Quiz Bowl
Main Characters / Extra Characters
My Classmates
|
Requirements / Rewards
Level 22 Rewards - 10 rings + one more Hangout |
Part 1
Sakura: Wes bailed on our Quiz Bowl team. It’s all up to us now!
With Wes gone, you, Nishan, and Sakura hang around in silence.
Nishan: So I guess we’ll just have to figure out a way to win the Quiz Bowl without a fourth teammate… somehow.
Sakura: This isn’t a one-hit kill, Nishan. We’re not done yet. Remind me. How many questions did Wes answer in the match-up against Athena Prep?
Nishan: …none.
Sakura: Exactly. And we STILL won. The final round is against Hearst, and we can beat them too. We just need to divvy up Wes’s categories.
Danny: That sounds like a ton of extra work, Sakura… I’m not sure we can handle it all.
Sakura: There’s only one way to find out… pop quiz!
Time - 8 hours
Sakura pulls out flash cards with the knowledge categories Wes had been assigned.
Sakura: Nishan, the category is Fashion. The word ‘Velcro’ is actually a portmanteau of which two French words?
Nishan: …but the only French word I know is ‘Allons-y’!
Sakura: Ugh… never mind, Nishan. How about you, Danny? Your category is Music. Who first performed the scandalous 1700s dance routine ‘Lord and Lady Lightly Touch Pinkies’?
Danny: …how could I possibly know that? Do YOU know that?
Sakura: No, not yet… but I will. We all will. We’re just going to have to eat, sleep, and breathe Quiz Bowl until we do!
Rewards
As Sakura ushers the group into the library to study, Autumn waves to you.
Autumn: Danny, was Wes hanging out with you? I just saw him sulk by, and he looked upset.
Danny: Yeah, I guess he was upset. And about more than he was letting on… Maybe I should go talk to him.
Part 2
Danny: I’ll go talk to Wes.
You search around the school and eventually find Wes stretched out on the couch in the Slacker Hangout. The TV is knocked sideways onto the floor. Wes stares defiantly out the window, not meeting your gaze.
Danny: So this is the den where the Lone Wolf goes to lick his wounds. Mind if I come in?
Wes: Sure, why not? That’s why I came here alone. For the company.
You slump down on the couch next to Wes.
Danny: You shouldn’t have tried to cheat like that, Wes. You screwed up. Bad.
Wes: The screw-up screwed up? Quick. Somebody call Channel One.
Danny: But you didn’t just screw up. You also SHOWED UP, Wes. You showed up to the tryouts. You showed up to the Quiz Bowl… You could’ve bailed at any time, but you didn’t. This wasn’t a prank or a con. Being on the Quiz Bowl team mattered to you. It mattered enough that you’d even CHEAT to be there. Just tell me why, and I’ll leave you alone.
Wes: …you really want to know? REALLY?
Danny: Of course I do.
Wes: Because I thought maybe it’d look good on a college application.
Danny: …for real?
Wes: Yeah, go ahead. Laugh it up.
Danny: No, it’s not that. It’s just… I didn’t think you even WANTED to go to college.
Wes: I didn’t. Not at first… But it would mean a lot to my brother if I got accepted. It might even make everything he went through worth it. But whatever… college isn’t for guys like me.
Rewards
Danny: What’s that supposed to mean? We both know you’re smart… Seriously, how long did it take you to learn Morse code? You’re just scared of putting yourself out there. The REAL you.
Wes: I’m not scared.
Danny: No? Then prove me wrong. Come back to the Quiz Bowl team.
Wes: Like it’s that easy… After what I did, there’s no way Nishan and Sakura will have me back.
Danny: They will if you can PROVE you know your subjects.
Wes: But I DON’T know them.
Danny: No, not yet. But you WILL after we find some subject tutors.
Part 3
Wes: Sounds like if I want back on the Quiz Bowl team, I’ll have to study.
Ezra: Whattup, my beautiful people? Danny said something about needing some musical instruction?
Ezra’s fingers dance on the fretboard of his guitar.
Ezra: How about we start with something easy, like ‘Voodoo Child’?
Danny: Whoa… amazing! But actually, we were hoping for something a little more academic.
Wes: Basically, I need to know everything about music. In the next 30 minutes.
Ezra chuckles and shreds another blazing-fast riff.
Ezra: Ambitious… it’s a good thing you have an awesome teacher!
Wes and Ezra start to study. A short while later, Wes shoots back answers as Ezra asks questions.
Wes: …Pentatonic scale! …Johnny and the Moondogs! …The WHO?!
