Kris replies to Noah's lament before turning to Ed, " was the sniper male or female, and did they sound like you or perhaps Retsiji? "
Ed shrugs and seems nervous about even discussing the creepy sniper. She sounded like a she. Do you think she might not be a she? Her Shirren was pretty good. I don't think Retsi could speak Shirren very well. No offense."
"It may be nothing Ed, or they could even be using a device to disguise their voice, so probably just a longshot. There are those on station with the skill to make the shot and lacking a moral compass or even perhaps simply motivated by the contract the will to do so."
Kris takes a moment to search her data pad for anything related to their invitations host. Working in response to Noah's question.
Eox is the fifth planet from the sun in the Pact Worlds system.
Thousands of years ago, the native residents of Eox went to war with the neighboring planets Damiar and Iovo, then known as the Twins. Their most powerful weapon, capable of destroying planets, shattered the Twins into the asteroid belt now called the Diaspora, but also destroyed Eox's atmosphere and killed off much of its population.
Eoxians used necromancy to survive, and today Eox is dominated by the undead and ruled by powerful necrovites.
His Undying Excellency Gevalarsk Nor serves as the Eoxian Ambassador to the Pact Worlds on Absalom Station. You recall that he is an elebrian, the dominant intelligent race native to Eox.
Elebrians are the dominant intelligent race of Eox. Most elebrians turned to undeath when the backlash from a superweapon decimated their world, and few living elebrians survive to the present day.
As a race they are marked by their elongated cranium and traditionally have quick wits and a natural desire to accumulate both knowledge and power.
All undead elebrians are reputed to be ruling class necrovites - powerful spellcasters who house their souls in techomagical vessels.
Nor has no known connections to the Corpse Fleet, having in the past spoken in the Pact World Council condemning the actions of the renegade force.
The Corpse Fleet is a military organization from Eox that turned renegade and left their homeworld in protest of the Absalom Pact. Officially disowned by the Eoxian government, it's speculated that the bone sages are still secretly communicating with and offering aid to the Corpse Fleet.
The primary goal of the Corpse Fleet is to shatter the unity of the Pact Worlds and return their homeworld to its former glory. To achieve this, the Corpse Fleet constantly establishes factories and harvests troops in the hope of growing large enough to rival the entire Pact Worlds fleet and force the other Pact Worlds to acknowledge Eox's supremacy.
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Ed squints at the overly ornate and underly legible missive. YIKES! How does the Ambassador of Eox know us, too?! i think that the sooner we get off Absalom Station, the better. He's condemned the actions of the Corpse Fleet in the past, Noahtoo. So I don't think he is a supporter, but still... elebrian's creep me out.
Not knowing a lot about such things, Noah considers them anyway.
I do know something of the Corpse Fleet and would prefer to not run into them but will try to oppose their goals every chance I get.
Consulting a missive from Shifter, Kris tells the others. "Shifter can keep an eye on the DSK for us, however he wants 500 creds for his trouble. Hands off surveillance only. So are we going to respond to the missive or bail on the station? I can call the shuttle pilot and she'll likely ferry us where needed."
If we get off station, I doubt we'd need to worry about the Kings. Five hundred credits is a lot of money. Krisseven, maybe you and Noahtoo can go see the Ambassador. Androids don't need to worry about being turned into undead, do they? I'll just do a little research here with the Starfinders.
I will go and see this ambassador. I am not in favor of spending our credits in such a fashion. Let us all go see the ambassador and see both what he knows and what he wants with us.
"Ed the last time you wanted to study around here, you met a sniper who suggested you find your way off station. Perhaps you should take up computers as a side trick for your studies and join us."
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Which reminds me. Getting off station is a really good idea. Ed twitches. I could go parlay with the Collective while you handle the deadites... he offers helpfully.
