Errant Lostbelt no. ???
Time: ??? ??
Lost Depth: EX
They say “Every person is a book, every year a chapter.
”If so, all of existence is a library, many chapters lost in time.
And yet, all books must be finished, all tales must come to an end.
It falls upon us to gather these stories and remember them in turn.
Endless halls and bottomless shelves.
A dozen heads holding a portion of vaulted wisdom.
Pages and shades aflutter, a grand testament to their goals.
And yet, the halls are forever silent, all life absent.
So if you may, honored guests, keep your eyes peeled until the very end.
For a wondrous performance such as this is rare indeed.
~ ~ ~
Errant Lostbelt no. ???
Mobile Archivical Complex ~ ALEXANDRIA
Book, Librarian, Star, and City
Divergence Point: 272 AD
Location: Alexandria, Egypt
King: ????????????
Crypter: ????
Fantasy Tree: Hydra
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History:
The Library of Alexandria. Its destruction has been lamented for ages. For the heart of Western Civilization’s intellect to burn down in the fires of conflict, supposedly sending mankind’s progress back 500 years as a result. So perhaps, in a faraway possibility where its knowledge should have survived, one wouldn’t doubt that mankind would have aimed for the Sea of Stars so long ago.
But through a desperate phenomenon, a chance encounter, the Library survived, untouched by incineration. It was the work of its last Chief Librarian Eratosthenes, who unearthed ancient records of rituals and mysteries. Through the collective work of his contemporaries, the Library was carried into Imaginary Number Space, safe from all harm.
With such a ritual developed, it wasn’t long before much of the world’s scholars desperately offered their books and records. Hoping to preserve their knowledge in this impregnable fortress, the Library rapidly expanded beyond its normal size, eventually becoming mankind’s pillar of civilization. Under the watch of Alexandria, Greece was propelled as the leading superpower, their technology now aiming for the Sea of Stars.
- - And yet.
The Lostbelt is devoid of life, with naught but a grand complex filled with books and shelves. The empty skies flutter with errant pages, flying over buildings of all ages, built from materials possible and impossible melding together. Not to mention Eratosthenes’ very existence, who had long since passed prior to Alexandria’s fall.
There are too many contradictions, too many enigmas. Nothing about this makes sense.
Something about this Lostbelt must be- - - -
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“‘ALEXANDRIA?’ A false moniker given by my Librarians, nothing more. Perhaps referencing its unrivaled repository of knowledge. Or merely childish means of rebellion. I care not. Still, to have pierced the veil so quickly; that alone is to be commended.
“Pay heed, for you are before the King of Knowledge, the one who observes all as the Reader, the Divine Eye - - the ‘Will of the World.’
“As of this moment, however, I welcome you not as King but Chief Librarian.
I, the Sire of Ashur, Master of the Four Corners, Ashurbanipal, welcomes you- - -“
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Errant Lostbelt no. ???
Multidimensional Harvester Archive ~ Aššurbaniapliim
Book, Librarian, Star, and City
Divergence Point: 643 BC
Location: Nineveh, Assyria
King: Ashurbanipal
Crypter: None
Fantasy Tree: Hydra
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History (True):
It was all initially for dominion.
In a quest to gather all the land’s wisdom and mystics, there wasn’t anything Ashurbanipal would do. Men were slaughtered, and Kings were brought to heel. From the ashes of the subjugated, he gathered rituals, divination, and various other works. It wasn’t long before his interest of Mystics became a fascination with knowledge. Expanding onto the field of literature and instructions, it wasn’t long before his fabled Library became known across the Crescent.
But in this “Failed Possibility,” the King of Wisdom found the greatest text of all.
Against the strands of fate, against all possibility, from the ruins of Enlil’s temple did Ashurbanipal recover the Tablet of Destinies. The ultimate mark of Sovereignty, long thought lost after the Age of Gods faded.
Using its fabled prophecies, the Assyrian King foresaw his nation’s future ruin. To prevent this, Ashurbanipal dug through his archives to weave Nineveh into an intangible state through Imaginary Number Space. And with the Tablet, the King carved across the Fertile Crescent - - all to gather more knowledge to cement his reign as the King of All.
With such a disruption of Man holding the reins of the World, it was no wonder this possibility was removed from the Greater Human History.
But then, a Fantasy Seed planted itself onto this World.
- -And through the Alien God’s designs, time began to turn once more.
Given the second chance via the simulated history, Ashurbanipal continued with his quest for all the world’s knowledge. Throughout the ages he would appear from the depths of Imaginary Numbers, reaping various nexus of knowledge for himself. The House of Wisdom. Library of Pergamum. Takshashila. None were spared from his collection. Before long, Nineveh was no longer a city, but a colossal library containing the knowledge of countless ages and civilizations.
And yet - -
The accursed Fantasy Tree, now grown from within his Library, stretches skyward as if mocking the King’s situation. No matter how much he asserts his rule, this otherworldly “Tree” serves as a cruel reminder of the Alien God’s hold upon this world.
Knowing any attempt to remove said Tree would lead to their Denial, Ashurbanipal attempted to find anything in his records that can lead somewhere, but to no avail. It seems that the “Fantasy Tree” was truly not of this world- -
And thus struck a terrible inspiration.
With the help of his Librarians and the aid of their records, they devised a means to “Translate” matter into digestible information. A ritual on the level of reenacting Genesis, unmaking and remaking the world in one turn. A miracle of destruction and recreation, governed by recreating the tale foretold in the Tablet.
