Test Drive Meme #006

[khuimods]

KHU IODUAN; TEST DRIVE MEME #006

I. AROUND AIFARAN - Getting The Perfect Shot! This month in Aifaran, there's a contest being held on the popular social site Xa Xa, which Earth-based Dreamfolk may recognize as vaguely Instagram-like -- it's all about the pretty pictures! With a top (and substantial) prize of 500 hhinn per category, lots of people are getting into the game. Prizes will be handed out for awards like Best Composition, Most Creative Angle, Best Use of Lighting, etc, and this means that it won't be uncommon to see people in unusual places (even some risky ones) trying to score the perfect shot. Maybe they're bumping accidentally into you on the street, or slipping off the edge of a rooftop, or not paying attention to that train heading their way?? II. TALENT IS A MISNOMER - You Didn't Need That Wall Right? There are a lot of Dreamfolk in the city, and all of them are dealing with their own newly gifted Talents in their own ways. Some, especially those who are used to extraordinary abilities from their own worlds, have some idea of how to train on them safely, learning the ins and outs of their new gift. And then you have some whose only exposure to "magic" is through stories, fairy tales, or really entertaining TV, and pointing a finger-gun at a target and saying "boom!" has never actually worked... until now. "Uh," the other Dreamfolk says, staring dumbly at the car-sized hole in the wall, and then glances at you who just happened to be the closest person. "That's... new. Yikes. Should we run? Wait, I've got a better idea--" Cue loud voice and frantic pointing in your direction. "IT WAS THIS ONE! THEY DID IT!" III. WE HAVE REGULATIONS ABOUT THIS - Munga on the Loose! Munga are ill-tempered, rat-sized spiky lizards with a gift for camouflage, and whose venom in their spines and teeth is also highly hallucinogenic. And... they're on the loose. Fortunately, keeping them is highly regulated, and pretty much everyone in Aifaran knows about them, but loose Munga are uncommon enough that the reaction is more likely to be startled flailing at a hint of spines and skittering. Today someone's exotic pet has slipped out of their hands, and it's trailing a harness and lead as it zigzags away, prickling and hissing and going for the ankles. It's given a wide berth, except by those who don't notice until it's too late or those too preoccupied by something else. Hopefully the proper authorities have been notified to catch and return the creature, but maybe someone helpful can keep it from getting too far away? IV. A SURPRISE WINDFALL - Officer, This Isn't Mine... There was a loud thud as someone tosses a heavy bag from the window of a dilapidated building. Five seconds later there’s smoke pouring out the windows and your holding what seems to be someone else’s luggage. Opening it, you find carefully wrapped bricks of some very illegal drugs, and someone down the side alley is pointing at you and yelling. A mounted Sentry officer is giving you a rather peculiar look as well while he calls in the fire brigade. And among the people fleeing the building, there are five Kin’nal looking at you, wide-eyed, as it suddenly dawns on them that they messed up. Take your new prize and split before reinforcements arrive? Try to explain the mistake? Take note that the building is still on fire? V. KNOWLEDGE IS PRECIOUS - Accosted By Monks The Tariken monks are out in full force today, their orange and green robes making them easy to spot in a crowd, and there's a high chance you might be approached by one. Their sect values knowledge above everything else, so recording information from Dreamfolk, who are transient to Konryu, is something they see as imperative. Some of the questions are standard ("what's the name of your world? is it anything like Konryu? do have have any special position there?") but sometimes they move into stranger territory, like what's your favourite bath soap scent and how many times you wear your socks before washing them -- all of which are asked with the most studious attentiveness, just in case your answer holds the secret to the multiverse. VI. WILDCARD - Because You're Not The Boss Of Me Anything else that doesn't fit the above prompts is welcome, just keep it within the game setting please! Applications • Reservations • Taken List • Game Navigation

Comments

diamond / land of the lustrous

[toobright]

I

[Diamond has yet to really understand the concept of a "selfie" or what that entails, exactly -- and they also aren't quite sure what is "normal" behavior for these other creatures they've discovered to be quite unlike them in many ways.

