Tar Eisalae: The Location
Situated like a sore, albeit pretty, thumb between the swelling peaks of Zujiuchu Mountains and the lush rolling hills around Jasumin Lake stands the first temple to be erected to a God since the time of the Parvporan world tree.
Formed from a meteor that fell in that spot, the temple of Adraejen Porthyrius captures the colors of the night, the strange stone reflecting the tones of the heavens. From a distance it appears rough hewn save it be for the sparkling crystal dome that crowns the top of the strange stone rise. Around the crystal floats massive smooth cut sections of the Himiria Star, rotating around the tower, etched with the glowing runes that keep the deep black-green pieces aloft, even faintly visible from a distance, a gift from the Rosenite Kingdom upon Drae’s ascension.
Upon closer inspection, it becomes evident that some great care was taken in the design, for in the uneven surface of the midnight stone great pillars and mouldings have been carved, reminiscent of the architecture of the cities of the elves around Feeorin Forest intermittently around the natural structure while maintaining the structural integrity of the stone itself. Monolithes of the same stone stand at attention around the base of the hill, marking the threshold of the domain of Knowledge and the Arcane.
The entrance of the temple library appears rather straightforward. There is a door cut into the rock wall, with a pulsing pale green arcane emblem emblazoned across the stone. The door appears the perfect size for whomever seeks to enter, and in the center of the emblem is the following raised phrase:
ONLY
I
KNOW
THE SECRET
There is no key, nor a keyhole, and the door will not be opened by force. If one were to inspect the door closely, they would realize that the ‘I’ is raised just slightly more than the other letters in the phrase. Pressing the ‘I’ so that it is flush with the stone which will open the stone slab double doors, and allow entrance into the main hall.
The entrance hall to the Library Temple is pretty plain, but well lit by levitating sunstones that float near the walls. This room is devoid of furniture but is not boring to look at. Whether a show of vanity or a show of how unorthodox his ascension was, the entrance hall has been carved ornately to depict the life of Adraejen Porthyrius, from his birth, to making a pact with the demoness Cyprus, marrying the Goddess Angela, to his ascension. There is room on the wall, and the relief appears to be a living history of the reign of the Keeper of the Keys of the Secrets of Knowledge and the Arcane. Beside the archway that leads deeper into the Temple Library is a finely crafted book on a pedestal. As one enters the archway, their name magically appears on one of the lines as well as the time and date of the day that they paid their visit.
The Temple Library
Upon passing through the archway there is a short hallway that opens up into the massive open main library. Bookshelves line the circular walls, with ladders of slightly green glass leaned up against guide rails to reach the higher shelves. While it may appear to be no larger than the average library, the library has hidden depths. Spatial enchantments allow the library to extend further than anticipated, simple optical illusions making it appear that you are approaching a wall when in truth you are not. There are plush chairs and tables, even the occasional couch for people to sit and study at. Floating sunstones provide private light for those who wish to be away from the central area of the library, but the main source of light comes from the center of the room where the light of the sun comes in down through the spire from the crystal observation dome far above. Books can be seen floating from where they have been left on tables to return to shelves, and the occasional snack being left for those deep in study by invisible aides.
In the center of the room is a large reading area surrounding a crystal tree haloed by the light coming down from the observation dome. The leaves of this tree are silver and golden apples grow from it and the tree is accompanied by some of the Goddess of Earth’s own gemstone roses. If one were to gain permission to partake of the apples, they would find that their minds would be come clear, free of confusion and distraction, allowing them to focus better on their studies or finding clarity in the finding of solutions to problems. Adraejen does not approve of just handing out knowledge, but he will offer ways to make obtaining that knowledge a little bit easier.
Standing in front of the tree is an ornate pedestal. On top is an impossibly large book bound in thick hard leather with gold edging. This is the Codex, a catalog of every book title and topic inside the library. If one comes looking for a specific topic and stands before the pedestal, the book will open on its own accord as though reading the thoughts of the individual standing before it. The pages are covered with the finest calligraphy, and remarkably can be read in any language desired. An individual merely need to speak a title, name, topic, and one of the following things would happen:
If a general topic is spoken, the Codex will flip to the assigned topic page where there are lists of related titles. Pressed to these pages will be a thin strand of magic, not unsimilar to spider silk, that the individual can take ahold of and follow the strand to the topic collection wherever it is located within the levels of the Temple Library.
Or, if a single text is desired, and the topic and title is spoken aloud, the Codex will glow and the requested text, if currently available in the Temple Library, will fly from the shelf and levitate to the seeker. The Codex is the backbone of the Library.
There are several ways to scale to the four smaller upper levels of the library. Near the Codex and the Tree of Clarity is an enchanted spiral staircase made of thick slightly luminescent glass, that curves up and around the tree to the various levels of the library, for those who like the feel of the ground beneath their feet. For those feeling more adventurous, placed intermittently around the main sitting area are hexagonal plates of the same thick luminescent glass. If one were to step and stand on these plates, an arcane rune for levitation will glow beneath their feet, a faint green for going upward, or purple for going down. These plates will pause at each level, waiting for the occupier to either step off, or move on to the next level. To reach the Occulus there is a larger plate that glows with a blue rune.
The Occulus: Throne Room of the Keeper
The Occulus is the crowning achievement of Tar Eisalae. The giant crystal dome, framed by the massive pieces of the Himiria Star gifted to him by the Rosenite Kingdom is the focus of all of the Keeper’s magic. Magic buzzes through the air and through the bones of those who visit like a pleasant (or unpleasant) hum, and occasionally it becomes visible as it crackles like lightning across the inside of the dome. The levitation plate that brings visitors up from the Temple Library comes to fill the arcane rune in the center of the dome and above their heads hovers a massive crystal globe that acts as a map of all Revaliir. Two smaller crystal globes hover around this large globe, mimicking the appearance and movement of the moons Canelux and Parvpora, while the crystal dome itself, undaunted by the rotation of the Himiria Frame, becomes the perfect observatory for the movement of the heavens far beyond the moons. A set of floating crystal stairs much like the one below in the Temple Library spirals around the dome for closer study of the heavens.
The throne of Adraejen Porthyrius, Keeper of the Keys of the Secrets of Knowledge and the Arcane is remarkably plain. In truth, it is simply a large heavily used armchair of black leather etched with several different runes. It may appear shabby, but Adraejen is going for functionality rather that aesthetic appeal. If he is going to have to sit there and listen to people, he wants to be comfortable while doing it. While he tries to keep the Occulus clear of clutter, every once in awhile one can find various books and scrolls scattered about the ‘throne’.
