video | text, un: uruz

[uruzology]

[ The scene presented via jewelry is within one of the many rooms of the newly refurbished Oska castle. A centaur stands next to the cheerfully roaring fire, presenting a matchingly cheerful smile. ]

It looks like you’ve all lived, although that was a little close there, for some of you. Good work! I knew you could do it.

Now, as you may have noticed by Oska looking quite well around you, the last week was a false reality. Don’t take it personally, that happens to everyone here eventually. We have to make sure recruits are up to snuff. You’re a bit unique as a whole team of greenhorns, though. To be quite honest, I’ve never seen this activity done on such a large scale before. It was impressive, wasn’t it? And don’t worry, any trinkets you may have come across are quite real, and yours to keep if you want them.

So then, to business. I’m Uruz. I’m familiar with some of you already, although I’m afraid that’s one-sided in most cases — I spent a fair bit of time in there with you, but none of you saw me if I was doing my job right. ALASTAIR has asked me and my compatriots, Dagny, Crowley, and Cherenkov, to review your performance within Chantes and rate your work. It’s quite a big job, our to-do with worlds, and we want to make sure we’ve got trustworthy recruits. I’ve attached that for you, please do give it a glance.

dagny: Well, the king died. So that's... not the best. From what I hear, things are kind of chaotic there right now, what with the whole 'no government' thing and all. And a lot of you got in a ton of trouble with the law. But you did work together! Most of you, anyway. People died and the city got destroyed, but I know you all did your best, so you get points for effort. I give you an... eight. Point five. No, nine out of ten. But that's as high as I'll go, because, you know. The murder and death.

Don’t feel bad, though, there’s always room for improvement.

crowley: Your refusal to work with the goblins’ natural talents for magic was disappointing. I foresaw much potential there, and it was wasted on your muddying things up with politics. On the other paw, your dispelling of demons and other magical creatures was serviceable, if a little last-minute. 5/10.

cherenkov: I stopped paying attention after you all brought the sun back. Because that's what matters, doesn't it? You didn’t do badly for a bunch of apes, but don’t get distracted by the diplomatic nonsense next time. Ignore the cow and the knife-eared one. Spend the time improving instrumentation, not making friends. 8/10.

uruz: You did make an attempt. You got engaged and cared to deal with their issues, which, well, we'd really have an issue for concern if not. And you did very nice work on a personal level, to bring together goblins and humans. They'll not be moving in together any time soon, but they're on the right path. But really, did you have to murder the man? He'd just killed the king, to be sure, but taking a life has serious consequences, no matter whose it was. It sets you on a path it can be difficult to step off of. But overall, acceptable. 6/10.

There we go. On a final note, I’ve been asked to let you know that you’ve got some time to spend in Oska before your next assignment, which is to Nalawi. A lovely place, I’m a bit envious. Enjoy your downtime, and again, good work! I’ve very high hopes for the lot of you.

[ The network is now back up again along with Oska being restored and the weather events ended, and you can find a full description of current Oska right here. Feel free to use this post to thread on, and the NPCs may make a few appearances for direct questions. ]

Comments

voice | un: uruz

[uruzology]

So sorry about that -- needing to dip in and out of the reality left a few traces, you know.

video, I hope a hijacking is okay

[ackingcraycray]

Wait, does that mean that one of you dropped a little birdie hat?

[And out she pulls the falcon hood, fixed atop her hand in demonstration. It's considerably muddier now than when she found it, and she's drawn a smiley face on one side in the muck. She curls her fingers into a beakish form and gives her best hawk cry.]

Screeee! Screeeee!

video | un: uruz

[uruzology]

[ This is worth video. Uruz reappears, looking a little delighted. ]

Oh, you'd found it! Dagaz will be so pleased to have her hood back!

[ackingcraycray]

[OH HELLO AGAIN, dashing centaur lady! She's still mad about the whole everything but momentarily distracted by all things birb.]

Dagaz! Wow! Can I see her? What kind of bird is she? Does she need the hood for battle?

[uruzology]

She's an eagle, a Crested Tropo. And between you and me she doesn't need the hood, so much as she appreciates its aesthetic. If you'd like to stop by the stables with it, of course you're welcome to meet her.

[ackingcraycray]

Oh, a glam eagle, eh? I'm something of a fashionista myself!

[She says while wearing a severely dirtied and fraying birthday cake sweater.]

Okay! I'll be right over!

Unless... [Suspicion narrows her eyes.] This isn't going to be another simulation trick-trap, is it?

