The Labyrinth Library

[Jalorn]

Julius walked into the cluttered shop, a small bell ringing upon his entry. The manager of the store did not turn from his work, but grumbled, "Have a look around if you like, but if you plan to sell you best try another shop. Bloody philosophers are gonna rob me blind."

Julius smiled, then chuckled, "I'm just here for the news, Phineas."

The shopkeeper turned and met Julius' gaze, his expression changed from irritation to joy.
"Julius?"

"Aye. I'll be in the city for a few days, maybe a week; I decided to stop by and see what's new."

"Well, that's great! As for the goings-on, well... honestly not much. The usual bickerin' and the like. And of course I can't even pull the same prices as I used to. A man just walked in here and sold me a book for TRIPLE of what it's worth, but I can't do a damn thing about it what with my current profits... cheeky bastard; I might not have minded if he hadn't been so bloody smart about it."

"Phineas, when have you ever bought something for twice the coin? I'll bet my left hand you gave him a piss-poor deal to start with."

"Bah... it was perfectly reasonable. Here's what he sold me, take a look; it's not worth nearly what he forced out of me!" Phineas withdrew a worn book and handed it to Julius, who received it as gently as one would receive a baby. He inspected every inch of it's worn surface before opening the cover and seeing the complicated symbol written on the inside.

"Interesting... I've seen this before... how much did he sell you this for?"

"18 Sundries! Pff... it isn't worth 6, is it?"

"I can't tell immediately; this symbol gives it value by itself, the rest depends on the quality and rarity of the pages themselves... What were you planning on doing with this?"

"Well, I was going to examine it, then sell it off for at least 20 varied... why, you think I should carry it around like a damn bible?"

"No... if I could ask a favor, I would like to have this book. Perhaps I can discover any hidden value it might possess. Then if I find I buyer, I will split the profits with you, with a minimum of 20 for you of course."

Phineas thought for a moment, then sighed, "Well, I'm already going broke, I might as well do it for an old friend."

Julius smiled, "Thanks. How long ago did the man sell you this?"

"Let's see... I was in the middle of repairing some damaged pages, so... about an hour and a half ago. Why?"

"Because the best place to start looking for value is with the original owner. Even if he had just acquired it himself, he is the first step on the road to the knowledge I seek. Naturally..."

"Right, right, well, he turned right when he left; I know because I glared at him down the whole damn street. When you find him, give him one for me, won't you? After you're done talking, that is?"

"Sure. It was a pleasure seeing you again Phineas. Thank-you for the book."

"Until next time, Julius."

Phineas smiled, and turned back to his work. Julius left the shop for the bustling street, turning right down the alley with long, swift strides, the worn book clutched delicately in his left hand.

[saosidon]

((Ohh nooo the apophenia why why WHY))


Ahh-ha! Here it was...the 'you stand about voice about the book foot as for the shout which is demanded'...or so he'd managed to translate it so far. It was a work in progress...twenty years or so in the going.

Ston kissed the book, sat cross-legged on the floor where he once stood, and thought about getting to work.

[Olspher]

Waren stood atop a tall [building] panting... He looked down over the edge and applauded himself for being able to climb to the top of the oddly shaped pile of lashed book shelves and other odds and ends. It had defiantly been worth it though, as he could see the entire city from where he was standing (on a small platform formed from several upturned bookshelves that happened to top the structure).

After standing transfixed for a while looking at the complex streets and structures below him for while Waren settled down as if in a trance and removed from his pack a piece of light wood to draw on and a thick piece of paper that he had procured for himself. As Waren sat the city grew out onto an elegant map flowing across the previously blank paper, and as the map flowed, so indeed did Warens thoughts...

[Jalorn]

Julius peered out over the city, squinting his eyes, brow furled with concentration. He was dismayed: he had spent a full twenty minutes searching the town. Julius greatly valued his perceptive skills, and could spot prospective collectors from quite far away. Since these collectors were nearly always scholars or philosophers, he had developed a knack for identifying them. He had found a few worthy candidates in the first few minutes, but after questioning them it became clear they were not who he sought.

