by Tony Corden
“T: Your friends seem to be surviving.”
“X: It might seem that way to you, but be assured, they are not my friends. They are my Sh’anti. For reasons of honour, they have promised to grant me peace even though it is forbidden. They travel with great care and have much understanding of how to move silently even though they carry everything they need. My Sh’anti have many years of experience in fighting the Ja’ mar, and they number only a few. Any Ja’ mar they approach is swiftly granted peace even before it knows they are near.”
Shifting into the more formal speech she’d used in Pneumatica, Leah said, “Pardon my hurried inquisition, but the time for action is now upon us. What is your name? We are also unfamiliar with this world and would appreciate knowing where we are and why we have been imprisoned. Finally, it would help to know who these Ja’ mar are that you refer to.”
“X: My personal name is Jamaree. You are on the world known as Grah, and you have been given as tribute to the Parishad in recompense for their provision of hanji. The worlds from which you come use the aforementioned hanji that is mined here on Grah to power the great portals that run between the worlds. The Parishad require the tribute to be given in weapons, treasure, and slaves. You have been chosen from among the slaves offered to educate our newest fighters in the ways of the Ja’ mar. The Ja’ mar are the darkness which comes from hanji.”
37
December 25 2073 - Evening - Part 10
PNEUMATICA - GRAH
Takobu looked over at Jamaree, “T: What do you mean, ‘the darkness that comes from hanji’?”
“X: Those who mine hanji do slowly waste away in their spirit, for the hanji absorbs their life. Even so, it is this life that the hanji steals, which powers the great portals. In the days of old, we mined only a small amount of hanji, and the spirit of those who took it from the ground had time to replenish. As the demand increased, we continued to mine hanji but in greater quantities. Even though their bodies remained strong, that which made them Ma’nav, the name by which we call ourselves, slowly faded until they were emptied. Once emptied they became Ja’ mar. The Ja’ mar eternally seek that which they have lost, and so they attack all who still possess spirit, even those from primitive races such as your own. When the Ja’ mar have access to the blood of a Ma’nav, they begin to absorb the spirit of the living. As they take in the spirit, it is believed they remember their life. This memory lasts only for a moment because the spirit which reveals their memory is not their own, and so the memory fades, the spirit is extinguished. Where there was once one Ja’ mar, there are now two. In their unending anguish, the Ja’ mar seek out their own kind for companionship. In their rage, they attack everything else that lives.
“It is an honour to grant the Ja’ mar peace. This can only be done by removing their heads or destroying their brain. All other wounds, even those that would kill a Ma’nav, still cause harm, but the Ja’ mar do not find peace. Although some injuries heal, the deadlands are covered with Ja’ mar in every stage of decay. The Ja’mar feed on those who find peace or those so injured that they cannot move. It is the Ja’ mar that cry out in anguish and rage through the night, their voices a constant reminder of the doom that came upon Grah.
“Once this land was fertile and home to billions of Ma’nav. In our hands, we held the power of steam, of gears and the movement of fluid. We built great machines to give light to our cities and even to power upgrades for our bodies. In our quest for wealth, influence, long life and for power, we continued to pull hanji from the ground even when the first of the Ja’ mar appeared.
“We tried to treat them as if they were merely ill for we were unaware that their spirits were gone. Many tried to stop the Parishad from continuing to provide hanji to the worlds like Pyranthia and Julgon. Julgon is that world from whence the driver has come. The Parishad would not give ear to the cries of our people. The number of Ja’ mar increased and then, on that day we call our ‘Doom’, one of them escaped the place where it was being treated. Our world was destroyed in less than one revolution around the star. We, the remaining Ma’nav, now live in isolated sanctuaries. These sanctuaries are built on or near a hanji mine and to our shame we now use those given in tribute to mine the hanji, for it is not right for the Ma’nav to be forced to become Ja’ mar. Others, like you, will be placed in pens to fight captured Ja’ mar as examples to those Ma’nav who are in training to be our warriors. These fights are also used to entertain those Ma’nav who support the Parishad.”
