What is in the mysterious case?

cptbutton · 07-21-2015, 02:43 PM

I am in a Storium game with a "community sucking into another world" plot. I started a thread about a mysterious crate of something. This may have been a mistake, as it seems to be bogging down the plot.

The case was hidden on a beach by someone and found by my PC. I need to open it and find out what is inside. I am asking here for suggestions. Obvious possibilities:

A) A lot of paper money. Probably useless in the game, best way to get rid of the whole plot thread.

B) Illegal Guns. Could be useful in the future of the game. Explains why it was hidden.

C) Illegal drugs. Might be useful in the future of the game. Explains why it was hidden.

D) Mysterious technology or magic.

E) A severed head (a friend's suggestion)

F) Gold, jewels, or other valuable stuff which has no inherent utility but is good to have.

G) Other.

Any suggestions?

(Sadly, I am not cleared to look in boxes in the Warehouse 23 basement any more.)

Irish Wolf · 07-21-2015, 03:11 PM

SCP-902. You must destroy it the moment the ticking stops, and not before.

Anthony · 07-21-2015, 05:42 PM

Why is it bogging down the plot? I assume people are interested in it in some way, or they'd just ignore it and no bogging would occur.

I'd be tempted to look into some mysterious nautical disappearances which could be previous people who were sucked into another world. Looking at a list of people who disappeared mysteriously, I'm not seeing something that instantly grabs me, but perhaps the logbook of the Carroll A Deering.

Flyndaran · 07-21-2015, 06:17 PM

Are there any boundaries on where the crate came from?
Ht, Lt, magical, mundane, war zone, etc?

Valuable according to the hiders and meant to keep away from "someone" or something.
That covers a lot.

Items of a persecuted group. Like religious artifacts, or literature of a "subversive" nature.

Treasured items to be retrieved after some danger or war dies down. Evacuations rarely have space for family heirlooms.

jason taylor · 07-21-2015, 07:12 PM

Discussion of upcoming military/diplomatic/intelligence operations:

Blackmail Material on an important personage:

Terrorist Plot:

Millitary Grade Malware:

Alien Embryo

Map to Lost City

Will of an Eccentric But Powerful Figure

Legal Evidence of Some Kind For Some Reason Or Other

Not to be Revealed Yet But Someone Wants to Kill the PCs Over It

ericthered · 07-21-2015, 07:15 PM

A time capsule. If figuring out stuff about the other world is a thing in the setting, this doesn't even have to be worthless.

Stolen technical plans

compromising pictures of high ranking public officials

jason taylor · 07-21-2015, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Are there any boundaries on where the crate came from?
Ht, Lt, magical, mundane, war zone, etc?

Valuable according to the hiders and meant to keep away from "someone" or something.
That covers a lot.

Items of a persecuted group. Like religious artifacts, or literature of a "subversive" nature.

Treasured items to be retrieved after some danger or war dies down. Evacuations rarely have space for family heirlooms.

Now those are good.

Anaraxes · 07-22-2015, 03:41 AM

An apparently unrelated collection of items including
- the plans for an airplane engine
- some sheet music
- a ring
- uranium ore
- a key to an apartment
- a broken tail light from a car
- $40,000 in cash in an envelope
and other items from this list.

The Colonel · 07-22-2015, 04:51 AM

A gimp, annoyed at being disturbed? ;-)

More seriously, how about a large quantity of books, including handwritten notebooks and bound correspondence - can have plot relevant material buried in it or other useful data ... or can just be read (ahem) herring. May also be valuable (perhaps the papers of someone famous). Even more amusing for it to be digital data in an obsolete format. Filmstock might also be a possibility.

Stuffed animals? (and not of the soft toy variety)

A mummy?

Statuary or other art? (valuable or otherwise)

A consignment of machine parts ... or a machine, whether a CNC mill, a generator, a medical device of some kind. Assembly may be required.

Large quantities of preserved food - whether military style rations or simply long life civilian food.

Sporting equipment?

Clothes and/or outdoor kit ... possibly for a different environment.

General electrical goods - toasters, irons and kettles or maybe a fridge or washing machine...

Dalillama · 07-22-2015, 03:29 PM

A thick tome written in the same language/code as the Voynich Manuscript.

A bunch of pelts from animals that no-one recognizes.

Several hundred looseleaf pages covered in typewritten text that says "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" over and over again.

The original manuscript of [holy book of choice]. It differs wildly from all extant copies.

