[Nexus] AMEN XLVI: Divided We Fall

[5a Violista]

[Old AMEN]

And so Maiel discovers that that particular word is not Arabic!

However, there is a single chapter in the book written in Arabic. It's about how a merchant met a female djinn who fell in love with him, but she kept her nature from him a secret. The man was beaten up by his two brothers and thrown overboard their ship because they were jealous of his immense wealth. The djinn, or demon (it uses those two words interchangeably), saves his life and leaves him on an island, while she goes off to get revenge on the two brothers.

The story doesn't have a satisfying ending, but the direct next few pages seem to be a continuation of part of the story, where the book tells the reader to read certain things aloud or do certain actions; for example: "The demon came to the first brother and said these words:" and "For you, listener, to know the fate of the second brother, do this:" and "The merchant can be summoned if you do this particular action at midnight:" and "The djinn taught the old man how to receive the wealth of the merchant: Carve a circle in stone and do this:" and so on. There's pictures accompanying that story, as well.


In any case; down the hallway, there's more doors, but no side hallways. The hallway is completely straight, or so it seems. If he keeps on going in a straight line down the hallway, however, he'll eventually come back to the dried corpse mess of the Slop.

[Arkhosia]

Main Room

Alive, much more skilled, and the first choice for infiltration and assassination

[Murkus]

[Old AMEN]

Alright, that's definitely enough to stop him. A story he can read, and more importantly, instructions. That last bit, about gaining the merchant's wealth. He studies it to find out exactly what the ritual entails.

[happyturtle]

Main Room

Mechanical Jaw Moff stomps into the main room and slams a heavy book down on the table. "Everyone. I have found it. This book contains the plans for the Cow-a-Pult. I want everyone who isn't busy torturing or terrorizing the innocent to get to work on this now! I want at least two of these operational before the next attack!"

[GrandDM]

[Main Room]

"Really? Cows aren't exactly an effective weapon. Even rocks would be better."

[Arkhosia]

Main Room

On it sir! I can provide energy for you guys!

Meanwhile, a hologram of Lyrina (see signature) attempts to appear in the main room.
Hello, is this AMEN?

[5a Violista]

[Old AMEN]
(Well, shoot. Now I have to come up with a ritual.)

The first step is, obviously, carving the circle into the ground. Next, he'll have to step inside the circle. While reading aloud the words written in the book in the "Read Me" section, he has to put one hand straight out, then put it back against his chest. Then, repeat that twice. Then, the following step can be summed up in the following words "Vigorously shake your right hand." After that, put the arm to his waist, and spin around while still saying the incantation and twisting his hip. Finish the incantation during the following three steps: Slap your thighs 3 times, clap twice, then raise your hands over your head.

If that doesn't work, repeat with the left hand.

If he does it, he would probably look very silly to any onlookers. Fortunately, there's nobody watching.



[Main Room]

Harley makes a decision: "Okay, Ms. Kedrielle. If you can successfully help us make the Cow-a-Pults, then you're an official member." Simple, to the point, and may or may not include some hazing ritual.

She puts the membership application form away somewhere (Wait. Harley doesn't have any pockets. Where on Earth did she put it?), remembering to file it away later.

Then, she walks over to the table with the instruction manual. "Well, it looks like we have most of the necessary materials. Wood, hinges, a rubber chicken, twenty-seven yards of rope, and so on. But where are we going to get three dirty socks and a pig intestine?"

[Arkhosia]

Main Room

Alright miss, I won't let you down!
Dibs on getting stuff!

[Murkus]

[Old AMEN]
(Well, shoot. Now I have to come up with a ritual.)

The first step is, obviously, carving the circle into the ground. Next, he'll have to step inside the circle. While reading aloud the words written in the book in the "Read Me" section, he has to put one hand straight out, then put it back against his chest. Then, repeat that twice. Then, the following step can be summed up in the following words "Vigorously shake your right hand." After that, put the arm to his waist, and spin around while still saying the incantation and twisting his hip. Finish the incantation during the following three steps: Slap your thighs 3 times, clap twice, then raise your hands over your head.

If that doesn't work, repeat with the left hand.

If he does it, he would probably look very silly to any onlookers. Fortunately, there's nobody watching.

Maiel reads what the ritual entails.

A brief pause follows.

Then, since there is no one else around, Maiel speaks in his native tongue rather than English Common.

