Edwin M. Vitra

Edwin M. Vitra is, as far as anyone knows, a demi-human, hailing from Lirgal. He is the Founder and current Director of the Grand Vitra Library in Lirgal, as well as a member of the Lyredai (Lunar Council), the executive body of Lirgal. He is most well known for being the architect of the Grand Vitra Library, as well as being the only member of the higher Lirgalyn government to not align himself with the state religion, Asitir, instead choosing to remain agnostic.

Edwin first arrived in Lirgal at the docks during a local celebration, assuming to have washed up after being caught in a storm (though this is mere speculation). He was quickly welcomed to the city of Lirgal with open arms, and through his contributions to the city through his architectural designs and civic duties, including a mass clean-up of Lirgal's alleyways, as well as showing promise as a budding diplomat, he was quickly fast-tracked through Lirgal's government, all the way to the Lunar Council, appointed to the position by Aldara Ellan shortly before her sudden disappearance.

As Lunar Councilor, Edwin has overseen many projects, including the erection of Lirgal's City Hall, the contruction of the city of Alavanea (founded and designed by Maeve Avakor), the signing of multiple treaties concerning external affairs, and, of course, the construction of the famous Grand Vitra Library.

He currently resides in the Southwatch district in the city of Lirgal, down the street from his beloved Library.

Early Life/Arrival in Lirgal
Next to nothing is known about Edwin's past, or about his life in general before coming to Lirgal. There are no birth records of him, no family members to speak of, no friends beyond those he has made within Lirgal since his arrival - for all intents and purposes, it seems that Edwin simply appeared from thin air and settled in Lirgal.

The earliest records of him are first hand accounts, saying that one day, during a small celebration at the docks, Edwin washed up in the Lirgal harbor, and after waking, quickly joined in the celebrations; singing, dancing, and asking endless questions about both the city and the surrounding region. It was during this party that he met Gael Uí Néill, an influential figure in the literary and historical communities of both Lirgal and the greater Aldoviri region, as well as a member of the Lunar Council. The two shared drinks and spoke at length all through the celebration, and afterwards, Edwin received a tour of the city from the author and was given the keys and deed to a small house just north of the Siralua (Temple), where he quickly settled down and immersed himself in the community he had found himself in.

Appointment to Lunar Council/Disappearance of Aldara Ellan
Very quickly, Edwin became an active member of the community, devoting himself to it's betterment. He assisted in the cleanup of Lirgal's backstreets and alleyways, assisted in the designing of multiple new buildings, donated many resources to Lirgal's communal storage, and even gave suggestions for small scale reformations within the city, which helped to bolster the city's finances. His efforts were noticed, and alleged discussions were held within the lower governments of the country to bring him into the fold. Then, out of seemingly nowhere, he was invited by Aldara Ellan to her residence in Lirgal, for reasons that were never made public.

They spoke throughout the night, and by morning, Edwin was seen leaving the residence, with an expression witnesses described as a mixture of shock, confusion, and determination. Within days, Aldara suddenly disappeared, leaving Lirgal without a Lunar Council for the first time in it's history. However, the next day, Edwin was seen entering the city hall and, according to witnesses and government officials, announced that Aldara had appointed him as her replacement on the Lunar Council. To legitimize his claims, he produced the keys to both Aldara's office and the archives, as well as a copy of the Lirgal Edicts, the highly secretive and confidential documents describing the inner workings of the Lunar Council. This was enough to convince the Lirgalyn government of the legitimacy of his claims, and so it was officially announced the next day that Edwin M. Vitra had been appointed as the newest member of the Lunar Council; it was also announced that Aldara was officially missing. When questioned about her disappearance, Edwin simply said, "She's moved on to the next bit." He refused to elaborate.

Immediately after his appointment, he began making changes to how Lirgal was run. His first act was to update their record keeping process, focusing on efficiency and accuracy, ensuring the city's archives were also updated to reflect this change. He also increased educational funding, and approved the renovation of the local university. After these and many more small changes, he turned his attention to his pet project of a new Library.

His attention was quickly caught by a new citizen in Lirgal, Kali Rochelle-Orne'Valerin. Noticing her many contributions to Lirgal's social and economic infrastructure, he found himself impressed by her work ethic and efficiency, and appointed her to Taivaredai (Astral Council) so as to give her more power and freedom to continue and expand her work within the country. Immediately exceeding his expectations, she began to bring in new citizens in droves, and proposed the construction of multiple new homes and other buildings for the use of the aforementioned new citizens. Edwin saw great potential in Kali, and after much forethought, approached her with an offer to join the Lunar Council alongside him. She graciously accepted, and took her place within the Council.

Alongside his work in Lirgal's internal management, Edwin also worked on international relations. Co-signing a Non Aggression Pact with Galadonn alongside Kali, as well as being a signee of the Treaty of Sisters, the document outlining the joining of Lirgal to the High Kingdom of Yimmu-Audal.

The Grand Vitra Library
In his early days as a citizen of Lirgal, Edwin could often be found at the local university library, eagerly reading every book cover to cover; there were even days, very early on, where he would enter the university library and not emerge until the next morning, disheveled and exhausted. Additionally, he would spend any time outside of the library talking to anyone who would listen about the latest bit of knowledge he had learned from those tomes, to many people's amusement and the annoyance of many more. The most baffling thing, witnesses would say, was how basic some of the information was; the surrounding countries and their cultures, various plants and animals native to the region, the calendar's arrangement - it was strange how little the man knew about the world, yet was such an avid learner.

When he wasn't going on about all he had learned, he often complained about the severe lack of books the university had to offer. The university library was a small building to the left of the main university, and as such was only capable of holding so many books. And at the rate he was reading, it wasn't long until Edwin had run out of books to read in that library. Frustrated and disappointed by the lack of books, wheels began to turn in Edwin's head. It wasn't long until he approached his friend Gael with a proposition: a new library, one unlike any Lirgal had ever seen, holding books from every corner of the world. He asked Gael for assistance in getting the project underway and gaining government approval, and graciously, he agreed.

From then on and through his appointment to the Lunar Council, and further beyond that, Edwin worked tirelessly, acquiring books, drawing up building plans, setting up organizational systems, and sorting out funding, all in preparation of his library. After months and months of hard work, a site for the project was chosen, the final plans were drawn, and he was on-site to witness the construction team break ground, and after only a few more months, where once sat a small gathering of trees and rolling hills, stood a grand, dignified structure, beyond all of his wildest dreams and exceeding all expectations. He had even picked out a name, using his own as inspiration. And so, the Grand Vitra Library was born.

To celebrate the grand opening of the Library, the Lunar Council decided to hold a festival, not just to celebrate the new Library, but to celebrate Lirgal itself, as well as the new district of Southwatch that the Library had been constructed in, culminating in the opening ceremony. Hundreds came, not just from Lirgal and it's surrounding towns, but from all over the continent, and some much further, all to see this grand Library. Speeches were given, drinks were had, and even a sign-in booklet was placed at the front desk, signed by every attendee of the ceremony. Congratulations were given, awe was shared, and Edwin shook hands with some of the most powerful people in the continent, and perhaps the world. If asked to recall the best night of his life, Edwin would most certainly remember that night, as he wandered the shelves of his Library, watching others enjoy his labour of love.

Current Life
Currently, Edwin is busying himself with the operation of the Grand Vitra Library, as well as the internal affairs of Lirgal. He can often be found in his office at City Hall, wandering the city and taking in the sights, or in the Archives of the Vitra Library.