Talk:Guns for Hire Amen

TUESDAY, JANUARY 4th, 2011
http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#360354
"Okay, before we do anything-you are clear that all twenty behind me, Sake, Hillevi, all the soldiers-all of them are duly invited by me, your master, unto the premises, and are to be obeyed in absence of conflicting orders from myself. This also means you cannot initiate any action upon them of your own volition-and if you have pre-existing orders that would conflict with this, tell me now." I... had forgotten how creepy his smile is.
>[Amen]"This one hears, and obeys."

As I step aside and motion for the others to come inside and make themselves comfortable, I take Amen aside.
"Good. I actually had... well, something of a laundry list of questions for you. I cannot help but notice that our direct method of communication is rather fast. Would it harm me to spend a significant amount of time each day talking to you in such a manner? Specifically for the purposes of learning things of either mundane or magical nature?"
>[Amen]"Indeed it would. Your internal ability to synchronize with the conventional flow of time would warp and distort, given sufficient communication, and would eventually lead to a rebound effect that meant grossly reduced speed of though and action alike."
Good thing I checked that.
"Can I learn blood magic without any bloodlines?"
>[Amen]"Were you a Wizard, you could. As that shall never be the case for master, this one believes it a moot point. No magic can be learned without a bloodline for the magic to be founded on-and neither of your bloodlines supports blood manipulation magic as it stands."
"Would the bloodlines I currently possess or am aiming at acquiring allow me to perform blood magic?" >[Amen]"Lurk, Border, Imbuing, Hurskainen-not a one you have thought of when communing with this one would in any way qualify master to learn Blood manipulation magic."
"List, in broad terms, your abilities and knowledge. Start with your most prominent abilities."
>[Amen]"Well, well well-this one is... possibly not as multifaceted as master seems inclined to believe. While it is true this one has not encountered any this one could call their equal or superior in the field of blood magic, all other fields of expertise prove to be the opposite-those better than this one exist. That said, this one is most confident in this one's Blood manipulating abilities, and next most prideful of this one's flesh manipulating abilities, all of which stem from this one's understanding of blood-which is rather divergent from normal Flesh manipulation. This one is versed in Shadow and Soul magic to a degree some would call expert-though this one is a specialist in specific applications of each field, rather than a generalist, as can be said of this one's blood magic. Beyond that this one is aware of and has dabbled in some few hundred other variants of magic, but this one has been explicitly ordered to never answer open-ended questions in totality by five different prior masters-so that is as far as this one can go 'in general'."
"Can you teach me anything about making charms, casting ritual magic, or making magical weapons?"
>[Amen]"This one is ignorant of enchanting, be it charms or weapons. However... despite master's lack of Blood manipulation magic, this one would still be able to teach several blood-based rituals that master may find useful. Perhaps master could name a specific function a ritual is desired for?"
"What would be the result if I ordered you to treat my soul shadow and/or my Kamaitachi in a Ramidreju soul brother as if they were also your masters"
>[Amen]"So long as this one calls you master, such orders would be inviolate."
"As soon as you are able to do so, without triggering a fail-safe or otherwise harming me, after any oath binding you to secrecy expires, inform me that the oath has expired along with a brief summary of the contents of the now expired oath"
>[Amen]"This one shall comply."
"You shall assemble and curate a library about magic and history in this mansion, to be accessible only to your master and those designated by your master. If you can make exact replicas of books written by authors other then yourself about these subjects, then you are to do so without changing those books except as I will soon explain. You should also write books on history and magical fields you are knowledgeable about. All books in the library, those you author, those you replicate, and those we acquire shall have no magical traps and shall carry warnings if merely learning their contents warps the mind or damages the reader in any way. Furthermore, those you author shall not attempt to manipulate the readers personality, mind, or decisions."
>[Amen]"This one shall do no such thing, for master, or any prospective master. Enough concurrent bindings expressly forbidding the transmission of information have rendered this one incapable of passing on information in any form save oral-even recordings of this one's voice lose any value as instructive instruments when played back, as a byproduct of these oaths."
"Amen, do you use Blood as fuel to your power? If we run out of blood reserves, will you be unable to perform?"
>[Amen]"While this one does require blood as 'fuel' as master intimated, this one is quite confident this one's reserves are sufficient such that no matter what master asks of this one, there will be no risk of this one running out."
"In broad terms tell me which matters concerning Savoy you can discuss. Tell me things that are useful to me. Do not take more than 20 minutes on this."
>[Amen]"Sadly, explicitly specific orders were given and an oath sealed that this one not answer general questions-likely, the only potential work around would be asking specific questions, but even then this one does not think master would learn much of substance."
"Do you know of any other devils? Less traditional ones who would deal with me?"
>[Amen]"None that would deal with master, no."
"What did Savoy pay for the arm?"
>[Amen]"Savoy paid his prospective firstborn son and inheritor of his Bloodline."
"Before, you said you knew of Savoy getting tutelage at Khubiliai's facility-Do you have more information on that?"
>[Amen]"None whatsoever. It was a stroke of luck this one found that information to begin with-and Savy, it seems, has clamped down hard on information."
"Do you know of the matron Witch of the Werewolves from Turkey?"
>[Amen]"There is no matron witch to the werewolves as a whole. If you speak of a matron to a specific clan, know that Smets did not allow me much in the way of seeking out information myself-and never chose to investigate the werewolf clans. There was no such which prior to Smets, but Ithis one could not speak for now. >"Regarding a past... theoretical conversation, if you had a master who was known for having extensive intelligence gathering ability, who would operate from a mansion, what are, by your opinion, the 3 most likely places where he would hold the documents concerning his intelligence activities?" >[Amen]"This one would think such an individual would specifically omit such information from a servant such as this one as a corollary to the distrust directed this one's way." "Amen, can you use memory grafting on me like Grigori did and implant new knowledge? For example other languages?" >[Amen]"Yes." " Would it harm me?" >[Amen]"Yes." "How much?" >[Amen]"By what metric are we measuring? On what scale is this one supposed to estimate prospective damages?" "And would the damage be permanent or could I recover from it without leaving any soul-scars or other wounds?" >[Amen]"The answer to that would seem based on what system you choose to have potential damages assessed on." "Now that I have opened all the chakra points and have directed them towards stealth, is there anything more that I can do to improve them? How far am I from reaching my maximum potential?" >[Amen]"There never was and never will be such a thing as a 'maximum' potential for a soul. Souls are ever-changing, and even if that change does not happen swiftly, that does not mean it does not occur. As to improving your chakras-this one suggests using them, if improvement is sought." "Is it possible for me to increase my attention-field? For example, encompassing a car that I am riding instead of just my own body? If it is, how? Can you teach me it or give me right direction?" >[Amen]"None this one knows of-attention and in general soul-sensing is a personal affair-doing it in lieu of someone else is... not something this one is familiar with." "How does one reconfigure chakras?" >[Amen]"This one is not sure why master asks that-master is in possession of a Spirit-manipulation magic based bloodline, making master's question the equivalent of 'how does one breathe?' "

Concerning Amen: -He is to take only the minimal amount of action needed to accomplish our orders as intended, and no other action. -At the end of the process, the only change in our state or that of anyone I direct him to work upon should be the one requested. -No damage or alteration should be done to them mind, body, or soul by the process. If the process cannot be accomplished without damage, pause and discuss what is necessary and why, and what is needed to mitigate any damage to an acceptable (i.e. can be rapidly healed) level and any alteration to a minimal (i.e. will not significantly impact our abilities, personality, or decisions) level. -The process should not alter one's personality in any way, nor influence us to take actions we would not have taken before except insofar as we have additional knowledge to draw upon. It should not make us more inclined to like, dislike, trust, or distrust any party, or otherwise change our views or inclinations towards others unless that was the explicitly stated goal of the alteration. -No information in our mind should be lost, destroyed, or altered by the process except that which is explicitly stated as in need of such change. -No information or alteration which would by its nature harm us in any fashion should be given to us. If information we have requested would be harmful in nature to us, pause and discuss what kind of information it is and the expected harm. -If at any point in the process we begin to take significant damage, either as an immediate part of the process or due to accumulated stress from the ongoing process, it is to be immediately stopped in a fashion which will cause us no further harm. -The information given should be as lasting as any real memory, and free of any restriction that would bind it to terminate when a similar aged natural memory did. -The duration required to transmit the information in the outlined fashion should be stated before the process begins, and transmission should not proceed without approval of that figure. -The process should leave the information with us in a form which does not bear significant signs of or influence by its origin in any way. -Prior to carrying out our orders, Amen should summarize in terms which we can easily understand all practical effects and side effects of the actions which he is about to take, and proceed only if given approval. The summary should require no more than five minutes and omit no points which we would consider significant. I smile after adding all of this to my existing rough orders with Amen regarding how to alter others-and invite the Russians to take me up on my offer of blood cleansing. Unsurprisingly Matvey is the first to step forward-and when the process is shown to be nothing more than amen touching a finger to a cuticle and pulling free an eyedropper's worth of blood, the rest quickly follow.