"Hmm... I've checked the streets..." Julius muttered to himself, "Perhaps he is indoors? I checked the western pub... and the southern pub is too wild for a philosopher... no... it would have to be somewhere quiet, which would call for something residential perhaps? But if Phineas doesn't know him, he doesn't live here, so that's that. Then... the rooftops perhaps? I suppose it's quiet... and if he's high up it would have to be somewhere with a good view, that rules out the southern and eastern sections of the city completely, as the buildings within them are relatively new and small... and it couldn't be THE highest point, as that would draw public attention; in fact, just about anywhere in the western section would draw attention... so I suppose that just leaves the northern and possible northwestern sections, which is good because that's precisely where I am... all assuming he's on the rooftops at all. I suppose I will have to take that chance."

Julius jumped down from his bird's nest (to the surprise of several passers-by) and began working his way through the streets to the north.

"If this doesn't work, I think I'll head to the pub. The quiet one... there's not a philosopher in the Labyrinth who passes through a city without spending a good hour reading in a pub. If I'm lucky and patient, he'll walk right in and I'll have my information as well as a good pint."

[Olspher]

It was getting dark as Waren finished up the map. ((My interpretation is that the main lights overhead the library will dim to simulate light, some lights may stay on and this can certainly change through out the library)) He almost stood up and walked off the building, but then suddenly remembered where he was. Below him there was the typical end of the day scramble as many of the city settlers came up from the caverns below the cities. (It was apparently a great business in this town, rare book hunting in the "mines" below the city. Some said it was the reason why the city had grown t be so big.

"Maybe one day I will map those mines, I can only think how useful it would be to the miners" Waren mused aloud. It always struck him as odd that the people around him were diffrent then he was. Why should this not be the first thing they thought of? When something new is discovered should it not first be understood in it's entirety!

These thoughts annoyed Waren as they lead to other much more complex thoughts which lead to yet more thoughts. This Waren had long ago concluded was the nature of thoughts, they themselves only existed to lead to others of their kind. If there was ever an end to this process Waren had not yet found it... but it was in a way what he was looking for.

"I can never escape it, I promised myself a peaceful evening!" he thought as he got to the bottom of the structure and headed toward the pub. He planned to get some reading in, if the book was good he might put off sleeping for a little while... Waren smiled.

[Jalorn]

Julius bent low over his mug. He had found a nice quiet corner by the small fireplace in the already quiet western pub. He had picked it partially for its seclusion, and partially because the fireplace was cold and empty and he loved lighting fires. Julius loved fire; its power, elegance, and passion. When he was a boy he had a small passion for it, but over the years of enjoying only its company on long journeys between sales, he had grown to favor it over most people.

Julius' entire philosophy had developed around fire. He saw the world as alight with its passionate chaos, nothing cemented but the power and emotion of it all. Shifting, churning, crackling; from the raging torrent to the dying embers he drew parallels to the world and its residents.

Though this fire had brightened his mood, he was still very annoyed that he had not found the philosopher. He was not used to falling to his backup plans, however solid they might be. Julius despised failure; he was always hard on those who made mistakes, but he was hardest on himself. Over the last few years he hadn't made many mistakes due to all the rigorous exercises he put himself through, but he was already beating himself up over not being able to track down the philosopher. Julius began to ponder the irony of his being; one who hates failure, but sets high goals. Most like him would sink into a pit of anonymity, fade into the dregs of society, but not him. Why not him?

As he considered this, the door of the tavern (he made a quick note that it HAD a door, and was therefor old and wealthy, a perfect place to trade in) swung open loosely, and a brown bearded man in a shabby suit walked in with a curious smile on his face that suggested both immediate contentedness and distant thought. He knew this look... Julius slowly raised his hand into the air, pushing part of his robe aside to accommodate this gesture, and beckoned to the man.

[Olspher]

Waren walked into the bar with a smile on his face, he greatly enjoyed forgetting about the world and it's problems, if only for a while. No place was better to do this then a cozy corner in a nice quite pub... He had heard good things about this particular establishment and saw the praise was well deserved.

As Waren looked around for a space to sit he noticed a strange man with a dark hood beckoning in his direction, was the mans hand motions directed towards him? After a moment Waren verified that they were and he sized the man up. All he could make out was the dark cloak that had first struck him, but the man seemed to be very intent and sure of his movements. Warens best guesses were either a wanderer trying to sell him a book, or maybe someone who he had met on his travels who recognized him and presumed it was their right to invade his time for relaxation.

Whichever one it was Waren was not yet willing to give up his time, so he turned around, and settled himself by a fire on the other side of the room. If the man really wanted to speak with him he would seek him out, Waren prayed he would not...

