THE MOI: Hm... you demon!
JESTER: Is that what I am? Tell me-- fill us all in, because at this point, I don't know who or what the fuck I'm suppose to be!
THE MOI: You speak to me in that tone, boy!? You're still human.
JESTER: Am I "human"? Or am I a "demon"? I know... I don't have a complete handle on what I'm capable of yet, but I know for sure I can set this shit-hole ablaze. Tell me what I need to know!
MADAM CARA: (I've never seen anything strike fear into a Nightmarcher; what the hell is going on here!?)
THE MOI: ... we knew you would arrive before... before you got here to the island. Our Elders foresaw it. You're the "Demon of the Prophecy".
JESTER: So that's why The Devil wants me? What does that mean?
THE MOI: I can only speak of what my people believe of you. You were to come here, and murder all of us! But you've come here asking for our help.
(Jester feels empowered that these people believe he could be capable of such a feat, yet offended that anyone would believe he was capable of murder.)
JESTER: I can tell you that I've never killed. You don't hear that sentence too often... I just want your help. Help us take out The Devil.
(The Moi seems undecided.)
THE MOI: We did not expect you to come in peace. But going against your demands could have dyer consequences for my people. I'm afraid... I will have to revisit The Elders once more and see if they are willing to abide by your demands.
(The Moi stands, so everyone including our 4 visitors stand also out of respect.)
THE MOI: You will wait here, and I will be back.
TAKO: H--How long will this take? We're really on a time crunch.
THE MOI: Please Tako, be patient with us.
(Tako nods.)
MADAM CARA: Thank you, Moi.
(Madam Cara bows.
The Moi dismisses himself and leaves the 4 by the fire without guidance. So they sit back down. Tako begins to whisper aggressively at Jester.)
TAKO: Are you crazy? You could have gotten all of us killed! We all know you can't do shit to these guys!
DAVIDSON: I don't know.--
JESTER: I took a gamble. Or you'd rather die without putting up a fight.
DAVIDSON: Jester wiped out an entire hotel's power before we left Orange City. At this point, I don't know what he's capable of, but he took a gamble dat saved all us. These ain't gamblin' people, Jester knew that. He willin' to take a risk. They ain't.
TAKO: So now what? What if they don't agree to help us?
JESTER: ... then we might be dead.
(One of the Nightmarchers comes over to greet the guests.)
NIGHTMARCHER: Hello, The Moi suggested you all have dinner here with us until after The Elders finish their deliberation. Please, follow me.
(The guests get up to follow the Nightmarcher before he halts with his left forearm out towards Jester.)
NIGHTMARCHER: No, you must stay here.
DAVIDSON: We not goin' without Jester.
JESTER: Go ahead. I'll be alright out here. They won't try anything. Yet.
(Davidson still felt objection, but he follows the group across the darkening area as the sun is vanished and darkness is almost all that could be seen away from the torches keeping the land from being deemed an abyss.
Jester stands out by the campfire, and begins to tour the land a bit with both his hands tucked tightly into his non-vacationed shorts as he hears everyone else inside the abundantly large tented palace where light shined from and laughter and communion took place.)
[Inside the Tented Temple.]
(It was almost like a medieval ball: the children playing around the tree length tables, the adults communing and drinking wine from their decorative cups. It was almost like there was a large chandelier above the center of the room, but there were still only torches lighting the area. The Moi entered about 15 minutes after Tako, Davidson and Madam Cara had entered and stood uncomfortably quiet in the corner of the tent. They knew no one, so who would they commune with? They knew each other slightly enough to stand in each other's vicinity. The Moi, accompanied by trusted companions, went up high above the tables and the crowd on a throne with a glass in hand. Surrounded by friends. He stood and chanted out to the crowd.)
THE MOI: PLEASE! BROTHERS, SISTERS! HAVE A SEAT!
(He holds out his divine glass towards the crowd at their tables.)
THE MOI: PLEASE! WELCOME HOME OUR BROTHER WHO HAS BEEN AWAY FROM HOME! TAKO HAS COME BACK TO US!
