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1. A Question in Need of an Answer
They were going to need a place to call home, where those seeking knowledge could find them – and where they could easily find each other. It needed to be someplace near – preferably in – the Atheneum, but sheltered from the weather that the structure’s gaping hole let in. It needed to be large enough for several tables to be placed, with room for them to lay out books and do their work, and sturdy enough to store any of the sentient books that were deemed too dangerous to leave to their own devices. Besides, Jigano was curious how long it would take the ones they’d already encountered to recover and start moving again, and for that he needed them somewhere he could keep an eye on them.
He had considered trying to have an addition built onto the damaged side of the great library, both to shore up its wall and to provide a separate space for their guild, but the work would be difficult in winter, even with those they had rescued offering their assistance in gratitude. For now, at least, it was probably easier to find an existing room inside the library to begin with, and perhaps when the weather warmed again they could expand – both in membership and in space, as well as doing something to repair the dome.
Which is why he’d been prowling around the Atheneum’s edges, looking for doors that might lead somewhere he could use. Some led to small chambers, storage areas that held only rotting shelves and dust, or places that had once, perhaps, allowed for private reading. A few had led to slightly larger rooms, but these were either filled with debris or held even more books, with no room for what he had in mind.
And then he’d found a large door mostly-hidden behind a collapsed bookcase that led… down. Down into darkness and musty air, and his long hair had stirred in the light breeze blowing up from below. The shallow stairs were a broad stone spiral, the wooden railing rotted down to the rusty brackets, and the dust on them was thick. The only print on them was his own as he was drawn down the first step, curiosity tugging hard to know where they led—
But pragmatism pulled him back. He didn’t have a lantern with him, and it would undoubtedly be dark down there. Nor did anyone know where he was in case something happened. And hadn’t he wanted to form a guild of several people for just such occasions? With a sigh he’d reluctantly backed up, closing the door… and turned immediately to contact his friends and gather supplies. The call went out, asking for members and potential-members of the Loreseeker’s Guild to help explore a new area of the Atheneum (bring lanterns, cleaning supplies, and weapons) and, if it proved suitable, to turn it into a home for their little organization.
Two days later he stood by the door, propped open and wide enough for two people to pass through at a time. The door itself was thick wood, but a thin panel of hammered metal was riveted to the inner and outer surfaces; the inner was a simple geometric design in base metals, but the outer, once Jigano had cleaned and polished it off, showed an open book: copper bound with steel pages and with brass rays of some sort – a sun motif? – in the center. It was a good omen, he thought, admiring it with cleaning rag still in hand as he waited for the others to arrive.
____
Welcome to the PQ for the opening of the new Loreseeker’s Guild!
Quest will update every 48 hours or once everyone has replied, whichever comes first. You must have at least 3 posts in this PQ to gain credit for it.
Loreseekers:
1. Isla
2.Samuel
3.Amalia
No Posting Order
They were going to need a place to call home, where those seeking knowledge could find them – and where they could easily find each other. It needed to be someplace near – preferably in – the Atheneum, but sheltered from the weather that the structure’s gaping hole let in. It needed to be large enough for several tables to be placed, with room for them to lay out books and do their work, and sturdy enough to store any of the sentient books that were deemed too dangerous to leave to their own devices. Besides, Jigano was curious how long it would take the ones they’d already encountered to recover and start moving again, and for that he needed them somewhere he could keep an eye on them.
He had considered trying to have an addition built onto the damaged side of the great library, both to shore up its wall and to provide a separate space for their guild, but the work would be difficult in winter, even with those they had rescued offering their assistance in gratitude. For now, at least, it was probably easier to find an existing room inside the library to begin with, and perhaps when the weather warmed again they could expand – both in membership and in space, as well as doing something to repair the dome.
Which is why he’d been prowling around the Atheneum’s edges, looking for doors that might lead somewhere he could use. Some led to small chambers, storage areas that held only rotting shelves and dust, or places that had once, perhaps, allowed for private reading. A few had led to slightly larger rooms, but these were either filled with debris or held even more books, with no room for what he had in mind.
And then he’d found a large door mostly-hidden behind a collapsed bookcase that led… down. Down into darkness and musty air, and his long hair had stirred in the light breeze blowing up from below. The shallow stairs were a broad stone spiral, the wooden railing rotted down to the rusty brackets, and the dust on them was thick. The only print on them was his own as he was drawn down the first step, curiosity tugging hard to know where they led—
But pragmatism pulled him back. He didn’t have a lantern with him, and it would undoubtedly be dark down there. Nor did anyone know where he was in case something happened. And hadn’t he wanted to form a guild of several people for just such occasions? With a sigh he’d reluctantly backed up, closing the door… and turned immediately to contact his friends and gather supplies. The call went out, asking for members and potential-members of the Loreseeker’s Guild to help explore a new area of the Atheneum (bring lanterns, cleaning supplies, and weapons) and, if it proved suitable, to turn it into a home for their little organization.
Two days later he stood by the door, propped open and wide enough for two people to pass through at a time. The door itself was thick wood, but a thin panel of hammered metal was riveted to the inner and outer surfaces; the inner was a simple geometric design in base metals, but the outer, once Jigano had cleaned and polished it off, showed an open book: copper bound with steel pages and with brass rays of some sort – a sun motif? – in the center. It was a good omen, he thought, admiring it with cleaning rag still in hand as he waited for the others to arrive.
____
Welcome to the PQ for the opening of the new Loreseeker’s Guild!
Quest will update every 48 hours or once everyone has replied, whichever comes first. You must have at least 3 posts in this PQ to gain credit for it.
1. Isla
2.
3.
No Posting Order
