The Sword Coast, South of Baldur’s Gate Services & Fee(s): Gifting a rare book worth at least 1000 gp for entry

Specific Areas of Study: Spells, arcane, generally rare knowledge

Candlekeep was a towered library-fortress that stood on a crag overlooking the Sea of Swords. The library was filled with books and scrolls of knowledge, considered the greatest collection of the writings in all of Faerûn.

Aside from the edicts dictated by the stronghold's Keepers throughout the years, Candlekeep had but one absolute rule: "Those who destroy knowledge, with ink, fire, or sword, are themselves destroyed".

The above is an excerpt from the Forgotten Realms Wiki.

Font of Knowledge
Location: The Sword Coast, Waterdeep

The Font of Knowledge is a temple of Oghma in the Castle Ward district of Waterdeep.

The above is an excerpt from the Forgotten Realms Wiki.

Green Room
Location: Ruathym, Ruathym (city) Services & Fee(s): Requires gifts and/or persuasion for entry

Specific Areas of Study: Magic books, tomes

The Green Room is a royal library with a vast collection of knowledge. It is generally unfriendly towards the adventurers of Luskan.

Herald’s Holdfast
Location: The Silver Marches, northwest of Silverymoon Services & Fee(s): 

Specific Areas of Study: General news, history, nobility and heraldry

The Herald's Holdfast is a spellguarded library complex that belonged to the Heralds of Faerûn and was their primary repository of heraldic lore, history, genealogy, and artifacts from nearly all the humanoid races native to Faerûn. It is widely considered the greatest library in the North.

Well-behaved visitors are allowed to view any of the materials.

The above is an excerpt from the Forgotten Realms Wiki.

Leaves of Learning
Location: Dalelands, Highmoon Services & Fee(s): 15 gp per tome for one day, 1 gp for followers of Oghma

Specialities: Maps, Divine magic

The Leaves of Learning is a temple dedicated to Oghma in Highmoon in the Dalelands in the 14th century DR. It contained one of best libraries in Faerûn.

Visitors could examine tomes in the library for a fee of 15 gp per tome; this fee allowed one to examine the tome for a full day. Initiates and clergy of Oghma could examine a volume for only 1 gp instead.

The above is an excerpt from the Forgotten Realms Wiki.

Library of the Forest
Location: The Lurkwood, exact location unknown Services & Fee(s): Only accessible with a given library card

<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm" lang="en-GB">Specialities: Old magic; ancient, fey, and spiritual creatures

The Library of the Forest is a hidden collective managed by a magician named Riichi Miura, who also is the only person that can give out library cards. Riichi personally knows Geoff.

Map House
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm" lang="en-GB">Location: The Silver Marches, Silverymoon <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm" lang="en-GB">Services & Fee(s): Between 1 sp per person per day to 5 gp per book

<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm" lang="en-GB">Specific Areas of Study: Geography, maps

The Map House, also known as the Heralds' House, is a library and repository for geographical maps and genealogies of noble houses.

The above is an excerpt from the Forgotten Realms Wiki.

Master’s Library & The Reading Room
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm" lang="en-GB">Location: The Earthfast Mountains, Iron Fang Mountain (exact location unknown) <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm" lang="en-GB">The Master's Library is a temple of Deneir on Iron Dragon Mountain in the Earthfast Mountains between Impiltur and the Vast in north Faerûn. It is the greatest depository of books on Toril, and includes samples of every known written language. The Library is typically inaccessible except to non-followers of Deneir. <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm" lang="en-GB">At least once in their lives, every devout follower of Deneir makes a pilgrimage to the Master's Library, though few get past the Reading Room, which supports the Library. The Reading Room is located far to the south of the main temple of the Master's Library on Iron Dragon Mountain. A nonliving, matter-only gate spell allows notes and texts to be passed between the two, so that copies of texts could be lent to visitors. <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm" lang="en-GB">The above is an excerpt from the Forgotten Realms Wiki.

Vault of the Sages
Location: The Silver Marches, Silverymoon <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm" lang="en-GB">Services & Fee(s): Between 1 sp per person per day to 5 gp per book

<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm" lang="en-GB">Specific Areas of Study: Elven history, elven magic, topics pertaining to fey, Feywild

The Vault of the Sages is Silverymoon's "pride and joy". It was exceeded in fame in the North only by Herald's Holdfast. Some considered it the greatest collection of knowledge in all Faerûn.

The above is an excerpt from the Forgotten Realms Wiki.