Kevin's Watch

When Trothgard is evacuated in TPTP, they bring the library of the Loresraat with them to Revelstone. From various descriptions, it sounds to me like the First and Second Wards contain written knowledge. But I can't seem to remember anyone ever actually writing anything in either of the Chrons. And if they did, what would they use for paper, since they can't cut down trees for pulp?

Where did Kevin get his paper to write his Lore on, if he was already sworn not to hurt the Forests anymore? Where did the Loresraat's library come from, and how did they keep their records? Papyrus? Hemp paper? 100% cotton bond?Wax tablets and styli?

Quote it, or make it up...I'm just curious.

Hmmm... What about parchment?

Okay, "make it up" it is! Perhaps the Waynyhyn or a Hirebrand used their lore to design a tree that has leaves suitable for writing on. Maybe when one applies pressure on the leaf with a pointed object, it breaks open the outer skin of the leaf, and the sap(?) that seeps out dries immediately, making whatever symbols/characters the scriber writes clearly visible. Maybe that tree is locater near the Loresraat, which would explain why it's not discussed in the Chronicles (so far).

Or, maybe Berek went up on Mount Skyweir for 40 days, while all the people of the Land partied it up at the foot of the mountain, and came back with three stone tablets written on by the Creator, one of which he broke over Baghoon's thick skull when he saw the blasphemies they were doing to each other in the name of "Make Love, Not War".

Maybe they used the thin hide of some poor Waynyhyn or Mustang to write on.
Dyes from a plant could had been used for ink.
Or... Mead had a sale on reems of paper and a set of bics!
(Nahhhhh)

I don't recall anyone in the story doing any actual writing either. The post-Desecration Lords seemed to rely on oral governance. And they didn't need to shuffle memos among each other (Reminder: Prothall's birthday bash--be there or be square!) because they could just do their mind meld and each Lord would get the message.

As for students of the Loresraat, I'm guessing that they studied the written knowledge of Kevin's Lore without writing anything "new" themselves. Maybe Paper-lore and Pencil-lore didn't survive the Desecration.

Where did Kevin get his paper? Well, given that he ruled for a thousand years, he must have thought up something in that time. Maybe he scored a timber deal with some nation outside the Land when the Forestals weren't looking.

They got paper from the One Mill.

Ur-Vile wrote:They got paper from the One Mill.

Ok, helpful tip... don't read that while drinking any beverage... gotta clean my monitor off now

Matrixman wrote:I don't recall anyone in the story doing any actual writing either.

The only "writing" I can recall is Birinair, Heartthrall of Lord's Keep, while contemplating Foamfollower's request that the Lords fulfill the Promise.
He wrote on a [stone] tablet with a stylus while calculating the time and effort needed to complete the task.

But I hardly think the Wards would have been written on stone tablets.
Perhaps woven canvas, such as that which was used for tapestries.

Ur-Vile wrote:They got paper from the One Mill.

I think Ur-Vile wins, with dAN a close second. And someone needs to invent a spit-take smiley for Akasri!

Further ideas are welcome! Thanks for the great responses!

ur-bane's post makes me wonder if records were perhaps kept on thin sheets of stone. From what we know of gravelingas' ability to manipulate stone, it's feasible that they could simply write 'into' the stone itself.

That is possible, but I would assume that a transformation would have to have taken place in the stone to keep it from crumbling. I would have to assume that a thin sheet of stone would be very brittle.
Perhaps thin sheets of metal. We know that the denizens of the Land had some ability to work metal, so perhaps near-foil metals were used.

Unable to stop myself from a little research, I found THIS site regarding writing before the invention of paper.

There are numerous possibilities, although perhaps the Old Lords did use paper, just not paper born of the Land. I always pictured ancient tomes while reading of the wards.

I'm not sure if the stone would need to brittle, remembering the way that Krell was able to dip his hands into the floor of Revelstone. It was like Play-Doh to him.

Myste wrote:When Trothgard is evacuated in TPTP, they bring the library of the Loresraat with them to Revelstone. From various descriptions, it sounds to me like the First and Second Wards contain written knowledge. But I can't seem to remember anyone ever actually writing anything in either of the Chrons. And if they did, what would they use for paper, since they can't cut down trees for pulp?

Where did Kevin get his paper to write his Lore on, if he was already sworn not to hurt the Forests anymore? Where did the Loresraat's library come from, and how did they keep their records? Papyrus? Hemp paper? 100% cotton bond?Wax tablets and styli?

Quote it, or make it up...I'm just curious.

Actually, wood-pulp paper is a recent invention in this world: mid-19th century, as I recall. For many centuries before that, paper was made from linen rags. All the Earthpower in the world couldn't keep old clothes from wearing out — so there's your fibre source for paper-making. Cotton and hemp will also do, as well as that old standby, papyrus; in fact, you can make paper out of virtually any high-grade plant fibre. (Don't try it with oat bran.)

Nav wrote:ur-bane's post makes me wonder if records were perhaps kept on thin sheets of stone. From what we know of gravelingas' ability to manipulate stone, it's feasible that they could simply write 'into' the stone itself.

That wouldn't help Llaura, Heer of Soaring Woodhelven. You may recall that when she couldn't speak to warn the Lords of the ur-viles' trap, Covenant told her to write it down, and she held up her hand to show that it was shaking. She knew how to write, and as a Woodhelvennin, I guarantee she didn't do it by mucking about with rhadhamaerl powers.

Myste wrote:I think Ur-Vile wins, with dAN a close second.

I think I should get extra points for doing mine first!

dANdeLION wrote:I think I should get extra points for doing mine first!

That's true. And you did combine an allusion to Moses, Baghoon the Unbearable, and a 70s pop-culture slogan into one convenient answer.

Very well then, I revise my earlier statement: Everyone's a Winner! But especially dAN, because he was first, and his berfday was yesterday. And especially Ur-vile, for silliness.

Mr. Farseer makes an interesting point about Llaura. Maybe the Stonedownors & Woodhelvennin do writing implements differently, the way they do fire & shelter differently.

Hmmm...

Proof of the clique's existence can be seen here. If I had been the one to say, "The One Mill", it would have been overlooked or insulted. "Shut up you, that's stupid." But if someone on the inside says it, then it is suddenly funny. Most interesting.

ZefaLefeLaH wrote:Hmmm...

Proof of the clique's existence can be seen here. If I had been the one to say, "The One Mill", it would have been overlooked or insulted. "Shut up you, that's stupid." But if someone on the inside says it, then it is suddenly funny. Most interesting.

Yeah, but I'm not the one who posted the thread about eating people or his sister being killed.

...and thus these boards degenerate into the same kind of flaming and stupidity that is so prevalent everywhere else on the internet. Zeph, is your goal to prove that everyone hates you by giving people more reasons to be irritated at you? I can't recall anyone saying "shut up you, that's stupid" to you in the past, so please calm down...

ZefaLefeLaH wrote:Hmmm...

Proof of the clique's existence can be seen here. If I had been the one to say, "The One Mill", it would have been overlooked or insulted. "Shut up you, that's stupid." But if someone on the inside says it, then it is suddenly funny. Most interesting.

There's nothing like a bit of proof, and that really is nothing like it. You suspect that you would have been insulted for that reply, but in reality you wouldn't have been at all. The truth is, that if you came out with more light-hearted quips and fewer inflammatory rants, you'd be as popular as anyone else round here.