Rule 40: Go to any jam in any state you can get to, and immediately begin looking for a man who emanates sheer power, will, and control; you will know when you see him. If you do not see him you must go on through the jam as if nothing happened, else wise the beings there will force you to acts that will shred your body to ribbons. If you do see him, consider yourself unlucky.
You must approach him with a look and demeanor of confidence or perhaps slight arrogance, if you don't or your facade slips at any time, he will scream and chase you down. You have no hope of outrunning him so just hope that he feels merciful and the end comes quickly. When you reach him, stand approximately 3 meters away and make a gesture of challenge to him. If a look of intense anger comes across his face, pray that what comes next will at least eventually end. If he laughs however, you're safe, for now, and you must yell, in your most impressive and dominating voice; "I wish to see the Holder of Will!" Now take a deep breath and blink.
If you're still alive you will find yourself in a cold, empty place, the only things populating it are thousands of pillars jutting from an unseen place under the mist and the man from before leaping and climbing from pillar to pillar in an erratic random manner. You must follow him exactly, stepping on each pillar he does in the order he does, and always you must keep him in your sights. As you make your way along you will find that you will visions of your greatest desires and dreams playing out on adjacent pillars. Gazing at them for too long will drive a man mad with a mad longing to go to them. Ignore them and your impulses. If you don't you will fall from the safe path where you will become the prey of the nameless creatures who wait in the mist who will devour you eternally, the pain and torture never ceasing.
If you manage to keep up with the man, the pillars will continually thin until there is but one left, where the man will stop and stand in vigil at the end of this world into the never-ending mist. Upon touching this last pillar you must not move from whatever spot you're in, and must wait. It may take hours, it may be what will seem like days, but you must wait and be patient and after some time the man will turn around. If his face is the most horrific thing you've ever seen then you were not still enough. Close your eyes immediately and you will not see the hellish monster that will end your quest here. If the man turns and you see a great smile lighted upon his face, you will immediately find yourself in a great gymnasium, spanning hundreds of stories in height and impossibly large. Do not dwell on this matter as you have work to do.
You must again follow the man, this time to the top of the tower. There are no threats here except for the risk of falling, so feel free to take your time, indeed, it may better to take advantage of the lull and rest for now. When you reach the top, he will be looking out the only window in the building. Do NOT follow suit, your mind will be flayed by the things you'll witness there. Nothing you ever do will draw his attention from it except if you ask the question, "What part will I play when They come together?" Upon hearing this he will turn and you must immediately grab the sword from the rack which has now appeared next to you. He will begin explaining what you will do in photographic detail; The hundreds you will slaughter, the pain you will endure, and the suffering you will breed as They come together. Do not be distracted by the images in your head though, or he will run you through with the shining sword he now holds. You must duel him even as he tells you the most terrible things you will ever do. The story may continue for the time of days or even weeks. The closer Their coming together is, the shorter the tale. Hope that it is a long story.
When he finishes his story, you must try and end the duel as soon as possible, for he will quickly grow bored and become vicious, slashing you to pieces. It is impossible to win this duel, but you must to try with all your might. You will be disarmed by an super-humanly deft maneuver, and at this point your fate will be decided. If you didn't try your hardest, or the man thinks you didn't, he will ream his blade through your heart and throw you out the window into the inky darkness which will mercifully destroy your mind long before you finally die. If you did, however, give it your all, he will offer you his hand to help you stand up. Don't take it if you can stand up on your own, and even if you can't, at least try to stand on your own. When you finally arise, stare him in the eyes and give him a respectful nod. He will return the gesture and take your hand, placing an indeterminate shape which glows with ecstatic and permanent warmth in your hand. Nod again. When you bring your head up you will find yourself back at the jam, an hour after it has ended.
The hunk of metal is object 1537 out of 2538. It will graft itself to the skin of your hands and you'll find that you'll never become ill again and that with each passing day you grow stronger. But now they know you exist and your days will never be filled with peace again. Will it be worth it when They come together?
