Little Scriven Scrivener's Library

[MintyMimix]

The library was perhaps the one big exception to how "Little" Scriven could be. Towering shelves of books lined the inside. Each section was cleanly organized, labeled, and well-dusted. The only oddity in its perfection were the occasional perches setup for the Flying-types to rest on.

The first floor provided plenty of tables, comfortable couches and wide windows for a relaxed atmosphere. Occasionally, a guest would even bring in a board or card game to play. The front desk was a bit more stern in comparison with stacks of paper and a bell for service. If Swellow Torria wasn't there, an elderly Mandibuzz usually took her place.

The second floor was one large mezzanine that surrounded the first. Here, the rigid wooden desks and chairs provided a space for the studious and focused visitor. If they needed a short mental break, they need only look down at the ground floor. Most self-published works were stored on this floor.

The third floor had sectioned off into private rooms that one could reserve to discuss business or simply have a place to work in private. The mayor's office had a permanent spot here — just overseeing the town from its humble window near the front.

 

[MintyMimix]

Since there were six of them, the room that the group had reserved was a bit on the tight side. The bedrolls needed to be huddled up almost directly next to one another to leave room for the inward-opening door. The wooden desk and chair combo sat lonely in the corner as they shamefully thought about how much space they occupied.

Even so, the large curtained window and gentle light of the lantern helped to give the place a bit more of a cozy feel than a trapped one. Not to mention the complimentary set of bread and water that had been graciously provided alongside a tiny note:
"Talk to the gal downstairs if you need more. Just don't go overboard! ~Mayor Enubel"

There were certainly worse places to sleep in. It was free, not too warm, and above all else, quiet.

 

[Jackie Cat]

"Excuse me? Hello, sirs and misses!"

The golett speaking was at the door, head poking past the frame. Their head bore a blue courier's cap, and they carried a satchel bag over one shoulder. Their body was exceedingly well-polished – practically to a mirror finish, in places – but the obvious care taken could only do so much to give shine a chassis as faded and worn as theirs.

"No need to be alarmed," chirped the little mail-bot in a tinny, slightly hollow voice. Their eyes lit up a little – literally – with each syllable. "I am Golett Gil, sworn courier of the Frontier Post. I am told that your party is in need of an escort? I regularly make journeys between here and Frontier Town on my normal route, and would be glad to provide you with company, reliable navigation, and any other assistance I can afford you if you're headed that way!"

The golem gave a little bow.

"Miss Enubel has been very kind to me and I am more than happy to do her this favour," they elaborated, clutching their satchel strap.

 

[SparklingEspeon]

It had taken Espurr a long while to find anything that wouldn't drape around her like a cloak - not everything in the box was made for small 'mon, and she was about as tiny as they came. She settled for a red bandanna decorated with white loops that she knew how to tie, and was delighted to find a matching ribbon and what looked like a belt with (empty) holsters, designed for somemon just a little larger than she was. It slipped off her waist every so often, but the vibe was more than worth it. All she needed now was a good hat...

"No need to be alarmed," chirped the little mail-bot in a tinny, slightly hollow voice. Their eyes lit up a little – literally – with each syllable. "I am Golett Gil, sworn courier of the Frontier Post. I am told that your party is in need of an escort? I regularly make journeys between here and Frontier Town on my normal route, and would be glad to provide you with company, reliable navigation, and any other assistance I can afford you if you're headed that way!"

"I believe we're all headed that way," she said, pulling up her holster belt and staring wide-eyed at the golett's flashing eyes with her own pink ones. "What's the trip like? Is it long? How many days?"

Then, before she forgot--"I'm Espurr, by the way. Nice to meet you."

 

[Hap]

When their group reached the library, the first thing Ridley did was to start researching. Now he had a small stack of books by his bedrolls - mostly about the mystery dungeons, although there were a couple more general texts which he hoped would help him learn more about this world - and was determined to finish all of them before he had to leave. Who needed sleep, right? He'd obtained a blank notebook from a stack on one of the tables downstairs, and now he scribbled furious notes into it as he read.

