The Bookkeeper

The Endless Librarian of Knowledge

> "*I simply* must *have a copy! As Letailias says in* The Clockwork Mind*: a glimmer past the eye leaves no mark, the glimmer of a thought unfilled shall leave a hole for all eternity.*"
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**The Bookkeeper** is a mysterious wanderer of the mortal world, and by the modern era the longtime librarian of the Alam-Reth Guild. His position as seniormost remaining member of the Alam-Reth Guild renders The Bookkeeper as de-facto leader of The Hourparty, although he prefers his stated position as keeper of the Guild Library. Appearing in various locations through various points of history, The Bookkeeper's origin is mysterious, and way of resurrection even more so. However, he is a kindly and well hearted man, devoted to learning, preserving, and sharing knowledge of any kind. He possesses a grand and growing library of books, always willing to teach the young the knowledge he holds, while eagre to learn that which he does not.

## History

When, where, and how The Bookkeeper first appeared in Tasyurai is unknown, at least to all save Bookkeeper himself. He is recorded to have subsequently appeared throughout history in many varying locales, always the same age and always in the pursuit of a regions knowledge--particularly books. Yet The Bookkeeper seems to fade out of history as suddenly as he arrives, passing into legend over centuries before suddenly reappearing. Each incarnation is, in some way, unique. Although they possess all the same appearance, temperaments, equipment, and abilities of their predecessors, each Bookkeeper's own memory is their own, and their knowledge of their past forms consigned to memoirs within their library.

Many ages ago, when the Alam-Reth Guild was first founded, one incarnation of The Bookkeeper arrived at the bustling city of Alam-Reth. There, intrigued by the guild of adventurers, The Bookkeeper offered his services. In a simple agreement The Bookkeeper would become librarian and record-keeper of the guild, in return for gaining access to all the juicy tidbits of lost lore the adventurers invariably dug up. Unlike his previously random appearances throughout Tasyurai, subsequent incarnations of The Bookkeeper have retained their role in the Alam-Reth Guild into the modern day. Now, as most of the original guild has become merely memory, The Bookkeeper is the last remaining member of seniority.

## Abilities

While physically a frail old man, The Bookkeeper's immense arcane knowledge proves an incredibly potent obstacle for all enemies in the field. Drawing from an obscene list of memorized cantrips and multiple tomes full of complex spells, there is few a situation that The Bookkeeper does not have magic ready to fix. Moreover, his intuitive knowledge of spellcasting is so thorough that he can alter the composition of spells while casting, most famously being able to transform the flames of a fireball into other elements. Among The Bookkeeper's other staple spells are magic shields, transmogrifications, elemental summons, counterspells, divinations, wards, portals and many others.

While now known as such, The Bookkeeper did not actually set out to become a wizard. It was merely a side effect of the eons of knowledge of which he has procured. Indeed many spellbooks are housed within his library and The Bookkeeper claims to have memorized them all. Yet outside of the vast magical abilities a scholarly approach to the arcane can yeild, The Bookkeeper possesses some other more intrinsic abilities. He is able to communicate telepathically with nearby creatures and read all writing, regardless of if he'd encountered either's language prior. He can also unveil his true, divine, form. In this state his eyes glow like bright white stars and glowing wings rise from his back. Thus he can fly and empower his spells further with divine energy.

## Personality

The Bookkeeper is generally kind and prefers to stay out of conflict. At least in the centuries where he has acted as librarian, he has assumed a grandfatherly presence at the guild. He is always interested in the youth, eager to learn what innovations that offer while shoring up the young'ns with a well-read schooling. Incredibly hard to rouse to anger, or really any other severe emotion, The Bookkeeper deals with adverse situations with a calm calculated approach. With his wealth of knowledge it is rare to catch him off guard, and should it happen a thoroughly robust amount of research will ensure it may not happen again. Until recently, when he has been forced into action by the dwindling guild membership, The Bookkeeper prefers to maintain a passive stance, recording history as it occurs but not directly engaging within it. He is foremost a researcher, a watcher and collector, content to learn of other's successes rather than seek glory for himself. Nonetheless, when the situation demands, The Bookkeeper is fully willing to put his frail body on the line, especially against forces that threaten the pursuit of knowledge and the existence of the natural world.

## Relationships

A generally amicable individual, The Bookkeeper seems to keep positive relations with most that he meets. He exact connection to the past members of the Alam-Reth Guild are unknown, past that he was good friends with an individual who wore a breastplate and another who wielded a shield. The Bookkeeper specifically mentions these old friends when equipping their associated gear in preparation to search out stardust for the Stardust Hourglass. In modern times he is well respected by the other members of The Hourparty and seems to respect them equally in turn. The Bookkeeper particularly assumes a fatherly (or grandfatherly) position to Naoi, who he uncovered in ancient ruins alongside the Stardust Hourglass. His friendship with Argerax seems to go back further, as the Wild Hunter's long presence in the Iron Circle has led to a number of interactions between various Bookkeeper incarnations over the ages.

The Bookkeeper was in some minimal contact with Storyteller for a time, and while they came to no agreements, neither seems to view the other negatively.

As a summoner of high order, The Bookkeeper oversees a number of familiars, elemental spirits, and magical attendants. Most notable are his owl familiar Essebu and earth elemental Eon. Although they serve him The Bookkeeper treats these entities with respect, even those with dubious sentience, something he affords to Naoi as well.

## Items

Within his library demiplane The Bookkeeper has come to hoard many rare items over the years. Among his personal objects is the Tome of the Arcane Librarian, a book that has seemingly always been within his possession and which contains the spell that opens a portal to his library. For spellcasting The Bookkeeper always carries three tomes: An Awakened Spellbook, a Book of Shadows, and a Ritual Book. Additionally, during Stardust Hourglass he equipped a breastplate and shield formerly owned by adventurers of the Alam-Reth Guild from some time ago.

While The Bookkeeper has hinted at many other rare and potentially dangerous items (particularly books) stored safely within his library, The Stardust Hourglass is one of the greatest yet known. He was also in possession of a number of artifacts that were given to the fellow members of The Hourparty when they departed Alam-Reth. These include the Eye of Isaiah, Odele’s Songsword, Dust of N'landroshien, and The Amber Picturebook. Whatever else is contained within the library, The Bookkeeper has shown a willingness to see them destroyed rather than fall into unworthy hands. And while he despises the eradication of knowledge, he understands that certain things are best not known by any besides himself. Thus he has gone so far as to prepare the destruction of his library should the security of that held within become jeopardized.

Among the prize of his collection The Bookkeeper contains a number of exceedingly rare and important books. First among these was A Quite Complete Compendium for the Chronomanteia of the Component Corporeality and the Cordon of Continuation, one which The Bookkeeper owned the only known copy. At some point the Compendium acquired by The Harlequin Tale-Teller, who took on the guise of "The Bookkeeper's Attendant", and it no longer resides within his library.

## Trivia

* Although The Bookkeeper has never given a proper name beside his mysterious title, while invoking a spell of divination against Nill in Stardust Hourglass, he refers to himself as Isaiah.
* The Bookkeeper seems to hold some relationship with the stars and circular cycles, as he references both with a certain level of reverence.
* The Bookkeeper is the narrator of A Thousand for One Night.