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Frenzel looks genuinely scared as he has grown quite attached to his arms. His jaw shakes as he picks up the phone. "That's it. I'm calling Security. You need to leave now!"
"And I am calling the Ministry to report you myself." The once half-elf undead points towards the door, before jamming his arms back under the desk in fear of losing them.
Abe looks at Shan in the corner and glances back at Frenzel. "I dunno if you're dirty or not Frenzel, but Shan is!" he points his finger at the smirking undead.
"I plan to show in my report that you have filed untrue documents regarding the Corpse Fleet. You have wasted valuable government resources. You had better hope that all they do is dock your pay for the trouble. Why, it wouldn't surprise me if you spend a little time in prison over this..."
He turns to the others, "This is a dead-end. We're done here. We'll let the bureaucracy handle this one. He'll get what's coming to him for such brazen lies."
Abe tries to hide a smile as he imagines the various things a large unfeeling organization might do to someone who files false reports at them. Maybe not as good as ripping his arms off, but still.
Zane shrugs his shoulders. Completely impassive to threats of bureaucracy and this guy calling security. They have a powerful Ambassador and a fanbase of vid-watchers on their side. Popularity trumps whatever this guy thinks he can muster.
Besides, Zane was in a foul mood and he put others in a similar mood. Misery loves company and he just manufactured company.
Eh.
........
Where to now Coach? There's a Marrowblight that needs finding and killing.
Vetch looks disappointed to be leaving before at least someone has their arms ripped off. I mean, there is a lot of arm ripping talk, but so actual arm ripping action in this party. He shakes his head.
”But I’m still confused about the marrowblight pieces. What is up with that?”
”Call security. It’ll be fun to watch you explain to them how you let someone in here to create a marrowblight.” Dash kicks his feet off the table and stands. ”If you’re done making hollow threats, we’ll be on our way to make our own report us to the Ministry. Might want to clean out one of those vats. You might be find yourself tossed in for incompetence.”
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Draka's eyes widen by the slightest measurement as she realizes the truth. She turns on her communicator for a close up shot: "Draka have special update for Draka fans. Draka fans know Draka always post the latest in gossip and trends and Draka have big, juicy steak of gossip. Shan," Draka turns the camera towards the shaking peon while still keeping herself in the frame, "This Shan undead file false report against his supervisor. But Draka and Draka friends not know that until just now. Draka warning Draka fans now: be on alert for boney wimp Shan. Draka also hear rumor Shan bad tipper at restaurant." In the background, the audio picks up on Dash being mouthy towards Frenzel.
Draka moves over towards the action, rolling up a waitingroom magazine into a makeshift microphone. "Excuse me. Draka, up-and-coming popular vidstar. What Frenzel planning? Fire Shan? Has Frenzel heard rumor Draka just made up about 'lousy tipper Shan'? Draka think it clever name. Frenzel appreciate Draka humor? Draka just asking the important questions." Draka holds the rolled-up newspaper towards (the possibly flustered) Frenzel like a microphone while her communicator records his reaction.
After Draka selfishly makes a PR event out of the situation, she follows Abe and the others out towards that next destination.
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Frenzel turns to Shan at the announcement of a false report against him conspiring with the Corpse Fleet. Frenzel scowls and he turns back to the man. "Worse than that. Shan...the contract of you bening turned is now void. Pack you stuff and leave at once."
Shan's smile quickly vanishes as he kicks his chair over. He tosses his world's best employee mug at the wall where it shatters, leaving coffee stained and flowing down the bone-like wall.
"F@#% You! You are going to believe them? They just came screaming in here with nonsense...."
You leave with the pair screaming and arguing at each other as things get heated.
"Sure, let's try knocking on some doors and see what we can find out, though it seems a waste of time, we've no other good leads for now." he looks at the thugs in the party, "Remember though, these people are innocents, please play it cool."
Having no particular skill in this, Abe let's others take the lead, but he helps where he can, and tries to keep everyone from terrorizing the neighborhood.
The Zane saunters into GentleSages, opening the pivoted front door and gives a hearty Hello Shopkeeper!
Well Met Shopkeeper. This here is a group of Starfinders.... and as the saying goes... where there's Starfinders,there's credits just burning a hole in their enviro-suits! Team Blood and Fury - you may have heard of them, they are a sensation - loves shopping. What exotic Necro's you got for a variety of species?
"BLOOD AND FURY!" Draka echos loudly. The burly vesk reapplies a layer of red lipstick around her mouth and looks around the shop. The vest inquires as to if she's been recognised: "Draka household name in GentleSages?"