Ezra: Yup! The Who made the first successful rock opera! Which means… I’m not sure there’s anything else I can teach Wes.
Wes: Oh, I don’t know about that…
Wes borrows Ezra’s guitar and strums the opening bars of Wake Me Up by Avicii. But guitar lessons may need to wait!
Mia: Welcome, Danny! Welcome, Needs To Wash That Sweatshirt!
Wes: What? I washed this thing like a week ago.
Mia: …in what? A bucket of musky man-scent?
Danny: Ahem… Mia, thank you for agreeing to help Wes learn all about fashion, but did we have to do it inside a salon?
Mia: You want to learn from me? You do what I do?
Mia waves you and Wes over to beautifying stations. As you get mani-pedis and cucumber-avocado facials, she imparts her knowledge. As the treatment concludes, Wes answers questions while Mia quizzes him.
Wes: …maxiskirts are ankle-length! …LBD stands for ‘little black dress’! …ugh, jeggings are SO last season!
Mia: Very good, Wes. For the last answer, I would’ve also accepted ‘not even if I lost a bet!’
Danny: …so is Wes ready for the Quiz Bowl?
Mia shows you a fashion app on her phone.
Mia: Would I look dreamy in this button-down romper?
Danny: …um? Would you?
Wes: Obviously! The flecked robin’s egg blue would bring out her eyes!
Mia: Which is why I’ve already ordered it!
Wes: So much knowledge, so fast, my head is spinning. But in the best way. Could be something to this studying gig after all. Could be something to this studying gig after all.
Rewards
Wes: Unfortunately, there’s still the 800 pound Godzilla in the room… I may have learned my subjects, but Nishan and Sakura still have to forgive me for cheating.
Danny: You’ve worked hard. You did everything you could do… We just have to trust that they’ll see that.
Part 4
Wes: Let’s hope Nishan and Sakura will let me back on the Quiz Bowl team.
You and Wes find Sakura and Nishan still practicing.
Nishan: Which general famously defected from the Continental Army to aid the British during the American Revolution?
Sakura: Speaking of Benedict Arnolds… look who just showed up.
Wes: Hey, guys, can we talk?
Time - 16 hours
Sakura and Nishan regard Wes with icy reserve.
Sakura: Hmph…
Danny: Before you guys say anything, I want you to know that Wes has been studying really hard. He’s learned his subjects for the Quiz Bowl.
Sakura: …no offense, Danny, but you left us to go find Cheater McCheaterson. I want to hear what HE has to say for himself.
Danny: Sakura, I promise that--
Wes: It’s okay, Danny. I deserve all of that. And worse.
Wes steps over to Sakura and looks her square in the eye.
Wes: I… I want to say I’m sorry. What I did was wrong, and even worse, I ended up hurting people that I care about. Turns out… a Lone Wolf can bring down his pack.
Nishan: Biologically speaking, Lone Wolves DO fare poorly. Wolves are actually a gregarious species, which means--
Sakura: AHEM. Nishan, this is a team and I’m still deciding.
Wes: Please, Sakura. I won’t let the team down again.
You and Nishan look to Sakura. Her steely façade falters just a second… And then crumbles.
Sakura: If you do this, Wes, you do it MY way. Okay? No more tricks, no more secrets.
Nishan: …so he’s back? Wes is back on the team?
Sakura: On probation… but yeah. He’s back.
Nishan: YESSSSSSS! Err… I mean, I hope you learned your lesson… you rapscallion! But YESSSSSSS!
Rewards
Danny: So now that Wes is back, can we start practicing together again?
Sakura: Not quite… Wes may have satisfied Danny, but the Quiz Bowl isn’t some huggy-dovey lovefest. He needs to prove to ME that he knows his subject up and down!
Wes: Whatever it takes.
Sakura: Okay then… my place. Tonight.
Part 5
Sakura: Fine. Wes can come back, but he’s going to have to train… MY way!
Later that night, Wes meets up with Sakura at her house.
Sakura: You’re two minutes late, cadet.
Wes: Look, Sakura, I get it. You wanted to put on a show for your friends. but it’s just us now, and I already apologized… So how about we just skip the Marcus Fenix routine?
Sakura: …routine? You think this is all some ACT?
Wes: Well, yeah… it IS, right?
Sakura: Subject is Music. I want you to name the world’s best-selling instrument.
Wes: Heh, I got this. I just need a sec to--
Sakura: BZZT! Time’s up, slow-mo! Gotta be faster than that. Your punishment is ten push-ups! NOW!
Wes: What?! I barely had time to--
Sakura: BZZT! Make that fifteen!
