You are in your bedroom. There is a twin bed against the left wall. In the middle of the floor is a functional [[OASIS console]], haptic gloves and helmet. On the right wall is a [[door]]. Above the bed is a [[window]], covered with a dark blackout curtain. The room is dark. The [[light switch]] is by the door.
You are in your school on planet Ludus II. Your avatar loads in the school hallway right outside of your locker, the exact spot where you [[logged out]] yesterday. Unlike normal, the hallway is empty. A message echos over the PA system on repeat. "Attention students: Please [[check your e-mail]] and enjoy your day off. We expect all to be back in school tomorrow morning after the hullabaloo of today is over."
You open the door which leads [[outside]].
The view from your window is dark even though it is morning. When you look up you can see that around you are towering stacks of discolored mobile homes. The area is filled with nearly 500 endless stacks, almost 15 to 20 homes high each. A makeshift system of recycyled pipes, girders and support beams locks them all together. The ground below is dirt, desert sand. No greenery is in sight except that of the chipped paint on some of the homes. Your location on the floor leads to almost no sunlight hitting your [[bedroom]]. There are no cars visible, no stores or even people outside. There is no outside lights for visibility except the sun.
You have flipped the light switch. The ceiling light turns on and the room is dimly lit by a low wattage incandescant bulb. It does not change much about the visibility level in the [[bedroom]].
You step outside from your mobile home on the floor of the stacks. Around you are rows and rows of stacked discolored mobile homes just like yours. They seem to go on forever, potentially more than 500 stacks of 15 or more homes surround the area. They are all interconnected by a network of recycled pipes, girders, and support beams. There is hoses and tubing mixed with the pipes and beams that supply water and carry away sewage from each of the homes. In the stacks that is considered a "luxury". Outside of your home there is a large stack of [[mailboxes]], each assigned a number which is the same as the number assigned to the mobile home.
You run at full speed towards the mail box. After crashing into it, dust blows every where, covering your clothes. You ignore the dust and yank hard on the latch until it bursts open. There is a single envelope inside, and it lands on the ground at your feet. You reach down to pick it and rip open the flap, anxious to get your hands on [[the first clue]].
You have logged out of the OASIS and are back in your [[bedroom]].
There is a new [[video message]] awaiting you for Parzival. Would you like to open it?
A video pops up in place of where your e-mail was. Parzival's avatar stands in front of a black screen and begins to speak.
Parzival: "Hello my fellow OASIS users. As many of you know, I won control of this wonderful platform long ago in 2044. Since then, it has continued to be an escape for all. But I cannot run this safe haven forever. I have developed a sickness I am too ashamed to speak of. I need one of you to take over for me."
Art3mis appears, placing her hand on his shoulder.
Art3mis: "My husband has set up a revolutionary contest for all to compete in to win what he won 54 years ago. I am honored to have been put in charge. Once you complete each clue, report to me and I will reward you your points and your next clue."
Parzival: "Your first clue will arrive by mail. Not e-mail. That's right kids, [[check your mail box]]es." He smiles and the video fades to black.
Your mailbox is located [[outside]].
"The [[stack homes]] are dangerous and lean
but at least the use [[solar power]] to stay green
to prevent more destruction
we must start more [[reduction]]!"
You live in one of these.
This is located on the roof of each stack building to provide reliable power to each home.
Reduction takes place at the [[recycling plant]].
You arrive at the old recycling plant on the edge of town. It was abandoned in 2025. The brick building contains several buckets with assigned things to be placed in them. An abandoned [[unorganized pile]] of materials is stacked high in a larger center bin, the buckets surround it.
Perhaps you could try [[organizing the pile]].
You spend a lot of time documenting and organizing the pile. You spend hours seperating the plastic bottles, cans and carboards into their apropriate bins. When you are finally finished, you submit your progress documents to Art3mis by e-mail.
Within an hour you recieve an [[e-mail from Art3mis]] back.
Congratulations! You have succesfully solved the first clue. Attached to this e-mail is [[the second clue]]. Make sure to write it down and do not share it with anybody. This e-mail will self destruct in one minute.
Recycling keeps [[the Earth]] clean
but what about it's [[green]]?
[[Trees]] and shrubs have gone astray
We must take a stance and save the plants!
This is the planet you live on.
The only green in your area is some of the discolored [[stack homes]].
Perhaps [[planting a tree]] is the solution to this riddle.
You aquired a tree seed through the OASIS and it was recently delivered to your mailbox. It takes a few days of hard work and care to finally get a sprout to appear. You documented all of this work and submit it to Art3mis again through e-mail.
[[Art3mis replies]] within the hour.
Congratulations! You have succesfully solved the second clue. Attached to this e-mail is [[the third clue]]. Make sure to write it down and do not share it with anybody. This e-mail will self destruct in one minute.
"The [[big cities]] outside the stacks are filled
In this areas it is the [[hunger]] that leads to those being killed.
Not enough people are around to [[volunteer]]
We can provide assistance and lend a [[hand]] here!"
You live in the stacks located outside of one of these.
Perhaps volunteering at a [[soup kitchen]] could be the solution to this riddle.
Perhaps volunteering at a [[soup kitchen]] could be the solution to this riddle.
You have two of these.
You arrive at the soup kitchen inside of the nearest big city. It takes a long bus ride and several OASIS credits to recieve your ticket. "This better be the solution or I've wasted a lot," you think to yourself.
The front door is blocked by a seemingly never ending line of hungry homeless citizens. You enter through the door on the side marked "Volunteers".
You recieve an apron and hair net and head to the [[serving line]] up.
The day is long and seemingly endless. Hours pass as you continue to fill bowl after bowl. It is harder to document this process because of how busy you are. You e-mail everything you gather, which isn't much, and send your proof to Art3mis.
You recieve an e-mail back from Art3mis within the hour. Your heart is pounding as you [[open it]]. "This could be the win..."
"Congratulations!" ...
Your heart skips a beat. You have just won the contest.
... "You have succesfully solved Parzival's Quest! Attached to this e-mail is a plane ticket departing in approximately 4 hours from your nearest airport. Wade and I will meet you there. We look forward to meeting you. And again, congratulations. The OASIS is in your hands now."