But still, they can't help but try and dash to the rescue when they see someone starting to fall off the balcony of a building above, rushing below them to catch them just before they fall on the ground.

... unfortunately, although the catch was perfect, they bump into the wall from behind them and their arm cracks, dropping to the ground with a clatter. ]

... Oh, dear.

III

[ Fortunately for Diamond, they don't exactly have skin or veins with which to inject venom or cause pain by biting. They do notice something taking a nibble at their ankle, though, and they move to pick the munga up gently. ]

What a cute fellow you are!

[ They don't seem to notice the people looking on in horror, nor do they seem to be too terribly bothered -- a little surprised, maybe, but nothing more -- by how grumpy and squirmy it is. ]

slides in here, I

[corundrum]

My, my, you diamonds are as brittle as ever.

[Padparadscha apparently picked a good time to happen upon this scene, arms halfway to a stretch above their head. As usual, their shirt is wide open, revealing the filled holes in their torso that mercifully haven't had to be redone since they came here.

They crouch down to pick up Diamond's arm, somewhere around the elbow. Even though Diamond wouldn't have much to fear from Padparadscha's hardness, it's a bit habitual to avoid touching anywhere that might be easily damaged on another gem.]

Hopefully Rutile found a substitute for the glue we used back home, huh? [Neither Padparadscha nor Rutile have broken yet, so it hasn't been an issue...until now.]

OH HELLO <333

[toobright]

[ Diamond beams with excitement to see their sibling who they've missed so dearly, the Instagram-worthy sunlight lending a beautiful rainbow sparkle to their hair. ]

I have to say, I'm a little embarrassed someone as cool as you has caught me in such a pinch ... but it is very good to see you.

hi I just woke up | III

[rutility]

[ Perhaps more noticeable are the cries of offense and slight bruising as Rutile elbows their way through the crowd, drawn by both the activity and the strange gleaming of light refracting on the surrounding city. ] Pardon me, excuse me - well, I wouldn't have hurt you if you'd stood aside the first time, would I have? - oh, send for the Sentry if you're that upset...

[ Then they break through the crowd, emerging into the clearing that has formed around ... Diamond, of all people, holding a squirming munga in their arms. They stop short for a moment, eyes narrowing, but then close the distance between them and reach into their pocket. ]

Hold it still if you please, Dia. I want a sample of its venom before we're accosted for aiding and abetting.

HELLOOOO

[toobright]

[ Oh, what a coincidence! It's Rutile!

Dia compliantly holds the little sucker still for them, but they do look a little confused. ]

Accosted? What are we aiding and abetting, exactly?

Antarcticite | Land of the Lustrous

[acicular]

I. Around Aifaran

This is the first time that they have ever seen the lush green grasses of a tropical summer, or felt the warmth of the sun at its seasonal zenith. Antarcticite still doesn't truly understand how it is that they are able to withstand this heat without melting--this can't be possible!--but the assistants at the Dreaming Bridge had been quick to assure them that no, this is perfectly normal, the Dreaming is capable of performing wonderful feats for the Dreamfolk who are drawn here. And, very gradually, Antarcticite had allowed themselves to believe them... once they were convinced that this was not some elaborate ploy cooked up by the Lunarians.

But why would the Lunarians reconstruct a shattered gem in the first place? And surely the Lunarians did not look nearly so complex and varied as the flesh creatures that wandered Aifaran.

It is the latter of these thoughts that they are mulling over as they await the arrival of the skytrain on the platform... and notice someone on the tracks, posing with one of those silly talking media devices on the end of a long stick. Antarcticite scowls at their frivolity--then turns their head sharply when they catch a glimpse of the train's oncoming headlights.

