Overlord's Orders XV

[Skyblade]

OOC: CLAIMED POST!!! Soren, I'll try to stop this soon (I feel I need to defend myself a little more)

IC: "Sir, out of the goodness in my heart, I offered to do the errand for us all. The others did seem incredibly tired and unable to do the task, so I did it for them - legally and perfectly correctly, I might add. Should I be punished for being kind? The choice is always yours, sir, but to me it seems unfair.

Anyway, I had nothing to do with the decision to go to the boat race. I didn't know the three of them were going to go there. I told them all to take a break in their rooms and rest up properly on their beds. They were in their rooms; they must have left after I left to run the errand for you.

Another thing I ought to add is that there were three main reasons we got kicked out of the store and our jobs. 1) The Deathnote thing, 2) The thieving, and 3) The ineptitude of your other servants in doing their jobs. Mhera mentioned that I was the only one properly trained for my job. Indeed she is right, but she fails to mention that that was the fault of her and the other servants.

We were all supposed to go to a training. Each of us had the same time but different locations in the same store. I went to the training and was properly, well, trained. Therefore, I did my job perfectly. The other three however, didn't show up even though they knew about it, were perfectly capable, and weren't busy. The training was a legal one, too...nothing wrong with it whatsoever (for all three of us).

I made 90% of the money during our job (legally and morally, of course), because I was skilled and the others weren't. In fact, I had gathered almost enough money to buy what you needed, but then everything flew into chaos as outlined earlier.

Sir, I remain loyal."

[Mhera]

The training was a legal one, too...nothing wrong with it whatsoever (for all three of us).

Sky's "three of us" refers to her, Jukka, and Izeroth, and excludes me. My training actually was illegal; hence I did not attend it even though I knew about it, wasn't busy, and was perfectly capable of going.

As I said earlier, I only took one break (and even then only for Sky's sake) and worked my hardest the whole time. It's not my fault I got paid barely anything for my efforts, sir.

[Skyblade]

OOC: Unless Iz or Jukka suddenly comes on, this will be my last post.

IC: "I suggested we all take a break because that was the rule of the store. We would be fired if we didn't. Mhera made a good justification for missing her training though, and I acknowledge that."

[Mhera]

OOC: Same. I should probably mention the break I was referring to was the one I took to kill the cats/sorcerers.

BIC: Sir, it was during the mandatory break I went to dispose of Sky's cats; as you can see, I was working hard to achieve the most efficient use of your time.

[Izeroth]

 Mhera told me that the prank was "ill-dated" at 12:00 PM, when I was in a sleep-deprived state. Desperately trying to finish yet another letter, I told her that I "completely understood" to get her to stop pestering me.

Somehow, Jukka had teleported myself, herself and Mhera back in time to 1912. Knowing that the race happened to occur in 1912, and figuring that it would take a while to teleport us back to the present era anyway, I decided to go to the race and stop it. I would've prevented the race and saved the ship, too, but Mhera held me back. She claimed that "the race must go on," and informed me that "people's lives don't really matter."

[Jukka the Sling]

OOC: Claimed post!


The reason I said that the voodoo thing was just a story made to generate interest was becuase I honestly believed it was.  A mainstream news source had said so, and as we all know, the media doesn't lie.  In addition to this, the race was sponsored by several state governors, who were all nice and moral people.

I did not attend my job training because even if it was completely moral/ethical/legal/etc., I recognized the guy teaching as a convicted convict who had been released from prison three months before.  And people said he was still somewhat evil.  I didn't want to join that class, obviously!

[Mhera]

Sir, Iz is a very good liar, so I didn't know he wasn't telling the truth when he said he understood. I also didn't notice he was tired since I told him about the prank in the middle of the day (12:00 P.M.), when most folks are wide awake. I didn't realize he was writing a letter because I told him over the phone and couldn't see what he was doing.

