(no subject)

[oblivium]

THE STOLEN TOMES

OOC NOTE [click to expand]

ooc note

Exploration logs aren't events per se, nor are they mandatory. They're another type of prompt, not unlike the Notice Board's -- albeit (typically) a bit more fleshed out. And they serve multiple purposes! We use them to explore uncharted territories, specific establishments in Stygia or an NPC's motives, for instance. They do sometimes moderately correlate to the overarching plot, and will most of the time offer some kind of reward: artifacts, new transformations, clues, boons, etc. These prompts are generally available during less eventful months and for an undetermined amount of time. Just like the Notice Board's, they might create great opportunities for CR building. You're absolutely welcome to share your discoveries!

---

You are approached by the chief librarian of the Academy, who explains that several important books have vanished, and that theft is suspected. Rather than admit that they have been lax in their duties, the librarians ask you to investigate the losses.

“Can I count on your discretion? We have been losing books. Well, not exactly losing … we think our books are being stolen. Naturally, it would not do for the Academy Elders to learn that we librarians have allowed important volumes to go missing. I’m asking you as a favor to discreetly find out what’s happening. We can’t offer much, but you would certainly have our gratitude.”

You enter the main hallway and are met with rows upon rows of colossal balconies, which stretch impossibly further than what the exterior of the building would suggest, housing seemingly endless rows of nearly identical bookcases. The shelves are filled with tomes both famous and obscure, innumerable in subject and author. All around, strange orbs of light seem to dance and glimmer about, as if sentient, through the bookcases and main hallway, as if to invite you forward. Books, both single and in small collections, levitate through the air, moving about as if to organize themselves back into their place - wherever that place may be. The scene is wondrous, chaotic, and oddly serene. The librarians lock the main doors behind you, and for a few hours, the library is quiet, allowing you to explore and search the place.

► STORAGE ROOM
Reams of parchment, blank vellum, quills, and ink are stored on shelves in this small area.

► CHIEF LIBRARIAN'S OFFICE
The head librarian’s chambers contain book-lined shelves, a desk, a small bed, a table, and chairs. It is homey and crowded, with decanters of fine liquor, jars of aromatic weed, and a collection of handcrafted pipes. The wall behind the desk looks a little odd, as if altered or repaired in the recent past.

► DOCUMENTS ROOM
The walls of this room are lined with shelves containing varied documents—old manuscripts, maps, records and the like—as well as several tables and chairs for study. Stairs go down to a basement that ends at a locked door. It contains various items including food and water, three tall statues, cleaning supplies... and skely-tons. One of them carries a rusty key in its mouth, which unfortunately doesn't unlock the door there.

► BOOKS YOU MIGHT COME ACROSS

► Under The Silver Moon: This book contains information on lycanthropy and the effects that it may bestow upon you. The author of this book makes lycanthropy sound like a REALLY good idea.
► Cooking with Grandma: This seemingly pleasant sounding book goes into great detail explaining how the flesh and bones of older humans can be used to make delicious food.
► Call of the Void: A strange tome written in an unknown language. Attempting to read it causes headaches and dizziness.
► Mnemotical Magic: This tome has moving pictures of funny situations and animals. Which seems like a humorous pass-time soon reveals that the magically animated graphics are powered by a curse, probably. Directing an open page to a person will also make them repeat the depicted action; if the page shows a dog wagging its tail, for instance, the targeted person will feel the urge to mimic exactly that.
► Bargains of the Netherworld: A mysterious memoir recording the author's descent into madness before murdering his family.
► Incredible Creatures and How to Kill Them: Details weaknesses monsters are known to have.
► Claiming the Crown: An Experienced Guide to Assassinating Royals. How to brew a poison, how to create a disguise, tips on wielding daggers, and more!
► Half-Human, Half-Darkling, All Man: Porn. It's porn.
► Nightwalkers: A well used guidebook of general information on creatures that hunt humans such as Nightweavers, Werewolves, and Hags.

If you go back to the Chief Librarian's chambers and investigate the wall, knock: it's hollow. There's a safe on the other side: unlock it with the key, and you'll find a diagram detailing three highlighted areas in front of three different statues. The basement. In truth, there are three pressure switches in front of each statue on there; when all three are pressed simultaneously, the locked door opens on a secret passage. However, if any weight is removed from the switches, the door is once again locked. Parties with 4 or more characters may make easy work of this predicament, but smaller parties may have to improvise and use books or furniture in lieu of other characters.

