muldran

This is the rule thread for the Shadow Court's Black Boxes event. This thread will contain information about what 'stage' the boxes are at, what bizarreness is being caused, and should answer any of your questions about the whole thing. Come on and join in!

(A) What has Gone Before...
The Original Black Box troubled many people some time ago, and was wound up in the Legend of the Dreamsenders. Not much is known about the Box, apart from that it caused many people to covet it - and within it was a protected, powerful magical item. The Box has gone - vanished with the last Dreamsender after a hideous act was carried out...

When Blackrock returned to the land, several mages - and those who remembered the Black Box - gathered, and tried to find ways to protect people from Blackrock. The task fell to Muldran; create a set of items using what was known of the Black Box. These items should be powerful enough to protect people, and then whole communities from the encroaching effects of Blackrock.

The Shadow Court collected magical materials, and then went on an expedition with others to create and empower the boxes. Five boxes were formed - and Muldran then handed them on to people to 'guard'.

And that's that. The Boxes haven't done anything amazing. The people holding them have tucked them into a safe corner of their homes, or discarded them. Another failure by Muldran.

Only it isn't. Because Muldran has a sixth box. A control box, one he created before the experiment. And he's been growing Crystals within it. When Muldran activates the Crystal Box in Rhovanion, the others will awake.

And there's something that's slipped in from 'Outside'. Something very old. Something that has a grudge against those who live in Sosaria. And something that wants it's property back - the original Box...

(A) What Happens to People with the Boxes?
The Boxes are being influenced by something from 'Outside' - don't worry, it's not the Guardian, it's something that has been referred to before. Put it this way, it's powerful and a bit of a bugger, but hey. It's annoyed. That's all you need to know. (But this won't result in you loosing characters, experiencing perma-death or anything daft like that.)

So why would you want one? Well - it's going to protect you - and the immediate area - from Blackrock effects. Of course it is! And you'll also know that other people who hold the boxes will do anything to get their hands on it. They're not to be trusted. Think like an insect hive; you've got your egg, now protect it. And if you can add to it - excellent. Muldran will send 'motivational messages' to people who possess the boxes!

The people with the boxes will start to react in opposite to their main alignment and behaviours. This will get worse as each 'stage' is announced by Muldran (this will be announced on the Shadow Court Forum, a General Forum, and by ICQ \ PM to people who hold the boxes.

This opposite behaviour is gradual - just the odd angry word for a placid person, or a tightwad giving some gold, for example... Yes, that does mean that 'evil aligned people' will become slightly fairer as the stages progress! As the stages progress, these effects become more pronounced.

There's not going to be anything DONE to you that will last forever. While you've got the boxes, you'll gradually want to posses the others more and more, and become a bit more ruthless \ relaxed about how you do it. basically, you should be acting a bit differently from your normal behaviour to show that something has an odd influence on you.

Muldran will ask the possessors to act a bit more extreme with each stage.

It is suggested there are 5 stages of complete posession.

(A) What\When are the Stages?
They're not timed; Mul will announce a new stage by letting people know on a general forum, by PM, IM, etc.

The idea is to keep this event quick paced and fast moving. Don't want it to stupefy. Quick sharp shock.

Please check the general forum \ Vinyamar Library for updates. Shadow Court members will also know what is going on, both for OOC queries and for IC updates!

(A) How do we get boxes from other people
Beg, borrow, steal. Team up. Hit them over the head. Threaten their nearest and dearest. Steal them yourself. Pay someone to steal them. Anything goes.

There may be some people who have boxes that you're 'blue' to - in that case, negotiate to get 'em. Be inventive. If someone's unreasonably holding onto a box, check with Mul - but hey, you're there to persuade. Surely there's something you can offer someone...

(A) What happens if someone looses a box?
Until the next stage is announced, they still want them! They want to get their box back, and still want the others, and still have the character adjustment.

However, when the next stage comes around - they'll then 'thaw out' immediately reverting to normal. And what's worse, they'll realise that the box had that effect on them, and that it's Muldran's fault.

So, nice people will probably point out there's something wrong, and help save other people from the boxes.

Less generous ones will probably express their displeasure in much more physical ways.

A) What happens if I get all the boxes?
Your character is permadead.

Pah, seriously now. If you have all the boxes, good luck; you've got to hang on to them through Five Stages. If there's a single person who makes it to stage 5, with all the boxes, then the boxes crumble (even Mul's box!), leaving one box behind.

The Box will acquire a deadly poisoned Dagger (Mul will hand it over). And it forms the new Black Box. And the possessor is more determined than ever to keep this item. Plus they've got a nasty DP poisoned dagger, that can slay their opponents.

Oh yes, and the 'thing' that's behind the scenes is revealed to them, and the person has a powerful ally...

Will your character stay 'opposite allignment'? That's up to you. If you want to stay that way, fine. But speak to Mul; we could make a further set of events out of that!

(A) Why should we join in?
This is a simple scenario. Muldran and the Court move things on, and let you know, so there's no waiting weeks for things to happen.

Motivate people you play with to get boxes for you. It's meant to be a fun gathering thing, with buying, bartering and stealing.

And yes - it might involve a few fights later on. However, you may have to be more persuasive and cunning than that; not all guilds may be in for the fighting. So persuasiveness, teaming up, and general skullduggery may be the way to go...

Factions can be started up either in towns \ communities - or perhaps one collector wants to ask other people to collect them for him \ her? Afterall, Twothumb could simply offer to buy them all... but then surely another Town would think that they should acquire them before that happens!

(A) So everyone wants the boxes? How do I get rid of mine? Or, our friend has one. He's going nutty! We know there's something wrong with that bloody box. What do we do to get it away from them?
Bathe in pure water? Snog Cal Soulshadow? Get the Covians to dance the tango? Sort out your own cures... but they won't work.

The Shadow Court can help them work, however. Afterall, it's Mul's fault. When things start happening, Muldran will realise something's going on and start figuring out the cleansing rituals to help people break free of their addiction.

And the stuff can't be destroyed, without Mul's say so. Because he's cruel like that. And because it's part of the event. So there. No saying you can't alter how you'll deal with things later - after all, after a couple of stages, the Court may give you the opportunity to destroy the box... but whether you do, or decide something else... well, that's up to you.

(A) Okay - I've got one of these boxes, and don't want it. Or I can't spend time slapping people down who want this damn thing.
You don't want to join in? Awwww! Don't worry, just let Muldran know, and through the power of magical-plot-alteration he'll take the box and the taint from you, wipe your memory and give it to some other unlucky bugger. Consider yourself lucky.

(A) Who has the Boxes?
This will be updated regularly. If you beg \ borrow or steal a box, please ICQ \ MSN \ PM Muldran ASAP so we can update the Tracker. If you loose it, let me know!

At the start of this event:
Control Box - Muldran (SCT)
Box 1 - Kaelyn (DoT) > Box Missing - watch this space!
Box 2 - Flame (DrR)
Box 3 - Taggart (KT)
Box 4 - Lann'al (F^L) > Vierna (F^L)
Box 5 - The Dark Lord (AoD)

The information about who owns holds what in this thread is Out Of Character only - tracking where things *really* are. Don't use this in game - for example, people who participated in - or read the Poste report on - the expedition to make the boxes will suspect they're held by the people named first; so they'd be right in assuming Flame, Taggart and The Dark Lord have a box each...
Don't worry - clues to find out who own's 'em will turn up in game...

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