Unfinished Library Mod & NPC Account (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
libraryassistants) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
unfinishedlibrary2026-04-10 07:09 pm
libraryassistants) wrote in unfinishedlibrary2026-04-10 07:09 pm
Entry tags:
They say the gods never give us more than we can handle - Library Log
Who: Editors, with a guest Assistant or two
What: The Library begins to change once more
When: The two weeks leading up to the next Story
Where: The Library, obvi
Content warnings: Please add content warnings to threads!
Once again, the Library begins to change. The wooden floor becomes more like cobblestone (complete with ‘the ability to trip you up easily if you’re not watching your step’), and there’s some little flags that look like the kind of things you’d get handed at a festival. As the week goes on, little carts and stalls pop up around the Library - most don’t have anything, but there are a few where some familiar ‘faces’ pop up to offer their wares. It’s mostly rocks. Some of them are shiny, at least?
The customary ‘Back In 5’ sign is now missing from the assistant's desk, and in its place sits one of said Assistants. Additionally, there is the now expected sign on the circulation desk: “This week’s Recommended Reading: Paladin’s Grace!” Unlike the previous readings, it seems this one is fairly straightforward in that there’s no mix-up of copies or alternate forms of media. However, on request, it does seem that there are some sequels available for reading as well.
Available are also an assortment of other books, such as What Kings Ate And Wizards Drank by Krista Ball, Livre de Chevalerie by Geoffroi de Charny, and Life In A Medieval Castle by Frances and Joseph Gies. There is a waiting list pinned by these; the intention is clearly to share and not squirrel them away. Off to one side is The Forme of Cury, which the Library is NOT automatically translating into something more legible; some may have to ask for help to riddle out its many, many recipes. Religious symbols of countless faiths sit on walls or propped on top of bookshelves and even in the kitchenette and sleeping area, from a set of ornate old-fashioned merchant's scales to the Eye of Horus and even ... a colander full of spaghetti … ?
There's a new door added to the rotating locations, a scrawled note taped to it reading "Stop breaking things!" This door leads directly to an endless forest, with a cheerful clearing, soft grass and pleasant birdsong. Some lucky souls will recognize it as the current iteration of the Safe Room, now freely accessible from inside the library; coming and going is now effortless! That is, unless someone's sent there via destruction of property or injuring someone else, at which point they must wait out the usual duration. The day and night cycle remains, but now and again the sky clouds over, and pleasant spring rains sweep across the forest. These same rain showers are a regular occurrence in the garden for the next two weeks, at a rate of one every two days or so, lasting a little while before fading back to the usual climate and "weather".
The kitchenette is offering a change in food items; there's now a variety of hard cheeses, breads and salted meats to pick from, as well as dried fruit, pickles, eggs, river-fish, porridges of assorted forms, and uncooked roasts. Unfortunately things to actually cook the roasts with, like ovens or even a fire, haven't been provided alongside them. Drinks have changed to a small selection of rustic wines and extremely watered down ales. (Water is of course freely available.) The Laundry has acquired a large wooden tub and a washboard.
What: The Library begins to change once more
When: The two weeks leading up to the next Story
Where: The Library, obvi
Content warnings: Please add content warnings to threads!
Once again, the Library begins to change. The wooden floor becomes more like cobblestone (complete with ‘the ability to trip you up easily if you’re not watching your step’), and there’s some little flags that look like the kind of things you’d get handed at a festival. As the week goes on, little carts and stalls pop up around the Library - most don’t have anything, but there are a few where some familiar ‘faces’ pop up to offer their wares. It’s mostly rocks. Some of them are shiny, at least?
The customary ‘Back In 5’ sign is now missing from the assistant's desk, and in its place sits one of said Assistants. Additionally, there is the now expected sign on the circulation desk: “This week’s Recommended Reading: Paladin’s Grace!” Unlike the previous readings, it seems this one is fairly straightforward in that there’s no mix-up of copies or alternate forms of media. However, on request, it does seem that there are some sequels available for reading as well.
Available are also an assortment of other books, such as What Kings Ate And Wizards Drank by Krista Ball, Livre de Chevalerie by Geoffroi de Charny, and Life In A Medieval Castle by Frances and Joseph Gies. There is a waiting list pinned by these; the intention is clearly to share and not squirrel them away. Off to one side is The Forme of Cury, which the Library is NOT automatically translating into something more legible; some may have to ask for help to riddle out its many, many recipes. Religious symbols of countless faiths sit on walls or propped on top of bookshelves and even in the kitchenette and sleeping area, from a set of ornate old-fashioned merchant's scales to the Eye of Horus and even ... a colander full of spaghetti … ?
There's a new door added to the rotating locations, a scrawled note taped to it reading "Stop breaking things!" This door leads directly to an endless forest, with a cheerful clearing, soft grass and pleasant birdsong. Some lucky souls will recognize it as the current iteration of the Safe Room, now freely accessible from inside the library; coming and going is now effortless! That is, unless someone's sent there via destruction of property or injuring someone else, at which point they must wait out the usual duration. The day and night cycle remains, but now and again the sky clouds over, and pleasant spring rains sweep across the forest. These same rain showers are a regular occurrence in the garden for the next two weeks, at a rate of one every two days or so, lasting a little while before fading back to the usual climate and "weather".