You are famous enough that pretty much everyone has either heard of you or can quickly find information about you (it’s a DC 10 Culture check to recognize your name and a DC 20 Culture check for someone to recognize you out of context from your appearance alone). Among those who follow your iconic profession, you’ve built up both fans and detractors due to your celebrity. If you’re looking for a generic person like
“a doctor who can treat this disease,” you can almost always find one who’s a fan and whose attitude starts as friendly or helpful to you; this takes 2d4 hours. At the GM’s discretion, fans might give you services (although not goods) for a discount or even for free.
Vetch won't necessarily try to aid in diplomacy, but will skulk and scurry about people's garbage and properties to see if he can ferret out any information.
Stealth
Perception
He thinks this is a particularly good plan as the goon squad will be making noise in the front, giving him time to peek and peer in the sides and backs.
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Vetch spends his time digging through everyone's trash can's like some space trash panda. Though he does find numerous items of interest. Maybe not to him but definitely to someone else. Vetch is able to hit up several blocks worth of trash while the others ask around. Nearly each bag has some sort of healthy assortment of maggots.
- A skinned sheep head
- A giant soiled sex doll
- Some creature's stomach
- One house had 15 bags of nearly-new, designer clothes.
- Deathball cards with player stats. One very used one is of The Zane as it looks to have been used in the spokes of some undead child's bike spokes.
- One bag is full of rotten dead cats. Enough that seems completely unreasonable for any sane person to own.
- A taxidermied dead raccoon dressed in a baby/toddler t-shirt.
- A crisp 100 credit bill hidden in a battered dresser drawer
As Vetch does the dirty work the group heads to GentleSage's Necrografts and Sundrie's. Bright tubes of neon pinks, greens, and blues form a large sign outside of this rusty storefront. “Gentlesage’s Necrografts & Sundries,” it reads in a swooping font reminiscent of handwriting. Fluorescent paint finishes the display with an image of a rotting undead humanoid in a deeply cut chiffon shirt, revealing a vestigial undead head protruding from one shoulder. Both heads are wearing top hats and monocles.
It’s clear that the owner of this business has gone to great lengths to build a brand that’s refined and has the veneer of luxury, even if it is located in a seedy part of the city. The store’s inventory, consisting mostly of necrografts but also including a few biotech items, is displayed on plush pillows and within curtained shadow boxes.
The shop’s proprietor, a corpsefolk (a decaying undead zombie that retains its intelligence and personality), stands behind the cheaply gilded counter inside. The proprietor is dressed in a cobbled-together sort of archaic finery, with a patchwork tailed coat, a dingy top hat, a dented monocle, and a goldcolored cane covered in greenish patina. A small vestigial head on the Gentlesage’s shoulder protrudes from his ruffled shirt, just like the sign outside. He eyes you warily as you enter. “Ah, customers who bear the spark of life,” he says. “You are most welcome at Gentlesage’s Necrografts and Sundries, but do know that I will not tolerate breathing on my wares. It conveys the stench of the living, don’t you know, which is most off-putting for my normal clientele. You understand, I’m sure.”
SYSTEM Heart or Lungs
Despite its name, a black heart can augment any major circulatory organ that helps sustain life in a living creature, though it most commonly augments a heart. A black heart is a strip of necromancy-infused undead flesh that turns whatever organ it is attached to a deep shade of ebony. A creature with a black heart gains the benefits of the environmental protections of armor (see page 196 of the Starfinder Core Rulebook), which last for a number of days equal to double the necrograft’s item level. A black heart automatically recharges 1 hour of this duration for each hour this ability is not in use (up to its normal maximum). Additionally, the recipient gains an enhancement bonus to saving throws against death effects, disease, mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison, sleep effects, and stunning effects equal to the necrograft’s mark, unless the effect specifies it functions against undead.
SYSTEM Arm
Bone blades are weapons built into undead arms that are then grafted onto their recipients. The blade can be retracted into the limb (making it impossible to notice without a careful inspection, scan, spell, or similar ability) or extended from the wrist for combat. Extending or retracting a bone blade is a swift action, and the recipient can’t use the hand of the associated arm to hold anything or perform fine manipulation when the blade is extended. A bone blade cannot be disarmed, but it can be sundered. When a bone blade’s recipient regains Hit Points (whether through first aid, magic, or natural healing), the blade regains the same number of Hit Points. If destroyed, the bone blade regrows in 24 hours. Standard bone blades are one-handed simple melee weapons with the operative weapon special property. It is possible to have a more complex heavy bone blade installed, which changes the bone blade into a one-handed advanced melee weapon. These heavy bone blades are not operative weapons, but they deal more damage (see the table above). There is no difference in cost between standard and heavy bone blades, but the decision between them must be made when the bone blade is installed and cannot be changed.
