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master_learn
Legendary Hero
walking to the library
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posted August 17, 2013 09:43 AM |
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"So,Trutha,what do you say about a walk to the main Watch house?"
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"I heard the latest HD version disables playing Heroes. Please reconsider."-Salamandre
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Geny
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
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posted August 18, 2013 05:41 PM |
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Trutha sighed.
"All right. We're really in a hurry here, but if that's going to help us start our journey, I suppose we should help this city. Besides, helping others is said to be a good thing for one's soul.”
And so the group made its way to the main Watch House – the home of Law and Order*. The house wasn't much to look at. Of course it wasn't the old hut it used to be back when Commander Vimes was a Captain, before he married the richest lady in Ankh-Morpork. Now it was a proper building with proper rooms, proper doors and proper lavatories. They were just very much neglected. Mostly because it is the nature of hard working people to neglect their home. How did policemen came by that behavioral trait is still a mystery to sociologists world wide.
As the group entered the Watch House they found themselves in the middle of a very heated conversation. An aged Watchman was asking a citizen some questions.
"So, you don't know who took it?”
"Oook.”
"And you don't know where it is now?”
"Oook.”
"But you're sure that it was stolen and not just misplaced somewhere within the Library? Some of those wizards must be pretty forgetful.”
"Oook Oook.”
"And why should we even care? It's just a bloody book after all.”
"Eeeek!”
The man asking the questions had an impassive face and eyes that glinted with the experience of one who glimpsed into the human soul one time too many. In certain circles he was known as Commander Vimes, in others Sir Samuel Vimes and some of his co-workers knew him as Old Stoneface. The concerned and very excited citizen was not a man at all, he was an orangutan known by all as the Librarian**. There were two more Watchmen in the room. One was a mountain of a man with red hair and gleaming armor, known and admired throughout the city as Captain Carrot. The other was a slim woman in comfortable clothes, known and feared throughout the city as Constable Angua.
"Alright, alright! Look, we're a bit short on people right now, but I'll send someone as soon as I can. Right?”
"Eeek!”
"Well, what do you want me to do, you stubborn mon... ape? Yes...”
*Although Captain Carrot was not the only one sleeping there.
**Working in the Library of the Unseen University is a high-risk job. An unfortunate accident turned the Librarian into an ape. The wizards offered to turn him back, he repeatedly refused and you don't argue with someone who can unscrew your head from your shoulders with his bare hands. So now the Librarian spends most of his time swinging around the bookshelves and contemplating such important philosophical questions like “where is the next banana going to come from?”
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Kareeah_Indaga
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted August 18, 2013 06:37 PM |
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Anatolios, having left while the group proper was still deciding to go, naturally arrived first. Fortunately for narrative, he was distracted by a fascinating bit of moss growing where no one had bothered to clean it up, and was crouched down examining it with his headgear while the rest trailed in.
But the conversation between Commander Vimes and the Librarian reminded him of his purpose in coming here so he stood up suddenly. "Ah yes! The book that can clear the Ankh," Ana made a beeline for the Librarian, practically ignoring the others in the room except to note absently (thanks to the various lenses and eyes of strange creatures built into his headgear) that the slender lady was a werewolf. "What does it look like?"
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Geny
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
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posted August 18, 2013 08:34 PM |
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"Ooook." Said the Librarian making gestures with his hands, indicating that it looks like a four dimensional object made out of multiple rectangular planes trapped between two bigger and harder planes which are connected with each other on one end of the bundle. Or in layman's terms: a book.
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Kareeah_Indaga
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted August 18, 2013 09:01 PM |
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"I see!" Anatolios replied. He was unexpectedly pleased to meet someone so well-spoken this far from Ephebe. "And what was its chromatic signature? It's gravitational and volumetric designation? And can you tell me the last geographical reading you last observed it possessing?"
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Adventures in Helnith has moved!
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Geny
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
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posted August 26, 2013 09:10 PM |
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"Oook Oook."
"He says it is rather big and heavy with black cover, ornamented with... bananas?" Captain Carrot translated to the best of his abilities.
"Oook."
"Bones, yes, ornamented with bones. And it was last seen in the Library." Carrot looked at the group with interest. "I'm sorry, but I don't seem to recognize most of you. Are you new in town?"
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Kareeah_Indaga
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted August 28, 2013 03:17 AM |
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Anatolios gave the Librarian as much attention as he was capable of giving anything that wasn't one of his inventions or experiments—the result being that he still came off as rather scatterbrained. "Bones, you say? Fascinating," Ana replied. "Actual or facimile?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't seem to recognize most of you. Are you new in town?"
Ana turned to face Captain Carrot as though abruptly remembering he was there, and never mind he'd been speaking before this. "Of course, of course, my name is Anatolios, of Ephebe; I came to your fine city looking for components for one of my new inventions."
