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[Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Important Current Events as of Mar 5, 2012:
AMEN has very recently had a revolution, putting Ilpholin in charge, with Magtok as her second in command. The OP is in the process of being updated, and may not be entirely accurate.
Ask in the OOC thread if you need any assistance.
Latest OP updates:
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1. Added new membership form
2. Added new membership criteria
3. Edited membership list to include IC status column
4. Added paragraph to the end of history section
Mar 5, 2012
5. Edited henchmen to show Rogar and Pete's dismissal
Mar 8, 2012
6. Added the section for Mechanopanthers
June 6, 2012
1
A BRIEF HISTORY by the esteemed Lord Magtok
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In the darkest pits of despair there lived a fearsome being, one made of pure malevolence, hatred, and madness. He had an equally dark and loathsome plan for our world, the formation of an organization to be known as Evil Incorporated, destined to spread his unhallowed name throughout the world, so that all might come to know and fear the one named Psyke_D.
Fortunately for the rest of us, there's already a webcomic called Evil Inc. When this was pointed out by yours truly, the members of this fledgling new organization went into a frenzy. What good could an evil organization be without a suitably original, stylish, and menacing name? All sorts of suggestions were produced, everything from Vilecom (painfully bland) to Fullbladder's Fabulous Funky Foursome (Totally incorrect, as there was at least six of us by then).
Finally, someone (and by someone I mean me) offered a suggestion even better than Evil Inc, the "Association of the Malicious, Evil, and Nefarious". Everyone immediately realized that this was by far the best name they'd ever heard of, and after a chorus of "AMEN, brother"s and nibbling on some pixies, the Association had officially begun.
Years went by after that. In-jokes were formed, members came and went, and dictators were ousted and replaced with new dictators more swiftly than Central America during the Cold War on steroids. It was a glorious time, full of wars with EVIL, The Town, France, and HALO. (All ending in AMEN victories, aside from the last one, which was more of a cease-fire stalemate thingy)
Lives were lost, promptly restored, and then lost again. Love blossomed between various Associates, dark feuds between others, and every manner of nonsense imaginable, but that chaotic energy, that "Burn it all and let the gods sort it out" attitude always came before anything else.
Sadly, these days were destined to end eventually. AMEN just couldn't keep up with HALO, GLoG, and the rest of the world, and xenophobically shut its doors upon the rest of the world. A Dark Age ensued, full of newbs posting inane nonsense and old members complaining about the newbs instead of trying to better their situation, until eventually, not even the newbs were posting anymore.
Then came hope. Most called him crazy (and they were right), others called him ridiculously optimistic, and some say he's a big smelly dragon who doesn't bathe anywhere near as much as he should (Or maybe only I say that), but everyone else called him Gordon, the new leader of AMEN. Realizing that this xenophobic age had to end, he led AMEN out of the darkness, and brought about a new age of darkness, gave us a world where AMEN is once again a serious threat. For that, we owe him our thanks. I'm still gonna stab him in the back the first chance I get, though.
Or well, we owed him our thanks. He's sorta dead now, I think. Me and Ilpholin recently usurped the hell out of him with an awesome arena deathmatch thing, and now his smelly corpse has been exiled and stuff. She's in charge and I'm second-in-command, because responsibility smells. Weee, change!
(updated Mar 5, 2012)
THE BUILDING
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You don’t want to know. The greatest minds of our time have studied AMEN’s base, only to be driven MAD by the labyrinthine, ever shifting corridors and reality-defying chambers. The base itself is sentient, and doesn’t really take kindly to smartasses trying to map it. That being said, as long as you don’t try too hard to make sense of the base, it’s not difficult to find, say, an empty bunk, the common room, the can, the lab, et cetera. Of course, there’s much more to the base than that, but I can’t tell you about it. 1) Because it would crush your little mind, and 2) because I don’t wanna.
Security Room
Access here is limited by handprint scanner and numerical keypad. Incidentally, Ilpholin has also made it her primary room as well, getting a bed and some other things put in.
Front Lawn
Mister Squiggles planted various mechanical devices here, buried underground.
MEMBERSHIP FORM
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Name:
Age:
Sex:
Species:
Profession:
Reason for joining AMEN:
Special skills/items you believe will aid/have decided to contribute to AMEN:
References (Victims preferred):
Past Experience:
Other Information:
(last updated Mar 5, 2012)
LIST OF MEMBERS
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{table=head]
Character|
Player|
IC Status
Ilpholin|Reinholdt|Leader
Magtok|Magtok|2nd in command
Anyu|Haruki|Confirmed
Becky|BR|Confirmed
Cat Burglar|Third Emperor|Confirmed
Cin|Wolfbane|Confirmed
Clarissa|The Alexandrian|Confirmed
Cybil|Shadowcaller|Confirmed
Cyrus|Blade of Obliviom|Confirmed(?)