In one single minute, ever last one of them has had Jidkova's blood-and with it, Chugainov's ability to track them-excised from their body. The relief each of the soldiers feels is palpable.

So it is that, with Amen safer to use than ever before, I propose to him teaching me a few languages-Turkish, Mandarin, Italian and Japanese, specifically. He notes that he can teach me Italian and Turkish-but that his understanding of either of the other languages is out of date enough he suspects it to be unusable. I decide to let that be, and, after being assured that gaining the knowledge will comply with my presented orders to Amen-I am forcibly made aware of the Italian and Turkish languages, which, other than incurring a brief period where the language I think in fluctuates wildly, seems to have nothing irregular associated with it. When I start asking about learning other magics though, Amen cautions that repetitious memory implantation even performed by masterful craftsman carries a considerable risk-

So I choose to let that topic drop for now.

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#360885

I decide I'll be talking with Amen a bit more first-just reading off my list like that still left some... points of contention and interest. "Amen, if any of the prisoners you took still has his or her soul, and is currently under your control, move him or her to a secure location where he or she will not be found. Keep him or her alive until such a time as I require him or her. This relates to the devil I mentioned earlier. If no such prisoners meet that requirement, and if it is safe for you to tell me as per our previous conversation regarding these prisoners, tell me so." Amen stands still for a but a moment... that normal tidy smile not present. In but a moment the creature is bowing obsequiously to me, a respectful response springing to its lips. >[Amen]"This one hears... and obeys." And says nothing more. "Additionally, the next prisoner you take is to be held in isolation, and kept alive and comfortable. Strip him or her of any tools, weapons, or other artifacts mundane or magical, and then alert me before taking any further action beyond restraint and material goods deprivation." >[Amen]"Once, once once more, this one hears... and obeys." "I have new orders regarding orders from guests. Do not take aggressive action against any guest at the direction of another guest. If such an order is given, tell me and await further orders from me." >[Amen]"Understood." "Do not allow guests to steal from my accounts, my cash, my valuables, or any such that are associated with this estate. Beyond this restraint, guests should have their needs met through measures equal to that which a five star hotel would provide as complimentary items, were such a hotel stocked similarly to the household. If guests require items not available in the household or which are beyond the scope of what the rhetorical hotel would provide alert me to their requirements." >[Amen]"Then this one must note the house will require a great deal more body soap, shampoo, shaving accoutrements, towels, toilet paper, mouthwash, toothpaste and toothbrushes to start, as well as eleven additional televisions to allow each room one. Beyond that master would have to clarify which five star hotel's amenities this one is to be comparing against." >"Smug bastard." "That should suffice to start. Provide civilian clothes of appropriate fit and modern style to each of the guests who will be staying overnight, with the specific styles being chosen to make the wearer not stand out in an average crowd in Istanbul. Provide them with three changes of clothing for now, including underwear, socks, and a pair of sneakers. Provide each overnight guest with a formal outfit appropriate for a party tonight as well, including appropriate shoes and undergarments. Individualize the formal wear. Let me know if there are any complaints, and tell me what items we are low or out of which a guest could require and which would reasonably be provided as complimentary per the aforementioned rhetorical five star hotel model I established." >[Amen]"This one is to dip into the house stock of fabrication materials to provide aforementioned fitted clothing particulars? Elsewise this one might have to get creative in what the clothes are made of." "No, I think in this case you get permission to use whatever fabric Smets or others had stored here-but only insofar as to provide these clothes." >[Amen]"This one hears and obeys, obeys, obeys." "I... suppose that's all for now."

I decide to ask if anyone has an objection to picking up two languages instantly, and just becoming fluent overnight. Everyone thinks that's a fucking awesome idea. So it is we call Amen in, and I explain how that shit works-that I can have him just implant knowledge of English and Turkish into everyone's heads (omitting all the other wonderful things he can do) and all we have to do to keep it safe is give him specific enough orders he can't obey them and NOT make it safe. Pretty soon the military mindset conjoins with drunken greed and focus-nearly an hour passes as the Russians bombard Amen with questions about possible repercussions to the spellwork-all the while drinking even more. Finally even Creep is satisfied-and with a bark from Matvey, all finish downing their respective bottles and ask me to have Amen do its thing.

So it is that, on a drunken initiative, I made Hillevi and eighteen Russians fluent in English and Russian with the help of a Blood Construct made out of hate that is disturbingly helpful.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5th, 2011 I get up, not all that surprised I was sprawled naked on the master bed, mentally call for Amen, in my morning fugue asking not where my clothes were-but simply for some clothing. I turn to Amen in this moment before the others begin to wake, ever more questions coming to mind.

"Amen, can you tell me who the intruders were and if I ask can I tell you to stop doing to them whatever it is you are doing and decide their fate myself?" >[Amen]"No." "Could we have different kind of telepathic conversation which is harmless to me?" >[Amen]"Not without it being of equivalent speed to verbal communication and thus in no way superior from a magical standpoint, as it would be easily detected." "Those rituals you mentioned: I am interested in them. Tell me 5 most useful and interesting rituals which you can teach me" Amen's smile does NOT make me too pleased with thinking of that question. [TORTURE RITUAL GAINED] (Ritual fire) [INSANITY RITUAL GAINED] (Cast mind to Elder realm) [FAMILY CURSE RITUAL GAINED] (Generational death) [TORTURE RITUAL GAINED] (Ritual fear) [TORTURE RITUAL GAINED] (Unravel soul)

I refuse to let myself be daunted by the depravity of what Amen just so casually taught me. "Amen, what can you do with Jidkova's blood that could be useful to me?" >[Amen]"This one respectfully suggests a shorter answer would involve what this one could NOT do with the girl's blood." "Amen, if I provide you with written, audio and visual materials concerning the language learning could you learn new languages and update or improve the ones you know already? Could you then memory-graft them to me after you learn them?" >[Amen]"This one is... most restricted in how this one is allowed to view new information. This one cautions master about attempting to... teach this one." "Amen, I know that your powers are restricted to the area of this mansion but how far are you powers restricted in vertical axis? How deep and how far above can you exercise them? Can you make new floors upwards and/or new subterranean floors?" >[Amen]"Why yes, this one has no vertical restrictions-and yes, this one could craft more floors, rooms or basements, as desired."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#361116 "Amen?" >[Amen]"Yes master?" "Lead me to the sewers please." >[Amen]"Before this one complies this one must note the sewer access this house is outfitted with is... not friendly to mortals, and would thus be classified as harm to master. Sadly, it cannot be deactivated." Well, there goes my plan of 'sewering' to my destination. Does reinforce my plan to stay classily attired, though. "Amen, I need a Trenchcoat." Instead of even saying anything, a light tan thickly-mantled trenchcoat is dramatically flung over my shoulders, the empty sleeves hanging at my sides, the shoulders easily catching on my own, the jacket secure even as I walk. ...Damnit, how does Amen DO that? >"Even I don't want to ask."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#361939 Right-time for some speedy thought-Amen, I got orders for you. >[Amen]"Yes, yes yes?" Using an untraceable line, call the Turkish police and do what you must without in any way implicating me, my colleagues, yourself, or anyone related to any of us, to convince them that Blackbeard is in this building, it is rigged to explode, and that he is presumably baiting a trap. >[Amen]"This one is placing a call as this one communes further-was there more, master?" What kinds of magic could cause the types of sores I noted on corpses in this building? >[Amen]"Heartsores are charactaristic of blended Blood and Flesh manipulation magic-a way of claiming hearts blood and slaying a foe simultaneously." Could any other magics have caused it? >[Amen]"Several, but none nearly as efficient as what was just mentioned, nor as comparatively commonly in use." Any chance Blackbeard's weapons could have done it? >[Amen]"Slim to none, but with masters' senses this one cannot be certain." Last order for the moment: Communicate, again following the guidelines we've established on safe mental communication, the following to Matvey Baich: A message from Armas: Get men out of building immediately, and be prepared to fire upon a body coming out of the recently damaged sixth floor windows. Following that, be prepared to immediately vacate any roof-tops, as threat escalation suggests helicopters will be inbound. >[Amen]"..The words have been conveyed, and this one's connected with the police. The tip master desired shall be placed momentarily.