MODEL | STANDARD | HEAVY | CRITICAL
Mk 1 | 1d4 S | 2d4 S | Staggered
Mk 2 | 1d8 S | 2d8 S | Staggered
Mk 3 | 2d8 S | 4d8 S | Stunned
Mk 4 | 5d8 S | 7d8 S | Stunned
Mk 5 | 5d10 S | 7d10 S | Stunned
SYSTEM Skin
Ghoul glands are a series of hundreds of tiny undead sweat glands, which are installed all over the recipient’s skin. The glands pull energy from the body and mind of the recipient and use it to create a staggering or paralyzing effect. As a standard action a number of times per day equal to the necrograft’s mark, the recipient can activate the glands and attempt to touch a foe (doing so requires a successful attack roll against the target’s KAC). The target must succeed at a Fortitude saving throw or be staggered (for mk 1 through mk 3 ghoul glands) or stunned (for mk 4 and mk 5 ghoul glands) for 1d4 rounds.
SYSTEM Lungs
A grave wind necrograft replaces the recipient’s lungs with black, undead lungs that can still pump air and oxygenate blood but are also able to exhale a diseased miasma. As a standard action a number of times per day equal to the necrograft’s mark, the recipient can expose an adjacent creature to a necromantic disease. The disease inflicted depends on the model of the grave wind, as indicated in the table above. These necromantic diseases act as the normal diseases of the same name (see page 418 of the Starfinder Core Rulebook), except for the following. The save DC is determined by the necrograft and its recipient. No wound or actual transfer of air is necessary for the disease to affect a target; even someone in armor with its environmental seals active can be exposed. A creature infected with such a disease is not a carrier, so it can’t pass the disease on to other victims. Creatures immune to death effects are immune to these diseases, and any bonus a creature has to saving throws against death effects applies to saves against these diseases (however, the diseases don’t count as death effects for other purposes, such as raise dead).
Mk 1 Filth fever
Mk 2 Cackle fever
Mk 3 Devil chills
Mk 4 Demon fever
Mk 5 Mummy rot
SYSTEM Spinal Column
Shadow nerves are long strands of partially incorporeal undead nerve fibers that have strong connections to the Shadow Plane. Shadow nerves allow the recipient to navigate a path that exists partially in the Material Plane and partially in the Shadow Plane. A number of times per day equal to the necrograft’s mark, the recipient can take a guarded step of 10 feet, rather than the normal 5-foot guarded step (see page 247 of the Starfinder Core Rulebook), as long as the recipient is not in an area of bright light.
SYSTEM Throat
A vampire voice necrograft attaches to the recipient’s vocal cords, granting a supernaturally threatening tone. While most recipients of vampire voices are convinced their necrografts came from vampire spawn, creators of these undead augmentations never promise any such lofty origins. A vampire voice grants an enhancement bonus to Intimidate checks equal to the necrograft’s mark. The recipient of a vampire voice can also use Intimidate to bully a foe without sharing a language. If the attempt is successful, a single simple request can be conveyed along with the bullying (such as “go away” or “don’t hurt him”), though specific or complex requests can’t be made without sharing a language. Once a creature has been the target of a bullying attempt by a recipient with a vampire voice, it can’t be targeted by this ability from the same recipient again for 24 hours.
SYSTEM Eyes
Wraith motes replace the recipient’s eyes with glowing red motes of fiery-red light, which smolder and produce thin trails of white smoke. Wraith motes allow the recipient to retain all her natural vision abilities, but they can also augment her vision for a number of minutes per day equal to the necrograft’s mark. They can be activated as a swift action, or they can be activated as a reaction whenever the recipient attempts a Perception check. They can be deactivated as a swift action. The wraith motes’ duration need not be used all at once, but it must be used in 1-minute increments. The vision granted by the wraith motes varies based on the model as follows. Higher-level models can be used to grant the vision options of lower-level version, but only a single benefit can be gained at a time. Mk 1 wraith motes grant low-light vision. Mk 2 wraith motes grant darkvision with a range of 60 feet. Mk 3 wraith motes grant the see in darkness universal creature ability (allowing the recipient to see perfectly in darkness of any kind, including magical darkness; see page 156 of the Starfinder Alien Archive). Mk 4 wraith motes grant the ability to see invisible creatures and objects (as per see invisibility). Mk 5 wraith motes allow the recipient to see into both the Ethereal Plane and Shadow Plane.
”Sh!t..” Dash chuckles at the Gentlesage. ”Don’t worry. I’ve barely breathed since we landed. Organics, dead or alive,” he thumbs over a shoulder at his cologne-clouded, perfume-doused, grease-monkeyed, and furry-and-oddly-dead-cat-smelling crew, ”have some seriously f@#%ed up olfactory senses.”
”So..” Dash glances left and right, ”Which head do I talk to about illegal necrografts and a$$holes in the corpse fleet?”