Wes drops flat and starts doing push-ups.
Sakura: And just so you know, the answer was ‘harmonica’… and definitely not just an act. The Quiz Bowl matters to me, beating Hearst matters to me… And if you’re on this team, it matters to you too.
Time - 20 hours
Sakura takes a seat on Wes’s back as he strains through the final set of push-ups and answers.
Wes: …Antonio Salieri. … stiletto heels. …Combien coûte la parapluie?
Sakura hops off Wes and helps him up to his feet.
Sakura: Good hustle, hustler. I’m impressed. Looks like there’s more to you than long cons and shady backroom deals.
Wes: …that’s it? Don’t stop complimenting me on my account.
Sakura: You did good. But you’re not back to being Boy Genius just yet.
Wes: Yeah… and I doubt I ever will.
Sakura puts a hand on Wes’s shoulder.
Sakura: Wes, listen to me. You don’t need to be a genius… You’ve worked hard to make up for your mistakes. You’ve earned your place back on the Quiz Bowl team.
Wes: Thanks, Sakura. And like I said… I’ll do whatever it takes. Even if that means playing by the rules.
The door opens and Nishan pops in, eyeing Sakura leaning in toward Wes.
Nishan: …um, the door was open. Did I interrupt something?
Sakura and Wes both spin around awkwardly!
Sakura: Err… no!
Wes: Nope… no, I was just answering some very hard questions!
Rewards
The next day, your Quiz Bowl team reconvenes outside the library.
Sakura: The good news is… Wes probably won’t be 180 pounds of dead weight. I think we’re finally ready to square off against Hearst High in the next round of the Quiz Bowl.
Wes: Even if I do feel like my arms might fall off.
Danny: So do we head to the event now?
Nishan: Actually, we should probably fill out our cheering section first… According to the Statpedia, Quiz Bowl teams with fans supporting them score an average of 1.2 points higher.
Part 6
Nishan: Quiz Bowl teams with fans supporting them score an average of 1.2 points higher…
Danny: Do you guys mind coming to the Quiz Bowl to cheer us on?
Allison: I don’t want to speak for anyone else… but we’d LOVE to! And by that I mean EVERYONE here!
Yangchen: Heh… who else is gonna make fart noises at Hearst High?
London: OMG! The Quiz Bowl! I’m getting too excited… And whenever I get excited, I start singing! I can’t even help it!
Sakura: Clapping, cheering, singing, whatever… just so long as you all promise to show your support!
Time - 14 hours
At the Quiz Bowl, your team takes a seat on the stage opposite the team from Hearst High.
Max: Kara, the subject is History’s Greatest Defeats… Who was more of a loser? Napoleon after Waterloo or Nishan one Quiz Bowl from now?
Kara: Definitely Nishan. Check out the rest of his team… Like, did Wes even answer a single question when they were competing against Athena Prep?
Max: Dumb AND dumb! Get it? As in, he didn’t speak. BURN!
A wave of derisive laughter rises up from the Hearst High supporters in the audience! But then your supporters yell out…
Allison: Don’t let Max get to you, guys!
Yangchen: Our side doesn’t need to tear our rivals DOWN! We’re going to QuizUp!
London: Uh-oh… too excited…
London starts clapping and singing, and pretty soon, half of the audience has joined in! Meanwhile, the Hearst half tries to drown them out!
Prof. Edwin: Ahem… are we ready to begin?
Rewards
The first few rounds of the Quiz Bowl speed by. Your team and Hearst keep neck and neck…
Sakura: …‘Hamster Huey and the Gooey Kablooie’ is a children’s book in Calvin and Hobbes!
Max: …the Pistol Shrimp can create a cavitation bubble!
Wes: Michael Jackson’s Thriller is the number one selling album of all time!
Kara: …Designer Marc Jacobs has over 30 tattoos!
Nishan: …the speed of light is 186,000 miles per second, but the speed of dark is zero!
A buzzer sounds!
Prof. Edwin: Congratulations to both teams! Time’s up, and we’re all tied! We’ll need to select our winner with a special tie-breaker event… the Lightning Round! We’ll get started after a short break.
The time-out begins, and your team slumps exhausted into your chairs.
Danny: What’s happening? When did Max and Kara get so… genius?
Nishan: Don’t sell them short, Danny. They’re wicked smart.
Sakura: Emphasis on wicked. Especially when they try.
The buzzer sounds again, and Professor Edwin returns to her podium.
Prof. Edwin: In the Lightning Round, one member from each team will answer a question worth one point. If both questions are answered correctly, new team members will be selected to answer the next questions… Otherwise, whichever team has more points at the end of the round WINS! Max and Wes, you’re up first.