Quickly, they rush to the end of the platform. "Get out of there, you idiot!" A split second for deliberations, and then they leap down onto the tracks to yank the moron in question out of the way.

(Are you the moron, or are you a spectator?)


II. Talent Is A Misnomer

There's a giant hole in the side of a building that now has smoke pouring out its windows, and all it takes is one false accusation from a particularly belligerent criminal for Antarcticite to find themselves the centre of the Sentry's attention.

"Explain yourself!" an angry Bresilykian is demanding of them, advancing forward with several of her fellows at her side.

Startled and outraged, but keenly aware of the solid-looking batons that the officers wield, Antarcticite takes several swift steps backward.

"What explanation do you want from me!" they demand in response, gesticulating backwards at the massive hole in the wall in disbelief. "This was not my doing, you have the wrong person!"


V. Knowledge Is Precious

Antarcticite was not expecting to lapse into a spell of melancholy after their time answering the questions of the Tariken monks, but they suppose such a thing would be inevitable after passing an hour or two discussing nothing but their memories of home; the land, covered first in a soft fine down of snow that would only grow thicker, more dense, as the cold of winter encroached upon it. The halls of the school, quiet and orderly as the rest of their companions hibernated through the coldest season. Of the good and sensible work found in cleaving the ice floes, of making Sensei proud--and of Phos.

It leaves them bemused, how often their thoughts turn towards that good-for-nothing little pebble. ...No, that isn't right anymore, is it?

They remain seated on one of the park benches long after the monks have gone off to pester one of the other newly arrived Dreamfolk for details of their homeland. Antarcticite sits still with their hands resting still on their knees, frowning determinedly at nothing. No, this won't do at all.


VI. Wildcard!

(hit me with anything else you have in mind!)

I

[rutility]

By chance or by fate, or perhaps both, Rutile is a frequent patron of the Skyway, and glances up from their yimo when they hear the tell-tale clatter and grind of stone landing on gravel. What they startles them such that the yimo slips out from their hand, and there is a delicate moment where they are frozen with surprise. It is Antarcticite of all people, here, in Aifaran, who has jumped down onto the tracks to rescue some hapless bystander, in front of an oncoming skytrain.

Fucking kids, is Rutile's clearest thought as they dash to the edge and crouch by the side. "Antarc!" they shout, and reach down as far as they can. "Give them to me, Antarc; you need to get out!"

With the train coming at this speed, the matter of hardness is a moot point; neither of them will make it through a collision unscathed.

[acicular]

There is a wide-eyed looking Castian now clutching at Antarcticite's arms and torso, her initial exclamations of indignation now replaced by shrieks of terror as she becomes aware of her circumstances. "Get me out, get me out, help me!" she yells, often and repeatedly, while Antarcticite struggles desperately to sort out an escape plan in the fleeting moments they have left.

Reckless, impulsive--but what else could they have done, they could not have simply stood by and done nothing--

"Antarc!"

Startled, they whip their head around to stare up in shock at--"Rutile..!"

"Give them to me, Antarc; you need to get out!"

That command is enough to snap them out of it, and with a grunt of effort they toss--yes, toss--the shrieking Castian up into Rutile's waiting arms. (They'd better be waiting, at any rate.) That leaves Antarcticite just enough time to leap for the edge of the platform and scrabble desperately above the ledge before the oncoming skytrain comes roaring past, squealing breaks and all.

They make it, barely, though their hasty escape leaves a hairline crack along the side of one leg.

"...did you see that? I can't believe it, that lady nearly died..."

There's an explosion of sound around them as rubberneckers and gawkers crowd around them on the platform, some leaning in to see if the three of them are okay while others simply have their yimos up to liveblog the whole experience on Xa Xa. Antarcticite's wide-eyed shock at the experience is quickly transforming into indignation, though they wobble a little as they push themselves up to their feet.

II

[pulmonata]

That's quite unnecessary, don't you think?