Kris takes a moment to consult her data pad, sending a missive to the shuttle pilot to check on when {Kris-7 to pilot Duvra L'Kell, need transport for 5-6 passenger}
I see the Hardscrabble visit as a "nice to do". But we have to visit the Eoxian embassy and I for one would prefer not to keep the ambassador waiting any longer than we have to. It is likely that that personage is in a position to help or hinder us a great deal.
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What does it care about waiting. Not like it's getting any older, Ed shivers.
"I would guess in the course of things we probably need to do both and see where that leads us. However Ambassador's direct invitations" Kris says holding up the red missive "I would think trump shadowy invites from bums laying in the gutter" knowing fully well that the bum perhaps was simply a spy in place for the Hardscrabble
Ok, ok. I'll go, but if it drinks all out hemofluids, we'll be dead so I'll tell you so now!
"So noted" Kris replies suppressing a chuckle, Kris then begins searching for the best route to the embassy, requesting a robo-taxi if needed.
Clutching your invitational missives, you are all summarily travel to the Eoxian embassy.
Standing before the foreboding building, you see iconography detailing the transition (and ascension) of the living to the ranks of the undead.
As you assemble at the onyx door displaying skulls, wisps of green tinted echoplasm begin to fissure forth from the portal...
At the same time a ghostly voice questions you all;
"Whhhhhhhy do you visit upon this place of deeeeeeead? Dooooooo you have business heeeeeere?"
Ed makes sure that the android are between him and the creepy door. We-we were invited! he replies over loudly in his nervous state.
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Noah stands in the back looking a little awkward and holds up the invitation.
Kris smiles as she realizes both Noah and Ed have placed her at the front of their little procession. raising her hand to knock on the portal she draws it back as the greenish vapors begin to pour out.
"We seek an audience with the Ambassador, as my companions have indicated we have an invitation."
The ghostly vapours form into a humanoid spectral form in the style of a servant of antiquity.
The undead doorman eyes you all, then nods as it detects a quality within the invitations that decrees them bonafide.
"Wellllllllcome honorific guests... The Ambassssssador will see you now..."
On cue the heavy door slowly rises, and you feel the stale air within. Pale witchlights flicker to life inside - one after the other illuminating both the way ahead and the macabre architecture of the building.
Your ghostly greeter waves a wispy arm toward the gloomy interior;
"Ennnnnter please. Just follooooooooow the lightssssss."
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"Seems I've heard something similar before, but they told the guy who was dying follow the light"
With a mental shrug, Kris squares her shoulders and leads the way down the hallway, following the light
Ed reluctantly follows making a nervous whining sound that does NOT make the journey less eerie.
The way I see it these undead are not much different than androids, right?
As you follow the trail of spectral lighting through the Gigeresque interior a rib-cage portal cracks open and from within a voice addresses Noah's question;
"Mosssst obsssservant desssssignate Noah 2.0. Though sssssshould you wissssssssh to dissssscussss it further you will find my own ssssstance to be one that undeath is a higher sssssstate than an artificial sssssentient like your goodssssssself."
The ghost lighting wreathes the chamber's entrance as the voice continues;
"Where are my mannerssssss. Pleasssssse. Enter..."
Kris enters the doorway Nodding to the ambassador
"To each their own, ambassador, whether life or undeath or sentience in my own case, we all prefer what we have to an unfulfilled death. To what do we owe the pleasure of this invitation "
Noah enters. An interesting premise ambassador. Do you know if its possible for one such as myself to ascend to the state of undeath? Noah's desire for knowledge overrides any sense of diplomacy he might have had.
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Ed shrinks down as much as he can and let's the androids do the talking.
As you enter the chamber, you are struck first by the coolness of the room, then by the tall, skeletal figure that glides from the gloom;
His Undying Excellency Gevalarsk Nor
At just under 7 ft tall the undead elebrain bows slightly in greeting, only adding to the uneasy you feel. His skeletal countenance displays no scrap of flesh, and an eerie light burns in his otherwise empty eye sockets that are framed by the elongated cranium that is signature to this hyper-intelligent race.