Dam'Bul|Earl of Purple|Confirmed
Darcy|HT|Missing
Dark Lord|D_Lord|Confirmed
Decker|Happyturtle|Confirmed
Enshadu|singingnoodle|o
Firebrick|Haruki|Confirmed
Gordon|Phantom| Missing
Greg|Firefox|Confirmed
Harley Zorzo|Mahonri Violist|o
Haruki|Haruki|Confirmed
Hatter|The Alexandrian|Confirmed
Hatteress|The Alexandrian|Confirmed
Jack Empty|Murkus|Confirmed
Kal'selthezaar|Kid Kris|Security Officer
Karyana|C'nor|o
Lady Isabelle Hunt|Gnrlshrimp|Confirmed
Lily|Harnel|o
Megan|Mindfreak|Confirmed
Moff 4|HT|Confirmed
Nephrim|Earl of Purple|Confirmed
Orrey|Murkus|Confirmed
Rot|VampireRot|Confirmed
Seltz|iElf|Confirmed
Shayan Vermoss|Slii Arhem|Confirmed
Stu|Reinholdt|Confirmed
Wolfgang|Rotting Baron|o
Zefir|Zefir|Confirmed
|||
Seven Sins||
Algian|SerphIvanXin123|o
Andrellux|SerphIvanXin123|o
Baronux|SerphIvanXin123|o
Damian|SerphIvanXin123|o
Einjelstein|SerphIvanXin123|o
Julianette|SerphIvanXin123|o
Zediniah|SerphIvanXin123|o
[/table]
x = seen in the base since the revolution, membership not confirmed
o = new member in the process of filling out forms, background checks, etc
missing = seen elsewhere in the Nexus, but not in AMEN, since the revolution, or otherwise known IC to be missing
blank = character in deadtime
(last updated June 6, 2012)
ASSOCIATES (Restricted Access)
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{table=head]Character|Player
Huevo Portero|D_Lord
[/table]
OOC NOTES & RULES
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For the sake of variety, these rules will be listed in the form of Russian reversals. Wanna know why? Because I WAS BORED.
In Soviet Russia, AMEN base doesn’t destroy YOU!!
In Soviet Russia, godmodding aren’t allowed to YOU!!
In Soviet Russia, spam doesn’t post YOU!!
In Soviet Russia, t3h s3cks drop curtains on YOU!!
HOW TO JOIN
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"One of the first things that are to change is a revamping of the membership process. No longer are they to be blood pacts. The forms will be standard and require a fair bit more than just a name."
"Furthermore, just signing them does not guarantee a place in AMEN. After that there will be a background check, followed by an interview with me. Then, if it feels like their goals and such line up with AMEN's, that's when they get in." It's a process designed to know your co-workers better!
"That said, old members will have to go through a similar process to retain their membership. A form filled out and an interview. However, unlike incoming members, acceptance is not contingent upon a decision, but rather simple completion. So former members are in no real jeopardy of losing their place here." So long as they actually do turn in the form and talk to Ilph. No more strangers and non-members loitering around. That's just outright silly in so many ways!
Link (updated Mar 5, 2012)
ABOUT HENCHMEN
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NPC Henchmen for the most part can be godmodded, however, the named henchmen are reserved for ThePhantom to control.
Standard henchmen attack uniform.
http://zecarioca.net/Imagens2010/AMEMSoldier.png by MethosH, from the Nexus webcomic.
NPC Henchmen
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There are 147 npc henchman, each with a css color designation such as DarkRed, LimeGreen, and Cyan. Pink is the only henchwoman and seems to be the supervisor over the rest, though she still ranks below the named henchmen. Nobody but Gordon really knows what made them take the job at AMEN, but it must have been good.
Named Henchmen
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Rogar: Head Henchman, manages the henchmen. Fights with electrostaff. Kicked out
Sweetums: Head Ogre Usher, most powerful fighter of henchmen. Makes the very nice fudge. Trainer
Pete: Henchman of Naval business. Insane, thinks he's a pirate, always talks like one. Kicked out
Mr E: Spymaster of henchmen. No telling what he looks like.
(updated Mar 8, 2012)
ABOUT MECHANO-PANTHERS by Mindfreak
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Classic:
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Mechano-Panthers patrol the halls of AMEN(And some important rooms, like the Main Room) and are basically godmoddable by anyone with a character in AMEN. However, I'd rather you not have them do anything past their programming, which is:
1) Subdue intruder with instant drying cement foam
2) If 1 is not possible, kill intruder with razor sharp metal claws and spiked tail
3) Bring body to torture room or to BioLab(if dead)
The cement foam dissolves from a solvent that the panthers also have.
Also, the panthers will listen to any AMEN member and will go after any people that come in that are not being accompanied by a current AMEN member. They're made of titanium as well, and are as strong and as fast as a normal panther. They will ignore orders from AMEN members if given a conflicting order from Ilpholin, and unknown to Ilpholin they will ignore an order from Ilpholin if given a conflicting one from Megan.
Any questions?
5w4mp:
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Anyways, here you all go! 5w4mp P4n7h3r5!
So here's the story of these new Mechano-Panthers that Megan is making for the Gnoll Village. They'll go by the name of Mechano-Panther(5w4mp), or just 5w4mp Panthers, for short.
Anyways, here's the picture of a regular Mechano-Panther:
Now imagine that sexy beast about 66% bigger than a normal panther, and instead of delicious chrome on the metal, it's a camouflage perfect for swamps and such.
Now, instead of the usual liquid cement and solvent the Mechano-Panthers at AMEN have, these babies instead of a flamethrower right in their mouths, not to mention the usual razor-sharp claws and teeth and tail. Plus, a couple nets big enough to catch large humanoids and slow them down a bit. It'd take a while to cut through one with a pocket knife, is what I'm saying.
Also, they have another nasty surprise, their tails also double as sort of a taser. Except a taser that'll kill you with electricity. It's powerful enough that they could put it into a small body of water and electricute the things within about 50 feet.
