Library of Arindell

The Library of Arindell is the largest and oldest public library in the Alliance, second only to the collected library at Gudersnipe School Proper as the largest library in the verse. It is located in the city of Arindell, and there is some question whether the city is named for the library or vice-versa.

History

The Library of Arindell predates recorded history, but just what was written down about is pretty impressive:

Early Accounts

Exactly when the Library was first built is unknown, however it dates back far into Antiquity. The presence of writting in the Ancient language throughout the structure prove that it was built and used by them, however it is unclear whether or not it was a library remains unclear.

In the Age of Darkness it's existence was known, and that it was full of "many aged and rare texts of great antiquity". So by at least the late period of the Age of Darkness, someone somewhere had figured out that there was a building full of books up there.

However, no record exists of anyone visiting the library durring this time, as Stormreaver Valley where the library was located was the home of a large and very feirce dragon flight.

Mage Wars Era

From the Mage Wars, many accounts survive of expeditions dispatched to reach the library, with very few reports of success. By then it was believed that many magical tomes must be there, so any mage who could control the library could control the world.

However, being in the territory of a dragon flight is a good way for any building to remain safe. The High Mountain Flight was feircely territorial, refused all alliances, and defended it's sovernty to the death.

In the late Dynastic Period, the Marcon Alliance formed an alliance with the Ozork Flight and launched a campaign to conquer Stormreaver Valley, convinced library contained magical artifacts of great power. The invasion was reppeled, however it provided cover for a few very small raiding parties from other nations to reach the library and begin to unlock its secrets.

What they found was not tomes of magic, but a vast storehouse of books on every subject. These early expeditions could accomplish little, with the constant threat of dragon attack at their backs, and none brought back mroe than a few volumes.

Before the Marcons could organize for another attack, they were defeated by Laytami and the Gudersnipe Army, thus ending the Dynastic Period and begining the Second Chaotic Period.

The library was largely ignored durring this time, as literally everything else was on fire. it wasn't until Uther began his campaign to end the Mage Wars that another expedition was made.

This time, though, it was not an attempt to reach and raid the library. Rather, Uther himself lead the expedition to the eerie of the High Mountain Flight, asking them to join his alliance.

Surprisingly, the flight agreed, and allowed Stormreaver Valley to become a safe haven for the new alliance, which ironically was the old Alliance. Uther would eventually found a city in Stormreaver Valley, called Arindell. No verified accounts exist that confirm if this was the ancient name for the library or a name given it by Uther.