The Library of Genos Dunkirk

History

As the most ancient and venerated repository of knowledge in recorded history, the Library of Genos Dunkirk possesses a vast and complex history. The institution that exists today is, in fact, the third great iteration of the Library, each incarnation shaped by the triumphs and tragedies of its age.

The First Library

The genesis of the Library can be traced to the year 170 a.g. (Age of Gods). It was not conceived as a bastion of public knowledge, but rather as the personal sanctum of the scholar Genos Dunkirk himself. In its nascent form, it was a meticulously curated collection of Dunkirk's own prolific writings—treatises on primordial magic, elemental cartography, and the metaphysics of divinity—alongside the rare manuscripts and artifacts he had acquired in his travels across the plane of Tharassa.

For Centuries, it's growth was organic, growing as Dunkirk's own knowledge and influence expanded. The library gradually evolved from a private collection, into a scholastic destination. By the second millennium a.g., its reputation had burgeoned, and scholars, mages, and royalty made pilgrimages to its doors, seeking audiences not only with Dunkirk but with the silent wisdom held upon its shelves. It became the intellectual heart of Tharassa, the oldest and largest archive on the plane, holding everything from the records of divine beings to star-charts from civilizations long vanished.

It's end was far more dramatic than it's rise however. In the year 4162 a.g., during the cataclysmic event known as The World Fire, a devastating conflagration that scorched even the heavens of Tharassa, the original Library was all but destroyed. The loss was incalculable as fire consumed not only the physical structure but also a millenia of accumulated knowledge, art, and history. Only a fraction of its contents were salvaged, rescued by Dunkirk and his most trusted acolytes. The rest of the restoration process was slow and painstaking, with many texts lost forever to the flames.

The Aetheneum

In the aftermath of the World Fire, Genos Dunkirk resolved to rebuild the Library, not merely as a repository of knowledge, but as a beacon of collaboration and community that the former library grew to represent. Thus, in 4179 a.g., the Aetheneum's construction began in a new location on the plane of Asteanos, a realm known for its stability and relative safety from the turbulent events that plague Tharassa. The new site was built in the capital of Aerie. It's grand halls were designed to be a fusion of art and function, with soaring ceilings, intricate mosaics, and enchanted lighting to mimic the lighting of various planes. The Aetheneum was not just a library; it was a monument to the pursuit of knowledge, open to all who sought enlightenment. It featured reading rooms, lecture halls, and even living quarters for visiting scholars. The Aetheneum's collection was rebuilt with a focus on inclusivity, gathering works from across the multiverse, and encouraging contributions from diverse cultures and disciplines.

For a time, this ideal flourished. The Aetheneum became a hub of intellectual activity, hosting symposiums, debates, and exhibitions that drew luminaries from various fields. It was a place where ideas were exchanged freely, and where the boundaries of knowledge were continually pushed. These open doors also became the Aetheneum's vulnerability, as Dunkirk had not accounted for the covetous nature of some who sought to exploit its resources. As the Aetheneum's collection grew, it housed powerful artifacts, and politically damning documents, attracting the attention of those who would seek to control or destroy such knowledge for their own ends. The Aetheneum became a focal point in various political conflicts in Asteanods, leading to several attempts to infiltrate or sabotage its operations.

Faced with these challenges, Dunkirk suspected a potential—politically motivated—second cataclysm to the Aetheneum's contents, and made a difficult choice to close its doors to the public in 68 a.a. (Age of Aether). Dunkrik and a small circle of trusted scholars worked to secure and protect the Aetheneum's most sensitive materials, implementing strict access protocols and enhancing security measures. The Aetheneum was magically relocated to a more secure location within Asteanos, relocated to █████, near the █████ border of the ██████████ region, where it remains today. The Aetheneum was renamed to its current title, The Library of Genos Dunkirk—often shortened to GDL—symbolizing both its heritage and its new role as a guardian of knowledge rather than a public institution.

