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omneomnismodsWelcome to Liber Omne Omnis, also known as The Ominous Library. In the center of the library is a series of plaques that reads:
In the ancient past, when many sentient races were still in their infancy, a group of scholars dedicated themselves to preserving all the knowledge of the universe. These men, women, and others, coming from some of the earliest space-faring peoples, went from world to world. There, they studied, gathered books, and learned the stories of the people of each planet, both rich and poor. Their numbers grew and they became masters of magic, science, literature, art, and every other intellectual pursuit. The scholar's leaders, a wise group, came to an important conclusion.
Everyone has a story and every story has importance.
The scholars decided to build a library, the largest in existence, determined to fill it with as much knowledge as they could get their hands on. Every book, record, story, and song possible would be gathered, catalogued, and preserved forever. No piece of knowledge was too small or ordinary to be included. There was only one problem.
Where to build?
The library was to be absolutely neutral, unaffected by both politics and commerce. No reader was to be turned away from it's halls. No truth was to be edited to suit the wealthy and powerful. Even building on a planet, within a system, was considered too great an act of partiality. The scholars consulted their mages, who created a great finding spell. The majority of the scholars gathered on a space station, where they had deposited their entire wealth of books and recordings. There, the mages cast their spell.
The space station disappeared from its home universe.
The scholars found themselves in a strange realm between the universes, a place where every universe and every reality met. A planet formed below them, with the space station in orbit. On the planet, realities continually shifted, but the scholars studied each one eagerly, learning ancient secrets and great technologies. They discovered how to pin each reality within the pages of an ordinary, blank book, carefully bound. Once tied to a reality, the book became nearly indestructible, impervious to decay, tearing, stains, and even fire. The book would also fill with either stories, history, or other facts.
The scholars began to build their great library.
The scholars created a beautiful series of buildings, enough to fill a small city. Soon, as if the realm read the scholar's intent, books began appearing on their own, increasing the knowledge available. Finally, the scholars learned that the books also served as portals, allowing the scholars to go from one reality to another. The scholars also created living areas-- beautiful apartment buildings, as well as single dwellings. The homes were available to anyone who needed them, for as soon as the books began appearing, people began to appear with them. Whether they showed interest in the Library or not, the scholars referred to these people as Readers and made them welcome.
Everything seemed to go perfectly.
Although there was commerce in the City of Liber, as the area surrounding the Library become known, the scholars provided many basic resources, such as food, clothing, and living space, for free. They engaged in trade with the more innocent realities, providing copies of books and whatever technology or magic best suited the reality in question. They also set up automated farms to the east of the city to grow necessary crops. Like the books, food and other necessaries also appeared on their own, whenever large amounts of new Readers appeared or if there was a poor crop. The realm seemed to respond to the needs of it's inhabitants, even granting small wishes, though never anything dangerous or anything that could not fit into a person's hands. No one went hungry.
Perfection is illusion.
After a time, things began to go wrong. Some scholars, both old ones and new recruits, became disenchanted with merely gathering knowledge and assisting the Readers. Knowledge is power and power is addictive. These scholars decided they deserved to rule, wanting to control not only Liber Omne Omnis and her city, but the inhabited worlds existing in the books. They saw the City of Liber as the shining capitol of a vast empire.
War came to the City of Liber.
The power hungry scholars became known as the Splinter Scholars and the others as the Teachers. The fighting was fierce, but the Readers, some of them with powers of their own, sided with the Teachers and the Splinter Scholars were driven into exile. They didn't leave empty-handed though. They took with them a few, precious books, portals to some of the darker realities. The Splinter Scholars fled to the north, establishing their own city. Though they have fewer resources than the City of Liber, they are a constant threat and source of danger, even generations later.
Other dangers also appeared, from within the Library itself.
Some realities are darker than others. Some are war torn. Others are places of the blackest magic. Some are host to creatures and beings to wake you shrieking in the middle of the night. The Library could be a great source of power, in the wrong hands, and their races and beings more than willing to take that power for themselves. Think of the villains and monsters from any story.
The Teachers knew they needed to protect the Library.
The Teachers appointed a guardian over the City of Liber and the Library...a Librarian. The Librarian does not rule, but is in charge of the defense of the City and Library. This Librarian is permitted to recruit anyone, Reader or other, who is willing to protect not only the City and Library, but the other realms, from those who might use the Library for evil. No one is forced, but many Readers find themselves protecting the City and Library. After all, if they don't, they will lose access to all those other worlds and, perhaps, be killed or enslaved.
And so it is.
Readers come and go, adventuring, trading, and living. The Librarian remains in office for life or until age and infirmity intervene. Then, a new Librarian is found, always someone with some extraordinary ability a certain strength of mind. So, Reader, be welcome here. Enjoy the opportunities offered, but be prepared for those who would use you and this place for their own ends.