[It's close enough to the shore for Ventricosus to have retained their form onto land, and their tentacles grip and press at the ground as they make their way over to investigate the ridiculous situation. They don't know Antarcticite, but they can tell immediately what it is they are, and their tentacles extend to one side slightly to form a barrier of sorts between Antarc and the batons.

The Sentry seem a little perturbed at the appearance of a large, fleshy sea-dweller, and Ventricosus bends down, pressing their flesh bags together with their arms to make them look more appealing.]

Can we call this a misunderstanding and move on?

[acicular]

[The Bresilykian and a few of the other Sentry are suitably distracted by appealing display put on by the interloper. Another Sentry gives his eyes a roll. Antarcticite, meanwhile, is regarding Ventricosus with very large, nearly colourless eyes, jaw slack. They were clearly not anticipating rescue by such a strange-looking person, particularly not one that nevertheless bears some resemblance to the other gems of the Land.

After a pause, the Bresilykian at the fore appears to return to her senses, clearing her throat.] There's, ah, there's still the matter of the damage to public property, [she points out, gesturing to the large hole in the side of a nearby building. No one appears to have been injured by the accident, though there are still flames coming out of one of the windows.]

[Antarcticite folds their arms over their chest and juts out their chin stubbornly.] Damage that was not inflicted by me, [they insist crossly.] If you Sentry paid any attention at all to what was going on around you, you'd know that your culprit fled that way-- [helpfully, they point in the appropriate direction,]--after implicating me!

[From the sidelines, someone else chimes in blithely,] It's true, that other guy did it.

[to which Antarcticite can only scowl, further exasperated.] See?

[Suitably sheepish, the Sentry now shift awkwardly where they stand. One eventually peels off from the rest of the group to go trotting haplessly after the other Dreamfolk who had so quickly fled the scene.]

chade fallstar | realm of the elderlings

[thepockedman]

II ▸ TALENT IS A MISNOMER | open

"IT WAS THIS ONE! THEY DID IT!"

Chade immediately adopts an affronted look - which is not even a lie, truthfully, as he has not witnessed such dishonesty since the time he convinced a minor lord that accepting a small contingent of servants from Buckkeep would in no way compromise the integrity of any clandestine operations he was involved with.

He knocks aside the pointed finger and scolds, as though to a child, "Get that thing away from me! You'll be far less satisfied when it's my guts spilling out all over the floor instead of bricks and mortar, I daresay."

Then he turns to the few civilians around that bore witness to the event - far too many for the shifty Dreamfolk's plan to do much good (or evil, as it were) - and looks each one in the eyes, his words diplomatic and somewhat heavy on his aged and frail nature.

"And anyway," he continues, "but I would never participate in the wanton destruction of such fine property without good reason. I hardly know how! I mean, look at me. My body could hardly handle lifting one of these bricks, much less destroy an entire wall."

IV ▸ SURPRISE WINDFALL | open

Sloppy, sloppy work, Chade notes with disgust dripping from his internal monologue. He's not sure what's in the bag, but it's clearly very important if it was worth setting a fire for and tossing out the window to save; what should have been a clandestine operation had turned into a spectacle quite worthy of his idiot apprentice. Such clumsiness was beyond redemption.

Moments after hanging up on the fire brigade, but still before sirens can be heard in the distance, the Sentry approaches Chade with an expression too curious for Chade's health. "Excuse me," the Sentry says, "is that your bag?"

With some regret - he really would have liked to know what exactly is in the bag - Chade sighs and offers it to the Sentry. "Not anymore, I'm afraid," he says. "It is unfortunate that what fate bequeaths to us it snatches again so easily. This parcel befell me at the moment smoke poured from the window and darkened the sky. It is those gentlemen, I believe," and here Chade gestures directly to the Kin'nal who have not the good sense to make themselves scarce, "that you are looking for."

The Sentry spaces out a little during Chade's monologue, but comes to as soon as Chade refers to the Kin'nal. Some people take forever to get to the point.

