Ark Archives

# in-character .

ARCHIVE . Part a library, part a bookstore, part a makerspace, part a shop of odd tools and trinkets, Ark Archives situates itself on the boundaries of Emperyum, offering unique respite to anyone who passes through its doors. Created by an elusive proprietor known as "Markov" (who supposedly has never shown his face in the building itself), Ark Archives is maintained by its small handful of archivists, its seemingly never ending supply of tea and snacks, and its numerous playful "ghost" mammets that help whoever walks into Ark's halls.
But despite its odd collection of staff, Ark Archives strives for two goals: the preservation and spread of knowledge - no matter how strange, and the creation of tools - no matter how odd.

BOOKS . A primary part of Ark Archives is its collection of books offered to anyone who steps through its doors. While only a number books are able to be purchased outright, a far wider selection can be temporarily borrowed for free, akin to a library.
Archive "cards" are freely provided in the form of bracelets, tracked to the user's aether. The books remain protected with powerful spells crafted by the owner themselves to prevent theft and track down the stray overdue book.
In addition, copies of certain parts of tomes may be obtained for free or a small fee, bound into small handmade books of paper, string, and glue.However, not every book in the Archive's shelves can be so easily accessed and its numerous books are sorted into three general classifications by the ghost mammets. To find something, all one needs to do is ask one of the archivists or the ghosts that room Ark's halls.

TOOLS & ODDITIES. While Ark Archives is mainly known for its collection of books, the archivists themselves often have a variety of skills to share. Ark sells tools and items that may be harder to find in Ishgard, offering custom orders to those inspired or wishing for something unique. In addition, house calls are offered and payment may be gil or something else like books, artifacts, or goods.

STAFF. Ordered by seniority.
Owner: Markov
Archivists: Erra ❖ Kreide ❖ "Playwright" ❖ Lua
Artificers: Erra ❖ Saryn ❖ Kreide

# out-of-character .

CONTACT . To get in contact with the writer, feel free to either leave a message in the estate itself or contact the following characters:
Khada Laxan - Balmung
Kreide Calais - Balmung
Or feel free to reach out to @melafyre on discord.OPEN SPACE . Popup events may only happen randomly (as this is maintained by one person OOC) but outside of events, the estate is considered an open roleplay space. Come have characters hang out, chill, and gpose!LORE COMPLIANCE . Please feel free to have characters borrow or copy books as needed, but note that most books outside of common knowledge or anything lorebending will likely require a special request and can't be accessed without permission. While Ark Archives may offer odd books freely to the public (like niche bookstores), anything that could be considered questionably illegal or hard-to-obtain is likely restricted to some degree.SFW ACTIONS ONLY . While characters may borrow and/or copy books with NSFW content (and Ark Archives does stock NSFW books), please keep all public roleplay in Ark Archives SFW.

**# general . **

Commonplace books, journals, research papers, tabloids, and fictional novels. Books are often provided in almost any common language and usually contain information collected in the last Astral Eras.
Copies may be requested for free or a small fee and books borrowed or even bought without any restriction or archivist permission.

**# uncommon . **

Unusual novels, old or previously banned books, difficult-to-acquire tomes detailing often forgotten or past events. May include personal accounts or information that may have been attempted to be suppressed. Also includes folk tales, occult knowledge, or esoteric study.
Borrowing and/or copies of books may be permitted with archivist approval, sometimes with restrictions.

**# restricted . **

Highly inaccessible, illicit, or dangerous books held in the sealed section of Ark Archives. These tomes can be only accessed with approval from an archivist or the owner, depending on the request.
Borrowing is not permitted and only sections of these books may be copied - if at all.
What does the sealed section contain in its entirety? Only the owner and the ghosts know.

  ❝ History of Eorzea .   . . . — author: various. Information involving the history of Eorzea, its numerous city-states, starting from the Sixth Astral Era up until modern day. Copies of contents provided for free .  ❝ Ishgardian Herald .   . . . — author: various. An Ishgardian tabloid (of questionable reputation) bringing the latest Ishgardian news .  ❝ Introductory Readings for Lambs of the Eighth Star: Volume I .   . . . — author: Osk Asterius. *A slim, hand-sewn manuscript about the thickness of a midlander's finger. It has a soft, aldgoat hide cover for lightweight carry, and protects the pages within. Carries introductory information of the Seven and information about the Eighth Star. Copies may be bought for a fee.  ❝ King of the Rings .   . . . — author: Tolvien. A fictional epic set in the Fifth Astral Era of a lalafell journey to destroy a cursed Mhachi ring .  ❝ The Joy of Limsan Cooking .   . . . — author: Limsa Lominsa Culinary Guild. A book detailing the basics of cooking, complete with classical Limsan dishes .

  ❝ The Void: Starter's Guide .   . . . — author: Q. An encyclopedia detailing the Void and voidsent habits, origins, and common varieties. Includes some named voidsent and a bit of vague information about Contramemoria.  ❝ Creations from the City of Goug .   . . . — author: various. A variety of documentation detailing non-military projects created for the Ivalician Empire, including details on their clockwork techniques.  ❝ Journals of an Amdaporian .   . . . — author: ellion. A personal biography of an elezen who lived in one of the cities of the nation of Amdapor, detailing daily life and changes brought about the War of the Magi.  ❝ A Minstrel's Ballad .   . . . — author: the wandering minstrel. Highly detailed, yet questionably accurate depictions of the grand battles fought by Meteor, the Warrior of Light, written in song. Accuracy pending.  ❝ A Traveler's Guide to Alexandria .   . . . — author: unknown. Information about Alexandria and Solution 9, including points of interest and the Arcadion.

