The Libraries of Lost Tongues
"Upon entering, I was struck by the apparent size of the place. Appearing much larger than its exterior would suggest, bookshelves rested in neatly-numbered and -labeled rows on the ground floor. Innumerable other shelves hovered in the air above, held aloft by some silent enchantment. Upon reaching the index, a glowing sphere of verdant green crystal, I placed my hand upon it and asked for the topic of my research as instructed by the nearby attendant. Several shelves not in use immediately drifted silently up from the floor to take the place of an equal number of their brethren, which settled with soft thumps into the vacated positions. I asked for my second topic, but the sphere didn't respond. 'Those materials are kept in the Second Library,' the attendant casually informed me. 'You can make copies of what you need here, but you won't be allowed to transport materials between the buildings without official certification.'"
-excerpt from the journal of a visitor to the Libraries of Lost Tongues in Agafell
Purpose / Function
The Libraries of Lost Tongues, merely referred to as 'The Libraries' by native Agafellians, are arguably the most well-curated and complete collections of treatises on language and advanced mathematics of relationships in the known world. While the Agafellians use (and add to) these prodigious collections for the sake of advancing their ability to define and bind extra-mortal beings, scholars with any cause to need assistance in lingual or mathematical fields would be well-served to travel here.
Alterations
Initially only a single building, the Second Library was constructed next to its sister in [year undecided]. While both structures utilize space-warping techno-magy powered by carefully-bound outsiders and elementals, the Second Library is obviously the more modern, and secure. Constructed partially to help limit access to especially-dangerous materials, it contains the infamous Forbidden and Gray Formulas, deemed too dangerous for research or use under normal circumstances.
Architecture
Both buildings are formed from the solid gray stone of the butte the Upper City rests on, but their differences in age are obvious. The First Library, constructed several hundred years before the Second Library, appears more as a small cathedral, spires topping smooth walls broken by what appear to be colored-glass windows. The doors, while impressively large to accommodate the random non-human visitor, are of simple steel-bound wood.
The Second Library, constructed later in part to hold forbidden, dangerous, and unpredictable formulas, is smaller (externally, at least). Its smooth stone is broken up by geometric inlays of steel, silver, and gold; all of them are intricately carved with lingual formulas in dozens of languages. No windows show on the exterior, a simple two-sloped roof serving to run rain off the structure. The doors are just as large as those of the First Library, making them seem larger in comparison to the smaller building surrounding them, but are each carved of a single piece of granite, carefully fitted to form an airtight seal against their settings when closed. Handles are cut into the interior and exterior of the doors, while precisely-balanced hinges of steel alloys hold them.
History
Originally founded as 'the library' by the settlers of Agafell as the city developed, it was granted its moniker as the city saw more visitors after the proliferation of travel by airship. A scholar visiting on other business was astonished to find extensive theories and materials on a dialect of elven previously considered lost by other communities, dubbing the location in her journals. Upon publication of her memoirs, the name stuck.
Type
Library
Parent Location
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