Layout

To speak of a "layout" for the Library of Genos Dunkirk is to employ a convenient, if fundamentally inaccurate, simplifcation of its true nature. The library is not confined to the traditional notion of euclidean space, but rather exists as a complex, multi-spatial construct, designed to accommodate the vast and varied nature of its collection. The library's architecture is a blend of practical architecture and arcane design, employing overlapping projected planar fields to create a series of interconnected spaces that both defy conventional geometry, and serve to separate different sections of the library based on their content and security level. These spaces, having their own aetheric fields serve to separate any aetheric interference between sections, protecting sensitive materials, and containing any potentially hazardous artifacts. The library can be divided into several key areas:

Grand Foyer

All sanctioned visitors to the library enter through the Grand Foyer, a vast, open space that serves as both a reception area and a transitional zone between the outside world and the rest of the library. The Foyer is adorned with ornate pillars and intricate stained glass windows that depict scenes from the history of the multiverse. The ceiling is enchanted to mimic the night sky, complete with constellations that shift and change over time. The Foyer also houses a reception desk where visitors can check in, receive information, and be directed to the appropriate sections of the library. It also serves as the security checkpoint, where all visitors are screened before being granted access to the library's inner sanctums (See Library Security Protocols).

In the center of the Foyer floats a large, enchanted globe that represents the multiverse, with various planes and realms marked upon its surface. Glowing rings orbit around the globe—akin those that orbit a celestial body. This globe serves as both a decorative piece and a representation of the celestial-disk-construct that serves as the library's archival system. (See Archival Disk).

Main Hall

The Main Hall is the heart of the Library of Genos Dunkirk, a vast sprawling space that houses the majority of the library's book collection. The hall is divided into several wings, each dedicated to a specific category of knowledge, deliniated by the personal works of Dunkirk, then sub-categorized by subject matter. The wings include sections for Arcane Studies, Divine Lore, Natural Sciences, History, and more. Each wing is further subdivided into smaller alcoves and reading rooms, providing quiet spaces for study and contemplation. The Main Hall's paths are winding and organic varying in elevation, with the entrance being particularly elevated alowing for a view of the libraries expansive collection.

Navigation within the Main Hall is facilitated by a combination of traditional signage and magical aids. Enchanted maps are available at the Main Hall's front desk, these maps are configureable to show a highlighted path toward a specified section. Furthermore, the Main Hall has a series of adjustable portals, alowing for quick traversal between the vast catalog.

Museum

The Museum is a dedicated space within the library that showcases a curated selection of artifacts, relics, and exhibits related to the multiverse's history and cultures. The museum is divided into several galleries, each focusing on a specific plane and era. Interactive displays and ilusory projections bring the exhibits to life, allowing visitors to experience the history and significance of the artifacts on display. The museum hosts navigational features similar to the Main Hall, with enchanted maps and portals for easy access. Several wings of the museum are further restricted, requiring special clearance to access (See Library Clearance Protocols). These secure wings exist in their own aetheric field, protecting any sensitive or dangerous artifacts contained within.

Special Collections

The Special Collections area houses rare and unique materials that require special handling and access protocols. This includes ancient texts, one-of-a-kind manuscripts, and other items of significant cultural or historical value. Access to these materials is strictly controlled, and researchers must submit a formal request to the library's Special Collections team to gain access.

Academic Wing

The Academic Wing is a dedicated space for scholarly activities, including lecture halls, seminar rooms, and study areas. The wing hosts regular events, such as lectures, workshops, and conferences, featuring experts from various fields. The Academic Wing is equipped with modern amenities, including magical communication devices and research tools, to facilitate learning and collaboration. It also contains a series of private study rooms that can be reserved by scholars and researchers for focused work.

The Academic wing also includes several laboratories and experimental spaces, where researchers can conduct experiments and studies in a controlled environment. These labs are equipped with a variety of tools and resources, including alchemical equipment, arcane apparatus, and scientific instruments. The laboratories are designed to accomodate a wide range of research activities, from magical experimentation to technological innovation. The labs are designed with safety in mind, featuring individual aetheric fields to contain any hazardous materials or experiements. These fields are also adjustable, allowing researchers to customize the environment to suit their specific needs, or replicate the conditions of different planes.