“R: Why are you here?”
“X: My mother is one of the three Pramukh who rule the Parishad. I am an example to the Ma’nav that no one is exempt from punishment if they speak out against the policies of the Parishad. When I am made Ja’ mar, I am to be released without finding peace. I am to be forced to roam the deadlands forever, my spirit destroyed. My Sh’anti have served as my protectors since I was a hatchling. They have decided to give me peace when I am released. They will not go against the will of the Parishad and help me escape, but they will not allow my punishment to be eternal.”
The prisoners in the cage sat in silence for several minutes before Takobi said, “T: Why have we seen none of these Ja’ mar?”
“X: The trail is bordered by spikes made of pure hanji. It is this which keeps the Ja’ mar at bay. They will not willingly cross the barrier unless whipped into a frenzy. Soon we will approach the training grounds and will leave this trail and enter the sanctuary via a tunnel. Millions of Ja’ mar surround each sanctuary, and even a hanji barrier cannot stop them.”
“How deep are the spikes embedded?”
“X: Perhaps a pace?”
“What would the guards do if one of the spikes was missing?”
“X: They would be filled with disquiet and then panic. These guards are not of our elite, and they always stay on the trail.”
“Why do they stay out of sight?”
“X: A large group of those with spirit will often attract the Ja’ mar. When we stop for the night, they lay additional spikes of hanji around the campsite.”
“It would assist us if we knew how far it is to the tunnel?”
“X: We will reach it in less than one day.”
“Takobi, if we surprised the guards, could we overpower them?”
“T: Not easily without some weapons of our own.”
“If we surprised the ten behind and took their weapons, could we deal with the twenty ahead?”
“T: I think so. How would we surprise those behind us.”
“Wait until we see a small rise or bend ahead then remove some of the spikes. When they ride forward to investigate we can ambush them using the spikes as weapons. The noise will bring some of the forward group back, and we can ambush them.”
“T: Some may escape forward and warn the city ahead.”
“Maybe. I prefer our chances free and stuck in the deadlands over being in a city filled with Ma’nav warriors and surrounded by Ja’ mar. On second thoughts, if you set the ambush, I’ll circle around through the deadlands and attack the front group from behind.”
“X: I must protest, as your plan is foolhardy. You cannot survive. If the Ja’ mar sense you, they will call a swarm or even a small horde.”
“It is possible, but I’d rather die fighting with honour and for freedom than to die fighting for entertainment. Either way, the most likely result is to be turned into Ja’ mar.”
“T: Agreed. Rundar can lead the ambush, I will come with you. What of the creature driving the tractor?”
“X: She is a slave and will fight neither the guards nor you. The Julgon are excellent miners and are trusted as slaves for they do not believe in violence, not for any reason. Irony abounds though, for when they become Ja’ mar they are among the most deadly and can overpower even an elite Ma’nav. I urge you to reconsider this action. Even though the guards are not elite, they are still Ma’nav and so will be better than any three of you.”
Takobi’s eyes lit up, and he said, “T: My ugly si
ster was right—honour and glory. Things have been boring lately. I was beginning to worry about her plan, but now I’m convinced.”
“Brother, thank you for the vote of confidence. When the cage is opened, I’ll open the ones behind us first, then open the cages in front of us. Takobi, can you go convince the driver to behave? Take Jamaree with you in case he needs convincing. Rundar, to keep the others from trying to escape, can you explain what we are facing and the plan while I open the cages? Once everyone is free, we’ll look for the right place to ambush.”
After getting agreement from everyone, except Jamaree, Leah reached through the bars of the cage and took hold of the lock. She turned the four tumblers to the glyphs she’d chosen then pushed hard on each of the tumblers, feeling each one give way. The lock clicked open. Leah carefully withdrew the lock inside as Takobi and Rundar shuffled forward.