"I am Golett Gil, sworn courier of the Frontier Post. I am told that your party is in need of an escort? I regularly make journeys between here and Frontier Town on my normal route, and would be glad to provide you with company, reliable navigation, and any other assistance I can afford you if you're headed that way!"

"We'd all appreciate your assistance," Ridley replied, looking up from his book only belatedly. "Do you mind if I ask what you've already been told about us? There's a chance we left the mayor a little confused on some matters."

 

[canisaries]

Andre yawned as he awoke to speaking. He's slept fairly well, and he believed the woody aroma of the library had had an influence on that. He noticed the golett, got up and walked over, hooves clacking against the wooden floor. "Oh, you're here," he said. "Good. That saves us the trouble of finding you."

 

[Jackie Cat]

"I believe we're all headed that way. What's the trip like? Is it long? How many days? I'm Espurr, by the way. Nice to meet you."

"We'd all appreciate your assistance. Do you mind if I ask what you've already been told about us? There's a chance we left the mayor a little confused on some matters."

"Oh, you're here. Good. That saves us the trouble of finding you."

Gil adjusted their cap slightly. It had slid down a little when they bowed.

"It is a much-improved route in recent days! Signposted, safer – in the good care of our local rangers – and much shorter since the Silver River was bridged last summer. I expect if we depart very shortly and make good pace, we can be there by tonight. That is, assuming you are all in good physical health! Apologies if anyone has limited mobility. I have a few exotic items I can spare to ensure our swift arrival, if need be, and am ready to venture forth at any time! The sooner the better, to make my rounds with the greatest haste."

They patted their satchel bag affectionately.

"As for your good selves, I'm told that you are from some far-off country, having suffered a teleportation accident, or perhaps a run-in with an esoteric dungeon? I would not mind at all if you were to ask me very many questions about this region, or myself, or anything else!"

The slate-blue golett had no mouth and inexpressive eyes, but they did their very best to look beamingly happy nonetheless.

 

[canisaries]

"It is a much-improved route in recent days! Signposted, safer – in the good care of our local rangers – and much shorter since the Silver River was bridged last summer. I expect if we depart very shortly and make good pace, we can be there by tonight. That is, assuming you are all in good physical health! Apologies if anyone has limited mobility. I have a few exotic items I can spare to ensure our swift arrival, if need be, and am ready to venture forth at any time! The sooner the better, to make my rounds with the greatest haste."

"It's good to hear the path is safe," said Andre. "I don't think we're much for fighters..." 'In these new bodies' was what he was going to say next, but realized that would probably just lead to more disbelief. "...yet, as we're just kids," he said instead.

"As for your good selves, I'm told that you are from some far-off country, having suffered a teleportation accident, or perhaps a run-in with an esoteric dungeon? I would not mind at all if you were to ask me very many questions about this region, or myself, or anything else!"

Gil's explanation was good and believable enough, though it was missing a key component. "We also want to help out with trouble," Andre said. "We're very helpful folk. We'd like to help out at Ranger HQ, if we can, actually."

He eyed the golett. He couldn't deny that one question came to his mind. "Well, as long as you're offering to answer - and please do tell me if this is out of line - do you know who built you?"

 

[Jackie Cat]

"We're very helpful folk. We'd like to help out at Ranger HQ, if we can, actually."

"Well, as long as you're offering to answer - and please do tell me if this is out of line - do you know who built you?"

"Why, my parent! From time to time, a golurk of a certain disposition will take it upon themself to mould a new golett in their own likeness. Though of course, this does not explain the origin of my kind, perhaps the first golett were made at the dawn of time by the Forlasan pantheon, just as many believe blooded beings were made?"

Gil seemed to laugh. It sounded like windchimes.

"I think it more likely an artificer of some other species made the first golett."

They blinked, and put a clay hand to their faceplate.

"Pardon me, you also asked about helping out at the Ranger Union? That is most altruistic of you! I should caution you that the rangers only recruit strong pokémon with good reputations, however! ...Please forgive my presumptuousness, but if Miss Anubel has offered to sponsor you, that may not be sufficient! I am more than happy to stop at the HQ on our way, but – my apologies – please do not anticipate that you will walk out with ranger badges, sirs and misses."