VI ▸ WILDCARD | open

[ whatever you can come up with, Chade will find some way to squirrel his way out of it! ]

II! (surprise)

[afoolsgold]

"...My body could hardly handle lifting one of these bricks, much less destroy an entire wall."

Oh, but he may regret those words soon.

"My dear grandfather!" The shocked exclamation comes from someone--clearly Dreamfolk--near the back of the crowd, but his bright, melodic voice carries over the muttering din currently surrounding Chade and his accuser. Then, decked out as brightly as a peacock, the Fool cuts a smooth path through the crowd to approach Chade with wide-eyed (and clearly theatrical, to Chade at least) concern. "There you are! Shall I have to make fast the locks on our doors even during lunch now? What will we do if you fall on your hip again?"

He links his arm with Chade's whether the old spymaster likes it or not, clucking his tongue in insufferably patronizing disapproval as he begins to lead him away from the scene. Around them, the temperature of the audience has shifted from suspicion to something mortifyingly closer to pity for Chade. To the Sentry, the Fool snips snidely, "Is this how you treat the elderly and infirm of your city?--Oh, do be careful of that loose bit of pavement there, Grandfather, your eyes are so poorly now."

wow i wonder who that could be

[thepockedman]

A chill could not have run through Chade's blood faster if he'd dived naked into the sea of Aslevjal when he hears that voice chirrup over the ruckus. A voice that, regretfully, he would know anywhere.

"My dear grandfather! There you are..."

Never shall it be said that Chade cannot take a hint. When the Fool expresses sickly sweet concern about his hip, as any grandson worth his salt would, Chade lets his tongue fumble the reply for a minute before saying quite clearly, "Well, boy, I imagine you would give me that lovely sleeping draught and then stay out all night, as you so enjoy doing."

As the Fool whisks him away with hardly a care for the delicate hip, Chade makes a great show of limping and treading all over the Fool's garishly expensive clothing (excellent taste, actually; perhaps Chade will happen upon the tailor). "My eyes may be poorly," he allows, "but it hardly matters when I can smell my way across the street. Or is that your perfume? You know my facilities are going, child; help an old man, will you? How very thoughtful; truly, I am blessed..."

They are halfway across the street when Chade really does trip - over nothing; he's simply very good at tripping - and grasps hard at the Fool's sleeve as he goes down, collapsing in a heap in the middle of the road. He cries out in pain and does so only louder if anyone tries to move him. "Oh, by El and Eda both," he declares. "My hip. You were right all along, my grandson; if only we'd the money for a doctor..."

The show is quite convincing if you don't know Chade. Fortunately, no one does.

IV

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis' interest in the fire easily redirects to the man who sounds like he walked out of a Shakespeare play. Her partner clearly cannot be bothered to listen to the man's monologue, but as soon as the gentleman points him in the direction of the Kin'nal, she can clearly see what occurred. Her partner, however, seems uninterested in them and more interested in what is in the bag and the person he feels he caught red-handed.

"Deran," she says, "I think we have more important matters on our hands than this elderly gentleman. I don't think he looks like a criminal, do you?"

Deran looks at her, then back to Chade, and back to her again. She offers a knowing smile.

"You know I can sense a lie," she adds, her tone smooth despite the chaos going on around them. "If he says it was them, it was them."

[thepockedman]

"My dear lady," Chade begins, throwing in a respectful bow for the flourish, "I can see that you truly are wise. Do not be too hard on your companion, for he was doing his duty as a soldier should. I am quite willing to forgive."

He's really laying it on thick, but Valdis is right: he's not guilty of anything more than standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. (Terrible thing to make a habit of.) What's interesting is Valdis's comment that she can sense a lie - she declares it in such a way that Chade half believes she means it as truth, rather than a throwaway trust for an old, pockmarked man.

