Zulu stays silent as the group explores Eox and has numerous long winded conversations with various people. Speaking not being his specialty and having no cultural or practical experience dealing with the dead, he simple lets the talkitive members of the crew figure out where to start.
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Lenny has a hard time understanding the strange people of eox. It's so hard to tell if they are entertained by you, afraid of you, or hate your guts. Either way, you definitely stand out. The other living beings on the planet, few as there are, have a much more beaten-down demeanor and a thin layer of the gray eoxian dust that covers just about everything. Your bright, clean, well-armored selves certainly started rumors wherever you went.
But... Lenny has a hard time telling how far these rumors went. Perhaps no further than that first conversation. Or, perhaps the whole planet has heard of you.
Waneda chuckles at Pippimi's surprise at the credits. "Yes, the ambassador can be rather fickle. I put several months of extra time into a new organizational file system for him, nothing. But the time I got him an XL-cab instead of the average? 500 credit bonus. Weird guy..." You can tell she's warming up to you a little. Seems like her favorite past time is griping and she'll do it about anybody or anything. "But, if you want to spend those creds, the Splice is the place to do it. Kinder to breather around here than other places. Used to the lot working their time at the factories. Gentlesage's Necrografts & Sundries and Bonesmith's Boutique are one this block, both good spots to buy and sell whatever you need."
"The Flesh Vats seem far too convenient but it wouldn't be surprising for the Corpse Fleet to be so foolish to leave behind a badge. I say we look into Harvinne. Pip is right that finding a recruiter is an easy route." Zoran says putting in his opinion.
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"Hmm hmm! Team flush with cash. How about Boneysmith Boutique first? Pippimi crossing fingers for new and fancy gear that not cost actual arm and actual leg."
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You head upstairs after Zoran, saying goodbye to the ghoul. You pass a few storage rooms and a door marked:
WANEDA TRUX
LIVING QUARTERS
STAY OUT!
After that you come to an open door leading into another supply room. It has obviously been cleared to accommodate you, and grimy impressions on the floor show where filing cabinets and office furniture once stood. Now, the room holds six thin foam sleeping pads and a small connected washroom with a deep sink. With such stark accommodations, you can feel Waneda's unhappiness with your presence oozing from every surface. But, it's better than sweating in the jungle! You drop your non-combat related belongings and head out of the ministry.
Deciding that the investigation can wait another hour or two, you turn right and into the shop next door, Bonemith's 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!”
A bone trooper woman 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, as Zoran whispers to you), revealing several golden teeth. “Ah, breathers!” Jaklyn exclaims. “Welcome to Bonesmith Jaklyn’s boutique! We’ve got everything your little beating hearts might desire — and probably more!” She walks around the counter, every other step emphasized by an ominous THUD. You see that her right fibia and tibia are sliced through and grafted onto a... pegleg?! The skeletal woman notices your eyes and grins again. She raises her finger and wags it in front of her. "Not nice to stare, boys! I lost this in a skirmish defending Orphys from a roving Ellicoth. Nasty buggers. But, that was centuries ago back in my guard days. Now I just run this shop." She raises the leg up smugly. "But it ain't just pretty! No, no... It's a cannon!" And indeed it is, as you can see by the rather large muzzle at the bottom.
She is more than happy to show you around her wares, explaining each item as you walk by it. The place is nearly an armory, it has such a selection. However... nothing has a price tag! When you start to inquire about pricing, she gladly supplies you with a number. But, it seems a little high... You quickly check Space-azon (Prime members get free two week shipping within 4 million light years!) and her prices are a solid 20% over fair market prices! She seems nice enough, but the underlying eoxian racism must have something to do with this price gouging.
Being in Eox has thus far been an ... interesting experience. The smell sure is something, but eventually, that seeps into you and Davrin is surprised when he no longer notices it after that. Gah, it's probably part of me now. Oh well. Instead, he takes his time studying the Eoxians with curiousity. Great curiosity. Including Waneda.
As Davrin walks past Waneda's room, he looks on curiously. "Hmmmm... maybe some entertainment for later?"
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Davrin looks admiringly at a long sleek pistol and enquire about the price. "Really? That much? Come on, I'm sure you can do better than that? I would sure love coming back here a few more times. Credits would be rolling our way soon, ya know."