"<****,>" He says. "<The things I do for money.>"

Rest assured, if he thought there was another living soul to see this, he wouldn't do it. He'll only go to great lengths for money he can see and touch. Still, it's worth a couple minutes performing some ridiculous dance. Maiel takes his work knife, carves a circle, and then completes the ritual. By the time the thighslaps roll around he's considering stopping, but he's no quitter. The miner finally holds his hands in the air and looks from left to right, frowning deeply.

[5a Violista]

[Old AMEN]

Well, at first, nothing happened after Maiel did the first part of the Hokey Pokey dance.

Just...silence.

Well, I guess if he listens close enough, he might hear the silence snickering at him.

But, then, the book starts to vanish in smoke...and, out of the smoke, a figure starts to appear. With the person, a voice also comes: "Yes, Master, what is it you want?" says the voice.

[Murkus]

[Old AMEN]

That wasn't the beloved Pokey! That was some twisted, cannibalized version of it turned to this book's dark whims!

Maiel looks at the smokey figure dryly. Trying not to glower, for fear of angering whoever this happens to be. The Djinn? Could it really have been that easy? The miner doubts it.

"Speak your name. Tell me what you are," Maiel commands. He leans a little closer in the dim torchlight, trying to identify the silhouette. "And come where I can see you."

[GrandDM]

Main Room

Meanwhile, a hologram of Lyrina (see signature) attempts to appear in the main room.
Hello, is this AMEN?

Since Kharin's being ignored, he appears to be the only one who notices the hologram.

"Yes."

((By the way, still waiting on you in Inside.))

[5a Violista]

[Old AMEN]

"Oh, hi." The djinni coughs and waves away the smoke. Eventually, it dissipates. "Sorry about that. I hate smoke." Still coughing and waving away the smoke, she says, "My name's Jehaan."

As the smoke dissipates, the silhouette reveals...its a woman! Yay! The treasure of the merchant was a woman!

[Zefir]

Main Room

Zefir listens to the Moff, but doesn't seem to be eager to do as he asked.

"Cow-A-Pult? Can't we just use a Catapult? Or a rocket Launcher. Grenades would be a better chice as well you know."

[happyturtle]

[Main Room]

"Really? Cows aren't exactly an effective weapon. Even rocks would be better."

Main Room

Zefir listens to the Moff, but doesn't seem to be eager to do as he asked.

"Cow-A-Pult? Can't we just use a Catapult? Or a rocket Launcher. Grenades would be a better chice as well you know."

"NO!" Moff pounds his fists on the table again, screaming in fury. "We are not some generic castle in a pointless MMO. We do not throw ROCKS at our enemies! What is WRONG with you people?!"

[GrandDM]

[Main Room]

"What's wrong with me? Four hundred years of combat experience is telling me that cows are a pathetic weapon, that's what. Unless you're prepared to either spend lots of money on artificial pathogens or lots of magic on spells and then apply them to the cows, they'll barely do anything."

Kharin is completely unimpressed with Moff's outburst, glowering down at him. Even seated, he's over seven feet high.

[Earl of Purple]

Outside

There's a thump from outside as an angel lands. The angel is androgynous, and young; no more than seven physically. They have white, shoulder-length hair and matching wings, whilst they wear a pair of denim dungarees and a cotton shirt ripped at the back for the wings. The angel stands up and walks towards the door. Its face is quite unmemorable, though the eyes stand out- orbs of pure white, with a slight cruel look.

[Murkus]

[Old AMEN]

"Oh, hi." The djinni coughs and waves away the smoke. Eventually, it dissipates. "Sorry about that. I hate smoke." Still coughing and waving away the smoke, she says, "My name's Jehaan."

As the smoke dissipates, the silhouette reveals...its a woman! Yay! The treasure of the merchant was a woman!

Maiel bats some of the smoke away himself, but doesn't quite cough. Oh, the treasure was the djinni. That makes sense. Should be obvious, right?

"Hello, Jehaan. I am called Maiel," Maiel says, not unkind or hurried. He talks in a slow, well-practiced form of ancient Arabian, that rich baritone hard-pressed to leave his voice even when he tries to speak softly. "Where is the treasure?"

Somehow I doubt Maiel's ever been in love with a woman the way he's in love with gold. I don't think he understands.

[Zefir]

Main Room

Zefir just shrugs at the sudden outburst of Moff.

"Nothing. Just can't see any benefit in a Cow-A-Pult.Clearly we are no MMO Castle, but at least we aren't clowns right?"

Zefir still didn't see Moff as Leader, just the guy with most authority right now.

[Arkhosia]

Main Room

Zefir just shrugs at the sudden outburst of Moff.

"Nothing. Just can't see any benefit in a Cow-A-Pult.Clearly we are no MMO Castle, but at least we aren't clowns right?"

