The Scrolls Of Mnemur - A Study In Entropy

[*Miraie]

((OOC info: The plan is now public. Copies can be obtained from the Hall of Records, by requesting one from Tammy or found randomly. Chaos ho! Almost every faction should have access to a copy if they have cared to procure one now or earlier.))

The following text is a draft written by Anastasia Straikovich. Most copies have been produced by scribes with assuredly neat handwriting.))

The Scrolls of Mnemur - A study in entropy

The Scrolls of Mnemur are an elusive and poorly understood phenomenon. It is hinted that each scroll is unique and their effects on a wearer will increase based on the number of the scrolls. It is even possible that some scrolls are more potent than others. Furthermore, it is believed by some that the scrolls are connected to Tharizdun, though the specifics are unclear. Indeed, there are many rumors surrounding these magical objects. There is, however, something most people who have encountered the scrolls seem to agree on: they cannot be destroyed. The sole objective of the present study is to find a way to test that claim. As far as we are aware, there is no previous study of this scale concerning that topic, although several scholars have worked on the nature of the scrolls both formally and informally.

The study is constructed so that it will take exactly three hundred and sixty cycles. During that time, multiple experts with work with the scrolls we have been able to acquire. What follows below is a summary of the study's components and guiding practices.

Public access:
While the study will be carried out through a limited number of experts, the results and progress reports will be made available to the public. We hope that this promotes understanding and discussion concerning our project. Furthermore, allowing the public to assess our work will also give fellow scholars a chance to make their own observations and related experiments, should they wish to collaborate towards the effort in any manner. Indeed, it is our hope that like-minded scholars conduct their own experiments and test their own hypotheses. A cross-examination of our method and testing conducted based on our methods is also desirable, since it will yield more quantitative date regarding the present study.

As with other accounts, research should be submitted to the team through Tammy, who acts as our liaison. Through her, it should also be possible to arrange meetings with different members of the team if they are not able to answer in person. We welcome attempts to contact us through other channels, but time management issues may render some of those attempts fruitless. In case a researcher is available, it is our belief that discussion about the progress of our research can help us to improve our methods while keeping members of the public informed.

Funding:
- Brindas covers material expenses. Thanks, Brindas.

Budget:
- Brindas' compensation (paid by Brindas. To Brindas.)
- Karn's compensation (Approved: 100 jink per tenday. 3,600 jink total.)
- Tammy's reward (Approved: 100 jink per tenday. 3,600 jink total.)
- Spell components. (Calculations pending. Costs thought reasonable.)

Ideology and aim:
This project will be conducted by a diverse team of researchers and other personnel, hailing from different parts of the multiverse and belonging to different factions or no faction at all. The only goal of this research is to answer one simple question: how can the scrolls of Mnemur be destroyed? This study does not advocate preserving or destroying the scrolls, nor does it seek to find any other applications for the scrolls.

Quantitative Research

Duration:
This experiment will be carried out by multiple researchers over the course of 360 cycles. Results will be monitored every tenday and proper analysis will begin once the experiments end. A final summary of the results will be made after 360 cycles have passed.

Thirteen scrolls of Mnemur:
1) This scroll is the control group. Nothing will be done to it and it will be used as a point of comparison while the team experiments on other scrolls.

2) One scroll will be assigned to Karn for his experiment over the following 360 cycles.

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) Eight scrolls will be assigned to Moras for his experiment over the following 360 cycles. He will test the effects of different elements on each scroll separately and use a combination of everything he has on one scroll.

11, 12 & 13) Three scrolls will be assigned to Anastasia, Brindas, Chassiel and Rond. They will perform their experiments, detailed below, on a set of two scrolls and one separate scroll. This is because the scrolls have been consistently proven to be more powerful when in close proximity to one another and the team wishes to understand this effect and how it affects the metaphysical construction of the scrolls while attempting to dismantle them.

Although the allocation of scrolls is made public, we ask that you do not assume these people are in the possession of these scrolls at any time. For our combined safety, we will not disclose how we preserve the scrolls when we are not studying them.

The team method:
Due to the rare nature of the scrolls, it is necessary to combine strengths of the people working on each scroll instead of assigning every researcher separate samples. Every researcher's special responsibilities will be detailed below, but it is important to note here that this undertaking is essentially a team effort. Especially the four wizards - Chassiel, Rond, Brindas and Anastasia - will have to coordinate their research carefully with the three scrolls they have access to. Furthermore, by combining Anastasia's entropic expertise and attempts to mutate the physical nature of the scrolls with Rond's knowledge of abjuration and the metaphysical construction of the scrolls, it may be possible to create openings the team can utilize with Brindas' wide grasp of magical theory.