Abe keeps his distance from the wares, both out of respect for the proprietor, but also out of a bit of loathing. I mean biotech is one thing... putting something living inside you, but this is something else entirely - and Abe doesn't even like biotech.
"Yes, uh, greetings. We are working for the government and are seeking information about the corpse fleet, or perhaps you know a certain Harvinne Nessex? Lives around the corner - or did until a few days ago?"
vs DC 10
Vetch tries to keep his breathing under control as they enter the shop. In fact, given the warning about breathing, Vetch exists the shop and waits outside. He will keep a look out, as they had been sort of threatened by assassins and though this place had seemed very hospitable, he wasn’t taking any chances.
Earlier, he had revealed all the treasures he can acquired in the garbage. The biggest treasure was, of course, the *The* Zane Deathball card. Vetch had kept the for himself, figuring it would be worth more when *The* Zane was dead, probably of burst ego or something.
Perception (keep watch)
Stealth (while keeping watch)
Hmmm. The Vampire Voice sounds mighty good. But first things first. you have any knowledge to help out with?
Zane starts to check the tab on his cred stick.... and then blinks at the very low number reflecting back.
4000 credits for a Mrk II... hmmm.... Yeah. Gotta see a friend...
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”So..” Dash glances left and right, ”Which head do I talk to about illegal necrografts and a$$holes in the corpse fleet?”
The Gentlesage jiggles the secondary vestigial head. "This is my personal assistant...Dave." The head just stares goofy and lifeless as a small blue tongue hangs out of the mouth. It's eyes are rolled back high into its head.
"Yes, uh, greetings. We are working for the government and are seeking information about the corpse fleet, or perhaps you know a certain Harvinne Nessex? Lives around the corner - or did until a few days ago?"
Gentlesage adjusts his monocle. "There have been roving gangs of ghouls that have been prowling the Splice recently in search of what they call “traitors;” My guess is this means anyone who is indifferent to the idea of Eoxian superiority, including those who would report Corpse Fleet activity, but likely includes the living" He wipes the counter as Dash's breath fogs the air slightly. "Word is they visited Harvinne's apartment recently."
================================================================
Outside Vetch keeps an eye out for any would be assassin's. Though he doesn't see any noticeable firearms or blades coming his way Vetch does notice something off with the garbage bags across the street near the Ministry of Eternal Vigilance. A bottle rolls out of the container across the street as the garbage shifts slightly.
Vetch holds his position in stealthy alertness instead of investigating the bottle or trash. He waits until the team exits the shops to do anything.
* * *
”All clear, mostly. Might be something weird over here.”
Vetch emerges from his hiding to scurry across the street with Detect Magic to see if there is anything unusual about the garbage there...or the bottle.
Gentlesage adjusts his monocle. "There have been roving gangs of ghouls that have been prowling the Splice recently in search of what they call “traitors;” My guess is this means anyone who is indifferent to the idea of Eoxian superiority, including those who would report Corpse Fleet activity, but likely includes the living" He wipes the counter as Dash's breath fogs the air slightly. "Word is they visited Harvinne's apartment recently."
"Yes, we heard that too. The troublemakers were run off, for now at least. I suspect they'll be back, but we'll see. Do you know if they visited anyone else recently?"
Unsure what else to ask, he settles for an answer to that and joins Vetch outside. Messalina, in situations like this (shops and such) is usually left hovering by the door so as not to be in the way. Abe joins Vetch in his search, though in a more mundane fashion. He has the camera going just in case the party does something heroic with the homeless person Abe expects to find in the trash.
Vetch yawns, but keeps in hiding.
Dash leans on the counter, looking at the wares with only partial interest. ”Any rumors of a person or group directing these gangs of ghouls? And why would they care about the f@#%ing Corpse Fleet? I thought most Eoxians considered them the traitors.”
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Gentlesage begins to catch on that the Living aren't here to purchase any of his wares and begins to get a bit perturbed as he lowers his monocle, placing it on Dave's head.
"I would suppose that the Corpse Fleet themselves are directing these harassers. There has even been word of a Marrowblight skulking around. Grotesque being. Nearly a dozen spurs hanging from its back they say." The corpsefolk shudders.
Abe is happy to have their suspicions confirmed, but doesn't see any new leads out of Gentlesage. "Thanks for your time, I wish you good luck in your, uh, shop."
He makes his way back out into the street and goes to see what Vetch has cornered.
Dash will suggest the group purchase some Halloween costumes as disguises (assuming we aren’t jumped).
Zane listens to the good suggestion, but it doesn't fit The Zane very well. Like when at University they tried giving him a freshman's gear, when his body was obviously more like a seniors.
Uhhh, The Zane doesn't really dig on the hiding in plain site. Because then, like you gotta understand, Eoxian's won't know that The Zane was here. If it's just a matter of being
Awesome but in a different uniform - sign The Zane up!