Also, they're completely waterproof, allowing them to swim in the water and sneak up on things, and they're a bit more agile than a real Panther.
They can also see in the dark, thanks to infer-red capabilities.
Anyways, that's about it for them. Other than saying that they'll do as the gnolls ask third, Ilpholin second, and Megan first.
Oh, and they won't attack AMEN members, or members of the Gnoll tribe.
Their basic tatics is to use the enviroment to their advantage, such as hiding in the foliage and pounce, or hiding underwater and delivering a nasty shock. Or just ripping things apart with their claws and flamethrower. Though if asked, they will attempt to capture things by reducing the shock of their tails, tasing the thing, and then netting it. They can also set traps, if asked. And are smart enough to plan ambushes
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"-AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
*CRASH*
Are the sounds that can be heard before Stu comes falling through the ceiling and smacking face down into the floor and cracking it.
Deciding it might be best to stay there in absolute agony, Stu decides against moving.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
Strane to anyone Zefir managed to pass the panthers without getting noticed, maybe luck or just a bug? We never know. After all zefir is going for his way to his room as Stu fals down from the roof directly above him. The impact throws him away. Knocked against a Wall, Zefir rubs his head taking on the hood again. It needs a while until he stands up again.
"What the hell is going on?"
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"Owwwwwww..." Is the reply Zefir gets.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
Zefir goes closer to the crater? where Stu's body lays. Using the spear he has he pokes the plant, with the blunt end *poke*poke*
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
Kal strolls in to see what all the commotion's about, looking at the floor-ridden Stu, looking at the hole in the roof, looking at Zefir poking Stu with his... spear... and adding two and two and two together.
...
And getting forty-seven.
"Man, how is it the FLOWER gets more action in this place than I do?"
On the other hand, he might be more correct than I feel comfortable thinking about.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"There you are!" Jeannie says, finally encountering Kal in her hall wanderings. "You know, if Her Painfulness saw how sloppy a job you're doing here, she'd disown you."
Zefir and Stu get no notice from her, though if Stu finishes being in pain, she'll likely get far too much notice from him. :smallyuk:
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Unfortunate Place]
Kal whirls around at the sound of The voice, coming face to face with... a person!
"Hi... person. What are you talking about?" :smallconfused:
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
The floor's cracked a bit, but not enough to make an actual crater. I mean he is just a flower.
"Ow. Ow. Ow." He says, every time Zefir pokes him.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
As said in OOC it should be near impossible to note that this guy is Zefir. he still tries to hide it, but he is a half dragon now so scaled hands, much taler and such.
Just a flower in a power suit right?
"Come on Stue time to rise the sun is up as well."
he sound much to seriouse like he isn't in the mood to laugth.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
Stu's face down. How is he going to recognize anyone anyways? :smallconfused:
"Are you a hot woman?"
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"Does it sound like?"
Actually No.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"It sounds like somebody decided to grate rocks against a chalkboard by throwing it all into a rock tumbler run by a banshee supervisor. So are you a hot woman or not?"
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"You'll never find out the way you lay around. Also i assume your landing wasn't intended?"
After all he could go for that far longer than Stu thinks.^^
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kid Kris
[Unfortunate Place]
Kal whirls around at the sound of The voice, coming face to face with... a person!
"Hi... person. What are you talking about?" :smallconfused:
"It's me... your cousin Jeannie," Jeannie says, a little deflated that her favourite cousin doesn't even know who she is. :smallfrown:
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"You know what, forget it. Ain't even worth it. Just go away. Me and this floor, we got some catching up to do." Stu says, waving his hand awkwardly. His landing was totally intentional.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
"I have a cousin named Jeannie?"
...
C'mon Kal, you remember Jeannie, don't you? I mean... she's your frikkin' cousin. That idolizes you! And you did that thing one time! Remember? That one really fun thing. No, not that thing, the other thing! And there was lots of fun to be had. Think, Kal. Think hard. :smallannoyed:
"Oh! I remember now! It's you, Jeanne-Antoinette! It's so great to see you! :smile:
No! Not that hard! :smalleek:
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
:smalleek: "Gah! Pleasedon'tcallmethat..." Jeannie pleads. "Only my mother and Her Painfulness use that name." :smallyuk: "Everyone else calls me Jeannie."
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
"Yeah yeah, I remember now." Says Kal, waving his hand to dismiss the issue.
"So, what are you doing up here?" :smallconfused:
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"I'm sick of sex and thought I'd come Mortalside to find something better to do with myself before I turn into my mother. Need any help running your gang of misfits up here?" Jeanne asks.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
...
...
...
"I have a gang of misfits?"
Oh jeeze, Kal! First your cousin, now your gang of misfits? You have to stop forgetting these things, man!
Feeling slightly overwhelmed, Kal moves to sit on the nearest available surface. Which is of course, Stu's back.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"You know, the clockwork panthers and the engineer girl and this scaly guy and the flower that came out of the roof." Jeanne gestures towards the deadtimed Zefir when she mentions the scaly guy. "Honestly, you could probably stand to tighten up your recruitment standards a bit."
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"Wait, sex? Mother? I'm in!" Stu says, just about to get up out of his pain induced stupor when he's sat on and prevented from moving anywhere. He squirms slightly.
"OH COME ON!" :smallsigh:
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Reinholdt
Ilpholin's Office
"And what would you implement to change this?" Ilpholin asks, finding his response less helpful, or even up to date accurate, than she had hoped.
