On the 17th of Ymiden, a letter arrived at the university. It was encased in an ivory-colored envelope that had been painted with feathers and pretty little stars (not by the sender) and perfumed (by the sender), because always using a white envelope that smelled of nothing but paper was boring. If whoever was responsible for reading the proposals and accepting them (or not) opened it, they would find a piece of crisp white parchment that was covered with someone’s handwriting in black ink. It was not a particularly beautiful kind of handwriting, but it was legible – because they sender had decided to give his absolute best:
To: Knowledge Hub Proposals Committee
From: Doctor Devin Thorn, Baron Smooglenuff
To Whom it May Concern
I’ve recently found out that you are working together with Saoire’s School and plan on setting up a number of “knowledge hubs” throughout Scalvoris. I’d like to offer my help in that regard. As you may know, I became one of the three new Barons Smooglenuff last season which includes a manor that Lady Saoire agreed to help us with.
One of the things that I promised to do was rebuild the late Baron Rodrigues’ library. Actually, it was his study, I think, but it was filled from floor to ceiling with books and parchments. He told me that he was Blessed by Yvithia and loved to travel when I met him.
I’d like to establish a knowledge hub on Faldrass, in the manor, in his name – the Rodrigues Von Smooglenuff Knowledge Hub that contains books from all over Idalos, and on all kinds of subjects, a place where people can come to learn about the world that we call our home.
There will be no costs on your part. I will also procure the initial collection of books myself, although I envision that scholars from all over Scalvoris and beyond will eventually donate their knowledge and make it possible for other people to learn from them.
In the future, a secondary knowledge hub could be established in Scalvoris Town itself, with a focus that is different from that of the University of Scalvoris or the Scalvoris Town library.
I would of course donate the building.
I do of course also plan on donating my own time and my own knowledge – I am, as you may know, an experienced doctor and currently doing my Licentiate in Medicine as well as undertaking some studies of the arcane at your institution, and I am a skilled cosmetologist as well.
Saoire’s School focuses on crafting skills while the University of Scalvoris focuses on academic subjects for the most part. Provided that you are alright with it, I’d like my proposed knowledge hub to bridge that gap. It won’t distinguish between academic subjects and crafting skills; it will be a place of learning in general, and a new centre of knowledge.
That being said, I am open to suggestions. If you’d like my help in that regard, I would also use my name and my connections in order to promote those new knowledge hubs. It is a wonderful idea in my opinion, and one that should be supported.
Regards,
Doctor Devin Thorn, Baron Smooglenuff
