The Nightmare Rock Vol. 2
The Nightmare Rock
Volume 2: Mani Mani Expands
Just west of the bustling town of Twoson is a small valley that is almost disturbingly quiet. On the far end of the river lies a podunk town of only a few buildings. A man, who went by the monicker Carpainter, was slowly building up a philosophy in the town. His philosophy was that true happiness was ultimately connected with the color blue. While true happiness wouldn't seem to be a cool color, it does make a limited sense. The sky, when all is clear, is a deep blue and can bring happiness.
What Carpainter lacked, however, was followers of his school of philosophy. Ultimately, he didn't want people to be happy, but rather craved power and admiration. The town was so small that no one would notice his philosophy. The time period was before the internet, where such fringe philosophies could easily be spread. He knew what he wanted, but was powerless to gain it.
Meanwhile, Porky had stolen the Mani Mani statue from Mr. Aggerate in Onett. While Ness was busy with Frank Fly and the Onett Police Force, Porky was being guided by the dark influences of the statue. It was it's influence that allowed him to sweet talk his way past the barricade to the south. (We can safely assume that the roadblock was set up by the town, not by any influence from the statue, though their reluctance and persecution of Ness was likely influenced by the statue.)
After arriving in Twoson, Porky was guided to the small hamlet that rested on the far end Peaceful Rest Valley and it was there that he was instructed to lend Carpainter the statue. Soon, as Carpainter began to worship the sculpture, followers came out of the woodwork. Within the space of a few days, the town was already bustling with his philosophy. Soon all the buildings were a shade of blue. Even the local dairy cow had her hide dyed in the color. As he felt his power grow, Carpainter felt more compelled that his new philosophy, now cult, needed someone with power. And it was then that he commanded some of his more discreet followers to kidnap Paula from her home at Polestar Elementary.
Carpainter didn't understand the truth of his actions, that he wasn't using Paula to gain more prestige and power, but rather that he was being used to hinder the progress of the chosen one of prophecy. Regardless, as he completed the task, he was rewarded with more power. His position in the cult rose exponentially from simple philosopher to powerful demi-god within the week of obtaining the statue. From the power of the statue, he was granted the ability to summon lightning to strike down any unbeliever or infidel that would dare make claims of falsehood.
Unbeknownst to Carpainter, either by luck or psychic intervention, Paula had with her the fabled Franklin Badge. The origins of the Franklin Badge are skeptical at best. Supposedly it was the same badge that Benjamin Franklin wore while testing electricity. Since said testing was a myth, and never actually occurred, it's likely that the origins of the badge are too, lost in mystery. My current speculation is that it is in reality a badge made from the scraps of the Devil's Machine. There is no factual basis for this other than it would be an interesting phenomenon.
The Happy Happyists roamed the town, proselyting for more converts. The converts themselves were not as much brainwashed as dominated by the Mani Mani statue. The men and women it can best dominate are those with vices, as I've mentioned before. For this reason, it's likely, the proselytes tend to attack Ness on the spot, being violent and base creatures beforehand. Some retain their civility, simply being weak minded. Others are looking for true spiritual answers. But a good many converts were violent miscreants who the Mani Mani statue knew it could focus and utilize as weapons.
Ness eventually faces the Carpainter, equipped by with the Franklin Badge which repels the electric attack. After Carpainter is defeated, the Mani Mani statue retreats its influence from him. Left alone again with only a heavy conscience, Carpainter repents of his doing. Having seen that his philosophy cannot bring happiness unless violently thrust upon the masses, he forsakes his cult and tries his best to repair the town. He gives Ness the key to the small prison that Paula is being kept in.
Porky arrives soon after the defeat to retrieve the statue, only to encounter Ness. The statue influences Porky to play on the ties of friendship that he had made with Ness to escape punishment. At first, it's able to coax a lie from Porky, about how he too was under Carpainter's influence. But the impotent loathing inside him is too much for the statue to control and Porky taunts Ness before running away. The yearning for power and lust for recognition is becoming too great for any influence to dominate. What few seeds of bitter feelings Porky had initially have sprouted and sprung upon his soul like noxious weeds. The grow larger and darker every day. He's becoming uncontrollable.