“The Depths and Skies have been emptied, their Gods long disappeared.
And yet, I shall be the Lone Star that watches Mankind.
Now, with their time nearing its end, I deign to close this grand tale.
Through primal swirl, may this be the epilogue.
Resign to instrumentation:
Enûma Eliš!
“O’ King, Let the Star of Observation Seal this Earth!”
It was in a moment - - a moment that stretched forever - - which the world was unmade and remade again. How the air and land were torn asunder, revealing a vast chasm showing the “Truth of the Beginning” before vanishing. And yet, there was no true creation, no rebirth.
There was naught but a silent flutter of pages and books, falling into the lifeless earth.
A resounding success.
Now turning his attention to other worlds, Ashurbanipal began to seek out failed timelines such as his - - be it a realized utopia or a wasted hellscape, there must be a means to remove the infernal Tree from his realm.
Though the nature of a Lostbelt has pinned the Library to the world, Ashurbanipal easily bypassed this in sending the Branches across Imaginary Number Space, allowing him to intrude upon other failed timelines to convert into knowledge - - for these “Failed Histories” cannot continue, “stories” that can only be closed and published.
And so continues the King’s quest to sever himself from the God’s shackles, sacrificing dying worlds and expanding the Library’s halls across his lifeless land.
For the sake of the “One True Book,” the one that shall release him from its shackles- -
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Rosters:
Ally:
-Seshat (Caster)
Main Ally of the Lostbelt, manifested under her Authority as the Goddess of Writing and Record-Keeping. Appalled at the Librarians’ practices, she nonetheless remained in hiding via her Per-Akhn Noble Phantasm. As the Keeper of Humanity’s Collective Knowledge, Seshat is perhaps a major help for the MC against the inhuman Librarians.
-William Shakespeare (Caster)
Companion of the MC as they leave the Shadow Border. Sensing a great potential of a story, he snuck out to follow them. Seeing the infinite library for himself, he is positively shaking with joy. Though of questionable reliability before the Librarians, he plays an important role in the Literature Branch and the Metaphysics Branch… Nevertheless, there is a tale to write out, a struggle in an Archive of Worlds.
-Helena Blavatsky (???)
“Servants” of this Lostbelt, not summoned by the Counter Force or the Throne, but rather by the Librarian of Metaphysics as his “Assistants” - - Less of a spirit and more of multiple records/data composed into a Saint Graph, the hundreds of Blavatsky clones managed to regain sentience and rebelled against him. Located all across the Library, “Rogue Anthology PETROVNA” is a regular ally; for every one that felled, two more will stand tall!
-Harun al-Rashid (Saber)
Servant summoned into the Lostbelt after the MC use one of the stolen Grails created by the Librarian of Metaphysics. A hybrid of his historical legend and his iteration in the 1001 Nights, the Caliph is man both merciful and fanciful in turn. Though his martial skills are not to be scoffed at, it's only due to Shakespeare's Enchant that allows him to combat the Librarians on equal grounds. He serves as the counter to Ashurbanipal, as fellow kings/patrons to great Houses of Wisdom.
-Angra Mainyu (Avenger)
Servant summoned into the Lostbelt after the MC used a corrupted Grail from the Library of Metaphysics. Though pathetically weak, his possession of the Verg Avesta, a copy of the Book of Creation, allows him to counter Ashurbanipal’s Tablet of Destiny. And through the help of Shakespeare and Seshat, this “Weakest Avenger'' may as well be the game-changer in fighting the Lostbelt King.
[---]
The 12 Branches:
As Ashurnipal’s archives kept on expanding, he required trusted hands to manage and organize the ever-expanding library. Hand-picked from his original worldline, these individuals were given authority over their respective Branch as their Librarian. Though the influence of Imaginary Number Space has stopped time for them, their accumulated knowledge and the Lostbelt King’s Noble Phantasm has transcended them past the limits of humanity, becoming “Observers of the World.”
Though they serve the King without question, do not mistake compliance for loyalty. Having turned countless pruned worlds and lives into paper and ink, such a cost for the preservation of knowledge is much too steep. As this implies, they had the unpleasant surprise of processing books that were once their loved ones. Some have little words for Ashurbanipal, a handful curse his name vehemently.
Even then, they will continue to gather, read, and organize. As they had did throughout the ages.
>Theology, Tomb of Dead Gods - - Enheduanna (Caster/Lancer)
>Philosophy, Shining Answer to Existence - - Plato (Caster/Berserker)
>Physics, Apex of Understanding - - Mary Somerville (Caster/Archer)
>Metaphysics, Repository of Mystery - - Francis Bacon (Caster/Assassin)
>History, Grand Hanging Tapestries - - Ibn Khaldun (Caster/Rider)
>Law, Cornerstone Upon Civilization - - Tribonian (Caster/Saber)
>Literature, Sanctuary of Myriad Stories - - Juana Inés de la Cruz (Caster/Archer)
>Arts, True Beauty’s Exhibition - - Michelangelo (Caster/Berserker)
>Warfare, Conflict-Driven Nexus - - Sun Tzu (Caster/Archer)
>Biology, Eco-Sphere Conservatory - - Alfred Russel Wallace (Caster/Rider)
>Research, World-Thread Positioning - - Eratosthenes(Caster)
>Archive, Central Observation Platform - - Ashurbanipal (Lostbelt King) (Ruler)
Originally Posted by Deathhappens
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