Hydall's Library
The Library of Hydall, once a monumental bastion of arcane knowledge, stands as a testament to the god's mastery over magic. Located within the Technara Territory , it houses every tome of magic, from the most basic spells to long-forgotten secrets of the ancient arcane arts. The library is also filled with Hydall's personal journals, documenting his discoveries, musings, and the workings of the world. The land itself was once vibrant and full of life, reflecting the purity and immense power of Hydall’s creation. However, after the conflict with Nyxiren, the library has fallen into ruin, its knowledge tainted by the corruption Nyxiren’s siphoning caused.
Purpose / Function
The Library of Hydall serves as the ultimate repository of magical knowledge, a place where those who seek the most potent arcane secrets can go to learn. It was meant to be a haven of study, where wizards, scholars, and any magic practitioner could explore the secrets of the world. However, the library was also a hub for Hydall’s understanding of the world itself, holding records not just of magic, but of the very fabric of existence, ley lines, and the interactions between the gods and mortals. Its creation was a pivotal act, not only ensuring that magic would continue to grow but also providing a way to preserve knowledge across time.
Architecture
The Guestbook Lobby
As visitors enter the library, they are immediately greeted by the Guestbook Chamber, a distinct room at the entrance. Here, a monumental, arcane-empowered desk stands, surrounded by floating quills and enchanted inkpots. The air hums as each guest enters, their presence automatically detected by the library’s identification system. As they cross the threshold, their every action within the library is recorded. This includes the places they visit, the tomes they seek, and even their emotional state while interacting with the knowledge around them. The Guestbook Chamber contains a set of individual guestbooks—one for each visitor. These books are not ordinary tomes, but rather, living, arcane constructs that transcribe a detailed account of the visitor's journey throughout the library. As the individual moves through the space, the book captures their movements, recording the paths they take, the knowledge they search for, and even any conversations or interactions they have with other visitors or the library itself. The books are enchanted to respond to the visitor's magical aura, ensuring that each tome is a personal, individualized record. The books are initially blank, but they begin to fill with pages, as if the words are writing themselves in real time. The more a visitor explores and interacts, the more the book transcribes, until the moment they leave. Upon departure, the book is handed over to the visitor, ensuring that they carry a permanent record of their time in the Library of Hydall. These books serve a dual purpose: as a personal chronicle of the visitor’s experiences, and as a piece of the living record of the library itself.
The Hall of Chroniclers
An expansive, circular chamber located at the heart of the library, the Hall of Chroniclers is where the most vital historical events and human experiences are recorded. The chamber is built to resemble a grand observatory, with a domed ceiling that allows the light of the ley lines to filter through, casting an ever-changing glow across the room. The floor is a mosaic of intricate arcane symbols, each one representing key moments in time—major events, significant interactions with ley lines, or records of individuals who have interacted with the library. Along the walls of the Hall are rows of ethereal, floating arcane devices powered by both Hydall’s and Bhita’s magic. These devices automatically scan the lives of those living near ley lines within the Mystara territories. Small magical spheres, like orbs of light, float in the air, recording sounds, conversations, emotions, and actions, transcribing everything into tomes that are stored in the Hall. The tomes are connected to a massive archive that keeps a living record of mortal existence, capturing both the mundane and extraordinary aspects of life. The room itself feels alive, with the air buzzing with arcane energy, a constant hum that ensures no detail is left unrecorded. The bookshelves are alive with enchanted, glowing scrolls that are continuously updated with new knowledge. A network of hidden arcane circuits embedded in the walls ensures that these records are instantly accessible and cataloged, allowing any scholar or historian to quickly review the events of the past or the state of the world’s current affairs.
The Infinite Hall of Scrolls
A seemingly endless expanse of shelves that stretch as far as the eye can see, lined with scrolls and tomes. The shelves are protected by intricate circuits that use Bhita’s arcane technology to track the movements within the library, identifying seekers and cataloging every search.
The Expanse of Lost Magic
A forbidden wing once sealed off due to the dangerous and potentially corruptive magic contained within. This wing was intended to house lost or erased knowledge—spells and incantations thought too dangerous to be freely accessed. It is in this wing that Nyxiren first began his dealings with dark magics and the lich rights.
The Heart of Magic
A chamber where Hydall’s most personal journals are kept, sealed behind powerful wards and hidden from common knowledge. This chamber is also where he recorded his most intimate observations of the ley lines, magic, and the gods.
Defenses
The defenses of the Library of Hydall were sophisticated and multifaceted, designed both by Hydall’s arcane genius and Bhita’s technology. Arcane traps, powered by Bhita’s technology, are woven into the structure of the library. These traps are designed to dissuade intruders or those who would misuse the knowledge within. The traps can alter reality itself, shifting the layout of the library, creating false hallways, or even erasing memories of the intruders. The shelves themselves are connected to an arcane circuit system that serves as the library's magic index. It analyzes the thoughts of individuals searching for knowledge, automatically highlighting the correct tomes or sections based on the searcher’s intent. The system also identifies the strength and type of magic being sought. Powerful wards tied to the ley lines surrounding the library prevent magical tampering or unauthorized teleportation. These wards make the library’s inner sanctum nearly impossible to reach unless granted permission or possessing a high enough magical proficiency.
History
The library’s inception marked the pinnacle of Hydall’s pursuit of understanding and cataloging the secrets of the arcane. Hydall, in his role as the god of the arcane, sought to not only preserve magical knowledge but to create a way for the world to study, advance, and benefit from it. Bhita’s involvement in the construction of the library was pivotal, as her arcane technology ensured its long-term preservation and functionality. The library stood as a symbol of knowledge and progression, a living testament to the balance between magic, technology, and divine influence.
However, the peace did not last. Nyxiren growing mad with a hunger for power discovered the ley lines of the Mystara territory and the connection to the library and began siphoning magic from them. The land itself, once pure and vibrant, began to wither under Nyxiren’s manipulation. Hydall discovered the corruption within his own library, and the ensuing battle between the two powerful entities resulted in the destruction of Nyxiren. In his last act, Hydall unwove Nyxiren’s very existence, but the consequences were catastrophic.
The land was poisoned with the essence of death and corruption, and the once-vibrant library of knowledge was tainted. The connection to the ley lines was severed, causing the library to wither along with the land and ultimately sink down into the void. The Ether Wards, though still functional, now serve only to keep out those who would attempt to access the library's secrets. The magic index, once a beacon of order, now pulses ominously, its readings tainted by Nyxiren’s legacy. The library, though still standing, remains a shadow of its former self—frozen in time, corrupted and haunted by the echoes of the evil that once sought to destroy it.
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