The Fel'Daera, also known as the Box of Promises or simply the box, is a kairotic Tan'ji which grants the ability to see at most one day into the future. Its current Keeper is Horace.
Background[]
Before bonding to Horace, the Fel'Daera had been in the custody of Mr. Meister for about twenty years.
New Keepers of the Fel'Daera may be given two pieces of advice: they should not open the box without reason, and they cannot keep anything in the box.
The Fel'Daera is viewed as one of the most powerful and dangerous Tan'ji in existence. Wardens disagree on whether it should even have been displayed to those with the aptitude. Mrs. Hapsteade in particular fears the box and does not believe it should be used.
Description[]
The Fel'Daera takes the form of a small oval box made of striped, chatoyant wood which shimmers in shades of brown, red, and gold. It is about the size of a yo-yo, making the inside compartment two inches (5 cm) across. There is a gleaming, S-shaped silver seam across its lid; the box is opened by pressing the center of this thin seam and twisting one's thumb, causing the two halves of the lid to swing wide. On the side is a delicate sunburst design consisting of a raised black ball surrounded by silver rays: twelve long, twelve short. The bottom of the box is made of glass, tinted blue and laced with faint ripples. When looked through, it makes the world appear smudged and slightly blue.
It is kept in a golden-red leather pouch inscribed with an infinity symbol. On the back of this pouch is a strap and buckle which can be fastened to a belt loop.
Properties[]
The Fel'Daera's English name, the Box of Promises, refers to etymology: to promise literally means to send forward. Thus, the box is capable of sending objects- as well as the Keeper's awareness- at most one day into the future.
To send an object into the future, it must be placed inside the box and the lid must be closed. Anyone can do this, not only the Keeper- though when an object is sent by the Keeper, their hands tingle with an unusual pulse. This pulse becomes stronger when sending living things and Tanu. The objects reappear exactly where they were sent, materializing instantly with a very faint pop. The journey is almost instantaneous from the object's perspective, taking less than one second.
The Keeper can also send their awareness into the future, looking through the box's bottom glass to observe events that have not occurred yet. This future sight is dependent on the mental state of the Keeper and the decisions they plan to make. If the Keeper changes their mind about a decision, it can alter the future they view through the box.
Looking through the box creates other visual effects unrelated to its properties. When looking through the glass, bright spots appear dimmer and dark spots appear brighter. The Alvalaithen seems to glow with a burning light. Raka (and other Mordin) appear as unnatural, highly distorted beings with too many limbs and faces, both clear and hazy; this effect stems from the interaction between the Fel'Daera and the instruments Mordin use to disguise themselves. Furthermore, the box is never visible in the future displayed, being unable to detect itself.
The box does not provide a complete and reliable vision of the future. Events that are certain appear clear through the box, while uncertain ones seem blurry, and highly uncertain ones flicker rapidly. While the box's predictions are a logical extension of present circumstances, even perfectly clear visions sometimes don't come to pass in the expected way. This is because the Keeper's foreknowledge can affect their behavior and thus alter future events in a way the box doesn't account for. If the Keeper thinks logically, self-analyzes, and takes their and others' motivations into account before opening the box, it is better equipped to handle these deviations, and the Keeper is more likely to follow the future suggested by the box. As Mr. Meister puts it, the Keeper "must not open the box without reason".
When the Keeper intentionally or personally alters the future from what they had last observed in the box, they experience a phenomenon known as thrall-blight. This is associated with various physical symptoms, such as head and stomach pain, nausea, disorientation, dizziness, and loss of vision. While typically instantaneous in onset, these symptoms are severe, and the Keeper may potentially take over an hour to recover.
Even when the box is correct in its predictions, they may not represent what the Keeper believes them to. The box is capable of a type of trick promise called a fool's proof.
Trivia[]
- Ted Sanders came up with the concept of the Fel'Daera years before it inspired him to write the Keepers series.
- The box's inability to view itself may be a safeguard against the Keeper trying to view multiple days into the future.
- Mrs. Hapsteade believes the box was never meant to be used for fool's proofs.
- While "Box of Promises" is a rough translation of Fel'Daera, it's also intended as a bit of a joke, since the future is never set.
- Mr. Meister considers the Fel'Daera an "instrument of legend".
Gallery[]
