Eustacia Archive
It's surprisingly unassuming as far as libraries go. Then again, it was built before Centrum was a prosperous city-state.
Overview
The archive of The Archivists Guild. The Eustacia Archive contains all texts and artifacts acquired by the Archivists since the organization's inception. Archivist Taenya Naïlo oversees the acquisition, evaluation, admission, preservation, organization, and security of each text and artifact. The library is located in the northeast quarter of Centrum. Identifiable features include a central structure featuring a large rotunda with two wings on its northern and southern sides. The entire complex is surrounded by a thick wall. Between the wall and the archive itself are several butterfly gardens.Purpose / Function
The original purpose of the Eustacia Library was that of being Centrum's grand library. It used to contain Centrum's many texts on the city's history, art, and commerce. Much of this knowledge had been transferred to the newer and larger Camila Grand Library. The official reason for the new library's construction was to better reflect Centrum's growing prosperity. As a result, the Eustacia Library was quickly abandoned when all texts were moved to the Camila Library.
When the abandoned library was purchased by Arch Archivist Grau Quillblade in 1267AGC, it was repurposed to be the guild's central repository of texts and artifacts. The building has been known as the Eustacia Archive since.
Denizens
Archivists
Alterations
The Eustacia Archive underwent at least three expansions during its time as Centrum's central library.
The first expansion constructed the northern then southern wings of the library. Construction of both wings happened over a period of five years starting in 1101AGC. These wings were larger and more ornate in appearance than that of the initial central structure.
The second expansion, starting in 1145AGC and ending in 1155AGC, involved the furthering of the library's basement levels. The cool air affording my the underground climate was ideal in preserving various works and so an effort was made to increase the library's underground storage capacity. Part of this effort also involved the renovation of the library's central structure, which had begun to deteriorate due to age.
The third and most recent expansion, occurring in 1157AGC - 1159AGC, involved the construction of a robust wall that surrounded the entire complex. This wall served two purposes, to protect the growing body of knowledge within from Centrum's growing thievery problem and to add more rooms for various purposes including on-site residence for Eustacia's librarians.
History
The archive was named after Eustacia Lamaril, who was Centrum's first librarian after its construction in 1031AGC. She pushed for the library's construction so that the rapidly growing town could have a place to store it's collective knowledge that can be easily accessed by merchants (Centrum was not officially recognized as a city until 1042AGC).
The building was once the central Centrum Library from 1099AGC - 1126AGC. It was scheduled for demolition by the Centrum Director's Council until Arch Archivist Grau Quillblade offered to purchase the building in 1267AGC.
All artwork by starfarertheta unless otherwise stated.
Alternative Names
The Old Library, Archivists Archive
Type
Library
Parent Location
Owning Organization
Related Tradition (Primary)
Note(s) from the Archivists:
Something nobody seems to talk about: there are a lot of secret passages in this building. Are you sure this started out as a library? - Archivist Rena Even a librarian needs a quick getaway at times. - Archivist Taenya Naïlo By using secret passages? - Archivist Rena Especially by using a secret passage. - Archivist TaenyaRemove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
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