Yeesh. The tricky questions just don't let up around here, do they? Removing that silly hat of his to scratch at the back of his hair, the Cat Burglar takes a moment to ponder before answering.
"Well... I think some kind of stated goal might help, maybe? Not, like, 'take over the Nexus' or something nebulous like that, something kind of medium term that people could work towards with visible results. That would probably improve cohesion, morale, as well as support the image that the new AMEN is an AMEN that gets things done."
"Er, a communications network too. That would help, I mean. Probably. I know a guy who could set us up with some micro-transponders, if you want."
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"Typical Stu." Zefir shakes his head as Stu stands up immediatelly.
Then he looks up.
"So you are this Kal guy?"
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
"Wait, you mean AMEN? Pfffft-" He breaks out laughing.
"Nah, I don't lead AMEN. I mean, could you imagine? I'd be the worst leader ever." :smallbiggrin:
He leans back on Stu, ignoring his squirming.
Then turns to Zefir.
"Yeah, what's it to you?" :smallconfused:
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
"I found your cousin here at the entrace. Just wonder who she searched for."
He points at Jeannie while talking. And then just shrugs.
"Never saw you around, before."
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"Keep your pants on. Mom isn't here." Jeanne says to Stu. Then to Kal. "This isn't your place? You let someone else boss you around?"
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"I don't wear pants..." Stu grumbles.
Ilpholin's Office
"Acquire, Manage, Expand, and Neutralize. Those are our stated goals as of the last big meeting that AMEN had and everyone went to." Except the Cat Burglar.
Granted, the goal is still nebulous, but it is designed to be nebulous for a reason. Gordon had a very specific goal and it created more schisms than group solidarity. The people here don't agree on things and they never will, so trying to force them to isn't such a great idea. Even Cat Burglar doesn't seem entirely sure on what the exact goal should be, though his idea certainly isn't wrong in and of itself.
But aside from all that...
"A communications network would be very helpful. I know in particular a village that needs one, above and beyond just this place. Get with Magtok or Mister Squiggles or someone else who likes that stuff and work to get me a solid com network plan so we can put it together and enact it." Congrats Cat Burglar! You've earned yourself an assignment!
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Reinholdt
[Ilpholin's Office - Hatteress]
"Gordon may have originally saved AMEN, but he got caught up in Inside politics and was slowly driving AMEN into the ground. I couldn't stand by and let that happen." Ilpholin explains.
The drow looks over the form. "What is Kiroshandian?"
[Ilpholin's Office - Hatteress]
The Hatteress perks up upon hearing Ilpholin present this specific query to her. She shrugs off a pound or so of her military bearing. This should help her divert her attention away from the root cause of her formality during this meeting.
"The equivocal title of Kiroshandian is conferred to the members of the fledgling yet unconditionally glorious species that results from the cross-breeding of humans and well-over 38 different alien species from chartered planets and unchartered planets alike. Curtains arising from the intermingling of species coupled with nigh imperceptible activities undertaken by nth-dimensional entities has yielded all 14 Kiroshandians that exist at any given time in most any setting."
It would stand to reason, then, that 13 other Kiroshandians apart from the Hatteress herself exist in the Nexus right now! Expansive medical knowledge about their unique anatomy and culture might be somewhat limited, but that remains to be seen, though they normally readily dispense relevant data linked to how their bodies are set up, according to their own prerogative. Aside complete, Roxanne continues.
"A facile overview of how we differ from humans is found in our metabolism, body structure, mental layout and capacity, and connection to some other plane. We don't eat when we find the process of eating more trouble than it is worth. We've developed a set of inner eyelids so we don't have to blink. The way we evaluate our sense of balance is a world apart from most conventional humanoids. Erm, that is to say, we don't perceive colors as most do, as they stir up more than retinal in us. We are able to interact and exist in nth-dimensional space and- Yadddah yaddah yaddah. I'm boring you will all of this-"
Roxanne dismissively waves a hand up in the empty air surrounding her as she searches for a succinct phrase to sum up her thoughts on the matter.
"-this altogether extravagant lecture about what a Kiroshandian is and isn't. I apologize for that. Long story short, we're similar to humans in outer appearance, but our insides are arranged differently, we don't age at all, and our reflexes are off of the charts. In fact, I've been hearing a distorted version of your voice ever since we started this conversation."
Roxanne shifts around uneasily in her chair.
"See, the whole prospect of this interview has me a tad flustered. I want to contribute my experience to AMEN, but..."
"Um..."
"I... Well..."
It would appear that The Hatteress isn't as adept at interviewing as she would like her bewitching boss to believe.
"I... Nevermind."
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
"Yeah, sure, whatever." Says Kal to Zefir, not really listening.
"And... uh, no. I have a boss, and I do what she wants most of the time but I don't let her 'boss me around'.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
".... You're sleeping with her, aren't you?" :smallsigh:
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
"Hey, I only slept with her once." :smallannoyed:
...
"Or maybe it was twice?" :smallconfused:
...
"And it probably would have ended up being three times if Decker hadn't interrupted the interview." :smallwink:
...
"But the point is that is was a bunch of rare, one-off occasions, and not a regular habit as you seem to be implying!" :smallyuk:
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"I'm sure Her Painfulness is very proud of you," Jeanne says. :smallyuk:
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
Zefir just shrugs. It seems like Kal and he can't really like each other.