Wes: …me?
Part 7
Wes: You gave me a second chance. I’m not gonna let you guys down… I promise.
Prof. Edwin: Max, the first question is to you. The subject is Physics… What term describes the random motion of particles suspended in a fluid?
From the back of the auditorium comes a fart noise. Max keeps his cool.
Max: Heh… Brownian motion.
Prof. Edwin: Correct answer, Max. Wes, this one is for you. The subject is Fashion. In Medieval Europe, what color would royalty adopt to symbolize their elevated status?
Wes: Subject… fashion…
Time - 18 hours
The audience tenses, breath held, as Wes pauses to think.
Prof. Edwin: Wes, you have five seconds to answer.
Wes: Royalty would symbolize their elevated status with… the color purple!
Prof. Edwin: Very good, Wes. That’s the correct answer.
Wes: Boom! Game of OWNS!
You and Kara are up next! You both turn to face Professor Edwin.
Prof. Edwin: Kara, the subject is Government. Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave women the right to vote?
Kara: Oh, that was the, um… uhh…
Prof. Edwin: Kara, I need an answer.
Kara: The 3rd Amendment?
Prof. Edwin: I’m sorry, Kara. The 3rd Amendment prohibits the forced quartering of soldiers during peacetime.
Kara: Who could stop women from voting with guns, duh!
Prof. Edwin: Kara, that’s still incorrect. Danny now has a chance to win the match.
Rewards
Prof. Edwin: Danny, are you ready to answer the question?
Danny: I… I sure hope so!
Part 8
Sakura: Danny, it’s all up to you now… no pressure!
Prof. Edwin: Danny, if you answer the following question correctly, your team will win the Quiz Bowl. Do you understand?
Danny: …yep.
Max: Choke time!
Prof. Edwin: The category is Biology. Your question… Despite their portrayal in pop culture, wolves aren’t considered solitary animals by biologists. What term describes their actual social behavior?
The crowd gasps, and your teammates look worried… all except Wes.
Wes: Think back. You got this.
Prof. Edwin: I’ll repeat: what term describes the actual social behavior of wolves?
Danny: Gregarious! Wolves are gregarious animals. They sometimes try to go it alone, but they always do better when they stick with their friends.
Prof. Edwin: Danny, your answer is… CORRECT!
The crowd leaps to its feet, applauding thunderously. From the back, you even hear someone sing an ecstatic high note! Nishan and Sakura race up behind you and lift you into the air!
Nishan: You did it, Danny!
You catch a glimpse of Wes standing to the side. He flashes a sly smile.
Wes: …
Danny: Actually, we ALL did it… Even the ones of us who didn’t think they could.
Rewards
Rewards
Later, your group celebrates at an all-night diner!
Nishan: And next year, we’ll crush Hearst by a million points… Which I think is possible, thanks to some imprecision in the rules regarding randomized multipliers!
Sakura: Personally, I’m just happy to keep out K-D ratio positive!
Danny: Not to mention… Wes, you did great out there!
Wes: …yeah?
Sakura: Even I have to admit, you didn’t totally embarrass yourself.
Nishan: I’d say Wes earned capacious nerd cred!
Wes: I’m just happy I could make a ‘sizeble’ contribution.
Danny: And participating will definitely look great on your college applications!
The table goes silent. Nishan drops his fork.
Wes: Yeah, yeah… I know. Me going to college is a big joke.
Nishan: Are you kidding? This is great news!
Wes: …it is?
Sakura: During the off-season, Nishan wants the Quiz Bowl team to stay sharp by studying for the SATs. I warn you, it’ll be grueling, but by the end, you’ll know the SATs up and down.
Wes: Heh… my arms are hurting already!
The next morning at school, Ezra jogs up.
Ezra: There you are, Danny… just the person I’ve been looking for.
Danny: Oh yeah? What’s up, Ezra?
Ezra: Listen. Hear that?
Danny: I… don’t hear anything.
Ezra: Exactly! This place is dead! I think it’s time for a little music. More specifically, a MUSICAL!
Danny: That sounds like a great idea! Let’s do it!
Looks like the sound of music is coming to your school! Keep playing to see what happens next!
Sakura: Wes bailed on our Quiz Bowl team. It’s all up to us now!
- Danny
- Nishan
- Sakura
With Wes gone, you, Nishan, and Sakura hang around in silence.
Nishan: So I guess we’ll just have to figure out a way to win the Quiz Bowl without a fourth teammate… somehow.