Dormitories

The library provides living quarters for visiting scholars and researchers who require extended stays. The dormitories are comfortable and well-appointed, offering a quiet and conducive environment for study and reflection. Each room is equipped with basic amenities, including a bed, desk, and storage space for personal belongings. The dormitories also feature communal areas, such as lounges and kitchens, where residents can socialize and relax.

Collection

The Library of Genos Dunkirk boasts an unparalleled collection of knowledge, encompassing a vast array of subjects and disciplines. The library's catalog includes ██████████ volumes and ████████ artifacts, ranging from ancient tomes and manuscripts to modern treatises. The collection is continually expanding, with new acquisitions being added regularly. The library's holdings are organized using a combination of traditional classification systems and magical indexing techniques, allowing for efficient retrieval and cross-referencing of materials. The library's catalog is accessible both physically within the library and digitally through an enchanted interface (See Library Preservation System) , enabling users to search for and locate materials from anywhere within the library's grounds.

The library's collection of artifacts is particularly noteworthy for its nature of preservation. Many of the items housed within the library are in fact not the original artifacts, but rather meticulously crafted replicas. These replicas are created using advanced proprietary magical techniques, providing an authentic experience while following library ideal of non-interference with the outside world.

Library Security

Given the sensitive nature of many of the materials housed within the Library of Genos Dunkirk, security is a paramount concern. The library employs a multi-layered security system that combines physical and magical measures to protect its collection and ensure the safety of its visitors and staff.

Access to the library is strictly controlled, with all visitors required to check in at the Grand Foyer and undergo a security screening. The library employs a team of trained security personnel, who are responsible for monitoring the premises and responding to any incidents. The library is also equipped with a variety of magical security measures, including wards, alarms, and surveillance enchantments, designed to detect and deter unauthorized access or tampering with the collection.

Library Clearance Protocols

Access to certain sections of the library, particularly those housing sensitive or dangerous materials, is restricted to individuals with the appropriate clearance level. The library employs a tiered clearance system, with different levels of access granted based on an individual's role, credentials, and the nature of their research. Researchers seeking access to restricted materials must submit a formal request, which is reviewed by the library's Special Collections team. Clearance levels are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that access is appropriately managed. Classified information is protected by a series of magical wards and enchantments, designed to prevent unauthorized access or tampering. These wards are regularly maintained and updated by the library's security team to ensure their effectiveness. Protocols involving clearance levels and access to sensitive materials are outlined in Library Protocol § 9.

Library Archive Project

In 1,067 a.a., the Library of Genos Dunkirk embarked on an ambitious project to expand its reach and accessibility through a series of projects aimed at backing up its vast collection of knowledge. The GDL has undertaken two distinct projects at creating a redundancy for the library's collection: The Library Preservation System, and the Archival Disk. The projects—managed by the Archive Redunancy Team—are in active development and deployment.

Library Preservation System

The Library Preservation System (L.P.S.) is an artifice based aetheric system designed to store and encrypt information in a condensed "digital" system. The original iteration of the L.P.S. was designed by M.O.R.G. the machine god of Ashveil and through collaboration with GDL archivists, Dunkirk has initiated an evolution of the system for library purposes. In addition, the original Ashveil based L.P.S. is available to access through GDL access points: Ashveil L.P.S. Access

The Archive Redundance Team has a dedicated branch of archivists who are converting important library works into the digital format for access through the L.P.S. systems. In addition these systems are being deployed in notable academic institutions across the multiverse with encrypted communication lines with GDL's primary building for remote access to the library. These access nodes also serve as a form of information redundancy themselves, as accessed works are stored on the local device and can be transfered between nodes without access to the library's primary database.

Archival Disk

The Archival Disk is an in-development system for storage of library works in a remote site in ███████. The Archival Disk is still in early development, please check back for additional information regarding the project.