[uruzology]

[ That gets a smile. ]

Not this time, I'm afraid. Unless you want to answer a riddle to be allowed in through the door, I think I could manage that much.

[ackingcraycray]

Yeah! Make it your craziest riddle. I'll crack it wide open. Like a WALNUT.

((AND IDK IF YOU WANTED TO THREAD OUR THE HANDOVER we can leave it here if you need to cast modly attention elsewhere))

[uruzology]

((I don't mind threading it!))

I'll be sure to think up a good one for you.

[ The stable is looking much better than it was earlier this week, and with all sorts of odd animals inhabiting the stalls. The front doors are firmly locked, though, waiting. ]

[ackingcraycray]

[It's hardly the same place Mabel knew and loved. In spite of how terrible it had been. And dirty. Extra emphasis on the dirty, but part of that is to blame on the monsoon.

Mabel is delighted of course. She thinks she can hear actual horses inside! Trotting up to the door and glancing both ways (some part of her still warns her to keep a guard up a lame part), she takes a deep breath before she ratatat-tats on the door.]

Uruz, it's Mabel~

[uruzology]

[ The door creaks open, but just a crack. It's just enough to see a sliver of Uruz, from large hoof up to cocked head nearly 8 feet above. This is how you do door-opening riddles, she has studied the right approach. And since Mabel brought up nuts... ]

Only a successful answer is allowed into the stables. So answer me this: what sort of nut has a hole in the middle?

[ackingcraycray]

[The door cracks open and she looks up. And up. And up.]

Whoa...

[Now here's a woman who's good to ride every attraction at the amusement park. Centaur, sorry. But still though, that's twice the neck craning she has to do with normal adults. Does JC Peggy have a section for clothes that big?

OH RIGHT THE RIDDLE.]

Oh! Aha. Hmm. Nut hole... [This one is a toughie. Tap tap tap goes her finger to her chin.] A mental patient! Getting open heart surgery!

[Immediately she shakes her head.] No no Mabel, that's a stretch.

But ahum...Nut hole. Nut with a hole. Hole nut. [GADZOOKS! Inspiration strikes, straightening her upright. She slams her fist into her palm.] Donut!

It's donut. Is it a donut? I'm right, right?

[uruzology]

[ She listens in taciturn silence until Mabel guesses donut, and then there's suddenly a pleased smile half-visible in the crack of the door. ]

That's right!

[ Heavy hooves step backward as Uruz pulls the doors open, displaying a newly renovated stable, well-lit and filled with an assortment of animals. And unless Uruz has two birds, that's Dagaz sitting perched on her rump, ignoring the goings on, tragically hood-less. ]

Welcome to the actual stables. Quite a bit nicer, isn't it?

[twinpeak]

[ Briefly, he glances off to the side. ... Well, at least Mabel's found something to take her mind off things with, so he can't stay too mad. Just a little bitter. ]

Now I do. Were we supposed to find any clues at all then? I spent the whole week trying to make sense of it!

[uruzology]

You did find a clue! You found the first clue, it was very important.

[twinpeak]

[ His expression pinches together in thought. If not the trail or the hood, then... ]

The game underneath that stone?

[uruzology]

Of course! I hope you didn't think we routinely leave those lying about. Your solving that helped Rin find her way to the very end of the puzzle.

[twinpeak]

I thought it was fishy, but I couldn't find a whole lot more after that.

[ Though, he did put his findings on the makeshift bulletin in hopes something would come out of it. Looks like it worked after all. ]

How many of those puzzle pieces were around?

[uruzology]

There were six altogether, plus the final bit. I suppose that's seven, isn't it?

[twinpeak]

Sounds like it. I guess with that many, it would've been tricky for just one person to solve under those circumstances.

[uruzology]

That's exactly right, I'm sure it would have taken just one person much more than a week. But you lot managed it in 7 days! It's really very impressive when you look at it like that.

[twinpeak]

Uh, yeah, right next to the miracle that somehow nobody died? I think. The raining fire was a nice touch but, honestly, now that it's all over I just want to eat a hundred burgers right now.

[uruzology]

I might recommend a trip to the kitchens, then. If you ask nicely, the oven comes out with a marvelous hamburger.

[twinpeak]

[ THAT gets his attention in an impressively short amount of time. ]

—Wait, for real? There's actual burgers here?! [ IT'S BEEN SO LONG... Chantes was severely lacking in the fast food department. ] Oh, man, that's great! I'm starving!

[uruzology]

The kitchen can produce anything; just don't ask me how, I've never quite understood it myself.