Sakura: This isn’t a one-hit kill, Nishan. We’re not done yet. Remind me. How many questions did Wes answer in the match-up against Athena Prep?
Nishan: …none.
Sakura: Exactly. And we STILL won. The final round is against Hearst, and we can beat them too. We just need to divvy up Wes’s categories.
Danny: That sounds like a ton of extra work, Sakura… I’m not sure we can handle it all.
Sakura: There’s only one way to find out… pop quiz!
Time - 8 hours
Sakura pulls out flash cards with the knowledge categories Wes had been assigned.
Sakura: Nishan, the category is Fashion. The word ‘Velcro’ is actually a portmanteau of which two French words?
Nishan: …but the only French word I know is ‘Allons-y’!
Sakura: Ugh… never mind, Nishan. How about you, Danny? Your category is Music. Who first performed the scandalous 1700s dance routine ‘Lord and Lady Lightly Touch Pinkies’?
Danny: …how could I possibly know that? Do YOU know that?
Sakura: No, not yet… but I will. We all will. We’re just going to have to eat, sleep, and breathe Quiz Bowl until we do!
Rewards
- 17,000 coins
- 1656 XP
As Sakura ushers the group into the library to study, Autumn waves to you.
Autumn: Danny, was Wes hanging out with you? I just saw him sulk by, and he looked upset.
Danny: Yeah, I guess he was upset. And about more than he was letting on… Maybe I should go talk to him.
Part 2
Danny: I’ll go talk to Wes.
- Level Wes
You search around the school and eventually find Wes stretched out on the couch in the Slacker Hangout. The TV is knocked sideways onto the floor. Wes stares defiantly out the window, not meeting your gaze.
Danny: So this is the den where the Lone Wolf goes to lick his wounds. Mind if I come in?
Wes: Sure, why not? That’s why I came here alone. For the company.
You slump down on the couch next to Wes.
Danny: You shouldn’t have tried to cheat like that, Wes. You screwed up. Bad.
Wes: The screw-up screwed up? Quick. Somebody call Channel One.
Danny: But you didn’t just screw up. You also SHOWED UP, Wes. You showed up to the tryouts. You showed up to the Quiz Bowl… You could’ve bailed at any time, but you didn’t. This wasn’t a prank or a con. Being on the Quiz Bowl team mattered to you. It mattered enough that you’d even CHEAT to be there. Just tell me why, and I’ll leave you alone.
Wes: …you really want to know? REALLY?
Danny: Of course I do.
Wes: Because I thought maybe it’d look good on a college application.
Danny: …for real?
Wes: Yeah, go ahead. Laugh it up.
Danny: No, it’s not that. It’s just… I didn’t think you even WANTED to go to college.
Wes: I didn’t. Not at first… But it would mean a lot to my brother if I got accepted. It might even make everything he went through worth it. But whatever… college isn’t for guys like me.
Rewards
- 1656 XP
Danny: What’s that supposed to mean? We both know you’re smart… Seriously, how long did it take you to learn Morse code? You’re just scared of putting yourself out there. The REAL you.
Wes: I’m not scared.
Danny: No? Then prove me wrong. Come back to the Quiz Bowl team.
Wes: Like it’s that easy… After what I did, there’s no way Nishan and Sakura will have me back.
Danny: They will if you can PROVE you know your subjects.
Wes: But I DON’T know them.
Danny: No, not yet. But you WILL after we find some subject tutors.
Part 3
Wes: Sounds like if I want back on the Quiz Bowl team, I’ll have to study.
- Ezra!
- Mia!
- Spend 250,000 coins
Ezra: Whattup, my beautiful people? Danny said something about needing some musical instruction?
Ezra’s fingers dance on the fretboard of his guitar.
Ezra: How about we start with something easy, like ‘Voodoo Child’?
Danny: Whoa… amazing! But actually, we were hoping for something a little more academic.
Wes: Basically, I need to know everything about music. In the next 30 minutes.
Ezra chuckles and shreds another blazing-fast riff.
Ezra: Ambitious… it’s a good thing you have an awesome teacher!
Wes and Ezra start to study. A short while later, Wes shoots back answers as Ezra asks questions.
Wes: …Pentatonic scale! …Johnny and the Moondogs! …The WHO?!
Ezra: Yup! The Who made the first successful rock opera! Which means… I’m not sure there’s anything else I can teach Wes.
Wes: Oh, I don’t know about that…
Wes borrows Ezra’s guitar and strums the opening bars of Wake Me Up by Avicii. But guitar lessons may need to wait!
