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

[anti_altruisms]

You think conscription into servitude is kinder than death?

[uruzology]

I do. It may be unpleasant, but it isn't permanent by nature.

[anti_altruisms]

Sometimes, it is.

[ His own has lasted longer than he even knows, and why he doesn't say it, Archer very much doubts Michel would have taken kindly to any of those other options. ]

If we were expected to accomplish any of those other outcomes, there wasn't a great deal of time to address it.

[uruzology]

It would have been difficult, that's true, but we've never claimed our work was easy.

[anti_altruisms]

[ If he were the type to roll his eyes, he would be right now. ]

Are you in the business of peddling ideal outcomes to timelines hanging in the balance?

[uruzology]

Oh, yes. Once we know the ideal outcome, it can be passed along. They do tend to leave a few open ends even so, though.

[anti_altruisms]

I was told the introductory mission before Chantes involved saving an endangered species that eventually wiped out the human race of that world.

Would you explain to me how you qualify 'ideal outcomes'?

[ He doesn't believe there's any such thing, to say the very least. ]

[uruzology]

Certainly. The world in need of intervention is identified within the Mechanical Room, followed shortly by the state of the world required to keep it successfully balanced within the Timeline. For Chantes, it necessitated the resolution of conflict between the two races. Quite simple, for the most part — the details are left up to recruits.

[anti_altruisms]

'Successfully balanced', I'm assuming, includes allowing worlds to take their natural course, from beginning to end, whatever that might be?

[uruzology]

Sometimes, yes!

[anti_altruisms]

[ Fair enough. ]

This isn't the only stronghold that ALASTAIR has, is it?

[uruzology]

There are a few other bases tucked away here and there, but this is by far the largest and most used of them. Why do you ask?

[anti_altruisms]

I'm simply curious about the reach ALASTAIR has.

I wouldn't think it would be restricted to only one base.