As the conversation continues, the Kin'nal finally come to their senses and scramble away, tripping over each other to get away from the scene. Chade sets the bag down on the ground and then stands again. For an old man, his height is quite something. "I am loathe to tell you how to do your job, but perhaps there is quarry you should be chasing."

Clarissa | Swallowing the Sun (OC)

[traitortotheblood]

V

In her opinion this city by the sea is charming in many ways, from the unique architecture to the many races roaming the streets, Aifaran could be so lovely. The place even seemed mostly unified at a glance, though Clarissa was certain there was dissent somewhere. There was an underlying clash to everything, perhaps some sort of collision between powers that she couldn't quite put her finger on and she lacked the knowledge to ask properly. The Monks who approached her, however, had no such qualms.

"My favorite flower?" she asked pleasantly, a sweet smile on her face, "I have always liked lilies."

Fascinating how all these worlds had their own different religions, it was easy enough to glean information from these monks about their faith. They valued knowledge above all else, how useful. Perhaps she should 'join'.

VI

The beach was pleasant enough this evening, and Clarissa took full advantage, walking barefoot through the sand, her sandals hanging from a finger as she took in the sunset. The place reminded her of Greece at times, the fiery sky reflecting on the blue waters. How strange to think that beyond the borders was a world torn apart by death, perhaps this was what her own world had to look forward to should she fail in her destiny. The elegant woman sighed, dropping her sandals and wading into the water.

V

[thepockedman]

Chade is walking nearby as this happens, on his way from one curious machination to another. He sees Clarissa from a distance first; even from here, she towers over him, and the way she carries herself speaks of a lady of great refinement and greater pride. It is the monks she's speaking to; in reality, Chade suspects, it is they who should kowtow to her.

"A wise choice, my lady," says the gentleman, as he appears around her left side. "Though I'm sure you have far more interesting things about you than a choice of flowers."

Re: V

[traitortotheblood]

Clarissa glances over at the man as he approaches, offering him a smile, "I do," she replied, "But that doesn't mean I'm going to offer that information to a random stranger, no matter how charming he appears to be."

There is clearly no point in playing shy, she's never been inclined to act as someone else anyway. She would one day rule the three realms, and no one would respect a leader who lied and played too many games. She returns her attention to the monks, asking the location of their temple so she might visit them later. The monks don't seem inclined to depart, but Clarissa dismisses them, choosing to focus on the individual who had chosen to interrupt her previous conversation.

"Come," she says, as if certain he will obey, "You're going to buy me a drink if you wish to learn more interesting things."

Ace | 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors

[inyourace]

VI: WILDCARD: or, the indignities of interdimensional travel

The ship, Ace understood. The incinerator room, the bracelets, the trap he walked right into without a second thought: all of it, no matter how infuriating, he understood. All of it made sense.

The stable, the straw, and the pile of horse dung under his shoulder are somewhat less understandable.

Ace stirs, groans, forces himself to sit up. Where the hell is he? How did Zero manage this? The last thing he remembers is trying to verify at the RED, and the ERROR message on the display, which was impossible,, but -- he has to admit, not as impossible as blinking and finding yourself in a bed of straw and horse dung instead.

When he finally leaves the stable, utterly and visibly confused, he freezes when he sees the pair of horses outside -- or, not horses, but... monsters. Deer-lizard-eagle-horse monsters. Dear god, has he been drugged? Is he in a delusional or psychotropic haze?

"Zero!" he calls out, his voice angry, his face afraid. Flecks of animal dung still stain his cheek and his coat. "Where are you!?"


III: WE HAVE REGULATIONS ABOUT THIS: or, stupid tourists who don't know anything about munga

The strange lizard creature running towards Ace is really just the icing on the completely nonsensical cake. He's had a hard enough time getting used to this tropical city and the muggy heat without anything crazy happening. It's hard to register the danger in time, even after he hears shouts and the crowd around him makes way for the giant lizard... thing to skitter right up to his ankles.