(The Nightmarchers look toward the guests. They did not have identification of Tako, but they could assume who this person was by the color of his skin. Some begin to grin, some begin to question and wonder. This is what crowds are made of.)
THE MOI: TAKO HAS BEEN AWAY FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS! HE IS ONE OF US, AND HE HAS RETURNED!
(Tako was slightly uncomfortable. Not with the attention, but unease because he told The Moi he would not be staying. Tako did not make a face or smile. He stayed even out of respect for the people and the king, and whispered to Davidson.)
TAKO: What the fuck's going on? I thought he was meeting with The Elders to discuss!
DAVIDSON: He must have already. Either they gonna kill us, or they still haven't made up their minds yet.
TAKO: ... Damn it! That paranoid ass Jester would know!
THE MOI: PLEASE RAISE YOUR GLASSES FOR OUR BROTHER!
(Everyone in the room raises their cups around to toast to Tako.)
[Outside of the Temple.]
(Jester continues to wonder the land, until he finds an elongated tent towards the edge of the Mountain top. The grass was a hard sharp color at this time of night. It was the only source or light reflection where Jester walked. Bouncing the light of the fluorescent moon. He saw up ahead, the long tent that could have spanned the length of a 5 star hotel's hallway. He could see the torches lit from inside the tent sparingly, and evenly. The closer he got, he began to spot red circles outside of the tent. These were placed in twos evenly as well and at eye level. He instantly grasped that these were Nightmarchers. At this point, he realized he had reached his destination.)
NIGHTMARCHERS: HALT!
(Jester continued to walk with his hands locked into his pockets. He began to tilt his head the closer he got to get a clearer view of what he could make out in the dark.)
NIGHTMARCHERS: HALT, WE SAID!
(At this point, Jester could make out the terror this Nightmarcher felt. He was aware to use the term "we" which signified that he wanted to make sure Jester knew he was not alone with him.)
NIGHTMARCHERS: HALT! NOW!
(Jester now stood at a Western Quick Draw's distance. So he stopped and began to converse.)
JESTER: LET ME PASS!
NIGHTMARCHERS: YOU WILL NOT ENTER!
JESTER: LET ME PASS! OR DIE!
(They hesitate before responding to Jester's threat.)
NIGHTMARCHERS: WE WILL RISK OUR LIVES!
JESTER: ... YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?
(They hesitate again before responding the same as they did after Jester's initial threat.)
NIGHTMARCHERS: WE WILL RISK OUR LIVES!
(Suddenly, a loud roar. Far greater than The Moi's, rang out across the entire land. Causing Jester to fall to his knees cupping his ears, and clinching his jaw openly showing his bite. So loud, that across the land in the large Temple where hundreds-- maybe thousands of Nightmarchers dined and communed, the roar could be heard clearly. The roar silenced everyone in the Temple. Including The King himself. The words were...)
THE ROARING VOICE: LET HIM PASS!
(The Nightmarchers guarding the tent took a few moments before repositioning their bodies at a profile standing, facing one another across the length of the tent. Seemingly allowing someone to pass.
Jester looked up. Now slightly startled by the situation he has placed himself in at this point. He regains his composure as he stood. Then, he walked with a false confidence at a mid-pace to the entrance of the tent. His hands were quite far away from his pockets now. He entered.
The Tent had much more depth than he originally thought looking on from the outside. Looking straight on, sat a row of men. All elderly dressed in grey gowns. All with grey hair. Jester continued to walk forward before stopping at a distance he felt was safe. Now close enough to make out all of the faces of the men clearly.)
JESTER: (That king guy's not here. I suspected he had no real say in shit around here.)
(Back at the Temple, The Moi's eyes grew as wide as an night owl's. He realized he may have made a mistake.)
THE MOI: Oh no...
(Back at the tent, one of the elderly men spoke...)
THE ELDERLY MAN: The Demon of Prophecy.
(Back at the temple, The Moi continued to panic before letting 2 words of worry out of his mouth...)
THE MOI: The Elders!