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Pippimi looks at Davrin, at Waneda's door, then at Davrin, then back at the door, then back at Davrin. She stares at him while wiggling her eyebrows for almost a full minute, then shrugs "Davrin have wild taste."
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"Hullo hi, Not-breather Jaklyn! This Pippimi, and this rest of team!" She hops up onto the counter to better shake Jaklyn's hand with two or three of her own. When the shopkeep mentions her pegleg cannon, Pippimi whistles appreciatively "Cannon not need to be pretty. Just need to be effective! Guessing maybe tactical reaction cannon hiding inside? Pippimi very curious what kind of specs leg cannon have."
She tries to engage Jaklyn in discussion about her cannon-leg and any war stories where she used it. In part to help maybe get the group a non-breather discount, and in part out of corporate responsibility to scope out the competition (and perhaps absorb their tech if its good).
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Jaklyn looks at Pippimi and taps her "foot". "Ah, I'm afraid this is a rough neighborhood! Thanks to the distributor discount, I got me an advanced cannon." Her glowing eyes shine brighter in a flash. "This bad boy can blow a hole right through any punk zombie that tries to get in here." She then turns to Lenny and growls, her ribcage vibrating. "Ah, those off-world stores will never get you bone marrow oiled chambers or a nerve ending wired trigger! Quality over quantity, breather." She looks at Davrin, then back at Pippimi. "But... seeing how SOME of you recognize quality work, perhaps I can move on the prices." Her demeanor changes, and so do the prices!
She shows you around the store, happily explaining the worthiness of each weapon. "But the real goodies, those are back here!" She lifts a rug from the floor, opens a trap door and leads you down a steep stairwell. Her jovial attitude convinces you to follow her into the basement. Within, you find some of the most high-tech weaponry and armor you've ever seen. She lifts a wrackstaff from the wall and lifts it to the light. "The Orphys Guard can be a tad bit assumptive of Breathers, so if you ever need a spot to hide out you can always come down here." She says it so offhandedly, you feel like she may have done this before.
Pippimi browses the Emporium of weapons with interest, picking up and putting down a pair of fancy looking vibrogloves three or four times before finally shaking herself to get control before she enters a shopping frenzy.
At the mention of a hiding spot, Pippimi comes right out with a question. "What last breather group do wrong that end up needing quick hideyhole time? Pippimi not want to tangle with law enforcement on top of tangling with other things!"
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Jaklyn looks to the burly gym owner and one of her fiery eyes goes dark for a split second, as if she winked at him! "Nobody at the moment, but maybe I'll host you later." The pirate shopkeeper laughs, her voice slightly less bone-on-bone grating than usual. She happily shows off the many different shades of vibro-gloves in stock, before opening up a cabinet at the end of the room. "Armor upgrades? Of course! Got 'em all here, my lovely!"
At the question, she pauses while pulling out a small armor upgrade cube. "Ah, they had rather newfangled notions of morality. Seemed to think growing flesh was wrong. Set off a bomb at one of the flesh factories nearby, Manufactured Meats I think." She shakes her head at the thought. "Ridiculous, I know. But, I liked them. Nice folks, gave me this hat in fact!" She tips her hat in an air of showoff-ishness. "They stayed for a few days down here, purchased some new armor, and headed off planet." Her jaw drops again in laughter. "The man is always pushing us down, you know? Gotta have a little fun now and then!"
Pippimi does another sweep of the shop, looking for all the juiciest armor upgrades to fit into her shiny new/secondhand armor. She picks things up and looks them over, then sets them down all mussed up, like any good window shopper. "Hm hmm! Pippimi like what she see. But also, sadly, wallet not infinitely deep~" She huffs in dismay.
She gives Jaklyn a double thumbs up "This very very good stock. Pippimi have to ask later about supply chain. Blastwerks want to get into this, very much!" She puffs up, energized by the thought. "Pippimi old boss always say 'No one with cannon for limb can be bad person' and now Pippimi agree! Jaklyn very good rebel without cause!"
Offering to come back later after she's checked some other stores, Pippimi leads the way to the Gentlesage's shop.
Hearing Pippimi talking about jetpacks Zulu perks up from his internal reuminations and speaks, "Yes, Jetpack. See if they have two. Don't want to get stuck on the ground against a sniper again."