In the ancient past, when many sentient races were still in their infancy, a group of scholars dedicated themselves to preserving all the knowledge of the universe. These men, women, and others, coming from some of the earliest space-faring peoples, went from world to world. There, they studied, gathered books, and learned the stories of the people of each planet, both rich and poor. Their numbers grew and they became masters of magic, science, literature, art, and every other intellectual pursuit. The scholar's leaders, a wise group, came to an important conclusion.
Everyone has a story and every story has importance.
The scholars decided to build a library, the largest in existence, determined to fill it with as much knowledge as they could get their hands on. Every book, record, story, and song possible would be gathered, catalogued, and preserved forever. No piece of knowledge was too small or ordinary to be included. There was only one problem.
Where to build?
The library was to be absolutely neutral, unaffected by both politics and commerce. No reader was to be turned away from it's halls. No truth was to be edited to suit the wealthy and powerful. Even building on a planet, within a system, was considered too great an act of partiality. The scholars consulted their mages, who created a great finding spell. The majority of the scholars gathered on a space station, where they had deposited their entire wealth of books and recordings. There, the mages cast their spell.
The space station disappeared from its home universe.
The scholars found themselves in a strange realm between the universes, a place where every universe and every reality met. A planet formed below them, with the space station in orbit. On the planet, realities continually shifted, but the scholars studied each one eagerly, learning ancient secrets and great technologies. They discovered how to pin each reality within the pages of an ordinary, blank book, carefully bound. Once tied to a reality, the book became nearly indestructible, impervious to decay, tearing, stains, and even fire. The book would also fill with either stories, history, or other facts.
The scholars began to build their great library.
The scholars created a beautiful series of buildings, enough to fill a small city. Soon, as if the realm read the scholar's intent, books began appearing on their own, increasing the knowledge available. Finally, the scholars learned that the books also served as portals, allowing the scholars to go from one reality to another. The scholars also created living areas-- beautiful apartment buildings, as well as single dwellings. The homes were available to anyone who needed them, for as soon as the books began appearing, people began to appear with them. Whether they showed interest in the Library or not, the scholars referred to these people as Readers and made them welcome.
Everything seemed to go perfectly.
Although there was commerce in the City of Liber, as the area surrounding the Library become known, the scholars provided many basic resources, such as food, clothing, and living space, for free. They engaged in trade with the more innocent realities, providing copies of books and whatever technology or magic best suited the reality in question. They also set up automated farms to the east of the city to grow necessary crops. Like the books, food and other necessaries also appeared on their own, whenever large amounts of new Readers appeared or if there was a poor crop. The realm seemed to respond to the needs of it's inhabitants, even granting small wishes, though never anything dangerous or anything that could not fit into a person's hands. No one went hungry.
Perfection is illusion.
After a time, things began to go wrong. Some scholars, both old ones and new recruits, became disenchanted with merely gathering knowledge and assisting the Readers. Knowledge is power and power is addictive. These scholars decided they deserved to rule, wanting to control not only Liber Omne Omnis and her city, but the inhabited worlds existing in the books. They saw the City of Liber as the shining capitol of a vast empire.
War came to the City of Liber.
The power hungry scholars became known as the Splinter Scholars and the others as the Teachers. The fighting was fierce, but the Readers, some of them with powers of their own, sided with the Teachers and the Splinter Scholars were driven into exile. They didn't leave empty-handed though. They took with them a few, precious books, portals to some of the darker realities. The Splinter Scholars fled to the north, establishing their own city. Though they have fewer resources than the City of Liber, they are a constant threat and source of danger, even generations later.
Other dangers also appeared, from within the Library itself.
Some realities are darker than others. Some are war torn. Others are places of the blackest magic. Some are host to creatures and beings to wake you shrieking in the middle of the night. The Library could be a great source of power, in the wrong hands, and their races and beings more than willing to take that power for themselves. Think of the villains and monsters from any story.
The Teachers knew they needed to protect the Library.
The Teachers appointed a guardian over the City of Liber and the Library...a Librarian. The Librarian does not rule, but is in charge of the defense of the City and Library. This Librarian is permitted to recruit anyone, Reader or other, who is willing to protect not only the City and Library, but the other realms, from those who might use the Library for evil. No one is forced, but many Readers find themselves protecting the City and Library. After all, if they don't, they will lose access to all those other worlds and, perhaps, be killed or enslaved.
And so it is.
Readers come and go, adventuring, trading, and living. The Librarian remains in office for life or until age and infirmity intervene. Then, a new Librarian is found, always someone with some extraordinary ability a certain strength of mind. So, Reader, be welcome here. Enjoy the opportunities offered, but be prepared for those who would use you and this place for their own ends.