-
He shifts a bit uncomfortably from one foot to another. Maybe mentioning the elephant in the room.
Plus like, it is impossible to put a damper on the celebrity of Draka. Kind of hard to make that beauty look all nasty and Eoxian.
Zane is ultimately game for any strategy. He can be convinced to go the Halloween costume route. But if he does, he insists on wearing a newly screensilked "Blood and Fury - Acid Bath" t-shirt. He heads outside and investigates with the others. His head is still on a swivel. He just feels a gansta-jump-in initiation style any moment.
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The vesk stifles a yawn at their second destination. The encounter was significantly less interesting than the first.
As to Vetch’s paranoid trash sense, Dash will suggest the group purchase some Halloween costumes as disguises (assuming we aren’t jumped).
The vesk quickly shoots down the idea: "Draka friends may hide, but Draka meant for spotlight. Draka not able to hide." The vesk tilts her large head and touches her chin in thought: "but, Draka okay with sunglasses and baseball cap. That hiding but not really hiding. Draka read celeb gossip. Draka know how it done."
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Vetch wonders how others will come out dressed, for totally no reason.
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Abe leaves the shop, leaving the shopkeeper muttering to himself. GentleSage shrugs. "Just odd, as the only Marrowblight I heard of lives about 6 miles outside the city."
The group converges as they ditch the Shop to investigate the strange occurrence in the trash pile. Stepping closer.....and closer Vetch pokes at it. An opossum pops out of the middle of the heap and hisses violently at the ysoki as a gnawed on human hand lies in its clutches. The small beasts fur stands on end as it almost looks rabid.
Abe stops in the door and leans back, "What was that you say? You know of a Marrowblight? Where exactly?"
Later, he laughs at the opossum and Vetch. "Quite a dangerous fellow you've found there. As for disguises, I'll skip it. We're an unusual enough group, simple disguises won't cut it I think."
"Ah, it's nothing. Just a dead human hand," Vetch sighs some relief, fearing it was something awful, like goblins. "I thought it was assassins, but it's not...no worries..." Vetch says as he sniffs the trash a bit more, then thinks about next steps.
Vetch is happy to pursue the lead to the wastes.
Just odd, as the only Marrowblight I heard of lives about 6 miles outside the city."
Zane hears this and pivots back to the shopkeeper. Incredulous that the shopkeeper wasn't so forthcoming earlier. but, then ABE steps in and does some talking that gets them a good lead.
Happy that Hermits and MarrowBlights. Zanes time of action is coming up.He jumps on his PersonalComm and looks up transportation and drivers to pick them up to take them towards The Hermit.
He chooses the third option on the list, because EVERYONE knows the assassins have the first transport option paid off to ambush heroes.
The EoxianUber should get here in 10 minutes. That gives just enough time to check out The Bonesmith's Boutique.
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The Zane is quickly disappointed as the EoxianUber is only able to take you to the edge of the cities protective barrier. Either way he goes to visit the Bonesmith Boutique
Windows covered with mealy boards and one lopsided automatic door adorn the outside of this dingy one-story building. Above the entrance is a hologram of a bizarre, ostentatious hat made entirely of tiny bones and the words “Bonesmith’s Boutique: Merchandise You Can Trust!”
This rather disreputable business sells a motley assortment of weapons, armor, and sundry supplies. A bone trooper is behind the front desk wearing an elaborate pirate-style outfit and the same strange hat depicted on the sign outside. When the bone trooper sees you, she opens her mouth wide (the skeletal equivalent of a smile), revealing several golden teeth. “Ah, breathers!” Jaklyn exclaims, using a common Eoxian term for living individuals. “Welcome to Bonesmith Jaklyn’s boutique! We’ve got everything your little beating hearts might desire—and probably more!”
The dueling swords of the Corpse Fleet are earned based on ascension through the ranks. The reanimated ranks of the converted earn their swords through tallied kill counts, while officers receive their blades as part of the transition to the rank of commander. The blades of Corpse Fleet admirals are some of the keenest weapons in the known galaxy, despite being mostly employed as holdout weapons.
ONE-HANDED WEAPONS | LEVEL | PRICE DAMAGE | CRITICAL | BULK | SPECIAL
Dueling sword, converted | 4 | 2,100 | 1d8 S | — | L | Analog
Dueling sword, officer | 10 | 18,795 | 3d4 S | — | L | Analog
Dueling sword, admiral | 17 | 255,150 | 8d6 S | — | L | Analog
Meant for first-wave boarding actions, fossilwrap armor is a cage of alchemically treated bones and steel. This armor is meant to shrug off most incoming blows while giving the wearer some amount of mobility in the thick of combat.