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Geny
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
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posted August 28, 2013 05:01 PM |
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"I hope you're enjoying yourself here.” Commander Vimes' voice was dripping with sarcasm, “Ankh-Morpork is a lovely city to visit this time of year. You should check our local landmarks and tourist attractions. Only this place is not one of them. This is the Watch House. So unless you came to report a crime and preferably give yourselves in, I suggest you continue your tour elsewhere.”
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War-overlord
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
Presidente of Isla del Tropico
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posted August 28, 2013 05:29 PM |
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During most of the conversation, Wolfram had been taking notes. As much to help with the search for the book as to help him craft the story of these events later on. This was turning out almost too good to be true. This tale was turning out to be too ridiculous to make up and those were the best kind.
He had snatched some paper and some writing implements of a table in the watchroom to take his notes with. Quietly snickering to himself as he wrote things down.
"I hope you're enjoying yourself here. Ankh-Morpork is a lovely city to visit this time of year. You should check our local landmarks and tourist attractions. Only this place is not one of them. This is the Watch House. So unless you came to report a crime and preferably give yourselves in, I suggest you continue your tour elsewhere.” The watchman in charge said brusquely
"Actually," Wolfram piped up, "we're here to lend a hand, most of us at least. As unbelievable as it may sound. The watchmen are keeping the gates closed untill this book is found. And as we like to get out and hop a caravan, today if any way possible, we figured the fastest way out of the city is by finding and handing in the book. You know what they say: "If you want something done, you gotta do it yourself.""
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Vote El Presidente! Or Else!
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Geny
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
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posted August 30, 2013 04:57 PM |
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Edited by Geny at 12:14, 26 Sep 2013.
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"They do say that a lot, don't they? Funny thing though, I've never seen any one of them actually do something. However, if you really have nothing better to do, I won't say no to some extra help. Captain Carrot.”
"Yes, sir!”
"Escort the Librarian to the scene of the crime. Take Constable Angua and these volunteers with you.”
"Yes, sir! I hope we find a Clue.”
"Oh, yes... Crossing my fingers here...”
The group proceeded to the Unseen University Library. The building was located on the University premises, but no one argued with the Librarian when he brought with him a sizable group of complete strangers. No one tended to argue with the Librarian at all. You couldn't really win a debate, when the other side's winning argument was to bare its fangs in your direction.
Once inside the Library, the Librarian escorted the group to the lower level. This is where the really dangerous magic books were kept. Here every book had a cell of its own. Some of those cells steamed, others screamed, but all were tightly locked. The Librarian came to one of the doors, opened a small looking window, peered inside and finally unlocked the door. Inside it was a big pedestal that looked as if it was made of bones. Chains hung loosely around it. There was a massive lock lying on the floor beside it. It was unlocked. Captain Carrot approached the pedestal and read the inscription out loud.
"Necrotelicomnicom. What does that mean?”
"Oook.”
"The name of the book? Sounds strange. Is it really dangerous?”
"Eeeeeek!”
"That much? Then we must find it quickly. Who could have taken it, do you think?”
Constable Angua shrugged.
"Search me. I can't... sense him. Something is... interfering.”
"I heard there's a whole Guild of thieves in the city.” Trutha commented in a worried voice. “It must be one of them.”
Angua shook her head.
"Doubt it. They usually stay clear from here.”
"Afraid of the wizards?”
"Afraid of the Librarian.”
"There was this one time. You weren't on the Watch yet.” Carrot explained, “Some thief stole a book that could summon a dragon. It was my first real mission. Those were the days... Of course, it could be someone else this time around. Could a wizard who wanted too much power.”
"Could be an assassin. By the looks of it the book is tied with death. He could try using it as a weapon.”
"I don't think so. Assassins pride themselves with their own arts.”
"Until one of them pulls out a Gonne.”
"True...” Carrot look thoughtful for a moment, then he turned to the rest of the group. “And what do you think, our valiant volunteers? Any ideas on who did it or what we should do? I am of course asking to gather as much ideas as possible and not because I don't know how to proceed.”
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Kareeah_Indaga
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted August 31, 2013 12:30 AM |
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Fascinated, Ana peered through his headgear at the doors. Any one of them could have occupied the entire rest of his day even being restricted to the hallway.
Fortunately for his short attention span it occurred to him that he should adjust his headgear to see the magical phenomenon better—and this was sufficiently difficult to do with it still on his head that he was distracted all the way to their destination.
“And what do you think, our valiant volunteers? Any ideas on who did it or what we should do? I am of course asking to gather as much ideas as possible and not because I don't know how to proceed.”
"Of course, of course." Ana distractedly looked around the room once, then peeled off his headgear (revealing an epic case of hat-hair) and shoved it into the arms of the nearest person so he could properly adjust it. ((I'll take volunteers, otherwise Trutha.)) "Hold this please."