When all four switches are triggered, the hidden passage is revealed... and as you reach the end, you realize, too late, that it's a trap. The Chief Librarian stands before you, the glimmers of the library congregating around him; books begin to float, most likely the stolen tomes.

“It was a joy watching you run in circles. It would have been much quicker to just lock you in, but I'm in dire need of entertainment. I've been under the scrutiny of the Elders for a while, you see. So many of these tomes are filled with lies... It is my sworn duty to revise and redraft, but they would rather follow in those damnable stingers' footsteps. Well, no matter. These books will disappear with you, and the truth will finally adorn the shelves. You've been a most excellent decoy. May you rot in peace now as I continue my work.”

The door locks behind you, and the Chief Librarian lurches forward, transforming into a giant, monstrous beast. A werewolf, particularly weak against silver. If you're bitten or scratched, you'll experience your first transformation on the next full moon, which will also negate the alterations you may already be going through.

Once you've defeated the Chief Librarian, report to the Academy's Elders. They'll investigate the scene and reward you with a Slumberbook, which soothes and calms the listeners’ Shadows if read aloud. If you ask about the stolen tomes, now scattered across the ground among ripped robes, they'll hesitate and mention that 'the truth will rise when you gaze upon the cantilever stairs.' And with that, you're encouraged to leave, but not without an invitation to come back whenever you wish to browse the available collection of books.

being a were doesn't limit you to lycanthropy. you may choose to turn into any beast you like. available changes include:
► sharper canines, pointier ears, and claws
► longer hair, patches of fur anywhere on your body
► uncontrollable urge to turn into beast on full moons
► berserk-like behavior during transformations
► enhanced strength and agility, five senses heightened
► can turn others by scratching or biting them
► pack instinct
► memory loss and exhaustion after transformation
► transformations may be triggered by strong emotions
► may be cured by piercing the were's hands with silver nails

Comments

QUESTIONS

[oblivium]

chu wanning | husky and his white cat shizun

[rumination]

i. research

I am here to research something. [ chu wanning stares at the librarian, his expression severe and eyes frosty. he frowns as he listens, glare growing. a master at holding his body still, he doesn't betray his impatience with such a request, but it's there. when he speaks next, his tone is icy. ] Not find missing books. How is it possible you're losing them?

[ he sweeps past the librarian in casual dismissal, the sleeves of his white robes fluttering as he walks into the main hall, unheeding any protests the librarian might have. he really is at the library to research, with three areas of interest on his mind, and has little time for such trivialities as finding missing books or oddities around the library. someone probably improperly reshelved the books, and they will turn up without an issue. considering the floating books, it's unsurprising; how do they know the books aren't merely hiding?

the storage room is of use, and he grabs a few quills, some ink, and vellum. no point in researching if he can't write it down. otherwise, he spends time in the documents room, occasionally getting up to wander among the shelves. eventually, at some point, he asks the books: "What do you have on this Harvest Curse?" and "Bring me anything about engineering," to which the books shuffle and reorganize, and a few find their way into his hands.

they are not exactly helpful. chu wanning no sooner returns to his seat to open the book and discover a cookbook, which sounds atrocious and unspeakably terrible— is it really promoting cannibalism?— and a tome he can't read. or, on another trip, among the stack is a book that, when he opens it, immediately makes him flush and sputter and slam the book shut. (if he peeks again, it's only to make sure his eyes were not deceiving him, no other reason.)

if it gets too loud, for whatever reason, he will eventually raise his voice to scold whoever is making such a racket: ] This is a library and some of us are trying to work.

ii. wildcard

[ he is around the library but probably won't investigate anything suspicious. if he hears screaming or a ruckus, especially if someone seems like they might need help. feel free to throw starters at me, or if you'd like to plot, PP me at theasaurus/theasaurus#0842 on discord ]

Cedrik Reede | Final Fantasy XIV

[heavenstorn]

a) Just Browsing

[ Cedrik's not sure if he's the ideal choice for this task, but that won't stop him from giving his best effort. His help was asked for directly, after all, including a need for discretion. Hopefully the chief librarian won't mind if Cedrik recruits some help. Getting the books back is the most important thing, right?

For lack of a better place to start, Cedrik begins with the shelves. The place brings to mind certain other vast libraries he's visited, though the self-organizing books are a new touch. Not for the first time, he finds himself thinking back to friends of his who would love exploring such a place...

