Deltassius
The Library of Forbidden Words (A Figbarf)
Made for Brickscalibur's Magical Minifigures category. Rearranged the panels so it is possible to zoom the whole thing at least a little bit on Flickr.
Magic is wonderful, powerful, freeing. Any world inhabited by those who can wield the Great Powers is one of countless miracles big and small. Unfortunately magic is also dangerous. I do not mean those who would shape reality to be petty poisoners, thieves, supernatural confidence men. Magic's fundamental nature is one that distorts and rewrites reality to the user's whim, it comes with unique costs and dangers, and many of them are unknown even to those who use it regularly.
Any crystal sphere worth its salt will, of course, study and regulate the use of magic within its bounds, or else it risks accumulating endless tiny scars of improperly devised readings and ill-conceived rituals until it collapses and becomes another dark star ruled by the Absurd God of the Unreal Plane.
Preventing this end was the foundation of The Library of Forbidden Words. Its scholars and warriors tirelessly pursue the High Magics and those who would abuse them.
The Ordo Ex Libris, the martial order of wizarding knights supplies the garrison and rangers of the Library. Middling sorcerers typically fall into their ranks, challenging the dangers of the world by disciplining their body as well as their mind.
Fig. 1 Shows a Summoner of the Unreal, probably a minor wizard corrupted by incorrect and unprotected use of magic who has been replaced by a nightmare from the Unreal Planes. It is accompanied by typical minions, a Void Parasite attached to an unlucky peasant, a Polyp, and a less common Dark Jester. The Summoner has penetrated the tomb of some forgotten magus in search of artefacts of power, but has been intercepted by a team of questing knights bent on its destruction.
The Custodial Order of the Hammer and Torch is a confraternity primarily staffed by mundanes- those who cannot use magic or draw mana. These are hopeful but luckless students who fail to enroll in the Academy, but still find purpose in serving the Library.
Fig. 2 shows a working chamber of the Custodians in charge of processing the questing knight's latest haul. Heavy leaded armor and trunks protect them from the uncatalogued magics brought in from the field while the Veiled Lady (center) preforms and augury to determine if the item is safe to bring into the Library proper. Custodians stand at ready to destroy the figure with the iconic hammer and torch, while a phoenix trainer burns magical refuse unsuitable for further handling.
The Academy of Wizarding Sciences is the heart and purpose of the Library. These are high functioning wizards capable of channeling the mana required for advanced magics. They examine items brought in by the Ordo Ex Libris, conduct theoretical research into the magical arts, and produce the spells and weapons that arm the Library's expeditions. (And of course, they maintain the actual catalogue of books.)
Fig 3. shows a few scenes from around their campus. Left to right, a professor examines the corpse of a dark jester (fig.1) while a magical automaton (a "teacher's pet") takes notes. A understudy summons Ramiel, the Keeper of Secrets, from a higher plane to discuss the item with his master. The Archivist is out for a walk. A custodian manages an accident in a study hall.
The Sisterhood of the Sightless is the fourth and final group inhabiting the Library. Their sisterhood pre-dates the establishment of the Library proper, inhabiting a small abbey that would go on to be expanded and fortified to the current structure. The Sisterhood maintains a secretive vault containing artefacts, writings, and even prisoners too powerful or valuable to be destroyed after the Academy has finished its work. To this end, they swear an oath of sightlessness, and wear ceramic masques that block their vision so that they may never know what they have placed within the vault except for the number and location listed in a braille catalogue they maintain.
Fig. 4 shows the Abbess and a sister preparing to enter the vault with the item. The Abbess carries the key that will allow the Gatekeeper to permit their entry, as well as a magical anti-lantern that obscures their movements to outside eyes and scrying magics. Also notable are the ornamented wrought iron golems that flank the halls in this area, who serve as both servants and guards to the sisters.
The Library of Forbidden Words (A Figbarf)
Made for Brickscalibur's Magical Minifigures category. Rearranged the panels so it is possible to zoom the whole thing at least a little bit on Flickr.
Magic is wonderful, powerful, freeing. Any world inhabited by those who can wield the Great Powers is one of countless miracles big and small. Unfortunately magic is also dangerous. I do not mean those who would shape reality to be petty poisoners, thieves, supernatural confidence men. Magic's fundamental nature is one that distorts and rewrites reality to the user's whim, it comes with unique costs and dangers, and many of them are unknown even to those who use it regularly.
Any crystal sphere worth its salt will, of course, study and regulate the use of magic within its bounds, or else it risks accumulating endless tiny scars of improperly devised readings and ill-conceived rituals until it collapses and becomes another dark star ruled by the Absurd God of the Unreal Plane.
Preventing this end was the foundation of The Library of Forbidden Words. Its scholars and warriors tirelessly pursue the High Magics and those who would abuse them.
The Ordo Ex Libris, the martial order of wizarding knights supplies the garrison and rangers of the Library. Middling sorcerers typically fall into their ranks, challenging the dangers of the world by disciplining their body as well as their mind.
Fig. 1 Shows a Summoner of the Unreal, probably a minor wizard corrupted by incorrect and unprotected use of magic who has been replaced by a nightmare from the Unreal Planes. It is accompanied by typical minions, a Void Parasite attached to an unlucky peasant, a Polyp, and a less common Dark Jester. The Summoner has penetrated the tomb of some forgotten magus in search of artefacts of power, but has been intercepted by a team of questing knights bent on its destruction.
The Custodial Order of the Hammer and Torch is a confraternity primarily staffed by mundanes- those who cannot use magic or draw mana. These are hopeful but luckless students who fail to enroll in the Academy, but still find purpose in serving the Library.
Fig. 2 shows a working chamber of the Custodians in charge of processing the questing knight's latest haul. Heavy leaded armor and trunks protect them from the uncatalogued magics brought in from the field while the Veiled Lady (center) preforms and augury to determine if the item is safe to bring into the Library proper. Custodians stand at ready to destroy the figure with the iconic hammer and torch, while a phoenix trainer burns magical refuse unsuitable for further handling.
The Academy of Wizarding Sciences is the heart and purpose of the Library. These are high functioning wizards capable of channeling the mana required for advanced magics. They examine items brought in by the Ordo Ex Libris, conduct theoretical research into the magical arts, and produce the spells and weapons that arm the Library's expeditions. (And of course, they maintain the actual catalogue of books.)
Fig 3. shows a few scenes from around their campus. Left to right, a professor examines the corpse of a dark jester (fig.1) while a magical automaton (a "teacher's pet") takes notes. A understudy summons Ramiel, the Keeper of Secrets, from a higher plane to discuss the item with his master. The Archivist is out for a walk. A custodian manages an accident in a study hall.
The Sisterhood of the Sightless is the fourth and final group inhabiting the Library. Their sisterhood pre-dates the establishment of the Library proper, inhabiting a small abbey that would go on to be expanded and fortified to the current structure. The Sisterhood maintains a secretive vault containing artefacts, writings, and even prisoners too powerful or valuable to be destroyed after the Academy has finished its work. To this end, they swear an oath of sightlessness, and wear ceramic masques that block their vision so that they may never know what they have placed within the vault except for the number and location listed in a braille catalogue they maintain.
Fig. 4 shows the Abbess and a sister preparing to enter the vault with the item. The Abbess carries the key that will allow the Gatekeeper to permit their entry, as well as a magical anti-lantern that obscures their movements to outside eyes and scrying magics. Also notable are the ornamented wrought iron golems that flank the halls in this area, who serve as both servants and guards to the sisters.