It's a rusty wheel.
That wheel is used for draining the water from the pool.
Row upon row of books.
Thousands of books.
It's a pool of seawater. You'd think that it'd be a bad idea to have a pool inside a library, on account of the moisture, but I guess magic makes everything possible.
It's a pool of seawater.
The water is scalding hot.
It's one of the Sentinel Minstrum.
It's Minstrum Yerin, Keeper of the library.
It's the disc of the Balance, key to the Guardian's Realm, forged in dragon's fire from the four stones I collected on my journey across Arcadia. And a pretty sweet paperweight as well.
It's the Disc of the Balance, the key to the Guardian's Realm.
I have to find my way down first.
Not without taking a dive into the water, I won't.
The water's pretty cold.
Ouch! It's almost boiling!
Nah-ah, you can boil lobsters in that water!
There's a pool of scalding water between me and that disc.
(grunts) It's stuck.
It won't budge.
Why would I want to drain the pool?
I should at least check out the book he got for me before I disturb him again.
Hello? Hello?
(yelps)
Goodness, it's you again! You gave me such a fright.
Oh goodness me! I didn't hear you come in. By the way, you haven't seen volume six of "The Complete Annotated History of the Northlands", have you? I could have sworn it was here yesterday.
Sorry, no.
I guess someone else must have taken it. I try to tell them to write down what they borrow on the list, but they never listen.
Only last week I spent three hours searching the entire enclave for the Second Scripture of the Balance -- the Scripture of Song -- before I realized that Vestrum Tobias was studying it back in the city...
Now, such incidents could be avoided, if only -- and this applies to you too, young lady -- people would sign out the books they borrow, when they borrow them, and sign them back in when they're done.
Such a simple procedure...it shouldn't take more than a few seconds to jot down your name and the name of the book you borrow. It makes my job so much easier.
Now, which book did you want me to find for you?
Are you Minstrum Yerin?
Yes, of course, what a silly question.
How would I know? I don't know you.
I am Minstrum Yerin, Keeper of the Great Library of Marcuria. In fact, this is the greatest library of all the Northlands...
...perhaps of the entire world, although they say the Dark People have a library as big -- if not bigger -- than this one, but of course we're not allowed anywhere near there. Have you been there?
I don't think--
What a silly question, of course you haven't. You're not of the Dark People, are you? You don't look like any Dark People I've ever seen, so I can't see how you could possibly...
...now where did volume six disappear to, hmmm?
Tobias said I should talk with you.
Tobias? Vestrum Tobias? I haven't seen him for...well, he was in last week, but before that it must've been...days...at least. How is he? Still eating enough for two mules?
I must tell you of this funny story I heard the other day, of how Vestrum Tobias eats enough for a table full of Minstrum...or was it one Elgwan? Although the Elgwan don't, as a rule, eat very much at all...
Did you know that the Elgwan can smell water more than half a day's journey away? Amazing, amazing creatures, perfectly suited for a life in the desert. The Balance provides, that's for certain. The Balance provides.
Vestrum Tobias recommended that I look at some books.
Books is what we do best here at the Enclave, that is for certain. Which book would you like to see?
I'll see you later.
Yes, yes, good, good.
Bye now.
Hmmm? Oh, yes, yes.
Could I see some more books?
Certainly. What a silly question.
I'm looking for a story called "The Silver Spear of Gorimon".
Yes, a fanciful tale if I ever saw one, but a charming one. Did you know that I'm often paid visit by adventurers wishing to read everything available on the spear so that they, too, can set out on their foolish quests?
Yeah, don't you just hate those adventurers?
Well, they pay for my bread, milk and butter with their contributions to the coffers, so I shouldn't be too critical of them. But they care not about the books...they care only about what the books can give them.
I care. About the books. Really.
I can tell. So, "The Silver Spear of Gorimon", then?
I'd like to read "The Silver Spear of Gorimon" again.
Certainly.
Actually, I don't feel like reading right now.
Don't feel like...very well, though it is the strangest thing I've heard in a while. How can you not feel like reading?
Actually, I don't feel like reading right now.
Very well.