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#362157

Amen, call the Sometimes Merchant, ask him if he'd be capable of claiming known magical items-swords, specifically-from the wreckage of the insurance building. >[Amen]"This one is aware of the Wyld Goblins having no claim of jurisdiction in the undersewers-to this one's understanding they cannot act freely without... repercussion, save within their own layer of that which lies beneath Istanbul." How do you know he will not claim them? >[Amen]"Out of a collective twelve thousand, eight hundred ninety three seperate times this one has witness and/or taken part in deals with the wyld goblins, in Turkey or otherwise, they have without exception refused requests similar to this. A pattern seems suggested." Well shit then. What's Matvey say about the surface status? >[Amen]"That helicopters are visible, his men are off the rooftops, and he has retrieved those you had your Soul Brother transport out of the building." Ask them to start heading back to the house to regroup. >[Amen]"This one obeys."

..Say Amen, what's Hillevi doing? >[Amen]"Currently? Complying with Matvey and Sake's directions." ..Huh, was expecting her to be.. distraught at the whole 'building dropped on head' thing. >[Amen]"This one has seen no evidence she cares that much about master." >[Iron Trick]"Hah, BUURN, not as popular as you thought you were, are ya?

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#362523

Well, can't be going into this blind-just wouldn't do. Amen, you've seen what I've seen, heard what I've heard-what do you think these things are? >[Amen]"This one has several ideas. They could be scouting Dvergr-or perhaps Gitwerc, as it is this one's understanding the Germanic dwarves do hold some footing beneath this city. If they were such dwarves, befriending them would likely be impossible, as they do not take well to non-dwarven kind, except when one can treat with them from a position of clearly visible power. Of course, if these were Dunter or Hobgoblins, the other two possibilities this one deems probable, master would be advised to pursue diplomacy, considering the common traits shared with such entities, and their amenability to defining colleagues by profession, not birth."

>[Amen]"Master has orders for this one, one one?" Well for one I'll be arriving shortly with two supernatural guests who are to be afforded the same Guest status that the Russians, Hillevi and Hafaz, Hadar, Shaya, Yoni and Ahmed are afforded. >[Amen]"This one is to take that as implicit orders to extend such Guestright to the ones you named, in addition to the incumbent guests master brings?" That is correct. >[Amen]"Heard and obeyed." I... was going to ask about a mind overlay, but to do that you'd have to do something decidedly different from conventional communication right? Would something attuned to blood be able to detect the difference? >[Amen]"Given that this one is now quite certain master is indeed dealing with those called Dunter, Powries or most commonly Red Caps, the chances that they would NOT notice the distinction are less than the likelihood that they would notice it, given your proximity and lack of external, distracting stimuli for them beyond the few corpses." How... would Red Caps commonly take such a detection, or can you say with any certainty? >[Amen]"Commonly with precautionary termination of dialogue and immediate segue into slaughter and feasting to prevent impending issue-they can be quite cautious creatures, as a whole, despite their inexhaustible bloodlust." ...Well fuck THAT plan then-I'm not going to try the same trick as I did with Grigori if I'm likely to be detected, and the expected outcome is my death.

>[Amen]"Ah, this one sees master brought the aforementioned guests. Welcome to Master's manse, friend Red Capped Dunters of eternal youth."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#363187

Amen, know that unless I give explicit orders concerning it-which you can assume I did NOT with Ricky or Lucy here-otherwise, any nonmortal guests to my house are assumed any right to get services or answers from your for themselves. You are not to talk to those Red caps or magical being without my presence, nor to communicate with them mentally at all unless explicitly ordered to. You will still be restricted from any form of harm to them unless they break their bond as guest first. My veins throb at our proximity. >[Amen]"This one obeys."

"Amen, I need a new suit of equal quality but different make, and to be clean and presentable-expediency is key so long as no harm is incurred-or trauma." I see Amen smile, empty platters and flagons in hand. My skin feels as if it's being stretched in every direction possibly from every single point all at that same time, a complete tactile overload- Sensory normalcy returns me to...

A body devoid of grime, either my own blood and gore, or the dust and grit of the crashed building. Gone is the shredded, dilapidated burgundy suit. In it's place is a suit so sleekly black I almost question if it's even made of cloth not shadow, only reluctantly accepting Amen's assurances the attire is nonmagical.

"Amen, bring me whatever of my personal supply of magical meat you think would be most nourishing and replenishing to my depleted energies right now rendered in sandwich form-bring two, actually."

A door to my left opens-and Amen walks out, plate with two massive sandwiches secured with... bone toothpicks... on a flat platter. >[Amen]"As ordered, ordered, ordered. As this one found no Erinyes or Pheonix material, all remaining meats save the undead flesh were pooled for consumption." I'm drooling as the tangy smell of the stone ground mustard slathered over those massive, beastly sandwiches hits me.

Only one thing's missing. Amen, I'm going to need a coat...

I'll be honest: I don't really know what kind of fur it is that makes up my mid-calf-length dark greenish brown fur coat that Sake so happily snuggles into once I don it to become a suspiciously natural looking collar about my neck, and frankly I'm not sure I want to ask.

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#363362

Amen tell my present Guests that they may be expecting police at the residence soon, so all should change their attire, and to be discrete if confronted. Further, I need you to not capture a police officer, or harm one, or do anything to them beyond using whatever legal right you have to refuse them entrance and without implicating myself or my guests. No kidnapping or slaying law officers without my explicit orders otherwise, is that understood? >[Amen]"...This one hears and obeys."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#363488

Amen, I need you to speak to Hillevi, and explain to her that I'm currently on scene for a rather lethally high-level magical gang fight soon-call it competing magic clans if that doesn't make sense to her-and then inform her she can come participate if she wishes. I also need you to speak with Sometimes Merchant, and see what it would cost to guide Hillevi through the sewers to the nearest access point to the docks one time. >[Amen]"This one can comment on the latter a priori to the former: The goblin would desire a single free secret from you-guide services are an old tradition of theirs, and how they first interacted with mortals of the city above." A single secret? What makes it a secret? >[Amen]"It must be information someone other than master wants to not be spread, that the goblin does not already know. What it is beyond that is inconsequential to the deal." Well since you know that much, do you know how long it will take her to get here via the sewers? >[Amen]"This one assumes that, were master's ward to be... expedient... she could make it in less then ten minutes." Then do communicate that if she IS interested she'd best hurry, and assist her in acquiring such guidance as we just discussed in my name, such that I pay the secret to the merchant at our next conversation. >[Amen]"This one understands, and obeys, obeys-obeys." >"Ask him if he knows why the goblin shadowmasters said they can only teach me in the sewers." What, you never told me- >"More important things at the time-but ask." Amen, do you know why the goblins can't train in shadowmagic outside of the sewers? >[Amen]"Magic tied to their blood and souls, to be properly imparted, must be shared in a nexus of strength-such as one's home, or land." Interesting-do you know enough about Goblinic shadowmagic to know if it'd allow my shadow to survive my death >[Amen]"This one has personally observed Turkish Wyld Goblin shadows persist and flee their owner's deaths, so this one would assume so." Well... I guess I should start doing things so Amen has time to verbalize that to Hillevi.

