LiberkinDisjecta membra
Unknown
Liberkin (Disjecta membra, "scattered fragments, etc.") are presumed EUB (actually Unknown) that either resemble books or have "book-like" features (limbs of paper, humanoids with books for faces, so on). Most commonly, they resemble flying tomes. A group of Liberkin is called a Libery, and they are often jokingly called "Literal-ture".
Liberkin are extremely attracted to anything that'd make up an actual library, and voraciously absorb their materials and knowledge to fill the own "pages". Books, etc. that Liberkin have fed on will appear empty and their pages can no longer be filled. Liberkin possess powerful bookbinding magics (similar to those used to create Tomes and Omnibi, yet applicable to even regular literature), although they do not appear to use Sourcery—only a mystifying likeness of it. When Liberkin pass on (or become fully inanimate), theytransform into "regular", noneroding books called Bookbound Liberkin (alternatively, Bookbound or just Bound); the extent of their lifespans appears to be affected by their diets. Liberkin "families" that form a "set" are dubbed Volumes.
Liberkin are well-known for their antiquarian proclivities; most resemble codices over modern-day books, and the overwhelming majority of Liberkin tend toward chronicling history in some way, be it of an individual or otherwise (a subclass called Historia). A variant of Liberkin called Memoria prefer to be penned in by an author over absorbing "nutrients" from existing texts. Memoria are far less "wild" and will (though not always) take on an aged, journal-esque form, with many simply being kept as diaries, used to journal, etc. Not all diary-esque Liberkin are Memoria, and Memoria behavior can overlap with other subsets of Liberkin. Nonspecifically, such conduct classifies a Liberkin as a Manuscript; this term is typically paired with a more specific type (e.g. Historia Manuscript).
Another variant of Liberkin, Perpetua, takes on the appearance of an unending scroll rather than a book, and often showcases a mixture of typical Liberkin and Memoria behavior. Eerily, Perpetua continue to fill past their supposed deaths, albeit in an undecipherable language, and many authors speak of a nigh-unbreakable "compulsion" to fill them—whether the Perpetua is alive or dead. For this reason, the bulk of Perpetua are sealed in some fashion, and to read them requires vigilant monitoring by someone resistant. The parchment of Liberkin—particularly that of Perpetua—is heavily researched for its longevity, yet has thus far not been replicated.
Tomes and Omnibi are not exempt from Liberkin tastes. To Starlyngs, Liberkin are generally regarded as pests (Archivists, Reapers, and Ones are especially exasperated with them). However, Liberkin are not without their enthusiasts: avid collectors and tamers of Liberkin known as Curators (or, more formally, Bibliognosts) will fill their shelves with them. These amassed collections of Liberkin are called Compendiums and may be perused like a regular library (save for some... poltergeist-like activity). Many sections of the Sanctum, Ephemeris, and Rebis are filled with Compendiums of Bookbound Liberkin.
It is frowned upon for Curators to hide away or treat Liberkin (and knowledge overall) poorly, no matter how annoying they might be. Those who do are dubbed Bibliotaphs.
While there is no known heirarchy amongst the Liberkin, they are theorized to be descended of the highly sought-after Grimoire Grisaille, the only sentient Liberkin amongst them. Grimoire Grisaille disdains pursuers and rarely offers much beyond choice words and a taste of horrendous, unclassifiable magic. It is, however, receptive to a polite approach, and appears to enjoy a moderate amount of conversation, particularly that of the intellectual variety. That being said, Grimoire Grisaille is not especially forthcoming when pried, and has thus far spurned most interrogation efforts.