There are few temples or cathedrals in the whole of the world that even come close to the bastion and majesty of Midgar’s Public Library, it is testimony to the pursuit of knowledge that all mortals feel compelled to blindly chase, regardless of opposition in religion, morality or at times even common sense. It is within these proud stone walls that the scholars and sages of the age convene for silent study away from the hustle and bustle of the loud streets outside. Built with an age of raging ignorance in mind, the unshakeable stone walls are set atop an overturned giant cog, granting the first architects a chance to build something with the all the artistic flair of any palace but with the stability of an ageless fortress. The octagonal six story statement of intellectual progression is not only protected by a two and a half foot thick stone outer shell from the elements, but as if from the outside world in its entirety, a thick animal glue and plant fiber mixture was applied generously over every inch of the inward facing stones, creating a ‘pillow’ which greatly reduces the reverberation of incoming and outgoing sound, it is often joked that one day the world will end with an immense chorus of explosions and screams all the while the Librarians of Midgar will be unknowingly applying ink to page, business as usual.
The inside is a perfect inversion of the outside, great and hollow, innumerable books kept in pristine condition line the countless shelves of the octagon, all six stories can be observed from the center of the first, the eight walls are lined with identical joined balconies that form a ring all the way around and up to a domed ceiling, an artist’s fantastical and dramatic vision outlining the struggle between Magic and Technology encompasses the entire dome’s interior in a breathtaking mural over twenty meters across. Each floor is joined with a grand spiraling staircase that ascends along the edge of each floor’s balcony leading all the way up to the dome, which is constantly babysat by a guardsman whom passes the time retelling the legend of the artist Marcus Olphane’s disappearance the morning of his masterpiece’s completion. The story is so popular that the Library allows the general public to remain overnight once a year on the anniversary of the work’s completion to possibly catch a glimpse of Olphane’s ghost restoring the mural shortly before dawn, the awe inspiring illusion of such an event is created by the Librarians leaving the roof’s air circulation ducts widely open just before first light and the dawn reflects off the perfectly smooth dome surface, which seemingly makes the paint glow. Whether or not the immortal beauty of Olphane’s work is maintained by a ghost, scholars, students and intellectuals world over pay great reverence to the event in optional donations to supply the capitol needed to maintain such an amazing building.
The library has an immense collection of books, manuscripts and scrolls which all but the poorest can peruse freely, though they are rarely lent or sold. The shelves are organized alphabetically, by language, and by subject. It has been criticized because of that very freedom to peruse it's shelves freely, arguing that the more evil, and unholy works in them should be highly restricted. However, its leadership has resisted all attempts to remove books about evil methods, citing their neutrality. Indeed, they have an equal, or even greater, amount of holy books, and other good texts. The Library is headed by Joshua. There are 12 other librarians ((If ppl want to NPC sheet them, feel free)) and 2 guards to enforce the rules and safety of The Library: Yared Shriver and Lanzo Kirchner. Finally, the Library also has an undercover guard named Iacobus Krauß. He roams around in the aisles disguised as a normal library goer, keeping a secret eye on all those inside. He might also be found outside, mingling in the crowd, walking around the library. If one succeeds a DC 25 perception check after seeing him, they can recognize him, as they can be succeeding on a DC 25 Knowledge (Local) check. The DC goes down by 2 each time he is seen by the individual.
Membership
One can become a member of The Library.
Requirements:
Member must be able to read.
Member must give 5% of there income for the benifit of the library
Members might be called upon to work for The Library, and it is heavily encouraged that they agree. This would not happen often.
Benefits:
Members have free acess to consult any of the works that the library has. This includes many spellbooks, and detailed books.
If a character spends 2 hours in the library, they can get a +3 bonus to any Linguistics, or Knowledge checks.
Members can also copy spells into there spellbook for 90% of the normal cost.
Finally, members might be able to convince Joshua, the head librarian, to sell a few items to them, though these will be sold only rarely. They will be sold at 95% the normal market value. This includes scrolls, and books (Which are considered masterwork tools in relation to their related knowledge checks).
Adventure Ideas:
A shipment of rare books; guarding it
A member who has outstanding debt to the library, or a book they refuse to return; recover it
Thieves! In the library! Thankfully, the adventurers had been forwarned by an anonymous person (Who might not be anonymous) and are there to stop them.
Thieves! They stole valuable stuffs! Adventurers have been hired to find them (Maybe), break into their lair, and to get back those stolen goods!
