Astrophel Archives

Overview
In an era long since past, as mankind began to find means of overpowering the dark creatures of Grimm, one man in particular sought to chronicle these events. This man was known as "Astrophel," and his goal was to preserve history; Not only for the sake of conserving artifacts for future generations, but also for others to learn from the past mistakes of the human race, and to hopefully never repeat them. Astrophel began writing documents and books, detailing events and theories pertaining to the current age. He soon obtained a prominent status as a philosopher, and subsequently gained many followers. Over time, Astrophel and his company of scholars created a vast, almost museum-like building where they could preserve their collection of works and studies. This became known as the "Astrophel Archives," which was maintained by Astrophel's followers long after his death.

The archives themselves endured for many years, with the position of management passing between Astrophel's followers, and eventually to prominent historians that oversaw the structure and the items submitted to it. Eventually however, the archives faced a bleak future; The Great War had broken out, and with it, any form of self-expression and art were rapidly phased out in a flurry of destruction. Naturally, the archives became a primary target during this time period. No one is certain as to what exactly happened to the archives, but it is generally agreed upon that the building was destroyed in some manner. Many of its priceless works shared the same fate, to the point where any remaining history of the archives was nearly erased. Given the scarcity of evidence relating back to the building in the modern age, the archives has become a subject of speculation and rumors. Some believe it to be nothing more than a fairy tale, while others claim to have set foot in the ruins of the archives themselves. Some even state that the building and its works are still in-tact, hidden somewhere within the vast world of Remnant. In the end however, no one seems to truly know the ultimate fate of the archives.

Description / Location
In its prime, the Astrophel Archives was a very large building with an almost museum-type layout. The overall interior of the archives was stated to be almost regal-like in appearance, and was described as having an air of classical elegance to it. There were sections dedicated to different subjects, such as history, literature, ancient technology, Grimm, Dust, and many others. Each section displayed prominent works in regards to their specific fields, which the scholars of Astrophel could study at their leisure. The building itself had two floors, with several stairways on opposite sides leading up and down to certain areas. A vast library was stated to be at the back of the first floor, where several pieces of literature through-out the ages were stored.

There was also a section of the roof that was accessible from the second floor, although the area served little purpose for academic endeavors. Rather, it was mainly used simply to gaze out at the view of the surrounding area. Many scholars were said to have used the spot in times of self-reflection, or as a means of calming their minds to ease the troubles of writer's block. Another notable area was Astrophel's private study; Accessible via a small staircase on the second floor, the study was situated on top of a large, pillar-type structure near the back of the archives. The room created around it was designed not only for Astrophel to study and create in peace, but to also as a means for looking out upon the rest of the archives. Beyond this, there is only one other major area to the archives, albeit one of high speculation: For the longest time, the archives were rumored to have a secret section underneath the main building, which only the highest ranked in Astrophel's company could enter. No one is certain as to whether or not this claim was true however, as the archives became lost before anyone could confirm the secret section's existence.

The exact location of the archives is a mystery that no one has been able to pin-point so far. Naturally, many rumors have circulated as to where it was. Some speculate that it could have been located in the mountainous regions of Mistral, while others claim that the archives are buried somewhere within the vast deserts of Vacuo. Some have even gone as far to say that Beacon Academy was built over the ruins of the archives, a rumor which was steadfastly denied by officials from the academy itself. In truth, nobody seems to know the exact location of the archives or what might be left of the structure. What is known however, is that the archive's contents would be invaluable in today's age if any of them were ever discovered.

"On Dust Crafting"
A book written by Astrophel himself. It details the philosopher's theories on the origins of Dust, along with its purposes in relation to mankind. It also outlines basic and advance Dust usage, along with how to effectively use their powers during combat situations. The methods detailed within were so effective, it was stated that, "Anyone who reads this book will become a true master of Dust." Additionally, the book is said to list several locations where Dust was incredibly prevalent at the time of its writing. Many believe these Dust spots still exist, and could very well be untouched by most major companies that work in mining it. Given these factors, this book is often considered to be one of the most valuable and sought-after items in the archive's collection.