While Ness searches for his second “My Sanctuary”, Everdred, a thief from Twoson, has come to investigate claims of a golden statue. While Carpainter is busy rebuilding the town, Everdred steals the statue. He feels that someone in the city might be willing to buy the statue. Again, the Mani Mani statue continues to play on the vices of mankind to get what it wants.
Threed's Problem
It is not my opinion that the activity of the living dead is in any way connected with the Mani Mani statue. Instead, it is the direct result of another prong in the multifaceted attack on humanity that Giyig has planned in his infinite fury. The Mani Mani is meant to destroy humanity through its lust for power. Master Belch, on the other hand, is meant to destroy humanity through its fear of the darkness. The third branch of his attack, the Starmen, is meant to destroy humanity in the most base way possible. To destroy them physically and strip them mentally. Since the Mani Mani statue doesn't factor in with Threed's zombie epidemic in any way, I will refrain from discussing it in this volume any further.
Monotoli Rising
In Fourside, on the western side of the city over looking the refreshing sea, is a small dive known as Jackie's Cafe. In the back of this bar, sitting by himself and overlooking a shotglass is a small-time real estate agent named Geldegarde Monotoli. Business is abysmal. His advanced age is slowly catching up to him and edging him out of his business. Soon, he knows, he'll have to find a new profession.
He finishes his drink, says his good byes and leaves the dive and enters the brisk night air. Off to the east is the tall skyscraper. His dream was to see his name on the newly finished building. He had claimed to his peers that he'd be the biggest thing in Fourside by the time he was forty. He's now closer to sixty and has only a few dollars to his name. As he stumbles towards his small apartment on the north side of the city, a scruffy looking deviant is looking to unload some ill-gotten wares. Among them is a large golden statue that seems to call to Monotoli. He has no money, but he knows he must have the statue at any cost. He tricks the thief into parting with the statue and disappears into the night.
In three months* he owns the skyscraper. His name is emblazoned on the side in golden letters. People fear him. His competitors either revere him or are crushed. Even the police bend to his political sway. He is the king of Fourside.
On his climb to power, he met another man who, if he was to be believed, had suffered the same indignation. Despite years of hard work and altruistic sacrifice, he was left in poverty's gaping maw in Onett with his lovely wife and two sons. Aloysius Minch, had in reality, all but left his family behind, hoping to make it big and start his life anew in the big city. Monotoli hires the man, and both are rather surprised when his son, Porky shows up. Aloysius tries to act nonplussed that his son tracked him down, but Monotoli takes him under his wing. He's told by the statue that he must mentor the boy.
However, there are a few things that still gnaw at the back of his mind. The voices that he hears when he's alone frighten him, but he never disobeys. Porky, the son of his recent hire, is constantly bringing in strange visitors. Sometimes inhuman visitors. A deep paranoia sets in for the old man. If anyone ever knew of these strange happenings, he'd be ruined. The voices instruct him. No one must ever know of the Mani Mani statue. Not even his trusted maid, Electra. He's frightened by the voices. By the power that had thrust him to the position where he is now. So, he hides it in the one place no one would ever think to look. A place of solace when he had no refuge from the pains of the world. In the warehouse behind Jackie's Cafe. Even still, his paranoia is intense that he invests in the best robotic security systems his money can buy. Importing them all the way from Merrysville, he establishes a perimeter and secludes himself on the penthouse floor. No one goes in, no one comes out.
Soon, a scruffy-looking man in an obnoxious and grubby hawaiian shirt is trying to get a hold of Monotoli. He hears rumors that he knows the secret of Monotoli's power, and even where it's hidden. Monotoli sends out his secret police to silence the vagabond forever.
One day, he reads the newspaper to find out that a few youths had somehow, almost miraculously, paid off the entire contract for the Runaway Five at the Topolla Theater. He doesn't know why exactly, but it fills him with dread. He needs to see the statue. To know that it's safe. So, like he was always prone to do, he returns to the warehouse behind the bar to pray to the statue. The statue screams at him. He must not let them reach Summers. In the myriad of whispers and screams from the world the Mani Mani statue is forming, he begins to hear who is controlling the statue. He can never fully understand what the statue is saying, but he knows what he must do.
Monotoli pulls strings to get the department store opened, for reasons he doesn't fully understand. Soon, a strange creature appears in the night, leaving behind a young girl in pink. Now facing his own criminal actions, Monotoli fears that he has made a deal with the devil and desperately wants a way out.
