The Book of Knots - Jags

Book of Knots - The Symposium
86
Long Divisions on wagons). They need to observe and then hold forth—
their speeches can rally the troops but they serve another function: their
voices can be heard by Shadows on Chessboard One. Some percentage
of people will be aware of what their Shadows hear (some people who
have a very strong connection to their Shadow or those who’ve trained,
like magicians, will hear the voices clearly “in their heads”).’
This can be used to try to gain converts—usually people who are sort of
“trying” can project their Shadows down to Chessboard 2 where they can
be seized by the Army of No and, after some extreme things are done to
them, used to communicate more directly with their owner.
This can also be used to demoralize people or create rumors of unknown
origin. Shadows hearing the broadcast may relay the message to
their casters. The real people will have the idea they heard something
somewhere—and may repeat it to others.
Flying Fists
The ultimate fetishistic fascist weapon, the Flying Fist appears as a
rocket-propelled hand (pointing with a finger or curled into a fist)
that strikes like a kinetic kill missile and targets based on its own
intelligence. It has eyes and, between the second and third fingers, a
mouth. Thankfully these are rare and most divisions have, at most, one,
but in areas that have been subjugated there may be shows of force with
squadrons of four of them streaking through the skies over the huddled
masses (Shadows) below.
Reflections on Chessboard Zero: Flying Fists represent power.
Shadows cringe when their scram-jet roar thunders overhead: people
who are in the same vicinity on Chessboard Zero tend to cringe a little
too.
There is a feeling of being watched from on high and a distinct feeling
of a giant fist ready to smash down. The ‘Hanger’ is usually some high
up place with limited access (the guards on Chessboard Two usually
mean the doors are locked). In the area one will find empty fuel cans,
bits of mechanics, computer gear (sometimes broken) all arranged in a
strange way that has meaning. This is where the Fists come to roost.
Bombardiers
The Long Divisions are good at instilling general terror but they are bad
at making examples of people. The Bombardiers are good for that. They
appear as tall skinny men walking on high stilts and wearing stripped
top-hats. They drop 1.5 yard-diameter “green apples” on their targets. A
target that has been covered loses all motivation—the shadow becomes
despondent and listless. A real person who has had their shadow
“bombed” in this fashion may lose their zest for life or at least their will
to resist.