Wizard's Keep
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The Wizard's Keep is a fictional location in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind.
[edit] Physical Description
The Wizard's Keep is a large fortification in the town of Aydindril in the Midlands. It towers over the town of Aydindril, nestled against a mountain just outside the town. The Keep is surrounding by a yawning chasm, spanned only by a long bridge that is guarded by a large, gaping gate and iron portcullis. Inside the massive outer wall of the Keep, the air is always spring-fresh and warm, despite the temperature outside. Soaring walls of dark stone with high windows surround the gravel courtyard of the Keep. There are a number of doors around the courtyard and a roadway that tunnels deeper into the Keep. Four granite steps worn smooth over the ages by countless footsteps lead through a doorway set back under a lintel of pink-flecked black granite, and into the Keep proper - a wide hall with lamps set against the wall.
Past the Keep proper is a large, imposing anteroom with a sunken floor. Red marble columns all around support arches below balconies. In the center of the room, a fountain sprays water far overhead, which falls back to cascade down through a succession of ever larger scalloped bowls. White marble benches are scattered throughout the room and officers, sorceresses, and a variety of others could often be found engaged in earnest conversation masked by the sound of the water.
Beyond the anteroom is a much smaller room with a cream-coloured marble floor and a line of carved oak benches along one wall that acted as a waiting room for peasants hoping to speak with the wizards. Light from the windows above the benches light three tapestries hanging on the far wall that cover nearly the entire wall and make up one scene of a grand procession through a city. In the center of the room, inset in brass lines, is a Grace.
Deeper in the Keep, there are many narrow halls and corridors, some dark and austere and some of astounding grandeur. Deep in the Keep, at the top of a broad white marble stairway, the stone railings spiral at the ends to open wide into a room with warm oak paneling. Several of the raised panels hold lamps with polished silver reflectors. Atop a three-legged table sits a double-bowl cut-glass lamp with twin chimneys, their flames adding to the mellow light from the reflector lamps. A thick carpet of ornate blue patterns nearly covers the entire wood floor. In the wall opposite the stairs there is a large double door, leading to the chamber where the First Wizard conducted his business. In front of the door is a dozen thickly tufted leather chairs set in four groups.
The First Wizard's chamber is well lit by glassed skylights. There are other doors in the grey stone of the walls. It smelled of pitch, lamp oil, roasted meat, wet stone, and stale sweat. A number of people could often be seen rushing hither and yon through this room and confusion and commotion reigned. People were often all talking at once. Stout tables set about the room in no discernable pattern were covered with books, scrolls, maps, chalk, unlit oil lamps, burning candles, partially eaten meals, sealing wax, pens, and a clutter of every sort of odd object, from balls of knotted string to half-spilled sacks of sand. People stood about the tables, engaged in coversation or arguments as others tapped passages in books, pored over scrolls, or moved little painted weights about on maps. Others rolled slices of roasted meat plucked from platters and nibbled as they watched or offered opinions between swallows. People rushed in and out, others flailed their arms as they spoke with great conviction, and others leaned in, nearly whispering. It was like a human beehive.
[edit] Purpose
The Wizard's Keep is a refuge, a home to the wizards and a place where the wizards preserve important things of magic, such as the books of prophecies, and books of even more importance - books of magic and instruction, such as the Book of Counted Shadows. Some of the books kept there, especially in the First Wizard's private enclave, are at least 3,000 years old. Some of the books are used to teach new wizards, some are used as reference, and some are used as weapons. Other items of magic are kept there also, such as the Sword of Truth, between Seekers. Many parts of the Keep are sealed by magic; none can enter but a wizard of the proper power, most shields simply reject unauthorized persons, while a few kill instantly. However, killing shields have warnings first, like strong tingling or burning sensation, telling an intruder that this shield will kill.
Before the war with Darken Rahl, people would often come to the gates of the Wizard's Keep to seek councel or help from the wizards, which would greet them daily.