As for holding Iz back, sir, remember I was working under the impression that race and the sinking ship was part of a storyline. I figured Iz was trying to ruin the show for some unknown reason, so I told him that the ship must go down because that was part of the show. If things didn't go as scheduled, I was afraid the crowd might be upset and ruin the boat race's popularity. That would cause spectators to not buy any tickets to other shows, which mean the folks in the race wouldn't get paid nearly as much, which could possibly ruin their livelihoods and cause them to not have enough income to feed their families, meaning their children might starve to death. So I told Iz, "The race must go on. Do you think people's lives don't really matter?" I was holding him back for the children, sir.

[Izeroth]

 It may have been the middle of the day to Mhera, but, since we were running on Viruvian Time in the section of the spaceport where I was currently living, everybody went to sleep at 12:00 PM. Mhera, in her cultural ignorance, must have forgotten this key fact.

Considering that the folks in the race were all richly-clad sorcerers, I'm surprised Mhera was very concerned about their children's welfare. The guys probably could have even summoned food if they really needed it.

It's worth noting that, during the events of the race, Jukka was running around yelling something in German. I don't know what she said, but some of the German and Swiss sorcerers looked really offended.

[Jukka the Sling]

OOC: Sorry, I have to post to defend myself.
BIC:

I teleported us to 1912 because I'd just acquired a new and fast-acting time machine, which I thought would be fun and educational to use.

I was yelling, "I love speaking German!" in German.  At least, I thought I was.  My cousin Harrison taught me a few phrases in German... I realize now that he must've been a little rusty....

[Mhera]

OOC: Gotta defend... Iz, I'm trying to respond in a way that doesn't require you to answer.

BIC: Sir, Iz wore a special pair of goggles the whole trip, which afterwards he explained were sorcerer's goggles. They allow the wearer to identify other sorcerers by revealing their robes, which are concealed by magic to hide their presence in normal, everyday situations. They looked quite comfortable, so Iz must have forgotten he was wearing them during the race. While he saw richly-clad fellow sorcerers, I saw normally dressed citizens.

And sir, I ask your forgiveness for not knowing what time zone a section of an obscure spaceport that literally no one in the universe except Izeroth uses is on.

[Søren]

OOC: I've read all the responses. Check back in a few hours for my judgment.
Man, you guys know how to dish out some novels....

[Søren]

"SILENCE!!!" Exclaimed the Overlord. "You have all failed me! But one in particular deserves special treatment..."
All of the sudden, Izeroth disappeared and materialized in a hallway. He wasn't sure weather to turn left or right. He chose, and then was faced with another turn. He soon realized he was in a maze. And unbeknownst to him, the maze had no exit.
"He will provide mild entertainment for me." Said the Overlord.
He turned to the others.
"Now. I said you all failed me, and as punishment, you all will be sent to the vibranium mines in Wakanda. Maybe a little hard work will shape you into respectable servents. You will follow to directions of the man in charge, and work hard."

One month later....

"Why am I not surprised? I send you to work for a month, and what happens? You burn down the mine, blow up a building, hack a small satellite called Veronica, and somehow became recognized as local heroes? Explain the meaning of this!"

[Mhera]

Your wish is my command, oh Overlord. I shall explain.

Upon our arrival at the mine we were each assigned our jobs; Sky was to work at the TV station the vibranium mine hosted, and Jukka and I were both with the demolition crew. We partially separated for training immediately afterwards, as it was several weeks from the time of our assignments to the time we saw Sky again. Jukka and I went through training for our demolition jobs together, however.

Now sir, Jukka is not good with explosives. In fact, the instructor failed her three days in a row because her go-to demolition method was pouring gasoline on random stuff and lighting it on fire. Not only was this an ineffective method to use on the mine's rock, it destroys vibranium and poses a fire hazard to the wooden struts supporting the mine. (It's worth noting here that for some reason the demolition students were not allowed to interact with each other at all regarding training.) On the fourth day, the exasperated instructor, tired of trying to get Jukka to learn her job properly, passed her. He then told me to keep her away from explosives while we were employed at the mine. For the next block of days everything was smooth sailing; I blew stuff up and Jukka helped whenever she could safely do so. Over halfway through our month, though, I was startled during our lunch break to see the football game that was on TV flicker out to reveal Sky on screen.

