The main keep is where the main library was. We were just outside the entrance to the main keep where Rieltar and Brunos were, when we ran into a rather unusual man. 6 feet tall, curly brown hair, gray hair, silver walking stick. He wore dull beige robes, and wore a distinctive wide-rimmed blue hat.
"Salutations, I am Cadderly, a visitor of Candlekeep like yourselves. Pardon if I seem out of sorts, but the journey has been long and treacherous and my labors age me so. May I inquire as to your name? I am certain I have seen your face before, but I cannot fully place it."
Labors age him so? He certainly didn't look old.
...his name was what again?
"I am Sonny, and, pardon me asking, would your full name be Cadderly Bonaduce, perchance? My foster father used to tell me stories of heroic adventure, and that name features in many of them."
"That is indeed my name, though I am not certain I am the same Cadderly Bonaduce featured in your foster father's tales," Cadderly said with a smile.
Jaheira and Khalid had a face which seemed to say, he absolutely is THAT Cadderly Bonaduce. Cadderly is a Chosen of Deneir, much like how Elminster is a Chosen of Mystra. There is a whole series of books dedicated to his adventures called The Cleric Quintet, written by R. A. Salvatore (same author who created Drizzt).
When I first played this game, I had NO idea who Cadderly was. I do now, but honestly Cadderly had so little impact in the game. All I remember was him giving condolences I had heard so many times before and vague advice.
Cadderly looked me up and down, considering. "Sonny is your name. Then I know you well, though you may be hard pressed to remember. I was last here years ago and conferred with your foster father as you were off to chores. I am certain you tire of hearing it, and that legion have told you the same, but Gorion was well-know to me. His death has been mourned by many."
There you go. Condolences I had heard so many times before. "Gorion didn't tell me he had met all these heroic figures that featured in his stories. It's a whole side to him I never knew."
"Gorion was a well respected man, as he did many good things for many people. When last I spoke with him I was barely acquainted with his fellows myself, but those who harp do tend to keep to themselves their affiliations. He was a longstanding member, from what I understand," Cadderly explained, with an eye on Jaheira and Khalid. "Likely he said nothing to you because he wished your childhood to be as normal as possible. I suppose all parents wish this, whether the child is theirs or not. I have yet to meet anyone who made claim to achieving it though. How do you wager you have fared?"
A childhood as normal as possible, eh? Nature vs Nurture was a big theme in Baldur's Gate 1&2, for obvious reasons. Gorion was a big believer in Nurture over Nature, clearly. The writers for the first two games emphasized nurture over nature, giving the main character a gentle childhood and Sarevok, the main villain, a destitute one. The 'nature' of each Bhaalspawn had very little influence over what person they grew up to be, whereas how each Bhaalspawn was 'nurtured' did. There's even a divine test which must be answered with this understanding in BG2.
"As well as can be expected, though I have learned much about myself that perhaps was better left unknown," I replied, in script.
From the way Cadderly was speaking to me, asking me how I had faired and the whole mention of normal childhood thing, I think it was pretty clear he was in on the big secret.
Cadderly laughed aloud. "Would that I had a gold coin for every person I have heard say such a thing. I am sure your troubles vary greatly from my own experience, but we all have trials we must overcome. We all have a side that should not see the light of day too often. What matters is how much strength you wish to let it have."
See what I mean? Nurture over nature. Conscious choice over impulse.
Also, vague advice instead of actual help. I mean, as a cleric of Deneir his main domain is knowledge, so I suppose its in character for him to dish out advice. Still, it feels like such a lame duck use of such a powerful hero of the realms. I know fans of the Cleric Quintet series may be thrilled with Cadderly's cameo, but couldn't they make him do something more active? There's a crisis with doppelgangers happening right under his nose.
Eh, whatever. If Cadderly solved this entire crisis at Candlekeep for me, I wouldn't get to go down to the catacombs which is filled with uber loot. So I was willing to let Cadderly go without insisting he do something useful.
---
As soon as we entered, one of my tutors, Karan, greeted me. He was happy to see me and happy to share some of his observations of strange going-ons in the library.