Mia: Welcome, Danny! Welcome, Needs To Wash That Sweatshirt!
Wes: What? I washed this thing like a week ago.
Mia: …in what? A bucket of musky man-scent?
Danny: Ahem… Mia, thank you for agreeing to help Wes learn all about fashion, but did we have to do it inside a salon?
Mia: You want to learn from me? You do what I do?
Mia waves you and Wes over to beautifying stations. As you get mani-pedis and cucumber-avocado facials, she imparts her knowledge. As the treatment concludes, Wes answers questions while Mia quizzes him.
Wes: …maxiskirts are ankle-length! …LBD stands for ‘little black dress’! …ugh, jeggings are SO last season!
Mia: Very good, Wes. For the last answer, I would’ve also accepted ‘not even if I lost a bet!’
Danny: …so is Wes ready for the Quiz Bowl?
Mia shows you a fashion app on her phone.
Mia: Would I look dreamy in this button-down romper?
Danny: …um? Would you?
Wes: Obviously! The flecked robin’s egg blue would bring out her eyes!
Mia: Which is why I’ve already ordered it!
Wes: So much knowledge, so fast, my head is spinning. But in the best way. Could be something to this studying gig after all. Could be something to this studying gig after all.
Rewards
- 1500 books
- 1656 XP
Wes: Unfortunately, there’s still the 800 pound Godzilla in the room… I may have learned my subjects, but Nishan and Sakura still have to forgive me for cheating.
Danny: You’ve worked hard. You did everything you could do… We just have to trust that they’ll see that.
Part 4
Wes: Let’s hope Nishan and Sakura will let me back on the Quiz Bowl team.
- Sakura
- Nishan
You and Wes find Sakura and Nishan still practicing.
Nishan: Which general famously defected from the Continental Army to aid the British during the American Revolution?
Sakura: Speaking of Benedict Arnolds… look who just showed up.
Wes: Hey, guys, can we talk?
Time - 16 hours
Sakura and Nishan regard Wes with icy reserve.
Sakura: Hmph…
Danny: Before you guys say anything, I want you to know that Wes has been studying really hard. He’s learned his subjects for the Quiz Bowl.
Sakura: …no offense, Danny, but you left us to go find Cheater McCheaterson. I want to hear what HE has to say for himself.
Danny: Sakura, I promise that--
Wes: It’s okay, Danny. I deserve all of that. And worse.
Wes steps over to Sakura and looks her square in the eye.
Wes: I… I want to say I’m sorry. What I did was wrong, and even worse, I ended up hurting people that I care about. Turns out… a Lone Wolf can bring down his pack.
Nishan: Biologically speaking, Lone Wolves DO fare poorly. Wolves are actually a gregarious species, which means--
Sakura: AHEM. Nishan, this is a team and I’m still deciding.
Wes: Please, Sakura. I won’t let the team down again.
You and Nishan look to Sakura. Her steely façade falters just a second… And then crumbles.
Sakura: If you do this, Wes, you do it MY way. Okay? No more tricks, no more secrets.
Nishan: …so he’s back? Wes is back on the team?
Sakura: On probation… but yeah. He’s back.
Nishan: YESSSSSSS! Err… I mean, I hope you learned your lesson… you rapscallion! But YESSSSSSS!
Rewards
- 21,000 coins
- 1656 XP
Danny: So now that Wes is back, can we start practicing together again?
Sakura: Not quite… Wes may have satisfied Danny, but the Quiz Bowl isn’t some huggy-dovey lovefest. He needs to prove to ME that he knows his subject up and down!
Wes: Whatever it takes.
Sakura: Okay then… my place. Tonight.
Part 5
Sakura: Fine. Wes can come back, but he’s going to have to train… MY way!
- Sakura
- Wes
Later that night, Wes meets up with Sakura at her house.
Sakura: You’re two minutes late, cadet.
Wes: Look, Sakura, I get it. You wanted to put on a show for your friends. but it’s just us now, and I already apologized… So how about we just skip the Marcus Fenix routine?
Sakura: …routine? You think this is all some ACT?
Wes: Well, yeah… it IS, right?
Sakura: Subject is Music. I want you to name the world’s best-selling instrument.
Wes: Heh, I got this. I just need a sec to--
Sakura: BZZT! Time’s up, slow-mo! Gotta be faster than that. Your punishment is ten push-ups! NOW!
Wes: What?! I barely had time to--
Sakura: BZZT! Make that fifteen!
Wes drops flat and starts doing push-ups.
Sakura: And just so you know, the answer was ‘harmonica’… and definitely not just an act. The Quiz Bowl matters to me, beating Hearst matters to me… And if you’re on this team, it matters to you too.
