Private A Library for the Dead

[Matthew of Valendale]

Tags: Novac Lyrikal ​

Matthew had requested that Novac accompany him to an old site on Veridia, a place half-buried beneath history and stone.

The path there began where the gardens thinned, and walkways gave way to older steps that sank deep into the earth. The steps of the stone stairs, held centers that had been worn shallow by feet that had not crossed them in living memory. Above, the Veridian Jedi Temple's Academy rose up over the vista, new works having restored the ancient silhouette over the old shell of the Ashlanti Elysium

Below, roots as thick as pillars pressed through the walls in places along the entrance, accompanied by pale wisteria vines seeping through the cracks like the fingers of old hands folded in prayer. The temperature in the air dropped noticeably with every descending step further down, taking on the scent of minerals and water. Here and there, veins of crystal caught what little light their lanterns offered, turning it faintly in shimmering colors/

Matthew had chosen to dress practically for this little venture in the darkness below, carrying only a small lantern, and what they had expected to be an old access key. At the end of the darkened passage way stood two large doors to the archive.

It was clear this was not part of the modern Temple's records, nor bound to the safer libraries above, or even connected to any terminal that could be searched, copied, or cleansed from afar. The archive doors were carved from immense slabs of dark wood, their surfaces age-smoothed and banded in old metal. Remnants of Ashlanti monk markings had been cut deep into the frame, so deep that dust had settled within each groove like a thin veil of ash.

Matthew's gaze shifted over the sealed doors, lingering on the old markings and the worn alcoves along the stone walls. Then, at last, he glanced to @Novac Lyrika .

"This temple has stood dormant for centuries… possibly over a millennia," Matthew began, his voice low, as if he were reluctant to disturb the silence too greatly. "There are no traces of its former inhabitants. None that speak plainly, at least. And the nearby townsfolk seem to have little, if any, memory of this place at all."

His soft cerulean returned to the doors.

"Nothing within the buildings denotes any kind of struggle took place.... No desperate barricades, nor marks of conquest.... no real signs of panic left behind for us to read.... It is almost as if the whole society of people who once lived here simply… decided to disappear."

He let that thought hang briefly,

"We do not seem to know why any of this is. Nothing we have found has led us to such answers. And now, we discover there are parts of the temple still locked away from us."

Matthew's hand settled near the old access key, though he made no move to use it holding it up to show.

"If they left, and left some places open while sealing others shut… what possible reason could there have been? So I ask you plainly… do we venture inside? Or do we leave this old silence undisturbed? What do you think of all of this?"

 

[Novac Lyrikal]

The air had a sort of damp stone taste to it every time novac flicked his tongue out. It was a taste and smell he loved, reminded him of home back on the caves of butler's cove a little. The surrounding area reminded him of home as well, perhaps he'd stay here for a while after.

As he descended the stairs novac ran his left pair of hands along the walls and occasional root or patch of moss while he helf a lantern in his bottom right hand. This was the kind of place novac felt the most comfortable and calm. The forgotten history and architecture of places like this was fascinating to him. The explorer in him couldn't help but get more and more excited the closer they got to the doors.

The doors actually surprised novac a little. They where made of a beautiful wood that somehow stood the test of time. Though the metal of course helped with that.

Novac thought for a moment out loud after Matthew of Valendale spoke, "hm well if they've been gone for that long it'd make sense the townsfolk would forget about this place, probably not something many, if any, where allowed access to. No signs of a struggle is interesting to say the least, why abandon your home for seemingly no reason. Unless there was some other cause they knew they couldn't stop coming, though that seems more unlikely."

Novac stopped before turning to Matthew, "What really gets me is they left some places open. As if not caring if others came to explore of inhabit it. It either means they thought they might eventually return, or they knew they wouldn't and where ok with it. Although..was the access key hidden? If it wasn't that would raise more questions."

If they wanted this place hidden that sould make sense, could be knowledge they didn't want getting out or being used by the wrong hands. Then again there was no signs of someone attempting to get in so no one knew it was here, so if anyone knew about it, it most likely wasn't someone who wanted what was inside.

At Matthew's asking if they should open it or not novac stood there for a moment until speaking. "Personally I'd say to open it. Their could be a lot in there. Helpful knowledge, harmful knowledge, history of who once lived here, anything really. Theres a part of me that thinks back to the ssithers original home of jatee and how our history was lost. That part of me makes me want to find out if theres anything to learn of the previous inhabits. Though of course theres the potential of their being nothing about them inside."