"A good quesssstion Noah Two Point Zero. The path of the Undying issss open to all... sssschould you be interessssted... but I digressss..."
The ambassador maintains a rictus grin as he beckons you sit;
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. I am certain you are aware of the recent interesssst in the prosssspecting sssship Acreon and itssss hauled asssssteroid, being referred to assss the ‘Drift Rock. I alsssso believe you are also acutely acquainted with the disssspute between Asssstral Extractionssss and the Hardssssscrabble Collective over claim of both sssship and the assssteroid."
The tall undead slowly lowers himself into a bone chair before continuing;
"Both partiessss are currently processssing legal arbitration, but the wheelssss of jusssstice oft turn sssslowly. As a result, I have gracioussssly offered my sssservicessss as a mediator in the hope of finding a ssssolution that issss... equitable... to both factionssss."
With impossibly long fingers he gestures toward an array of refreshments and beverages arrayed upon the coffin shaped table before you.
“The firsssst ssssstep issss, of coursssse, learning the sssspecificssss of the oppossssing claimssss. Reportsssss of your recent... endeavorssss... in dealing with some of Abssssalom Sssstation’ssss mosssst notoriousssss criminal elementssss have led me to believe that you might be useful in thisssss undertaking as well. You are all relatively new to the sssstation, and sssseem to possesssss a wide range of sssskillsssss and aptitudessss, that deem you mosssst capable. In sssshort, you are perfectly possssitioned asssss a neutral third party that could cut through all of the myriad of interesssstssss ssssurrounding thissss issssssue and get to the very heart of the matter."
He cups his fingers and leans forward, eyes flaring with spectral intensity;
So my Dutiful Vitalitessss I would like you to go to the Acreon on my behalf. Find out precisssely what happened to itssss crew, and ascertain the value of itssss asteroid cargo. While there I would also bid you determine whether thissss Drift Rock issss truly assss ‘mysteriousssss’ as the media claimssss. What ssssay you all?"
Noah eyes the food but does not partake. Do the undead even eat? If not how fresh can the food be? he muses. If you can arrange both permission and passage for such a venture I would be most interested. Do you offer any compensation for the endeavor?
"Mister Ambassador, I understood you to say you offered your services as a mediator, were those services agreed to?" Kris ask, well aware contracts should have been documented
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Retsiji stirs briefly from his near-torpor, keeping a wary eye out for trouble and letting the others talk. He idly thumbs a bit of cosmoline off of the barrel of his reaction cannon. Missed that last cleaning.
Ed jumps a little as the big lizard suddenly appears at his side.
"I'm willing to go."
Ed nods feverishly, just frantic to get out of this rocket ship from the crypt.
The lanky undead's elongated cranium tilts slightly as it mulls your questions, then nods;
"You have questionsss... Of courssse... The living are alwaysss ssso... vibrant and... hungry for answerssss..."
Nor flashes his rictus grin at Noah's mention of payment;
"It would be foolisssh to expect you to undertake ssssuch a missssion for the mere good of the Pact Worldssss. Even I, a sssstaunch advocate of our confederacy recognissse the value in due payment for sssservicessss rendered... 600CR each will be depossssited into your accountssss upon completion of the missssion. Sssshould any of you expire then I can arrange for their sssshare to be disssstributed amongssst thossse sssstill drawing breath..."
At Kris' query the undead's eyes flash a spectral green;
"Ah. The crux of the matter. I like that. Why doesss the Ambassssador of Nox concern himssself with a petty sssalvage ssssquabble between Asssstral Extractionssss and the Hardsssscrabble... Why indeed? Quite sssimply I have no tiessss nor affiliationssss with either faction. While I may appear to your innocent and organic eyessss asssss sssssimply a powerful being of undeath, I am, in my cold heart... a diplomat. I believe in the power of wordssss not merely the finger on a trigger. Violence is no ssssolution, though my Vessssk friend here will no doubt dissssagree. I wissssh to ressssolve the matter with fact and arbitration. Pure and ssssimple..."