Continued in Volume 3: Into Madness
The Nightmare Rock
Volume 2: Mani Mani Expands
Just west of the bustling town of Twoson is a small valley that is almost disturbingly quiet. On the far end of the river lies a podunk town of only a few buildings. A man, who went by the monicker Carpainter, was slowly building up a philosophy in the town. His philosophy was that true happiness was ultimately connected with the color blue. While true happiness wouldn't seem to be a cool color, it does make a limited sense. The sky, when all is clear, is a deep blue and can bring happiness.
What Carpainter lacked, however, was followers of his school of philosophy. Ultimately, he didn't want people to be happy, but rather craved power and admiration. The town was so small that no one would notice his philosophy. The time period was before the internet, where such fringe philosophies could easily be spread. He knew what he wanted, but was powerless to gain it.
Meanwhile, Porky had stolen the Mani Mani statue from Mr. Aggerate in Onett. While Ness was busy with Frank Fly and the Onett Police Force, Porky was being guided by the dark influences of the statue. It was it's influence that allowed him to sweet talk his way past the barricade to the south. (We can safely assume that the roadblock was set up by the town, not by any influence from the statue, though their reluctance and persecution of Ness was likely influenced by the statue.)
After arriving in Twoson, Porky was guided to the small hamlet that rested on the far end Peaceful Rest Valley and it was there that he was instructed to lend Carpainter the statue. Soon, as Carpainter began to worship the sculpture, followers came out of the woodwork. Within the space of a few days, the town was already bustling with his philosophy. Soon all the buildings were a shade of blue. Even the local dairy cow had her hide dyed in the color. As he felt his power grow, Carpainter felt more compelled that his new philosophy, now cult, needed someone with power. And it was then that he commanded some of his more discreet followers to kidnap Paula from her home at Polestar Elementary.
Carpainter didn't understand the truth of his actions, that he wasn't using Paula to gain more prestige and power, but rather that he was being used to hinder the progress of the chosen one of prophecy. Regardless, as he completed the task, he was rewarded with more power. His position in the cult rose exponentially from simple philosopher to powerful demi-god within the week of obtaining the statue. From the power of the statue, he was granted the ability to summon lightning to strike down any unbeliever or infidel that would dare make claims of falsehood.
Unbeknownst to Carpainter, either by luck or psychic intervention, Paula had with her the fabled Franklin Badge. The origins of the Franklin Badge are skeptical at best. Supposedly it was the same badge that Benjamin Franklin wore while testing electricity. Since said testing was a myth, and never actually occurred, it's likely that the origins of the badge are too, lost in mystery. My current speculation is that it is in reality a badge made from the scraps of the Devil's Machine. There is no factual basis for this other than it would be an interesting phenomenon.
The Happy Happyists roamed the town, proselyting for more converts. The converts themselves were not as much brainwashed as dominated by the Mani Mani statue. The men and women it can best dominate are those with vices, as I've mentioned before. For this reason, it's likely, the proselytes tend to attack Ness on the spot, being violent and base creatures beforehand. Some retain their civility, simply being weak minded. Others are looking for true spiritual answers. But a good many converts were violent miscreants who the Mani Mani statue knew it could focus and utilize as weapons.
Ness eventually faces the Carpainter, equipped by with the Franklin Badge which repels the electric attack. After Carpainter is defeated, the Mani Mani statue retreats its influence from him. Left alone again with only a heavy conscience, Carpainter repents of his doing. Having seen that his philosophy cannot bring happiness unless violently thrust upon the masses, he forsakes his cult and tries his best to repair the town. He gives Ness the key to the small prison that Paula is being kept in.
Porky arrives soon after the defeat to retrieve the statue, only to encounter Ness. The statue influences Porky to play on the ties of friendship that he had made with Ness to escape punishment. At first, it's able to coax a lie from Porky, about how he too was under Carpainter's influence. But the impotent loathing inside him is too much for the statue to control and Porky taunts Ness before running away. The yearning for power and lust for recognition is becoming too great for any influence to dominate. What few seeds of bitter feelings Porky had initially have sprouted and sprung upon his soul like noxious weeds. The grow larger and darker every day. He's becoming uncontrollable.
While Ness searches for his second “My Sanctuary”, Everdred, a thief from Twoson, has come to investigate claims of a golden statue. While Carpainter is busy rebuilding the town, Everdred steals the statue. He feels that someone in the city might be willing to buy the statue. Again, the Mani Mani statue continues to play on the vices of mankind to get what it wants.
