scrib | HIRUNE: Make some plans.

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HIRUNE: Make some plans.

-- CURRENT austereAstronomer [AA] RIGHT NOW opened memo on board Team planning, welcome to new players --

AA: If you're reading this memo, that means you have been invited to play a game called "Scrib."
AA: I will warn you right now that there is a great deal of inherent danger in proceeding with this path.
AA: You will almost certainly need to fight for your life immediately.
AA: But unlike meteors, the challenges this game presents can be fought and overcome.
AA: If you think you are not up to it, this is a good time to back out. Once you enter the game, there is no turning back.
AA: But if you still want to play, we're going to need to do some planning.
AA: Who do we have on board?

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You examine the PRE-PUNCHED CARD. What's this a picture of? Some kind of teal HAT? You have no idea how the game chooses these things.

The KERNELSPRITE continues to spew gibberish at you. It is presently starting to get VERY ANNOYING. As you pace over to the TOTEM LATHE, you pause for a moment to grab something you left leaning against a wall earlier in preparation for this very moment and tuck it under your arm.

Yes, yes, that will do, I should think...

You pause a moment before inserting the PRE-PUNCHED CARD into the TOTEM LATHE. Not for the first time, you feel that CREEPING SENSE OF INEVITABILITY that you find REALLY, REALLY UNSETTLING. But it's this or die like so many of your other teammates, so into the breach it is.

You smile mirthlessly and then toss the rolled-up PROPAGANDIC WALL ADORNMENT that you previously held under your arm at the KERNELSPRITE. It disappears in a flash of TYRIAN PINK. You hope you haven't made the wrong choice. (Or ANY wrong choices, really. You've had the opportunity to make many today.)

But what's done is done. And with that, you insert the PRE-PUNCHED CARD into the TOTEM LATHE.

Well, there's no going back now.
Although the time for regrets is probably long past in any case.

You stare in awe as Hirune goes about her hive, taking care of the machines and tasks as if she'd memorized them. Honestly, you're still a bit confused so most of it's going right over your head. But you're trying to pay attention! Though a nearby PUZZLE threatens to grab your attention.

Oh, yes, no, um!
You c4n do it!

That's the most encouragement you can manage, since you can't really think of any specifics to reassure her with. Really, all you can think to do is watch. That TOTEM LATHE she's using is probably going to do something, and you're not going to take your eyes off of it until it does!

...though the idea of SOLVING the nearby PUZZLE still weighs heavily on your mind.

...thank you.

You watch as the TOTEM LATHE carves the cruxite dowel. It's NOT VERY INTERESTING, but it's starting to look something like a hat with a big flat square on the top as it spins in the machine.

I wonder what this thing is supposed to be, anyway.
Does it merely select a random object from a list?
Or is it supposed to mean something?

You glance back at the TIMER. Thirty seconds to go. Outside, something is making the sky grow brighter, even though you're pretty sure it's still the middle of the night.

You're probably the worst at being observant because now, with a PUZZLE in-hand, you don't even notice the brightness of the sky outside of Hirune's hive and you certainly don't notice the TIMER.

Oh, um, th4t's, um...
M4ybe, oh, w4it, um!
Wh4t 4bout inside it?

Probably because of the puzzle you're solving, you wonder if there's something that could be hidden inside the object. And maybe there was a way to open it! After all, the DOWEL had come from inside the CRUXTRUDER so, maybe there was something inside of this one, too!

M4ybe there's 4 w4y... to open it up!
Like um, twisting or... turning or something m4ybe!

Hm, maybe.
After all, it must run on something, and the cruxite has to come from somewhere...

You PEER INSIDE. here's nothing there; just an EMPTY CYLINDER.

Maybe the equipment is in the base?
Although considering that this seems to be necessary I'm a little hesitant about taking it apart.

You glance out the window. Also, there's no time for that. You start to realize what the COUNTDOWN might be COUNTING DOWN TO.

You grab the CARVED DOWEL, and, walking briskly, take it over to the ALCHIMETER where you place it on the slot meant for it. The strange machine seems to scan the DOWEL, and suddenly the strange HAT-LIKE THING from the card appears, apparently made of CRUXITE, on the platform.

You were kind of hoping it would MOVE YOU TO THE MEDIUM not that you've made it, but it seems like that's not actually the triggering event.

What do I even do with this ridiculous thing?

Well now you're REALLY CONFUSED.

W4it, wh4t is th4t.
Th4t thing it m4de?
But um, th4t's new!
Th4t h4s to be... the import4nt thing, yes!

