futurology | video | text, un: uruz

[ 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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ 'Registered to ALASTAIR'--huh. ]

And how does ALASTAIR categorize the worlds it deploys to? How do you determine what is 'pivotal'? And why even let him know--does that not bias the results to start with?

[ She has three more questions for each answer she gets. As for 'trust'....well. She'll see about that. ]

To be quote honest, I'm not certain. That's all handled within the Mechanical Room, it delivers answers and we handle the work.

As far as forewarning, it seems only fair, and their knowing doesn't sway results. We don't always quite blend in with the worlds we visit, of course.

[ She makes a noise of assent. It's fair enough: having fifty ragtag strangers show up at the city gate would look suspicious to anyone, probably. ]

The Mechanical Room? [ Sure sounds like something that has a high chance of flying over Kida's head. That doesn't make her want to understand less. ] And you believe it--you obey it?

[ Actually, put more simply: ]

You believe, in this work you do?

Oh, yes. I've seen the good ALASTAIR can do -- and the devastation that can happen in its absence. I believe there is work that must be done for the good of us all, and ALSTAIR has stepped up to do it.

[ 'In its absence'...would an intervention from ALASTAIR have saved her world? ]

'Stepped up'? Who founded ALASTAIR?

If that was ever recorded, it was before the time of anyone I know. It's rather an old organization.

And what good have you seen it accomplish? Why not simply--let things be as they are?

[ For once, a little less jovial: ] Worlds that are left to their own devices sometimes collapse onto themselves. There is great imbalance in the Timeline, and stepping in is the only way to save them.

[ well, if nothing else, Uruz is talking to someone who knows what 'collapse' looks like. ]

How do you know of this 'imbalance' if it is this--mechanical....room [ or something w/e ] that decides what is 'imbalanced' to begin with?

How long have you worked for them?

[ Is it really a 'them', though? ]

I've seen the collapse, and I've seen worlds saved from the brink of it due to our actions. It's enough to make me trust that the instructions we receive are truthful and accurate. I hope you won't see the collapse yourself, but I'm quite sure you'll rescue your share of worlds, if you stick around for it.

As to my time here, to be quite honest I've lost count of the years. Most of my life, though.

The only world I have any intention of rescuing is my own.

If ALASTAIR can aid me in that--I suppose I shall lend them my spear.

Is your world in danger of collapse?

My people are in danger of dissolution. Of irreversible decay.

Ah, collapse of a different kind.

I'm not in a position to promise ALASTAIR's resources anywhere, but assistance isn't impossible.

How? What kind of 'assistance'?

[ And at what price? ]

There are a lot of factors in that. The situation in your world, the other challenges facing ALASTAIR at the time, the resources we'd have at that point...

Really, I think your best bet is on a personal level. ALASTAIR's first loyalty is to the Timeline, and what assistance we can give as a group is dependent on that. Your friends within ALASTAIR may have no such ties.

And when will we be allowed to return to our homes?

When ALASTAIR has enough energy to spare to open an intentional rift. It takes quite a lot. Sometimes the wait is years.

[ well, that's something at least. she just hopes Uruz is being truthful. ]

I have years--it is my people I worry for. [ And perhaps most importantly, her father. ] They will seek me out, if I am missing.

Oh, that won't be an issue! When we do open a rift, we can do it to just when you've left. You won't be missed at all.

To protect the....'Timeline'? [ She can practically sense the capital T. ]

How did it come to be so....'imbalanced', as you say?

Now there's a good question. There was... an explosion. That's what we're told, I'm a bit foggy on the details, I doubt if anyone can really be sure of them. But they say things used to run quite smoothly, but something erupted, and shattered one reality into hundreds of thousands of them. Now they're constantly shifting and unbalancing each other, as so many can't be sustained altogether without some mishap. It's all quite cosmic, and a bit overwhelming to look at it like that. I prefer to focus on solving the trouble of just one reality at a time.

[ Cosmic and overwhelming is right. They say things used to run quite smoothly-- ]

Who is 'they'? How do all of you know what needs to be done?

They is our historical record. You can find books on these matters in the library, they'll have much more information for you.

And as for how we know, that's back to the Mechanical Room again. That's the solution ALASTAIR worked out for calculating balance and needed action long before I was around.

[ The library...it sounds intimidating, to be honest, but she won't become a better reader without practice. ]

So if I read your records, I will find information on all the missions ALASTAIR has undertaken?

(no subject)

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