That lens needed to be extended some, to properly magnify the light...prod that mirror a little bit...spray a little wine on that eyeball to see the octarine in the light spectrum better—ah! That ought to do it! Ana took his headgear back and restored it to its place on his head, then examined the room more thoroughly.
((Do I find any clues?))
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NoobX
Undefeatable Hero
Now, this is a paradox...
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posted August 31, 2013 10:12 AM |
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"My guess would be that the book was stolen by someone who knew how to use it. What would a thief do with this book? Nothing - he doesn't know how to cast spells. So I'm guessing it would be some evil wizard."
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Ghost said:
Door knob resembles anus tap.
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Geny
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
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posted September 03, 2013 06:16 PM |
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@Ana
The inventor put his device back on his head. His sight submerged into an ocean of octarine light – the eighth color, the true color, the color of magic. There was so much of it down in the basement that Ana, with his amplified sense of sight, could barely see past it. If the book was still in the room he would have probably gone blind. Unfortunately, the residual light given off by the the most powerful grimoires on the Disc made it impossible to follow the magical tracks left by the stolen book. There might have been something else there, but the various lenses on his head fed so much octarine light to his eyes, that the latter didn't have any room for any finer details.
@Ethan
"Not necessarily.” Captain Carrot was the one to answer, “Thieves could steal it for someone else. The Guild doesn't take as many outside jobs as the Assassins, but it does happen. And of course there those brave enough to work outside the Guild. Still, you have a point. Even if the thief himself has no use for the book, there must be someone who has. But how do we find him?”
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War-overlord
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
Presidente of Isla del Tropico
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posted September 03, 2013 06:57 PM |
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"Am I the only one who finds it odd that there are no signs of forced entry? None whatsoever." Wolfram asked nobody in particular.[OoC:if there are, you should say such things]
"If that is the case, we should assume that whoever stole the book has access to this room," he continued thinking out loud. "Or means of aquiring such acces from somebody who does."
As an afterthought he added: "Unless this book has or can sprout limbs and escape on it's own accord. You never know with these magical thingamabobs. It can't do that, can it?" He asked, glancing at the ape.
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Vote El Presidente! Or Else!
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Geny
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
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posted September 03, 2013 08:22 PM |
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Edited by Geny at 20:55, 03 Sep 2013.
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“Oook oook ooooook.”
"He says all the books are carefully contained each one depending on its type of magical power. He makes sure they stay contained. Very sure.”
"Oook”
"The door was unlocked when he saw the book was gone. As was the lock on the chain that held it to the pedestal. However, all the locks were regular locks, nothing magical. Something about too much magic here as it is and too many wizards who can manipulate it, but can't tie their shoes if their life depended on it.”
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War-overlord
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
Presidente of Isla del Tropico
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posted September 03, 2013 08:37 PM |
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"So....any mook that can pick a padlock could've gotten in here? That complicates things."
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Vote El Presidente! Or Else!
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Kareeah_Indaga
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted September 04, 2013 01:37 AM |
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Geny
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
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posted September 04, 2013 11:10 AM |
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The room clearly wasn't used much and once Anatolios adjusted his headgear it wasn't hard for him to spot the fresh footprints on the floor. Most of them must have belonged to the adventurers themselves, but there were some prints around the pedestal where no one of the group had time to go. The footprints resembled more the prints of normal boots rather than the pointy shoes of a wizard. Ana could see them leading away from the pedestal, but they got mixed up with the adventurers' prints and were completely unidentifiable by the time they reached the door. Upon further inspection, the inventor found something else: a small piece of leather was lying near the pedestal. It looked very old – all dried up and cracked.
Meanwhile, Captain Carrot continued his conversation with Wolfram.
"People don't usually steal from the University. You never know what all those magical artifacts will do to you. So a normal lock is usually enough. Only this time it wasn't.” He scratched his head thoughtfully. “This is the part when we start Making Inquiries, but I'm not sure where to start.”
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Kareeah_Indaga
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted September 07, 2013 04:55 PM |
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"Fascinating." Anatolios made exacting notes and measurements of the footprints, and examined the piece of leather carefully through the lenses of his headgear. The effect of scholarly attention to detail was spoiled somewhat as he then began yanking up peoples' feet for comparison (including his own), and holding the bit of leather next to their clothes.
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master_learn
Legendary Hero
walking to the library
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posted September 14, 2013 07:58 AM |
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"Even if the thief himself has no use for the book, there must be someone who has."
Brian thought for a while about the possible use a magic book would have.
"Might I share an idea with,you,Sir?"-he said to Captain Carrot-"It is based on rumors though.As I have never been to this place,I have heard only rumors,concerning the Library."
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"I heard the latest HD version disables playing Heroes. Please reconsider."-Salamandre
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