I'm looking for some information, but I'm not sure which book to ask for.
No matter, I know a great deal about most of the books in here. What topic intrigues you?
A book on the history of Marcuria would be interesting.
I'd like to read some Arcadian folktales.
Ah, an extensive subject, to be sure. I will do my best.
I'd like to read that history book on Marcuria again.
So you liked it, then? One moment.
A favored topic of mine! I have just what you are looking for.
I'd like to read some more Arcadian folktales.
Did I mention how much I like folktales? Just a minute.
I forget, but thanks anyway.
I know how it is. I forget things all the time. I even forgot my own name once. Couldn't remember it for a whole week, and then someone called for me by name. Strangest thing.
I forget, but thanks anyway.
We all forget sometimes.
I've heard rumors about mermen who live beneath the Sea of Songs, and I'd like to find out more about them.
Mermen in the Sea of Songs...hmmm... Let me see what I can find, yes?
Are there any books about a flying people who observe and tell stories?
Winged storytellers, hmmm? Let me see what I can find. Hold on.
Could I see that book about the Maerum again, please?
Certainly, certainly. Hold on.
I'd like to see that book about the Alatien again, if you don't mind.
Of course, I don't mind. Just give me a minute.
I'd like to learn more about dragons, about the Draic Kin.
Oh yes, yes, we have some wonderful books on that topic. Stay here.
I'd like to read more about the Draic Kin.
Why, of course. I will get the book you are looking for immediately.
I need to find out which four magical people of Arcadia were given a piece of the stone disc that serves as the key to the Guardian's Realm.
The stone disc of the Balance, yes? Yes, yes, there could possibly be something on that in... Let me check, just one moment.
I need to read that Scripture again, about the stone disc that was split in four.
The Scriptures can always tell us more each time we read them, true. Wait here.
I did find something of interest. I will leave it here for you to read.
I found the book you asked for. I will leave it here for you.
Are you done? Let me take that back for you.
So you're still here?
Eh?
Excuse me?
Oh, it's just you. If you have come to use the library, I'm afraid I must disappoint you. We're all very busy today. Very busy indeed.
No, don't worry. I didn't come by to do any reading today.
Good. With the Tyren army approaching, we don't have much time.
Yes?
Is Vestrum Tobias around?
Oh, goodness, you do not know? I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but Tobias...he's dead. Murdered.
No! By whom?
We don't know, but we suspect Vanguard agents, of course. In the chaos of the evacuation, the soldiers had their hands full making sure no one was trampled, and that looters were promptly apprehended.
When we visited the temple after everyone had left -- there were so many books and valuable artefacts we wanted to bring here, for safe keeping -- we found Tobias by the murals he loved so dearly.
He'd been stabbed in the heart, and from the looks of it, he didn't resist much at all. He probably even knew his assailant.
Why Tobias? He was the kindest, gentlest man I've ever known. Always helpful, always ready to listen. I'll really miss him.
So will all of us. He was a great man, and a great Vestrum, and we will never see another like him. But unfortunately, there were many who disagreed with his views. And the Vanguard...
Shouldn't you be leaving the city?
Well, they would be happy to see the end of him for good.
Another reason for doing everything we can to stop them.
Leaving? No, I'm staying here with my fellow Minstrum. The Enclave is our life, and our home, and we're not letting the Vanguard and the Tyren army drive us away.
But we will defend ourselves.
With what? Books?
We may look harmless, but don't judge a book by its cover. There are many of us who are skilled at magic. I can throw a pretty mean ball of fire myself.
We even have swords and bows, and a few of us are well versed with deadly weaponry. So we won't be easily defeated, trust me.
Good luck.
And to you, the same.
What's the rusty wheel downstairs for?
Wheel? Oh, yes, the wheel. That's used for draining the water out of the pool.
Do you know why the drainage wheel is stuck?
Goodness, it is? Why, yes, of course it is. We keep the sluices locked, so that the pool is not drained by accident.
Could you unlock it for me?
Certainly. But why?
Because I need to drain the pool.
Goodness me, you do? Very well, I will unlock the sluices.
