Arcane Athenaeums

Purpose / Function

The Athenaeums serve as a place of learning, they are places where you can find information that the mage's guild have gathered and made available to those seeking knowledge. There are three tiers of access to the information, the outermost sections only require supervision to access, this information is rather mundane and serves as a normal library with more specialty information on exotic creatures and languages. The second tier is for members of the Mage's guild or trusted associates you need be vetted for entrance as more dangerous knowledge exists here, information on spells both made and theories to them. Finally, the last tier is reserved for the higher-ups off that particular Athenaeum and the Archmage level mages recognized by the Archon Assembly, this is where the most dangerous items and knowledge go. Cursed items often find their way to these guarded vaults.
Further, the Mage's guild has a teleportation circle to each of the Athenaeums that are connected in turn to their Teleportation Nexus, for those who know the symbols and have permission to use them this allows access to many different parts of the world. The following cities have an Athenaeum with a teleportation circle: Norvasul, Rel'Taris, Nefra, Eis'Lasan, and Umser. This is far from a list of all the teleportation circles the Nexus has access too but these are the ones that are considered 'free use' in that they do not need special permission to travel to and from.

Architecture

The outside of the building usually has eight spheres around it in an eight-pointed star pattern. These spheres and the pathways leading to the actual building are made like an acropolis having large pillars and a roof above them but no walls. Between the spheres and the paths are usually gardens or miniparks for people to sit in while reading or taking a break.
The Athenaeum themselves are constructed in a Romanesque architecture involving many pillars and arches, but also has a large raised dome in the very center that is crowned with a large tower home to the mages and keepers of the Athenaeum. there are eight entrances as each of the outer sphere paths leads into the building, but often in a spiral fashion. The sphere at the north point of the building could lead to the north entrance but is more likely to lead to the northeast or northwest entrances as an example.
The paths outside are done in mosaic fashion as to what they depict varies between the different Athenaeums. Inside they prefer stone slabs or wooden floors depending on where the Athenaeum is built. Nearly every wall is recessed and has a permanent bookcase built into it, often out of the same material as the walls. The ceilings are vaulted and designed in such a way to be misleading as to how high they actually reach, looking up they look to reach far beyond what the building should allow, but it is merely a design and not magical...usually.

Tourism

Some people come to the Athenaeums to learn something or look up something. Sometimes to help identify a creature that is harassing their livestock. Some come seeking to learn a new skill or bit of knowledge to improve themselves.

Alternative Names

Repositories, Athenaeums

Type

Library