General Knowledge

It might seem impossible, but there is a moment of quiet at the peko ranch. Uta is quietly sweeping a paved surface just outside the living area, surrounded by Scrubber Slimes which are helping clear the rest of the area. Not far, there seems to be some construction work underway at the Slime Lab -- seems like it's getting expanded.

Goldenblade has been hiding under a makeshift tarp-like thing, covered in grass and hay, and is rubbing her backside where a peko thought the grass looked particularly tasty. The peko was surprised to find it tasted like chainmail, and Goldenblade was very surprised to find her clever disguise was not as clever as all that. Deciding to take a break from hide-and-seek, she will head over to Uta, calling a greeting, "Hello!" and look to see what might be more interesting than hiding practice. The list of things more interesting than hiding is large, she's just wondering what's up specifically.

The scruff scruff scruff sound of peko feet on the ground can be heard as Tradewind trots off the riding trail with Shiruba riding on his back. They were getting a few laps of practice in.

While most of the scrubber slimes just go on with their scrubbing, one or two either scuttle away from the newcomer or turn to look at her with curiosity. Uta does likewise (turning to look with curiosity, that is), and greets Goldenblade.

"Oh, hi, Paula!" she beams. "How long have you been here? I hadn't noticed you were around. Wow. You must be really good at-"

Poke. Poke. A scrubber slime starts slithering around one of Uta's boots, and- hey, look, they also make passable shoe-shiners, it seems?

"Oh, hey, look, scrubber slimes! How long have they been here? I hadn't noticed they were around..."

And then there's the scruff scruff scruff of a Peko. "Oh, hey, it's Shiruba on a peko! How long has she been here? I..."

One can guess what comes next.

Goldenblade can see hiding from Uta was not going to be a challenge, at least. She smiles weakly. As to how long she's been there, she admits, "I got here about ten minutes before you arrived. The hiding thing seems to be working out." She's got mud smeared haphazardly across her face to break up the silhouhette, but she hasn't gone far with the paints or anything. Though she is wearing something else new: a tabard normally seen on Westelande soldiers. She smiles and waves to Shiruba also, as Uta calls out, and asks, "What are you both up to?"

Shiruba shakes her head as she chuckles softly. "No Uta, we only got back from the trail." Tradewind squawks to confirm. " Hello Golden. Just doing more ride training."

Uta cocks her head at Goldenblade. "Wait, isn't that a Tabard you often see on Westelande soldiers? Do they sell it to civilians too?", she asks, mildly curious.

When Shiruba arrives and greets, Uta begins to wave, only to freeze in place. Those who know her will recognize it as some thought having struck her, and she's currently processing it. Those who have learnt to expect many, many seconds to pass will see their predictions confirmed. Finally, Uta panics. "Oh, no! Have I missed yet another Peko Race?!" She looks around in panic. "Where is Mister Clerk? I have to go to his desk and complain while punching my fists on the table. It's a tradition by now."

Goldenblade nods to Shiruba about the riding training. "I wish I had time for that. I've got so much going on, it's all assholes and elbows. I'm busy, that is to say. I dunno if you kids today still say that, that's what we always said on the construction site when things were very busy." She ticks off on her fingers, "Working on stuff for Baroness Wake, working on a move with Akatsuki, and the stealth training. But all of them take so much time. And then there's ..."

She smirks as Uta notes her Tabard, shaking her head about selling it to civilians. "No, they don't. I've joined the Westelanders' army and am organizing a mission to clear out the area where they hold their Sher Kar ritual. That's their coming of age ritual, but last year it was overrun by giant ants and it's got the ritual and the monsters that live there normally all goofed up. So, I'm trying to put together adventurers to go fight the ants. On top of everything else," she says with a smirk, picking up her thread of what she's been up to.

When Uta starts to panic about missing a Peko race, she shakes her head, "There's no race I've heard of. But this is the Peko practice grounds, people come to just practice when they want to."

Shiruba swings her leg over to dismount from Tradewind's back while waiting for UtaOS to reboot. Followed by a short sigh. "No Uta, you did not. We were practicing. I'm training to be a better animal handler remember?"

Uta blinks in confusion at Goldenblade. "We... we Adventurers can join the Army? Uh. I... I never... er... I mean, it makes sense, it just- you know, it's one of those things I thought that just didn't happen. But apparently, uh, they do. Adventurer arrogance again, like when I realized that it never occurred to me that Landers could undergo Strange Moods..."

"Interesting. I have never looked deeply into Westelande culture, which is a pity. The lore of this place is so impressively detailed, it feels so /real/... kudos to whoever wrote it. There is, as you say, so much to do, yes." She winces a little at Goldenblade's rough language. She's probably more on the polite side, or perhaps it's just the general cultural avoidance of swearing. "Training to learn to control water, organizing a monster hunting expedition for an important customer..." She shakes her head. "Anyway, if you need help with the clearing, let me know! I have to go hunting for a manticore in Westelande, so I might be around your area. I'll lend the help I Can offer."

