The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary is a fortress-turned library and a cornerstone of Sinivan history and scholarship.

History

The Sanctuary, as it has been called since its foundation in 102 A.G, was built as a defense against the goddesses Teruna and Ignis, defended by the powers of Celian, Fenuia, and Kereos. It was built out of stone and rammed earth, and its main focus was the tall walls with wide walkways and a single inner keep, housing the residents of nearby villages. After the wrath, it was used as a village site for many years, with people living atop the walls and within them. In the years after, however, the Sanctuary found a new purpose. Prior to the modern council system of Siniva, the region was run by local clans seeking to defend their resources. Near the end of this period, the clans had merged into three great clans: Seluki, Jinoa, and Bekoru. Sanctuary was rebuilt as the fortress of Jinoa, claiming a spot along a major trading river near the Three Point Sea, defended by the mountains and acting as a stop along the only pass in the area. After the wars ended and Siniva emerged as a unified council, the Sanctuary fell out of use again. By this time, the Sanctuary featured an outer wall, four inner buildings, a courtyard, and a central keep. A librarian from the nearby city of Jinoa noticed and took the space with permission from the council, creating a haven for artists and scholars. As more scholars learned about the Sanctuary, they brought information to share, and soon it became a full-fledged library. A building project started to fix the old keep, which was turned into a massive book room and great hall, and repairs were made to the outer buildings, which became smaller libraries, dorms, and kitchens.

Present Day

The Sanctuary still retains the layout from the old keep. The outer walls have been fitted with four towers to hold astronomical technology such as telescopes and astrolabes, and it is not uncommon to find some scholars reading or walking along the paths on top of the wall. Two of the four outer buildings became living spaces fitted with dorms, offices, and smaller kitchens. The outer building nearest to the entrance has become a reception hall and dining space, with kitchens and staff dorms as well. The outer building at the rear was turned into lab spaces and storage, including alchemical labs and artist studios as well as small libraries and discussion rooms. The main keep was turned into a three-story library and grand hall. The courtyard was turned into a garden space with fountains and plenty of shaded walkways.
The renovated building was designed with salvaged scraps of the Eastern Gate, long destroyed at the beginning of the Wrath, in mind. Many of the wood carvings in the library are imitations of that style, aiming to bring history to life. There was a strong attempt made to include designs from every region in every part of the building, making it a multicultural wonder of architecture that featured designs not only from the three provinces, but also from Kanburi, Kait, and Zersei, the other three Isahaian nations. The ventilation slats found in many of the new wooden towers are from Kanburi, and the gates feature the prominent geometric designs of Kaitish art.
One of the most important values that everyone in the sanctuary shares is the desire for knowledge. There is massive diversity in the kinds of people who live in the sanctuary, from people from poorer towns learning skills they can bring back to their families to children of councilors who seek life away from the public eye. The decisions in the Sanctuary are made by a council representing one from each art or area of study, led by a grandmaster, currently Master Tiro, a specialist in history.
The most recent event involving the Sanctuary is the book trade currently in place with the academy's library at Selkros in Marisen. The isolated Mari mages were tied with the Sanctuary due to two of their students meeting on a journey and returning with information about the other library. Once a month, the magefolk create a portal between the libraries to exchange knowledge and research. The new points of view expressed by each of the groups is foundational to the beginning of a new enlightenment for Siniva and Marisen both.

Type

Library