As call mentions that he isn't boss around and then counts on his relationship with Illphi Zefir can't avoid to laugh for a moment.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
"Woah, no need to bring my grandmother into this." Says Kal.
"What's so bad about sex anyway?" :smallconfused: He asks, casually flipping the V-sign at Zefir as he does so.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"She's my grandmother too," Jeanne says. Technically great-grandmother, but close enough. "Sex is like chocolate. Too much of it and it makes you sick. If I ever have another truffle, I'll probably throw up."
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
"We're devils." Says Kal. "We don't get sick."
...
I think he might be missing the point somewhere along the line.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
I don't remember Kal ever curtaining with Ilpholin. :smallconfused:
Granted, Kal could be just saying that for any number of reasons.
"I'll be happy to make you throw up!" Stu eagerly offers.
[Ilpholin's Office - Hatteress]
Ilpholin raises an eyebrow. "But what? If there's a reason you won't be able to contribute your experience to AMEN, I need to know it."
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Ilpholin's Office - Hatteress]
Roxanne twiddles her fingers uneasily as the interrogation continues. Maybe she shouldn't have mentioned anything about this. Maybe bringing this subject up was a major mistake. If her words come out wrong, she runs the risk of offending Ilphy, but...
Harumph! She needs to devise a technique by which she can express her opinions on the topic without being abrasive about it.
"Well, uh, my lifestyle has been highly regimented up until now, and even with such a newfound degree of freedom, still I'm tempted to ask permission to speak freely when discussing issues which may spur conflict and spurn friendliness."
Well, that's enough of a disclaimer and more than enough stalling for Roxanne to be able to doubt her diction in. Best just spit out what she has to say now and be done with it.
"Please don't take this the wrong way, but the members of your organization are more divided than they are united and..."
"It is aggravating and so very stupid that they act like prepubescent ankle-biters half of the time with their petty squabbles and such. I mean, how many of the members are self-absorbed, egotistical megalomaniacs that deem themselves the 'gift of whatever silly deity they worship unto evil?' How many of them fallaciously argue that their way is the best way and furthermore the only way to accomplish a given task?"
Woah! The Hatteress is strategically employing air quotes and everything! This has really gotten her all riled up!
"I'd have no problem at all with any of that if it weren't for the simple reality that they aren't even able to defend their base from invading Remnant mooks. I know that you've brought about as many changes as you've been able in such a short time period without overhauling everything that AMEN was in the past and you aren't responsible for that hideous screwup, but I'm sick and tired of belonging to an organization that nobody fears anymore! They think we're a joke because many members in the past have had these bloated superiority complexes or haven't cared about the org enough to work together as a group to fend off the enemy. That needs to change. We're meant to be a team for Pete's sake and-"
Regain your composure, Roxanne. Stop complaining and just deal with it. There's no need to gesture so much when casually conversing with another. This isn't a pep talk before a battle or anything.
"We need to do something that will demonstrate to the whole Nexus that we're foes not to be trifled with. We deserve respect. Happy endings aren't assured in this life for anyone, and..."
"Um... We just..."
And Roxanne is losing her nerve yet again.
"I can't work with people who treat their comrades with irreverence and are no good at keeping us from shame or restoring us to our rightful place in the Nexus."
-------
[Main Room]
Clarissa is milling about within this chamber, lounging on the couch and idly watching tv! Oooo! Tv! What exact tv program is she watching? Truth be told, even she isn't aware...
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Ilpholin's Office - Hatteress]
Ilpholin waits until Roxanne has it all out of her system.
"Hatteress, there is a key thing you failed to mention."
"It takes two to squabble." Ilpholin has found that those who complain about it the most tend to be some of the most likely instigators. And if anyone's being self-absorbed, and arguing that her way is the best way and only way...
"Now I understand as a squad leader you have trouble accepting anything less than full unity and accepting orders without question. But AMEN is an organization, not a team. Our flexibility is our strength, not our weakness."
"I've heard a small number of complaints about solidarity and member disagreements. Yet since taking office, there has been no active examples. There's been no incidents of member on member violence. In fact, I've sent out two separate teams on missions, one of which has been highly successful. The other just left, a group composed of people I know don't like each other. There were no complaints, no fights, and I remain optimistic that they will prove you wrong and accomplish their tasks with minimal infighting."
"And the reason for that is simple. They agree with what they're doing and it keeps them busy and important." Deadtime is the most terrible fate after all.
"In sum, no. I don't find your complaints fully justified, especially since it stems from a hit to your pride from an attack that occurred years ago." Or maybe months ago. It was a long time though.
"That is not to say nothing will be done. There's still much to do. Change doesn't happen overnight. But in order to best understand where your skills will be best placed to improve AMEN, we need to continue the interview and discuss you."
"If you have any immediate, solid suggestions beyond something needs to change, I'll be happy to hear them afterwords. In the meantime, however, tell me about your military training. How long did you study?"
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"Oh certainly we can get sick. I was on 'torture the damned souls' duty once, and ended up being assigned to the emetophiliacs. Worst year of my life." :smallyuk: She gives Stu a kick. Not that he'll feel it since it's the power suit. "Go to Hell. Literally. Ask for Zabrigael. She'll take care of you."
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ThirdEmperor
Yeesh. The tricky questions just don't let up around here, do they? Removing that silly hat of his to scratch at the back of his hair, the Cat Burglar takes a moment to ponder before answering.