Time - 20 hours
Sakura takes a seat on Wes’s back as he strains through the final set of push-ups and answers.
Wes: …Antonio Salieri. … stiletto heels. …Combien coûte la parapluie?
Sakura hops off Wes and helps him up to his feet.
Sakura: Good hustle, hustler. I’m impressed. Looks like there’s more to you than long cons and shady backroom deals.
Wes: …that’s it? Don’t stop complimenting me on my account.
Sakura: You did good. But you’re not back to being Boy Genius just yet.
Wes: Yeah… and I doubt I ever will.
Sakura puts a hand on Wes’s shoulder.
Sakura: Wes, listen to me. You don’t need to be a genius… You’ve worked hard to make up for your mistakes. You’ve earned your place back on the Quiz Bowl team.
Wes: Thanks, Sakura. And like I said… I’ll do whatever it takes. Even if that means playing by the rules.
The door opens and Nishan pops in, eyeing Sakura leaning in toward Wes.
Nishan: …um, the door was open. Did I interrupt something?
Sakura and Wes both spin around awkwardly!
Sakura: Err… no!
Wes: Nope… no, I was just answering some very hard questions!
Rewards
- 25,000 coins
- 1656 XP
The next day, your Quiz Bowl team reconvenes outside the library.
Sakura: The good news is… Wes probably won’t be 180 pounds of dead weight. I think we’re finally ready to square off against Hearst High in the next round of the Quiz Bowl.
Wes: Even if I do feel like my arms might fall off.
Danny: So do we head to the event now?
Nishan: Actually, we should probably fill out our cheering section first… According to the Statpedia, Quiz Bowl teams with fans supporting them score an average of 1.2 points higher.
Part 6
Nishan: Quiz Bowl teams with fans supporting them score an average of 1.2 points higher…
- A Level 6+ Movie Star (Allison)
- A Level 7+ Class Clown (Yangchen)
- A Level 6+ Glee Club Member (London)
Danny: Do you guys mind coming to the Quiz Bowl to cheer us on?
Allison: I don’t want to speak for anyone else… but we’d LOVE to! And by that I mean EVERYONE here!
Yangchen: Heh… who else is gonna make fart noises at Hearst High?
London: OMG! The Quiz Bowl! I’m getting too excited… And whenever I get excited, I start singing! I can’t even help it!
Sakura: Clapping, cheering, singing, whatever… just so long as you all promise to show your support!
Time - 14 hours
At the Quiz Bowl, your team takes a seat on the stage opposite the team from Hearst High.
Max: Kara, the subject is History’s Greatest Defeats… Who was more of a loser? Napoleon after Waterloo or Nishan one Quiz Bowl from now?
Kara: Definitely Nishan. Check out the rest of his team… Like, did Wes even answer a single question when they were competing against Athena Prep?
Max: Dumb AND dumb! Get it? As in, he didn’t speak. BURN!
A wave of derisive laughter rises up from the Hearst High supporters in the audience! But then your supporters yell out…
Allison: Don’t let Max get to you, guys!
Yangchen: Our side doesn’t need to tear our rivals DOWN! We’re going to QuizUp!
London: Uh-oh… too excited…
London starts clapping and singing, and pretty soon, half of the audience has joined in! Meanwhile, the Hearst half tries to drown them out!
Prof. Edwin: Ahem… are we ready to begin?
Rewards
- 20,000 coins
- 1656 XP
The first few rounds of the Quiz Bowl speed by. Your team and Hearst keep neck and neck…
Sakura: …‘Hamster Huey and the Gooey Kablooie’ is a children’s book in Calvin and Hobbes!
Max: …the Pistol Shrimp can create a cavitation bubble!
Wes: Michael Jackson’s Thriller is the number one selling album of all time!
Kara: …Designer Marc Jacobs has over 30 tattoos!
Nishan: …the speed of light is 186,000 miles per second, but the speed of dark is zero!
A buzzer sounds!
Prof. Edwin: Congratulations to both teams! Time’s up, and we’re all tied! We’ll need to select our winner with a special tie-breaker event… the Lightning Round! We’ll get started after a short break.
The time-out begins, and your team slumps exhausted into your chairs.
Danny: What’s happening? When did Max and Kara get so… genius?
Nishan: Don’t sell them short, Danny. They’re wicked smart.
Sakura: Emphasis on wicked. Especially when they try.
The buzzer sounds again, and Professor Edwin returns to her podium.
