Blackstaff Tower Blackstaff Tower ( previously Arunsun Tower ; renamed by Khelben in 1322 DR ) was the home of Khelben " Blackstaff " Arunsun . The forbidding structure is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Castle Ward of Waterdeep . It was also the home of his apprentices and his consort Laeral Silverhand . The tower was protected against scrying magic . Structure . Exterior . Blackstaff Tower ' s main entrance was on Swords Street . There was also an apprentice ' s gate , through which apprentices could gain access by touching the gate with a left palm . The tower was surrounded by a 20 - foot wall . The appeared to be made out of smooth black stone , with no windows or doors . From the outside , the structure appeared to be a three - story stone tower , but inside , there were at least a dozen more levels , and some of these could only be reached by magical means . Everything connected to the central stairwell , although magical passwords were required to transport to certain areas of this stairwell . The three levels visible from the outside were all freely accessible via simply using the stairs . The tower had the ability to repair itself , along with its outer walls and gates , when damaged , and this process could be helped along by Laeral Silverhand . After an attack in which a wall was demolished , the tower was back to normal the same day . Intruders that posed a threat to the tower could potentially trigger a Walking Statue to form out of the roof . Prior to 1479 DR , this had not happened in recent memory . Interior . From the inside , windows appeared to show what was going on outside , but these were illusions . The interior ( but not the exterior ) of the tower was warded against magical intrusion . Rooms were connected to the central stairwell and entry hall , which was full of floating doors and arches . Many alcoves and shelves covered the walls of the stairwell , displaying magical items and artifacts , and although they seemed unprotected , a command word was needed to remove any of them . The items changed on a regular basis , so returning to the same stairwell on another day might result in seeing different items . Leaving the dormitories without issuing a command word would lead to the second level ' s stairwell . Saying the command word " nhurlaen " in the stairwell took one to the study . On the top floor of the tower was a study and a scrying chamber . There was also a parlor where Khelben displayed his art . In the library was one - way dimensional door to Candlekeep ( the other side of the door led to Jester ' s Court nearby ) . As of 1374 DR , the tower ' s entry chamber contained a wardrobe that Khelben was able to use to access almost any closet in the tower . In the tower ' s kitchen , Khelben liked to serve cups of roasted chicory . Tunnels linked the tower ' s basement to Piergeiron ' s Palace and other locations in Waterdeep , which could be accessed by uttering the command word : " Vhuarm " . One such tunnel could be accessed at Northspur Rock on Northspur Landing on the Talltumble Stairs in Mountainside . In 1361 DR , Danilo Thann moved the " elfgate " portal to Evermeet to Laeral ' s chambers in order to facilitate more quality time between her and Khelben . History . After the death of Khelben , his heirs to the title of Blackstaff used the tower as both a home and a place of power . In fact , the tower became so linked to the Blackstaff that , upon the death of their master , the heir must immediately travel to the tower . On at least two occasions , the Blackstaff died outside of the tower and the heir was driven insane until they returned to the tower . In 1415 DR , the fourth Blackstaff , Krehlan Arunsun , modified Blackstaff Tower using the " kiira n ' vaelhar " to allow templates of the spirits of each former Blackstaff to communicate with anyone in the tower , and with the Blackstaff where he or she was . The templates were a permanent illusion of the spirit of each Blackstaff ; in visible form , the template appeared as the Blackstaff did in life but with a green glow . While in the tower , the Blackstaff was also aware of every person in the tower or within a few feet of the tower . Known apprentices . While the tower may have had 50 of so apprentices at any time , the following were known apprentices : Artifacts . The tower contained " The Fanged Tome of Lykanthus Szar " , " The Annals Adamarus " , and Alaundo ' s Loop . The " elfgate " to Evermeet ( created by Amnestria with Arilyn ' s moonblade ) was located in Laeral ' s chambers after 1361 DR .