"Well... I think some kind of stated goal might help, maybe? Not, like, 'take over the Nexus' or something nebulous like that, something kind of medium term that people could work towards with visible results. That would probably improve cohesion, morale, as well as support the image that the new AMEN is an AMEN that gets things done."
"Er, a communications network too. That would help, I mean. Probably. I know a guy who could set us up with some micro-transponders, if you want."
Reposting this.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Reinholdt
Ilpholin's Office
"Acquire, Manage, Expand, and Neutralize. Those are our stated goals as of the last big meeting that AMEN had and everyone went to." Except the Cat Burglar.
Granted, the goal is still nebulous, but it is designed to be nebulous for a reason. Gordon had a very specific goal and it created more schisms than group solidarity. The people here don't agree on things and they never will, so trying to force them to isn't such a great idea. Even Cat Burglar doesn't seem entirely sure on what the exact goal should be, though his idea certainly isn't wrong in and of itself.
But aside from all that...
"A communications network would be very helpful. I know in particular a village that needs one, above and beyond just this place. Get with Magtok or Mister Squiggles or someone else who likes that stuff and work to get me a solid com network plan so we can put it together and enact it." Congrats Cat Burglar! You've earned yourself an assignment!
Reposting reply.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Ilpholin's Office - Hatteress]
It is indeed truth that two people are requisite for argumentation and being at ends with one another. However, observation of something does not necessarily imply the partaking of said thing, else no sane person would dare watch tv lest they too be abducted by ninja-zombies, or so Roxanne would reply were that implication less roundabout and more aggressive than it already is.
The Hatteress slumps back into her chair, enduring Ilphy's reasonably cordial criticism of her point. She candidly relaxes, muscles untensing under layer upon layer of armor. Her forced, formal mannerisms recede, leaving behind a warmer more personable personality in their wake, one that exudes self-confidence, inner strength, and dependability.
Roxanne smiles softly, the burden and slight that has stained her view of AMEN suddenly gone like the billowing smoke of a snuffed out flame in a heavy wind.
Oh sure, Ilphy sounds pretty laid back on her stance about something Roxanne is adamantly vocal about as, from her perspective, it potentially impacts the security and sanctity of the base, but that's simply a matter clashing upbringings and focuses when it comes to such issues. That's all easily overlooked in Roxanne's mind as long as Ilpholin can live up to her hopes and rally the members behind a given cause.
"I'm happy to hear that you've turned the lot of them to other more constructive projects that don't involve wanton destruction of our own property. I'm even happier that you allowed me to say my piece on that long dead misadventure. That the enemy we repugn could expugn our home has distressed me for some time."
'S not easy to sleep knowing that one is obviously outnumbered and that the enemy knows of and is capable of storming one's base of operations through the most well-guarded doors without any degree of trickery on their part.
"While the agency I served would officially impugn my involvement in any and all involvement with the military prior to three months of age, I am well-aware of the shady dealings surrounding my birth and induction into the armed forces of my great state. Before we were weaned, some of us citizens of the company would be selected for the prestigious and, more often than not, involuntary honor of being bred specifically for military service. Often parents had scruples about this practice, but those who spoke out against them were silenced in short order. As I am a Kiroshandian, the people in charge of this atrocity figured that I'd be a natural born killer and therefore be a prime candidate for their beloved training program. I was confiscated from my mother as soon as I was birthed. They reported to her that I was dead due to unidentified 'complications' throughout the birthing process. I read she died a week after of unknown causes."
"For my entire life I've been conditioned to be the leanest, meanest killer of them all. From that first fateful day they laid their bloodsoaked hands upon me, I've been inundated with everything that they thought would psychologically desensitize me to violence. They went so far as to try to make me addicted to it. They started with colors and moved to toys, each object or experience given to me, especially eating at a young age, geared toward tempering me into the bane of life. I lived in an 18' by 16' by 8' cell without contact with a single sapient creature other than the two approved trainers assigned to me until I was about 6. When I was released so that I could join the special recruits at the academy on my birthday, they'd abet me to take a knife to the few who dared bully me day in and day out. Before my first day out of the cell was up, I'd known what it was like to gut someone with impunity in front of hundreds of terrified onlookers."
"So the answer to your query depends on how you view conditioning versus training."
Roxanne casually crosses her legs and glances over at the wall. She doesn't seem to mind that, in essence, her free will was torn away from her.
"You've no doubt killed someone before. Did you feel remorse or anything like that after?"
Roxanne questions, genuinely interested in how killing affects normal people. Of course, Ilphy isn't at all your typical demon-drow, but The Hatteress isn't aware of that just yet.
-
Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Zefir
Front Entrance
Zefir, who just seems to be here and likely not attacked by a pantherbot until now, looks down. Then at the bot. He wasn't here when they where set as guards and therefor he doesn't know them. Actually Zefir wears a cape and is much over human size. his hands are scaled and his shoes look like a bit to small for his feet. A grey ape is covering the body (which are the wings) and a hood saves his face.
"I wonder why Ilphi set these things up."
Doesn't seem like he wants to help.
Somewhere Unfortunate -> [Main Room]
Zefir doesn't see what Kal did so he don't reacts to it. He heads for his room and will after some time leave it to go back to the Main Room. He heads over for Clarissa.
"Hey."
Description is in the quote. It is near impossible to detect that this is Zefir, due to his appearance. His voice also sounds much deeper.
