Please Click Here for the link to the Wiki Chapter, the Runespoor Smuggling!

I have a basic idea for a plot about a smuggling gone wrong in London.

A magical artifact is smuggled into london from abroad - but the smugglers get more than they bargained for, for with the artifact something else is brought in.

A dangerous magical creature perhaps? A Lethifold, maybe? They seem deadly enough and flexible enough to fit in a crate.

Could potentially involve multiple characters - people involved in the smuggling, victims/ public who come into contact with the creature, ministry workers tracking said creature / criminals etc just to name a few.

Comments / suggestions / ideas welcome!

Perhaps Marietta's banshee is 'haunting' the object? The item itself is more dangerous than bargained for, perhaps cursed, but the bearer is also harried by the banshee.

The smugglers would have to both deal with not only the Curse and the Aurors, but the banshee as well.  The Aurors, perhaps re-capturing the item, would also have these things to contend with.

I would definitely like Nate to be involved somehow.

Ooo... I do like the Lethifold idear and Sarah's idear for PamPam.  Some dangerous stuff.

OMIGAWD!  Would you be willing to be one of our runespoor smugglers?!  EEEEEE!  That would be AWESOME if we had a non-NPC'ed villain in that for once.

Wooooo!

*dances*

*light bulb*

Ooo... another idea!  Sarah, Nate could also definitely be involved in this plot.  Besides being a choice pet of Dark witches and wizards, Runespoor bits and eggs are a flourishing item on the black market... perhaaapppsss your stockboy may have come into contact with these illegal beasties?  More dead than alive, most likely, but still!  I can see him being roped into the mess too.

Someone might want to go into more detail about this Roonspoor thing or point me in the right direction. 

The Runespoor Case Run Down:

Here's the definition of the creature per HP Lexicon (and it doesn't deviate far from the mini Fantastic Creatures and Where to Find Them book JKR wrote for charity... which I have... because I'm a dork):

A magical three-headed, snake commonly reaching a length of 6 - 7 feet, coloured livid orange with black banding; native to Burkina Faso, where several forests are designated as preserves for its sole use. The runespoor is unique among known magical beasts for producing its eggs through its mouths (FB).

Runespoors rarely live to a great age, as each head contains an independent brain serving a different purpose, and they tend to attack each other. The right head is the planner, the middle head is the dreamer, and the left head is the critic. The planner decides where the runespoor goes and what it will do next, although the dreamer's visions often lead to a runespoor remaining stationary for days, lost in its imaginings. The critic, the fangs of which are extremely venomous, hisses continually (and irritably), evaluating the efforts of the planner and the dreamer. Often, the other two heads will gang up on the critic and bite it off; two-headed runespoors are not uncommon.

The runespoor was once a favorite pet of Dark wizards, mostly because of its intimidating appearance. A flourishing black market in runespoor eggs and in the serpents themselves has existed for centuries (FB).

As for on-site, [April 15] Boxin’ Doxies is where it all started.  Mr. Marren comes in to report some of the animal related happenings going on at Mungo's when he reveals that not only was there a runespoor biting... but an infestation.  A very uncommon thing to see with serpents, especially those with several heads who argue enough between each other as is, to hold a territory of such a small space as a garden.

Runespoor breeding is SEVERELY restricted in the UK, due to the black market on their eggs and other parts for potions and the like.  And so she has a brainstorm here in [April 16] Morning Coffee and Tea which helps tease out more information from other points of view.

And lastly, during a botched raid, we see poor Covi being dragged into St. Mungo's cursing and screaming her head off in deafening Mermish here in [May 1] Snake Charmer wherein she almost puts Moira in a Darth-Vader death grip.  Thankfully she passed out before much damage was done... 

In the Holiday threads there have been numerous references to her leg being messed up, especially here in the [May 2] Beer Garden; 5PM thread.

Umm... anymore questions?

Finn dabbles in this sort of stuff, but he must NOT be a known criminal - he has his reputation to uphold. So maybe only this little group knows what he is up to?

Obviously Nate will know...they probably do stuff like this together many times...I can see Finn asking Nate to get things for him, etc.

Let me know if Finn could fit in somehow.

Perhaps Marietta's banshee is 'haunting' the object? The item itself is more dangerous than bargained for, perhaps cursed, but the bearer is also harried by the banshee.

Or perhaps haunting the bearers even....if the object is very dangerous perhaps she is forewarning of their possible deaths??

A banshee could definately work just as well, if not better, if Pam's interested!

Covi: More than happy for Jimmy to be connected to the runespoor smuggling somewhere. Sounds like fun!

Finn: I would say there would be plently of scope for Finn to fit in- in the shadows of course 

 

OOOOOOOH!

*love*

I love the idea of my banshee foretelling the death of one of the bearers. Definitely interested.  XD

Sellaphix Apothecary in Diagon Ally would probably not be completely clean.  I imagine just about any apothecary has that 'back room' with some less than legal ingredients.  I bet that ol' Sellaphix gets a shipment now and then from Bourgin & Burke's via Haliwell.  This means Haliwell and Nate would be aquainted if not chummy.

Nate, himself, is not a smuggler, but is in a prime position to know about what's going on.  Daz, his wife, is deep into illegal potions, so Nate would know those players.  And through Jimmy, Nate would know some other folks. 

Nate also knows Finn and his dabbling.  Nate would be able to get Finn in contact with the right people.

But I think Nate's worst offense is vandalism or indecency or something. 

____


Roonspoor: COOL.  Sellaphix Apothecary would definitely have some of those parts/ingredients/reagents, like delivered by Haliwell.  Perhaps through this connection he can get in a bit deeper.  Nate is a man who likes knowing too much.

Banshee: COOL. I'd consent to Nate being haunted, if it comes to that.


____

I'm ready to write a thread.  Jimmy, come visit me at the shop, perhaps? With a delivery for my boss?

Runepoor eggs delivery on!

Thread = Under the cover of sun

I think I might sit this one out and read!  It'll be interesting to see what other people will do with the plot when I'm not in the thread. 

Dazmond is more than happy to be your go-to girl for any potions-related needs in this matter.  Extermination potions?  A potion that makes the dreamer head of the runespoor prominent so as to subdue the creature?  Potions for traders to get the job done unseen?  You name it.  She also wants to get her hands on some runespoor eggs and would do just about anything to get them.  She'd love to be involved in a myriad of ways, as thief, cohort, or potioneer.  Let me know if you can use her help!

I would loooove for Ro to be involved in this. Mainly because she wants a Runespoor quite badly. Like I told Sarah when I was squeeing, she would be willing to pay a large sum for one. And she is mildly oblivious to the Black Market and doesn't go herself so she really believes that the trade has simmered.

Besides, Covi is dying to meet the Snake Lady herself. Aaand, she would be a potential tag what with owning so many venemous snakes and all.

But regardless of that, being involved would be teh awesomeness.

Speaking of which, I've updated the Runespoor thread!

http://absitomen.com/index.php?topic=1348.0

But I only have the stuff Covi's been in... because that's all I know...

Could anyone offer some summaries and post links to the other threads possibly involved?

Also, I've already seen some crossover action happening in that one WBA thread with Ro and Cin... again, I need details for records!  Also you can use those threads for discussions like this too.

Rocio! We need a buyer for the egg currently sitting a Sellaphix's Apothecary.  You should pop in and pick up your order.