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]

You would be surprised.

For instance. In my world a man came to my library and found information on a spirit that led him to killing it. His act nearly plunged the mortal world into ruin as a result.

[knightofratatosk]

He did all that just from reading a book?

[Okay, that's... kind of scary.]

Still, how do you know he wouldn't have found that information some other way? What if he'd asked around until he found someone who knew how to kill it?

[knowitowl]

He discovered the identity of the mortal moon spirit. He wished to conquer the Northern Water tribe by taking away their waterbending which is dependent on the moon.

[knightofratatosk]

Oh.

[That hits a little close to home for him. What would happen if people from his world found out what he really was?]

I think there are people who would try to do things like that even without the help of books. There are always some people who want to have power, no matter what it takes to gain it.

[knowitowl]

That may be true. But why enable them further? Would you give a sword to someone who can already overpower you with his bare hands?

[knightofratatosk]

But what if you're also keeping that knowledge away from someone who could use it to help others? How can you tell who is going to do a good thing with it and who is going to do something bad?

[knowitowl]

I am not keeping it away. You can still read within the library.

[Sigh. Can't you people read?]

Obviously I can't. Hence the rules. Would you rather I destroyed the library?

[That would solve the problem now wouldn't it.]

[knightofratatosk]

No, of course not. But telling people they can only read in the library still isn't going to stop the people who want to hurt someone else. They'll just do their reading there.

[knowitowl]

Then how would you propose to keep it from being abused?

[knightofratatosk]

I don't think you can. At least, not without hurting a lot of people who aren't doing anything wrong at all.

[knowitowl]

In many societies, rules are made when someone does something that is unacceptable. Everyone suffers as a result. It can not be helped. I can at least do my best to prevent as much abuse as possible.

[knightofratatosk]

You can make rules without making other people suffer, though.

I just don't believe that there isn't a way to compromise.

[knowitowl]

Tell me little boy. Do you have someone you love?

[knightofratatosk]

[...]

W-what? What does that have to do with anything? And why do you think I would tell you something like that?

[knowitowl]

[...]

I will take that as a yes.

[Moving on.]

And would you not protect the person you love even if it means harming another?

[knightofratatosk]

Well, of course I'd protect them, but that doesn't mean I'd want to hurt someone else! I'd try to find a way that didn't end up with anyone getting hurt.

[knowitowl]

If you had to you would.

This is what I love, and I will protect it.

[knightofratatosk]

I'm sure there are other people who would want to help you protect it too, just... not like this. There has to be a better way.

[knowitowl]

If you can find one then I may consider it. Until then this is how it will be.

[knightofratatosk]

Then I'll find one, for the sake of everyone else in the village.