"The Encyclopedia of Grimm"
A series of books also written by Astrophel. This series details nearly every species of Grimm known to mankind. They feature hand-drawn sketches from Astrophel himself, along with in-depth analysis on each Grimm-kind; ranging from their habitats to their abilities and their weaknesses. The encyclopedia itself is split up into 6 volumes, each one taking the form of a small handbook with a black hard-cover. The books can be identified by the hand-printed number in the upper left-hand corner on the inside of their cover pages, which also notes their volume number. Notably, after Astrophel's death, one of his followers went about making another version of these works. Dubbed "The Connected Edition," this version of encyclopedia contained information from all 6 volumes, but in a single, much larger book. The "Connected" version of the encyclopedia is said to be on display in the archive's library. Volumes 1, 4, and 6 are believed to have remained in the archives as well, but the rest of the series was stated to be lost, even before the archives were allegedly destroyed. In actuality, there is evidence suggesting that the rest of the books may still be out there, as Shula Carinae is currently in possession of volume 3 of this series (unbeknownst to her at the moment, however).

"Ultimatum"
The last known work of Astrophel. This book is said to detail the major events of the era at the time of its conception, along with Astrophel's final set of theories on the world of Remnant, the usage of Dust, and the origins of Grimm. Sadly, this book was never completed, as Astrophel died of old age before he could finalize it. The book itself ends mid-sentence during a section that outlines the philosopher's thoughts on the human race's seemingly endless desire to fight. After his death, Astrophel's final book was put on display in the heart of the archive's library. Many scholars expressed the desire to finish the book by using an accompanying set of final notes that their founder had left behind. Ultimately however, the book went unfinished, and it - along with its side-notes - are said to be lost along with the rest of the archives.

"Our Dear Founder"
A portrait of Astrophel, painted by the scholar who took the position of managing the archives shortly after the philosopher's death. The painting depicts Astrophel in his elder years, and was likely drawn from the scholar's memories, rather than being a live portrait. It was proudly displayed in the main entrance hall of the archives, and continued to stay in place until archive's uncertain fate came about. Given the age of the painting, it is speculated to be incredibly valuable if it still exists.

"The Caustic Response"
One of the few pieces of literature to be rejected from the archives. It was said to be written by a disgruntled scholar who had trouble being taken seriously by his peers. As a retort, he wrote "The Caustic Response." The book itself is essentially a gigantic list of scathing, almost venomous responses and quips to nearly any type of insult imaginable. Similar to how "On Dust Crafting" taught its readers to become masters in the art of Dust, "The Caustic Response" taught its readers to become masters in the art of insults. Given the crude nature of the book, it was swiftly rejected from the archives. No one is certain as to where it ended up afterwards, though some claim that its writer secretly inserted it into the archive's "Rare Books" section as a form of revenge.

"Nirvana Root"
The preserved extract from an ancient species of plant. It was dubbed the "Nirvana Root" for its seemingly divine properties when administered as a medicinal herb. The plant was said to be an extremely effective form of antidote for poisons, and could supposedly cure a number of otherwise fatal illnesses. It was so efficient, that the plant itself was eventually farmed to near-extinction. Naturally, this has made the Nirvana Root one of the most discussed items in relation to the archives, and the one most would-be treasure hunters and explorers tend to seek out. If the conserved extract of the plant still exists in the current age, it would be the lone surviving sample of the species.

"Amdusias Horn"
A bugle-type instrument, said to be crafted from the incisors of a giant Boarbatusk. While not as big as the aforementioned Grimm's tusks, it still displays several familiar features; It is ivory white in color, and has several red, wave-like markings running along its side. Much like the Grimm however, the instrument is extremely vile in nature. The horn itself is said to produce nothing but pure cacophony when played. The noise it produces has been described as "so wretched, and so painful, that even the most stoic of individuals would collapse to their knees - covering their ears in a desperate attempt to drown out the hellish sounds." While it was deemed an acceptable piece for the archives, it was kept in a high-security display to ensure that no one could play it.

"Necklace of Nevermore"
A stunning, white necklace embedded with a gleaming sapphire and several small diamonds surrounding it. The white portions of the necklace were supposedly forged from the talons of a Giant Nevermore, a detail that contributed to the necklace's namesake. While the necklace itself is undeniably stunning, it also has a macabre air around it, and is widely believed to be cursed; As everyone who had previously owned the necklace began experiencing grave misfortunes and tragedy. Due to the strong superstition surrounding this item, it was eventually locked away somewhere deep within the archives. Rumors state that it may have been hidden somewhere in Astrophel's private study, while others claim it was placed in the secret/restricted section that was supposedly below the building.