07-21-2015, 02:43 PM	#1
cptbutton Join Date: Jul 2007	What is in the mysterious case? I am in a Storium game with a "community sucking into another world" plot. I started a thread about a mysterious crate of something. This may have been a mistake, as it seems to be bogging down the plot. The case was hidden on a beach by someone and found by my PC. I need to open it and find out what is inside. I am asking here for suggestions. Obvious possibilities: A) A lot of paper money. Probably useless in the game, best way to get rid of the whole plot thread. B) Illegal Guns. Could be useful in the future of the game. Explains why it was hidden. C) Illegal drugs. Might be useful in the future of the game. Explains why it was hidden. D) Mysterious technology or magic. E) A severed head (a friend's suggestion) F) Gold, jewels, or other valuable stuff which has no inherent utility but is good to have. G) Other. Any suggestions? (Sadly, I am not cleared to look in boxes in the Warehouse 23 basement any more.)

07-21-2015, 03:11 PM	#2
Irish Wolf Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Earth, mostly	Re: What is in the mysterious case? SCP-902. You must destroy it the moment the ticking stops, and not before. __________________ If you break the laws of Man, you go to prison. If you break the laws of God, you go to Hell. If you break the laws of Physics, you go to Sweden and receive a Nobel Prize.

07-21-2015, 05:42 PM	#3
Anthony Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Berkeley, CA	Re: What is in the mysterious case? Why is it bogging down the plot? I assume people are interested in it in some way, or they'd just ignore it and no bogging would occur. I'd be tempted to look into some mysterious nautical disappearances which could be previous people who were sucked into another world. Looking at a list of people who disappeared mysteriously, I'm not seeing something that instantly grabs me, but perhaps the logbook of the Carroll A Deering. __________________ My GURPS site and Blog.

07-21-2015, 06:17 PM	#4
Flyndaran Untagged Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon	Re: What is in the mysterious case? Are there any boundaries on where the crate came from? Ht, Lt, magical, mundane, war zone, etc? Valuable according to the hiders and meant to keep away from "someone" or something. That covers a lot. Items of a persecuted group. Like religious artifacts, or literature of a "subversive" nature. Treasured items to be retrieved after some danger or war dies down. Evacuations rarely have space for family heirlooms. __________________ Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check.

07-21-2015, 07:12 PM	#5
jason taylor Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon	Re: What is in the mysterious case? Discussion of upcoming military/diplomatic/intelligence operations: Blackmail Material on an important personage: Terrorist Plot: Millitary Grade Malware: Alien Embryo Map to Lost City Will of an Eccentric But Powerful Figure Legal Evidence of Some Kind For Some Reason Or Other Not to be Revealed Yet But Someone Wants to Kill the PCs Over It __________________ "The navy could probably win a war without coffee but would prefer not to try"-Samuel Eliot Morrison Last edited by jason taylor; 07-21-2015 at 07:16 PM.

07-21-2015, 07:15 PM	#6
ericthered Hero of Democracy Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: far from the ocean	Re: What is in the mysterious case? A time capsule. If figuring out stuff about the other world is a thing in the setting, this doesn't even have to be worthless. Stolen technical plans compromising pictures of high ranking public officials __________________ Be helpful, not pedantic Worlds Beyond Earth -- my blog Check out the PbP forum! If you don't see a game you'd like, ask me about making one!

07-22-2015, 03:41 AM	#8
Anaraxes Join Date: Sep 2007	Re: What is in the mysterious case? An apparently unrelated collection of items including - the plans for an airplane engine - some sheet music - a ring - uranium ore - a key to an apartment - a broken tail light from a car - $40,000 in cash in an envelope and other items from this list.

07-22-2015, 04:51 AM	#9
The Colonel Join Date: Jul 2006	Re: What is in the mysterious case? A gimp, annoyed at being disturbed? ;-) More seriously, how about a large quantity of books, including handwritten notebooks and bound correspondence - can have plot relevant material buried in it or other useful data ... or can just be read (ahem) herring. May also be valuable (perhaps the papers of someone famous). Even more amusing for it to be digital data in an obsolete format. Filmstock might also be a possibility. Stuffed animals? (and not of the soft toy variety) A mummy? Statuary or other art? (valuable or otherwise) A consignment of machine parts ... or a machine, whether a CNC mill, a generator, a medical device of some kind. Assembly may be required. Large quantities of preserved food - whether military style rations or simply long life civilian food. Sporting equipment? Clothes and/or outdoor kit ... possibly for a different environment. General electrical goods - toasters, irons and kettles or maybe a fridge or washing machine...

07-22-2015, 03:29 PM	#10
Dalillama Join Date: Nov 2004	Re: What is in the mysterious case? A thick tome written in the same language/code as the Voynich Manuscript. A bunch of pelts from animals that no-one recognizes. Several hundred looseleaf pages covered in typewritten text that says "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" over and over again. The original manuscript of [holy book of choice]. It differs wildly from all extant copies.