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Lenny finds himself a weapon crystal but Pippimi is unable to find either of the armor upgrades she was interested in. As she makes her way out of the shop, Zulu eyes a jetpack upgrade on the top of a shelf (out of Pippimi's reach!).
The group walks back along the street, past the ministry, and towards the next storefront. 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. You open the black door and enter the dim interior.
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 store has plenty of room inside, with each table holding only a few items, each with it's own spotlight. The shop’s proprietor stands behind the cheaply gilded counter inside. A corpsefolk - a decaying undead zombie that retains its intelligence and personality - he is dressed in a cobbled-together sort of archaic finery, with a patchwork tailed coat, a dingy top hat, a dented monocle, and a gold-colored 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 is currently rubbing a silk cloth over a bundle of nerve endings in his hand but looks up as you enter. His eyes are wary, but his tone is refined and pleasant. “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.” He waves his hand about and makes an awkward bow. It is obvious that he dislikes the living but is far too professional to make a thing of it.
He stomps around the counter, dead legs moving awkwardly. "I have everything a breather who envies the dead could ever desire!" He waves his hands over his wares and continues. As he gets closer you hear a slight echo in his speech and realize it is coming from the small head attached to his right shoulder! "Heart of a widow, which cannot die, spine of a wraith, swift as sleet, glands of the ghoul or corpse, giving you strength and stamina." He pauses and picks up a charred hand that seems to twitch on it's own. "Or perhaps the hand of a lich, imbued with death." His rotten facial muscles pull tight, bringing his face into a rotten smile. The vestigial head doesn't smile, now staring at each of you hungrily.
The prices in this store are posted, and seem fair. His main wares are necrografts but he has a number of high-end goods of other varieties. When asked about them, he shrugs. "Tis the sundries, silly! Necrografts are my passion, but one must pay the rent on slow months."
Throughout your business dealings, the vestigial head stares at you with distaste, growling occasionally.
Pippimi keeps her mouth in a lengthy 'O' shape as she takes in the shop and its proprietor. "Fancy! Hullo hi Gentlesage! This Pippimi and team!"
"This shop very fancy. Need to take notes for storefront design department back at Blastwerks!" She pulls out her datapad and starts taking pictures "Not worry Mr. Gentlesage, Pippimi hold breath very careful when near strange lumpy things on cushion!"
After a glance at the vestigal head, she adds "Gentlesage head-friend look like want to eat breathers. But Pippimi promise she not taste good."
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No worries, we wouldn't think of breathing on the merch.
He then squints at the extra head, unsure of how to address it or otherwise acknowledge it, and simply blurts out...
By the way, what a handsome shoulder-kuato you've got there...
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Pippimi spies the crystal she is looking for on a shelf in the back, one shelf below a slightly-rotted brain atop a purple cushion. The corpsefolk stomps over to Pippimi and leers. "Blastwerks is a brand for common breathers! They'll never be able to emulate the refined elegance of a store that has been improved over a hundred Pact-Years!" He takes a half step back, stumbling a little. Then he grabs a small cube of meat from a pouch on his hip and holds it up to the head atop his shoulder. It lurches forward, stretching the rotting flesh attaching it to the Gentlesage's shoulder with a disgusting noise. It looks slightly happier as it munches. "This is my personal assistant. Not so good at hiding his feelings, he is. All of his tiny brain has been dedicated to inventory and tax codes." The corpsefolk stomps over to the cash register, picks up a miniature top hat - an identical replica to his own - and settles it atop the skull of his "assistant". He stays there, keeping a close eye that you don't touch any of the necrografts and waiting to help ring you out. Significantly less helpful than the Bonesmith, you feel like he could use some more convincing before being brought over to your side.
Pippimi steps back in horror "Blastwerks not elegant!?"
She's taken aback by this revelation and ends up muttering under her breath about new product lines that'll show even old companies with a lot of years and tradition that Qwik-Build can be elegant.
Zoran hides his distaste with the pirate themed corpse under his collar while the others shop. He doesn't seem too interested in buying anything at the moment.
When he gets to the next shop he walks in resting on his cane and with the swagger used in past negotiations. He takes no efforts to hide his undead visage.
This is a mission and the others wanted specific items. I can seek out personal vendettas later with the Corpse Fleet.
"At least one of us has...been graced with a spark of undeath. I still have breath but it isn't so cloyingly pure as my comrades. They are a good lot though...and they have lots of credits." Zoran says speaking to both of the heads.
