Librus Astralus

Overview

The Librus Astralus is the headquarters of the Royal Guild Historica, and is located at the heart of the Coalition's capital city of Vespa, flanking The Hall of Ages. It is a massive building of gothic style archiecture that houses the Guild's Council, as well as the largest library in the Hyperion system. If the Guild recovers an artifact, or a new written work is found or penned, it inevitably finds its way here.

Rules and Mechanics

Visitor Supervision is mandatory when entering the library. There is a material review area, filled with basic tables and chairs, and a few more comfortable couches, where visitors sit, and the Lore Keepers bring out relevant materials to them. Visitors may move about the space if accomanied by a Lore Keeper, though touching the books is not allowed.

Access is heavily monitored and regulated. The library can be accessed by anyone of good citizen standing, but the other areas are off limits to all but Guild Members.

Layout

The building is surrounded by the walkways and public space that makes up the enclosed, circular plaza. While there are no walls hiding the building away, it is constructed like a fortress on the outside, with few points of entry or windows, and a wide walkway flanked by motionless automatons 12' tall leading up to a broad set of double doors. Constructed of previous and durable metals, the Guild's emblem is emblazoned across it, half on each door.

Entry Hall

Behind these doors is the main hall, a massive marble chamber with doric pillars running it's length. The walls are lined with statues of old Saikar iconology, including emperors, deified tech, and depictions of distant worlds. There is a single desk opposite the door where sits a single Acolyte, flanked by two more automaton guards. Behind the desk, projected at nearly 40' tall, is the holographic image of the first Emperor, Vespasian I "The Bold" Saikar. At the desk is an array of Datasphere readers, comms interfaces, paperwork, etc. Three doors lead away from the entry hall, behind the desk on either side wall, and one behind the desk. The ceiling is vaulted and 50' high, with an intricate painting of the Astral Sea and the worlds of Hyperion in detail, linked by blue ley lines.

The Library Infinitum

The library proper is access through the door on the left of the entry hall, when facing the desk. The door leads to a broad corridor of worked stone that runs a short distance. It is loaded with hidden alarms and detectors meant to identify weapons, dangerous materials, traces of magic or technomancy, and library items that someone may be attempted to leave with.

Through the far doors, the hallways opens into a yawning circular chamber more than 300 feet in diameter. In the center is a collection of tables, chairs, and couches for visitors. Around this, a circular staircase spirals up the middle of the tower-like part of the building. Outside of that, well constructed and meticulously organized bookshelfs are laid out like the spokes of a wheel to the end of the room, and stretching to the hall's peak, 300 feet above. Every time the spiral staircase passes an aisle, a walkway breaks off to run the length of the shelf, and a sliding ladder waits to be used. The roof of the tower is a flat, and an intricate pattern of protective runes and wards can be seen painted across its surface.

Guild Quarters

Those who join the Guild are offered access to this area, accessed through the door on the right side of the chamber. In this area, large barracks style rooms are laid out for Acolytes, with 50 beds per chamber. Deeper in, small individual rooms are given to members of minor standing. The final sections is composed of lavish bedrooms held by powerful figures. In the midst of all of this is a communal kitchen and dining area. At the end of the area, the hallway curves around and allows access to the rear exterior of the building.

Guild Operations

This area is accessible to those of high status amongst Guild membership, or those here by invitation or command. The door directly behind the entry hall desk leads here. The area consists of a single straight hallway, both sides lined with, in this order, conference and meeting rooms, tribunal halls (ampitheatre style, with a lowered area designed like a court room), offices of the administration, and finally the Council Chambers. The Council chambers are accessed by a lift, on the second floor of the building. The largest room in the building, it hosts a half circle board room style table with chairs facing the interior. Large windows allow a view of the plaza, but they can be covered when holo presentations are given. Large tapestries depicting The Old Kingdoms iconography, Saikar Empire and Coalition iconology, and the Guild crest.

The Astral Web Hub

Located at the top of the buildings single, large clock tower, this area features a single, circular chamber wreathed in windows. In the center, a teleportation circle allows users of the Astral Web to travel here instantaneously. The room has the heaviest security in the building, including massive blast doors for lock downs, a dedicated guard post, defensive turrets and automata, and an emergency, localized self-destruct command. It is accessible by the lift.

Landing Pad

The building, used to visitors of high regard from near and far, has a private landing area on the roof with ten dedicated landing pads spread across it. Access to the building from here requires you to enter through a single door, and check in at a similar Acolyte clerk station. Then, the lift can be taken from here to the rest of the building.

Type

Guildhall

Parent Location

Vespa