PtahWithin

To the Human Lark Steelwall, Your application has been reviewed and you may find a time to meet Preeminent Savant Ptah Remneal or Leading Savant Tenshar Karkun within the Cloud Temple Library for a last series of questions to solidify your admittance. To the Dwarf Lathros Ironbeard, Your application has been reviewed and you may find a time to meet Preeminent Savant Ptah Remneal or Leading Savant Tenshar Karkun within the Cloud Temple Library for a last series of questions to solidify your admittance.

Added. -P.S.P.R.

Artisan Floop Lightforge has been promoted to the title of Savant of Ingenuity and henceforth is granted full vision and consequent influence over the dealings, doings and knowings of the Department of Ingenuity. To the Elf Blake Whitewolf, Your application has been reviewed and you may find a time to meet Preeminent Savant Ptah Remneal or Leading Savant Tenshar Karkun within the Cloud Temple Library for a last series of questions to solidify your admittance.

To all staff of the Ministry of Contemplation, I write this to you from within a bed in an inn room, the location of which I choose not to disclose at this moment. For some months now I have been ill of a disease and confined to long rest and thought. In order to preserve the efficiency of the Ministry, I have created and filled the position of Leading Savant with Tenshar Karkun, the current Savant of Naturalism. He will act out my will and instruction while I remain incapacitated, and shall possess senior powers over other Savants and all lower titles. Anything you wish to have me read or know of must be delivered to Mr. Karkun who shall afterward deliver it to me. In addition, Zane has been promoted to the title of Savant of Thaumaturgy and henceforth is granted full vision and consequent influence over the dealings, doings and knowings of the Department of Thaumaturgy. Lastly, the staff system has been reworked. All currently held jobs within each department have now become titles rather than designated roles. This means that the possibility of cross-departmental contemplation is now possible: one may for example possess both the titles of Phrenal and Cataloger. In this way the titles serve as a kind of certificate of mental authenticity in that department. Those who believe they now qualify for titles in other departments may contact the Savants of those departments, myself or Mr. Karkun. Contemplate all, -Preeminent Savant Ptah Remneal To the Elf Velkém, Your application has been reviewed and has been unfortunately considered unsatisfactory. To the Elf Ther'Anir, Your application has been reviewed and you may find a time to meet Preeminent Savant Ptah Remneal or Leading Savant Tenshar Karkun within the Cloud Temple Library for a last series of questions to solidify your admittance. We request that beforehand you supply us with an accurate and not deceptive description of your age. To the Elf Maxwell Redensed, Your application has been reviewed and you may find a time to meet Preeminent Savant Ptah Remneal or Leading Savant Tenshar Karkun within the Cloud Temple Library for a last series of questions to solidify your admittance. To the Human Yurre Kojti, Your application has been reviewed and you may find a time to meet Preeminent Savant Ptah Remneal or Leading Savant Tenshar Karkun within the Cloud Temple Library for a last series of questions to solidify your admittance.

A note is stamped, signed, and pinned to the message within Luemaelin. At the bottom, a note is placed. "If you require to reach me, please send a courier, or bird, to the cloud temple Aviary. Dear Regards, Sixstrings (Or, Verin Etitlan.)." Applicant Name: Verin Etitlan. Race and Age: Elf, my age is neigh three hundred and forty seven, though there is a margin of error close to five years. What position are you applying for? (Librarian, Maven, Inventor, Analyst, Phrenal): Librarian. List any experience you have had with matters regarding that Department: From a period of five to six years I was employed(In a more truthful manner: Volunteered ) to be an assistant in one of the few libraries of Kalos. Beside that, I've been a writer, and of slight times (When I had no other option,) a bard. In manners beside that, my memory is superb (This in part I accredit to my voracious reading at an early age,), if you would require of me anything to do with organizing, categorizing (Anything that is monotonous, and requires a focused mind), you would have me pegged for the work, along with this - Having worked in previously said library gives me a keen eye for many tomes they were searching for which might constitute rarity, as well as many common books which might be of interest to your order. Though, I wish not submit more lest I ramble. Describe the reason for your interest in that position (>5 sentences): I am, of late - Out of work. Or, in a more significant manner, I've been in the wilds, and otherwise preoccupied for a good few years. I am in need of something that would stimulate my mind, and otherwise allow me to contribute in a subject which suits my talents best. After unfortunate circumstances with the last organization I belonged too, I find myself in need of one that is based in logic, rather than superstition. Which this does seem to be. I also find myself engrossed with the idea of having access to a library once more, and equipment to aid in understanding of some of the works which many find locked within their own enigma; To be brief, I wish to join to further my own, and your orders understanding of the Literary Arts. As well aid in any other area's my expertise might be needed. By applying, should you be accepted you are expected to utterly adhere to the Common Clauses. Do you understand this?: Yes, I do. To the Elf Verin Etitlan, Your application has been reviewed and you may find a time to meet Preeminent Savant Ptah Remneal within the Cloud Temple Library for a last series of questions to solidify your admittance.

To the Elf Galdor Arcamenal, Your application has been reviewed and you may find a time to meet Preeminent Savant Ptah Remneal within the Cloud Temple Library for a last series of questions to solidify your admittance.

