BanjoNote: This is it. Possibly my favourite chapter as of yet? If this comes out a bit later then usual, it's because I have to make a PowerPoint about the Norse.
I also suppose it's about time to reveal the next Arc name, so I'll be doing that next chapter - the first part of the 4-part finale!
I also have no idea how long this chapter is going to be. I'm actually expecting a shorter chapter, maybe 2k words - possibly less. So, maybe I'll get this finished by 1st!
No. Don't lie to yourself.
BanjoMano does not own Minecraft. However, as a Christmas gift, he has become the owner of Lays Chips.
In the world of Minecraftia, there is - well, another world. This other world is called... The Nether.
In truth, it is not even considered a world. It is more commonly considered a dimension, something outside of the laws of our world. No one knows its origins. Some people even believed that it resides under the 'Overworld', but since the Salya Fiasco - where the 5th Crafter opened a pathway to under the world, killing 34 Griefers and 6 Villagers - this theory has been proven wrong. Nothing but void exists under Minecraftia.
Where was the first breach into this other realm? A portal lies in the city of Boreas somewhere, and in front of this portal lies the Flame of Wither - where the first Netherrack was placed and lit in the Overworld. Later, it was the place where the first Wither was built, and it was defeated by the legendary Hero of Humans. A hero now only the oldest among the world know.
A new event was to happen - The Meeting of Wither, as it would later be called, took place there. Some call it the turning point of grudges. Others called it the damnation of Boreas.
But one thing remains true - it was the Guided first true act of bravery.
[Gimero]
"Why am I here?" Milo, the tiny leader of the Black Market, huffed in a high pitched voice. I rubbed my hands together in the cold and looked at Riley.
"You get the message to everyone?" I shuffled nervously. She rolled her eyes.
"Did the other four times you asked not cut it for you?" She sighed. "Yes. I took your 'orders'to everyone I was told to. Happy?"
"Maybe." I glanced at Milo, who was juggling three snowballs and eyeing my backpack. "Would you please stop giving me that evil eye?" I shuddered.
"No." He bluntly stated, throwing a snowball my way. I caught it in the stomach and doubled over, wheezing and clutching my now cold gut.
Riley whipped out her rapier and pointed at Milo's throat, which was about level with my elbow. He pushed the blade away with a finger and gave Riley a glare.
"What's this about a... message?" He leaned against a grave - which had to be an offensive act. "I'm just here for the profit, and that's exactly what I'm not getting!"
"Yo-you'll get your, ah, profit." I nodded hastily, trying to wipe off that hungry look off his face. It didn't quite work, but Riley snapped her fingers to get my attention.
"They're arriving. All directions." She noted, pointing in four directions.
I looked around and sighed shakily. The leaders of each of the factions had arrived, though Milo was the only one who respected the alone part.
Haedrik had arrived with three bodyguards in full diamond, stopping in front of us and giving me a disapproving look. I shrank from his glare and turned to the commander of the Town Militia.
He stood a tall 6 foot, so we stood about equal. His clothes were covered by a set of enchanted iron armour. He glowered at me and huffed.
The leader of the Theives Guild, a man in full chainmail, leaped in between us and shook my hand. He had gold eyes, slicked back brown hair, and the outfit straight out of Riften in Skyrim. Neither of which I knew.
"Name's Jadon!" He said enthusiastically. "I have no idea why I'm here, but I am! So why am I here?"
"Heh... one second." I gestured at the last newcomer - a woman in red and blue regal clothing. Her blonde hair was tied up into a ponytail, and her red eyes peirced me, but immediately softened when my instinctual Trader self showed some respect and bowed. "I greet you, Lady Mavich."
"At least someone knows proper manners," She admired, giving a glare at Riley. "Now, I hear there is something concerning a Command Block?"
"Ooh, so that's what this is?" Jadon asked, plucking the shulker box from my backpack. I grabbed for it, and Jadon let me take it.
"Sorry. Habitual." He grinned. "But why are we discussing in a graveyard?"
"Well... we won't." I held up a button. "I would say watch, but that would be unnecessary."
I placed the button on the grave beside me - the grave of Kravues_Gravity, someone absolutely unimportant. Actually, so unimportant he never actually was a real person. A persona.
I pushed the button and stepped back as the ground underneath me began to open up. Everyone looked over my shoulder, silent until the staircase to inside the mountain was fully visible. Jadon chugged a potion and leaped straight over me and into the depths. Everyone except for me began to follow him, with much more caution then he. Riley looked over her shoulder at me, slightly laughing when she saw my expression.
"Come on, Gimero. Now's not the time to get cold feet." She smirked.
"Right." If only she knew what I had to do. If only I had the courage to do what I had to do.
We entered a circular room, with the fabled Flame of Wither in the center and a round table in a circle around it. Raised on an alcove overlooking the table was the first Nether portal, the area surrounding it corrupted by the Nether.
The leaders of the factions gravitated towards seats at the table, giving me a strange look. I smiled disarmingly, and took my place at the head - just a couple of seconds before Jadon did, who huffed and resigned to sit at my right - until Riley took that seat.
Swearing under his breath, he leaned against the wall behind me, making rude gestures at me until Riley gave him a glare.