ARMOR MODEL | LEVEL | PRICE | EAC | KAC | MAX DEX | ARMOR CHECK PENALTY | SPEED | UPGRADE | SLOTS | BULK
Fossilwrap I | 5 | 3,100 | +9 | +9 | +2 | –2 | –5 ft. | 1 | 2
Fossilwrap II | 13 | 55,000 | +19 | +19 | +4 | –2 | –5 ft. | 5 | 2
Fossilwrap III | 19 | 645,000 | +25 | +25 | +6 | –2 | –5 ft. | 6 | 2
The frailty cannon line produces a jet of necromantically fueled coolant. More easily controlled than their zero cannon counterparts, these weapons are used to bring down enemies as much as they’re used to invigorate nearby undead.
TWO-HANDED WEAPONS | LEVEL | PRICE | DAMAGE | RANGE | CRITICAL | CAPACITY | USAGE | BULK | SPECIAL
CRYO
Frailty cannon, murder-class | 10 | 20,900 | 3d6 C | 60 ft. | — | 40 charges | 4 | 2 |Line, necrotic
Frailty cannon, massacre-class | 15 | 132,000 | 6d6 C | 60 ft. | — | 50 charges | 5 | 2 | Line, necrotic
Frailty cannon, extinction-class | 19 | 660,000 | 9d6 C | 80 ft. | — | 50 charges | 5 | 2 | Line, necrotic
A rib cage of ossified injectors covers the casing of these pistols, corrupting the internal coolant supply with negative energy. These pistols deliver chilling blasts of concentrated entropy at close range.
ONE-HANDED WEAPONS | LEVEL | PRICE | DAMAGE | RANGE | CRITICAL | CAPACITY | USAGE | BULK | SPECIAL
CRYO
Frailty pistol, rasp-class | 4 | 2,420 | 1d4 C | 60 ft. | — | 10 charges | 1 | L | Necrotic
Frailty pistol, wail-class | 9 | 15,400 | 2d4 C | 60 ft. | — | 20 charges | 2 | L | Necrotic
Frailty pistol, scream-class | 14 | 85,800 | 4d4 C | 60 ft. | — | 20 charges | 2 | L | Necrotic
Frailty pistol, deathcry-class | 18 | 440,000 | 6d4 C | 60 ft. | — | 40 charges | 4 | L | Necrotic
Standard issue to many soldiers of the Corpse Fleet, the frailty series of rifles is designed to affect only living enemies. The weapons’ most common application is Corpse Fleet agents firing at enemies engaged by mindless undead, with incidents of friendly fire rewarding allies who are hit with boosts of negative energy.
TWO-HANDED WEAPONS | LEVEL | PRICE | DAMAGE | RANGE | CRITICAL | CAPACITY | USAGE | BULK | SPECIAL
CRYO
Frailty rifle, atrophy-class | 3 | 1,650 | 1d6 C | 60 ft. | — | 20 charges | 2 | 1 | Necrotic
Frailty rifle, rot-class | 7 | 7,700 | 2d6 C | 60 ft. | — | 20 charges | 2 | 2 | Necrotic
Frailty rifle, blight-class | 13 | 57,200 | 4d6 C | 60 ft. | — | 40 charges | 4 | 2 | Necrotic
Frailty rifle, epidemic-class | 17 | 297,000 | 7d6 C | 60 ft. | — | 50 charges | 5 | 2 | Necrotic
These grenades are crafted to resemble leering, pygmy-sized skulls. When a necro grenade detonates, it expels a shroud of chemical coolants from its exposed eyes and mouth. This freezing gas is laced with minor traces of negative energy, draining the living and healing undead caught in the area of effect.
GRENADES | LEVEL | PRICE | RANGE | CAPACITY | BULK | SPECIAL
Necro grenade I | 5 | 870 | 20 ft. | Drawn | L | Explode (1d8 C, necrotic, 10 ft.)
Necro grenade II | 9 | 3,900 | 20 ft. | Drawn | L | Explode (2d8 C, necrotic, 15 ft.)
Necro grenade III | 13 | 14,640 | 20 ft. | Drawn | L | Explode (4d8 C, necrotic, 20 ft.)
Necro grenade IV | 17 | 72,900 | 20 ft. | Drawn | L | Explode (6d8 C, necrotic, 20 ft.)
This armor is made from the harvested hides of the remains of destroyed undead, making it resemble a macabre skinsuit. Ossified studs and embellishments reinforce the alchemically treated skin, which is otherwise designed to support Corpse Fleet agents favoring speed and stealth.
