muldran

Muldran sealed the book in front of him, and pushed it across the table.

"Finished!" he announced with satisfaction. And then a brief look of worry passed his face, as he recalled the events of the previous night.

The meeting at Yew could not have gone worse. Far from being a neutral location, Muldran had managed to 'forget' that, perhaps, the Yewish might not take to kindly to someone going on about magical boxes on their doorstep. Publishing the letter in the Poste might have been the quickest way to gain attention - but also a great problem for letting others know...

Muldran arrived at the doorway to Empath Abbey to find the stronghold of Love blocked by two surly Yewmen - who, let us be plain probably didn't have love in their hearts. Their lips curled as they spied Muldran's vivid hair, and Mul quickly remembered why he'd kept a hat with him...

Taggart was there, with the Knight Rhialto. Both spoke to Muldran, and soon enough, Gorthyn and Hayt also showed up. Mul tried pleading with Taggart, apologising for the hardship, but letting him know that Flame was well again. Unfortunately, without her to back that up, Taggart was not going to believe him...

Muldran told Taggart that the minor boxes were leaking, and causing contamination; but Taggart was blind to the effect on his hands - and presumably more of his body. Because a magical effort was needed to see such a stain, the Knight with him would not believe that the affliction was there as well. Taggart had been able to choose well how to hide the contamination.... But that was the boxes doing, wasn't it? But Taggart seemed a lot more composed...

Taggart demanded the return of the box that was stolen from him; Muldran repeated the same request of Taggart, since they his men had taken the Control Box from Moonglow. At this stand off, a discussion followed, with the Yewish guards getting increasingly irate; they seemed to be spoiling for a fight - and after the disaster of the battle the previous night, Muldran was not eager to incur Gorthyn's wrath by suggesting they take the boxes back by force.

The night nearly descended into even more bloodshed when Xorthaul turned up. The elf quickly shed his robe, provoking an unpleasant response from the two Yewish guards. Muldran tried to cover up the faux pas, but Xorthaul brushed him off, smirking insolently at the Guards and standing alongside the Court.

Taggart was not going to hand over the boxes; that much was plain. But Muldran couldn't conduct the ritual through the 'minor' box - it just would not work. So... It was decided - by default, and lack of options - that Muldran would hand his notes on the ritual to Taggart.

The Court turned and left, and discussed further ways to proceed - but were followed by the Yewmen. Using discretion as the better part of valour (and Muldran nearly getting arrested for treating a Guard like a messenger) the Court headed back through to Rhovanion.

In the Library, they discussed what might happen. Taggart could, conceivably, cast the ritual. After all, it wasn't a 'magical' ritual that involved years of study, it was more like a learnt pattern that the Control Box would respond to, so there was little chance of disaster. Once started, the ritual would continue... and the two minor boxes would add their power to the Control Box.

And then, all that would remain, would be to lock the Control Box away. The Control Box wouldn't - couldn't - be accessed at that point of time, but it would still need to be sent away.

Xorthaul pointed something out; Taggart was contaminated, would him casting the ritual to summon the energy into the Control Box have any other side effects? Muldran looked a little abashed, and said that he had not hoped to encounter that particular situation - but he was positive it would have no bad effects.

Gorthyn looked to Hayt, and suggested that, not for the first time, there should be some way to stop Muldran's optimistic view on life.

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