Builders

*"Taking care of the construction of new hallways, rooms, and bookshelves are the Builders. Little is known about them, as few people know of their existence. They spend most of their time inside the unreachable Builder’s Hive in the Library’s Edge, and will stay well in the shadows whenever they do leave."*

*"Also, builders love wood."*

## Physical Description

It is theorized that Builders are a subspecies of Librarian, but little is actually known of them, as few people know of their existence.

Builders are shorter than Librarians and somewhat similar in appearance. They sport an insect-like body with a covered face, but the Builders have a more segmented body, are slightly thinner, and have more brown bodies. Builders are also slightly shorter than Librarians but taller than Silverfish. They have been observed to wear clothes crafted from wood, using wooden helmets or masks to hide their faces, in contrast to the Librarians' hoods and scarves.

## Behavior

Builders largely keep to themselves, usually staying within the Builders' Hive, only leaving to build more sections, or to repair shelves or walls within the Library. As they return from these excursions, they often take the opportunity to gather whatever wood scraps they can find, bringing it back to the Hive, to expand it or to craft into a new bookcase for the Library.

In their Hive, Builders are highly aggressive, and will attack anyone who enters. Builders will begin ambushing nearly simultaneously, this might indicate some sort of hive mind or magical connection between Builders. In the main Library, they prefer to be more stealthy and keep hidden, away from prying eyes. If a patron, by chance, manages to see one of the Builders in the open, the Builders will become aggressive and attack the patron. Builders will not kill patrons this way, but instead knock them out and try to drag them back to the Hive. The victims are very rarely seen again.

It is unknown if Builders sleep, or how long they live for. They do reproduce, but the methods are also unknown. Builders also eat wood from time to time. They kinda gnaw on it.

## Cultural Description

Builders live in a hive-society on the Library's Edge. Researches have suggested they share a connected mind, similar to that of an termite colony, but lacking a central queen figure. If any such figure existed, they must surely reside within the Builders' Hive, a messy pile of discarded wood and scraps, which the Builders almost never leave. Those explorers who have managed to find the Builders' Hive say it stretches around the perimeter of the Library, piled high enough to reach the ceiling.

Scattered across the Hive wall are holes as big as hallways that lead to maze-like corridors. These corridors are layered the same way as the wall of the Hive. Also connected to the corridors are fully built rooms of wood, disturbingly normal from the rest of the Hive. Corpse of victims caught and taken by Builders are often laid here.

## History

Not even the Librarians know where the Builders came from, but their purpose is clear. They must build, maintain, and expand the Library. There is infinite knowledge in the world and the Library must be big enough to hold it. It is up to the Builders to do this.

## Lore Intersection

Builders are there to build, maintain, and expand the Library. There is infinite knowledge in the universe and the Library must be big enough to hold it. Without the Builders, the Library will run out of room to hold the books and fall into disrepair (not really disrepair, Librarians are competent). They are also the source of major Library kidnappings and for the disappearance of wooden items.

The Builders were mainly created alongside the Library's Edge location, so vote for that one as well if you like the Builders.

## Behind the Scenes

* Initially proposed by ScottyMelons on December 17, 2020
* Heroforge Model