Prof. Edwin: In the Lightning Round, one member from each team will answer a question worth one point. If both questions are answered correctly, new team members will be selected to answer the next questions… Otherwise, whichever team has more points at the end of the round WINS! Max and Wes, you’re up first.
Wes: …me?
Part 7
Wes: You gave me a second chance. I’m not gonna let you guys down… I promise.
- Wes
Prof. Edwin: Max, the first question is to you. The subject is Physics… What term describes the random motion of particles suspended in a fluid?
From the back of the auditorium comes a fart noise. Max keeps his cool.
Max: Heh… Brownian motion.
Prof. Edwin: Correct answer, Max. Wes, this one is for you. The subject is Fashion. In Medieval Europe, what color would royalty adopt to symbolize their elevated status?
Wes: Subject… fashion…
Time - 18 hours
The audience tenses, breath held, as Wes pauses to think.
Prof. Edwin: Wes, you have five seconds to answer.
Wes: Royalty would symbolize their elevated status with… the color purple!
Prof. Edwin: Very good, Wes. That’s the correct answer.
Wes: Boom! Game of OWNS!
You and Kara are up next! You both turn to face Professor Edwin.
Prof. Edwin: Kara, the subject is Government. Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave women the right to vote?
Kara: Oh, that was the, um… uhh…
Prof. Edwin: Kara, I need an answer.
Kara: The 3rd Amendment?
Prof. Edwin: I’m sorry, Kara. The 3rd Amendment prohibits the forced quartering of soldiers during peacetime.
Kara: Who could stop women from voting with guns, duh!
Prof. Edwin: Kara, that’s still incorrect. Danny now has a chance to win the match.
Rewards
- 24,000 coins
- 1656 XP
Prof. Edwin: Danny, are you ready to answer the question?
Danny: I… I sure hope so!
Part 8
Sakura: Danny, it’s all up to you now… no pressure!
- Answer!
Prof. Edwin: Danny, if you answer the following question correctly, your team will win the Quiz Bowl. Do you understand?
Danny: …yep.
Max: Choke time!
Prof. Edwin: The category is Biology. Your question… Despite their portrayal in pop culture, wolves aren’t considered solitary animals by biologists. What term describes their actual social behavior?
The crowd gasps, and your teammates look worried… all except Wes.
Wes: Think back. You got this.
Prof. Edwin: I’ll repeat: what term describes the actual social behavior of wolves?
Danny: Gregarious! Wolves are gregarious animals. They sometimes try to go it alone, but they always do better when they stick with their friends.
Prof. Edwin: Danny, your answer is… CORRECT!
The crowd leaps to its feet, applauding thunderously. From the back, you even hear someone sing an ecstatic high note! Nishan and Sakura race up behind you and lift you into the air!
Nishan: You did it, Danny!
You catch a glimpse of Wes standing to the side. He flashes a sly smile.
Wes: …
Danny: Actually, we ALL did it… Even the ones of us who didn’t think they could.
Rewards
- 30,000 coins
- 1658 XP
Rewards
- 10 rings
Later, your group celebrates at an all-night diner!
Nishan: And next year, we’ll crush Hearst by a million points… Which I think is possible, thanks to some imprecision in the rules regarding randomized multipliers!
Sakura: Personally, I’m just happy to keep out K-D ratio positive!
Danny: Not to mention… Wes, you did great out there!
Wes: …yeah?
Sakura: Even I have to admit, you didn’t totally embarrass yourself.
Nishan: I’d say Wes earned capacious nerd cred!
Wes: I’m just happy I could make a ‘sizeble’ contribution.
Danny: And participating will definitely look great on your college applications!
The table goes silent. Nishan drops his fork.
Wes: Yeah, yeah… I know. Me going to college is a big joke.
Nishan: Are you kidding? This is great news!
Wes: …it is?
Sakura: During the off-season, Nishan wants the Quiz Bowl team to stay sharp by studying for the SATs. I warn you, it’ll be grueling, but by the end, you’ll know the SATs up and down.
Wes: Heh… my arms are hurting already!
The next morning at school, Ezra jogs up.
Ezra: There you are, Danny… just the person I’ve been looking for.
Danny: Oh yeah? What’s up, Ezra?
Ezra: Listen. Hear that?
Danny: I… don’t hear anything.
Ezra: Exactly! This place is dead! I think it’s time for a little music. More specifically, a MUSICAL!
Danny: That sounds like a great idea! Let’s do it!
Looks like the sound of music is coming to your school! Keep playing to see what happens next!
Previous Quest: Q & A
Next Quest: Setting the Stage
Next Quest: Setting the Stage