The Great Library of Stormvale

The Great Library of Stormvale is in the center of the city across the great plaza from the keep of the High King. The marble steps leading up to the large, oak double doors are carved with the speech High King Peter gave at the final battle to drive the ogres into the ground and which spurred Catiana to give mortals the Gift of the Gods. The colonnades which line the huge porch are carved with ivy, immortals, and the Tenants of Peter.

The doors are open from sunrise to sunset and High King Peter wanted nothing more then the population from the poorest to the richest to be able to read and find knowledge. Books are available while in the library for free, though those who are researching and need a table or someone to find a book for them costs money. If a person is unable to read it is the job of the apprentices of the various temples and mage guilds to teach said person to read, all for free.

The main hall is filled with bookshelves and tables, most of these books being copies of various well known works and even song and story books. There is always a Master Mage near the door who directs a person to where they need to go and take the fees for using the various resources. Paper and writing utensils are available for purchase here as well. The research fee is a silver eagle a day, but does not include paper or ink, just the use of the books and tables. A gold ducat is all that is needed for a whole month.

Below the Library is the magically protected portion of the library which stores old tomes and rare finds, along with maps of ages gone by and some artifacts. This portion is strictly manned by the priests of Catiana. (Let me pause here and say I have come to the realization that having plain mages and Mages who are suppose to be priests is too confusing and thus have changed Mages of the Gods to priests. Sorry about the confusion.) Only the very well connected may come here and then only under the strictest supervision. Journeymen are always down here copying books as precisely and carefully as they can. It is considered a punishment, but some of the Journeyman actually like it.

The second, third, fourth, and fifth floors are also crammed full of informational books organized by history on the second, magic and magical beasts on the third, family records and deeds on the forth and the fifth holds hodgepodge of other information. But on the fifth floor is a special door which leads to a small room which only holds a single table and chair. But with a magical key held by the master of the library a person can open a door to an extra dimensional pocket of magic which is really the old magic school dedicated to Catiana. Shaniko killed all the mages and priests that where there, but one managed to escape and saved the school by placing it in a magical pocket of space. Everything is still intact and originally the school was going to be returned to its original location, but the masters of the library decided to keep it where it was where the knowledge and space could be protected. Untold numbers of artifacts and old books are inside and could lead to all sorts of adventures.

Lastly there is a large garden in the middle of the library, open to the air and allowing those scholars who are inside too long a breath of fresh air in the large city. Birds and small mammals flourish here and magic keeps the animals inside and safe even in the worst of weather.
Tomorrow: History of Veo Sunstar