When Dolorna was first discovered by the scouting party, it was nothing more than a valley where a great river divided in twain. But after much exploration, the scouts discovered an ancient, vine-covered building, surrounded by a dry moat. Unsuccessful in their attempts to gain entry, they continued their expedition northward and eastward.
Years later, enterprising businessmen moved themselves and their families to the area, believing that the kingdom would eventually expand to them. They began a small village, placing their homes on the rise to the northwest of the river's fork: this location allowed them easy access to the river but also provided some protection from floods and animals.
Originally the settlers began cutting timber and shipping overland to the kingdom; this included some fairly rare woods. But soon they began moving into the foothills, following the river and finding faint traces of metals. This caused a stir around 71 c.y. In the year 74 c.y., the people went to the Auromic and began, secretly, hiring competent miners and aids to come to the village. This was because they had found a rather large deposit of silver just to the north of their settlement. With this resource, they began opening their venture to others although always swearing them to secrecy, for they felt they had not fully settled their area to keep undesirables out. Slowly the populace began growing.
This was about the time they began fortifying their homes. Not only for the protection from the beasts of the land but, when word of their "find" leaked out, (and they knew it would), they would be prepared. And with this new influx of people, there was more need for foods and such. Some of these new colonists began farming and, with the fertile river soil, it provided a boon. Now their "city" was virtually independant. Then came a surprising development from the ancient structure they had tried so hard to ignore.
The building, almost always in sight, changed virtually overnight. One morning it was completely stripped of growth. And the moat had been cleared and filled! With the rising of the sun a portal opened; actually a drawbridge made of metal which spanned the moat. Cleaned, the building was seen to have 6 sides, be approximatley 6 stories tall, and be about 290 yards to a side. The architecture was also strange, with great columns at each corner which were topped by stylized hexagons in some black crystal. And, to everyone's amazement, a cobbled road heading to the open portal.
A group of adventurous citizens crossed the bridge and entered. They were confronted by a majestic library! Rows upon rows of scrolls, books, and even, engraven tablets. Looking up they saw the sky for, although the interior was unravaged by the elements, there was no roof. And this brought out an even greater wonder standing before them. Growing in the middle of the library stood the tallest tree any of them had ever seen. Almost as tall as the building itself and some 15-18 feet in diameter, with a type of scaffold up to 10 feet with a railed walkway at its top.
On the first level there were numerous cubicles, presumably for quiet study. One of the archways contained an actual door rather than a heavy curtain and this was the adventureer's goal. One reached for the handle but, at that moment, it opened; and out stepped a man!
He was old; ancient seemed a good term. 5'4" and about 120 pounds with long flowing white hair in a tonsure cut, with bright blue eyes. His robes were bright white with gold trim on the sleeves. He was, he said, the Librarian and had no other name. His purpose was aiding others in reasearch. This was the great Library of Kovaleer, built almost 7,000 years ago. And here was stored over 600,000 books covering almost any subject.
When asked why he was only showing himself now, after they had been there for 6 or 7 years, the Librarian replied that "they" had been waiting for an established community. And, when questioned, he said he lived below as did all the Librarians, awaiting the time when their services were needed. The library was self-maintaining (internally) and self- protecting. No use of violence of any sort was allowed within the walls. This was considered a "no-man's land"; a place where friends or enemies could study and research in peace.
The adventurous colonists left as baffled as when they entered, but being businessmen as they were, they were not to pass up a chance at providing themselves more income. First they spent money, building inns and hostels. A boarding area for scholars. And by consent, no word was spoken of this till all preperations were made. Then, in a rush, messages, heralds, an all, word spread through the Auromic of this fabulous library! A sage's dream. And Dolorna was prepared!
Within 2 months all the rooms in all the hostels were full. New construction went up overnight. Dolorna became a boom town. Soon this small village grew to a true city. Paved roads, businesses of all types, and even the formation of a college which grew to several. And the handful of businessmen who founded this sight became rich within the month.