JURA, LOTHLAN — Long celebrated as the cultural heart of the world, the capital city of Jura—seat of Lothlan and home to the Siserian Temple, Menovian Arch, and the sprawling Aeryl-Lothlan Archive—has taken an unusual step to protect its literary legacy.
In a public decree, Tyronius I of House Turcott announced that starting Trunalus, citizens will be financially rewarded for surrendering books “in mannerly condition” to the Archive, rather than burning or consuming them.
“Be it known from henceforth that we make our collective stand against the usurpation of knowledge,” the king proclaimed from the steps of the Hall of Giants. “We must preserve the remnants of those who came before, lest we suffer their fate anew.”
Once renowned for elegance and artistic brilliance, Lothlan now finds itself negotiating with its illiterate masses—bribing them not to destroy what little remains of global literature.
Experts estimate that up to 96 percent of the world’s books have been lost, with many reduced to kindling, pulp, or food. While the exact number of surviving texts remains unclear, most scholars agree that widespread illiteracy is the primary reason for the destruction.
“People don’t know what they’re throwing into the fire,” said Rell Tamerick, an archivist at Jura’s Fifth Annex. “To many, a book is just soft fuel. Or worse—roughage.”
Though no official projection has been given for how many volumes may be recovered, speculation suggests a significant number of books could still exist in private hoards, especially among upper merchant families and former clergy.
Whether Tyronius’s literary buyback plan will be enough to preserve the written record is uncertain. But for now, in Jura, books are no longer food. They’re currency.
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