Threed's Problem
It is not my opinion that the activity of the living dead is in any way connected with the Mani Mani statue. Instead, it is the direct result of another prong in the multifaceted attack on humanity that Giyig has planned in his infinite fury. The Mani Mani is meant to destroy humanity through its lust for power. Master Belch, on the other hand, is meant to destroy humanity through its fear of the darkness. The third branch of his attack, the Starmen, is meant to destroy humanity in the most base way possible. To destroy them physically and strip them mentally. Since the Mani Mani statue doesn't factor in with Threed's zombie epidemic in any way, I will refrain from discussing it in this volume any further.
Monotoli Rising
In Fourside, on the western side of the city over looking the refreshing sea, is a small dive known as Jackie's Cafe. In the back of this bar, sitting by himself and overlooking a shotglass is a small-time real estate agent named Geldegarde Monotoli. Business is abysmal. His advanced age is slowly catching up to him and edging him out of his business. Soon, he knows, he'll have to find a new profession.
He finishes his drink, says his good byes and leaves the dive and enters the brisk night air. Off to the east is the tall skyscraper. His dream was to see his name on the newly finished building. He had claimed to his peers that he'd be the biggest thing in Fourside by the time he was forty. He's now closer to sixty and has only a few dollars to his name. As he stumbles towards his small apartment on the north side of the city, a scruffy looking deviant is looking to unload some ill-gotten wares. Among them is a large golden statue that seems to call to Monotoli. He has no money, but he knows he must have the statue at any cost. He tricks the thief into parting with the statue and disappears into the night.
In three months* he owns the skyscraper. His name is emblazoned on the side in golden letters. People fear him. His competitors either revere him or are crushed. Even the police bend to his political sway. He is the king of Fourside.
On his climb to power, he met another man who, if he was to be believed, had suffered the same indignation. Despite years of hard work and altruistic sacrifice, he was left in poverty's gaping maw in Onett with his lovely wife and two sons. Aloysius Minch, had in reality, all but left his family behind, hoping to make it big and start his life anew in the big city. Monotoli hires the man, and both are rather surprised when his son, Porky shows up. Aloysius tries to act nonplussed that his son tracked him down, but Monotoli takes him under his wing. He's told by the statue that he must mentor the boy.
However, there are a few things that still gnaw at the back of his mind. The voices that he hears when he's alone frighten him, but he never disobeys. Porky, the son of his recent hire, is constantly bringing in strange visitors. Sometimes inhuman visitors. A deep paranoia sets in for the old man. If anyone ever knew of these strange happenings, he'd be ruined. The voices instruct him. No one must ever know of the Mani Mani statue. Not even his trusted maid, Electra. He's frightened by the voices. By the power that had thrust him to the position where he is now. So, he hides it in the one place no one would ever think to look. A place of solace when he had no refuge from the pains of the world. In the warehouse behind Jackie's Cafe. Even still, his paranoia is intense that he invests in the best robotic security systems his money can buy. Importing them all the way from Merrysville, he establishes a perimeter and secludes himself on the penthouse floor. No one goes in, no one comes out.
Soon, a scruffy-looking man in an obnoxious and grubby hawaiian shirt is trying to get a hold of Monotoli. He hears rumors that he knows the secret of Monotoli's power, and even where it's hidden. Monotoli sends out his secret police to silence the vagabond forever.
One day, he reads the newspaper to find out that a few youths had somehow, almost miraculously, paid off the entire contract for the Runaway Five at the Topolla Theater. He doesn't know why exactly, but it fills him with dread. He needs to see the statue. To know that it's safe. So, like he was always prone to do, he returns to the warehouse behind the bar to pray to the statue. The statue screams at him. He must not let them reach Summers. In the myriad of whispers and screams from the world the Mani Mani statue is forming, he begins to hear who is controlling the statue. He can never fully understand what the statue is saying, but he knows what he must do.
Monotoli pulls strings to get the department store opened, for reasons he doesn't fully understand. Soon, a strange creature appears in the night, leaving behind a young girl in pink. Now facing his own criminal actions, Monotoli fears that he has made a deal with the devil and desperately wants a way out.
Continued in Volume 3: Into Madness
