Printing Press

The printing press has slowly entered into use in the Triamic Empire (for those who can afford it, anyway).

Up until very recently, literacy has been a back-and-forth struggle in the Empire. Upper classes were educated, and larger cities usually had educational programs put on by the Temple that the commonfolk could attend... but the working classes generally did not prioritize learning to read over teaching trades and life skills. However, it's becoming far more common now that books are becoming more accessible, and most children are being taught basic letters, at least, as the world in general becomes more literate.

Handwriting still usually involves some sort of nib and ink (fountain pens have been attempted but not perfected). Iron gall ink, alchemically formulated in Silven, is the most common type of ink, though other dyes have been used. Parchment (vellum, for special occasions) is still considered the "more proper" writing surface, despite the fact that the advent of the printing press has essentially led to the discovery of much cheaper, much more available pulp-made paper. At this point, it is a mark of class to use parchment over paper... especially in something longer, like a book.

As for the presses... the technology "officially" originated from the University of Obsidian (though there is rumor that it the tech was actually stolen... erm... imported from the Inzalu). The university has a massive press it uses to copy the books in its archive, with a second mechanism developed by the Order of Knowledge Keepers within a decade of the first so that the Temple could do some damage control. (There is something of a war of censorship between these two institutions). From there, the Triamic Council contracted one from the original builder and the engineers soon began building presses commercially. Now, anyone from merchant princes to underground anarchic groups have a press and can distribute what they want... provided it doesn't violate anything certain strictures against treason or blasphemy, of course. Most books and bills are ink on paper, and while it is still an expensive process to produce a book, it is becoming cheaper and easier all the time.

Item type

Tool

Rarity

Uncommon