"The Mace of Providence"
A large, flanged mace of unknown origins. Described as having a "shining, brilliant silver color" when exposed to sunlight, this weapon was the subject of much discussion among the scholars. While records are scarce as to who originally wielded this weapon, it is generally agreed that it must have been someone of immense physical strength. Aside from being incredibly heavy, the mace was seemingly designed to penetrate and tear through dense/heavily armored structures. This made it very effective in dealing with much larger species of Grimm, which soon gave birth to a rumor that the mace was once used to slay a Dragon Grimm. No one is certain as to whether or not this was true, but the sheer craftsmanship and mystery of the mace earned it a spot in the archive's weapons section.

"Ankusha"
Also known as an "Elephant Goad," this weapon was created with much different intentions than the norm in regards to Grimm-kind. The Ankusha itself is hook-type weapon with a secondary blade at the end. Its handle is coated with several red markings, not unlike the Amdusias Horn in its attempts to show a strong relation to the dark creatures of Grimm. Rather than being used to fight Grimm however, this weapon was instead created with the purpose of taming them. Specifically, it was used in an attempt to tame the Goliath Grimm. Its overall effectiveness is strongly debatable, but the sheer notion behind the weapon gave birth to many new theories among the scholars. It was put on display in the archives, but had suddenly disappeared a year prior to the Great War. Its current whereabouts are unknown.

"Grimmslayer Armor"
A dark suit of armor with an overall design seemingly based on the Alpha Beowolf. Similar to the aforementioned Grimm, its gauntlets are somewhat claw-like in appearance, along with the feet portions having a similar trait. The helm also bears a striking resemblance to the Alpha Beowolf's head shape, and even features sharp teeth and wolf-like ears. Its coloration is largely black and grey, with the helm having red markings on it, which once again coincides with the Grimm it appears to be based on. The armor also comes equipped with the "Grimmslayer Spear," an equally dark polearm with a three-lobe blade. The armor itself was on display at the entrance of the "Weapons and Technology" section of the archives, where it was said to be placed in a "victorious looking pose," clutching its spear in one of its hands while looking towards the sky.

Notably, the armor itself is actually a sentient, mechanical shell of sorts. While it can be worn by others, the armor is something of a "hollow robot" while on its own; Originally programmed to fight and destroy Grimm, it has very little in the way of A.I. outside of this core function. It was submitted at a time just before the Great War started, making it one of the final pieces submitted to the archives. If the armor still exists, it is very likely that its A.I. functions would be out of commission due to a long period of inactivity. Despite this, the technology used within it may still be capable of being salvaged as well.

"The Folly of Mankind"
The last true piece to be submitted to the archives, and the one that sealed its fate. "The Folly of Mankind" is a painting which is said to depict the first major conflict in the Great War. Given the subject matter and the reasons behind the war itself, this painting only made the archives an even bigger target. It is widely believed that the painting was the first thing to be destroyed in the presumable carnage that followed. Much like the archives itself however, the true fate of this painting is currently unknown.

Trivia
- Astrophel's name translates to "star lover," as it is a combination of the terms "aster" (meaning "star" in Greek), and "philos" (which means "lover" or "friend" in Greek).

- Many of the archive's items are based on real life lost works and artifacts; "On Dust Crafting" is a direct reference to "On Sphere Making" by Archimedes. "Ultimatum" is based on "Hermocrates," which is said to be final book in Plato's unified field trilogy. The Mace of Providence is somewhat based on Victoria's Parliamentary Mace, although the basis was more of a ceremonial object than anything. The "Nirvana Root" is based on the Silphium, a plant used in medicinal practices and birth control. Silphium was speculated to have died out due to over-harvesting.

- The "Amdusias Horn" is a reference to a demon of the same name. Amdusias is stated to be accompanied by the sound of trumpets when making an appearance, and will apparently give concerts if requested to do so. He is also identified as the source behind the supposedly cacophonous music that plays in Hell.

- The "Necklace of Nevermore" is based on the Necklace of Harmonia, an object from Greek mythology. While the necklace itself was beautiful in appearance, it was cursed to bring misfortune to any who wore it.

- The "Ankusha" is a real life tool used for handling and training elephants. However, some areas in the USA (such as California), have banned its usage.

- The Grimmslayer Armor is, admittedly, based on Ornstein/The Dragonslayer Armor from Dark Souls.