ARMOR MODEL | LEVEL | PRICE | EAC | KAC | MAX DEX | ARMOR CHECK | SPEED | UPGRADE | SLOTS | BULK
Skitterhide I | 3 | 1,200 | +2 | +3 | +5 | — | — | 0 | L
Skitterhide II | 9 | 12,500 | +10 | +11 | +7 | — | — | 2 | L
Skitterhide III | 16 | 144,000 | +19 | +19 | +8 | — | — | 4 | L
Corpse Fleet officers directing hordes of converted covet these wicked talons. Powered by a built-in energy pack, these melee weapons resemble skeletal claws made of bone and steel. The claw weeps frost in areas with an atmosphere, and its touch freezes the skin of any living creature it strikes.
ONE-HANDED WEAPONS | LEVEL | PRICE | DAMAGE | CRITICAL | BULK | SPECIAL
CRYO
Tomb claw, skeletal | 2 | 777 | 1d4 P & C | — | 1 | Necrotic, powered (capacity 20, usage 1)
Tomb claw, ghoulish | 7 | 6,510 | 2d4 P & C | — | 1 | Necrotic, powered (capacity 20, usage 1)
Tomb claw, vampiric | 12 | 36,330 | 5d4 P & C | — | 1 | Necrotic, powered (capacity 20, usage 1)
Tomb claw, lich | 16 | 170,100 | 12d4 P & C | — | 1 | Necrotic, powered (capacity 20, usage 1)
A necrotic weapon deals cold damage infused with negative energy. Creatures immune to negative energy (such as the targets of a death ward spell) are immune to the cold damage of a necrotic weapon, and the cold damage of necrotic weapons affects only living creatures. Undead creatures targeted by a weapon with this property not only take no damage from the cold but also gain temporary Hit Points equal to the weapon’s item level. These temporary Hit Points last for 10 minutes, until expended, or until the undead gains a larger number of temporary Hit Points from a necrotic weapon. A creature can benefit from only one source of temporary Hit Points from a necrotic weapon at a time.
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While others shop, Vetch again finds a place to hide and keep watch should undead international space assassins decide that the time to strike is when *The* Zane is undressed and getting a ‘bone graft’ or ‘fossil wrap’ or something.
Could make for some good vid, tho.
Stealth
Perception
Well Jaklyn! The Zane is mighty impressed at the high quality you have here!
Lets out a whistle
Tomb Claws. There's a few boyo-s out there that like the TombClaws. The Zane hear that those made at The NecroForge are the best quality... and you have two here with NecroForge authentication stamps.
And the Skitterhide! Two upgrade slots plus it allows for stealthing smoother than Luther Vandross.
He turns to
Jaklyn very interested.
So, do you have a way to maybe order something and have it delivered? Do you participate in EoxianPrime next day delivery?
The Zane doesn't have a membership, but certainly Draka does and The Zane bets that Draka won't mind using her Prime Account.
Hey Draka! Do you Prime? If The Zane can get some credits together - Do you mind?
No way-- no chance --does Dash have an account. Abe might. Vetch-- nah. He's a scavenger.
Dash looks over the Bonesmith’s armory and smirks to himself at the many reminders that among the dangerous killers of the pact worlds packing heat from places like this, he’s pretty much small f@#%ing fries.
”Too rich for my nanites!” Dash turns and heads for the door. ”I’ll be outside looking for assassins, yo!”
As he nears the door he taps and slides some controls on his wrist that manipulates the look of his holoskin to give him the look of a vampiric douchebag in a dark suit with lace cuffs.
"Greetings Jaklyn, I'm Abe. Nice stuff. I wondered if you had a moment to talk about the Bone Fleet? We're working with the government to track down some local sightings. Have you seen or heard anything around here lately?"
He looks at the wares, but considered who their enemy seems to be at the moment and decides against a purchase.
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Inside...
Jaklyn's clean and smooth skull looks at you curiously. "We can deliver as long as it is within city limits here." She explains to Zane before Abe starts in on the Bone Fleet. The bone trooper holds up her skeletal palms. "Look man, I just sell stuff here. I don't want any trouble. Those guys are well hidden and aren't well liked around these parts."
Outside...
Dash keeps an eye outside as himself and Vetch get a bit paranoid about being ambushed. From the alleyway glare a pair of red eyes, that look filled with hate. Sitting atop a makeshift throne of trash and body parts tossed out from the Fleshworks sits an emaciated homeless ghoul. It's tongue licks out across a dire rat's torn body as it smiles with rows of sharp teeth and waves back at Dash.
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"I understand. You don't want to speak out of turn. But I look at you, and I see an intelligent man. The sort of man who notices things, and remembers them. Sure, you don't want to say anything, but that doesn't mean you don't know anything."
"Draka here hasn't hurt anything all day, and you know what she's like. She just needs to dip her claws into something - you know?"
"Look, I want to be friends here, and friends don't hurt each other. But you've got to meet me half way."
He looks out the window to make sure they're alone - though he doesn't really care...
"I know there's a Marrowblight named Xerantha Mortrant. She lives about six miles out of town to the west. Surely you've heard of her? What can you tell me about her?"
