The Scholar
The trees grow sparse, the air ever more frozen. Snow begins to fall. Passing an ancient ruin, we take shelter from the coming blizzard. The building seems to be a library, the shelves half-collapsed, the books tattered and unreadable.
The temperature drops. We go to light a fire, only to find that we are out of kindling. If we do not find some, we will surely freeze. But even as we reach for the books…
The library around us fills with movement. Bodies move among the shelves — ancient, veiled librarians, unseeing and unspeaking. As we marvel at them, we are struck by a terrible thought. What if, by burning the books, we incur these spirits’ wrath?
The day wears on…
The Conundrum
Should we stave off the cold by burning the library’s books for kindling? Or hold off and risk the cold of night?
The travellers may first discuss between themselves.
Then, clockwise starting with the Reader, each traveller may take it in turns to vote whether to BURN THE BOOKS or BRAVE THE COLD.
If the vote is tied, the Reader casts the deciding vote.
