Fuskar’s Quill

as told by R'nee Kinyon, Youth Librarian

Long ago, before any of our parents or grandparents were born, the Great Library of Calayor existed on the Island of Erudition in King’s Bay. And in that library lived an ancient Librarian named Elias Fuskar.
Now, ever since his first days, newly apprenticed to the Library, Elias had had a voracious NEED for knowledge. Once he had a question in his head, whether his own or from someone else, he spent every off-duty minute, and a few on-duty ones, devouring pages to find the answer. It did not take him long before he had answers to every routine question the Librarians were asked. In just four short years, he climbed to Chief Researcher, a feat never heard of before or since.
As the years passed the Empire expanded its reach and alliances, pulling in knowledge from all over the known world. Floors were added, neighboring buildings were annexed, and all sorts of scrolls, books, tapestries and tomes made their way to the Great Library. Each new item brought new questions and new opportunities for answers. Elias LOVED IT.
But for every one time Elias declined advancement within the Library, he found it thrice thrust upon him. Within a few decades he was Head Librarian, with all the meetings, functions and administrative duties that implies. All of his time was spent answering easy questions he already knew the answers to. As his opportunities to acquire new knowledge dwindled, so did his health.
"What happened to the fun, Zedekiah,’ Elias asked his long-time friend. ‘Remember when we used to spend HOURS scouring dusty parchment, searching for ways to... well... do whatever hair-brained thing you cooked up for a new contraption?’
‘I do,’ said the Gnome Alchemist. ‘When posed a question, you were unstoppable.’
‘Heh. Look at me. These legs can barely make it the chamber pot before giving out, much less the stacks. I couldn’t go research an answer if I wanted to!’
A few months later, a package showed up on Fuskar’s desk. Inside was a note and a simple quill adorned with the tiniest of cog-work and alchemical engravings. The note read:

It is said that Elias was still trying to find the answer the day he died. Thirty-eight years later. Researching in the stacks.

Spread

This story of Elias Fuskar is well known throughout Calayor. It is a rare student that has not sat through at least one exam, stumped on a question, wishing for Fuskar's Quill.

Variations & Mutation

In some versions of the story, the Quill is a gift from the lower Librarians who miss Elias's frequent presence and guidance in the stacks.