-
Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
happyturtle
Somewhere Unfortunate
"Oh certainly we can get sick. I was on 'torture the damned souls' duty once, and ended up being assigned to the emetophiliacs. Worst year of my life." :smallyuk: She gives Stu a kick. Not that he'll feel it since it's the power suit. "Go to Hell. Literally. Ask for Zabrigael. She'll take care of you."
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
"Yeah, but that's just gross." Says Kal, merrily continuing to miss the point and letting himself get out-argued by his younger cousin. He attempts to adjust his seating a little, casually pushing Stu's petals into the floor with his hand as he does so.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Ilpholin's Office - Hatteress]
"Only if I was caught." Ilpholin replies with a flat tone.
"Though as far as I'm aware military is more than just killing. Though I could be wrong about your world, but you did mention command and strategy." These are the things Ilpholin is interested in. She's already awash in killers. Another one, no matter how well trained/conditioned, isn't of particular interest.
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
"Emotiphil? Ewww. She should have a doctor look at tha- OH GEEZE OWW!" Stu flails as best as he can as Kal grinds his petals into the floor.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"So what do you do around here besides screw the boss? Anything fun?" Jeanne asks.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Ilpholin's Office - Hatteress]
"But of course."
The Hatteress sighs. She didn't expect that the leader of this organization would be willing to admit that she didn't condone cold-blooded murder even if that were truth. She doesn't seem as though she'd be as adamantly opposed to the tactics of inexorable death outlined under the general type of strategy fitting under the label of Sherman's Total Warfare. From Roxanne's most fundamental impression of Ilpholin, she predicts that she'll prove more pliant than her former commanders ever could possibly be.
"From the age of six on up, I've been trained in mixed unit tactics. I showed promise in logistics, front line command, communications, and artillery command early on according to the aptitude tests administered to us. We'd spend nearly every single one of our waking moments in virtual reality chambers where we'd constantly relive the most decisive battles of our history. From the ages 6-10 we were faceless enlisted grunts dotting the scorched battlegrounds of such battles and skirmishes of biblical significance as Stalingrad and the Ten Moons of Kashirr. From 10-12 we were company officers dealing with remiss staff and lack of support in those same historic battles, commanding the underclassmen who had replaced us as the expendable enlisted whose lives we gambled with daily in our game with the reaper. From 12-14 we took on the role of generals, the implementing large-scale tactics to from distant and long removed locales, sending plans and contingencies for our forces to relay from our posts back in the homeland. When we were unconscious, asleep or simply knocked out, data was streamed into our heads. We'd be roused by gunfire or fanfare to find our minds swimming with thoughts that were not our own. Even in our sleep, we were under someone else's tutelage. Our dreams were no longer our own."
A childhood stolen or a childhood well-spent. Guess that evaluation is all in the eyes of the beholder.
"From 14 until now, it has all been real hands on experience planning campaigns and taking down extremists."
And every night when she goes to bed, more thoughts that are not her own find their way to her. Sometimes she wonders whether she actually left that virtual reality chamber or not...
-------
[Main Room]
Clarissa glances up at this scaly stranger with wide-eyes. She'd never seen him hanging around here before. She hadn't smelled him around either, and he did smell kind of nice, so she'd have remembered if she had.
Perhaps he's a new member that she hasn't met yet? :smallconfused: Or maybe he's a really, really old, elderly, and frail member they dug up in one of the more disused isolated broom closets of AMEN.
"Um, am I supposed to know you from someplace?"
Clarissa questions, tilting her head askew and refusing to budge from her dominant position on the couch.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Ilpholin's Office - Hatteress]
"So, after all this conditioning or training or what have you, you still want to follow the life they set out for you? You don't have any regrets about the situation? Don't desire a different life?" Ilpholin asks.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
"Um... not that I've been involved in. I kind of quit and then came back, so I ended up missing all of the missions being handed out after the last regime change." Says Kal. He stops torturing Stu for the moment, but remains sitting on his back.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Somewhere Unfortunate
"Huh. Maybe I should go to one of those tavern places where quests get handed out to adventurers. Do you think I'd make a good adventurer?" Jeanne asks.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
happyturtle
Somewhere Unfortunate
"Huh. Maybe I should go to one of those tavern places where quests get handed out to adventurers. Do you think I'd make a good adventurer?" Jeanne asks.
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
"Um... I don't know much about adventuring, actually. Sounded too dangerous to me. You know, mucking about in caves and getting chased by giant rolling boulders or demon faced monkeys for tiny gold coins and big boxes that melt your face off when you open them."
Fighting hordes of ravenous demons and elven super-soldiers is far safer.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
"Still sounds better than sex," Jeanne says.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Somewhere Unfortunate]
"Only if you've been having sex with Luxora."
RANDOM OFF THE CUFF BURN ABOUT SOME DEVIL THAT I MADE UP ON THE SPOT!!!111!11!
"Hey Stu, you should try her out some time. You two are just right for each other." He taps Stu lightly on the back of the... flower.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Alexandrian
[Main Room]
Clarissa glances up at this scaly stranger with wide-eyes. She'd never seen him hanging around here before. She hadn't smelled him around either, and he did smell kind of nice, so she'd have remembered if she had.
Perhaps he's a new member that she hasn't met yet? :smallconfused: Or maybe he's a really, really old, elderly, and frail member they dug up in one of the more disused isolated broom closets of AMEN.
