Founded in Year 1253, the Pagovian
Institute is an independant organization devoted to recovering the
history, art, culture, and knowledge that was lost with Moonfall.
Headquartered in western Meskaria, it keeps a large number of both
permanent and temporary Chapterhouses and outposts all over the world
of Erde. Pagovians try their best to stay on the good side of local
rulers and governing bodies, although each individual Chapterhouse's
relationships may vary. The Institute has strong ties to a number of
royal families across Wylun, and have remained quite well-funded over
the last 40-ish years.
There are several titles within the organization, relating to each
agent's role within. Explorator, Observer, Chapterhead, Archivist,
Seeker, Scout, Operative, Surveyor, etc. Individual members often draw
upon personal connections for favors and information, all in service
of reclaiming what was lost.
Pagovian refers to Pagovius one of the major cultural/academic centers of fallen Naathshara, which was in turn referencing the High Elven scholar of the same name. Pagovius the Scholar was the first known to gather, scribe, and codify magical knowledge from around the world. Of course, the vast majority of his 200 years of work were lost with Moonfall.
Current head of the Institute is Coordinator Zeven. He has also quite recently and quite publicly revealed himself to be Savoysienne of the Heroes of Old, aka Senn, and also to be over 300 years old.
The Pagovian Institute (the physical institute):
A big complex of interconnected buildings, the most noteworthy of which is a 4-story(ish) structure built into a hillside. The 20-ft doors open into the anterooms of the Musea Historica which is itself split into multiple wings. The Museum charges a small fee, except for when they don’t. The entire structure is lit with occasional skylights (which peek through the grass atop the structures) and a truly wild quantity of driftglobes.
GRAND HALL – center section that connects the other wings, and is the pass-through for the entire complex. Contains some of the biggest, most impressive bits – things like a complete dragon skeleton (of the Great Dragon Sathrakkar, formerly the scourge of the Adharna Chain – only a scale reproduction, unfortunately) and an intact(non-functioning) Transportation Ring from pre-moonfall. A pre-moonfall suit of Naathsharan military plate armor. Also lots of signage directing visitors towards their various destinations.
Has a huge (20’ diameter?) spiral staircase heading straight up and through the roof, tops out at the Needle – a monument of sorts to High Naathsharan architecture culminating in a large platform some 80’ above ground level. Affords a helluva view of Wellerbee. Has a few dedicated (and protected) optical telescopes as well, all trained to the heavens.
FALLEN NAATHSHARA WING - Exhibits include more examples of Naathsharan military and ruling class uniforms, some old traditional weaponry, an actual set of robes from the Agraeon Order, a sizeable set of Naathsharan chain and yokes alongside a ton of information on the Naathsharan slave trade(!). Examples of basic average-citizen tools and useful things as well, and several large paintings of the cities of Ophir and Pagovius with their monumental architecture – towers stretched to the sky. A locked and sturdy case holding Naathsharan sensory stones (reproductions only) chronicling moments of joy and sadness.
ESSARI WING – Exhibits include a recreation of Essari Archmage robes, a few soundstones that recorded snippets of Essari traditional music(!), and significant relics of the MaeNendrith; a complete and intact MaeNendrith husk made of pale grey enameled lumin and black ori, covered in scorch marks. A few MaeNendrith pieces (arm, leg, head, etc.), and diagrams/illustrations of MaeNendrith weapons – strange warstaves with odd protrusions and markings. Small(?) scale model of the Essari cavern city of Othuligathi, recreated from old paintings and writings. Notes about the dragons of the earlier age, and the slave revolts.
HISTORIC WYLUN – Dedicated to the past of Wylun specifically. The Shield of Reodin, paintings/models of various historic temples to the Old Gods that have since been converted or lost, a few weird artifacts from Lemuria(!), a single half-recovered piece of art from the Ruins of Morriman. An entire wall dedicated to the Heroes of Old – little relics supposedly connected to them all, as well as a listing of their actual historic names. A small display about the Minneus Academy. A truly staggering assortment of traditional crafts from across Wylun, Rakkan, and Therash. Bowls, teacups, woven baskets, dyed fabrics, traditional books and scrolls, fishing gear, 800-year-old daggers and swords. Assembled very much like a modern museum; some exhibits have magical effects included, like a voice that tells one the provenance of the item, or where it’s placed in broader history, or what it was used for.
GRAND LIBRARIUM – a full separate building, connected via a few different tunnels. Multiple levels, and oh-so-many books and scrolls. And a few Aetheniums, although those are kept under tighter scrutiny. Aethenium’s are still rare and expensive. Topics they’re known for include all sorts of world history, and a significant amount of writing about the arts.
A huge open space, lined on all sides with bookshelves (on 3 levels), with 25’-high ordered shelves on the main floor. Plentiful driftglobes and desks, with an alarming number of scribes plying their trade.
The Grand Librarium has a separate working entrance, where any who have paid for membership may come and go as they please. Access to the Archive is a lot more expensive, and a lot more restricted.
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