You're particularly fascinated, drawing your face closer to the screen as you attempt to get a better idea of what exactly that HAT-LIKE THING made of CRUXITE is. It's... what is it? You have no idea, but all you can see is what you're looking at on the screen.

Ex4mine it, I think?
M4ybe it's the puzzle!
Or um, the solution!

You EXAMINE the CRUXITE ITEM. You're not exactly sure what it's supposed to do to help. Is there a switch on it somewhere? You turn it over in your hands, aware of the light in the sky drawing DISTRESSINGLY CLOSE.

Why would the game give you a hat?

I'm overthinking things again, aren't I?

You PUT THE HAT ON just as you think it's too late, and close your eyes against the brightness of the meteor crashing down on you.

You open your eyes and it's DARK. It's REALLY, REALLY DARK and for a second you're sure you're dead except for then your eyes adjust.

I...
I think I made it, Avispa.

You stare in horror, watching the events unfold on the screen of your husktop. You don't know what to do or how to help. This puzzle is new to you. Strange, bizarre, and you don't understand at all. Just as you set your claws down on the keys, you receive the messages. Hirune made it? She, what, huh?

Your confusion aside, you make sure to immediately respond.

Um, you're still t4lking... to me 4nd you're... not de4d, I think!
4nd I don't see... the silly h4t 4nywhere!
I think, m4ybe, um... you m4de it, yes?
Th4t would m4ke sense!

You stagger over to lean against your WORKSTATION. Suddenly, it feels like your legs can't hold you up anymore. But you're sure that you're ALIVE, and that's enough for right now.

You know what... I think I did.
Can you see more of this place from your screen?
It's pretty dark out...
Maybe it's nighttime.
But I... I can see something in the distance.
Mountains, maybe?

SQUINTING, even with your glasses on, you're PRETTY SURE there's something rising toward the sky in the distance. They don't look like the pictures of mountains you've seen, tall and thin, but maybe there's more than one kind of mountain. You can't even see the ground from here.

Though here I am going on when you probably have other things to be taking care of.
You still have to complete your entry sequence, after all.

You take a look around from where you see HIRUNE standing to see where she is. This isn't where she was. What the? It is really, REALLY DARK here.

I c4n't see 4nything... else either, oh no.
But um, m4ybe, mount4ins?
You might be right!
Other th4n th4t it's... re4lly d4rk, I think.
M4ybe it will get... brighter l4ter, um, m4ybe?

4nd oh, um, I... do need to do... th4t don't I, um.
I'm 4 little sc4red.
But I know I... h4ve to do it!
Soon, um, m4ybe, um.
But, is there 4nything... else I c4n do... for right now, m4ybe?

You squint around in the darkness, and start thinking about ways to produce some very large light sources. This is going to get annoying fast.

Though, above you, you can see something kind of glowing above you... a sort of teal color, a sort of circular thing. That's probably important.

Well, your progress at this juncture is far more pressing than my own.
But I imagine it should go relatively smoothly for you.
You got me through it safely, after all.
I think... I think, though, after that, that our next goal should be to build upwards.

You... don't think that you'll be able to get in as smoothly, especially after what you just watched, but you do nod at your screen at Hirune's suggestion.

Oh, um, you me4n... m4ybe building up your... hive higher, upw4rds, m4ybe?
I think I c4n... do th4t 4fter I... get into the g4me!
I, um, m4ybe, um.
I hope I c4n... get in, too, Hirune.

Yes, precisely.
Regarding your entry, I *would* say there's no pressure, but in fact this seems to be a matter of life and death.
So if there was ever a time to have confidence in your abilities, I think it would be now.
If it's any help, I have great faith in your ability to make it through.
You're the best at solving puzzles I know, after all.
Just think of it as a particularly challenging one.
...perhaps with a few pieces missing.

... ... ... ...
I c4n do th4t.
I c4n 4bsolutely do... th4t, I hope, yes!
4nd when I solve... it I won't h4ve... to do it 4g4in!
I just h4ve to... m4ke it through once!
I c4n do it... I hope, I think.
I'll get in the... g4me too, I will!

You can and you will.
Well, the earlier start you get the easier it'll be.
So I'll let you go.
I think it's time I go see what's out there.

Ok4y, th4nk you, Hirune!
I'll see you in... the g4me 4g4in, 4bsolutely...!
St4y s4fe, ple4se, ok4y?

I will.
You stay safe, too.

Fingers crossed. Maybe... just maybe, things will work out.

You hope, anyway.

I will, 4bsolutely, Hirune!

--apiaryCryptonaut [AC] ceased pestering austereAstronomer [AA]--

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HIRUNE: Make some plans.

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