At shiruba's words, Uta's pupils go in and out of focus, multiple time, with blinks in the middle. "It... It... It..." After multiple failed attempts at moving, the gearbox in her head finally snaps from neutral to the first gear. Understanding strikes, and Uta panics "Oh goodness! You are absolutely right. I don't know what I was thinking" She rubs her face. "And I /live/ here!"

Goldenblade nods slowly about joining the army, but explains, "It's a /bit/ more complicated than just showing up and volunteering. But the general knew of me by reputation before having met me, so that helped. Their general is remarkably knowledgeable about players." She smiles at Uta's willingness to lend a hand. "We'd be grateful. There'll be organized trips to the area when I can get everything put together," she explains. She smirks at Uta's reaction to Shiruba, it's just so Uta.

"Never heard of an Adventurer joining a nation's army before." Shiruba muses. "But with the Waves and what not the probably are glad for the help."

"Neither have I, Shiruba, never have I. It's a first." Uta paces about, rubbing her chin. "It would seem that the differences between Adventurers and Landers are... well, not as big as we would be inclined to think." She turns to the other two, and gesticulating with one hand, she continues. "I mean, we /are/ citizen of a kingdom, after all. From the perspective of this world, we are not as different as we think. Something we keep forgetting and keeps biting... well, I dare not say 'us', but I'd say, 'me' at least."

Once again, she turns to Goldenblade. "Oh? What kind of knowledge about us did the General show as possessing?"

Goldenblade nods to Shiruba, "Indeed. Actions in the Tower draw their concern as well. The general is very well-informed, as I said, about all the goings-on. They need to be, because of the waves, as you say, and with one thing and another. So much going on, it's hard to keep track of everything, and there's repurcussions to everything we do. And of course the Landers all have their own goals and needs. At least the important ones seem to. Never really talked to any of the farmers, I guess. And that'd be a /very/ strange mood, for a player," she jokes.

As to the General's knowledge, she says, "Apparently, the General goes to all the level boss battles in the tower, after the fight, to review the aftermath."

"It's good to know they're not just a figurehead then," Shiruba replies with a nod. Then motions towards the Slime Lab. "So what's up with all the work over there?"

Uta nods with interest at Goldenblade's explanation, and takes some time to mull over it.

Shiruba's question snaps her back to attention. "Oh, that? Yeowang offered to run a business renting out the new types of slimes I've discovered during my Mujou. Scrubber slimes..." she gestures around her, at the little blobs that clean everything they slither over, "...and Heal Slimes. She'd take over the marketing side, and we'd provide the materials and expertise. Sounds promising. Even Rylen is in. Looks like the Slime Labs might finally turn a profit, at long last!"

Goldenblade nods agreement with Shiruba. "They take their situations very seriously." She looks over to the Slime Lab and also wonders, listening to Uta's reply. "Ahhhh. Turning a profit is important," she agrees. "That way, you can have nice things. Otherwise you're dependent on handouts and people's continued goodwill." She wonders, though, "You can sell slimes to just anyone?"

Shiruba ohs at the explaination. "Cool. That's one way to fund the labs yourself."

Uta shakes her head at Goldenblade. "That'd be too dangerous. You need to be a trained Monster Handler. It'd be like... I don't know, selling plutonium or random chemicals outside the game? Same with monsters. As much as I like them, it is undeniable that slimes are little balls of pure danger." She squats down, scoops up a Scrubber slime, and begins to pet it. "We need to ensure the safety of our customers and, well, our reputation as well."

Goldenblade has a hard time reconciling slimes being dangerous and Uta's affectionate and casual treatment of them. At least until she recalls how it went before Uta learned monster handling. "I see," she says. "So, you rent them out to monster handlers, and the monster handlers go out and do things with the slimes? That sounds pretty good. Do they charge for what they do? I guess they must if that's how they make a profit?"

Shiruba idly pets the side of her Peko, combing her fingertips through his plumage. "Oh, we covered this in my training. Monsters don't 'tame' like Animals do. That," Shiruba replies to Golden, "Or employ monster handlers and rent their services out to keep the slimes under control."

Uta waves her hand in front of her face in dismissal. "...Don't ask me how that part works. I'm just providing the slimes and the expertise. Mercantile endeavours... are not my strong suit. Yeowang is the one doing the market research and working on the details of the business model."

"...I do know, however, that Rylen will be offering to rent some Monster Handlers through the Peko Farm if needed."

Goldenblade hrms, nods to Shiruba. "I see. I guess I know almost nothing about the wildlife here, monsters -or- animals. I wish I had more time to learn it, but as I said, so much going on." She ahhhs as Uta explains someone else is working on the business model. "That's pretty cool, actually," she observes. "I've found a way to do some emergency healing, but I don't do it, generally."

"If Yeowang is helping you are in good hands." Shiruba grabs the reins and hoist herself into her Peko's back once more. Directs him towards the barn. "We're going to go rest up from that ride. See you guys later."

Goldenblade nods at what Shiruba says, then waves as she departs. She bows to Uta, then drops a smoke grenade and when the smoke clears, she is gone. Back to sneaking practice, it seems.