Moras:
Assisted by Rond and Brindas, Moras will expose X scrolls to intense magical harm. Each cycle, he will blast the first scroll with raw magical energy and the second with negative energy, both of which result from his abilities as a pacted spellcaster. Specifically, the first scroll will be exposed to one minute bursts of Bewitching blasts, whereas the second scroll will be exposed to Utterdark blasts for a minute every cycle. The third scroll will be exposed to Noxious blasts - while both Bewitching and Noxious blasts deal with raw magical energies, their functions are different and merit some study. The fourth scroll will be submerged in acidic fog for a full minute every cycle - the effect will come from a powerful magical artifact, a Staff of Earth. Similarly, Moras will use a Staff of Air to blast the fifth scroll with electricity for a full minute. In addition, he will use a Staff of the Magi to burn the sixth scroll in a similar fashion while exposing the seventh scroll to intense cold created by the same staff. The eight scroll will be exposed a combination of these effects. Moras will make a record of his attempts and Brindas will examine the results every tenday. Once 360 cycles have passed, the entire team will gather to study the results in full detail before proceeding with analysis. If required, Rond will assist with Moras' safety while joining Brindas every tenday to observe potential physical or metaphysical weaknesses in the construction of the scrolls.

Karn:
Working in tandem with Rond and Brindas, Karn will expose a scroll to severe physical harm every cycle for exactly 360 cycles. He will make a record of each attempt (including the type of weapon used and the number of strikes, as well as their relative force) and Brindas will examine the results every tenday. Once 360 cycles have passed, the entire team will gather to study the results in full detail before proceeding with analysis.
- Alternatively, Anastasia and Chassiel will take over the observation if this study in the interest of dividing work equally. However, the team should discuss the necessary wards and preparations together.

Brindas:
During the 360 cycles this project is scheduled to take place, Brindas spends every tenday utilizing his knowledge of divination to inspect all experiments. He will utilize [WIP] read magic and clairvoyance while avoiding true seeing (potential risk: incomprehensible insight) and make a record of his observations. In addition, Brindas has psionic powers which he will use to give the team yet another perspective on the makeup of the scrolls. According to him, the scrolls can whisper to a speaker and cause harm to a psion. Otherwise, he shall assist either Rond or Anastasia with their experiments, providing a Generalist's insight and support with universal magical theory. It is of paramount importance for Brindas to be warded with a protection against evil spell, reinforced with mind blank, while he inspects the scrolls.

Anastasia:
An expert in necromancy, Anastasia will make an effort to dismantle the the scrolls through the use of the entropic energy inherent to the multiverse. She will also attempt to mutate the physical nature of the scrolls via the school of transmutation. Brindas will assist Anastasia to conjure extraplanar entities to pose further queries about the scrolls, as well as to use their abilities to make repeated attempts to destroy the scrolls.

Rond:
A necromancer with experience in crafting magical items, Rond will be responsible for the overall safety of the project. He will make sure that attempts to destroy the scrolls will not bring undue harm to the team. Every tenday, he will assess the results of every experiment to discern metaphysical weaknesses in the scrolls as they exist as magical constructs. Otherwise, he works with Anastasia and Brindas in hopes of using his knowledge of abjuration to create a vulnerability that can be exploited. Ideally, the team will find a way to negate the metaphysical defenses the scrolls have. Indeed, in the best case scenario, it might be possible to produce an antimagic field or some similar effect to strip the scrolls of their power entirely. Even temporary distortion could allow for their destruction. While Brindas and Anastasia work on conjuration, Rond will provide wards. He will also make sure that none of the extraplanar entities the team contracts break loose.

Chassiel:
A cleric and an enchanter, as well as a Generalist wizard, Chassiel is the final member of the team working on the three scrolls of Mnemur. In addition to providing support where needed and working in conjunction with Brindas to ensure that the team remains healthy, she will use her expert knowledge about crafting magical artifacts to observe the scrolls while the team experiments on them. Moreover, Chassiel will provide access to divine magic and positive energy to give the team a broad access to all possible solutions during research.

Qualitative Research

Tammy:
A halfling known as Tammy will record any stories or experiences regarding the Scrolls of Mnemur people want to share with her. Strange feelings in their presence, attempts to manipulate or even destroy them are all welcome. Tammy is responsible for scribing the accounts, which can be made anonymous at request - although the information will still be posted on a public forum like our other research. Time allowing, our team will converge to discuss these individual accounts in depth, in which case the results of those discussions will be made public with the corresponding accounts.

In addition to dealing with qualitative accounts concerning the scrolls, Tammy will also be the person responsible for communications with the research team. Ideally, she will be the first person to receive comments, feedback and suggestions regarding to the public results of the study.