He walks along with the others pointing our necrografts and giving what little knowledge of them he has...asking the shopkeep for input when he is at a loss.
"Be careful everyone, these are top of the line. Our Gentlesage proprietor clearly has quality connections and we would all be lucky to gain his favor...and him our credits." he says with a small bow as he continues writing down the order of the group.
Deep down playing nice was angering something in Zoran...something he wanted to take out on enemies soon. His bitterness was threatening to envelop him at times.
You understand a variety of social cues and are quick to take advantage of them when you interact with others. When you exceed the DC of a Diplomacy check to improve a creature’s attitude by 5 or more, you need to spend only 1 extra minute interacting with the creature to improve its attitude by one additional category. In addition, you worsen a creature’s attitude only if you fail the Diplomacy check to improve its attitude by 10 or more.
"Well, certainly quite friendly aren't ya?" Davrin throws on his most charming smile. "And ah ha, just the symbiote I was looking for! You do have a well-stocked shop!"
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After a minute of schmoozing, the zombie stomps over with his nose right in front of Zoran's face. He sniffs heavily. "Aye, you smell ripe. Rotting inner lung tissue is nice, ain't it." He tips his hat. He turns with a twirl of his cane. "I've got some more inventory in the back. Might be able to find some more stock for ya." He ambles on back and comes out with another list of items he can fetch from storage.
When asked about the lack of biotech items in his stock, he scoffs. "Stinks. The whole lot stinks. I hate carrying it, but I got to keep a minimum amount. Stupid distributor contract." He twirls his cane again, back to business. "Alright, my esteemed gentleman, what will your Breathers be ordering?"
He holds up the crystal Pippimi has an eye on, caressing it lightly with his dead flesh. "See? If Blastwerks tried to make an abilities crystal, it'd have thirty-two parts, half of which come apart intentionally and half which come apart accidentally. Nope, pure crystal, that's the way to do it." He nods, happy with his product. "Course, an undead symbiote is far superior, but choice is choice I suppose."
As he rings you all out, he eyes Zoran and whispers. "Better watch out as you head back to your place. There's been several gangs of ghouls wandering the streets, looking for 'traitors'." He bends his fingers slowly as he says the words. "You know, folks who aren't believers in the Eoxian Superiority cause. Folks who rat on local Corpse Fleet members. But, I bet they wouldn't take kindly to five breathers wandering around. Or, a halfie. Sorry, mate." He waves his hand, trying to wave the racist epithet away.
Under her breath, Pippimi mutters "Undead symbiote also super gross. That why no one but crazy people buy. Also, Blastwerks assembling half the fun..." She mentally makes a note to send a Blastwerks "Corporate Outreach" team over to the Gentlesage's store so that he can learn more about their products.
She's still upset at the storekeeper when the group heads back into the street.
She pipes up with "Hmm, time for retiree house next? That Pippimi vote!"
Davrin forks out the rather hefty price and grabs the symbiote in the flask. After taking a few minutes to coax the current one out from his left ear canal, he inserts the new one. "Whew, a bit gross, but I feel fantastic!"
He digs his ears a bit and asks, "Retiree? What retiree? Oh that retiree! Sure, let's go! I feel good as new!"
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The shopkeeper waves goodbye as you go, happily counting credits. You head across the street, to the retiree's address.
The building looks much like the rest on this block, and the ghetto of other houses in the Splice. Run down, dirty, dark, well below the poverty line, but livable. The narrow sliding door to this residential building bears the tarnished metal numbers “5236,” with the final digit drooping to the side. According to your notes, this is the home of Gretal Rapinder and Harvinne Nessex, two retired bone troopers who formerly served in the 5th Squadron of the Eoxian Navy. The door is slightly dented and hangs partially open. Those of you with any engineering experience at all can tell that the door has been forced open!
The sound of rasping voices shouting angry taunts can clearly be heard coming from inside the residence. Being the greedy noble adventurers that you are, you rush inside. The picture is bleak. Four armored ghouls stand around a bonetrooper woman on the ground. The ghouls are garbed in military uniforms, with large hammers and rifles on their backs. The woman is, to those unfamiliar with eox, quite a startling sight. A long flowery mumu covers the bony frame of a skeleton in a gray wig that has fallen to the side. The ghouls were kicking at her and cursing as you walk in. The scene freezes and they turn to you. One growls out, "Wrong house, breathers." A second laughs. "Breathers, probably traitors too. Get 'em!" The group turns as one towards you!