The Ambassador chuckles, his laugh a faint thing, akin to a distant voice or sound;
"Of coursssse, even the mosssst gifted ssssurgeon hassss usssse of a bone saw on occassssion. So it issss that I require bootssss on that sssship. Be my boots. Be our eyessss. Gather evidence. Ssssource what occurred. Exposssse the truth."
"Nice sidestep, no wonder you're a politician" Kris mutters to herself at the ambassadors reply. Pretty words but evaded the question entirely as to wether the parties in question had agreed to the arbitration.
"I doubt it is as simple as that Mr. Ambassador, however that being said; I will be your eyes and ears if the rest of my companions are game. For I too want to expose the truth of what happened to my former employer."
Your terms are acceptable to my Mr. Ambassidor.
"Urrr'va'vorrrr. Trrruuvvvv." hisses quietly as he crouches behind Krisseven for safety.
"Ah. The crux of the matter. I like that. Why doesss the Ambassssador of Nox concern himssself with a petty sssalvage ssssquabble between Asssstral Extractionssss and the Hardsssscrabble... Why indeed? Quite sssimply I have no tiessss nor affiliationssss with either faction. While I may appear to your innocent and organic eyessss asssss sssssimply a powerful being of undeath, I am, in my cold heart... a diplomat. I believe in the power of wordssss not merely the finger on a trigger. Violence is no ssssolution, though my Vessssk friend here will no doubt dissssagree."
Retsiji grins toothily.
Can we go now? Ed silently asks his companions.
"One more question for the Ambassador Ed, then we may leave" Kris says to the larger Shirren standing behind her slight 5' frame.
"Ambassador, have you already acquired a way for our team of 'investigation diplomats' to gain entrance to the secured ship in question?"
Nor's rictus grin seems to widen even more at your acceptance of his terms;
"Excellent. Mosssst excellent. I therefore bessstow upon you all the title of Dutiful Vitalitatessss of Eox..."
Dutiful Vitalitates is indeed a Eoxian title. Usual reserved for their living servitors who operate on behalf of the state or ruling elebrain. Traditionally it was also a way of proving worth before being blessed with the (willing) transition to undeath.
At Kris' question the thin undead's elongated head nods slowly;
"I have indeed my dear... I have procured the ussse of the sssshuttle Hippocampussss from Sssstation Ssssecurity. Believe it issss a modified Ringworkssss Wanderer model... It sssshall be your chariot on thissss quesssst mosssst inquissssitive and isss well ssssuited to bear you all to the Acreon... and back of coursssse."
As your group begins to make signals that you are leaving the gaunt Ambassador engages you all in a suddenly hushed tone (relative to his already whispery voice);
"There issss but one more thing I would bid of you my mosssst Dutiful Vitalitatessss...“
Nor clearly emphasises your new title as he steeples his bony fingers before continuing;
“Among itssss other cargo, the Acreon wasssss carrying a package destined for our embasssssy. Of course, with the sssship now being quarantined, thisss package hassss been undeliverable. I eagerly await itssss arrival, and would consider it a perssssonal favour, sssshould you find the package, to bring it to me upon your no doubt ssssuccessssful return to the sssstation."
The Ambassador's eyes glow eerily as he continues;
"Thissss package is clearly marked for my attention sssso it ssssshould not be difficult to dissssscern. I trusssst 500CR for each of you would be sssssufficient to provide both impetusssss and dissssscretion to thisssss matter yessssss?"
And just how large is this package Ambassador? Noah asks. I'd rather not have to try to smuggle something large past the civil authorities. Is this something that could fit into a diplomatic pouch?
Nor casts his eerie gaze toward Noah;
"Sssmuggle? No... That would not do... I am an ambasssssador after all. Alassss the package issss too large to fit into a pouch Noah Two-Point-Zero. You are merely location and acquiring ssssomething that issss mine already... Ergo it hassss the proper authority. The authority vessssted in me by the Pact World Council yesssss?"