Future

If these efforts are not enough to produce a method that allows a body to destroy a Scroll of Mnemur, we believe that it is still possible to draw some conclusions based on them. If we discover one or more weaknesses or partial results, we will hopefully start another project that has a considerably narrower focus. One such possibility involves constructing a way to expose a scroll to continuous magical harm in a suspended loop. Alternatively, it would be interesting to find out if a scroll can be erased from time or existence alternatively. Neither approach will be attempted during the present study.

[*MimiFearthegn]

It has been a week (presumably?) since the beginning of the study, and the scrolls continued to be impervious to physical force, magical force, and being submerged in acid. Well, unless you counted the fact that the edges of the one exposed to large quantities of acid had started to roll and blacken ever so slightly.

If Anastasia has an address, she would hear a knock at her door some day after the beginning of the project.

[*Miraie]

- Budget: updated.
- Funding: resolved.

Alas, Anastasia is an elusive resident of the Hive Ward. Fortunately, Tammy has been assigned as the public liaison of the team, so they should be easy to reach. Otherwise, someone would have to catch Anastasia while she's out and about - not an inhuman prospect, considering her occupation.

The study is now public knowledge and copies of the research plan can be obtained freely.

[*MimiFearthegn]

Anastasia being difficult to find, Tammy is approached one day by an elven woman, who inquires if she might have a moment of the halfling's time to discuss something of "great importance about your research project"

[*DM-Stitch(es)]

* Rumour has it that some shady looking fellows have been asking around about the study and who is or are behind it, said shady looking fellows are said to be offering good coin for tips that lead to the identification of those involved*

[*Love_on_a_Wire]

Anastasia being difficult to find, Tammy is approached one day by an elven woman, who inquires if she might have a moment of the halfling's time to discuss something of "great importance about your research project"

"Oh yes, absolutely!", she would exclaim with head cocked and smile fierce, practically bouncing in place.

[*doc]

An illithid has been seen recently inquiring about details of the study at the Hall of Records. It has no distinguishable features save for a silvery tentacle tip and a small white orb appointed on the chest of his dress.

[*Sareth675]

Karn would be quite happy to go along with any of the research that was thrown at him. He'd accept any payment offered since it was no effort at all to hit a bit of paper. Unless something life threatening like one of the scrolls tried to eat him, he'd be quite content with the downtime offered by the research venture.

[*MimiFearthegn]

"Oh yes, absolutely!", she would exclaim with head cocked and smile fierce, practically bouncing in place.

The elven woman smiled at the halfling's enthusiasm: "Well Miss. . Tammy, was it not? My name is Leithian. I heard a rumor that there was a group of scholars - tragically misguided - who were trying to destroy the relics commonly known as 'The Scrolls of Mnemur'.

"You are their spokeswoman, yes? I say misguided, firstly, because as you may have heard it is impossible to destroy the scrolls. But secondly, because they are a treasure trove of knowledge, and it is a great crime to attempt to destroy knowledge.

"I belong to an organization which would be eager to aid in the research of the scrolls, if only such research did not tend to their destruction. I think with cooperation, a great deal more knowledge could be gleaned from them intact. Is this of interest to you?"

[*Love_on_a_Wire]

"Oh yes, absolutely!", she would exclaim with head cocked and smile fierce, practically bouncing in place.

The elven woman smiled at the halfling's enthusiasm: "Well Miss. . Tammy, was it not? My name is Leithian. I heard a rumor that there was a group of scholars - tragically misguided - who were trying to destroy the relics commonly known as 'The Scrolls of Mnemur'.

"You are their spokeswoman, yes? I say misguided, firstly, because as you may have heard it is impossible to destroy the scrolls. But secondly, because they are a treasure trove of knowledge, and it is a great crime to attempt to destroy knowledge.

"I belong to an organization which would be eager to aid in the research of the scrolls, if only such research did not tend to their destruction. I think with cooperation, a great deal more knowledge could be gleaned from them intact. Is this of interest to you?"

"Quite, quite! I raised identical concerns at the project's onset, far far too hasty to risk actually destroying one of the things, we haven't a clue just how finite their numbers are or how unique a particular example is! I do believe that should one of our methods start to prove successful, they haven't yet, we'll cut off the source of the damage and re-evaluate. I certainly wouldn't have accepted the position otherwise. Does your group have an address or a headquarters of sorts? It'll be easier to wrangle everyone together this way; so very many independent minds, you see."

When she speaks, it's after a significant pause for thought and then delivered in a flurry. A scroll and charcoal-tipped implement are never far from her deft hands.