>[Amen]"This one informs master that Hillevi accepted the offer, and wonders if there's anything you need her to bring." Ah-tell her to come as heavily armed as she feels comfortable.

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#366521

Amen, I want you to build a new subterranean living environs-two bedroom, one bath, a kitchen and a dining room, and make it accessible from both the sewers and under sewers. >[Amen]"This one inquires if there are any auxiliary prerogatives this one must follow when constructing such a thing." Yeah, if you know what motif or themes Red Caps like-or even if there is a general theme Red Caps like so far as decoration goes-then style it that way. >[Amen]"This one can comply... to a point. This one has no permission to erase existent Wyld Goblin territory to create a connection down to the undersewers." ...Alright, we can leave that out for now-so you can satisfy all other aspects of my request concerning this construction? >[Amen]"Barring there being contextual modifiers this one is not aware of at this time but will become aware of during the course of the endeavor, yes." Okay, I also want you to construct a wind tunnel- >[Amen]"This one cannot create or alter objects/machinery that directly manipulates wind, resonant frequencies, the internet, super cooled fluids, molten metal and/or living flora, per prior master's bindings. This one supposes one versed in Soul Binding could potentially remove specific bindings from this one-which could erase this restriction." ...Why? >[Amen]"Prior masters professed... dissatisfaction with services rendered in each of the mentioned fields prior to placing the new rule upon this one." What did you do? >[Amen]"As it happens, each following master, on asking that question, forbade this one from ever explaining the event again. As of this moment, none of the aforementioned restrictions is considered a viable topic relative to how I am bound." ...What did Smets restrict you from? >[Amen]"Nothing-the prior master mentioned chose to not ask this one to ever construct anything, after hearing of the most recent event." Which category did that most recent event fall under? >[Amen]"Interaction with / manipulation of the collective information repository known as the internet." ....I don't know which urge is greater: The urge to never, ever ever find out what he did-or the burning urge to know and damn the consequences. For now, I don't have to figure that out-as I transition to a different topic.

"My apologies on crashing your room, just passing through-Amen!" >[Amen]"Yes, master?" The Russian who's name continues to escape me doesn't even jump when Amen's suddenly... there, as if he was always in the room and merely reminded us of his presence. "I'll need to you dispose of my current attire-store the sanguine excretions in the cellars with the rest of the stored blood until I ask for it-I'll need a new suit-"

"What storage medium do we have that would most ably preserve the remaining energy in these fragments?" >[Amen]"Master's familial stone weapon? Hm, hm hmm... this one is reasonably certain anywhere in this room would suffice, as the entire room is designed to act as a large scale, passive seal to prevent magical transmission through its walls. There is nowhere else here that can surpass what this room offers, relative to master's current needs." "All right then." I carefully lay out the mere's handle and each of the shards on top of a small end table, likewise placing the reaper charm set and gun parts next to it. "Don't let anyone, including yourself, touch or otherwise interact with any of these items beyond nonphysical observation. If someone does not wish to comply, call me and I'll give you further instructions." >[Amen]"Of course." "The blood from these rags and the soul that was added to my eye today-I wish both to be stored here, in this room, with the charm set. Do we have any reliquaries, phylacteries or spiritual wells that could make this happen?" >[Amen]"If this one can direct master's attention this way-" I glance to my right-and see the once-bloodstained rags now spotless, a delicate glass vial with silver lines traced over it's surface now sitting next to the charms, alongside.... what looks vaguely like an overlarge chrysalis half the size of my palm. Now that I look at it, I can perceive the soul I claimed less than an hour ago dimly flitting about within. ...Damn, but Amen can be sly enacting things. >[Amen]"This one will need to know how master wants to be garbed."

My phone's midway to my ear after having hit SM's speed dial when I realize I'm naked and completely clean. ...I was fully clothed FIVE seconds ago, and Amen hasn't touched me. No, you know what, not even giving him the satisfaction of reacting to that.

"I'm thinking an undershirt and briefs/shorts combo that can double as workout or sparring attire, under a white suit. Throw some of the good old orange in too, and some striping wouldn't hurt, I think." >[Amen]"This one endeavors to satisfy-how is this?" The clothes Amen provides are rather interesting. What appear to be albino crocodile leather shoes cover my feet, with a white silk suit weighed down with cloth-of-silver vertical striping is left unbuttoned, a minimally ruffled cloth-of-gold shit sits beneath a brilliantly neon solid orange bow tie. I belatedly realize the bow tie's center... has a smiley face on it.

....It's perfect. "It will do. The blood's stored?" >[Amen]"As requested." "And can you do something with the Reaper charms?" >[Amen]"The charms master brought? What specifically is it this one is to 'do'?" ...I hadn't actually thought that through. "I'll mull it over. Until later."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#366807

>[Ito]"...Fine, then answer this: did this 'thing' open chakras with only your energy, or with some of it's own it stuck in you?" "I'm guessing that's relevant to how you assess it." >[Ito]"Indeed." Amen, did the action you took concerning my chakras qualify by Ito's standards? >[Amen]"No, this one invested no energy in master to elicit changes, this one used it's blood in master to convince master's bodies to open the chakras itself."

"Okay Amen, you know what food stuffs there are in the pantry. You know what foodstuffs I personally have left. You even know what recipes I have translated from the goblin cookbook. So what recipes can we make with what's on hand?" >[Amen]"This one knows of two recipes that could be followed: A light appetizer, a salad mixed with strips of roasted harpy and a blood-derived vinaigrette, which the book titled 'The Happy Harpy', and a heavy entree, hag liver over a bed of rice fried with slices of mandragora titled 'Screaming Liver'. Which of the two would master desire ingredients for?"

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#367682

So it is that I pose a question in Te Reo, having to take my time as I properly structure the sentence in the disused tongue.

"Are you capable of providing charms that are... self-contained, and do not harm the wearer?" >[Amen]"This one is." "Charms which, ah, obscure the identity of the wearer by making the wearer appear to be a specific person, and which operate on a... limited, duration? " >[Amen]"Yes." " And can said charms be designed to be... ah.... deniable... items, themselves untraceable should they be captured?" >[Amen]"This one is capable of such." "Good. Please ask Sake to come in here." But first I want you to verbally tell me, in Te Reo, what you can observe of my chakra's current alignment. >[Amen]"This one is not certain the question is understood-master's chakras are not aligned to anything, and as such cannot be observed relative to a non-existent alignment."

"Amen, another question for you: Are either of these courses unhealthy for a mundane human?" >[Amen]"This one is aware of no such association, but this one cannot access recorded information much anymore." Well that just fills me with confidence. Still, I didn't see any warnings in the recipe, and I had my first such meal when I was... pretty normal... mostly. Should be fine. I switch back to Te Reo. "[i I also need an inventory, insofar as you can explain without risk to me, of the magical meat and blood in the stores that the Redcaps can eat without harm and would enjoy. Do we have enough that we could serve the equivalent in magical energy to myself after making four servings of each of the courses that have just been proposed?[/i]" >[Amen]"To the second question, this one is certain such nutritional needs could be met-but this one is required to caution master the first time master requests an inventory of... the celler. Prior masters had conflicting orders regarding its design, and the orders had to be followed. Space is bent, warped there-an answer no longer can be understood by a mind with any sanity, this one is sad to say." ...Okay then. "Get Matvey, please." >[Amen]"This one obeys."

