THE LIBRARY
To those that have experienced it, it is known simply as The Library. Some stumbled upon it in their hometowns, others were transported in their dreams and in the strangest case of all it was found by a man opening a door that appeared while he was stranded in the middle of the ocean. The Library is rumored to be a living thing stuck between worlds and that is how it is able to transport itself wherever it pleases. It goes by many names, most notably The Royal Library of Amparo and Ravendean’s Public Library.
The Library has the ability to change it’s boundaries and rooms. When The Library moves it fits into the society so well that many people do not realize anything has changed until after they step inside. To the general public there are approximately seventeen known rooms (please see list below), other than the typical stacks and study rooms you would expect to find in a library. But a recently deceased former Library Scholar told about a leather bound manuscript that has hundreds of pages filled with rooms and even more blank pages following for the new rooms. Library Scholars are normally in their position for life...outside of abnormal circumstances.
The Library is a sentient creature that is known to transport itself when it feels it is needed somewhere else or when it is under attack. It rarely fights back as it sees other beings as lesser adorable creatures that it wants to teach. It is normally very calm and is more of a mentor to those that explore the stacks, taking in those who need help or guidance and opening the rooms to them.
It is said that the Librarians are actually projections of the Library's consciousness and not actual people. When you speak to them they may or amy not answer questions, but first they must know your motive behind finding the knowledge. If you come into The Library with a good heart searching for knowledge, the Librarians and the Library itself will usually open up for you.
Library Scholars is a semi-religious group that tries to follow The Library wherever it goes. Because The Library can move through time it makes it harder but the Library Scholars are not deterred by something as banal as "Time" . They are easy to find throughout the stacks of any library based on their navy blue velvet robes covered with their embroidered oath: "If One Has the Thirst, They will be Delivered to the Trough" Each robe has their oath in their native tongue as they do not discriminate. They just ask that followers devote their life to the search for The Library and the secrets it holds.
The rooms in The Library fill up most of the whispers about it as they can appear at random, whether by pulling the correct version of 50 Shades of Neigh from the shelf or by turning around the correct number of times on the small circular spots on the carpet. Not much is known to the public about the rooms.
Rooms that are Known
- Sitting Room with window seat overlooking daffodil field
- Astronomy Room that shows the current planetary path of the stars and galaxies
- Piano room with a Ghostly Pianist
- Water Lily Room with the Tree of Knowledge at the center of the dense pond
- Neon Cemetery with Ghosts to match
- Clock Room, just a bunch of clocks. Time moves really weirdly in this room. Watch out.
- Underwater Caves, unexplored because there is no oxygen
- Underwater Library, this does have oxygen
- Ballroom filled with dance partners, who appear alive until you get closer to them
- Music room with a sweet lady playing soft lullabies on her harp. It is said that the owl on her shoulder is The Truth and can answer any question you may have about life or time.
- Garden Door is a flowered covered path leading to an ethereally glowing archway. None who have gone through the archway have returned, but they seem to have the face of joy when they look through the arch.
- Tea Room filled with jewel toned chairs and self-serving tea. You can usually find a seat here but look out for Sundays around midday when it can be busy, with all types of....things.
- Hall of Mirrors with neon arches that appear to go on forever. Madness follows most that have seen this room.
- A room filled with the softest beds, used for study nights of all kinds. Whether books or each other's bodies, these beds help you focus in on what is the most important part of the research you are doing.
- Witches Brew Room with a black cat who will explain the spellbooks that you might need, as long as you bring treats. Otherwise enjoy the candles!
- A dark cavern with walls covered in cursed objects
- Snack Room.
Rooms that are Rumored
- Portrait of the Most Famous Creatures in the area as they truly are
- The Shelves of Life Room, endless stacks filled with everyone's life stor
The Royal Library of Amparo
The Royal Library of Amparo was cultivated by the Dragonborn who were forced to flee from Cauldomo during The Holy War and Realm War. As they fled persecution they compiled the histories and culturally significant stories from those that helped them. When they were first building the city of Amparo in Dolina, they had not envisioned creating a library until later. Then one morning the citizens got up to start their work again and there sat the magical Library. They did not know the power that The Library held but they were grateful to it's halls and filled up the shelves with theirs and others stories. Whether from those that had not made it out or those that had risked their lives for their own, they transformed the city of Amparo around the beauty of The Library.
There had been whispers of Snobbite citizens attacking Amparo but the great people had always kept them back. Until one night.
As the Amparins slept in their beds dreaming of tomorrow, Snobbite's landed on their shore. They had discussed what would hurt most and now only had to decide between burning the Amparins boats or burning their central point of knowledge and art, The Royal Library of Amparo. Sadly they chose The Library. Full of kindling for those hard-hearted Snobbite's, the Library should not have stood a chance. But, this was no ordinary library. It had heard the same whispers, and though it loves the Amparins and would miss them, it knew that it needed to leave. But first it spoke to it's constituents who smuggled out some important art and documents to the families who visited its halls the most. Then just as the Snobbite's were hurdling towards its beautiful walls it took a breath and escaped. It left behind the husk of what it was to the city of Amparo and that is what the Snobbite's burned. If any of these attackers had walked inside they would have seen that it was empty, but fortunately they did not. The Amparins were left devastated but after finding the art, stories, and documents in their homes they realized the love their Library felt for them.
Some of the most devout Library Scholars are from Amparo.
Ravendean's Public Library
Not much is known about this location as most of the magical beings who interacted with it are hard to find. There is only one recognized piece of writing about this location from the notebook of a being known only as C. Warning: C is thought to have been a fledgling writer so may have tried to over-dramatize certain portions.
"Your footsteps echo as you enter this sacred place, candle flames licking dangerously at the edges of the bookshelves just waiting for their hunger to be sated. Its walls have seen church services and exorcisms and now watch over the knowledge of the town as it is filled with the normal romance novels, great literature, and old forgotten tomes about this town’s history. The secrets that the town holds close to it’s beating heart may be found in these stacks if you look correctly. Rumors spread through generations that there are lost rooms under the floorboards, behind certain stacks of books if you pull the correct edition, or even just stepping in the right spot at the right time. Some say there is a room filled with the scandalous portraits of the Ravendean family that show them as they truly are. Others say there is one that is just filled with comfortable mattresses for those sleepy students during finals week. Another describes a cozy reading nook with sunlight streaming in through a window overlooking a vast expanse of yellow daffodils, and of course the animal of your choice curled up on the window seat just waiting for you to cuddle it. But the most worrying rumor is the room filled with cursed objects and paraphernalia that can make even the most meek mouse turn into a vile creature hungering for it’s, or it’s masters, most wicked desires. The students rarely enter these hallowed halls, and the librarian likes it that way. They would rather the secrets of the library were theirs alone. Though they have been known to pass along some secrets, for a price."