 

[MintyMimix]

Ghaspius let out a chuckle. "Figured as much. That ol' Altaria did seem to have a her head in the clouds, so to speak," he said as he floated over to get a closer look at the Golett. "Do ya think any sort of materials from those old days might still be around? Would be mighty interesting to see if we could apply some of those techniques today."

His eyes glanced over towards the now-dim lantern. He turned the knob a bit to give it just a tad more gas. "We're a bit tight on funds and beyond lost. Figured the HQ could help us, and we could pay 'em back by helping them. That sounds like a fair deal, doesn't it?" He turned back around and smiled. "We had a much bigger group before we all got separated, and I want to do everything I can to help 'em out and anyone in a similar spot, too."

 

[canisaries]

"Why, my parent! From time to time, a golurk of a certain disposition will take it upon themself to mould a new golett in their own likeness. Though of course, this does not explain the origin of my kind, perhaps the first golett were made at the dawn of time by the Forlasan pantheon, just as many believe blooded beings were made?"

Gil seemed to laugh. It sounded like windchimes.

"I think it more likely an artificer of some other species made the first golett."

"Ah, that is interesting," said Andre.

"Pardon me, you also asked about helping out at the Ranger Union? That is most altruistic of you! I should caution you that the rangers only recruit strong pokémon with good reputations, however! ...Please forgive my presumptuousness, but if Miss Anubel has offered to sponsor you, that may not be sufficient! I am more than happy to stop at the HQ on our way, but – my apologies – please do not anticipate that you will walk out with ranger badges, sirs and misses."

Andre brought a hoof to his chin - surprised right after that a deerling had that kind of range of motion. "What do you suggest, then, that we do if we want to get stronger? Is there a training center of some kind in Frontier Town?"

 

[Jackie Cat]

"Do ya think any sort of materials from those old days might still be around? Would be mighty interesting to see if we could apply some of those techniques today."

Gil gave the misdreavus a puzzled look, then forlornly shook their head. "I can't say that I know for sure, but I believe such things are lost to time, Sir."

"We're a bit tight on funds and beyond lost. Figured the HQ could help us, and we could pay 'em back by helping them. That sounds like a fair deal, doesn't it? We had a much bigger group before we all got separated, and I want to do everything I can to help 'em out and anyone in a similar spot, too."

"What do you suggest, then, that we do if we want to get stronger? Is there a training center of some kind in Frontier Town?"

"Well, I don't see why you couldn't ask the rangers for help and to help alike! That is their vocation, after all. Why, how noble!"

Gil paused to scratch their head. It made an earthy, ceramic sound.

"I gather that training to get stronger is not considered very civilised in Frontier Town of late. And we in Little Scriven have long been pacifists by nature, a privilege afforded to us by the defensibility of our home. But the rangers have a dojo, as I understand it, and many pokémon practice battling with each other informally. All but the most timid youth enjoy a friendly scrap, and some keep the habit into their adult years! I myself have no desire to engage in roughhousing, but I would not object to a small contest of strength, if you cared for one?"

The golett flexed their arm. The clay casing did not bulge with muscle.

 

[canisaries]

"I gather that training to get stronger is not considered very civilised in Frontier Town of late. And we in Little Scriven have long been pacifists by nature, a privilege afforded to us by the defensibility of our home. But the rangers have a dojo, as I understand it, and many pokémon practice battling with each other informally. All but the most timid youth enjoy a friendly scrap, and some keep the habit into their adult years! I myself have no desire to engage in roughhousing, but I would not object to a small contest of strength, if you cared for one?"

The golett flexed their arm. The clay casing did not bulge with muscle.

Andre laughed nervously and was about to say no... until he realized he needed to get his hands - vines? - dirty eventually.

"Actually, that could be a good idea," he said. "I need to get an idea of my own strength. What do you have in mind?"

 

[MintyMimix]

Gil gave the misdreavus a puzzled look, then forlornly shook their head. "I can't say that I know for sure, but I believe such things are lost to time, Sir."

Ghaspius let out a disappointed hum, but continued smiling all the same. "Can't be helped, I suppose. Wonderin' if those Mystery Dungeons might have some clues, though..."

