Maktaba Al'Nujum, the Library of Stars

"Ahlan wa sahlan, welcome to the grand Maktaba Al’Nujum, the Library of Stars.” The words echo softly throughout the vast space, a welcoming murmur that echoes in the cool air.
You find yourself within a great atrium, its polished sandstone floor reflecting the soft, ethereal glow of suspended, hand-blown glass lanterns. Filled with shimmering, orange stones, they cast a warm, amber light across the space, bathing the scene in a perpetual, comfortable twilight.
Before you stretches a crescent shaped counter of intricately carved , polished wood. Upon it, a dazzling array of ancient scrolls, leather-bound books, and a gleaming silver quill are meticulously stacked. Glowing crystals, embedded within the walls and suspended from the ceiling, cast gentle orange light, illuminating more ornate shelves and cabinets that brim with parchments, scrolls, and time-worn tomes. The air hangs heavy with the silent energy of countless tales, a promise of knowledge yet to be unveiled. Intrigued, you step closer, when from behind the counter a figure emerges.

Wearing a flowing robe of deep sapphire blue, embroidered with golden threads of stars and constellations, he exudes both wisdom and gentle enthusiasm. His skin, the color of wind-smoothed desert stone, is smooth, and his beard, threaded with silver, is meticulously groomed. His eyes, dark and deep as the star-studded night, sparkle with an inner light that speaks of silent truths and lost knowledge.A delicate silver chain, bearing a tiny, intricately carved quill, rests upon his chest.

"I am Yusuf, keeper of lore, and it is my honor to welcome and guide you through our humble abode. You have arrived at the wellspring of wisdom,” he says, his voice a low, melodious cadence, like warm milk and honey on a summer's eve. The library of stars opens its doors to all who seek enlightenment. Here, within these walls, the collected knowledge of generations awaits, a tapestry woven from threads of history, philosophy, science, and the very magic that breathes life into the kaharan people.” He gestures with a graceful hand, his fingers adorned with rings of polished carnelian and lapis lazuli. “But before we embark on your journey through our halls, a few simple guidelines, as is the custom.”

“First, and foremost,” he says, his eyes twinkling with a hint of seriousness, “fire is forbidden within these sacred walls. Instead, we offer you this Shimmerstone, imbued with light by the god’s tears, to guide your steps. Its glow is sufficient for reading, and I can assure you it’s quite safe.” He produces a small, round gemstone, its interior shimmering with a softly glowing, orange light.
“Secondly, the treasures held within these shelves are meant to be shared, not taken. Feel free to transcribe, sketch, and commit to memory all you desire, but allow these volumes to remain where they belong, for the benefit of all those who follow.”
“Thirdly, treat each scroll, each tome, each scripture with the respect due to a vessel of knowledge. Even those ideas that seem strange or unsettling hold a piece of the truth. Approach them with an open mind, and you may find your understanding broadened beyond measure.”
He smiles, a warm, genuine expression that radiates welcome like a warm summer rain. “Now, let me guide you through the wings of our library, each a realm unto itself.”

Halls of Lore: Knowledge and Wonder

“Welcome to the beating heart of Maktaba al-Nujum,” Yusuf says, his voice filling the warm, amber light of the atrium. “From here, knowledge flows outward, like the lifeblood of our people.”
A polished sandstone floor, inlaid with intricate mosaic patterns depicting desert flora and fauna, stretches before you. “To your right, beneath gracefully arched alcoves with acacia wood shelves, you will find our section dedicated to Myths and Tales, the realm of forgotten legends and ancient sages. Tales of the people, their everyday lives, their life’s stories, offer a more grounded perspective, housed in scrolls and bound volumes that line the alcoves. The high, vaulted ceilings you will find adorned with murals depicting legendary stories, each as much of a tale as every book you find there.” A sense of quiet, warm conversation pervades the space, the soft murmur of scholars blending seamlessly with the delicate rustling of parchment. As you pass an alcove, you notice a scholar carefully tracing the lines of an ancient map, his brow furrowed in concentration. “Now, if you’ll follow me,” Yusuf says, his hand gesturing gently to your left, “let us explore the Lands of Aran’sha, where the natural wonders of our world are chronicled.”

