The Puzzlers Request - RPLOG
Participants
Date
28/3/477
Log
Afternoon in Saint's Square, the busiest time of day as beings head to and from noon mass at the Creator Church. At the foot of the statue of Saint Alan sits what appears to be a being in a green pinstriped suit - those in the know will immediately recognise him as the Puzzler, that fickle spirit. Yet instead of his usual grin, his expression is somber, his hat is pulled over his eyes to shade them from the sun. Several guards have half-heartedly asked him to move along to stop attracting attention, but they're saying it as if they don't mean it. Not that one would want to be the one to try and grab the Puzzler...
Asher patters across the square on his way to Noon Mass. He does not attend every day, but after all the time he spent in the last day on special orders, he really needed a bit of time away from the shop. He comes to an abrupt stop at the sight of a familiar fox in outlandish clothes loitering in the square.
A rumble, a flick of the tails, and Flora slinks out of the small apartment she considers home for the time being. Her ears flick, and she grins broadly as she notices the fox, only to run back inside to grab something, then return as quick as she can, holding a rolled-up, poster-sized print of last time's photograph in her hand as she moves over towards the puzzler.
Cedric makes his way to the square, not on his way to mass, as he usually doesn't go to church. For whatever reason, he'd felt particularly drawn to the Saint's Square this afternoon.
Rixo shuffles along the street, boots scuffing on the pavement as she comes to rest near the statue. For once, she wasn't in her armour, having traded it out for a simple dress. "Well that's an unusual sight I haven't seen in a while," she mumbles to herself. For the time being, she opts to sit back, setting her hands on her hips as she watches, waiting.
Bite sways to saints square, interested in seeing what all the fuss is about. She approaches the growing crowd, to see the fashionably dressed gentleman from the strange poster she had aquired from a feline. She looks around everyone and tilts her head before she simply speaks up. "Hello there sssweetie, I've seen you before but you haven't seen me, can I ask why you're attracting so much attention? If not for your wonderful fashion sense." she adds with a giggle before awaiting an answer.
Fenris saunters into the square, looking up at the great statues. He follows the statue down to look at his Spirit Patron. He tips his new, broad-brimmed hat in greeting.
Valor plods along in his usual slow manner. Where were all these people going? He knew nothing of the religious orientations of the city-folk, being a hard-working country horse himself. So he just found eddies in the current of bodies, looking to what interested him. He saw the green-suited figure and was curious, but less so. He found another hole on the current and used his superior height to peer above the crowd.
The Puzzler addresses everyone present, giving a flashy bow to his dedicants before turning to everyone else gathered in the square. "I'm here to give my thoughts, it's true: today we have much to do. No riddles, no rhymes no tricks today: only I beg you to listen to what I have to say.
Some of the crowd depart immediately when it soon becomes clear that he's not playing his usual tricks of dispensing goodies to all present, and at that departure he shakes his head and removes his hat, holding it in both hands as if in mourning. "Those given to greed, will soon find themselves in need. Those who do not harken, their lives may darken."
Asher patters up closer to the Puzzler, catching sight of Fenris and Flora and the Badger that had dedicated to the Puzzler at their last meeting. He frowns at the strange fox's warning. "This sounds ominous," the little corgi mutters, drawing close to his friends.
Flora blinks a few times, her tails swishing behind her as she looks up at the Puzzler, her ears folded back lightly as she mewls a fewtimes, tailtip twitching and displaying her discomfort at those words. She's not quite sure what they mean, but... It doesn't sound good. Doesn't sound good at all.
Cedric returns the puzzler's bow, though not as flashily, only bowing his head slightly. The badger isn't entirely sure why the problems of the greedy are his own, but he at least seems to be paying more attention now than he had last time. For one, he's actually awake this time. Which is usually a good sign. He stands nearby and listens.
Rixo tilts her head, rubbing her cheek. "Much to do, huh? Well, you've got my interest! I'm curious as to what could be so bad." The panda shuffles a little closer, a hand straying up to scratch at one of her ears.
Bite tilts her head and blinks. Greedy might well be her middle name but she certainly doesn't see herself in need anytime soon. Still, she listens carefully, looking to those present that she knows, opting to move towards Flora before she asks lowly "Is that the guy from the thing?"
Fenris gives a worried frown, this seemed out of character for the outlandish spirit. He looks down as Asher draws near. "You said it, kid," he says, "Very ominous." The tiger looks up at his patron, little purple and green question marks gradually appearing on his fur as he ponders the Spirit's words.
Satisfied that he has the attention of everyone still present, the Puzzler gives them a nod and fiddles in the air with his fingers, pulling out a small harmonica from thin air. A few notes are played on the gleaming instrument, after which he tosses it over his shoulder nonchalantly and clears his throat.
"I hope I'm making it know this is serious. Those who know me will know my behaviour today is rather uncharacteristic of me...but the Outside court has requested that I be serious, so I am, just for today. Word has it that your "Creators" have been offering you their money, and already, even before having seen or received it, the various peoples of your world have already fallen to squabbling over it - the creations are much like their creators, indeed. Hence, I bring a word of warning from the Outside court, those of my kind who have travelled between many worlds, seen many places, and witnessed many events: my advice is not to accept the Creators' money at all."
Asher tilts his head a little. He has no idea what the strange being is talking about. "What creator money?" he asks. If it was some sort of public announcement in the last couple of days, he had definitely missed it. He watches the Puzzler's harmonica soar through the air, but knows that it is FAR out of his reach.
A flick, a rumble, and Flora blinks a few times. "But... Flora wouldn't be able to use the money anyways, would she? Flora would need to buy things from a creator, because Flora doesn't think they use the same kind of money, no," she mumbles, before looking up again. "Why else is taking the money bad, Mister riddlefox?"
The thrown harmonica catches his eye for a moment, but Cedric doesn't budge an inch from his spot to try and catch it. His gaze shifts from the flying instrument back to the puzzler as he nods, "I heard a rumor about it. I don't really care about their money myself. Do you know what'll happen if we accept it?" he asks, wondering to himself about why it would be a bad idea to accept their payment. As the badger ponders over it, a green question mark appears in the white stripe of fur just underneath his eye. And then another, purple, on his shoulder. There's probably a few more elsehwere, who knows?
