Level 4: Two Books [RD 16]

[shiromadoushi]

[[Bakura's in the library of the Hero's Headquarters, looking a touch befuddled.]]

Does anyone know where these books came from? [[Holds up a pair of old looking books, neither of them labeled. One of them has a simple lock on it.]]

I can't find a key for this one, and this... [[he sets down the locked book to open the unlocked one, opening it to a page that has the day written on top of it, followed by smaller writing that's hard to read from the orb]]

It looks like a journal of sort... but this is today's date. And it has what was posted on the news board written in it.

Comments

[shiromadoushi]

I think so... Looks like one of those diary locks, to be honest! [[a small laugh]]

And I think it's a summery... I don't pay too much attention to that board to know the exacts.

[shadow_sage]

If it isn't trapped, somehow, it shouldn't be terribly difficult to open. I could come and take a look.

[She smiles.]

Does the gossip diary have anything from before today in it?

[shiromadoushi]

[[Nods]] It goes back to... [[flips pages until he starts hitting blank ones, then backs up to the last page with writing]] The third of Rebirth’s Height, it looks like.

[shadow_sage]

[A pause; she has no idea when that was, but it's not very important right now.]

I wonder if it's been...spelled...to update itself or not. Either way, why would anyone want to record that trash?

[She laughs, softly.]

Are you in our hall? I'm working in the yard, I can come in and take a look.

[shiromadoushi]

Un, in the library! And I really wouldn't know either, unless this is the only sort of history this kind of place keeps! Which really wouldn't surprise me...

[shadow_sage]

This place is a historian's nightmare.

[On this point, she sounds supremely confident.]

I'll just be a couple of minutes. See if you can find a good file or something. Sturdy. We'll take a look at this other book, too.

[shiromadoushi]

I think a nightmare for anyone who'd try and treat it like any sort of real place [[smiles in total agreement]]

I don't have any small sort of file... I almost wonder if a hammer might be better.

[shadow_sage]

[A slightly derisive snort in response to that sentiment.]

And yet, it's rather difficult to act like it's just a game, isn't it?

[shiromadoushi]

Sometimes thinking of it just like a giant LARP makes it better. Doesn't mean things can't be serious, but it's easier to deal with some of the more bizarre things it you do think of it as a game.

[shadow_sage]

[Since she's walking in the door, Liara doesn't respond right away. When she walks into the library, wiping her hands on her pants, she's wearing a smile.]

I'm not very good at games. What's a LARP?

[shiromadoushi]

[[looks up and smiles]] Live Action Role Playing. Everyone dresses up in costumes and uses foam weapons and pretends to be living in a fantasy land. I'm sure the group back home would have loved this place.

[shadow_sage]

That sounds incredibly pointless. Of course, I suppose not everyone is comfortable facing dangers themselves.

Sorry. You have the books?

[shiromadoushi]

It's for fun, not for anything serious. [[defends gently with a touch of embarrassment]]

And they're over here, on the table.

[shadow_sage]

Sorry. People tell me I'm not very good at fun lately. It's the war.

[She lifted her arm and activated her omni-tool.]

I can't promise anything, but I'll see if there's anything on it.

Not that I'm sure I can do this on my own.

Remind me what she'll be doing with that again?

[shiromadoushi]

It's all right, [[assures softly]]

What do you need? I can try and help, maybe?

Scanning for magic; trying, at least. It took Loki and Cho to make it work, last time...

[shadow_sage]

Well. I'm not sure. Following the trail to the monastery is all I've actually managed to do with this.

[She offered him a faint smile.]

But I thought it would be safer to check before we just broke the lock.

[shiromadoushi]

[[nods]] A good idea, un.

[[Closing his eyes a moment he concentrates, pulling up his own magic. A soft cool glow builds up around him before condensing around his hand. Opening his eyes, he turns his hand upright, offering the hovering glowing ball to her with a smile]] Here. It should help power it, right?

[shadow_sage]

I have worked with some of the most advanced Prothean technology we've discovered in thousands of years, and I can tell you honestly I have no idea how anything around here functions.

[Something of a sheepish smile.]

I can't even figure out how to record a video on my omni-tool since they changed it.

[She held her arm out towards the books, twisting it back and forth.]

Where would I put it?

[She's willing to play along with the magic...thing...but it's pretty foreign to her and her way of thinking, still.]

[shiromadoushi]

It should work if you just take it in. I can guide it. [[smiles before reaching out and gently lowering the ball into the tool. It should be enough to super charge it for a short time.]]

I'll leave results up to you? She did scan both; not used to it, so how effective can vary.

[shadow_sage]

[Liara nodded, watching his just drop it in. With a shrug, she rapidly keyed in the commands (at least the interface wasn't changed too much during her arrival) as she walked up to the table with the books. She moved her hand over them slowly, tapping at the interface a couple of times while she worked. And muttered to herself.]

I can't believe I'm actually looking for magic on books.

Both books are magic, both in the same way. The lock is mundane

[shiromadoushi]

In a place like this, it only makes sense. [[assures with a warm smile.]]

o7

[shadow_sage]

I'm a scientist, it makes me feel like a fool.

[Still, there's a little smile.]

The lock's normal. Or I think it is. The books...are...showing the same thing? I would guess that it is either the same spell, or a similar spell, or maybe it's just the same kind of magic...I'm not sure how this all works yet.

[Just wait until she finally figures out scrying; then she'll be happy with magic.]

[shiromadoushi]

Just try and think of magic like science's somewhat insane younger sibling? There are still rules to it, just a different set of them.

[[and he peers are the books, puzzling]]

Maybe they both write themselves? Since I don't think anyone would be writing down the gossip board here.

[shadow_sage]

It's been said more than once that sufficiently advanced technology is, to those without it, indistinguishable from magic. A great many pre-spaceflight cultures would think anyone, like myself, coming from another star, to be divine.

[There's a momentary pause here; she just reminded herself that one of the most important deities of her own people was, in truth, an alien.]

That doesn't make it fact.

[Letting the tool disappear, the tapped the unlocked book.]

We need something to write with. And that hammer.

[shiromadoushi]

I'll go get one! And there's a quill pen on the desk. I got fresh ink for it yesterday so it should be good!

[[And with that he ducks out of the room]]

Now let me where where did I put....

[[He'll return with a small hammer in a few minutes.]]