The Sword, The Key, The Bee

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Are you selling the dice? My sister is a huge fan; adores the book

They're a custom set - Ms. Morgenstern mentioned them here.

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What happens if someone have a panic or anxiety attack while spending time in the Starless Sea?

It depends where you are when it occurs. If you are in your private chambers, your dumbwaiter will chime, and a portion of your favorite comfort food will appear from the Kitchen, along with a note that will put you at ease in regards to whatever is bringing you stress. If you happen to be in one of the myriad reading rooms, you will be approached by either one of the Acolytes or one of the cats, and they will calmly lead you to a secluded, safe place to regroup for as long as you please.

Admittedly, it is a rare occurrence in these parts, safe and unhurried as they are. But we pride ourselves in being prepared for anything that may arise and make our residents less than perfectly at peace. And so...it will all be taken care of.

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You can find the most curious of relics scattered around the Harbor’s many rooms. This old pointer is not of much use anymore, not for anyone wishing to keep their place in a long page of text. But it has its charms, nevertheless.

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A book, too, can be a star, a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.

Madeleine L'Engle

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Some of the shelves hold ever smaller doorways, with ever smaller stories...

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One of the delicious little hidey-holes secreted away in the Harbor...

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Can you tell me where the nearest door is?

Go down your hallway, and make your way to your front door. There is a coat closet there, even if there isn't usually. If you rummage around in it for long enough, in the back of the closet, behind your favorite coat that you forgot and a backpack that you'd swear doesn't belong to you, you will discover a small door of about waist-height. It is secured with four tiny knobs, one in each corner. If you can figure out how far to turn them, and in what order, the door will open.

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Some stories have a mind of their own...!

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A quiet corner...

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Some stories are told in scent - you remove the stopper in the tiny bottle, and your mind is suddenly flooded with memories that are not yours, of adventures and wondrous sights, of tragedy and heartbreak, of a love for the ages and passion like you would not believe, of quiet evenings in a home you’ve never known but that brings you comfort like you’ve always dreamed of...

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After the fireworks, and the grand ball, there’s no nicer way to ring in the turning of the year...

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You should see the fireworks above the Starless Sea...the showers of golden sparks reflecting in the viscous surface of the honey is truly breathtaking...

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Nothing is more magical than when you stumble upon the Hall of Lights. The Starless Sea may not have true stars, but you will think you’ve been transported to the heavens when you make your way through the golden, flickering flames that hover by the thousands in the air of the cavernous hall. It only appears around the darkest months of the year, to remind everyone in this wonderful warren of stories that there is always light in the darkness.

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The variety of seasonal drinks that the Kitchen can provide are truly endless - spiced, warmed, mulled, creamy, noggy, brewed, shaken, and stirred...whatever will make your spirits light!

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There is no better way to spend Christmas Eve in the Harbor than by partaking in the tradition of Jólabókaflóðið - each year, a beautifully wrapped package will appear with the dinner of every current resident. The card will simply read “From The Kitchen”, and it will contain a perfect set of your preferred style of nightclothes or loungewear. Wrapped in the soft folds of fabric will be a single book. It will be exactly the perfect volume for you, just the story you need in that exact moment, be it distraction, or adventure, education, or mind-expansion. Written inside the front cover will be the instructions to don the cozy pajamas, or silky robe, or soft gown, and spend the night reading your book in front of the fire. Accompanied by a hot drink or refreshingly crisp cocktail before you even realize you want it (but you will indeed realize just that the moment your dumbwaiter dings), perhaps a midnight snack and a visit from one of the resident cats...what could be better?

(for more information about Jólabókaflóðið, click here)

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Some of the stories here are...more vivid than others.

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The candles that deck the communal dining halls at this time of year are covered in gold dust, shimmering and glittering in the flickering light of each other as they illuminate the high ceilings of the halls. And they never seem to stain the tables with wax - only emanating small waves of warmth, and casting you and your dining companions in a honeyed glow...