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A surreal cavern city inhabited by Symenestra where stones glow and streets are reams of silk. Cocoon like structures hang between stalactites and cascade over limestone flows in organic and eerie arabesques. Without a Symenestra willing to escort you, entrance is impossible.
“Knowledge grants power, but what does power grant? Victory.” – Avadon Hyacinth
A visit to the Cribellum is the obligation of every Symenestra returning from abroad, and a common stopping point for surrogates on their way to the Nest.
The Cribellum is the depository for the accumulated knowledge of the Symenestra people. While their history and bloodlines are kept amongst the dead or the tapestries of the gathering hall, their working knowledge of the world is dutifully recorded in ledgers divided by subject matter. These tomes are a collective journal or report of any knowledge that might prove useful or entertaining.
Anyone can add to the ledgers, but a careful reader considers the source and reads the entirety of the subject’s entry, which is sometimes spread over several volumes. Later authors may contradict, affirm or explain one another’s contributions. Each author uses different color ink than the one who left off before him and dates and signs his various entries. The librarian helps guide the writers as to where their knowledge should be categorized, furnishing them with the proper inks and quills all the while. A single visitor may contribute to over ten subjects and use about three colors of ink.
When the entries begin to show signs of wear, the current librarian will copy them anew, sometimes deleting information that has been clearly refuted by at least three independent sources. While the work is tedious, it educates the librarian on a host of matters, making him one of the most informed members of the community.
The librarian is also the scribe for any non-Symenestra who chooses or is compelled to contribute knowledge. These contributors are primarily surrogates on their way to the Nest. It is a common tactic for women to be told they are wanted in Kalinor merely to relate knowledge of their culture and environs. Some of these cases are released after contributing to the Cribellum so they may spread the rumor that the Harvest is purely intellectual.
In cases of particularly learned persons of either gender, the intellectual "Harvest" is genuine. But these instances are extraordinarily rare.
NPCs:
Secret :
Dra-Nesyria Plicata Occupation: Librarian Age: 34
Dra-Nesyria was the product of a love affair between Denosia Plicata and a Vantha merchant. Her relationship with Denosia’s mate, Solanir, was tenuous at best, and at fifteen she left Kalinor with stars in her eyes for a better future. She found herself in Lhavit; being an exotic novelty, Dra-Nesyria caught the attention of Madame Belladonna and the Red Lantern, the town’s only brothel. There, she worked, made acquaintances, and repeat customers. One man took a particular liking to her, and managed to see her every night; there could be no doubt when she became swollen with child. Dra-Nesyria carried the infant to term and abandoned it without a second thought, returning to Kalinor and her Web as soon as she was healthy enough to travel. She now cares for Vesirio in her mother’s absence and maintains her usefulness as a librarian, sifting through and editing pages of information for the Cribellum.
Dra-Nesyria is sour-faced and snarky at the best of times. She is dutiful to her job and her family, but resents returning to the cavern town because she cannot rightfully leave.
Calvino Amaranthus Occupation: Librarian Age: 73 Calvino has been the all-important harvester of knowledge in The Cribellum for decades. He has dedicated his life to the accumulation, organization and preservation of facts. Looking through stories that may or may not be factual, he shrewdly compares and extracts veritable information, transcribing them into a collection of knowledge.
Reputed to be reclusive and calculating, Symenestra seeking knowledge within his domain head there knowing they will be scrutinized carefully as they browse. Calvino's books are his life, and guards them thusly. He is not a cruel miser, rather, a protective father.
The sage has been known to dabble in music and art. Occasionally, he illustrates concepts within his books. And some nights, it is possible to hear the hum of a violin's song emanating from the secluded repository.
His first name means "bald" in Italian. His last name is the first word in "amaranthus caudatus" which is a densely-packed, bright-red flower that droops downwards. It is commonly called "love-lies-a'bleeding."
[Insert awesome picture of scantily clad woman and something with wings here] Feeling very poorly lately, have mercy on your absentee merbadger. (2/20/13)