Then all eyes were on me.
"Um... ahem." I cleared my throat and saw Riley give me a slight nod out if the corner of my eye.
Gee, thanks. You give a motivational speech in front of 5 powerful bloodthirsty people!
"Most, if not all, know that I am the Guided." I changed my winter gear to my normal Wandering Trader outfit. "My name is less known. Gimero Mohabi." I gave a small polite bow. I took out the shulker box and held it up high.
"In this shell is the Command Block." I announced. "I called this meeting to discuss who of the five factions will... use it." Luckily, no one caught on to the pause. "Until a decision has been reached, in this very room, I shall maintain possession of it."
I slid it into my pocket, and not a second later, I could tell it was immediately going to be a mess.
Haedrik stood up and spoke first. "The block was meant to be a peace offering to the Militia, from yours truly. However if we deign that it no longer belongs to any of these factions, then I call the biggest claim. By all rights, it belongs to the FF."
"If it was meant to come to us, then ours it shall be!" The commander of the Militia retorted. "Once you decided to hand it to us, you lost possession. Besides, we have the best trained warriors. It would be the most protected with us."
"Whereas I agree with some points of Sir Isaac," Mavich, the noble, started. "I must dismiss the last arrangement. I have way more professional soldiers at my disposal, plus a vault that is near impenetrable. And there's the fact that we must use this artefact to retake Zhoria - and all of Boreas - from Herobrine's grip."
"And you think you have the brains to do such a thing?" Haedrik snorted. "We have the smartest redstone engineers in Zhoria. You have a pile of money."
"Money can buy." Mavich winked at Haedrik. "And it's the one thing you don't have. How'd you even get such a suit?"
As this was going on, me and Riley exchanged looks.
"Do we have to give it to someone?" She muttered to me, sighing under her breath immediately after. She blinked in confusion when I told her, "No. I don't think that's an option anymore."
"Then what is?" She wondered, and I stayed quiet, much to her disappointment.
"Money, money, money. It makes the world go round and round, doesn't it?" Milo waved a hand mid air.
"And your point?" Mavich asked, only to be answered with a shrug.
"I just wanted to sound cool." Milo leaned back and tried to kick his feet up on the table, but he was too far away. He slouched so far down that his head was on the seat, but he managed to get his feet up. "Money's all I deal in. What would I have against it?"
No one argued against that, but there was silent shifting of valuables. Behind me, Jadon swore under his breath.
"'Course, shorty's gotta screw it up." He mumbled, and Riley gave him another warning look.
"That command block was to be given to us!" Isaac cracked his knuckles. "Who else has bigger rights?"
"The one who got it, you fool!" Haedrik stood up, and his bodyguards took out their iron swords. "You don't even know how to use it!"
"Ironic." Isaac casually took out an enchanted diamond sword and held it at his side. "And you think you can?"
"None of you can!" I spoke up, only to be ignored by practically everyone at the table. Riley gave me a troubled look, but our gaze shifted quickly back to the table when Mavich let out an irritated sigh.
I managed to defuse the tension, but it still hung over the table like a low cloud. The arguing went on for way longer then expected, until Riley leaned over to whisper to me.
"Whatever you were going to do, I highly suggest you do it now." She warned, and I saw what she meant. Casting an investigative look around the table, I saw frankly more than I could've days before - maybe something to do with my Guided abilities? But I saw everyone twitching towards their belts or backpacks, ready to pull out items at the first chance they could. I caught the exchanges of the slyest looks, threatening or possibly otherwise. Mostly threatening. Actually, the majority gave me the vibes of homicidal, which - strangely - mostly was in Haedrik's direction.
"Well?" She urged, gesturing at them. I cleared my throat and stood up, taking out the command block. Almost immediately, everyone at the table looked straight at me - or the block. It was an attention magnet.
"I believe that I, the person in possession of the Command Block, has final say." I spoke, focusing into my Trader speech. "If that isn't enough to convince you, I'm the Guided. I was sent here by the 14th Crafter for some... unknown reason. At least, it was unknown." I began to shuffle the block between my hands nervously, thinking of how to continue. I took a deep breath and re-started my totally inspiring speech.
"Herobrine wants us to be divided. Only by separating us, he knows he will always have all of Boreas under his grasp. Look at yourself, you can't even decide to to with this!" I raised up the command block. "An artefact you don't even know how to use! If this is what is destroying your relations, then maybe none of you should have it in the first place!"
"And it would be safe with you? Some coward that can't even raise a frying pan to defend himself?" Haedrik rolled his eyes. Riley pulled out her rapier and flicked it in Haedrik's direction.
"I'd watch your tongue if I were you." She merely stated.
"No, Haedrik. I don't think it's safe at all." I answered him. "Just in general. It shouldn't even be in Zhoria. I may be a Guided, but I still don't know much..." I held up the command block, looking into the flames at the center of the table.
"...but if there's one thing I know, it's where to put bad objects." I finished, cringing at my choice of words.
Then I threw the command block into the flames.
BanjoNote: Cliffhanger? You bet! Next chapter is going to be big, you wait...
Next Chapter: Take Back the Night, p1! Until then, hit those Favorite and Follow buttons. Trynna get more clout.