Alter Aeon The Great Library

Welcome to the Alter Aeon Historical Archive!

Note - as with any topic, researchers should question the reliability
and veracity of these texts.  The library's aim is to preserve
documents, not verify accuracy.

AABN:  48341
Title: the Quest for the Silver Halberd, part 11

The Quest for the Silver Halberd, part 11

by Sparity Ket, Captain of the Order of the White Knights

In the small study, they found a large oak desk standing in the southeast
corner of the room next to a solid but comfortable-looking chair. 
Bookshelves ran along one wall, holding books of all shapes and sizes.  A
vermilion rug lay across the center of the floor-dark stains have ruined
it, however.  An old tarnished suit of armor stood in the southwest corner,
and bits of broken weapons and armor were scattered around it.  A fine
player of dust covered everything, but strange, twisted footprints crisscro
ssed the soot and marked the recent passage of numerous inhuman creatures
throughout the area.

Of particular interest was a large opened book on the desk.  The pages were
yellowed with age and covered with dust.  A crimson bookmark lay across the
top page, indicating that the book had been opened to a passage of some
importance.

Jamarkas examined the stains, ascertaining that they were from blood, while
Silliriun picked through the broken pieces of weapons and armor, finding
nothing useful.  Kenwick wanted to look at the book on the desk, but Zorat
warned him against what might be an obvious trap.  The group moved on
through the doorway to the south, where they entered a decaying, ruined
library.

The walls were lined with bookshelves that were, in turn, filled with
books.  The volumes came in every shape and size, from crudely-bound
bundles of letters to ornate and impressive covers crafted of the finest
leather.  Without exception, however, the books had fallen victim to the
ravages of time.  Many are half-crumbled into dust, others are covered by a
fine layer of moss or mold, and some even appear to be have been the
victims of wanton vandalism.  A short sword was mounted on the south wall,
opposite of the entrance.

The party fanned out and started searching.  They found that most of the
volumes were worthless, however, there was one book that appeared to be
intact.  This book, in fact, was not a book at all, but some sort of metal
strongbox designed to look like a book.  Not knowing how to open the
booksafe, Justice forced it apart, revealing a collection of azure shards. 
They suspected it had been something delicate and valuable, but they
accidentally smashed it.