A small, elderly woman enters the room. She is dressed in the robes of a mid-level Librarian. From the lines around her face and eyes one would guess her age to be about 80, but her movements are those of a much younger woman. Her eyes twinkle with interest, and her head darts back and forth like that of a small bird. One gets the feeling in the brief moment that she makes eye contact that she has focused her attention on you and you alone out of everything in the world. The intensity of her gaze is palpable.

After taking a brief moment to scrutinize each person in the room at least twice, she reaches within the arm of her robe and pulls out a piece of parchment. Holding it mere inches from her face, she scrutinizes it so intently that the visitors half expect it to speak.

"Oh dear," the Librarian mutters to herself, "there were supposed to be more." Then with a shrug she replaces the paper in the sleeve of her robe and turns to face those in the room. Placing her palms together in front of her mouth, she bows slightly at those assembled and says, "A thousand times,"

"Well met!" she starts brightly, "the Library of All Worlds welcomes you. I am Librarian Dancer of the Scratch family, and I am pleased to meet you all." Dancer’s voice has a friendly, matronly quality to it. She reminds one of a favorite Aunt, or the old dowager who lived in one’s home village and used to give milk and cookies. Before continuing she takes a moment to warm her hands over the coals, though the room is not particularly cool.

"As you know, the Library sponsors a group of Spherewalkers known as the Chamber Platinum. Individuals belonging to this group, whether residents, strangers, or outsiders, are granted full access to the Library’s facilities ." In exchange, they assist the Library in many ways: they visit different Spheres on behalf of the Library, and assist us with any difficulties that we might have. Each of you has applied for a position within the Chamber Platinum, and I am pleased to inform you that you have all been accepted as probationary members of that august organization."

Dancer beams like a child who has just been given a new pony, throwing her arms wide as if to hug each of the visitors all at once. Clearly, she enjoys this sort of work tremendously. Then, as if remembering something sad, she grows suddenly somber.

"And now, as you are each members of the Chamber Platinum, I must ask you each to swear an oath of loyalty to the Library, promising not to harm that organization nor its property, and to work diligently to assist it." Again reaching into her sleeve, she pulls out several small scrolls, each wrapped in ribbons made of cloth-of-gold and sealed with red wax, and hand them to each person in the room. "These scrolls contain copies of the oath which I will momentarily teach you. They are also the symbol of your membership in the Chamber Platinum. Do not lose them, damage them, nor break the seal, for the magic that is within them will be lost if you do so. So long as you treat them with respect and care, you will find them amazingly resilient. To the best of the Library’s knowledge, only a dozen or so have ever been destroyed other than by their owners, and few have ever been lost for any great length of time."

"The oath of the Chamber Platinum is an ancient and sacred one, dating back to the very founding of the Library, when we were forced to maintain our own Order of Librarians Militant to protect the knowledge that we had gained. That Order, The Platinum Scroll, eventually became the Chamber Platinum as our position within Roundwander became more secure, and the nation became more prosperous. The oath is as follows:

Dancer moves to stand before the wind chime, and clasps her hands before her. "Who wishes to go first?"

Flamefeather steps forward, head held high, and meets Dancer’s gaze. "I will take the vow, honored Librarian. I have long aspired to the pride of carrying the Chamber Platinum’s missions." Her voice is steady and calm. With a sparse grace, the young black woman brings the scroll to her chest and brings her right hand up in the sacred gesture. Her bow is almost a dance step, and her voice rises slightly to ring in the chamber. After speaking the oath, she straightens, brings the scroll forward in a smooth sweep. "With the tolling of this chime, I make official my vows before all, and declare them binding before the Walker, Quetzalcoatl, and all those assembled here today."

Every move the Spherewalker has made has been decisive and energetic; but when the time comes to strike the wind chime, she brushes it as softly as an autumn leaf falling from a tree, as lightly as a mother caressing her child. The sound brought forth is crystal clear and yet feels almost bone-shattering to Flamefeather. She pales slightly, and steps back with a pensive look on her brow.

After hesitating a moment and seeing that no one else is going, Corvus stands and repeats the oath, the recitation, and the ceremony. After striking the chime, he returns to the fire and tries not to smile while the others go.

Mercy uncoils like a spring from her position beside the table, and moves to face the Librarian. Distinctly, she repeats the oath in turn. Mercy takes her copy of the scroll, and bows, right hand before her face . Her voice rings clear and firm.

Straightening, she holds the scroll before her, squares her shoulders, and meets Dancer’s eye. The right side of her mouth tugs upwards in a half-smile as she recites the final portion of the oath.

"With the tolling of this chime, I make official my vows before all, and declare them binding before the Walker, Quetzalcoatl, and all those assembled here today. "

Leaning forward she strikes each note of the chime individually, playing out a six-note melody, then slides the scroll into a vest pocket, steps back, and looks at Waterspider expectantly.

Waterspider slowly slides down from his perch on the window sill, walks forward, swallows and carefully recites the Oath. He does so from memory, with his eyes closed.

Reaching the last word, he winces slightly. "I take the sacred vows of the Chamber Platinum honestly, freely, and with no reservation or intent of deceit." He then takes up his scroll and begins the second part. His voice gains strength again as he moves through the second portion of the oath. More and more it seems as if the oath is directed inward as well as to the Library. He raises the scroll.

"With the tolling of this chime, I make official my vows before all, and declare them binding before the Walker, Quetzalcoatl, and all those assembled here today. "

He touches the chimes softly, but it is clear that this is only through great control. Through clenched teeth he says in a whisper, "Never again." He opens his eyes, turns, and goes back to the window sill.

Flamefeather shakes her head lightly, then looks expectantly at Dancer. "Honored Librarian, what Quest may we undertake for you?"