Library of Andreas

The Library of Andreas was one of the largest and most significant library in South-East Arlec, if not the world. It contained most of the history and scrolls from pre-400PR in the region, all lost when it was razed by the Cartons in **618PR** during the War of Revenge.

## History

The Library of Andreas was certainly not the first of its kind, but from its creation in around **200PR** it had become special. The reason was because of its powerful owner, the Ilakan Kingdom, a militarily strong and new nation that provided people of the region safety and comfort.

When scholars heard of this library and security they came in flocks, bringing scrolls and books for the building to hold safely and for them to share. Some of this inventory included books from the Second Era, discussing the various events that made the world what it was at that point.

At around **300PR** the library began expanding, needing more room for the scrolls it had for storage, and giving space for scholars to venture and study at the prestigious location. The Ilakans of course were happy to pay for this, believing that having so many intellectuals could only increase the prosperity of the nation. Later in the century, the first mentions of a head librarian began, showing that the library was reorganising itself to better apply its resources to the world.

## Research

At the library of Andreas, education and intelligence reigned supreme. Many of the new scientific technologies of the early ages were created at the library, helping improve the world dramatically. The only cost was that their original copy must be held at the museum as payment for using their resources that helped garner their fame.

In regards to the Second Era, the Library of Andreas is believed to hold accounts all throughout the timeline, going as early as mentions of the First Era. For older and original books, they were restricted, instead letting the respected scholars use copies in order to avoid any damage. Still, these were one-of-a-kind books, and were only housed and researched at the library.

Many other journals, studies and research was held at the library, mostly by the scholars that had spent most of their lives researching and studying.

## Destruction

In **618PR** the Ilakans were subject to a war declaration from the Carto Empire. Fielding an army the Ilakans valiantly fought but lost in the Battle of Kras, giving up their capital city where the library was held.

Out of revenge for the previous acts by the Ilakans done to the Cartons, hence the name for the War of Revenge, current Carton Emperor Aktis II called for his troops to raze the city. Once standing as a great icon of the 4th century, the Ilakan city stood no chance as its citizens were slaughtered or captured, while the city itself was burned and looted.

During the slaughter, fires broke out all through the city, spreading throughout and completing the Cartons objective. One of these buildings was the Library of Andreas, damaging the historical landmark beyond repair and destroying all scrolls and items inside.

When the city was finished, no ruins remained of the library, removed from where it stood, taking immeasurable amounts of world history with it.

## Legacy

Scholars have heavily criticised Aktis II and General Nilus for their actions with the library, robbing the world of an entire Era of history, and even worse, it’s identity. It is believed that so much was lost from the library that Arlec will eventually stagnate in its technology, unable to understand how things were originally invented and forced to reinvent it (thus wasting years of progression) to advance further.