  ❝ Pandemonium: An Archive .   . . . — author: unknown. An encyclopedia archive written in Amaurotian containing information of the creatures held in Pandemonium, complete with pictures and sealed with magic .  ❝ [kithain] .   . . . — author: Ovid. Various information archives regarding a strange factory located in Kholusia and a experiemental project involving fifty pseudo-eikons and their effect on despair-based dynamis .  ❝ Log 5392: Omega .   . . . — author: Meriope. An Allagan-era log regarding the discovery, study, and deployment of anti-primal weapon designated as Omega .

  ❝ journal kit .   . . . — 2000 gil︱ Ark Archives' specialty! An enchanted pen to never run out of ink and a journal that never runs out of pages, with parts easily removable on command. Waterproof, fireproof, practically indestructible. Leather cover may be customized upon request.  ❝ specialty inks .   . . . — 50-500 gil︱ Fountain or dip pen inks provided, made in-house by the owner. Price variable depending on color and additions. Comes in standard, glitter, metallic, archival, multicolored, and enchanted. Custom inks made upon request.  ❝ paper .   . . . — 50 gil per 100 sheets︱ Handmade paper offered in 50, 100, or 150 gsm. Available loose leaf or in notebook form with glue binding.  ❝ bookmarks .   . . . — 100 gil︱ Handcrafted brass and silver bookmarks made by archivist Kreide Calais. Solid rectangle or pendulum design. Custom designs made upon request.  ❝ bookbinding kit .   . . . — 1000 gil︱ All the tools necessary to create ten tomes, complete with a small leather satchel. All tools are handmade in-house. Locks, enchantments, and customizations provided upon request.

  ❝ holy water .   . . . — donation of 50 gil if possible︱ Made by archivist Kreide, bottled in crystal vials. Good for blessing any threshold, burning away ashkin, voidsent, or vilekin, or utilized as any purified water. May come with a spray bottle top or in a spray can as requested. Note that if used to spray on miqo'te, Ark Archives are not responsible for any consequences occurred by the user.  ❝ yarn .   . . . — 20 gil per skein︱ Provided in karakul wool, cotton, linen, or silk varieties. Custom dyed colors on request.  ❝ wool blankets & clothing .   . . . — 100 gil︱ Warm and cozy. Spun from 100% karakul wool. May be dyed in any color. The following clothing articles are provided: scarves, ponchos, sweaters, mittens, socks, hats.  ❝ rope .   . . . — 100 gil︱ Skeins of handmade hempen rope, offered in 15, 30, 50, and custom fulm lengths. Treated and coiled in-house. Silk rope provided at double the price.  ❝ knives .   . . . — 500 gil︱ Handcrafted steel or silver knives made by archivist Kreide Calais. Amdaporian bladesmithing. Folding or fixed blade designs offered. Custom designs made upon request.

  ❝ marlin spike .   . . . — 1000 gil︱ Forged from cold iron, polished to a shine. Outfitted with old Amdaporian designs. Good for unraveling knots. May also double as a temporary stake or piton in a pinch.  ❝ flintlock pistols .   . . . — 50,000 gil︱ Handcrafted utilizing steel, engraved with sanctified ebony and silver. Outfitted with a mechanism to allow for up to three bullets chambered at a time. Silencer provided for an additional fee. Customization offered for an additional fee.  ❝ silver bullets .   . . . — 500 gil︱ Sold in packs of twenty. Crafted with pure silver, magically reinforced to prevent unnecessary deformation. Blessed for increased potency against voidsent or other creatures of the night.  ❝ wooden stakes .   . . . — 100 gil︱ Pack of three oak wooden stakes, polished and resin coated for maximum durability, each two fulms in length. Good for fences, pitons, or whatever a stake is necessary for. Iron stakes provided for 200 gil.  ❝ lockpicking set .   . . . — 500 gil︱ Crafted from cold iron, wrapped in a leather sheath, reinforced by the owner's enchantments for durability. Includes a pick and several standard hooks.  ❝ medical kit .   . . . — 200 gil︱ Full set of bandages, needles, sutures, and strange other tools found nowhere else that'll help set any wound from cuts to shattered bones, no magic needed. Does not come with pain killers.

  ❝ potions .   . . . — price negotiable︱ Standard and custom potions created by Archivist Saryn. Standard potions include: eyedrops, gold needles, echo drops, healing potions, etc. for 50 gil. Custom potions must be requested beforehand and approved before making.  ❝ bottle of salt .   . . . — 5 gil︱ Standard salt. Very salty. Harvested from Lominsan waters and purified in-house. Comes in pink, black, or white varieties.  ❝ soap .   . . . — 5 gil︱ Comes in bars or liquid form in bottles. Unscented or lavender.  ❝ bottle of bleach .   . . . — 50 gil︱ It basically disinfects anything you could ever want. Also good for cleaning rust. Don't ask how it's made.  ❝ bottle of slime .   . . . — 10 gil︱ It's gooey. Harvested weekly. Used primarily for alchemical reagants, but good as glue in a pinch. Not for consumption.  ❝ bottle of light aether .   . . . — 3000 gil︱ Pure light, holy-aligned, umbral aether captured in a bottle. Glows in hand and produces a large flash and a small explosion when thrown. Larger varieties may be provided at an additional fee.  ❝ bottle of void aether .   . . . — 5000 gil︱ Void aether captured in a bottle, kept stable by the owner's enchantments. Produces a cloud of void aether when released. Seller is not responsible for any damages upon breaking.  ❝ ectoplasm .   . . . — 500 gil︱ Freshly harvested from soulkin, cleaned, and ready for use. A staple for any alchemical reagent.