[Jalorn]

Julius smiled curiously as the man turned away and sat across the room, ignoring his gestures.

"Ah, so he wants to be left alone..." Julius chuckled to himself, "Well, who am I to deny him his peace?"

Julius examined the man again, who appeared to be enjoying a mug and a book, and verified that it was indeed his query. Julius withdrew two small pipes of excellent craft from his robes as well as the book he obtained from Phineas. He placed the book on the table, propped ever so slightly as to accommodate a clear view across the room, and set one of the pipes upon it. He then lit the second pipe and began slowly enjoying drawing from it. The entire scene looked quite cozy.

"If he want to relax, then that is what I will offer him," Julius thought to himself. He then began to stare intently from under his hood and the gentleman in question. The philosopher occasionally looked over at Julius, though it was obvious he was trying his best not to show it. Julius took a long puff of his pipe and blew a most impressive smoke ring into the air, which floated all the way over to the philosopher's table before dissipating.

Julius then raised his voice to the man and said quite calmly through the empty room, "Come, my stubborn friend... we have much to discuss, you and I..."

[Olspher]

Waren looked up at the sound of a voice and was astonished to see that it was the man whom had beckoned him before! Had he just called him... stubborn, who indeed was he to speak in such a manner! Who thought it their right to summon Waren Berg to their table in such a way whilst he was enjoying his own solitude! "People" thought Waren, "I haven't the faintest idea why such a library should be full of them! Any place, especially a place such as this would be much better without them".

He was now decidedly annoyed at this man as he did not commonly have to deal with people so persistent, most picked up that their presence was not wanted and went to seek better attention elsewhere... but this man... this man was diffrent. He had the movement and look of a man with a purpose, but this meant nothing to Waren at the moment, all this fuss simply increased his wish to be alone with his book.

"I have no interest in you sir!" Waren offered across the room, and slowly went back to his reading with the suspicion that he may not get rid of the man that easily.

[Jalorn]

Julius smiled again. "Foolish of me to expect a philosopher to possess the analytical abilities to see the subtlety of my gestures," he thought to himself, making a note of this failure, "They're too deep in other worlds."

"And why should you?" asked Julius merrily from across the room. "After all, I'm sure you have earned a peaceful evening. No stranger such as myself should interrupt a philosopher's well earned comforts."

Julius started again in a smooth, strong voice, "Perhaps you would, however... take interest in this third century, hand crafted pipe from the high panels and tobacco from the lower ridges? It would be an honor to offer it as an apology for the disturbance. But of course, I'm sure you would prefer having a conversation across the room instead."

With this, Julius dexterously flipped the intricate pipe up from the table, onto the back of his hand, and then onto his outstretched palm. The firelight danced across the richly colored pipe and illuminated Julius' warm smile beneath his hood.

[Olspher]

((God, I feel like Chamberlain!)

Waren looked across the room at the stranger holding the exquisite pipe with a slight bit more interest, but this did not last for long. Much as with most people, Waren observed the worst of this mans qualities (from his observation), and as was his nature, he did not hesitate to point them out.

"I may be interested in your pipe good sir, but I am far from interested in you. What I see before me is a typical intrusive salesperson and I wish to have no business with anyone of such a kind! If you must tell me something, consider this you're one chance before you successfully drive me away from my relaxing evening."

[Jalorn]

((You draw way to many parallels, book. Can't you just let people be themselves? Also, some grammar changes are needed; thought I might nag you before Saos does Also, I deleted my OOC posts, and removed the OOC contents of all my old posts; I suggest you do the same so readers can better understand the progression of the plot. We should keep whatever the newest OOC info is and delete the old.))

"Salesperson? I'm insulted that you would assign me such a common label," Julius said with sincere annoyance. "I have never, "sold" a thing in my life. What I do is much greater, much subtler, and much more complex." Julius gazed silently at the fire for a moment.

"However, I have no wish to "sell" you anything by anyone's standards," he continued, adopting a gentler tone, "Not even my own. I have spent a good long time searching for you, in order to discuss this book which you sold to my friend Phineas earlier today. I found the symbol on the inside, as well as the intricacy of the writing, to be most intriguing, and merely wanted to discuss its merits over a pipe and a brew. Apparently, however," Julius added with a mixture of sadness and annoyance, "Philosopher's powers of judgement have faded from their former prowess; or perhaps I have a sign on my robe that says, "Please ignore me entirely until I go away."