Alright! ABE's getting on the same page. A bit o' intimidation.
Zane smiles.
Yeah, You want friends like Team Blood and Fury. It's when Draka is surrounded by enemies that she gets a new pedicure and paint color for her nails. She likes it when her nails are all done up right.
Maybe a big macho man like Zane just shouldn't be talking about manicures and pedicures or nailcolor. He should stick to intimidating people the old fashioned way. Threaten to tear off arms. One day, he'll get a chance to. Otherwise Vetch might think he's just just a blowhard.
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"She seems pretty vocal about the Corpse Fleet as she sympathizes with them." The bone trooper explains almost shrugging her off. "Most folks ignored her as she didn't cause anyone any harm staying that far out. If you do go and visit her just be careful of touching the spurs as they carry several diseases for you mouth breathers." Jaklyn warns.
The Zane's uber pulls up outside the shop as his comm device pings letting him know that the driver is ready.
Vetch continues to wait outside, hoping the discussion inside goes well. He keeps an eye on Dash’s ghoul, trying to maintain his hiding.
A friend of yours, Dash? I didn’t know you dabbled in the dead.
Vetch is ready to go, or wait, staring at the Uber.
"Thanks for the heads up there Jaklyn. You have a good day, seems our ride is here."
Abe heads out and gets into Zane's ride, calling Vetch and Dash over "Shall we go visit the marrow blight?"
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Draka goes with her Blood and Fury buddy, Zane, inside the shop. Draka eyes the various weapons, her gaze lingering on the tomb claw. Undead want to be like Draka. Undead want vesk claws. The vesk lets out a snort of laughter before turning her attention to the conversation.
“Hey Draka! Do you Prime? If The Zane can get some credits together - Do you mind?”
The vesk shakes her large head, “Draka not have Prime. Draka actually not like shopping. Strange, Draka know. Because Draka so stylish,” Draka clarifies, her manicured claws clicking against the glittery handle of her Swoop Hammer. “but… Draka do Ipsy.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Draka here hasn't hurt anything all day, and you know what she's like. She just needs to dip her claws into something - you know?"
The vesk flexes, “Draka not exercise today, but Draka want to!” She sizes up Jakyn, her yellow reptilian eyes moving up and down the undead’s body.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As they are leaving the store: "Draka not sure why ship whisperer not want Draka to fight. Draka know Draka do well. Maybe next stop? Draka agent always say 'no publicity bad publicity.'"
Zane squeezes into the "Twinkie" spot of the boxy Eoxian transport. The smell in the transport wrinkles his nose, plus the tight fit as Draka took the front passenger seat and he's wedged with Dash ABE and Vetch in the back. Messelina was kind enough to volunteer for the trunk, otherwise....
Vetch obviously doesn't take up as much space, but the fact that everyone is in bulky bodyarmors with lots of gizmos and attachments just makes the available space "less squishy".
So, there's Zane in the middle totally blocking the rear view cams for the undead driver.
Vetch isn't happy about taking the hump seat, but he takes it because he's used to it. Preferably, it would be socially acceptable to ride in the trunk or on the back windshield (for wind in the face), but this isn't the best time to argue car seat conventions.
Vetch tries not to get carsick on the ride.
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Seated inside the vehicle, Draka pulls out her red feather boa and wraps it around her neck, flinging a tail end over her shoulder. Then her pulls a pair of sunglasses from out of her pocket and puts them on. Her muscles flex with each movement. "Draka ready. Drive."
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Dash spends the road trip spitting out feathers and silently wishing he had called scattergun before Draka.
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The uber loads all of you up in a very nice Eoxian Escalade. The large framed skeletal figure in the driver's seat looks back and starts a movie for your trip. "Bout an hour drive to the barrier. Far as I can take you. After that you will be on your own living feet."
The movie begins to play. Something left over from from centuries ago.
Con Air featuring Nicolas Cage
***
The hour passes quickly with the film playing and soon you are standing at the barrier keeping the atmosphere within the confines of the city of Orphys. Activating each of your environmental protections you head out into the wastelands towards Xerantha’s hermitage.
Furthermore, the stretch of terrain between Orphys and Xerantha’s hermitage is disconcerting and difficult to travel, with strange rock formations, deep twisting gullies, and massive fields of bleached bones the norm. The entire surface is blasted from the long forgotten war and destruction.
After four hours of walking the blasted landscape of a wholly devastated and undead planet gives way slightly to this carefully cultivated area surrounding a dilapidated hut. The displays are almost garden-like in their precise arrangement—thin, pliable bones weave intricate patterns in clumps that might otherwise be living bushes, and flutes of skin and cartilage might be mistaken for flowers were it not for the disturbing shapes and absence of brilliant colors.