"Um, am I supposed to know you from someplace?"
Clarissa questions, tilting her head askew and refusing to budge from her dominant position on the couch.
[Main Room]
Oh yeah the body thing. Actually he didn't thought he is that undetectable. Well Zefir you should look into a mirror.
"May be you remember the cold shiver I caused on your tail a while back."
Well that should do it, since Zefir is sure she would ask for anything to prove his identity.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
A trio of NO's finest arrives here. The human psion in the center, Ordo Ventrii, looks to be a bit troubled even approaching this place. He looks to his companions - an Elf named Ashley and Jit, a man in a strange suit - before giving the door a knock.
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
Front Door
Oooh! A chance to do something productive, without actually necessitating interaction with those horrid coworkers and inferior mouth-breathing monkey people hanging out in the main room! Magtok eagerly telewarps himself just in front of the door, swinging it open with a nasty little smile to greet NO's finest lady and gentlemen.
"Well hey there! I'm Magtok, and this is AMEN, but you knew that already, right? Of course you did! So what brings you all the way out to our little valcano lair, anyways? Business, I'm guessing. Yeah, none of you strike me as the 'just visiting to see the sights' types. The big ol' molten doom base doesn't really attract too many tourists, but every now and then we get a really daft schmuck who comes all the way out here just to gawk at things like an idiot with a enormous red bulls-eye on the back of his head. So should I get the membership forms, the robot attack panthers, or some other third thing?"
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Re: [Nexus] AMEN XLIV: Beware Falling Flowers
[Ilpholin's Office - Hatteress]
Wow! What a concise yet deep philosophical question! To answer on the most basic, superficial level would require introspection, retrospec-
"No."
It would appear as though this line of questioning doesn't particularly resonate with Roxanne. It doesn't strike a chord with her or pluck at her heartstrings. She sounds...perfectly indifferent to it.
"My life gives me no grief or woe. My course is as I want it to be. As I always have always longed for it to be. I was raised not on my mother's milk but on the blood of those who dared stand in my way. When my enemies heard my name they would tremble in fear, shiver in their boots. When my brothers and sisters in arms swept across the battlefield in a victorious charge, we'd raise a shout that shook the heavens and the very planet to its core."
It all sounds very...rehearsed. Practiced. All too natural to be genuine. Like a player on a stage in front of an audience.
Roxanne straightens up and looks as though she's about to continue before again falling back into her chair.
"That's how we were instructed to respond to those sort of questions. The old programming dies hard, as you can plainly see."
Roxanne shakes her head from left to right, a more heartfelt reply manifesting in her mind.
"I believed, at times, that what the company had done for, nay, to me was to my benefit. It was...sort of. We were the backbone of the company, my peers and I. We allowed them to spread, enabled them to grow and prosper. We kept them safe and mercilessly butchered any colony that was not affiliated with us that was within our reach down to the last child."
"They treated us well. Better than any civilian Joe Average, anyway. We were paid well. We ate well. When on leave for rest and relaxation they put us up in the most luxuriant digs you ever saw. You wanted something, you got it. It was as simple as that. Implants, games, curtains, serfs, electronics, weaponry, stims, you name it, we had access to it. But they were so very reliant on us that they just had to find a way to make us reliant on them. So we didn't turn on our 'creators' and 'benefactors.' And that's where they stepped over the line."
"They researched a stim that would, quote, boost soldiers' reflexes in combat to hereto unfathomable heights, unquote. It wasn't toxic, but it didn't do what they said it would either. What it did was get us all addicted to it. After the first dose, we'd learned that if we didn't get some of it every twenty-four hours, we'd suffer from major withdrawals, so bad that a few of my fellow soldiers died by their own hands. That destructive habit plagues me to this day."
And that's when she realized that she was being used. Conned. Taken. Played like a fiddle. For her whole life she'd been nothing but their instrument. Their weapon to be aimed and fired. An object, just like those she slew. Property. She had no one to turn to, so she made do with it.
With more than a tinge of misery in her voice, Roxanne forces herself to continue, somehow remaining courteous, calm, and strong despite her raging well of emotions. She is a very emotional person, actually, though she hides it very, very well.
"But I'm here now. They can't lay a hand on me anymore. And I left them a little...gift."
Well, that's a less than comforting thought, especially coming from someone as ruthless and cutthroat as Roxanne Kennedy.
-------
[Main Room]
Clarissa pays Maggy no heed as he hurries off, or rather materializes, to answer the door. She doesn't want to scare him any more than she already has, and she's quite certain that any sudden movements, especially advancing on him, may drive the flighty little cyborg to retreat back to his man-cave until she departs.
Anyway, Zefir receives Clarissa's full and undivided attention while he speaks. She, being the curious embodiment of Chaos and mother of death that she is, attempts to experimentally prod Zefir with three of her tails repeatedly until she is satisfied that he is not incorporeal in the least. *Prod prod prod!*
"So, uh, you're-"
Zefir's subtle hint doesn't seem to have tipped Clarissa off to his identity all that well.
"You're not that ice mage I slew last Friday, are you? Or that monster-thing I had for lunch yesterday. And you are organic, so there's no way that you're that possessed air conditioner that tried to kill me a week ago Tuesday. Unless I didn't absorb that mean-spirited ghost and send him mail him straight to the river Phlegethon. I do forget these things sometimes..."
Uh, I think she needs another clue. :smalltongue: