The Floating Library

The Floating library is an unusual trading vessel - a bookseller at sea. Crewed by a predominantly-gnomish crew of wizards, it sails from port to port, exchanging knowledge for knowledge, buying and selling books with equal enthusiasm. The crew is lead by Cedric Grandleflockern, a joyful gnomish diviner of significant power who delights in education and knowledge for their own sake and lives to share interesting things he has learned with the world.
This means that when the floating library pulls into port, the docks around it almost immediately become a place of happiness and joy. Not only do readers from the local population suddenly have a vast new collection of new books to purchase, but the crew also provides a host of useful magical and educational services while they are in port. The crew buys and sells books, but also put on puppet shows, conduct dramatic readings, host discussion groups of popular literature, provide magical locating services for lost items, produce spectacular demonstrations of illusion magic, and more.
They also routinely get involved in significantly more serious matters. Cedric Grandlflockern has amassed significant knowledge of the "grim and deadly serious" variety over the course of his long gnomish life, and has been involved in the creation of innumerable magical safeguards and sets of protective wards, including the ones at the peak of the volcano on Liraj A'Talvo. He and his crew have carried news of places that are freer, happier, and more prosperous into the territory of horrible tyrants and have aided the rebellions and escape attempts that have resulted. They share knowledge freely and make education enjoyable, but that has profound and transformative effects on the world at times, and they do not shy away from that responsibility.
The ship itself is colorfully painted, and its sails depict fantastic sequences of adventure and learning - it is unmistakable, even at a distance. Pirates know not to interfere with the ship. A crew that contains that many wizards is definitely difficult prey, and most pirates do not much care about the cargo of books.

Motto

Knowledge Brings Happiness