Reading & Writing

The reading and writing systems not only allows you to read books and write on different surfaces with a variety of implements, but also let you fold paper and parchment, seal and stamp missives, stack and glue writing materials into books, and much more. To be able to read and write, you will need to have at least one point invested in the Education skill. You also need to have some understanding of the language in which a document is written to be able to read it, or have a good command of a language in order to write in it.

Basics

Reading

Most reading materials you find will have at least two "pages", a front and a back. Books, pamphlets, manuscripts, and the like will have additional pages. To turn pages, you can TURN the object to go to the next page, TURN BACK to go to the previous page, or FLIP to a specific page number. To read the page you are on, simply READ the object. You can also read writing around you in the world, such as signs or inscriptions.

• READ <object>
• TURN <object>
  
• TURN BACK <object>
  
• FLIP <object> TO <page number as 1, 2, 3, etc>

Writing

Pages can be navigated the same way when writing. You can write on the current page up until it is full. Each time you use the WRITE command, it will add a new paragraph to the page. You will need to have in hand a quill dipped in ink or other writing tools in order to write, and you will write in whatever language you are currently speaking.

• DIP <quill> IN <ink>
  
• WRITE <object> <written paragraph>

Erasing

Sometimes it may happen that you wish to erase what you have written. You can cross out just a paragraph on a page, or clean the whole page. Erasing just one paragraph will show that it has been erased, but it will not require you to rewrite the entire page.

• ERASE <object>
• ERASE paragraph <number> <object>

Working with Writing Surfaces

There are a number of different materials in the game that you can write on. Parchment and paper are the most common, but papyrus, vellum, and different kinds of specialty paper may also be bought or crafted.

Papermotes

You can use the {[Papermote command|PAPERMOTE]] command to set a description on a piece of paper (or parchment, or whatever else) that will show up when it is looked at. This can be used for crumpling up a note and tossing it in the mud, or for folding paper animals, or for making note of certain stains on the pages. This can be done for the object as a whole only. If you'd like to specify effects for specific paragraphs or pages, you can include that in the writing.

• PAPERMOTE <object> as <description>

Stacking

Regardless of the type of writing surface, if you have multiple single pieces of them in your hands, you can STACK them into a sheaf. You can get pages out of a sheaf or put them back in as if it were a regular container, and you can also read and shuffle the pages as if it were an unbound book.

• STACK

Tearing and Glueing

If you have a book, you can TEAR a page out of it. You can also GLUE pages into books, so long as you are not trying to glue a large sheet of parchment into a small book. Both the tearing and gluing commands will act upon the current page of the book.

• TEAR <book>
• GLUE <parchment> on <book>

Folding

Lastly, a single sheet of parchment can be folded to only show the writing on one side of the page. This way you can write a letter, fold it, and write the name of the person it's addressed to on the outside.

• FOLD <item>
• UNFOLD <item>

Sealing and Stamping

Sometimes you may want to give some extra security to a missive. You can do this by folding a piece of parchment or paper and then sealing it closed with sealing wax. To open and read the parchment, the seal must be broken.

You can also use sealing wax with a stamp or seal to give your own personal or official mark to a document. Sealing wax can be applied to a folded or unfolded piece of parchment, or to a stack of them, and then a sigil or other symbol can be stamped into the wax. The stamp might be a signet ring, the official seal of an organization, or a number of similar things. Anyone who looks at the parchment will then see your seal.

• LIGHT WAX
• SEAL <item>
• STAMP <item> with <stamp>

Artwork

You can also use the PAINT or SKETCH commands to describe art that has been created on a page. This will take into account your Art skill rather than your education.

• PAINT | SKETCH <object> <art description>

Art is independent of the writing on a page, and there can be writing along with art. Art can be seen at a look, and doesn't need to be read. As with writing you will need supplies in order to make art, such as paint or a dipped quill.