(122-03-14) Academic Pitfalls
Academic Pitfalls
Summary: Siyu and Bryn search for Information in the Citadel Library.
Date: Date of play (14/03/122)
Related: 13/03/2015
Related: http://gobmush.wikidot.com/plot:citadel-and-sept
Players:
Siyu..Bryn..

Leandro was as good as his word. The library is a busy place, full of researchers and scribes. The rare book room is limited access, but you are welcome enough to the main stacks, assuming you promise to be careful about wax and flame. They use closed lanterns rather than open candles for safety here and there are large windows in the section where the scholars work. The place is full of Maesters, acolytes, and novices, all researching, copying, or writing.

Siyu is sort of…kid in a candy store. He has glee on his face. That genuine kind of glee that only a scholar can have. Books, hundreds and hundreds of books! Yessssssss. Of course he has a job, a mission. To gain access he has to at least do this thing. This research thing. Linguistics. Well at least he knew what he was doing, he knew several different languages, but he rubs his hands a bit. The exotic Yi Ti probably draws some attention as he sways his hips about the stacks. He does it casually. Asking for books on linguistic theory…which of course is sure to get him to the Maester in question.

Siyu is sort of…kid in a candy store. He has glee on his face. That genuine kind of glee that only a scholar can have. Books, hundreds and hundreds of books! Yessssssss. Of course he has a job, a mission. To gain access he has to at least do this thing. This research thing. Linguistics. Well at least he knew what he was doing, he knew several different languages, but he rubs his hands a bit. The exotic Yi Ti probably draws some attention as he sways his hips about the stacks. He does it casually. Asking for books on linguistic theory…which of course is sure to get him to the Maester in question.

Various people have carried off most of the grammars and dictionaries for Old High Valyrian, High Valyrian, Ghiscari, and several of the south Essoi Low Valyrian dialects. Odds are they are on the study tables being poured over by Acolytes and the like. A scribe/librarian clears his throat and says slowly and loudly as if he thinks Siyu might be hard of hearing, "May I help you?"

Bryn comes out of the Valyrian history stacks… the more acolyte-accessible stacks, anyway, with a big tome that looks like it may just topple him over if someone bumps him. He makes it to a desk, though, setting down the book with a small thump. As he spots Siyu, he gives the man a smile, then climbs up so he's kneeling on a chair so he can see his book.

Siyu smiles and he speaks in common, it is highly accented common but common none the less, "Greetings and salutations, fellow scribe and scholar. I have traveled long and hard from far away to come and gaze at the glorious library of the Maesters. It does not disappoint. I am looking for books on theory. The theory of languages. Of the threads which unite men together." he speaks in grand gestures, he really is impressed, and he wants to make a good impression. Talking up the Maesters. Still trying to do his job though.

A couple of rather good looking older acolytes give Bryn an friendly enough wave or flash of smile before going back to their studies. The scholar looks startled that the obvious foreigner can speak Common, but keeps talking in that too loud voice. he gets lots of glares and shushing sounds from the people taking their work seriously. He tries to fob Siyu off with a thin book clearly aimed at novices studying their first foriegn language.

Siyu blinks a bit, "No good sir…here, let me show you, I am working on a unified theory of language…" he rattles off the common phrases of High Valyrian, Braavosi. The language of the summer isles, and even Yi Ti. "Perhaps we all share a common language. I need the research of the best Maesters to try and see if the languages of Westeros can fit in my unified theory. I am a diligent scholar after all. I cannot expect it to be comprehensive if I do not include the languages from your wonderful continent." he looks at Bryn, he spots him and smiles giving a wave, "Hello small one…ah could you help me? You have heard of my theory, might you explain it better then I could? What I am looking for, books of linguistics?"

The Librarian blushes and looks very put out. he piles up four large volumes of various ages and offers the stake to Siyu, before scurrying off.

Bryn gives smiles and waves back to those older acolytes, but then turns to look back to Siyu, making his way closer. "I think you explained it well. You'll probably want to read Maester Praeton's work, he's one of the best linguists at the Citadel."

Siyu smiles a bit and he bows his head, "Thank you good Maester you do very good work." He of course is not looking to embaress anyone, he just needs to find what he is looking for. Trying to give the man a pat on the shoulder before he goes. He looks at Bryn and smiles, "Yes indeed small one. Do you mind helping me?" the pretty boy rests a hand upon his hand, giving his hair a ruffle. "you seem well known in these halls, and well liked. It looks as if you're well on your way to being a good scholar."

Maester Praeton has several smaller works on the shelves. His rumored Maester work is not here, being a closely guarded secret of his.

Bryn nods quickly and says, "I'll try! As much as I can. I have a /lot/ of work to do too, and I'm not very good at linguistics yet, but I'll do my best." Then he smiles at the compliment and says, "I hope so. I want to be Grand Maester someday, and advise the king."

Siyu looks at Bryn and nods, "Still ,at least you have a knowledge of where things are…" he pulls the books from the shelves and hmmm, "Yet there were supposed to be more…" he looks down at the boy, and slowly nods, "Do you know where he keeps his other works?" he has to ask. "After all I am to do a little bit of ah…comparison…"

The bits that are here in the library are earlier treatises.

Bryn nods and says, after a moment's thought, "Well, many Maesters keep desks in the library… but I think he locks his most important work away, in his cell in the dorms. You'll probably have to ask him directly, for access to that."

Siyu hums a small bit, "Well let's start with this at least. I can attempt to work with his early works, and then perhaps…ask the Maester himself. He is in residence yes Bryn…" he considers, "Can I work with you at your table. You on your assignments and me on mine, and then perhaps you can help me find the Maester?"

If it helps, the big stack the librarian dumped on Siyu likely has things by other Measters in the same field to match Maester Praeton's work with.

Bryn nods with a bright smile, "Alright. I don't use much space. Except the book I'm reading, it's huge." He leads the way back to the table he was using, and gets back into his chair, kneeling on it once again for height.

Siyu nods, and sits and he begins to read. He is a quick reader, literate, quick, and clever. He pulls out a pad of scrap. Simple paper, nothing fancy, and he reads…and reads…and reads. Something interesting hits him, he makes a not. Page, book, author. Read…read…read.

Bryn dives into his own research. He makes few notes, except for the occasional page numbers. Mostly he's flipping through, searching for something specific apparently.

It is slow going. The texts are all in dense academic deliberately obtuse wording to make the authors look as clever as possible. By the time the light fades in the high windows and people start putting their work away, Siyu has found the first slip, a plagiarized passage in the Maester's published thesis on High vs. Low Valyrian forms of the verb to be across languages. It gives clues as where to look for further indiscretions, but odds are this will be weeks of work.

Siyu blinks a little bit. He circles it and he tilts his head some. He doesn't know if Bryn is still with him, but he nods. He checks the authors. And double checks again. No accreditation, it's a pure lift. He slowly nods and stands up. He checks the Maesters name, that was pilfered and goes to find more texts by him. Going to see if there's a pattern to it. What he can get, what he can seek…perhaps he can get more data.

The stacks are quite dark and the study area is getting dim. The dinner bell rings and the stragglers trying to get a last few references down straggle out leaving one impatient Librarian tapping a foot by the door.

Siyu looks at the librarian and he gives a little huff, his full lips curling into a bit. But he goes and finishes up his work.

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