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

[video]

[ribbonbon]

[She's not exactly the type of person to argue with a huge talking owl, but she's started actually making use of the library and this could be something of a problem.]

Um...Isn't that like, a little unfair, though? I mean for some people, everything they know is probably already in some kind of book in the library. [Some people like her for example.] It's like, kind of hard to offer new information when you don't have any.

[knowitowl]

You mean to tell me you know nothing beyond what is kept in this library?

[Excuse him if he finds this a little hard to believe.]

[ribbonbon]

H-Hey, like, I never said me specifically.

[It was totally what she meant, but she's trying to hold on to the small pile of pride she's scooped together during her time here.]

But I...uh, lots of people use the library to kind of, you know, learn more about the stuff they already know. [She frowns thoughtfully.] Besides, it would be impossible for someone read everything in the library, right? Like, how could I even know if what I know is new or not?

[knowitowl]

It is not impossible for me.

[ribbonbon]

But like, you're not the one who has to come up with new stuff for the library, you know? And what counts as like, new anyway? Is it new if it's not in the library or is it only new if no one else knows it? Does it only count if it's important or can it just be like...whatever? Or what if someone just makes up something, but it ends up being true later? Would it count then?

[She's not trying to be a bother, really. But the more she thinks about it, the more questions present themselves to her to in turn present to him...even if some of these questions are a little preposterous.]

I um, I still think it's like sort of unfair, but you have to be like, specific with rules, you know? That way everyone knows exactly what's allowed and what's not!

[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.

[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?

[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.

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette thinks about that for a moment. She supposes that asking people to add new stuff to the library isn't so much to ask. She's sure people will figure out something new to add. She nods.]

I guess you're right...if new stuff is added people might find stuff they never thought to ask about.

Still, um, it still might be a good idea to let people borrow stuff. Even if someone takes notes, it's kind of hard to write down, like, 10 pages of instructions or whatever, you know? I mean, if we had a copy machine or something, it probably wouldn't be a big deal but, like, good luck getting one of those.

[knowitowl]

I will take this into consideration.