The Library of the Rats is one of Minarra’s greatest intellectual institutions—and one of its most carefully kept secrets.

     The Library was founded by the Mikskek during Miren’s fifth century BC (Before Confederation), some 2100 years ago. The complex is housed in a great cavern directly beneath a lakebed somewhere in southwestern Miren. The cavern is a roughly elliptical chamber a quarter-mile across on the long (north-south) axis and about 80 yards on the short (east-west) axis.

     Before the arrival of the first volume, the Mikskek were most thorough in their preparation of the cavern. Powerful sorceries were laid upon the whole to prevent flooding, scrying, and burrowing. Dwarven masons reinforced the cavern against quakes, and then chiseled apartments, offices, and support facilities from the living rock. Lastly, permanent walls of force were "sculpted" by the Mikskek into bookshelves, galleries, and study halls, standing four stories high at the center of the complex.

     After the departure of the Mikskek from Miren in the seventh century AC, the House of Light created the noble race of Rats to staff the Library. Greatly expanding upon the Library’s original purpose, the Rats soon began to collect not only books, but fine art and cultural artifacts as well. As the Rats’ fame and reputation spread, lay institutions began entrusting certain documents to the Library’s care, albeit unknowingly. These documents include copies of law codes, minutes of diplomatic proceedings, and original copies of key treaties.

     Compared to the libraries of medieval Europe, the Library’s holdings are staggering. At last inventory four years ago, there were nearly 67,000 volumes, virtually the sum of all Mirenian intellectual achievement for the past two thousand years. 1400 maps, 300 musical compositions, and over 2600 art objects and cultural treasures rounded out the catalogue. The Library also houses the rarest of the rare: the Shattered Continent’s only surviving artifacts from the Age of Mists.

     Aside from the Rats themselves, only the Serenities of the House of Light have unrestricted access to the Library, and even they are sworn to secrecy. All other visitors are rigorously screened, and must be escorted to and from the Library through the arcane channels devised by the Mikskek. Hostile intruders (a very rare breed indeed) must face the terrible combination of the Library’s magical defenses, the 900-year-old guardian dragon Quinathuli, and the spellcasting and weapon-wielding custodians and residents.

     Despite the tight security, a steady flow of information regularly passes through the Library. The Wanderer Rats (and the recently returned Mikskek) bring in new acquisitions and requests for research to the Librarians, Rat and Mikskeki alike. The librarians take pride in responding to any and all inquiries with a thorough, masterful scholarship. Artworks are sometimes sent to the Library for restoration and rare manuscripts for copying or repair; both are returned to their rightful owners as soon as possible.

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