She was standing in a room I would later recognize as the vibranium mine's network's studio looking quite smug as she posed in front of a green screen displaying the words "Your New Overlady Skyblade the Magnificent." Pompous instrumental music was playing in the background as she began to address her audience:

"Good day everyone! I am Skyblade, your new Overlord. Or would that be Overlady? Eh, doesn't matter. I control the world either way. Before I further my address, I would like to make clear the servant of the previous Overlord Soren (whom I have overthrown) named Mhera who is currently working in the vibranium mine and whom does not share her name with anything or anyone else in the universe (past, present, or future) has nothing to do with what I am doing or have done since beginning my work here at the mines-"

She never made it further. Security tackled her (it was a neat tackle and actually placated the angry football fans who where angry about missing some of the game) and shortly afterwards I was called up to the Personal Relations office and told I was to trade jobs with Sky.

You see, sir, Sky had apparently hacked the satellite Veronica that, while small, is actually the main satellite for ESPN. By hacking it she was able to reach millions with her message, which I did indeed have absolutely nothing to do with.

A week later, after Sky and I had both undergone our retraining and begun our new occupations, I noticed smoke rising from the general direction of the mine (the station's studio is-or rather was- located a good distance from the mine). The news crew bolted out the door and I followed (part of my job was to help carry their equipment). Upon arrival I saw that the whole mine was ablaze, burning to the ground. Jukka was watching the inferno from a rocky outcrop, and I went to join her and see if she knew what had started the fire. She explained that it was all her fault, as she had volunteered to blow a section of the mine even though she knew her limits. The blaze was a direct result of her methods and in no way accomplished anything productive.

Immediately after she had confessed this there was an ear-shattering boom. I spun around and caught sight of a mushroom cloud rising from the station building the camera crew and I were just in. I also noticed for the first time that Sky was right beside me, looking entranced at the building's explosion with detonator in hand. She was murmuring something about how beautiful it was and how she had blown it up.

I was horrified. "Sky, Jukka, there's innocent people in the mine and building! We need to save them!" The three of us snapped into action then and saved everyone from the various fires, which is how we earned "local hero" status.

[Skyblade]

OOC: Yay, I made it This is exactly 750 words, not including OOC.

BIC: "Sir Soren, Mhera's perspective alone will not give you an accurate story.

I was indeed assigned to the mine's TV station. As you ordered, I meticulously followed the directions of the man in charge. As a result, I performed my job so well that the other workers genuinely and voluntarily lauded me for reviving their once-unproductive TV station. They explained that most of their revenue came from the TV station, and that I was a boon for their business and well-being.

"We're going to give the Overlord Soren a wonderful report of you, Skyblade," the main in charge told me proudly. "You will also be known forever in our mine as a hero worker."

Just to clarify, sir, unlike the Apple store, the mine and its TV station in their entirety comprised a thoroughly good and lawful establishment and none of the workers there were evil.

Jukka and Mhera were in completely different jobs and didn't seem to be doing anything too destructive. About halfway through the month, I was startled when the man in charge rushed up to me, his face livid and soaked with tears.

"Jukka," he cried, "Murdered the host of our special TV segment! The poor host! And how will we go on with our show?"

He broke down in front of me - a painful sight. I soothed him and asked for clarifications, as I had nothing to do with the murder.

The TV station made a good chunk of money off a special TV segment that always popped up in the middle of an ESPN football game. Called Outrageous things that will never, ever happen, it was adored by the world for its humor and well, outrageousness. Somehow, Jukka had killed the host of that segment on purpose (an innocent man who had done nothing wrong). The man in charge needed a replacement in ten minutes or the segment would be canceled for the first time in 50 years, fans would surely protest, and the mine would suffer.

Wanting to be kind, I offered to take the host's job until they found a permanent replacement. Some workers were also having trouble hacking a satellite called Veronica. It was tradition of the mine to hack a satellite before every show. I helped them and went up to do the show.

