AMEN XLVII: Who's the Leader, Again?

[Zefir]

[Main Room]

Zefir turn around as he hears someone approching from inside the base. it is after all rare that there is anyone in the base right now.

"Ahh, right as we speak one of the great betrayer. By what strange trick of fate do our paths cross anew?"

[5a Violista]

[Main Room]
((Oops! Sorry. I forgot that I hadn't responded.))

"Oh," Harley says nonchalantly as she shrugs and gives an "I don't know" gesture, walking towards Zefir, "just woke up in here, for some reason. Something to do with save states and zombies and what else." In spite of this being a silly joke thing, she keeps a deadpan face.

Then, after a beat pause, she breaks out a smile and gives a real answer. "No, what really happened is that after a lot of soul-searching, I ran into Mr. E. Told me to come back and said the candypire was gone." Reasonable. "So I did. So besides him leaving, what else has been happening?"

Oh! She also got her sword sheath back. No sword still, but that doesn't matter.


Also
Some time in the future, taking advantage of plot clones

Harley comes back to gather some things she needs for the plot she's going on. She takes a pit stop in the kitchen.

[Zefir]

[Main Room]


Zefir is a bit confused by her first explanation, but catches himself after she made things clear. He will step aside, inviting her to join the round or maybe just try to get some space between them for the following words?

"Well. Many member left, some betrayed us. I took the lead of what is left and build it up at least. Progress comes slowly, but that's no suprise for me."

[5a Violista]

(Ah! Sorry. I keep on forgetting!)
[Main Room]

Harley nods. Good on him for taking charge. "Yes, it usually does," she agrees.

Maybe they could have a bake sale to raise funds/supplies to rebuild or reinforce? Could be cool.
"I've had a couple of ideas," she says, "of some thing we could do, as an organization." Like the bake sale I just thought of, because the more I think of it, the more it could be fun to do. "If I were to set up some of them, about how many people do you think we could get to participate?"

[Shadowcaller]

[Outside AMEN]

At dusk a great silhouette can be seen in the distance, casting a long shadow across the valley below the valcano that AMEN uses as their home. It first appears to just be a great black mass floating above the landscape, but as it moves closer the contours reveals that the black stone has been worked by hand. A myriad of loop holes have been carved into the structure and a myriad of spires that crackle with purple energy are hanging like stalactites from it.

Then it's escort can be seen, a wast horde of tiny silhouettes that swarm around it like mosquitoes. As they come closer their horrible screeches begin to fill the air, they look like huge birds of paradise at first glance with plumage's of all the colors of the rainbow. What's underneath the feathers is another story though, they're just skin and bones, two empty eye-sockets that seem to resemblance the ones of a human skeleton. Their beaks and talons are clearly avian however, even if the beak is filled with sharp teeth and the talons seem to have a thin layer of skin draped between them like a frog's.

Once the flying structure is just a few hundred meters away from the base, it suddenly grinds to a halt, and so does the swarm that followed it. It just floats there for a moment before more things start to happen. Around the base, small groups of pit lords start to appear in purple flashes of light. They spread out and starts preparing rituals.

Then a loud voice cries out. "AMEN! WE HAVE A PREPOSITION FOR YOU! YOU CAN JOIN WITH US, COMBINE OUR FORCES, AND RULE THIS WORLD!"

[ThePhantom]

Main Room

The speakers crackle as they turn on, in base only.

"Mister Zefir, we have a flying stone object crawling with demons right at our doorstep and lords of the pit outside. Are we working with them, or am I going to need to bar the doors and unleash the defenses? Please answer quick, they aren't ones to wait for long."

[Zefir]

[Main Room]

"Something to do is allways good. We should talk about it in my office." Zefir says. He doesn't trust her futher then a rock walks. Best to hear her out befor she spreads word to other members. He knows best they tend to do anything.
"Well, I guess less then 5, if any at all. A few are out collection resourcess and Ivaz here" (not sure if Zefir knows her name) "got a mission from me, too." he replies to Harley as the speakers go on.

"Urrrg. No I doubt we work with them that way. Close the door and keep the defense ready. I guess I try to chat with them first." Zefir replies to the in-base Loudspeaker and heads of with a wave to the remaining people. "Duty calls."

After a bit he steps out on a balcony. Wearing a blank mask he speaks into a loudspeaker.

"AND WHO IS IT THAT MAKES SUCH A BIG OFFER?" Not to mention what would it cost AMEN.

[Shadowcaller]

[Main Room]

There is a lingering pause before the voice fills the air again, deafening even the cries of the creatures filling the sky. "WHO?" It asks. "THERE IS NO 'WHO',THERE IS ONLY US AND THIS IS OUR VOICE. NOW, WE REMEMBER AMEN, WE REMEMBER HOW MIGHTY YOU WERE WHEN WE CAME TO THIS PLANE. BUT NOW, YOU ARE WEAK. NO GOALS, NO PLANS, NO ORGANIZATION, ONLY A SHADOW OF YOUR FORMER SELVES. WE CAN OFFER YOU PURPOSE HOWEVER, NEW GLORY, LIKE IN THE DAYS OF OLD. VIGIL, RIVERSIDE, GLOG, HALO, SEASIDE, EVEN INSIDE, WILL EVENTUALLY BE AT OUR FEET IF WE WOULD WORK TOGETHER."

