Library of Obsidian Bay

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Humble by the standards of many of the Great Libraries of the Flanaess, the Library of Obsidian Bay is nonetheless a respected institution within its own borders.

Overview

Humble by the standards of many of the Great Libraries of the Flanaess, the Library of Obsidian Bay is nonetheless a respected institution within its own borders.

Located in a modest two-story building in Obsidian Bay’s High Quarter and run by clerics of Delleb (Lesser Oeridian God:LG: Reason, Intellect, Study) the library holds several hundred books detailing history of the city, the region, and its citizens in its Common Stacks.

Also found within the Common Stacks are copies of the city’s charter and its various laws and regulations, maps of the city and the surrounding domain, genealogies of prominent families who took part in the city’s founding. A handful of shipping and ocean charts can be found here as well, detailing currents, reefs, and shipwrecks in a 50 mile radius of Obsidian bay.

Access to any of the Library’s materials is restricted to its patrons, each of whom must pay a 30 gold piece annual membership (the fee is due on Coldeven 15, and is not prorated). Patrons gain unrestricted access to the Common Stacks, which hold the information outlined above. Members of the city’s three councils a given free access to the Common Stacks upon their formal swearing in; this access ends with their terms.

Patrons also have supervised access to the Restricted Stacks, which hold a handful of tomes dating back to the days when Keoland held the Pomarj, and the land was known as the "Poor March". These last tomes – which include dwarven histories, notes from old Suel dukes, and other moldy records -- are carefully guarded by the clergy and are located in the Library’s basement. The clergy must escort anyone viewing them at all times.

Also located in the basement are the Official Stacks, which consist of various city records which are accessible only to members of the Mayor’s staff or one of the Lord Speakers of the Councils.

Tfinnan Collection

One wing of the library includes the original collection donated to the library, known as the Tfinnan Collection. It was the collection of the late Hegil Tfinnan, a researcher obsessed with his Flan heritage. Tfinnan spent his life collecting these books from far and wide in hopes to prove his linage to the Flan hero Telan. Eventually he thought he found the final resting place and mounted an expedition to the Drachensgrabs. As luck would have it this was the same time the Pomarj was invaded by humanoids. Hegil was never heard from again.

His collection, however, was preserved in a secret chamber in his manor. A group of adventurers recovered this collection for the Obsidian Bay Library Company, thus creating the cornerstone of the new library. Today, some say it is still the finest collection on Flan history in all the Flanaess.

Phantom Protector

Rumors have it, that when the Tfinnan collection was brought to Obsidian Bay Hegil's spirit came with it. To this day people still whisper that he may watch over the library, and he is why the Librarians are so protective of the collection. Stick around the city long enough and you'll hear a tale or two of would-be thieves who have been found dead in the alley's behind the Library. It's also known that the library was found intact after the occupation by the Scarlet Brotherhood. When the librarians came back they found that several invaders had entered; but they had been mysteriously killed. Most chalk this up to an unknown librarian who stayed behind to protect the Library. Some, however, say it was the ghost of Hegil Tfinnan protecting his collection once more.

Staff

The Head Librarian is a stern, arrogant Oerdian by the name of Elgweine Tsloff, a cleric of Delleb and an excellent researcher. She rules the Library like a queen, using a stout iron-headed cudgel to crack the heads of any who dares disturb the building’s sacred quiet.

Campaign Members: More information about this organization is available through your Dungeon Master

History

The library was founded in CY 516 by a consortium of like-minded individuals who wanted to bring a quality library experience to the fledgling city. Known as the Obsidian Bay Library Company, it consisted of Lady Holder Matilda Matterhorn, famed bookWright Edumond Pagewright and the noted librarian Eldrid,.

People

  • Elgweine Tsloff, The stern, arrogant Head Librarian of the Obsidian Bay Library.
  • Quidwig, Exp 4 Reference Librarian.

Statblocks

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