Now, what was the first thing that came to my head? The one thing I would never do? Overthrow you, of course! I  though it would be perfect for a show titled Outrageous things that will never, ever happen. Sir Soren, you know I didn't mean anything I said on that TV segment. It was only for the purpose of acting and saving the mine you told us to work in.

It was actually part of the show's script for security guards to tackle me mid-sentence. About 0.05% of the football fans were mad for no reason, but the other 99.95% loved it. I had saved the mines again.

The reason I had to switch jobs with Mhera is that, as I discovered after the mission, she had been surreptitiously killing off a worker one by one each day on purpose. I had nothing to do with this. Maybe Jukka did? This got so debilitating that the man in charge switched our jobs hoping it would improve everything. So, that resulted not from my actions but hers.

I had nothing to do with Jukka's burning the mines. I was simply hard at productive work.

I didn't talk to Mhera, but I received a note that had clearly been written by her. It said, no more, no less:

Dear Skyblade,
Attached is a button that creates harmless fireworks. Please push it to create a beautiful sight for everyone in the mines. It doesn't matter when, where, how, why, or anything else specific. Just do it soon, and do it when I'm not in the building so I can see it!
And this isn't a joke, opposite, or anything like that. It's straightforward. Just do as I say.
- Mhera

Attached was an unlabeled button that seemed like a normal kids' toy. But when I pressed it, turned out to blow up the TV station building. So shocked was I by this - the last thing I expected to happen - that I cried, "I blew up a building! How could this happen? Mhera, you lied. This isn't beautiful."

Mhera replied that she was horrified because she had expected the explosion to be larger and more destructive."

[Jukka the Sling]

Jukka stepped forward, looking a little shocked at the accusations against her.

"Overlord, despite what my companions have said concerning me, none of it was my fault.  Sky says a guy ran in yelling that Jukka had just killed the host of Outrageous Things That Will Never, Ever Happen, but the guy never mentioned that person's gender.

"You see, there's a Finnish guy who works in the vibranium mines.  He's very polite and personable.  But he has a cousin who sometimes visits the mines and is his polar opposite.  You guessed it - this Finnish cousin is named Jukka.  (Yes, Jukka is actually a Finnish name.)  Since I had absolutely nothing to do with that murder (it's against my morals, generally), obviously it was Jukka the Finn who killed the poor guy.  I also had nothing to do with anyone else's murder.

"Also, it was not my fault that I blew things up with matches and gasoline.  The instructor, though non-evil (as Sky mentioned that everyone at the mine was), was a woman named Bedelia who was rather ugly and, I realize now, must have been envious of my ravishing beauty and natural charm.  Her jealousy got the better of her (as it will the best of people), and she set out to fail me.  First, Bedelia gave me a book she said told one everything one needed to know about blowing things up.  As I had no experience or reason to disbelieve her, I read the book and got started.

"After a few days, Bedelia decided to let me pass, probably hoping to get me fired by my unfortunate ineptness.  Several days afterward, she asked for volunteers to blow up a large thing in a practice run (or so she said).  I knew my limits, so I didn't raise my hand.  However, Bedelia picked me anyway out of sheer malice.  I went and blew the thing up, feeling nervous the whole time.  Much to my shock and horror, I saw that I'd blown up the whole mine.  I sat there, so stunned I couldn't move, couldn't think, couldn't do anything.  At that moment Mhera came up with some of the TV crew.  Still in shock, I said, "I 'volunteered' to do this, even though I knew my limits."  I made large air quotes as I said the word 'volunteered', so my intent was evident.  But Mhera must not have realized this.  I also never said that I volunteered to blow a section of the mine.  All I said was the word 'this' to indicate the destruction.  After a mushroom cloud suddenly appeared, I, Mhera, and Sky raced to save everyone and became local heroes.

"All in all, during this mission I was nothing if not loyal to you, Sir Soren.  I was loyal also to the vibranium mine, its workers, and my companions.  I did nothing wrong."