"Strange? Why yes, that is just the word I would have used for that Koveras fellow. He was right here beside me,taking Alaundo's prophecies from their place on the shelf and reading them. I could hear his voice, recognize the Seer's words upon his quiet breath, but when I turned to steal a glance at him from the corner of my eye, it was the strangest thing… his eyes were closed and he was reciting page after page, as if from memory! He heard your footsteps, it seems, and wandered off… I was just returning the prophesies to their rightful place here. It might be wise to take a look. If this Koveras is dangerous, though, I'm afraid I'm too old and bookish to be more than a hindrance."
That was a big hint, by the way. Just in case the players missed the chanting by the chanters outside.
"What type of name is Koveras?" Jaheira asked, scowling. "Certainly not Tethyr name. Khalid, is it common in Calimshan-"
"It's Sarevok backwards," Imoen said plainly, giving Jaheira a really, it's so obvious look.
"WHAT," Jaheira gawked for a full second. "...In my defense, never would I have imagined him to use such a ridiculous pseudonym."
Nice save, Jaheira.
"To be honest, I didn't catch it either," Branwen said. "The writing system here is different from what we use in Norheim."
"Same here," Khalid said.
I had no excuse. The first time I played the game so many years ago, I started to glaze over all the names of all the minor NPCs that came my way. So no, I didn't realise Koveras was Sarevok.
What was the prophesy that Sarevok was so taken by? If we wanted to know, we had to find the verse in the library.
---
Before we get into all that plot stuff though, there was the more important of maximising our material gains from Candlekeep. To do so, the sequence of doing things in Candlekeep is very important.
Koveras is on the 2nd floor. If the player meets Koveras, they will be arrested as soon as they reach the 6th floor or exit the library.
Rieltar and company are on the 3rd floor. If the player kills them, the player cannot progress beyond the 4th floor or go back past the 2nd floor as these floors will be filled with guards. Talking to Rieltar at all will also trigger being arrested on the 6th floor or exiting the library.
Therefore, players who want to reach the 5th floor, where Gorion's letter is, must avoid killing Rieltar on the 3rd floor.
Also, players who want to loot the 6th floor must avoid speaking to both Koveras and Rieltar.
In short, to maximise loot, avoid talking to both Koveras and Rieltar until you've searched floors 1, 4, 5 and 6. Then go ahead and search floor 2 where Koveras is, followed by floor 3 where Rieltar is.
---
1st floor loot was just a mage scroll of Vocalise, Chill Touch (ew) and two parts of the prophesy that Koveras aka Sarevok was taken by.
The notes read, "During the days of the Avatars, the Lord of Murder will spawn a score of mortal progeny. These offspring will be aligned good and evil, but chaos will flow through them all. When the Beast's bastard children come of age, they will bring havoc to the lands of the Sword Coast. One of these children must rise above the rest and claim their father's legacy. This inheritor will shape the history of the Sword Coast for centuries to come."
and
"The spawn of the Lord of Murder are fated to come into their inheritance through bloodshed and misery. It is the hope of their father that only one shall remain alive to inherit his legacy. I foresee that the children of Bhaal shall kill each other in a bloody massacre."
The whole party read both parts of the prophesy of VERY carefully.
"Yeesh. Creepy stuff," Neera cringed.
Again with that 'Yeesh' and 'Geez' stuff! Jesus isn't in the Forgotten Realms, stop using that expression! Also, is that really all you have to add to the conversation, Neera?
"One of these children must rise above the rest and claim their father's legacy?" Jaheira pondered. "I think we have more or less have figured out Sarevok's motive. There can only be one inheritor, that's why he wants Sonny dead."
"It's awful, that's what it is," Imoen said, glum. "Siblings should be having fun and watch out for each other. Not bloody... 'tis not right."
Khalid nodded in grim agreement.
Jaheira looked like she had more to say, but she glanced at me, and decided against it.
"We keep finding clues which fit our theory," Branwen said. "We just need some actual proof of something so severe."