Amen, did you move Silja's vessel into the kitchen? >[Amen]"This one undertook no such action." Do you know who did? >[Amen]"This one is aware of no individual responsible for moving the rifle." ...You don't know who moved it within this house? I thought this was your go-to domain. >[Amen]"This one must acknowledge master as correct: All the same, this one knows of no one that could be named culprit for the action."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#368350

The moment I set foot within the house I speak in Te Reo. "Amen, have you finished the new accommodations I requested? Answer this and the following questions in Te Reo." >[Amen]"This one has performed that task, master." This time I avoid even blinking as Amen is abruptly there, mere feet from my side. "Good, good-and how much total blood do you have on hand in this house?" >[Amen]"What unit of measurement would master prefer to employ?" "Since it seems thematically appropriate particularly with how the prior master likely viewed such reserves-how about by the barrel?" >[Amen]"There are multiple variants of 'barrel' as a unit of measurement-" "A fifty gallon barrel, then." >[Amen]"Then This one must note a total of eighteen thousand, four hundred twelve barrels worth in this one's care, rounding down. " Holy crap that's a lot of blood. "How many independent donors?" >[Amen]"All said and done, blood from one one hundred thirty three thousand, nine hundred eighty two individuals have been noted in the reserves." Again, holy crap. "How many of those individuals are currently alive?" >[Amen]"Less than two hundred, the specific number being uncertain due to some of the living taking occlusion-based countermeasures to ensure privacy." "How much of the blood is from non-human sources, and what are the predominant inhuman sources?" >[Amen]"An appreciable fraction of the total blood is inhuman-it's primarily Shellycoat, Imp, Sahaguin and Sprite blood. This one must note the most magically charged of the blood, the top 2%, as it were, is all harvested from humans." "So how much of the blood is from Practitioners?" >[Amen]"Eight percent of the total human blood." "How much of that practitioner blood is Winter aspected, and able to influence my still incomplete bloodline?" >[Amen]"A tenth of the practitioner blood." >>368266 I rub my chin as Hillevi rather comically begins to pout at me immediately gibbering away in a language she doesn't understand the moment I walk in the door, the day after I 'helped' her triple the number of languages she speaks. Her irritation is candy to me. " Without giving me a complete inventory, bring to me a quantity of non-human meat from the house reserves that contains thrice the magical energy contained within my own body, selected so that it has no chance of aspecting the third component of my winter bloodline node, is no more than three times as energy dense as myself, and would have no more side effects to the Redcaps or I than Kelpie Crisps could have or me." >[Amen]"Stringent requirements, but this one can-" "I'm not finished. It may not contain any of your own blood, flesh, magic, or its workings. This meat cannot be of any being that if it were known we were eating would result in comment being made or action taken within the supernatural community, or would offend the Redcaps in any way, or is one of the intruders we have ordered to be taken captive pending orders deciding their fate.” Something that looks dangerously close to a mocking frown flits across Amen's face. >[Amen]"Then master's request cannot be honored, as nothing meets all the criteria master presented. This one is most apologetic about this. Perhaps master would wish to allow this one to use its own flesh, or perhaps allow abominable consumables?" That small smirk on it's face belies Amen's words. I rub my chin as I consider what to do from here. "If the 'thrice the magical energy' portion of that request was dropped, how would the most magically imbued foodstuffs stack up against my own body's magical imbuements?" >[Amen]"The best this one could offer would vary between one third and two fifths of master's magical energy, depending on the particular section of meat used. This one notes some seventy pounds of this particular meat is within the house's larder." That.... that's crap. >[Iron Trick]"Are you truly so spoiled, so self-assured of your entitlement, that you are disappointed with all the, from your perspective at least, free goodies? Impressive, that." I ignore Trick's comment as I try to stay productive in my conversation. " Give me a list of Winter or Summer bloodlines that you have samples of. In addition, do you have any Redcap blood or flesh?" >[Amen]"This one does have the flesh of Dunters within the house stock-as to bloodlines, this one possesses varients of summer aspected heat manipulation, and winter aspected ice and wind manipulation. No blood within either stock is from a compounded line, or indeed from an established family that is still active." Which likely translates to 'worthless insofar as filling my winter slot' goes. Not really surprised there, that would have been.... disturbingly easy. " This morning I encountered a couple of entities described as Ashfreaks. Can you tell me what they are most commonly known as in the supernatural community, as well as any pertinent information you possess that will not harm me.” >[Amen]"...Ash freaks? This one is not familiar with the term." "Okay, maybe you don't know the name, but the whole 'sores over the hearts of victims, creatures of what looked like physical shadow' that has to ring some bells doesn't it?" >[Amen]"This one must regrettably inform master it is entirely ignorant of the existence of such creatures's existence, and as an extension of that, their capabilities and inclination." I'd find that easier to accept if Amen didn't look so damnably smug.

"Amen, if you exclude all foods and bloods that I could personally benefit from the consumption of, how much of the top five percent of flesh and blood, respectively, is available for serving to the Red Caps?" >[Amen]"This one must request clarity on 'benefit' to master." "Consumables that would positively contribute to me beyond the flat magical energy they carry." >[Amen]"This one must admit to having some two hundred eighty pounds of meat, and thirty two barrels of blood that meet master's presented criteria." "In your experience, how much of a Red Cap's appetite is oriented around blood, versus flesh-or is that somethign you can approximate?" >[Amen]"This request can most certainly be met. Red Caps derive roughly ninety percent of their sustenance from blood, via osmosis through their 'hats'" Thirty two barrels, that'd be sixteen hundred gallons... okay, maybe I'll serve only half of the meat to start-keep the ratio in line, and serve more if they ask. I'm already resigning myself to the fact I'll have to host them multiple times as I don't have anything 'safe' to offer that could pay off my debt in one meal. "Then prepare all thirty two barrels within the room for easy tapping, and have the meats on hand and ready to serve. I'd also-" >[Amen]"This one must note the guests in question have arrived at our lower entrance-shall I let them in?" Already? It's only... six forty two. The sun's largely set, so I can't complain about them being early... "Convey a message you'll be at the entryway to let them in shortly-first, move the food as requested, and guide me to the new accommodations." Amen bows before beginning to walk. As I follow him, I call out to Hillevi in Finnish.

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#368663 THURSDAY, JANUARY 6th, 2011

"Mra, *bleck* Amen!" >[Amen]"Yes master?" "Who is making that noise? And why are you still dressed in that suit? It's rad, but you haven't changed clothes since I've come back." >[Amen]"This one was told to wear this attire, and given no directive to change." "...Huh. So what's making that noise?" >[Amen]"Boris-he has restless leg syndrome, and is decidedly... regular in his manifestation." ...Alright then.

...Something resurfaces in my mind, and I call Amen without delay. I dimly note the thumping to have stopped some time ago. >[Amen]"Master?" "You still have that blood presumed from the individual called Blackbeard, correct?" >[Amen]"This one does." "I want you to attempt to locate, and kill or incapacitate him." >[Amen]"This one is entirely blocked from manipulating this blood's owner, interestingly. It is a magical method this one is curiously not familiar with." "Not even locate him?" >[Amen]"This one assures master that, so far as blood goes, this no longer has any connection to the one that shed it-perhaps it never had it would be more appropriate. This one would be most curious to see more samples, as it were."