The kitchenette is offering a change in food items; there's now a variety of hard cheeses, breads and salted meats to pick from, as well as dried fruit, pickles, eggs, river-fish, porridges of assorted forms, and uncooked roasts. Unfortunately things to actually cook the roasts with, like ovens or even a fire, haven't been provided alongside them. Drinks have changed to a small selection of rustic wines and extremely watered down ales. (Water is of course freely available.) The Laundry has acquired a large wooden tub and a washboard.
no subject
Is Illarion pestering? Almost certainly not, or he'd have been chased off. Curze isn't the sort to be bribeable, but he'll allow it for now. It's nothing he might not have agreed to anyway, but the offering helps a little. And tastes interesting, besides. "Hopefully they are not calling me that to others. I have a name." And it isn't 'sweetheart'!! .. Not that he actually bothers to tell people his name most of the time. "That they are willing to accept oversight further ensures no trouble is likely to happen. What do you mean by 'hole in your mind'?"
He's taking his time with that snack. The flavors are interesting.
no subject
(He may, eventually, figure out that "hunger signals not working properly anymore" bit.
If some other entity he tries very hard not to think about doesn't start working on it first.The Library might also run out of fresh fruit to keep Curze in good supply. All problems that are solvable.)
"Mmm. Don't know. Might be they took a liking to me because I suggested you." Or, you know, this is an elaborate way of teasing Night Haunter --
"They were the one to suggest it, and that I will get right of refusal on any of their tests." Further proof they took their business seriously.
... But, ah. The faint edge of antic energy -- of him almost, somehow, enjoying their exchange -- ebbs back into his usual corpse-stillness at the question. "The King of Eyes made me his puppet. His, and his Prince's." Night Haunter had divined the Prince of Locusts, and Illarion hadn't bothered not to explain her, so it's easy enough to start with names here.
"Seems like whatever -- hook, or wound, or command he put in to make me that way, other people can get at. The Orlock back in Montica took advantage. Think it's making me want to trail around after Guilliman like I've imprinted him, too. And you --"
He glances over at the bigger man, actually points at him for emphasis. "You can scare me when I don't scare anymore."
no subject
He can pin names on the cards he'd flipped more than two months ago, the names echoing comfortably with the glimpses of future. "I should hope I frighten you. I would be terrible at my purpose if I could not." But it's not something he tries to do all the time, and now certainly isn't one of those times. "But I can see why the rest is a concerning flaw, even if it is only ingrained habit responding to a competent commander."
That's as close of a nice thing he's ever going to say about the Lord of Ultramar's methods of running his legion. "It's also possible your previous masters maintain their hold. I have little practical experience with such sorcery, but if a compulsion can be placed, it is sensible it can be removed." And if Illumination was capable of doing it.. then why not?
no subject
He chooses not to explain. If Night Haunter notices -- likely, with his predator's attention to his surroundings -- and cares, he will ask for an explanation and it can be offered. If not, then not.
"The Assistants said he couldn't reach me here. Can't hear him anymore, either. And I don't feel -- " A pause. " -- much else he laid on me." One part of the compulsion remained, an itching, gnawing thing he'd need to feed sooner or later. But the rest of his acts, he's almost certain, are his own.
Had been his own.
"Regardless. The mage will help with it. Would prefer we can meet with them on it before the next Story." They may not be able to contrive a solution after one round of testing, but if they could get something into place, and if there were anything like the Orlock in the next Story ... That would also be a suitable test.
no subject
It doesn't really have the feel that Curze is terribly invested either way, his interest in Illarion is not entirely friendly, and possibly a bit hazardous. There is a certain necessity in cooperativeness of their situation. It may be in the future he'll have to rely on Illarion's good graces, so aiding him now is purely beneficial. "I have nothing else keeping me occupied presently, so when you've arrived at a good time between the two of you, come find me. If I am asleep, speak to my snake and it will wake me."
no subject
Tyrants, greater or lesser or otherwise, couldn't be domesticated the way reaper-hawks and their other little cousins could. They might be befriended -- if one were very mad, or very bold, or a mage, or all three -- but they always remembered where they were in the hierarchy of the world, and rarely curbed their power to destroy what offended them.
He knows what he's dealing with, in the primarchs. He knows what even the best of them might do to him and his world if it got in the way of what they'd been made for.
He --
also blinks, once, slowly, and as slowly tips his head over to one side at speak to my snake. " ... You mean an actual snake. That's not a barracks-joke about how you like being woken up." There was that one time they'd -- flirted???????? -- on the bulletin board but he's dead certain that Night Haunter is not, in fact, interested in him in that way.
no subject
The Night Haunter pauses, as what Illarion's saying actually registers. He knew very well what mortals got up to, he'd killed enough of them who didn't bother with little things like a willing partner. Even among his sons, some retained interest in pleasures of the flesh. He'd.. simply never felt any such similar drive.
But he does understand it, enough to quirk one jet black eyebrow, and then ... reach into a pants pocket and pull out a-- yep, that's definitely some kind of snake, a long black thing with little chiropteran wings and apparently by the fuss it kicks up, not at all being pleased with having its sleeping place disturbed. "I regret to inform you I have never possessed interest in such things. It is a snake."