"I myself have no desire to engage in roughhousing, but I would not object to a small contest of strength, if you cared for one?"

The golett flexed their arm. The clay casing did not bulge with muscle.

"Ah, just like the old days," Ghaspius chuckled in a whisper that whistled in the wind, "Would be more than happy to give it a try. Some of these folks might need a few pointers, though. How good of a mentor are ya?"

 

[Hap]

"...yet, as we're just kids," he said instead.

"I'M AN ADULT," Ridley yelped loudly. Wait, was he - no, wait, Ghaspius had said he was almost thirty - were they the only two adults in a group full of children? Ridley hadn't signed up for babysitting duty! He was far too irresponsible for this!

"Pardon me, you also asked about helping out at the Ranger Union? That is most altruistic of you!"

"I just want to get a proper look at the mystery dungeons," Ridley said bluntly, once he'd managed to recover from the shock of realising he might be in a group of mostly-children. Shit, had he sworn in front of them yet? You weren't supposed to do that when kids were around, right? Eh, what did it matter; Ridley was pretty sure he'd known every obscenity in his adult vocabulary by the time he was twelve or so. It wouldn't kill these kids to hear him drop an f-bomb or twenty. "Would joining the Ranger Union help me to study them, or am I better suited focusing my efforts elsewhere? I'm not much of a fighter, if I'm honest."

 

[canisaries]

"I'M AN ADULT," Ridley yelped loudly. Wait, was he - no, wait, Ghaspius had said he was almost thirty - were they the only two adults in a group full of children? Ridley hadn't signed up for babysitting duty! He was far too irresponsible for this!

Andre's fur bristled. Ridley seemed very upset to be considered a kid. He must have been a teenager.

Andre sighed. "Well, if our friend here will believe it despite our non-evolved status, I am also an adult. Twenty-three, to be precise."

 

[Hap]

Andre sighed. "[...] I am also an adult. Twenty-three, to be precise."

"I'm twenty-five," Ridley said, while thinking, bro, what the fuck? Did you just lie about being a kid for no reason?

To Gil, he said, "We're adults. At least, some of us are adults? We're unevolved and inexperienced because we came here from other worlds, but we're not children." Gil themself hadn't been coddling or patronising, but after his experience in the general store Ridley thought it best to be clear.

 

[Jackie Cat]

Gil fiddled with their satchel strap again.

"It's quite alright! You needn't pretend anything around me, sirs! If you are for whatever reason temporarily disadvantaged in elemental strength, you are in good company with me, I assure you!"

They couldn't frown, exactly, but tugging thoughtfully on their cap produced a similar effect.

"If by other 'worlds', you perhaps mean distant regions...? Well, you'll surely gain experience in short order in Sojavena! And I should say, all I meant by 'contest of strength' was that we might have a friendly arm-wrestle at a nearby table? I am no heavyweight, I assure you, and should not present all that much of a challenge."

 

[SparklingEspeon]

We're adults. At least, some of us are adults? We're unevolved and inexperienced because we came here from other worlds, but we're not children.

"I'M not an adult,", interjected Espurr loudly. Not that she would have had problems with being mistaken for one, but the indignance of being assumed to be one took over for a second. Honestly, would she have passed for one anyway?

And I should say, all I meant by 'contest of strength' was that we might have a friendly arm-wrestle at a nearby table? I am no heavyweight, I assure you, and should not present all that much of a challenge."

Espurr turned to the robot thing, who had just offered to... arm wrestle? Eh, why not.

"I can go next," she said. "If you were offering, that is..."

 

[MintyMimix]

"Pushing 'bout twenty-seven myself," Ghaspius chimed in with a shrug. Everyone else seemed to be voicing their age without issue, but he wasn't sure what the culture of the place was. His eyes glanced over to the Espurr. "I'll be sure to keep y'all away from the bars then."

After a snicker, he looked back at the Golett. "Strength was never my strong suit. That was more of my sibling's thing. More into the magical sort-of arts, if ya catch my drift." The Misdreavus weaved a tassel, but his smile waned as he found no shadows gathering into a sphere like normal. An aspect of his new body he would have to adjust to. "Suppose it's worth testing out though."