"Argh!"

The little bastard bit him. Anger, pain, and frustration momentarily override Ace's better sense, and his foot lashes out, kicking the creature up into the air. It lands several feet away, where it moves sluggishly while making a wide variety of angry noises.

Ace doesn't seem to care. He kneels down to inspect the damage on his ankle, and makes an irritated noise of his own when he sees the angry red welts.

VI!

[afoolsgold]

There is an odd-looking stranger nearby who is absently feeding what is probably an apple to one of the kirin, stroking its strange nose and speaking to it rather gently as he does so--but whatever peaceful atmosphere exists between the Fool and this beast is abruptly interrupted by the outburst nearby.

...oh. A newly arrived Dreamer, he supposes.

With one last pat to the kirin's neck, he takes a few sidling steps away from its stable to peer at the newcomer, smiling wryly. "You appear as though you might need a bit of help," he remarks.

[inyourace]

Ace very nearly turns around and snaps, but fortunately, surprise quashes the urge. It's not a monster he's faced with now, it's an ordinary human being. It's...

... damn.

With no idea which of the other prisoners of the Nonary Game he's speaking to -- or if he's even speaking to any of them at all -- Ace's demeanour melts back into his usual calm, collected air. He's still confused, of course, which makes it easy to present the perfect picture of a confused and sheepish older man caught red-handed in a loss of temper he hadn't meant others to see. If it isn't one of the others, if it isn't Zero, then a good first impression is in order.

"I think you're right," he says, hands in his pockets, his gaze torn between the horse monsters and his new companion. "It's been a very stressful night. Can I ask what's going on here?"

III!

[thepockedman]

"Nasty little creatures, really," says the old man standing nearby, watching the scene with a curious mix of what might be disgust, but might also be amusement. It's tough to tell. "Apparently they are not always running amok, but in a place like this, you can never be too careful. One of the curiosities of the realm."

Chade proffers a slight bow, then offers a hand to Ace to help him up. "Do you need medical attention? I may know a few names."

Korg the Kronan | MCU

[perishablerock]

II. Talentish

Korg doesn't need to be experimenting with talents to accidentally break a wall. He just leaned on a wall that he didn't check for stability first.

"Oh, sorry about that. Used to leaning on things made of alien metal. Not any particular kind of metal, just your generically strong metal, fit to lambshade most improbably scenarios, you know the type."


V. Knowledge is Precious

Korg is happy to answer questions to the best of his ability, although the monks soon find his irreverence slightly offputting.

"Most recently I was on a planet named Sakkar, but mostly I spent a lot of time sitting in a circle that didn't go anywhere. Both the circle and me. It mostly stayed in place, as structures do, and also did a good job of imprisoning me inside it. As a prison went, I get it a solid B+. The lines for the bathroom were very long, you see."

"Polishing my rocks? Usually only in private."


Wildcard!

V | from one rock to another... hello

[rutility]

Rutile has cleverly evaded being accosted by monks up until this point, but it's a fascinating turn of events when they find that the tables have turned, and the Tariken appear to be held captive by the very person they sought to apprehend.

It's not clear whether Rutile is rescuing Korg or the monks when they politely dip into the conversation.

"You don't have to answer their questions, you know," they say.

II

[flashedglass]

That is...quite impressive, Clarissa thinks as she watches the rather large rock creature break a wall by leaning against it. It doesn't seem to be a talent, maybe he just weighs quite a bit, but his rambling is more amusing than anything.

Unfortunately, the sentry doesn't seem to think so. Clarissa steps up, false outrage in her tone.

"I demand you speak to the owner of this wall," she said, eyes narrowed, "It was clearly built wrong. Walls don't just fall down you know, not unless there's something wrong with the structure. You're lucky this man wasn't hurt!" She turned to Korg, winking so the officers couldn't see, "I would think some sort of citation is in order, perhaps a full investigation into the builders."