The living land: Tomes of Claw and Bark

To your left, the vast expanse of the Lands of Aran'sha section beckons. Its smooth walls are covered in murals from all biomes across the continent. The floor, a mosaic of polished river stones in hues of jade and amber, carries you deeper into the stacks like the flowing waves of the great river. Sunlight streams through the stained glass windows casting vibrant, shifting patterns across the floor. Along the walls, alcoves are carved from living rock, their air thick with the faint, earthy scent of dried herbs and aged parchment, house the library’s natural studies. Here, we house all the collected knowledge of the natural wonders of our blessed lands: accounts of all living things, be they Beasts of the Sea, Land or Sky , detailed scrolls on herbalism, and detailed studies of the variousraces that grace our continent - be they mousefolk, the children of the plains or even stranger creatures. Beyond the natural world, you can explore the Wonders and Dangers that shape our lives, from astonishing landmarks and perilous natural phenomena to the intricacies of the land’s magic and even treatises on plagues. For it is not only the land itself that shapes our lives, but the kingdoms and societies that rise and fall upon it. Now, my friend,” Yusuf says, a gentle smile gracing his lips, “let us leave the earthy scents of the wild and step into the grand hall of kingdoms, where we store the chronicles of thriving kingdoms - both present and long fallen to dust.”

Fleeting Realms: Kingdoms of Glory and Dust

Passing through the grand archway, you will find yourself within The Realms of Aran'sha section, a grand hall where the history of our lands is etched in marble and gold. Here, each kingdom has its own dedicated area, with Ri'kahar, the realm of thousand wonders, taking prominence. The floor, a polished expanse of desert-rose marble, reflects the golden light from ornate chandeliers suspended from the high, domed ceiling while scholars gather around ancient maps of forgotten times. Intricate reliefs, depicting scenes from each kingdom's history, line the walls, creating a tapestry of our shared woes and wonders. Within these walls, the sum of our kingdoms' knowledge awaits: detailed accounts of Cities, Organizations, and the rich tapestry of our cultures, from Festivals and Games to the culinary delights that grace our bustling markets. As your eyes wander, they fall on a relief depicting a royal procession. A small figure, seemingly out of place, with an unusually detailed face seems to look right at you in the flickering light of the chandeliers. Here, amidst the realms history, we also store the accounts of those who are the beating heart of these lands - Commoners and nobles, kings and beggars, and legendary Heroes whose tales still echo through time."

The trophy hall: Gleaming Stone and bronzen tales

“Before we delve into deeper mysteries,” Yusuf says, gesturing towards another archway, larger than the last, his eyes gleaming with a quiet sense of pride, “allow me to show you the Hall of Triumphs, where the glories of our kingdoms are forever enshrined.”
Passing through the archway, a feeling of quiet pride washes over you as you enter a vast, circular hall. Sunlight streams through a massive, central skylight, illuminating a breathtaking collection of artifacts: Ragged weapons of bronze and bone, intricately crafted armor of kings long fallen to dust, banners depicting past challenges the people overcame, and many a relic - be it a Shi'dira from the obsidian wastes, a story bone of the children of the steppes or an excavated stele from the mysterious eastern jungles. Each artifact rests on a pedestal of polished, smooth stone, bathed in light, its story told by a plaque in the swirling, clear script of the kaharan people.

The silent sanctum: Mysteries of Shadow and Light

“And now, my friend,” Yusuf says, his voice dropping to a hush, “we come to our final area. Just reopened after extensive renovations, it holds the most strange and guarded knowledge of Aran’sha, the secrets of religions and magic.” He gestures toward a pair of imposing, obsidian-framed archways. “Please, step inside.” Beyond the archways, a black obsidian floor, polished to a mirror sheen, reflects the faint, ethereal light of softly glowing eternal fire. The mysteries of Deities and Demons, their worshippers and religions, be they revered or feared, mighty or forgotten, are laid bare within these walls. Tomes on Magic and strange creatures called from beyond the veil, the secrets of alchemy and wondrous items, all are found within these halls. The walls themselves, constructed from a strange, porous stone that seems to absorb sound, are adorned with glyphs and symbols that shimmer with faint, otherworldly light. The air here crackles with a sense of mystery, a silent promise of secrets slumbering in shadows. “Here,” Yusuf continues, “you will find knowledge that has been sought and hidden for centuries, truths that have cost many their lives, and perhaps, their souls, but also insights that can illuminate the path to a brighter future.” Within the hall, the space is divided into distinct chambers, each dedicated to an aspect of religion or magic, following principles of sacred geomancy. The chambers dedicated to the continents deities have soaring, vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows depicting scenes drawn from sacred scriptures, while the chambers dedicated to arcane knowledge are more subdued, with low, domed ceilings, their walls lined with shelves containing alchemical equipment and astrological charts.
“May the blessings of the stars guide your path through these halls,” Yusef says, his eyes twinkling with warmth. “May the wisdom of ages illuminate your mind, and may the magic of Aran'sha inspire your soul. Explore freely, learn deeply, and may your journey through the Maktaba al-Nujum be filled with wonder and discovery. With the blessings of the sands, and the stars, may you find all that you seek.”