[ThePhantom]

Main Room

The door to AMEN is already closed, but now the henchmen close the secondary door behind in and deploy the bars. A henchman runs over to Zefir and holds out a earpiece for him.

"A direct line to E sir. To make things easier."

Henchman rush around the base, trying to make ready for a potential fight. El Cuervo hops its way into the main room, it hasn't gotten a set of new arms yet, so it only has one make-ship arm.

"What is going...on? Are we...under attack?"

[Zefir]

[Speaker Talking]

Zefir takes the earpiece and puts it in his ear, likly befor getting on the balcony. (Or whenever it was)

"THEN TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE." Zefir replies via loudspeaker. "YOUR OFFER SOUNDS TOGOOD TO BE TRUE. I WOULD ASK YOU IF WE CAN TURN THIS TALKING TO A MORE PRIVATE ONE: AT LEAST THIS WAY ANYONE CAN LISTEN."

[Shadowcaller]

[Speaker Talking]

"YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE, ZEFIR. AFTER ALL WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE. YOU CAME TO US AFTER ALL. DO YOU NOT REMEMBER THAT YOU CONTACTED US AFTER VIGIL's DESTRUCTION?" The voice muses. Then it pauses for a moment as he suggests privacy. "WE DO NOT SEE THE NEED OF PRIVACY. THIS IS NO OFFER, THIS IS AN STRAIGHTFORWARD ALLIANCE. WE COMBINE OUR FORCES, SIMPLE AS THAT. OR ARE YOU AFRAID AGAIN? LIKE LAST TIME WHEN YOU FAILED TO RESPOND?" The accusation hangs in the air, even the screeching creatures turning silent. "BE AWARE THAT WE DO NOT TAKE FEAR OR HESITATION LIGHTLY."

[ThePhantom]

Speaker Talking

"Well, we are a bit lacking in support right now. An alliance might not be a bad idea, Zefir. But should you decide to send this to a battle, all but two entrances to the base are sealed and the weapon systems are ready to go online."

E's voice comes in clearly but quietly though the earpiece.

"In my opinion, this offer is one to take. We do have a few objects that would be useful for ending it when it isn't as convenient."

[Zefir]

[Speaker Talking]

((Phantom your up in riverside))

Zefir is silent and listens to the speakers. He is a bit mad when they shout out his name just like that.

"A REPORT WASN'T NESSESARY SINCE WE HAD NOTHING TO REPORT. YOU SAID IT YOURSELF.A AMEN ISN'T WHAT IT WAS BEFORE. I DON'T SEE WHY I SHOULD BE AFRAID OF THAT." he replies to the demons. "SO HOW WOULD THIS ALLIANCE GO? I DISLIKE RUNNING INTO THE UNKOWN."

[Shadowcaller]

[Speaker Talking]

"AFRAID OF YOUR OWN WEAKNESS. AFRAID TO ACT SINCE YOU MIGHT FAIL. THERE ARE AFTER ALL ONLY TWO ALTERNATIVES TO WHY YOU DIDN'T AGREE AFTER ALL. YOU NEVER ATTEMPTED TO, OR YOU TRIED BUT NEVER SUCCEEDED. WE THOUGHT THAT YOU PERHAPS HAD OTHER SCHEMES IN THE WORKS TO ACCEPT, BUT AS TIME WENT ON, THIS SCENARIO BECAME LESS AND LESS LIKELY. NOW YOU SEEM STUCK IN YOUR OWN BASE, AFRAID TO DO ANYTHING AT ALL SINCE YOU KNOW HOW WEAK YOU ALL ARE." The speaker argues. "WE ARE HERE TO CHANGE ALL THAT THOUGH. THE ALLIANCE IS SIMPLE, WE PICK OUT A TARGET TO CONQUER AND WE BOTH SEND OUR FORCES AT IT. NO CLOSE CONNECTIONS, SIMPLY OVERWHELMING FORCE."

[ThePhantom]

[Speaker Talking]

(Sorry, about that.)

"Hmm, sounds like a communication breakdown. Now, given what I can see of their strength and counting the reverses that we haven't tapped, I don't think they'll pick any place that our combined forces couldn't take. We just have to be careful."

[Zefir]

[Speaker Talking]

"Yeah Yeah whatever." Zefir says about the arguments, but not into the speaker. They got shemes running, but characters disapearing and things not be totally public prevent anything from happening. At least happening and known.
"I got a bad feeling there." he whispers in the speaker. Thanks to the mask it should go unheared.

"SO AND IF WE SUCCEED. HOW DO WE HANDLE THINGS?"

[Shadowcaller]

[Speaker Talking]

"YOU MEAN THE SPOILS OF VICTORY? YOU MAY HAVE EVERYTHING BUT THE SURVIVORS. SIMPLE. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN LAND OR TRINKETS. YOU MAY HAVE IT ALL UNLESS WE SPECIFICALLY ASK FOR IT." The speaker replies.