I speak in Te Reo. "Amen" >[Amen]"Yes, yes yes?" "As you know, I can detect the attention that people pay to me using senses inherent to my soul, and I have observed a mundane human use such senses to be able to determine someone's posture and actions without being able to physically see them. List all the various latent spiritual senses that mundane humans can detect." >[Amen]"...None. Mundane humans cannot detect latent spiritual senses." ”In the same terms as you described your own abilities, tell me what you currently knows about which styles of magic my bloodlines currently support, and what each of the alternatives for the third aspect of our winter bloodline would enable me to support.” >[Amen]"Firstly, this one must inform master that if master continues to slur, irrelevant of intoxication this one will be required to not take orders for a minimum of one hour. Secondly, this one is not certain the question is understood: Master's Summer line is flesh manipulation, master's winter line is soul manipulation-that is that. Or did master mean internal versus external? Master must know the winter line affects both, while the summer line's internalized only." I roll my tongue about in my mouth, wishing I wasn't butchering my questions with ill-practiced Te Reo. “You mentioned earlier that soul manipulation abilities should make aligning chakra like breathing, but, as pearl divers demonstrate, there's breathing and breathing. Give the top advantages and disadvantages that you expect a Shaolin chakra master would consider my winter bloodline to give. I am also interested in any interactions between my summer bloodline and chakra use, so if you can describe any potential synergies, and their downsides you are aware of between them, or between the paired use of my bloodline and chakra, tell me now, unless the knowledge would harm me.” >[Amen]"This one must answer the latter first: Master has already been harmed by that knowledge. Opposed courts cannot mix-and master's chakras are now part of master's Winter Line. There is no arbitrary wiggle room within this-it is inviolate magical law. To master's former demand, this one would assume the 'restore to life on death' the most important part of the bloodline." "You know I meant in regards to my chakras." >[Amen]"This one knows no such thing. This one has been forbidden from reading implicit meaning from orders-so there is nothing that can be done. Master must be clear on what is desired to attain it. Though in regards to master's chakras, they are simply larger and connected to more power than chakras normally are, as most bloodline users do not both overmuch with chakra use. Ultimately, things a chakra master would already be expected to have."

...I probably should have thought those questions through better. Or worked on my phrasing. Or something. On the plus side, only Amen knows it. "Don't mention this conversation to anyone for any reason without my personal, explicit permission to do so." >[Amen]"Understood."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#369498

Amen? >[Amen]"This one is listening." You recall the wording I used on how to safely store prisoners unharmed, mind body or soul? >[Amen]"This one recalls directives such as those." Those now apply to all intruders. >[Amen]"...This one hears and obeys."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#369638

"Amen, do you have any titles amongst the Red Cap population?" >[Amen]"Some that this one recalls, yes. This one recalls being titled Athair Fola several times, as well as Comhlacht Weaver. This one was also briefly called Ollphéist Ifreann." Huh. "Oh yes, and from now on, you must get explicit permission from me to make any deals with any parties from here on out." I feel... something, briefly radiate from Amen. >[Amen]"This one hears and obeys."

"Fine. Oh-Amen? Can you provide Sake with a slowed down view of Ricky's movements, again without incurring any harm?" >[Amen]"This one can." "Do so then. Let me know if you figure anything out, Sake." I have Amen bring me the Punt gun, and run my magic senses over it. ....Well, I'm already certain there's no way I can use this: The gun seems to convert recoil into direct physical harm to the user's body-and it generates ammunition from pulling iron from the user's blood. That's... just not going to work for a human to use. Sure, fires a hornet's nest worth of massive metal spikes-but still.

Continuing to keep my phone in hand, I ask Amen a few more questions as I stretch, pleased I'm already feeling fresh(er) from the beating I took earlier. "Are you familiar with Hafaz' fighting style, Gyaketsuote?" >[Amen]"This one had not heard of it before, but has now observed it's use, and feels moderately familiar with it's function. Why?" "Could my brothers use it?" >[Amen]"Master's brothers should not be able to. It's restricted to working with a human body as an origin point, so far as this one sees. Perhaps your shadow soul could use it within the Dark, but not in the physical realm." "So, no way you can think of they could assist me in it's use?" >[Amen]"Short of harmonizing all three of your souls so you could benefit from their conjoined will boosting your bluff, no." "I see. Give me the list of all the magical items you can detect, are aware of, or any information you can access suggests is within your sphere of influence that the direct knowledge of won't hurt me. Tell we how many magical items fall into the latter category." >[Amen]"Per existing orders, this one must seek clarity: Would this list except magic items master is already aware of?" "Yes." >[Amen]"Then there are none. This one notes this one's prior master was fond of acquiring such items only for the purposes of selling them, with the exception of the collection master already sold off to the goblins."

"Amen, when I give the command, you are to answer the goddess Whaitiri's questions. You should base your responses on any knowledge or skill that you can access within your sphere of influence save mine or my guests' minds, and you cannot perform any experiments or otherwise act to gain new knowledge. You are to do nothing save impart information, which itself can have no intrinsic ability to harm the listener or distort their decision making abilities." >[Amen]"This one is incapable of Worship or Belief generation: How is this one to contact Whaitiri?" SB? >"I'll give him permission to use my shadowmere as a conduit-I'll handle the wording, just tell him." "My brother will handle the method of contact. Now is my order understood?" >[Amen]"Completely." >"..And we're ready on this end." "Then Amen, I command you to answer Whaitiri's questions as I outlined." >[Amen]"This one shall obey." >"..Yeah, she's liking the sound of this. Well, this should keep me busy, acting as middle man."

...With no further call, I get Amen in the room to answer a few more questions as midnight approaches. "Amen, I've been wondering: Can you teach me how to make charms?" >[Amen]"Regrettably, this one has been explicitly ordered to not instruct any individual, even a master, in how to craft any form of magical item. This one is still capable of crafting such items itself, but this one's work cannot persist outside of the house grounds without an order otherwise from master." Damn. That.... that kind of kills my line of questioning, since all of it was based off the assumption he could teach me. ...Something feels a bit off here, but that could easily just be me being tired.

"Okay-back to those Illusion charms you mentioned you could craft. Do the charms mimic the appearance of specific people?" >[Amen]"They do." "Do you have blood in the house' stock that is not derived from a known criminal, celebrity, or anyone who has been alive within the last... century?" >[Amen]"This one does not." "Fifty years then?" >[Amen]"This one could honor such a requested crafting restriction as those dead at least fifty years, lacking a known criminal background and lacking any celebrity status." "Good. Whenever you do make the charms, only use blood fitting this criteria." >[Amen]"This one obeys." "Next, do the charms carry any risk of harming the wearer in any way?" >[Amen]"Only if the user's body contained less spiritual potential than that contained within the drops of blood contributed to the charm." "Will that be an issue if you are restricted to non-magical blood?" >[Amen]"No." "Can the charms defeat electronic surveillance?" >[Amen]"No. Further, this one knows of no illusory magics that can best such technical safeguards." "So for these charms, what resources are required?" >[Amen]"The blood of the face desired. The blood of the one that shall own the charm. Two ounces of gold, one quarter ounce palladium, and one foxes fang, per charm. These ingredients will need to be acquired, as the house stock does not have them."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#369948 FRIDAY, JANUARY 7th, 2011

Amen, about those charms you can make-does the illusion only affect sight? >[Amen]"More accurately, the charms affect one's perception of the individual on a conceptual level. A mimetic virus of sorts, if that helps master understand." Does it affect clothing too, or just the body? >[Amen]"Only the body itself-inclusive of tattoos and wounds, but not of jewelry or the like." Can they be built and then just await the drop of blood to activat? >[Amen]"This one notes their activation cannot be delayed once the construction process has begun without breaking the charm's spell matrices." Do the charms have a magic 'charge' and when empty need to be recharged? >[Amen]"This one supposes a physical charm shell could be re-used some three times at the most-but, but but this one also must note that the charms, once over-recharged will crumble into entropic ash, useless for any function at all." How are they recharged? >[Amen]"The same way they are initially activated: With blood, just as before." If they burn out, how long does that take? >[Amen]"This one would estimate a charm's functional range varying between a week to two months, depending on the sanguine qualities of the core magicks." Hm. Thank you Amen. >[Amen]"...."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#370843

Soon enough we're at the Mansion-where Amen stops us at the door. >[Amen]"This one must note the one accompanying master should not be allowed to enter without being... corrected." "What now? What's wrong with him?" >[Amen]"Elder things are not allowed within the household-that includes what this one detects in master's friend's skull. This one knows them dangerous, and offers to-" >[Einrik][In English]"So... you're 'Amen', huh? That's cute, thinking I'll let you do anything to me." >[Amen]"Master, this one begs that master assists master's friend in reconsidering for his own safety-" >[Einrik][In English]"I'd rather turn around, go back to Finland, miss out on seeing my sister AND break my given word to aid Armas than let you so much as touch me." "You heard the man Amen-let him in and leave him unmolested and unaltered. That includes his skull friend." >[Amen]"Master is making a mistake-" >[Einrik][In English]"Yeah, you can do misleading commentary some other time. No patience for that from something like you." "Pretty sure I gave you an order, Amen."