Takobi opened the gate and dropped to the ground moments before being followed by Rundar. It took Leah ten minutes to decipher the next cage and then five for each cage after that. When the last cage was opened, she moved ahead of the tractor until she could just sense the front guards. Leah concentrated and was able to see almost a hundred paces ahead and had to wait for twenty minutes before she felt the trail go over a rise then make a right turn before heading down the small hill.
Running back to the tractor, she said, “Takobi, run back maybe thirty or so paces and pull out some spikes. There is a rise ahead and then the trail turns right. We can stop the caravan just over the rise. We’ll be defending from a higher position. Rundar, once we’re over the rise, you and some others grab a spike for weapons while Takobi and I move ahead.
Takobi returned with three spikes and handed one to Leah. They were too heavy for her to use as a weapon unless she was using two hands, but Takobi could easily wield them single-handedly. The part above the ground was cylindrical with a palm’s width diameter and a pace in length. Beneath the ground, the spike morphed into a sharp spike with four angled vanes running the length of it to hold it in place.
With a quick nod to Rundar, Leah took her spike in her left hand and moved forward at a jog with Takobi five paces behind her. She focussed her attention on the sensations outlined on her front. As soon as she sensed the forward guards, she moved off the trail and to her right. With the information she had, she was able to move at a quick jog and make use of every small dip and rise as well as vegetation.
As she ran, she sensed two creatures off to the side almost fifty paces ahead and crouched in a dip ten or so paces from the path she intended. She slowed, and as Takobi came close, she brought her head close to his and after asking Three to make sure her voice was just loud enough for him to hear, she explained that she thought there were two Ja’ mar ahead. She wanted him to take the one on the left while she would deal with the one on the right.
Leah took a deep breath and then, moving quickly, rushed in an almost direct path toward the Ja’ mar. Even though she was prepared, she almost recoiled as her senses gave her even more detail of what she faced. Each of the creatures was similar to Jamaree in many respects, but both had obviously been Ja’ mar for some time. They were male, and both had clockwork and steam modifications. The right arm of the one Takobi was heading towards had been replaced by a chainsaw.
The one she was heading toward was wearing aviator goggles. All the flesh beneath the nasal area had been torn away, leaving a gaping maw which showed the sharpened needle-like teeth set into a bony jaw. Both had horrific chest wounds, and she could see things crawling around inside of them. The ‘things’ reminded her of maggots, but they were larger than her finger. As she watched, the one she was running toward reached into his chest and pulled the maggot-like creature out and began to chew on it.
Before she could change her mind, she ran up the side of the small hillock the two were hiding behind and leaping high, thrust the spike down as she passed over the head of the Ja’ mar she’d chosen. At the last second it had heard her coming and turned toward her and looked up as she leapt over it. The point of the spike went deep into the open mouth and as her momentum carried her forward, it caught on the top of its skull before rotating. The point cut through the chest cavity and tore loose the lower jaw. Leah landed on her feet and brought the spike around in a circle, taking off the remains of the creature’s head.
As she looked up she could see Takobi pulling the chainsaw arm off the creature he’d beheaded to look at. He said. “T: This is a clockwork saw. Give me a minute, and I’ll wind it.”
Leah said, “No time, give me one of your spikes and wind it while you run.”
Takobi threw his gore covered spike to her and tucking the other under an arm, began to use the small key to wind the chainsaw. Leah kept running, and after sensing the guards, she moved to pull ahead of them and looked for a place to angle in toward the trail. She and Takobi were almost fifty paces ahead of the guards when the noise of clashing weapons could be heard from where the caravan was, almost two hundred and fifty paces further back.
