Many Realms

The Loquacious Librarians of Nen

Added 2024-04-23 15:00:03 +0000 UTC

Disseminated to each letter-box in the Postal Hall of the Grand Archive of Nen:

To all scribes of the Grand Archive of Nen:

Heed this missive, for it bears within a grave proclamation that will alter the course of the Grand Archive forevermore.

The Mages’ Conclave has ordered that the Archive concentrate all its energy on the task of re-scribing the entirety of the Archives’ contents. Owing to the impending arrival of the Great Calamity, the Conclave wishes to send forth an expedition to transport the Archives’ contents to the city of Astra, believed to be able to withstand the brunt of the Calamity.

May your ink flow smoothly and your nibs remain unbroken, scribes! This is the most important task I shall ever ask of you, and your actions now have the chance to secure our most treasured knowledge for the future inhabitants of Malune.

The expedition will depart in one month’s time. I will observe your progress regularly.

Respectfully,

Ogmus Shrake

Head Librarian

Grand Archive of Nen

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Found tacked to the door of the Head Librarian’s Study in the Grand Archive of Nen:

Most Honoured Head Librarian,

Quick question.

When you say we are to re-scribe the entirety of the Grand Archive, did you mean the entirety of the contents? All of them? Even the Endless Scrolls That Scribe Themselves Without Surcease?

If so, Honoured Head Librarian, it may take the scribes more than one month. It may take us six. Or sixty. Probably sixty.

Just wanted to give you a heads up!

Your faithful servant,

Squolomon Padrameen

Scribe (Third Rank)

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To all scribes of the Grand Archive of Nen:

Word from mages to the west indicate that the Calamity is beginning to approach our side of the ocean, and will breach the continent of Malune within weeks.

I have surveyed your progress and sadly I have found it wanting. There is no other choice, scribes. Until the great transcription is complete, we must all work double scribing shifts. Your pagemasters will have specific information for you. I myself have been working on scribing my prized personal possession: my first-edition misprinted copy of the Necronomicon.

Keep up your devoted work, scribes. Future Malunians, in a safer world, are looking back through history, and watching you with bated breath.

Respectfully,

Ogmus Shrake

Head Librarian

Grand Archive of Nen

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Most Honoured Head Librarian,

I’m not sure you saw my previous message! Your office door doesn’t have a letter-box, and the gap under the door is far too narrow to slide parchment through (I tried). You may want to correct this oversight at your leisure.

I just wanted to write and ask if these double shifts would be compensated at the standard rate (being double pay), or if there was some sort of End of the Known World rate that might come into effect. And also if the pagemasters might be authorized to retrieve some extra snacks, so as to maintain our energy while undertaking this great task.

I (and the other scribes) eagerly await your reply.

Your faithful servant,

Squolomon Padrameen

Scribe (Third Rank)

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Found tacked to the door of the Scribe’s Dormitory in the Grand Archive of Nen:

Scribe,

I received your message.

Ogmus Shrake

Head Librarian

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Most Honoured Head Librarian,

What comforting news to hear! I presume further correspondence will illuminate the Head Librarian’s thoughts on these vital matters.

Your faithful servant,

Squolomon Padrameen

Scribe (Third Rank)

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Found tacked to the door of the Head Librarian’s Office atop the previous message:

Most Honoured Head Librarian,

I understand that in these unprecedented times it may be difficult to stay on top of one’s correspondence. I myself have several back issues of Tome & Treasure that I’m hoping to catch up with after our busy period has concluded.

Given your limited availability, the pagemasters have communicated to me some of your thoughts on matters raised previously by we your scribes. I shall confirm my understanding, as requested, that owing to the apocalyptic nature of this project there can be no increase in wages nor augmentation of the snack supply.

Under the close and careful advice of my wise pagemasters, I thank you, Honoured Head Librarian, for your oversight and guidance through the momentous period in which we now find ourselves.

Squolomon Padrameen

Scribe (Third Rank)

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Found written in enchanted invisible ink on the mirror of the scribes’ lavatory in the Grand Archive of Nen:

Fellow Scribes

MHHL goes too far! We are not cattle! We are the hands with which history is written, and we may take control!

Midnight in the Poetic Arts section. No cowards allowed.

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To all scribes of the Grand Archive of Nen:

As some of you surely know, the office of the Most Honoured Head Librarian of the Grand Archive of Nen was ransacked and defaced last night.

This is a grave offence for which no clemency can be granted.

All but one of the perpetrators will, for the remainder of the re-transcription project, collect a reduced share of pay to cover the cost of repairs to the office. All of these scribes were recklessly spurred into action fomented by one individual in particular, identified independently by every last perpetrator when questioned.

The scribe known as Squolomon Padrameen has taken dire action against the sanctity of this very institution. Regrettably, the orders from the Mages Conclave prevent me from terminating any scribe’s employment during this period of great need. Accordingly, Squolomon has received some arcane spell therapy to curb his more destructive appetites, and has been relocated to a private office where he will not offend or distract any of his fellows while his temperament recovers.

If any of Squolomon’s peers wish to take advantage of the same opportunities afforded to him, all they must do is ask, which they can do by disobeying any direct order from myself or their pagemasters, leaving tedious inquiries anywhere near the Head Librarian’s office door, or speaking to the Head Librarian without being spoken to first.

I trust my words are understood and this matter is closed.

Respectfully,

Ogmus Shrake

Head Librarian

Grand Archive of Nen

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Found carved into the underside of a seemingly random bookshelf of the Grand Archive of Nen:

SQUOLOMIN SQOLLY SQUALI SQUEALI

SQUALI HATES HAITS ARKIV ARCHEIVV LIBRARIE STUPID EVIL BOOK BOOK MASTER DUM DUM HAT CARYING BOOK BIG BOOK

SQEELI CHU SHEW CHEW BITE NIBBLE BOOK TAKE YELL TAKE TAKE FART HA HA SQUEALI FARTS ON BOOKS

SQUEALYS LIBRARE NO ONE ELSE ALL BOOKS FOR SQUEALY RULES RULES MY RULES

SQUEALY TAKES BOOK TO BOOK HOLE SQUEALY BIG BRAIN MAKE RULES SQUEALY MASTUR OF LYBRARY