House of Knowledge (Neverwinter)

The House of Knowledge, also known as the Hall of Knowledge was a library and temple to Oghma in the city of Neverwinter.

Location
It was located near the southern side of the Dolphin Bridge, at the northeastern end of the The Wall.

Structure
The House of Knowledge was considered one of the most impressive buildings in Neverwinter, whose fame spread throughout the Sword Coast. It was an impressively tall building with many windows and an arched roof.

After the eruption of Mount Hotenow in 1451 DR, the House of Knowledge was badly damaged, and as of 1479 DR, it still stood in ruins. Efforts to repair it began around 1489 DR and were still ongoing as of 1496 DR, by which time the exterior had been fully restored.

Interior
The main shrine to Oghma was located on the ground floor, and was open to the public. Off-limits to most visitors were the temple staff's living areas and offices upstairs as well as the basement, which contained storage and additional sites of worship.

The House of Knowledge was also a great library, containing everything from maps and histories to poetry and literature. Common books and scrolls, including public government records, were housed on the first floor, while the undercroft held a more secure library known as the Vault of Tomes where rare or valuable books were indexed. The Vault was well guarded and had a complex lock, making it one of the most secure locations in Neverwinter.

Activities
As of 1370 DR, the temple was run by Chief Priest Watger Brighthair and Elder Reader Salyndra Shaern, who offered their teachings for free. It was a repository of chronicled learning, including maps, history, and hundreds of poems and chapbooks produced over the centuries.

During the eruption of Mount Hotenow, in 1451 DR, the priests sealed the temple's inner sanctum to protect the books, maps and other treasures, and fled, leaving trapped there a young loremaster, Atlavast. Much of the temple was destroyed save for the underground sections, and Altavast survived the cataclysm but became a little bit insane after the experience. He chose to never abandon the temple, instead biding his time cataloging and organized the libraries and other repositories of knowledge.

As of 1478 DR, Brother Anthus was in charge of the House of Knowledge. His research on the Chasm led to the temple's being used as a haven for spellscarred refugees, something Lord Protector Dagult Neverember didn't approve. Soon after Brother Anthus died under mysterious circumstances, a young woman known as the Prophet Rohini took all the refugees and Oghmanite priests and left the temple for Helm's Hold. Only one priest remained in the temple after her departure, Atlavast.

In 1479 DR, a group of Ashmadai took up residence in the House of Knowledge. Posing as refugees, the Ashmadai used their cover to try to corrupt the Mintarn mercenaries Neverember had hired to protect the Wall. The Ashmadai also helped the mercenaries, by ringing the bells every time they spotted aberrations coming up from the Wall, as they believed people should be slaves to Asmodeus, not to monstrosities from the Far Realm.

With the Chasm sealed in the late years of the 1480s decade, a few Oghmanite priests from other lands went to Neverwinter in the hopes of reclaiming the temple for their faith. The House of Knowledge became a center of education in the late 15 century DR, and was used as a repository for Neverwinter government records while Castle Never was still under reconstruction. As of the mid-1490s DR, the temple was under the purview of Grand Scribe Spivey Liethennson.

Appearances

 * Adventures:
 * Orrery of the Wanderer
 * Novels:
 * Brimstone Angels series (Brimstone Angels)
 * Video games:
 * Gateway to the Savage Frontier • Treasures of the Savage Frontier • Neverwinter Nights 2