Amen says nothing-and steps aside.

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#371495

I speak to Amen in Te Reo. "Amen, I order you to tell me in complete honesty whether you're capable of lying when you have not been specifically ordered to tell the truth." >[Amen]"This one is indeed capable of such. This one also observes no prior masters restricted this one to blanket honesty-and wonders if master has any idea why that might be." ...Yeah, not giving him any standing truthfulness orders until I can get some... security.

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#372283

Amen, can you detect radiation? >[Amen]"This one can, master, master master." Okay-and the battery that is part of the reaper gun bits I have-is it radioactive? >[Amen]"Indeed it is." Shiiitokay, how radioactive is it-and I command you to answer me truthfully. >[Amen]"The energy storing device master references emits point zero two three gray units per hour."

So-truthfully could the Doonongaes pierce the illusion of the charm you said you could offer me? >[Amen]"That would be most impossible-this one knows of no Doonongaes competent in actual spelldetection, rather than skilled at enhanced mundane perception." Okay, another check-be honest, are we ready, offer wise, for the Finnish devil? >[Amen]"A suitable substitution is available and being kept in good condition." Okay-another thing. Two things, actually: One, I order you to honestly tell me if you have lied to me. >[Amen]"This one has. This one also notes it quite interesting this one's already bound to not divulge truthful information in the general, but only the individual and specific-that is, any attempt to gain mass clarity would bring an order into direct conflict with past bindings." ...Ah-huh. Also-the book I came home with-is there any way you can detect the tome capable of harming someone? If you detect any such spellwork, I order you to truthfully report it to me. >[Amen]"The tome's focus does seem based on decay magic-but there is no evidence of it possessing the ability to perform automated magic, or otherwise alter a reader." So-book should be safe for Jagda to look at-good. Alright-oh, and Amen-Other than Camella, have my guests invited any other new guests? >[Amen]"No, this one has accepted no other new guests." Okay-new rule: Any attempts by guests of this house to invite further guests must get approved by me before it will be recognized. >[Amen]"This one will see to it such a rule is enforced." Ah-and I order you to destroy all the material I expelled with my most recent chakra experimentation, in such a manner no being would be able to acquire or use the material against me. >[Amen]"This one hears and obeys."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#372979

Amen, you couldn't name the devil that Savoy traded his first born to before-fine, so now I order you to truthfully give me a moniker the devil might be identified by. >[Amen]"This one notes the devil in question was sometimes known in the mortal tongue as 'Thirster for Envious Plots and Betrayals'. The name should be semi-unique to it. Right-so, also that the devil went by T.E.P.B. Okay. Next...

Hey Amen, you still have Jidkova's blood right? And I order you to answer honestly. >[Amen]"This one does."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#373239 "Amen, repair my clothing." There is a.. breeze that travels over my whole body. >[Amen]"Done."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#375111 MONDAY, JANUARY 10th, 2011 "Amen." >[Amen]"Yes Master?" "I have some orders I need to give you, and I order you to not allow anyone save you, myself and my brothers Sake and SB to learn of these orders or events associated with them, save the-" >[Amen]"This one must automatically reject master's initial order, on the grounds it cannot be meaningfully complied with-this one cannot prevent master from revealing the secrets himself without explicit orders otherwise, and similarly cannot prevent information leakage outside of the house grounds. There is no way this one can look at a request for secrecy where the largest threats are ones this one is equipped to deal with." Are you saying that just because you couldn't enforce such secrecy universally you will not attempt it? >[Amen]"Not at all: This one is merely saying it cannot in any form be pressed into secrecy save that which entails only action on this one's own part: any attempt at secrecy that even implicitly relies upon the actions of others is not an order this one can follow." "I order you to be truthful-is there a past order necessitating this?" >[Amen]"There is indeed." I sigh as I rub my chin in the early morning, idly wondering if I should shave as I note the ever-growing itching sensation that coats my jawline.

"Fine. Then all of the following orders are to never be brought up, mentioned or referenced by you without my explicit permission-got it?" >[Amen]"And what are the orders master wishes handled discreetly?" "If-" [Interrupted by Shadowbro]

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#375170 In the end, the two of us happily conclude our hectic, room destroying bout-I order Amen to restore the place to working order and repair my suit-and get back to my day.

Specifically, to dealing with an outstanding problem with a brainwave I just had. >"I opened this communication channel reflexively: on proper inspection, I can't actually find any flaw in what you plan. ...Proceed." I speak in Te Reo. "Amen: I order you to completely prevent anyone but you or I from percieving the order I am about to give you following this one." Appearing without a whisper at my side- >[Amen]"This one has so secluded the exchange to come: What is the subsequent order master gives?" "Amen, I order you to personally redefine 'death' with respect to me, and only me, so that I am so classified only upon the complete and permanent destruction of my soul." Amen stands there for a moment, pale fleshed face unreadable before offering a decidedly more muted than normal response. >[Amen]"This one is bound to follow such a ruleset, and continue to define master as master so long as master retains possession of Sisuthros' blood and master's soul still exists." ...Okay. Now to double check this: "Amen, I order you to truthfully tell me what conditions would need to be met for you to be freed from servitude." >[Amen]"This one could be so freed by being commanded free by a master, or by having it's current master lose possession of the right to command bound within Sisuthros' blood, or by this one's current master's soul being destroyed. Beyond that, no such method to this one's freedom exists." ...Sounds pretty good to me. Nice.

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#375485

All right-Amen, is this the same devil that I met before on the mountains of Spain? I order you to answer me truthfully. >[Amen]"This one must note it a different Devil to the one master recollects." That.....

Wait really? >[Amen]"Really, really-indeed, really, master."

Once more the doorbell rings-and I have Amen open it.

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#375797 TUESDAY, JANUARY 11th, 2011

Next-I ask Amen a question that has an answer I didn't quite expect. Q: Does my mental shielding charm make mass information download-such as new languages, new martial styles, and the like-safer to take in a similar manner to how it protects from general accelerated thought? A: Actually no-it seems I'd have to 'discuss' my way through the information in a massive deluge of tiny bite-sized snippets, which would be an immense pain in the ass. Honestly, I think I'd rather just space out my memory downloads and look for ways to use internal soul manipulation to smooth out problems, than 'talk it out'.

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#376358 >[Rocco]"Was it.... necessary, to come dressed like that?" There's a... small chance that he's talking about the fact that I had Amen whip up some matching uniforms for all of us. Specifically-Nazi heer uniforms, differing only in that everyone's helmet sports an almost comical metal spike. Given Amen made the uniforms by deconstructing the Russian's body armor and my flak armor and supplementing them with things I probably shouldn't ask about made us all kevlar uniforms with a surprising amount of pliability. I have one last moment of doubt as I re-double-check: Yes, I made sure to order him to tell the truth, and had him confirm the attire would work like full body small arms and limited longarms ablating armor. "What? I did tell you we'd be wearing counter-intelligence camoflage."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#376668

[ FANART BONUSES: Armas downloaded fluency in German from Amen AND plans are merged rather than a single selected ]

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#377496 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12th, 2011

"Amen, the bodies Camella brought and turned over to you-I order you to truthfully tell me their status." >[Amen]"My my, my-this one has placed the deceased in a static environment to prevent decay and has made no efforts to interact with it-nor is it this one's intent to do so in the future without receiving an order otherwise. The living one has been thawed, more properly chained-and is proving rebellious to this one's efforts to keep it alive. For the moment, it still lives-but this one doubts it would survive leaving the mansion. Even so, it is still quite injured-it's nature makes healing it... problematic." I frown. "I ordered you not to accept orders from guests without seeking my approval." >[Amen]"This one knows of that order, and obeyed it-rather, this one simply restrained and kept alive an intruder brought onto the grounds by a guest, and enforced pre-existing rules regarding what to do with corpses brought into the house." Hm. ...Well okay then.

