Evander's Library

Lore & Background

The quest intertwines with the broader themes of Kingmaker: the burden of leadership and the cost of progress. Evander's knowledge often reveals the true nature of threats in the region, providing the player with critical insights that can alter the outcome of main story events. However, his isolationist philosophy clashes with the protagonist's need for allies and resources, creating a moral dilemma: should one respect Evander's wish to keep these secrets buried, or seize them for the greater good of the kingdom?

In Their Own Story

The rain lashed against the crumbling stone archway, masking the sound of my approach. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of rotting parchment and ozone. Evander stood before a towering shelf, his back to me, muttering incantations in a tongue that made my teeth ache. 'You seek knowledge,' he rasped without turning, 'but do you possess the wisdom to wield it? The Thassilonians did not fall because they lacked power; they fell because they forgot their humanity.' A shadow shifted behind him—a book bound in black leather, pulsing with a faint, malevolent light. I realized then that this library was not just a repository of facts, but a prison for things best left forgotten.

Reader's Guide

The arc begins when the player encounters Evander or hears rumors of his hidden sanctuary. The narrative hinges on whether the protagonist respects Evander's autonomy or forces their way in to claim the texts. Critical decision points include negotiating with Evander, attempting to steal the books, or convincing him that the new kingdom needs this knowledge to survive greater threats. If the player acts with diplomacy and proves their worth, Evander may willingly share his secrets, granting powerful items or information that aids in defeating major villains like the Harrowed. Conversely, forcing entry or betraying his trust can lead to a violent confrontation where the library's defenses turn against the intruder. In this path, the texts might be destroyed or corrupted, potentially weakening the kingdom's ability to handle future supernatural crises. The ending also affects Evander's fate: he may join the court as an advisor, remain in isolation with a grudge, or perish defending his life's work.

Did You Know?

• In Greek and Roman mythology, Evander (Ancient Greek: Εὔανδρος, romanized: Euandros, lit. 'abounding in good men and true') may refer to three distinct characters.
• One Evander was a Lycian king who succeeded his father Sarpedon, son of Zeus and Europa, in the kingship of Lycia, and married Deidamia, daughter of Bellerophon, having by her a son Sarpedon.
• Another Evander was a Trojan prince, bastard son of King Priam of Troy by an unknown concubine, captured in battle by Ajax the Greater or Diomedes and sacrificed at the funeral of Patroclus by Achilles.
• Evander of Pallantium, the wisest among the Arcadians, emigrated to Italy where he founded a city Pallantium, and was the son of Hermes and Carmentis, a nymph skilled in the art of divination.