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I know its not cannon, but this name works for me. As there is a whole area on the northwest side of the grand lodge previously dedicated to dark studies (and very damaged some time ago) I was wondering what people thought about how the Darkive would look and its location.
(Just the looks, nothing else.)
Personally, my mind seems to hinge in the dark gothic architecture of good ole Cheliax. Rows of tables (uncluttered) attended by numerous indentured librarians. The upper gallery playing soft music. While the more delicate tomes are stored in strengthened lower vaults. Hellknight guardians patrol the site and grounds looking to expunge unwanted guests.
But like I said Im wondering about other views.
I don't think there would be any Chelaxian influence, beyond what Absalom archetecture would normally have. Definitely no Hellknights who owe allegiance to another group - only loyal Pathfinders would be allowed to even know about the place. I picture a bunch of underground vaults which were probably part of Absalom's sewer or even early construction, heavily modified and warded to keep the contents safe.
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I've said it before, and I'll say it again: The Darkive should use the Blackros Museum as its headquarters!What pray tell, did we ever do to you?
You're the ones who wanted to study dark magic artifacts. That museum is one of the few locations in Golarion that might rival the Society's collection of them.
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You're the ones who wanted to study dark magic artifacts. That museum is one of the few locations in Golarion that might rival the Society's collection of them.
Its also sitting on a nexus of dimensions and seems to attract completely unprofessional mishaps that we do not want to repeat.
Its own seperate non dimensional space would be preferable. Or even better, multiple separate dimensions. Artifacts can be difficult enough to study and dangerous enough when they're not synergizing with each other.
Perhaps if we were to tinker with that tapestry a little...
Remember, this is still the Society's archives - they're not going to give it to the Blakros Museum or move it offsite from the Grand Lodge. It's just not going to happen. This is a collection built up over 4 centuries and is somewhere in the Grand Lodge now - just cataloging it in preparation for a move would take months.
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I don't think there would be any Chelaxian influence, beyond what Absalom archetecture would normally have. Definitely no Hellknights who owe allegiance to another group - only loyal Pathfinders would be allowed to even know about the place. I picture a bunch of underground vaults which were probably part of Absalom's sewer or even early construction, heavily modified and warded to keep the contents safe.
I prefer a quiet place to study. I've traveled with many brutish pathfinders who swing great swords and sling arrows at ancient art objects to "check for traps". We need a secure environment of learning and reflection (which may or may not be underground and decorated with flaming gargoyles).
The Curator
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Ok now for my real preference, the entryway is a reinforced wooden door with a suspended halfling upside down in heavy mithril full plate (hellknight) armor with a clipboard. He asks your name and checks his list. Yes, I seem to have you down for an appointment at 11am. Please slam my head against the door and enter.
Strength check 15+ - YES! you may enter.
Strength check 14 or lower - What's wrong with you! My grandma rings harder than that! Put some effort in it!
Ha ha ha ha ha.
Legally yours,
Meridoc Esquire
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The best (or darkest, depending on your point of view) artifacts, when not in use, should be stored on their own demi-plane.
Everything there is under your command, no unwanted interference of ANY sort.
The entrances to all the different demi-planes is itself a demi-plane and is hidden in the vaults (for the lesser items of a dark nature) beneath the Grand Lodge.
This method means that when the inevitable (be it deliberate or accidental) happens it is contained and easily cleaned (or left where no-one will ever find it).
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I picture a stone chasm in a roughly cylindrical shape. The cylinder reaches from around 100 metres below sea level to about 950 metres below sea level.
Firstly there is the contingency room, but it's really more of a collection of three tight chutes connecting two short ceiling workplaces that people need to crawl through to get to the main body of the archive. Between every chute is solid, dwarven-made vault doors that look ready to seal and crush anyone making their way through the contingency room at any time.
After this room you climb down into a central pillar inside the cylinder. In the centre of the cylinder there is a glass and steel panopticon style pillar elevator with in-built clockwork controls. One-way mirrors allow anyone ascending or descending the central column to look out, but if you are outside you can't look inside.
Against the walls of the stone cylinder are a multitude of sturdy doors. Some are reinforced wood. Some are rusted iron. Others are just openings in the earth with rail tracks hanging out like broken tongues. These lead to the various tunnels or vaults that hold the dark items not allowed to see light.
If the archivist using the elevator reaches a opening they wish to visit, they must input a 17 digit code in the mechanism. They then have their Wayfinder scanned by a Inevitable fused into the elevator. Once approval has been granted, the central crane slowly lowers a walking platform between the elevator and the vault. This platform is shaky and prone to wobbling.
Every now and then a thick iron chain connects the central column to the wall, however it is noteworthy that the chain does not approach any of the doors.
The Darkive experiences a near constant humming noise. Some archivists believe this is the communication of some creatures trapped down here, or a by-product of keeping so many artifacts in such close proximity. Occasionally the hum is broken by the moaning of a Dwarven guide to the Darkive who lives and works down in this forbidden place.
At the very bottom of the vertical cylinder, a number of towering statues of long-dead and forbidden deities stand vigil. They are too tall for the network of tunnels and vaults that run off from the central cylinder, so they stand here at the bottom like a collection of grotesque skyscrapers, leering at anyone who descends down. They are covered in imp droppings.
At the base of the cylinder, there is a single adamantine trap-door. It is festooned with holy symbols of good deities and empyreal lords. It is not to be opened.
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The small halfling looks up from her busy work dissecting- literally dissecting- her breakfast to chime in, pale green eyes twinkling in the dim light of her corner table. "The Paracountess, in her wisdom, is currently in the process of collecting the Society's vast and disparate holdings and delivering them into our capable hands, and the new vault is... quite impressive. I can't tell you where our new home is located, the layout of the structure, or even about the decor, though I can tell you my office is very nicely appointed, and as an added security measure all known halfling jinxes (and three suspected ones) have been exiled from the building. So security is top-notch."
She returns her gaze to her breakfast, picking what is most assuredly only a chunk of tomato from the pinned-open omelette with steel tweezers and depositing most of it into a stoppered vial, then popping the rest into her mouth. She chews thoughtfully for a moment before adding, "I am a bit disappointed that my desk sits behind Checkpoint 7, though; that one locks from the outside. It's a shame to think I might meet my own end because one of my lab associates has butterfingers, or forgets a security password, or makes prolonged eye contact with Object #00091."
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The Blakros are amateurs, displaying to the public for a quick gold measure artifacts they haven't begun to analyze properly.
I nearly lost my head at that damned place. How they continue to stay open is beyond me.
"Which is exactly why we should move in and take over. Their collection is far too dangerous to be left in such incompetent hands."
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"I have recently recruited a valuable ally from the Pillars of the Sun in Osirion to help us in our endeavors, I believe her abilities will prove quite useful."
Baron Angethel the richly appareled aasimar descended distantly from a leonal agathion
His clothing appears to be worth (rolled 1d4+6 = 9) 9,000gp (1,000gp for fabric, 5,000gp for furs, and 15 gem stones worth 200gp each)