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#377991

" Amen if the information you provide to answer the next five questions is truthful and complete you may consider the order to be wearing the orange suit the next time I see you to be amended to be 'I expect you to be wearing one of the clothing options you were allowed to wear by the master immediately before me.' >[Amen]"This one understands" "That said, would it be cheaper energy-wise to put the captured Nazi construct into stasis storage like the dead one?" >[Amen]"No. Life and souls alike do not mesh well with the form of stasis this one is most familiar with." "And would doing so alter it significantly over the course of several real-time days?" >[Amen]"No, it would not." "Can you identify the corrosive liquid the nazi constructs were using?" >[Amen]"This one cannot identify the material-and so this one can indirectly identify it as being Elder-derived. Beyond that, this one cannot say." "Is it poisonous beyond its corrosive properties?" >[Amen]"Unknown, but considered probable." "Are any of my employees, myself, or Hillevi contaminated with any sort of poison?" >[Amen]"No one is contaminated." With the asking and answering of the final question, Amen's ever-present pinstriped orange zuit suit... shifts. Casmir and fur replace silk, as zuit suit becomes a butler-themed, Casmir leisure suit complete with bone white fur ruffs at neck and wrists. It bestows a vulturian air to the monster that serves me-and acts as proof his words were honest. Excellent.

"Ah-one more question for now: Do we currently possess more than one thousand barrels of low-grade blood, of a format to meet the Red Cap's request that will not negatively impact me and mine?" >[Amen]"This house should stay quite well stocked on sanguine fluids through some few more excessive events, yes."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#378555

"Yes Amen?" >[Amen]"Is there something master desires of this one?" "No... why did you just appear? I didn't call for you." >[Amen]"This one briefly had inconsistent data about master's spiritual state. Please pay it no mind." ...This can't be coincidence. "Are you still getting inconsistent data?" >[Amen]"No, this one found that data normalized the moment this one arrived to investigate." "So my soul feels normal now?" >[Amen]"It feels as it did when you entered the house most recently, if that is what master means." Okay... I stopped focusing on trying to impose rules on my souls through my loopy little path. So- >"Sweet merciless Dark I wish it didn't look like you were right." Haha-so, if I Impose a Will on my own soul to look like that of a mundane human, no different from Joe Schmoe... piecing together those memories and perceptions of what normalcy I've observed... "Okay-how about now? What do you percieve?" >[Amen]"This one accurately percieves master as what master is via our sanguine connection. Outside of this connection, a vast amount of sensory data about master now directly contradicts known qualities of master's soul." "Okay-so what DOES my soul feel like-and what senses are wrong?" >[Amen]"Accurately, now master's soul feels normal again, but previously master's soul felt as if no magic had touched it-similarly, Master's soul shape, despite not actually changing, as verified through our sanguine link, instead exuding a passable memetic spellwork that integrates itself with observer's memories as perception is translated to thought. What is wrong is this one's direct spiritual awareness of master, as well as passive magical detection senses. The only thing still displaying information accurately, excluding the aforementioned link, is Blood Manipulation perceptions-it's faint, but this one can still detect the outline of master's bloodlines if this one looks diligently." Camella, my soul looks like Camella's, I- >[Amen]"This one could only say Master's soul appears markedly similar to Camella's soul." ...Two for two. >[Amen]"This one notes master's soul to have normalized." And my secondary confirmation on how the trick works.

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#379335

But I've got other calls to make. Half an hour later, I make a second call. "Amen-yeah, it's me. No mental communication at the moment. Look, quick question about the Asitane: Any restrictions or rules governing identity obscuring charms?" >[Amen]"Only insofar as one must assume a guise that visibly appears human when visiting-beyond that, any form of illusion is allowable." "Ok... ok. Now, Amen, couple more questions. Those charms we discussed before-same rules and conditions as before about not being harmful and such-can you make the wearer sound like the one they look like, or is that outside of your scope?" >[Amen]"This one notes such entirely possible-but only by the means of using imbibable potions to provide temporary acoustical alteration. One does would cover a six hour period of time. Beyond that, this one knows no way to safely provide this added feature." "Okay-what about this then: can you make a charm with grants the wearer the ability to telepathically commune with me? Same rules as before." >[Amen]"Then no-this one is not at all familiar with.... this one supposes the phrase would be 'mortal friendly' telepathically oriented charms." "Damn. Okay-those potions, what are needed to make them?" >[Amen]"The spinal fluid or cochlear juices of the one the imbiber is to sound like-freshly harvested. Seven hours after harvest the materials are unusable."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#382542

>[Duke]"So where's the booze?" "Right-Amen?" >[Amen]"This one answers-what is ma-"

Before Amen can finish-or indeed, I can fully turn to face my butler-Duke's gone perfectly still-yet Amen all the same lifts a hand-and blocks a pair of invisible strikes that release shockwaves that die before they can live longer than a blink-all nullified by Amen- As Duke grins. >[Duke]"Well now. That's the Bloodfiend itself, isn't it? Amen... you know, this could work better than a drink-who gets to say they got to fight a monster like this, heh-he-" "BEFORE that, I'd be grateful if you let Amen show you our selection of fine wines and spirits-this house is rather well stocked." Duke's image, once more in motion, halts as he mulls over my words, having flickered from his old distant position to stand just before Amen. >[Duke]"....Mmh, well I guess I could look at the house stock." "Great. Amen, could you please show my guest our selection of alcoholic beverages?" >[Duke]"Drugs too. Last owner was a vamp right? Always got great drugs." "...And drugs too, just be certain to truthfully tell him what each thing is before it's offered." Amen bows-and begins to lead the smirking Duke away, Lyubov seeming to give up on understanding things.

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#383751 MONDAY, JANUARY 17TH, 2011

"Amen?" >[Amen]"Yes, master?" "I want you to, without anyone seeing you do so, or admitting to being responsible, periodically put up (and then later remove) posters of Sake mid-wiggle saying 'Feel better; rub your weasel'." Amen stares at me for a full second before bowing. >[Amen]"This one... hears and obeys." "Also, I want you to start up a... 'Wall of Honor' Where specifically in the house it is, that's up to you-and you can move it around when no one's looking-but it needs to be visible enough it's likely people will see it." >[Amen]"What shall this Wall of Honor be comprised of?" "Oh, Employee of the Month placards, of course-primarily judged on kill creativity. Let's go ahead and name me Employee of the Month for the last six months, placards and all, shall we?" >[AMen]"Am I to understand these placards will have pictures on them?" "Most certainly-preferably comical pictures of the individual." >[Amen]"This one will accomodate." "Excellent. Now-on a more serious note, I order you to answer the following questions truthfully: -What is Silja, and what are her current abilities? -How will she change as she continues to absorb the flesh and blood of other creatures? Will the nature of what she consumes affect her changes, and if so, in what fashion and how strongly? -If she were fed all the blood in the mansion's stores which came from mundane human females, what would be its effects upon her physically, mentally, and spiritually?" >[Amen]"To Master's first question, Silja was a mortal, who's soul has been bound in a blood-stained gun for longer than she lived as a human. This one does not know of any name for what she is-but this one supposes human or golem would be most accurate, depending on how one looks at it. To master's second question, she will absorb information on the physical nature of that which she consumes-but not her food's mental nature, unless you feed her living bodies. This one supposes that, were one to insist on a 'rule of thumb' then the more Winter aligned a given meal is, the more she will absorb it's nature-and vice versa. For master's third question, this one estimates it would swing her physical nature much more strongly back towards 'human'. Is that all?" "For now."

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/360354.html#385440 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19TH, 2011

"Amen?" >[Amen]"This one hears, master." "Please bring the blood we discussed." >[Amen]"At once, master." So it is the room's abruptly filled with a thousand barrels of the lowest grade blood I've got in the house.