Leah hadn’t heard the clash but sensed the guards stop and turn to face the rear. Takobi could hear the guards hissing, and then half of them turned to run back while the others waited. Leah changed the angle of attack to bring her and Takobi onto the trail about ten paces behind the guards. The noise of the ambush had the guards’ attention, but even so, three of them turned as Takobi and Leah rushed toward them. Leah used her momentum to drive one of the spikes through the chest of the first guard. Using her front foot as a pivot, she turned a full three-sixty-degrees with the spike held horizontal, and manage to decapitate one guard and cut off the arm of a second.
By this time, the other guards had realised they were being attacked and turning. Leah dropped the spikes and rolling forward, pulled a sword from one of the dead Ma’nav and using it to block an attack. By the time Leah had killed her assailant Takobi had killed the other six. Leah finished off the Ma’nav with the missing arm. After grabbing several of the pistols which she shoved in her empty holsters, she took another sword and a spear. The amount of blood and gore thrown around was greater than she’d met in any of her play so far, except maybe in the Dungeon of the Dark Lord. Still, before she could clean herself, Takobi had armed himself, then, with a grin, he headed back toward the caravan with Leah running hard behind him. Turning a corner they found Rundar finishing off the last of the guards. Two of the prisoners had been killed and three wounded but the rest were jubilant. As she wiped herself down with some cloth cut from one of the guards’ uniforms, Leah said, “Takobi, my time is almost up. What are your plans? Will you wait for me to return?”
“T: What are my plans! What are your plans? You have had good ideas so far. Having two leaders never works. I’ll follow you until you do something stupid and die.”
“You’re the better fighter.”
“T: That may be true, but I can’t come up with crazy plans like you. I would have fought until I died, then become one of the Ja’ mar.”
“What of the other Pyranthians?”
“T: They will do what I say. I’ll keep the humans in line too.”
“OK. Let’s stop here for the night, and I’ll be back sometime tomorrow. We need to collect the weapons, set sentries and I think we should put the spikes back. I’d hate to take on too many of the Ja’ mar.”
“X: Charlotte, you need to give the guards peace.”
“They are all dead.”
“X: If the Ja’ mar come across a dead Ma’nav they can still turn them into Ja’ mar. Only those who have lost their heads or had their brain destroyed are truly at peace.”
“OK. I’ll leave you to give peace to those Ma’nav who have died. Are you going with your Sh’anti or staying with us?”
“X: I will stay with you, for now.”
“If you stay, then you agree to do what Takobi or I say. Otherwise, you are on your own.”
“X: I will agree to this until you return and then will reconsider.”
“Deal. I’ll lie i
n one of the cages and travel to other worlds.”
“T: When you return, you must explain how you saw behind you and found the Ja’ mar. I also wish to know how you speak without moving your mouth.”
“As you wish.”
With that, Leah went to the cage she’d woken in, and after getting comfortable, she logged out.
38
December 25 2073 - Evening - Part 11
STORK TOWER
Gèng was waiting as Leah stepped into the Tower. Leah said, “Really, an entire world with steampunk zombies! What is Edison thinking?”
“4: He’s has been waiting for the right time to launch the addition to Pneumatica. There are several other worlds with steampunk zombie motifs, but they are aimed solely at that niche. Edison wants to provide something more of the general steampunk audience can interact with. There have been several quests with the opportunity to transition a player, or players, from Pneumatica into Grah, but no one has entered it until now. He wants to discuss the rights to some scenes from your feed. You’re internationally famous, and he’s sure you’ll bring in millions of players. With the competition from Dunyanin and Cosmos Online launching new products he’s hoping to jump on the wave.”
“How will it work? Is it a separate world?”
“4: Not really, I can’t say too much as he doesn’t want me to influence your play in any way. In the long run, people will be able to choose a species other than human, and they will be able to run several avatars. He’s hoping to launch before the new year. If you agree to him using your feed, he’ll arrange advertising in some of the pre-New-Year Specials.”
“It was more graphic than I’m used to.”
“4: Yes, when it goes live for new players, the game’s registration process is required to be explicit in how it shares the ratings for both gore and horror content.”
