[Locked to Residents]

[malnosso]

Greetings, Luceti. I see you've managed to open the proverbial Pandora's Box. I was wondering when that would happen.

More seriously, however- no doubt most of you have noticed the widespread issue that's resulted from that decision. Some might even recall a similar experience occurring years ago. If you're concerned about the affected residents meeting their unfortunate ends once again, well, that's unlikely. Death wouldn't be a particularly beneficial alternative to what you've unleashed this time.

However, there's still the matter of sorting out the spirits now. I'm interested in hearing what you lot have already tried when it comes to dealing with what you've unlocked, but my advice for getting the black spirit to relinquish control is to let the rest do the work for you. Last time this happened, I was able to fix it, but it's beyond my power now.

Discuss it amongst yourselves, trade your theories; I'm sure you'll come up with something. I'll help with what I can. Sooner would be better, though- I make no promises that my former comrades won't take measures to deal with you if this isn't resolved internally within a few weeks.


[ooc: arright kids, true to John's word, he'll be overseeing the discussion. He won't be telling people how to fix this problem, but he'll answer whatever questions he can and give some advice here and there. see what you can work out amongst yourselves and feel free to ping me if I'm needed and don't show up. if nothing comes up within a week, we'll throw you a more obvious bone or two. tally ho~]

Comments

[Written]

[rather_be_surfing]

I'm pretty sure they're reacting to the one who got loose, 'Twila' if the name left behind in the container was correct. I'm basing this on the interactions I've seen and the few I've had with people with Twila attached to them.

Twila was in a small box in the depths of the caverns and lower levels that someone else had opened this past week. The caverns were in shadow while the box was still sealed.

The box itself was old and the lock on it practically rotting, that was obvious even with just touch to give information. It took no effort at all to break it, especially with Twila's influence to push the matter. If there's a way to 'put it back', I would suggest a far more secure method next time. Something that can't be reached physically, if at all possible.

When Twila left the cavern, it took the shadows with it.

It will latch onto something you want and push you in that direction in order to bond with you. This is how I got persuaded to open the box where I found it instead of taking it to the surface and getting hold of other people first, which was my original intention.

I suspect the ones with Twila inside may have to decide to give up whatever it was that was offered or pushed to be sought out; I don't think that'll chase it out, but it might weaken it.

The other spirits might be bonding to people to keep Twila out. It's the impression I've gotten from Tsinku. I think they might leave as well, once this is settled.

That's about all I know, or can offer.

[Written] (with camera covered to attempt being anonymous)

[blessingone]

Could you give them something like what Twila offered so they wouldn't have to go to her?

Is the box magic?

[Written]

[rather_be_surfing]

Pretty sure it's more of a subtle thing; not so much of a 'I have a deal for you' as 'This sounds like a good idea'. Hard to fight if you think it's you coming up with the idea.

Considering I normally have no powers whatsoever and still got into it, if the box was magic at some point, it definitely isn't any more. All it took was a yank on the lock to free it. Her.

[Written]

[blessingone]

Would they have to decide it was a bad idea on their own or would it work to just stop them from doing it? [Which she realizes after she writes it that he wouldn't actually know. Whoops.]

Then a spirit can be put in a regular box?

[Written]

[rather_be_surfing]

I don't know. I'm tending towards thinking it would have to be the afflicted making the decision, though. Maybe with help. Pushing a conflict with most people tends to make them stop thinking, or at least stop thinking about anything except how to defeat their opponent. That would just make it easier for Twila to keep hold.

[Written]

[breezing]

So do you have Twila with you, or someone else?

[Written]

[rather_be_surfing]

Tsinku. Think he snuck in when I passed out after opening the box. Possibly to keep her out.

[Written]

[breezing]

I don't have ANYONE. It's lame.

[Written]

[rather_be_surfing]

That might be a good thing, to be honest. At least you know for sure it's all you and not being influenced by someone else.

[Written]

[wise_maiden]

That answers a few questions. And brings up some good possibilities as well... of course, they would have to be on board with it.

[Written]

[rather_be_surfing]

Are you referring to the spirits or someone else?

[Written]

[wise_maiden]

The spirits, the possessed... it's possible that some may not want to be released from this new power, or may find the very notion of all of this insulting. And Twila doesn't seem the type to want to go away quietly, not after this display. Perhaps it is Twila that needs to be offered something... something from the other spirits that revile it.

[Written]

[rather_be_surfing]

A compromise or truce? Or a promise...oath, maybe, not to lock her away again.

The problem would be in people being willing to give chaos embodified the credit for being able to keep up her terms of the promise. Keeping rules, even oaths, are not...something chaos is known for.

