ooc info: What is the Summoning Dark?
It's sort of a background power, and not inherent in who he is. So he won't notice the difference until he tries to use it.
What is it, you may ask? The Summoning Dark.
Scary sounding, ain't it?
before I start, please nb: Thud is very confusing in places. So I might have bits wrong. If you're a Disc geek like me, I will NOT be hurt/offended/sulk if you correct me. This is my best hashing together of what it does.
What the Summoning Dark IS: A mine sign. Dwarfs, as you may have noticed, use a series of symbols, usually drawn in glow in the dark chalk, to pass on information in the dark. For example: The Long Dark (circle with a line through it) is the beginning of a mine. Etc etc. SOME of these signs are extra special and have powers fuelled on... superstition/belief, mainly. If you do it and believe it'll work, it will. There's the Following Dark, which Dwarfs use to channel tension, for example. The Summoning Dark is one of these.
When the Summoning Dark comes into play:
Only a dying Dwarf can make it, to get revenge on those who have killed him. He has to draw it in his own blood. So this won't be a THING unless Ardent gets bloodily murdered. Because he will draw it if he is. It looks like a circle, with an eye in the middle, and a little curly devil's tail. I'll try and get a picture from the wiki in a minute.
No, it doesn't matter if you clean it off. It's been drawn already. Things are in motion.
What the Summoning Dark DOES:
This is where I get patchy. It is an intangible entity (you can't see it, hear it, or feel it, it's just THERE), but a very creepy one. Basically, it's revenge. Basically, it tries to track down who is responsible for the murder. And it tries to influence other people into getting revenge on the dead person's behalf. It tries to break into their most primal, base urges and make them act on them. It's basically just a little voice (not a literal voice. It doesn't talk to you, it's more of a subconscious urge.) in the back of your head, trying to get you to do BAD THINGS. (for example, in the back of Vimes' subconscious, it's the thought going: 'but they tried to kill your family. They tried to kill your son. Don't you want them dead?'. The Summoning Dark doesn't really give a damn about Vimes' son, it's just trying to get revenge on Ardent and crew for the dead Dwarf which drew it.
aka: people most likely to be affected are either friends of Ardent, Narvin, or the murderer's warden.
What it DOES NOT DO
It is not a form of possession. It cannot make you do anything against your will. It just tries to push your will around a little. You can resist it. Against most normal humans/dwarfs/whatever, it usually wins, but it certainly doesn't make you act against your own will.
So what happens if my character's affected
The Dark will try to make you think BAD BAD THOUGHTS about the murderer. It will try and push you into killing them. nb: it doesn't directly tell you to kill them. It tries to make you WANT them dead.
This does NOT mean you end up killing them. The Dark will move on if it thinks you're a bit too much of a mess to do the killing. It did drive Helmclever mad, and might seriously fuck with your head. It's not governing your actions, just putting heavy pressure on them.
Also. You won't know its the Summoning Dark whilst it's trying to influence you. It's just a subconscious urging. You don't have to know what it is to do the following, either, it's all done on a subconscious level.
So who's immune/who can STOP the Summoning Dark
The Dark won't stop until it's got it's revenge.
OH WAIT NO JUST A SECOND.
Who wants to play Sam Vimes?
Sam Vimes, in Thud! has the role of the Guarding Dark. This is the only thing that can completely stop the Summoning Dark.
What do you have to be, to be the Guarding Dark: a) incorruptible, b) have a tough ol' level of self control. And that's about it. (Howie is the PERFECT example of someone who could take that role, but there are plenty others.)
A note on b): It basically means resisting temptation. You don't get b by being inherently lighter than light. You get b "not by keeping the darkness out, but by keeping the darkness in." - essentially, you constantly watch/control yourself. You might have dark, nasty thoughts, but you don't act on them.
So, who can this mean, in a crazy, multifandom world?
These are just examples. I fail at knowing canons.
1) The Incorruptible Law Enforcer Type: As I said, Howie's my obvious example. But any policeman/soldier who's by the books, and does things properly, despite what they'd really like to do
2) The Nature Has it in for me, but Nature Be Damned Type: Vampires who refuse to drink human blood (note: refuse, not just drink Barge blood because it's easier) are a good example of this. Equally, a werewolf might have... interesting effects from this.
3) The Mr Zen Type: Well, we're trying to tap into your base desires here, but you're kinda far-too-fucking-calm. Wtf.
4) The Get Outta My Town Type: Someone who's first urge is defensive over offensive, and would much rather protect than attack. The Dark might do a better job of poking at your brain than most, but if you're sufficiently non-violent and determined to stay that way, should work out.
5) The Ultra Non Violent Type: Those who treat non-violence like it's a religion. The sort who'd get angry, but never raise a fist in anger. ...Howie's a good example. Again. Stop it, Howie, you can't play.
If you don't know where someone'd fit, I'm around to ask questions. Always.
Wait, Kim, you mentioned immune.
Ah, yes. If you have supernatural mind-control-resisting abilities, it's UP TO YOU, but you can quite probably be immune to it. So... Snape, I imagine, it will pass by. Because it aims to break down human/Dwarf/etc barriers, not magical ones. So... Snape, for example, couldn't get rid of the Dark, but it'd simply miss him. Too much like hard work, man.
What if the Dark can't find someone close to the murderer/Ardent to push around:
It might just leap on someone random and work it's way closer and closer. It CAN just skip between people; it's ultimate aim is the murderer.
Can it jump the murderer himself:
Well, it never gets that far in canon, but Vimes is warned to get to the Dwarfs before the Dark gets there first. I imagine, if it gets as far as the murderer, BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN. What these Bad Things are, can be worked out at a later date.
What difference does Ardent coming back make
Potentially, none to the actual curse. But! For the sake of argument/me headcanoning the magic. I will say he can draw the symbol for the Guarding Dark and stop it. But... you'll have to persuade him first.
What is it, you may ask? The Summoning Dark.
Scary sounding, ain't it?
before I start, please nb: Thud is very confusing in places. So I might have bits wrong. If you're a Disc geek like me, I will NOT be hurt/offended/sulk if you correct me. This is my best hashing together of what it does.
What the Summoning Dark IS: A mine sign. Dwarfs, as you may have noticed, use a series of symbols, usually drawn in glow in the dark chalk, to pass on information in the dark. For example: The Long Dark (circle with a line through it) is the beginning of a mine. Etc etc. SOME of these signs are extra special and have powers fuelled on... superstition/belief, mainly. If you do it and believe it'll work, it will. There's the Following Dark, which Dwarfs use to channel tension, for example. The Summoning Dark is one of these.
When the Summoning Dark comes into play:
Only a dying Dwarf can make it, to get revenge on those who have killed him. He has to draw it in his own blood. So this won't be a THING unless Ardent gets bloodily murdered. Because he will draw it if he is. It looks like a circle, with an eye in the middle, and a little curly devil's tail. I'll try and get a picture from the wiki in a minute.
No, it doesn't matter if you clean it off. It's been drawn already. Things are in motion.
What the Summoning Dark DOES:
This is where I get patchy. It is an intangible entity (you can't see it, hear it, or feel it, it's just THERE), but a very creepy one. Basically, it's revenge. Basically, it tries to track down who is responsible for the murder. And it tries to influence other people into getting revenge on the dead person's behalf. It tries to break into their most primal, base urges and make them act on them. It's basically just a little voice (not a literal voice. It doesn't talk to you, it's more of a subconscious urge.) in the back of your head, trying to get you to do BAD THINGS. (for example, in the back of Vimes' subconscious, it's the thought going: 'but they tried to kill your family. They tried to kill your son. Don't you want them dead?'. The Summoning Dark doesn't really give a damn about Vimes' son, it's just trying to get revenge on Ardent and crew for the dead Dwarf which drew it.
aka: people most likely to be affected are either friends of Ardent, Narvin, or the murderer's warden.
What it DOES NOT DO
It is not a form of possession. It cannot make you do anything against your will. It just tries to push your will around a little. You can resist it. Against most normal humans/dwarfs/whatever, it usually wins, but it certainly doesn't make you act against your own will.
So what happens if my character's affected
The Dark will try to make you think BAD BAD THOUGHTS about the murderer. It will try and push you into killing them. nb: it doesn't directly tell you to kill them. It tries to make you WANT them dead.
This does NOT mean you end up killing them. The Dark will move on if it thinks you're a bit too much of a mess to do the killing. It did drive Helmclever mad, and might seriously fuck with your head. It's not governing your actions, just putting heavy pressure on them.
Also. You won't know its the Summoning Dark whilst it's trying to influence you. It's just a subconscious urging. You don't have to know what it is to do the following, either, it's all done on a subconscious level.
So who's immune/who can STOP the Summoning Dark
The Dark won't stop until it's got it's revenge.
OH WAIT NO JUST A SECOND.
Who wants to play Sam Vimes?
Sam Vimes, in Thud! has the role of the Guarding Dark. This is the only thing that can completely stop the Summoning Dark.
What do you have to be, to be the Guarding Dark: a) incorruptible, b) have a tough ol' level of self control. And that's about it. (Howie is the PERFECT example of someone who could take that role, but there are plenty others.)
A note on b): It basically means resisting temptation. You don't get b by being inherently lighter than light. You get b "not by keeping the darkness out, but by keeping the darkness in." - essentially, you constantly watch/control yourself. You might have dark, nasty thoughts, but you don't act on them.
So, who can this mean, in a crazy, multifandom world?
These are just examples. I fail at knowing canons.
1) The Incorruptible Law Enforcer Type: As I said, Howie's my obvious example. But any policeman/soldier who's by the books, and does things properly, despite what they'd really like to do
2) The Nature Has it in for me, but Nature Be Damned Type: Vampires who refuse to drink human blood (note: refuse, not just drink Barge blood because it's easier) are a good example of this. Equally, a werewolf might have... interesting effects from this.
3) The Mr Zen Type: Well, we're trying to tap into your base desires here, but you're kinda far-too-fucking-calm. Wtf.
4) The Get Outta My Town Type: Someone who's first urge is defensive over offensive, and would much rather protect than attack. The Dark might do a better job of poking at your brain than most, but if you're sufficiently non-violent and determined to stay that way, should work out.
5) The Ultra Non Violent Type: Those who treat non-violence like it's a religion. The sort who'd get angry, but never raise a fist in anger. ...Howie's a good example. Again. Stop it, Howie, you can't play.
If you don't know where someone'd fit, I'm around to ask questions. Always.
Wait, Kim, you mentioned immune.
Ah, yes. If you have supernatural mind-control-resisting abilities, it's UP TO YOU, but you can quite probably be immune to it. So... Snape, I imagine, it will pass by. Because it aims to break down human/Dwarf/etc barriers, not magical ones. So... Snape, for example, couldn't get rid of the Dark, but it'd simply miss him. Too much like hard work, man.
What if the Dark can't find someone close to the murderer/Ardent to push around:
It might just leap on someone random and work it's way closer and closer. It CAN just skip between people; it's ultimate aim is the murderer.
Can it jump the murderer himself:
Well, it never gets that far in canon, but Vimes is warned to get to the Dwarfs before the Dark gets there first. I imagine, if it gets as far as the murderer, BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN. What these Bad Things are, can be worked out at a later date.
What difference does Ardent coming back make
Potentially, none to the actual curse. But! For the sake of argument/me headcanoning the magic. I will say he can draw the symbol for the Guarding Dark and stop it. But... you'll have to persuade him first.