Chapter One - The Library Dictator [Video]

[knowitowl]

[Now that things seem to have gone back to relative normalcy here in the land of Luceti, Wan Shi Tong decides that it is time to introduce himself to the community. Thus there will be a video feed of a very tall owl as he stands over his journal.]

Greetings citizens of Luceti, I am Wan Shi Tong, he who knows ten thousand things.

Due to my abduction from my own world and library, I have commandeered the one within this village. I will be the sole authority of the collection from this point on, and as such, there are a few new rules.

First of all, anyone who wishes to use the library must first offer new knowledge to add to the collection.

Secondly, none of the material within can be used for malicious intent. There is no exception to this. I do not care how noble your cause may be, whether it is against each other or our captors here.

Finally, I will no longer allow any materials to be removed from the building.

If these rules are not followed, there will be consequences.

Also, in regards to the last rule, all outstanding books and media must be returned for inventory. If you do not comply, I will send my assistants to retrieve them.

That is all.

[And with that the feed will end.]

Comments

[knowitowl]

Mm, yes you are right. At times I forget how simple minded humans are.

New information is that which is not covered in the library. [he thought this was obvious.]

Also, I have been adding information from my own world to the archives. I am contributing more than what I require from the rest of you. I would think that those that wish to learn would be most eager to share what they already know.

[action]

[unfringed]

How can I not? He's holding the blasted library hostage!

[He slams the book down onto the table, anger clear on his face.]

I was hiding things in there!

[knowitowl]

Of course you would not hear of it. Do you think they would confess? The rules here have been far too lax and have been exploited. I already know of several cases of theft.

[knowitowl]

I am aware of the Malnosso and the Third Party. I do not take sides. Violence and destruction is the same no matter what you call it or the reasoning behind it. It will also not change our situation.

Done!

[foundafamily]

[Well, that's weird. It's enough to make Firo pause for a moment, but only a moment.]

So? Anybody could figure that out.

[Birdbrain probably just read the name off the journal, and then maybe he recognized the accent. Despite definitely not being from Firo's world.]

[knowitowl]

Hm, that does sound intriguing. I will accept this.

[knowitowl]

Very well I will consider this. For now I ask you respect my rules. If you are sincere and give me no trouble I may revise this rule.

I suppose that will do. Enjoy the library.

[tearmeanewone]

[...wait really? Who would be stealing books from a library? What's the point when they're loaned out anyway?]

Well if you know of them, then why don't you punish those people instead of everybody? Just tell them they can't take out any books until they replace the one they stole! It's not hard, everything is free here anyway, it shouldn't be difficult for them to do.

Thank you! <3

[knowitowl]

[He takes that as permission to go on.]

You are from the era of The Great Depression, one of the most trying times in American history. You are also a member of the Martillo family, a branch of the Camorra.

[action]

[quantumtangled]

He can be reasoned with and your things may be returned.

[Stoic and stiff as ever.]

What have you hidden?

Sure thing! <3

[foundafamily]

[...And that's weirder. He knows he hasn't let anything like that slip during their conversation. And even if this guy is great at spotting gangsters, there's no way he could know the name of Firo's Family.]

Who the hell told you that?

[written, camera obscured]

[readytobe]

I do not. But I have never commandeered public property and attempted to restrict others' access to it.

Perhaps you could create your own library and enforce such rules there, but not in this one.

[knowitowl]

There is a great deal of information here. More than I suspect most realize. This is why it must be protected.

[spellfeather]

Ignorance can also enable violence. [All it takes is one person...] And if you kept people from using the library because they cannot fulfill your requirements, then you are keeping people ignorant! [And that's the last thing she wants, as it's just repeating the situation back in her world.]

Besides, there's books in there that are read for entertainment purposes. Some even bedtime stories for children, and not allowing those books to be removed from the library practically defeats the purpose of those type of books existing in the first place!

[misterbrief]

Fine. But I won't be spending hours on end trying to figure out what's already there. Until then, owl.

[And he goes away, closing his journal. Darn owl, getting him to agree to something like that. Who does he think he is! And he grumbles a little afterwards, cursing himself for letting himself be at the mercy to some owl to keep his auto-biography out of the wrong hands.

Atta boy Wan Shi Tong!]

[aerialassault]

And neither will putting all those rules in place-- in fact, that just makes it harder for the rest of us who are looking to defend ourselves from those guys.

Who, by the way, don't care that you're not taking sides. Like it or not, you're one of us now.

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette deflates a little at that "simple minded" remarked. In her case it's not exactly untrue, but still. Rude.]

But a lot of people share what they know, like, outside the library. Like, all the time. Does it really matter all that much whether it's written down or where it is?

[universal_charm]

Yeeeeah, if you say so.

But that thing you said - about us not being able to use the library anymore? That's not going to fly.

_{[ Haha, bird joke, get it. ]}

[action]

[unfringed]

I refuse to reason with someone who refuses to let anyone learn there! It's a public library, not his personal plaything!

And I found a box of Ho Hos.

[feistytrader]

[He bows his head briefly before showing the book he's held onto to the big owl spirit.]

I borrowed this from this library some time ago. Should I put it back where I found it, or would you like to take it?

[action]

[quantumtangled]

All he is asking for is new knowledge. Where did you hide them?

[forelocked]

Really? Thanks.

[That's it? It's true knowledge, but he hadn't thought it would be accepted.]

You know, it looks like a lot of people are angry at you over this, but you're not such a bad guy--bird--thing. You're all right.

[Most figures of authority he's familiar with are not so reasonable. Or reasonable at all.]

Where I'm from, they destroy "dangerous" books so nobody can have them--and they'd never let a poor person in their library.

[knowitowl]

If I truly wanted to keep knowledge from everyone I would have destroyed the books upon my arrival. I am keeping nothing from anyone. I am merely asking for responsibility in the use of the knowledge, new contributions to the collection, and issuing prevention of misuse. I fail to see how this is unreasonable.

Yes, someone else already pointed this out. I will consider making exceptions if I see sincerity. However, if it is proven that no one here can be trusted I will not be so lenient.

[knowitowl]

Keeping records is the best form as not everyone will learn everything from everyone else. That way it is available for all. Besides, I am not asking much.

[knowitowl]

There is a great deal of knowledge that can be misused and I shall protect it. Besides, I refuse to reason with someone who will not even show themselves.