Silence

From the Lexicon.

Silence (noun):  The absence of either air or strife in the ears.

Liturgical Ephemeris

From the Lexicon:

Liturgical Ephemeris (noun):  Table, chart, or database giving the ritual motion of celestial and sub-celestial objects for the given day.  The sub-celestial objects are typically knotted or aspirated clouds, air (clotted or otherwise), or persons and objects engaged in flight (voluntary or not).

A complete ephemeris will list those motions which are wholly optional, those motions which are attained by cost of momentum, and the proper rituals to be observed in order to avoid premature union with the ground.

Prelude to a Battle Royale

You find a box in the attic.

In this box, you find documents and other evidence showing the whereabouts and current plans of your evil twin.

Don’t Get Attached

You find a box in the attic.

In this box, you find a nest with several very large eggs. If they are allowed to hatch, they will reveal baby dragons. They are clean animals. They are affectionate, adorable, and good with children. They won't stay that way.

Sun Dial

You find a box in the attic.

In this box, there is  a sun dial, like those found in gardens for timekeeping.  The flange that casts a shadow can be rotated.  Turning it  will adjust the energy output of the sun from zero (no energy output) to one hundred thousand suns (as much as a good-sized galaxy). Setting the sun dial back to its proper setting after modification may not be easy; being off by just a little bit may be disastrous for life on earth.

Stellar Decorations

This is the Observatory of the Mansion.

The roof is a dome of glass.  No projectors.  No video equipment.  Daylight hours negate the influence of the room.  Starlight bids a control panel rise from the center of the room on a podium.

One button evaporates all clouds in view.  A dial dims or buffs the starlight from nought to dazzling.  A slider multiplies the stars from none to sand.  Switches change the mix of colors.  Triggers fire meteors across the sky.

The Love of Your Life — or Not

You find a box in the attic.

In this box is a full-length mirror. Your reflection looks nothing like you, but, rather, is a person of the opposite sex of the same height as you, wearing different clothes. The movements and gestures of that person will match your own. The reflection of your identifying papers will show the identity of the person in the mirror. You may be able to track down that person.

Only When No-one is Looking

You find a box in the attic.

You hear scratching coming from this box, as if some small creature were testing its walls. When you touch the box, the noises stop. The box feels empty; is empty when opened; remains silent when tossed and juggled. As soon as you place the box down, the scratching noises start, again.

Too Late for Christmas

You find a box in the attic.

In this box, there is a potted plant. Little bells hang from its branches like fruit. Close examination will show that the bells really are fruit; they grow from the branches without any apparent artificial means.

City-Killer

You find a box in the attic.

In this box is a termite mound.  The termites feed on concrete instead of wood.

Let’s Dance

One of the guest bedrooms in the Mansion has a walk-in closet.  In that closet is a full-length mirror.  You turn on the light in the closet in order to get a better look at your reflection.

Your reflection looks nothing like you, but, rather, is a person of the opposite sex of the same height as you, wearing different clothes. The movements and gestures of that person match your own. The reflection of your identifying papers will show the identity of the person in the mirror. You may be able to track down that person.

Gossip Goes ‘Ping!’

You find a box in the attic.

Inside the box is a small black plastic device shaped like an electronic pager. It will beep whenever the person holding it becomes the topic discussed in any conversation anywhere in the world. For most people, the box beeps several times per day.

Celebrities should not even think of touching it.

Perfect for Those Windy Passages

You find a box in the attic.

In this box are packages labeled EverFlame™ Candles. The packages contain foot-long candles that can be lit like ordinary candles. When lit, the flame can not be blown out, even by hurricane-force winds. They can only extinguished by depriving the flame of oxygen (e.g., smothering the flame, or putting it in a vaccuum). The candles are otherwise normal.