[ThePhantom]

[Speaker Talking]

"Understandable sir. Demons are tricky to deal with, but we do have a few cards up our sleeves if we need to use them."

[5a Violista]

[Main Room]

"Something to do is allways good. We should talk about it in my office." Zefir says. He doesn't trust her futher then a rock walks. Best to hear her out befor she spreads word to other members. He knows best they tend to do anything.
"Well, I guess less then 5, if any at all. A few are out collection resourcess and Ivaz here" (not sure if Zefir knows her name) "got a mission from me, too." he replies to Harley as the speakers go on.

"Urrrg. No I doubt we work with them that way. Close the door and keep the defense ready. I guess I try to chat with them first." Zefir replies to the in-base Loudspeaker and heads of with a wave to the remaining people. "Duty calls."

After a bit he steps out on a balcony. Wearing a blank mask he speaks into a loudspeaker.

"AND WHO IS IT THAT MAKES SUCH A BIG OFFER?" Not to mention what would it cost AMEN.

((...I disappeared again.))

Harley nods and says, "Okay." That's good.

Fortunately for me disappearing, though, the demons showed up and Zefir walked off to chat with them.

And so, Harley listens to the booming voice of the demons as she plans out what she was planning.

[Zefir]

[Speaker Talking]

"SOUNDS LIKE WE ONLY GET IT IF YOU REALLY WANT." he replies. "COULD WE SAY THAT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, TOO. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WE WANT TO SEE DEAD."

[Shadowcaller]

[Speaker Talking]

"YOU WISH TO CAPTURE PEOPLE TOO? VERY WELL, YOU MAY BE SPECIFIC AS WELL. BUT DO WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT THEN?" The question hangs in the air. This decision will be important.

[ThePhantom]

[Speaker Talking]

"Its all up to you sir. They have set their offer clear, and to take or refuse is your choice."

[Main Room]

El Cuervo, a scarecrow figure, but is currently missing one arm, having replaced one of them with a mechical arm covered in bluish purple fabric turns its head to look at Harley.

"Did we meet...before? Or was...that someone else?"

[5a Violista]

[Main Room]

Harley immediately replies to El Cuervo before turning towards him. "Yes, we have," she says. It's pretty safe to assume that most people have met her before, and as far as Harley can tell, there's almost no noninvasive way she can tell if it's her or someone else that the scarecrow is thinking of. And then, in her opinion even if it's someone she's never met before, if nobody can remember it's just better to pretend that they have.

She then turns to look at him.
Plus...she kind-of remembers him? Somewhat? "Sorry," she says to him. She just realized that some of her hair is blocking part of her face, so she pulls it behind an ear. "It's just that I haven't been around in public and unmasked for...how long was it? Some time. Since I last had my scabbard." She gestures down at her empty scabbard, as if looking at it will somehow tell how much time it has been.

"It's alright if you don't remember my name, though." People forget it all the time. Especially Vigil's people, fortunately. "Harley."

She sticks out her right hand, to shake.

[Zefir]

[Speaker Talking]

"WE HAVE A DEAL THEN." Zefir replies. He can't deny having a bad feeling about this. They have to stay on guard, which he will tell Mr. E.

[Shadowcaller]

[Speaker Talking]

"GOOD." Is the reply, followed by a longer pause. "PREPARE FOR WAR THEN. INSIDE WILL FALL ON THIS DAY TWO MONTHS FROM NOW."

[ThePhantom]

[Speaker Talking]

"Inside? Inside?! Of all the places they pick the one that most likely to defeat any attempt? Well, we can work around this and maybe they have enough strength with some careful management to pull it off. Sir, please ask them for an agent that we can plan with. If there's any chance of this working, we will need a plan.

And I'll send out the protective devices that we have among the henchmen."

Main Room

El Cuervo doesn't have a right arm at the moment, but it flips its hand around to shake Harley's hand. Things are bit clearer now, through the meeting was brief.

"Sorry. I've been...thinking about my...current issue. So...what do you...think is going on...out there?"

[Zefir]

[Speaker Talking]

"THAT IS A HARD TARGET." Zefir admits. "CAN YOU LEAVE SOMEONE HERE FOR FUTHER COORDINATION?"

[Shadowcaller]

[Speaker Talking]

"WE'RE NOT LEAVING. NOT YET. ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE MADE. WE SHALL LEAVE SOMEONE HERE... IN TIME." The speaker replies.

[ThePhantom]

[Speaker Talking]


"Well, that's a step in the right direction. I'll send you one of our insurance pieces soon, it will just take a bit for it to reach you."

E switches with who's he's talking to for a bit, then switches back to Zefir.

[Zefir]

[Speaker Talking]

Zefir remains silent for some time before he replies.

"I UNDERSTAND." he says. "YOU KNOW HOW TO CONTACT ME."

With that said and if there isn't anything the demons have to tell Zefir will head back to his office.