[GP / EP] Welcome to the Madonna Inn Expanded Public Library

[st_opsummoningme]

Freedom from her bonds had given Illyana more than freedom of movement. It had returned to her the use of her magik and her ability to teleport. These abilities had, in turn, allowed her to finish making ready the library for public use. It was less about collecting books and media from around the premises (and some from Limbo, or donated collections harvested from the Otherworlds) and arranging shelving and seating, most of which had been relatively easily done. It was more a matter of laying the appropriate wards, and negotiating the finer points of the old-fashioned catalog and check-out system, which included odd donated items such as sporting equipment and electronic devices available for rental. Xavin's espresso machine counter necessitated a mini-bar refrigerator, glass-domed cake stands for assorted pastries brought in from the kitchen, and various cafe sundries.

Repurposed from what had been the 'Garden Room,' the library space with its high wooden ceilings, chandeliers, and landscape murals over busy floral carpet still looked somewhat like a touristy banquet hall, yet the area was now also highly saturated with layered magic. The hodgepodge collection of random books and so on were fiercely protected by these magics. When needed and as possible, worn volumes had been restored. The books could not be damaged nor marred from here on out, at least not by coffee spills nor page-tearing or inconsiderate attempts at margin notation. Nor would they leave the boundaries of the library area without proper dispensation, simply stopping mid-air and dropping should the attempt be made at the threshold. Ask at the Desk for Assistance With These Items, prompted the signs on several glass display cases featuring certain perhaps unsettling curiosities within - books in arcane languages, skulls from indeterminate creatures, and artifacts such as a green glowing cube suspended on a chain. At said desk, a gleaming service bell sat waiting, should the staff be needed and not clearly present.

Illyana finished affixing the large engraved plaque to the wall beside the double-doors, and then returned to attend the newly opened library with little fanfare:

Madonna Inn Expanded Public Library

Established ~01.25.2018 Earthly Gregorian Calendar

Open All Hours

Volunteer Staff on Duty as Schedules Allow

Classes & Tutoring for Most Subjects Available Upon Request

Donations Encouraged

Disruptive Patrons Will Be Zealously Evicted

Comments

Re: Lillith & Percy

[st_rangepalette]

"Oh, yes." She had heard of this project. It seemed to her a very good one. "You will have considered archways and pillars, yes? Or desert clay? I have seen many clever buildings of that nature."

Re: Lillith & Percy

[st_ockandbarrel]

"Yes. A book on local architecture would help me understand how the indigineous people built their society. I'm still not quite sure what the walls in this place are made of." The rock in the bedrooms was imported, he was almost sure. He'd never heard anyone mention a quarry nearby.

Re: Lillith & Percy

[st_rangepalette]

"I have not seen such a book, but I have seen structures built out of baked clay brick," Lillith countered thoughtfully. "Is it not tradition for a temple to be made of a substance either more dear or requiring more effort to utilize to show devotion?"

She knew something of religious structures from her time in Vassalheim and the research she had undertaken on the history of Sarenrae's temple as a surprise for Pike. Yet this was speculation.

Re: Lillith & Percy

[st_ockandbarrel]

"Perhaps, but we haven't the luxury of either of those things here. Our range is limited and so are our options. We need something that we can feasibly accomplish with the materials at hand." Percy drew in a breath and released an annoyed sigh. "Unfortunately, I haven't the foggiest what that would be. Hence, library." He gestured at the books around them.

Re: Lillith & Percy

[st_rangepalette]

Lillith nodded and reached for one of the books that Percy had selected. "Given appropriate base materials, I can learn to make the ones we need. I have been working on a Fabricate spell for a long time now."

She had had a scroll once, and almost completed the copying but then she had to cast it. Now she had her memory of the spell and two-thirds of it written. It had not been a priority, but if it would be of use, she would bend her mind to it.

"Had you the will," she said with a playful smile. "You would make a fine wizard."

Re: Lillith & Percy

[st_ockandbarrel]

Percy snorted. His opinion of magic was well-known. "I prefer things that make sense."

Magic was something that other people did, and he was perfectly willing to let it happen - over there. Away from him.

Re: Lillith & Percy

[st_rangepalette]

Lillith laughed, warm and easy. Percy was not Alec to disbelieve in magic. He simply preferred the logic of machines to the mysteries of the weave.

"Then it is as well that I appreciate hard logic almost as much as magic."