One of the floating orbs of light drifts along, falling in 'step' with him as if sensing his gaze and illuminating the various titles for his benefit. Cedrik lets himself be diverted away from those melancholy thoughts, plucking a particular title down that catches his eye. Flipping through the pages brings a wry grin to his face. ]

'Incredible Creatures and How to Kill Them'...interesting. It never hurts to brush up.

b) Investigating

[ Distractions behind him, Cedrik gets to work, starting with the basement. Perhaps their thief has a secret passage in and out of the library? It's just a hunch, but since those tend to work out in his favor, he'll follow up on it.

Below the documents room, the dark basement seems to be a different kind of storage. Cupboards and cabinets lined with foodstuffs which, if what he knows about scholars still holds true, is probably meant for the librarians or other researches to sustain themselves without having to leave their work. It's also remarkably clean...though nothing seems out of the ordinary.

At least not until he finds the three ominous statues. ]

...well these have to mean something. Can they be moved...?

[ As he goes poking around, giving each statue a testing push, a scuttling noise starts up from back the way they came. And it's getting closer. ]

c) Discovery

[ All that work, only to be betrayed. It's a maddeningly familiar feeling.

Cedrik grits his teeth, one hand already on the hilt of his sword as the chief librarian gloats. Instinct has him moving to stand between their foe and the other Restless he's been working with. Who knows what sort of magic they're up against, though he expects a mage of some sort...no choice but to bodily block whatever spells come their way and endure it--

The librarian transforming into a hulking, half-wolf beast is not what he expected. ]

Oh.

[ Cedrik adjusts quickly, drawing his greatsword just in time to get it between him and the werewolf's jaws. ]

Bloody hells!

d) Wildcard

(OOC: Give me your starter or, if you'd like to plot out something, you can reach me at purplesyrup or private message this journal.)

closed to silco;

[fallingsand]

[ Well, with Bruno already having been in the library looking for Jonas' cure, being asked to carry on looking for even more books was, to him, an acceptable sort of quest. Nice, quiet, not dangerous, surrounded by books; what isn't to like? ]

C'mon, think less of it as helping out of the kindness of your heart and, like, maybe you'll find a book they wouldn't let you normally see if we find the missing ones, yeah?

[ Coaxing Silco into lending an eye to search, however? Less nice. Much less nice. Bruno did know the man was inclined to gather information, however, and being given permission to pry into any corner of the library they like in their search has to be at least a little enticing. He hoped that would be it, anyway. Otherwise, he might be digging through books alone...

Not the worst fate but that wouldn't stop him from trying to convince him. Even cranky company in a huge library was better than no company at all. ]

kurosaki ichigo | bleach

[zangetsu]

the book is mightier...

（ every once in a while, you'll hear the softly ardent cursing of a teenager. who is this little punk, that's disturbing the sanctity of the library hush?

if you follow the sounds, you might realize soon there are accompanying sounds like what happens when someone swats a fly with a book. the sort of... open-palm thump of it all.

when you round the corner, finally, you are faced with quite a sight: a tall young man with vivid orange hair who is talking in a stern, urgent hush to a book that's labelled HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS AND LOSE YOUR VIRGINITY that seems to be... following him?

if you watch him for a while, you'll be treated to such vivid attempts at being free of it as: him stacking other books on top of it (doesn't work, makes a mess).

him trying to put the book forcibly on a shelf (doesn't work, follows him anyway)

him sternly talking to the book ('will you leave me the hell alone already?') and, unsurprisingly, that is equally ineffective.

him trying to stick it under a table. or in a bin. or just generally anywhere that isn't following him around, flapping its pages and trying to chew (in a very bookish sense) on whatever part of his body is most poorly protected at any given moment. he swats at it, he tries to duck away from it, and —

finally, in an explosively loud voice: ）

Do you fucking mind?

（ he hollers at the book. which immediately and obediently drops to the ground like a poor, dead thing. who dareth malign this sad, bereft book who was just trying to help? jail for shōnen hero. jail for shōnen hero for ten thousand years!! ）

a tale of three statues

（ ichigo is standing on one of the pressure plates. books are piled up on the second of the three, and as for the third... conspicuously absent of any items.

when he spots someone passing by, he'll call out: ）

Oy. I need a hand with something, c'mere.

（ do you dare? ）

（ second one can segue into Werewolf Fighting — good as an option for anyone who wants to see a shinigami in action!

happy to roll with wildcards as well, feel free to throw something my way! hit me up at seafaring if you'd like to do anything specific. ）