Ptah absently taps a finger once on the table, and reclines. "Indeed, I am marred by Urguan's curse. And I do possess a greed as do my half-kin. However, what you say is false. It is possible for a Bortu to carry out an act of generosity. Grand King Thorin, for example, answered overwhelmingly when I asked of him supplies and funds to continue building our University. What you choose to make of that, and my present offer, I am not privy to."

To the Dwarf Wulfric Grandaxe, Your application has been reviewed and you may find a time to meet Preeminent Savant Ptah Remneal within the Cloud Temple Library for a last series of questions to solidify your admittance. ((Ah! Sorry about that, your first post was 'drowned out' by all the other posts and it slipped my mind.))

To the Human Clavonita Bedevere, Your application has been reviewed and you may find a time to meet Preeminent Savant Ptah Remneal within the Cloud Temple Library for a last series of questions to solidify your admittance. To the Dwarf Dun Irongut, Your application has been reviewed and you may find a time to meet Preeminent Savant Ptah Remneal within the Cloud Temple Library for a last series of questions to solidify your admittance.

Ptah folds his hands together, adjustes his beard, and speaks. "The answer to the first question is simple. The book was stuck tightly between two others in a rather dusty corner of the library. I noted the bad condition of the book and so offered the Wilven Monks my services in transcribing what I could into a new version. They agreed, and for the moment allowed me to borrow it." "To the second question: the Monks, as you know, carry their books with them as we have moved from realm to realm in our history - and a great deal of the Aegisian literature which is not lost remains in their libraries. As for how the Monks originally came by the book, only guesswork assists us. Perhaps there were numerous copies of this book in Aegis and they came upon one; perhaps this is the only ever written copy and Saecel donated it to the Monks directly." "I do not know if the Wilven Monks would allow the book to permanently leave their possession. Therefore, I have had you come here to see if you would be interested in receiving one of my transcribed copies, to place in the Eternal Library."

Ptah, without a further word, opens the tome again to the second page. He has one of his faculty pick up the book and present it before Kalenz. Across the second page, large letters are written: For my niece, Larihei. -Saecel

"His name is Saecel, an elf. He is the author of this tome before you." Ptah carefully closes the book, and brings its cover about-face, gently rubbing off dust from the front. "It is called, 'The Saecelic Method'. It was written in the year 48. For several weeks I have been working to transcribe the worn text into a new book. Examining its contents, I believe now that Saecel is the originator of the scientific method as we know it. The similarities between the Saecalic and Scientific Methods are far too close to be coincidental. He speaks in this book of observationist realism, repeatable experimentation and - purity of thought. I found this book sandwhiched between two others on a forgotten shelf within the Cloud Temple Library."

The Preeminent Savant smiles at that, and holds up a finger as if signalling him to wait. He reaches to his side, and places a large, dusty, aged and beaten tome on the table. He carefully opens it, and turns to the last few pages. He shifts the book so the page can be seen by Kalenz and the others: "Mr. Uradir, do you know who this is?"

To the Human Tahjeet Mubdee, Your application has been reviewed and you may find a time to meet Preeminent Savant Ptah Remneal within the Cloud Temple Library for a last series of questions to solidify your admittance. Ptah Remneal nods again at Kalenz's words, and speaks again. "And that brings us quite nicely to the subject and intrigue which I mean to present to you. Before I begin, do you believe the Ministry of Contemplation is one such group, that genuinely attempts science for a meaningful purpose?"

Ptah nods, and folds his hands together. "Our experience with the Delvers began when we arranged a meeting with their Regents. We offered our own assistance on collaborating with them to examine and study their various magical artifacts. They agreed, and for a moment I thought, perhaps I have an academic ally in the world. Unfortunately, a moment after they requested the Ministry to hand over all magical or unusual artifacts in our possession to them. I pressed them as to why they would ask this, after denying the request, and eventually they admitted to simply having the desire to hoard the arcane and unique." "This, coupled with their recent bid for power, saddens me. I thought perhaps the Delvers could be a kindred spirit in academia, but they have revealed themselves to be mere collectors, not contemplators. Would you agree with this assessment?"

Ptah Remneal, having looked up when Kalenz approached, listened to him as he spoke. Ptah smiles, and gestures to the empty seat at the opposite head of the table Ptah currently is seated in, alongside the other Ministry members surrounding the table. "Do sit, please! And I assure you, this will not be a waste of time. In fact, we have something rather intriguing to show you... but first we wish to inquire of you. We were just speaking of the situation with the Arcane Delvers, on what to make of their recent declaration of independent sovereignty, facilitating the creation of this 'Magestate'. I was told that you once were a rather influential figure within the Delvers, and so we would ask of you: can you explain what their motivations for this may be?"

"Indeed - however, I must remind you all to reserve whatever negative opinions you may have for the Mali'aheral, as per the Common Clauses. And we also wish not to make an enemy of them, by any means."

To the Dark Elf Vhaer Centrella, Your application has been reviewed and you may find a time to meet Preeminent Savant Ptah Remneal within the Cloud Temple Library for a last series of questions to solidify your admittance. Ptah Remneal looks across the table, and being greeted by silence, continues. "Then I wish to announce that the next thing we shall discuss is relations with the High Elves. For this reason, I have invited none other than Sohaer Kalenz Uradir of the Enclave of Haelun'or to come and join this first Contemplative Conference. He should arrive soon."