Editing Palanaeum

{{architecture
|usage=Library
|world=Roshar|city=Kharbranth
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}

{{quote
|The only things Kharbranth has to sell are fish, bells, and information. The first two are hardly unique to us. But the third … well, the Palanaeum has the finest collection of tomes and scrolls on Roshar. 
|A master-servant explaining access to the Palanaeum to [[Shallan Davar]]{{book ref|sa1|7}}
}}

The '''Palanaeum''' is the largest known library on [[Roshar]], located in [[Kharbranth]] and holding over seven hundred thousand texts on various subjects.{{book ref|sa1|7}} It is made up of two rooms, an antechamber known as '''The Veil''' and a storehouse known as '''The Palanaeum proper'''.{{book ref|Sa1|7}}  [[Varas]] is the assistant chief of collections and a distant cousin of Khabranth's king, [[Taravangian]].{{book ref|sa1|29}}

== Location ==
The Palanaeum is located within Kharbranthian [[Conclave]], deep within mountain that surrounds the city, and access to it is carefully controlled.{{book ref|sa1|7}} The pyramid-like caverns that form the rooms of the Palanaeum predate the city of Kharbranth, however, the smaller rooms that house the manuscripts and books were cut into the stone post settlement.{{book ref|sa1|7}}{{book ref|sa1|45}} How the caverns were created is unknown, however, some believe that it was the work of the [[dawnsingers]].{{book ref|sa1|7}}

== Use and Admittance ==
Entrance to the Palanaeum proper requires a chit of of admittance to the sum of one thousand sapphire [[broam]]s, which also allows for use of the Veil.{{book ref|sa1|7}} Alcoves in the Veil can also be rented for ongoing use for two [[Spheres#Informal_Names|skymarks]], however it is free to temporarily wait for someone while they are within the Palanaeum proper.{{book ref|Sa1|8}} Payment to access the Palanaeum is used to fund the hospitals of Kharbranth.{{book ref|sa1|7}} Once admittance has been paid, the Palanaeum proper is available to access at anytime.{{book ref|sa1|36}} 

The Palanaeum also doubles as Kharbranth's royal treasury, and the city's store of emeralds are used to light the pathways within the Palanaeum proper.{{book ref|sa1|33}} The [[Vorinism#Devotaries|Devotary of Insight]] is in charge of switching out the gemstones so they can be renewed with stormlight during the [[Highstorm]].{{book ref|sa1|33}}

The organisational system used within the Palanaeum filing system is standard across many of Roshar's libraries and archives.{{book ref|Sa1|33}} Patron's are free to locate and collect books and documentation themselves if they wish, however, [[ardent]]s and servants are available to collect materials when requested.{{book ref|sa1|33}} Additionally, ardents will shelve books that are no longer needed for use.{{book ref|sa1|45}} Books can be removed from the Palanaeum, however, they are not to be taken into bathing chambers.{{book ref|sa1|36}} Many of the books stored in the Palanaeum have been tampered with, with changes having been made during the [[Heirocracy]].{{book ref|sa2|6}}

== History ==
=== Early History ===
At some point, there was a fire within the original Palanaeum.{{epigraph ref|sa1|46}}

=== 1173 ===
[[Jasnah Kholin]] traveled to Kharbranth in the year 1173 to continue her research into the [[Voidbringers]] and [[Urithiru]]. She was granted access to the library by king Taravangian after assisting in the rescue of his granddaughter, who had been trapped within the Conclave by a cave-in. During her time in Kharbranth, Jasnah adopted [[Shallan Davar]] as her ward, having her use the Palanaeum to continue her training and study as a scholar.{{book ref|sa1|5}}{{book ref|sa1|8}}

During the same year, a team of researchers began working on the translation of the [[Dawnchant]], using information gained from Dalinar Kholin's visions. Progress updates were periodically sent from the researchers to [[Kadash]], an ardent of [[Dalinar Kholin]] whom was in contact with the [[Vorin]] research team and leader of Vorinism in Kharbranth. Research teams at the [[Holy Enclave]] in [[Jah Keved]] and the [[Jokasha Monastery]] on the [[Horneater Peaks]], also worked on the translation of the Dawnchant using the key provided by [[Navani]].{{book ref|sa3|50}}{{book ref|sa3|53}}{{book ref|sa3|i|2}}

=== 1174 ===
Following the coming of the [[Everstorm]], the Palanaeum was inundated with requests from across Roshar, for information regarding the Voidbringers. This increase made it difficult for other information to be requested, with Navani Kholin having to call in personal favors to be able to gain access to information on the [[Nightwatcher]] boons and curses.{{book ref|sa3|24}} 

When the translation of the [[Eila Stele]] is revealed to the Urithiru coalition shortly before the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], Taravangian claimed that the Jah Keved and Kharbranthian research teams came to the translation independently.{{book ref|sa3|111}}

== Structure ==
=== The Veil ===
The Veil is accessible from the Conclave and lies behind a pair of steel doors, intricately carved with a chart that is made up of circular and linear geometric pattern, as well as glyphs. The sides of the expansive room are smooth and incredibly tall, pocketed with small private balconies. The room is dark, with only small pockets of light from [[spheres]] that people use in the alcoves.{{book ref|sa1|7}} 

Elevators manned by multiple [[parshman]] are used to access the different levels within the Veil, with hallways carved into the stone surrounding the room allowing for access to the alcoves. Alcoves are turret shaped, with a large desk connected to the curved rim of the waist high balcony. A wooden railing runs along the top of the stone wall.{{book ref|Sa1|7}} 

=== The Palanaeum proper ===
The Palanaeum proper can be accessed from inside the Veil, through a smaller chamber that is filled with [[soulcast]] crystal partitions.{{book ref|sa1|7}} Past these crystals is a large cavern shaped like an inverted pyramid, with a walkway running down along the walls forming a giant square spiral.{{book ref|sa1|33}} This walkway extends down fifty-seven levels, and at the bottom of the room is a large infused diamond that marks the point of the inverted pyramid and aligns with the nadir.{{book ref|sa1|45}} A system of parshman worked lifts are available for use to access the various floors, though multiple lifts are needed to reach the lower floors.{{book ref|sa1|45}}

Filing cabinets found on the top level of the Palanaeum proper contain an index of the material within the library, based on the date that they entered the Palanaeum.{{book ref|Sa1|33}} Books and documentation are stored within smaller rooms that have been carved into the rock of the Palanaeum proper.{{book ref|sa1|33}} These rooms contain tall bookshelves, each with a symbol carved on the end reflecting the date the documentation was received.{{book ref|Sa1|33}} Troughs containing a moisture absorbing powder can also be found within these rooms to control humidity levels.{{book ref|sa1|33}}

==Trivia==
* The Palanaeum was named for [[Pailiah]] the [[Herald]]. It's name is based off the Greek word "Athenaeum".{{wob ref|10562}}
* It was partly inspired from the ancient [[wikipedia:Library_of_Alexandria|Library of Alexandria]].{{wob ref|12099}}
* An [https://github.com/Palanaeum/palanaeum open-source project] created by [[17thshard.com|17th Shard]] for archiving and transcribing Words of Brandon was named after the Palanaeum.

== Notes ==
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{{Stormlight}}