Zefir still didn't see Moff as Leader, just the guy with most authority right now.

We launch cows at our enemies?! THAT'S AWESOME!

[happyturtle]

Main Room

"THANK you!" Moff says to Arkhosia, throwing both hands in the air. When they come down, he points to both Zefir and Kharin. "I hate you."

Following this, he stomps out of the room, leaving the plans behind.

[Zefir]

Main Room

"Awesome? What is awesome in throwing a bunch of meat and mones around. It's not like the cow explodes or is able to correct the fly in any way. Also they differ in size, weight and form so it's really hard to calculate how they fly."

Zefir still doesn't get the point and Moff hating him is nothing new. Din't he already do that cause Zefir doesn't make a clown of himself?

[5a Violista]

[Main Room]

Harley begins working on the Cow-a-Pult.

She doesn't have the socks yet, nor the pig's intestine, so...yeah. She commands the henchmen still around to get on and gather the materials.


[Old AMEN]

"Treasure?" There is a small bit of confusion evident on her face. Then, a realization. "Oh, I get it." She nods.

If she had a goatee, she would stroke it right now. As it stands, she's merely stroking her chin.

"You came here looking for riches and treasures, and that's when you decided to summon me. Is that right?" She asks this to confirm it. I'm probably imagining him with an exasperated look on his face.

[Arkhosia]

[Main Room]

Harley begins working on the Cow-a-Pult.

She doesn't have the socks yet, nor the pig's intestine, so...yeah. She commands the henchmen still around to get on and gather the materials.


[Old AMEN]

"Treasure?" There is a small bit of confusion evident on her face. Then, a realization. "Oh, I get it." She nods.

If she had a goatee, she would stroke it right now. As it stands, she's merely stroking her chin.

"You came here looking for riches and treasures, and that's when you decided to summon me. Is that right?" She asks this to confirm it. I'm probably imagining him with an exasperated look on his face.

Kedrielle provides the missing materials and aids in building, shapeshifted into a female Minotaur with 4 arms.

[Murkus]

[Old AMEN]

You are imagining Maiel in an extremely accurate manner. His brow flattens, and his eyes flutter half-shut. The old miner sighs, glancing down at the book that's still in his free hand. "The book promised treasure. Yes. Have I been mislead?"

[5a Violista]

[Old AMEN]

The djinni, on the other hand, raises an eyebrow and folds her arms. "You want to know what I think? I think you just have a very narrow and exclusive definition of treasure," she says, matter-of-factly.

"In fact, I'm going to make a prophesy: When you think you've found the treasure you're looking for, that's the moment you'll realize all the treasure you've been missing because of your closed eyes."

She turns around and starts to walk away...but stops. "Wait. Give me the book," she demands.

What happens next is entirely dependent on Maiel's reaction. Does he want to fight a djinn, a shadowy ghost, or a lava monster?

[Murkus]

[Old AMEN]

Maiel's eyes narrow. He wants to say no when this strange woman asks if he wants to know what she thinks, just to be spiteful, but silence has always served him better.

As for the djinni's prophecy, well to hells with that. He's about to let her leave, staring at the book, when she demands something of him. That makes Maiel angry.

"Why should I?" He asks, glowering at her. "You've done nothing but waste my time. I will go and sell it. Perhaps there's something of value that can be summoned from this book." I think he wants to fight the djinni.

[5a Violista]

[Main Room]

Harley tells Kedrielle what to do.

...

After some building, she tells her, "Hey, could you find somewhere where we could get three dirty socks? For each cow-a-pult."


[Old AMEN]

Well, if he wanted to fight the djinni, he made the wrong choice. Since he's not giving the book to the djinni, she takes another few steps away and then turns into pages rather than fire or smoke.

If I had to guess, I would say they were the pages containing the story that he read.

However, his choice has been made!

Once again, that cold feeling will be behind his back.

[Murkus]

[Old AMEN]

Maiel whirls to try and see what could be making that strange feeling. A draft from a shaft above? The book in his hands? Or something worse? He's hesitant to look behind him, thinking the djinn might be trying to play a trick.

((Sorry, one so short shouldn't have taken so long >.>))

[happyturtle]

Main Room

So there's Mechanical Jaw Moff, stalking angrily out of the room, trying to make a proper angry exit of it all. Of course, it's hampered by the fact that the interior doors haven't been replaced since the earthquake. But he'll just have to stomp a little more to make up for that.

But before he can get all the way out of the room, a portal opens just above his head, and out comes....