Aia del Mana

I hope all who are able have taken of some time to visit the scenery new to the realm (although one could assume these were once lost, given their appearance). A simple task, then - draw a simple map of the new scenes, and present them here. There should be two such maps - those with coordinates beginning with 9_ and those with coordinates beginning with 5_. Consider that artistic nature is not part of the criteria for judgment - one rather prefers accurate placement and proportionality, similar to how one would expect in a map of other lands. Twenty five such scenes do exist, and Mur has announced the prize will be a single custom scene of one's desire, with the deadline for such a task the thirtieth day of the month. An additional, and simpler task: Name the scenery; although one cannot usually title the scenery eponymously, one may do so in a subtle manner. Provide within this thread the coordinates of the scene to be named, and a suggested title, along with an optional explanation of why the title were fitting. The best single name of any scene (as determined by royal decree) will earn 1 wishpoint, and the best single name of any scene as determined by popularity (i.e. total number of votes whether positive or negative) will also win 1 wishpoint. The closing date for entries will be, similarly, the thirtieth day of the month in which this quest is announced, although comments may continue to be made in this thread after the closing date.

I believe I will be meeting the Archive Elf at 11am Server Time this Monday, the 1st of April, for all who would be present.

As soon as feasibly possible, noting that the Elf must be awake at the time also. I am sure the Invisible Voice may advise when the elf were awake.

I am intending to speak with the Archives Elf when I am able. I invite all those who have signed to be present for the discourse. I would that diplomacy and mutual respect be observed, so please do not attend if thou thinkst it were otherwise - especially as the Elf is the one who may grant favours, not ourselves. I am aware that there may be others who also wish to ask favours of the elf, including favours of knowledge. As Aia of the other-realm is quite aware that her clock is shifted for inconvenience, if there were aught who would wish audience of the Elf, please post within this thread of thine intent, that I may ask the Elf on thy behalf if thou wert absent. Blessings.

I fear I may be absent for this, but fortune may think otherwise. 1. Hast thou knowledge of any beings who did place the presents within the Willow's Shop storage? If so, what were the identity of them, and what were the appearance? 2. Knowst thou of any motive of such beings? Did they communicate in any manner to thee and if so, what spake them to thee? Were there a reason that the location for the presents were chosen, and what wer't? 3. Knowst thou of the magic that renders the presents inert, or a remedy that may dissipate of their inertia without also affecting their contents? If so, what wer't? 4. How art thou? Were there aught we may do for thee in return for thine aid in this matter? 5. When may one expect Willow's Shop to receive new items, for one who hath previously purchased of the entire inventory?

So one would then assume from such results that either: 1. Thou didst not draw the correct sequence of cards (noting that one who is attempting to do so would first see the heat-death of the universe before completing all such combinations, if only one sequence is correct) 2. The "correct" cards are not in the deck that the elf will draw from 3. The hypothesis is false I wonder of thy thoughts upon this matter, but I would think an elf with enough time to perform the actions required for (1.) to succeed will also have sufficient time to contact Confused Santa, bring him to the realm, revive the other elf, unstick the presents, write the Adventure Log update, respond to all of Chewett's PMs, and still have the vast majority of eternity to test the hypothesis.

In light of recent events, let us maintain the sanctity of the dead (the elf should keep his clothing unless he willingly gives it while he is alive) - there must be another way. I strongly prefer revival of the elf, as it is the closest deed possible to annulment of the murder.

Although recent events are separate, in light of them, I must now think that it would be very much in poor taste to resolve this with death. Fyrd would certainly have wanted otherwise.

Wilt thou attempt this, and share of thy results? Or shall we arrange an event there such that many beings may make the burden of each rather lighter?

A brief summary of discourse that I have had with @jakubhi - posted with permission: Jakubhi's ideas: - Lifting the magic that sticks down the presents may also lift the magic within the present, rendering it without value. - The magic within the scene may be fueled by the heat-veins; perhaps temporarily pausing the flow may weaken the magic sufficiently to move the presents - Could it be possible that Memory Stones would absorb this magic holding the presents in place? Aia's ideas: - Agreeance that lifting all magic without limit would cause loss of the value of presents - Rather than attempting to lift the magic, one could attempt to merely cause the opposite effect - for example, a hypothetical potion of extreme unstickiness (which comes with its own issues such as how to get this potion to stick to the presents to cause the desired effect) - Worry about other temporary magic-weakening as mentioned above to also weaken the effect of said presents - Thoughts about Memory Stones not working in the above manner. If they did, however, what would prevent them from absorbing the magic inside the presents as well?

Some passing thoughts: The elf had been titled "Elf of Confused Santa who is not confused" - the intricacies and ambiguities of the common-tongue do not specify whether this did mean that the Elf was not confused, or if Confused Santa was not confused. If it were Confused Santa that were not confused, then it is possible the elf was indeed confused, in which case the title in question may have been an inaccuracy, especially since the Elf did show some sign of confusion in regard to the presents. In this case, if the Elf returns to life, the confusion may also require resolution. If Confused Santa is not confused, then perhaps the title had arisen from a time where he had been confused, although it is not yet clear what could have caused this confusion. It may be that it is Santa (and not Confused Santa) that is behind the gifts, again especially since one may consider to disregard the Elf's title if he had indeed been confused. In any case, I believe the ideal course of action would be to unconfuse all who were confused, otherwise, any remaining characters may be sufficiently unreliable to cause thoughts such as the aforementioned.

I have attempted to use this on a voting item without success; I wonder if this functionality is still working.

May I first request that Ledah aid in communication with the Elf at the Archives? I will need to deliver the Open Letter, and perhaps Ledah may be more... convincing than I in this matter.

As I have some number of signatories to this letter, let us ensure that Confused Santa should receive it. Presently, I have thought there to be several options to deliver this letter: 1. Parley with the elf at the Archives (if need be, one could perhaps ask Ledah to do this). This were where my attempts are currently focused. 2. Summon Confused Santa with realm-magic or at least with locating him such that one may deliver it in person. 3. Return the elf to the living (at which point the letter may no longer be required).

One could obtain this from the elf, surely?