Julius again gazed into the fire before looking back at the bearded man, and saying apologetically, "But I do realize, as I stated before, that I am interrupting your peaceful evening. I offered this pipe because I am genuinely sorry for that. There is no need to insult me and drive me away like some stray cat come to beg the food of your home in the dead of night."

Julius then stood and removed his hood, revealing his young face.

"My name is Julius, and I would be honored if you would join me."

[Olspher]

((I realize there is a slight change of tone here, I just happened to realize I was deviating slightly from what I was orginally envisioning for Waren's character))

Waren looked at Julius in a peculiar manner feeling slightly annoyed with himself. He made a note in his head to improve his peoples skills. After pondering for a moment he looked at the ceiling with a thoughtful expression.

"Hmmmm... I suppose it would be pertinent to offer an apology for treating you in such ways as I just did. If it is any justification I have made it a general policy to stay away from more then two to three word interactions with those of my own kind these past few years. Insulting those who do not adhere to this policy seemed to have worked in the past, but certainly not with one as persistent as yourself" Waren chucked a bit and scratched his beard. "I sometimes forget individuals have the capability of thought and emotion, even though such things are vital to other... things that I am doing!"

Warens attention seemed to shift away from his explanation/apology to the book in Juliues's hands, he frowned slightly. "So all of this fuss over the book" he mumbled". From the very start he hadn't liked that book, not simply because it's material did not particularly interest him, but also because of the vigor and strangely dark manner that it had been written in.

Without bothering to introduce himself, Waren sat down and reached out for the book, a random thought had just occurred to him. And if there was one thing that Waren had learned from his life in the library, it was that order did not exist, and that all those things that came from the spontaneity of the mind were the only real things of pure substance in the world.

[Jalorn]

((Hooray, no spelling mistakes ))

Julius handed the pipe and some tobacco to the philosopher, who was already examining the book.

"If you require a match, I have some," said Julius, though expecting the philosopher to be prepared in this manner.

"The man you sold this to believes you have cheated him in some way; he also believes I am here to negotiate a fair price. I am not. I am here to discuss the symbol on the inside. In my life I have only thrice seen that symbol, this time included. The other two places I have seen this were on an old map, and on a tombstone in Al Terac ((pronunciation: Al Tar- Ahk, emphasis on third syllable)). Both items are surrounded in mystery. For example," Julius spoke ominously, "Anyone who has ever owned the map has mysteriously vanished, and many... strange... things occur in the graveyard in Al Terac."

Julius lit his pipe silently, a brooding expression on his face. He then looked up at the man and asked with an intrigued expression, "Have their been any strange phenomenons surrounding this book; are there any dark secrets you know of that it might hold?"

[Z (Talem)]

Name:Bái

Class/Profession: Wanderer


Personality:Im no good at describing just found out yourselves

Background: He comes a world simaler to are morden one but wears clothing from a more primative era.
Character Appearance/Description:

Attachments:

[Z (Talem)]

Bái walks the street after a quick look around he finds a small bookstore. "Perfect target" he thought to himself, he entered quietly and after quickly reading a few books he thought important he placed a small black box under one of the shelves. near an empty corner. He quickly walks away and into a nearby pub and sits down calmly as a just before he can ask for a drink an explosion goes off "Dam, so close" he mutters as the bartender and everyone else in the bar rushes to see the source of the noise. He lies his head down on the counter and waits impatiently for the bartender to return.
(I posted Happy)

[Kalumpocuis]

The Gunslinger who had just arrived in the sleepy town in which he wishes to stay and get cleaned up, matbe finding a few contracts on the way there. upon entering a mighty explosion rock the village. the gunslinger quickly runs to investigate finding several men wemon and children in the smoking wreckage of a demolished bookstore. He changes his plans with great haste to find the cause of this disaster.

[Kalumpocuis]

Using tracking skills taught to him by his deceased father the gunslinger quickly noticed the pub across the street and decided to enter. Inside he found many hustling people all shook up by the large explosion rusing to help, however, he noticed one man in the corner sitting casually and decided to have a chat.

[Jalorn]

You took that right out of the bloody book! Come on, how about some originality!

[Cerebril]

I'm remaking my character because I don't like Murvos.



Name: Rodriego Díaz (The Bishop)

Scholar



He has declared himself to be the religious authority in the Library.