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]

[Wan Shi Tong does!]

Absolutely not.

[misterbrief]

[But Wan Shi Tong, you could be the strongest owl in the whole enclosure if you spent that time training instead!]

Oho, that's where you're wrong, friend. When and if those books arrive, they'll find themselves joining the rest of the volumes- in ashes on my bedroom floor.

[knowitowl]

Neither am I.

[Humility is also a virtue he lacks.]

That is something they will have to accept. I will protect this knowledge with all my power, and in doing so I will be protecting them as well and assuring that all knowledge is available to everyone.

[windandrain]

That, unfortunately, is not acceptable.

[She rests her hands on a table, clawlike nails tapping on the woods.]

I will be blunt. Some of the people here exist as fictional characters in other people's worlds. Many of those individuals do not wish those materials be made public. You do not have the right to keep that knowledge here for the public, if they desire it to be kept private.


I understand your desire to safeguard knowledge, but the private lives and pasts of individual residents are not yours or anyone else's to pry into.

[Voice]

[spellfeather]

[Hello Wan Shi Tong, that little snowy owl is back!]

I don't recall that such rules would be appropriate for a library that isn't a private one. [And she sounds very bitter!]

[knowitowl]

Hm. I did not consider this.

[ he is willing to be reasonable and hear her out.]

What then do you propose?

[windandrain]

You're new. Of course you didn't.

[Her nails continue to click.]

Allow the removal of such materials from the library. They aren't for you or anyone else to read. Period. That is the only real option with regards to those books. Allow the people who are featured to decide ultimately what they do and do not want public.

[knowitowl]

[He would rather train his mind kthx.]

Would these volumes contain something of a personal nature?

[knowitowl]

[Well hello again little friend.]

I believe these rules are even more important now considering the circumstances.

[spellfeather]

Those being? [She's going to make an attempt to understand why first before her anger shoots up like a rocket.]

[knowitowl]

[ He considers this for some moments. While he has some misgivings, Wan Shi Tong is not a malicious spirit. He merely wants to protect.]

Very well, I will allow this. I will trust that your judgement is sound, and at that I would hope we can reach an understanding.

[knowitowl]

Considering that this library holds a wealth of knowledge from various worlds including weaknesses of species and weapons. What is to stop someone from exploiting them?

[knowitowl]

Is that so? Then I look forward to it.

[takesyoubytheheart]

Nice ta meetcha. The name's Mickey mouse!

[knowitowl]

Yes, I know.

[windandrain]

I believe we have. You're in a new world, and I know how difficult adaptation can be, but you'll have to make some sacrifices.

[She stops tapping her fingers, resting her palm on the wood instead.]

With regards to the rest of your rules, I don't particularly care and I can abide by them with some allowances. I've written and left entire volumes of tales of my life in this library, I trust that to be sufficient payment. I reserve the right to remove them at any moment.

[She gives him a flat look.]

And I will continue to read outside in the library's gardens when it's warm. You're welcome to request collateral each time I take a book outside and to check that I return it, but you have my word I will not steal anything.

[knowitowl]

[Wan Shi Tongs expression is flat as well, as it has been the entire time. Though an owl face doesn't leave much room for expression anyway.]

This is acceptable.

[He trusts her far more than he would any mortal.]

voice;

[unfringed]

How can you call yourself someone who knows ten thousand things and not know that what you do deprives others of knowledge?! Despot! Tyranny!

[spellfeather]

You have a point. However, in regards to weaponry that can be learned within the tomes of the library, if we don't meet the requirements of your rules, then how else are we going to learn anything new to help defend ourselves when it comes to possibly facing the Third Party? As far as I know, no one here is interested in dying, and learning from others can only do so much. A few books may be helpful to learn from if no one has much of any knowledge about how to use, or even build necessary items that could help us.

Re: voice;

[knowitowl]

[Sigh. Humans.]

It is these particular violent tendencies of you humans that have led me to this. Your insults will not get you anywhere.

[takesyoubytheheart]

[Wait.]

... Huh? How'd ya know?

[windandrain]

[Well, with that settled, she nods. She just saved you, Wan Shi, you just don't know it yet. And...with regards to the second rule she hardly needs a book to tell her how to be malicious. She is that already, when she wants to be.]

Good. Now, introductions. Do you know who I am?

[Easiest to just play that game, really.]

Re: voice;

[unfringed]

It is not an insult, it is an observation of fact! Your rules will deprive many of the enclosure of their opportunity to learn. How can you call yourself a librarian if you don't allow people to learn?! It's practically criminal and it will only encourage people to use underhanded means to get what they should be getting freely!

[misterbrief]

[Nerrrrrd]

What they contain is none of your concern. Just don't get in my way when I show up to claim them.

[knowitowl]

So you would destroy the Third Party? Do you honestly believe that destruction for reasons of self preservation is any nobler or different from theirs?