[Written]

[complicatedliar]

Locked away in a box like a forgotten relic. I can't imagine why a spirit would object to that at all.

[Written]

[rather_be_surfing]

We don't know why she was locked away, Loki. Could have been something as simple as the people there at the time weren't ready for her.

We're probably not prepared, either, no matter who we're bonded with. There's already been a few altercations that were because of being affected.

Either way, even if we're all fine, the Malnosso aren't going to let it stand, so whether we like it or not, getting everyone unattached is probably a good idea, before they decide to 'fix' it for us again.

[Written]

[complicatedliar]

I don't particularly care about the reason. As if that sort of act can be rendered noble.

I can't say I object to the notion of being alone in my own mind once again. But I've no interest at all in talk about putting chaos in a cage.

Though I suppose the spirits who were in residence before like to keep things unbalanced in their personal favor.

[Written]

[rather_be_surfing]

I'm not going to argue that point with you, Loki. Neither of us know what happened or why. The point is moot.

We're probably going to need your wit for this, not your disdain.

What will help is trying to help come up with an agreement that will let her stay free without the rest of the spirits going berserk over it. Without change--which is small time chaos--entropy sets in and that's no better. Everything dies.

Too much chaos, on the other hand, and everything destructs. We need a balance, and I'm thinking...hoping...that's really what they're all after. You can't close Pandora's Box. But there's got to be a better way than letting everyone get taken over completely and the enclosure erupting into fights.

If you have any insight in how she'd be willing to help with that balance, what she'd find acceptable, it would help the situation, a lot.

[Written]

[descrier]

Do you think this has anything to do with the arrival of those two working with the Malnosso? It may only be a coincidence that the events are related, but could it have been their intentions for that box to be discovered and the spirit to be released?

[Written]

[rather_be_surfing]

I met them, but I wouldn't be able to tell you what their intentions might have been, or if they had anything to do with it. Circumstances tend to lead to that conclusion, but I'd actually try and figure out who opened the tunnels instead and go from there if you're looking for a correlation.

[Written]

[descrier]

It seems they wish to be more on good terms with us than make enemies, even with the Malnosso's protection, that I don't think they would be willing to give up that trust so easily anyway.

The reason they came here could have led to who opened the tunnels and why in the first place. I've only been here a short period of time myself that I'm afraid I can't find the reasoning or motivation behind it like longer inhabitants can.

With the way you speak of Twila's influence, it could be the cause of all of this, but the connections seem disorganized at this point. I won't pretend to know or understand how the spirits work, but you spoke of attempting a compromise with her. Is there any way that could actually be done?

[Written]

[rather_be_surfing]

By making her vessels realize that a better compromise would mean no one, including her, gets hurt. Actually, more likely just that she doesn't get hurt and gets what she wants. Either way, she'd have to like what was offered, and I suspect those harboring her would want to give up what she offers them by being part of them.

[Written]

[alloys]

[ Twila's influence over him is thick, so it takes a lot of willpower for him to even write this. But, he can't not be a part of this conversation, either. He has to - do something. ]

If it connects with someone through what they want, the opposite could be the fix. Reject what you want, and that bond breaks. The rest of the spirits might stop jockeying for position if we oust Twila.

[ It seems a little simplistic, but hell if he knew much about the spirits here beyond the basics. To no one's surprise, Tony had never contacted any of them before. ]

[Written]

[rather_be_surfing]

Problem being is what do we do to help the people who can't or won't push Twila out? Got any ideas? I'm pretty sure this is an all or nothing deal, here.

[Written]

[alloys]

[ That's the question, isn't it? He knew he was going to have a hell of a time getting Twila out of himself if that was really the solution. ]

Find something more important for them to latch onto.

[ Which Twila is kind enough to remind him he won't he able to. ]

[Written]

[rather_be_surfing]

Which, unfortunately, is the problem. Best I can come up with is if Twila stays in her hosts, the Malnosso will likely do a lot worse than what we can do to ourselves to 'fix' the situation. But since we're just hosts and she won't suffer for it, that's not exactly a compelling argument. 'Behave, or we'll put you back in the box' isn't going to be any better.

And I can't blame her, not really.

The hosts, I'm assuming, have already been given reasons for her to stay that likely pick at the most important thing for them. Other than 'do you really want another entity piloting you?' as an argument, I don't have much to go on, there, either, because whatever made them open up in the first place is still going to be there. That part, unfortunately, I think they'd have to shut down on their own, or get the help of people closest to them to see why they don't need the extra help from Twila.