Monastery of the Yellow Rose

The Monastery of the Yellow Rose, also known as the Citadel of the White Worm, was a monastery dedicated to St. Sollars the Twice-Martyred and Ilmater, the Broken God. It was situated high in the Earthspur Mountains in Damara, overlooking the Glacier of the White Worm. It was the most well known of the facilities belonging to the Disciples of St. Sollars the Twice-Martyred.

Geography
The Monastery was a difficult place to reach, as the trails leading there were hard to find and follow. Furthermore, it was an arduous climb up a mountain pass to reach the entrance. It was a very solitary and remote place.

Located high in the Earthspur Mountains, the monastery lay east of the Glacier of the White Worm. Overlooking the glacier, it was built into the rocky side of a jagged mountain peak, one of the tallest in the Earthspurs, and upon a high plateau.

Structure
The Citadel of the White Worm was an immense and sprawling fortress. From the outside, it projected many turrets, balconies, and windows. The top of the highest structure was a crenulated tower. There were also extensive tunnels into the mountain below. Every generation of monks built on new structures and dug out new subterranean chambers and tunnels.

Interior
Inside, every room displayed the artwork and architecture of the monks of the Yellow Rose, reflecting their great discipline. The monastery resembled an impressive museum devoted to the persistence, indomitability, and rise of human-kind in Faerûn.

However, being built into the side of a mountain, only about half the rooms had windows looking onto the daylight. The remainder were underground, within the mountain itself.

A lengthy network of catacombs ran under the monastery and through the mountain. There were three main sections. One wing held a vast cellar where the monks stored vats of blueberry wine. Another housed their archives and records about the Bloodstone Lands, the most complete collection anywhere in the Realms. Finally, the catacombs served as burial vaults, holding the remains of deceased monks.

The monastery contained a private prayer room for masters that included a table on a stage, where the masters sat for audiences.

Inhabitants
The monks of the Monastery of the Yellow Rose were disciples of Saint Sollars the Twice Martyred, and they dedicated their time to genealogical studies and created blueberry wine. They kept an extensive archive on the Bloodstone Lands, recording news from Damara, Impiltur, Narfell, and Vaasa. They also kept a museum of artwork themed around Ilmater. The monks were renowned for the loyalty they showed to their allies, such as the Order of the Golden Cup, with whom they often traveled. They were greatly respected in diplomatic matters.

Notable inhabitants

 * Cantoule: A ranking monk and leader at the Monastery of the Yellow Rose. His title was Grandmaster of Flowers.
 * Kane: The Grandmaster of Flowers was a close friend of the King of Damara, and was instrumental in the downfall of the Witch-King of Vaasa. He resided at the monastery in 1484 DR, having transcended his human form.
 * Afafrenfere: A human Shadovar monk, former member of Cavus Dun, former member of Brothers of the Gray Mists. He left the monastery to join Cavus Dun, but he returned in 1484 DR, seeking penance.
 * Savahn: Mistress of the East Wind in 1484 DR.
 * Brother Tadpole: Monk in 1484 DR.
 * Perrywinkle Shin: Master of Summer, the highest-ranking active monk in 1484 DR.

History
The Disciples of St. Sollars the Twice-Martyred crossed over the Great Glacier, over the lands that would later be known as Damara and Vaasa, whilst both realms still lay beneath the ice. A fanatical order, they sought the most imposing, harsh, and dangerous place at which to build their temple, and found it in the highest peaks of the Earthspurs. The Monastery of the Yellow Rose, also known as the Citadel of the White Worm, was founded in the Year of the Yellow Rose, 1242 DR.

Around 1359 DR, the Monastery sent a number of its monks to Gareth Dragonsbane, lord of Damara, so that they could serve as his emissaries to the Lords of Imphras II of Impiltur. This was thanks to the esteem the Lords had for the Yellow Rose, and Gareth's close relationship with the Monastery via his companion Kane.

In the Year of the Serpent, 1359 DR, Duke Helmont the 15th of Carmathan in Damara claimed royal lineage, but an old women purporting to be midwife to the House of Devlin had no recollection of his birth and doubted his claims. Thus, Gareth Dragonsbane invited the Monks of the Yellow Rose to investigate the matter. Although the monastery possessed complete genealogical records, they sent a contingent of monks to Carmathan to investigate directly and fairly. With the monks so highly respected, Helmont had no option but to cooperate. Preliminary reports suggested the monks had apparently found evidence supporting the midwife's version of events.

In the Year of Rogue Dragons, 1373 DR, on Mirtul 25, the monastery was besieged by a flight of maddened chromatic dragons sent by Sammaster to prevent anyone from finding lore pertaining to the Rage of Dragons sweeping across Faerûn at the time. The hunters Dorn Graybrook and Raryn Snowstealer, the copper dragon Chatulio, and the song dragon Kara aided the monks in defending the monastery. The siege lasted for several days, before metallic dragons departed their refuge in the Galena Mountains and routed the chromatic dragons on Flamerule 11. The monastery community was nearly destroyed in the battle.

In 1484 DR, the monastery hosted Ambergris while her friend Afafrenfere sought to be accepted once more as a monk after leaving the order. The masters, led by Grandmaster Kane, agreed that Afafrenfere could return to the order if he joined Ambergris and Jarlaxle in their affairs in the Silver Marches.

Appearances

 * Novels:
 * The Rite
 * Rise of the King