Zoran gets only a moment to prepare before they fall on the group! Three members of the gang run towards your front while the fourth dives into a side room.
Zoran
Davrin
z45719
Pippimi
Lenny
Clank
Pippimi jumps in surprise as the squad of ghouls descends upon the team. "This not right! Pippimi expect ambush to come to Pippimi, not Pippimi to become ambush!" She draws her starknife and gets ready to defend herself from the massive hammers the ghouls are wielding.
Zoran hearing the commotion start before he can get through the door instead looks inside to access the situation.
"That just means it is self-defense, Lenny. Focus down the one in the middle and we can work out the details of all the reasons he deserved it after." he rallies the group against an enemy.
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"Again!!!" he calls out following his own advice going for a shot between his allies.
Suddenly confronted with a bunch of angry deaders in his face, Zulu gamely readies his knife.
"Should have bought a better melee weapon." he mutters as he does so.
Davrin takes a few steps back, keeping an eye on the other door, while pulling out his disintegrator pistol.
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Zoran pops a bullet into the leading soldier, who doesn't even flinch. He recognizes that all four undead thugs are ghouls. Resourceful and hardy, ghouls retain all of the intelligence they had in life. Ghouls are capable of using modern weaponry but their claws and bite are often more fearsome. Ghouls are able to self-propagate, meaning one feral ghoul can lead to a station-wide infection.
Two ghouls bite at Pippimi and Lenny, but their large hammers collide and throw them off.
The ghoul in front of Lenny, with a red military medal on his chest, grabs the gym owner's shoulders and bites into his arm! Through the armor a single sharp tooth nicks his human skin.
Out on the street, a nearby door bursts open and the fourth ghoul pops out! He growls in Eoxian and runs at Zoran.
"Race-traitor! DIE!"
He nearly tackles the envoy, biting into his shoulder. The armor blocks most of the blow, but a few incisors break the borai's skin.
Zoran
Davrin
z45719
Pippimi
Lenny
Clank
Pink
Red
Blue 7 damage
Green
Pippimi lets loose with a flurry of starknife stabs, aiming them at the ghoul with the green badge.
"This team not traitors. This team know very well what side on." Pippimi huffs at the ghouls.
"Ho ho, as I expected. Another one of those creepie crawlies popping out!" Davrin quickly dashes around to the other side of the group and fires upon the ghoul in front of Zoran.
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Lenny moves to swing into the ghouls with a powerful strike, but his arm betrays him as it moves slowly then stops moving entirely. Quickly, the rest of his body locks up, muscles unwilling to do little more than sustain life.
The trio of ghouls turn to laugh at Lenny's failing muscles and one creature receives two slashes to the legs for it! Pippimi's dagger drives deep into the legs of the ghoul. She accurately realizes that these are no normal ghouls, like those she fought in the corporate retreat team-building exercises. These ghouls have been trained by some military force.
You recognize their uniforms as that of the Eoxian Navy. They are relatively fresh, despite the tumble, indicating active duty. Their badges identify them as members of the 5th Squadron.
Davrin's shot goes wild, missing the surprised ghoul.
Zoran
Clank
z45719
Pippimi
Lenny Fort Save
Davrin
Pink
Red
Blue 7 damage
Green 28 damage
Unhappy with the close quarters life fight, nonetheless Zulu slashes out with his knife at the Ghoul in the green badge, hoping to assist Pippimi and limiting their numbers ASAP.
Clank gulps as he realizes that who they're up against. "Hey, guys? I think that these are the Eoxian Navy... Active duty." He takes a step back, and casts Grease
"You see my four arms, you freak? These aren't grafts and I plan on taking you down like any other breathless scum that comes after me!" Zoran snaps back at the new ghoul.
"More Navy working for the Corpse Fleet? Pathetic." he accuses the ghoul attacking him while swinging with his cane-sword.
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Zulu's knife flashes prettily in the air. Unfortunately, it does little more than scrape the surface of the ghoul's armor.
The red medal-wearing ghoul drops to the floor with a thud while the other ghoul keeps upright, a devilish smile on his face. "Aye, we swore to defend Eox from enemies of the people. YOU!"
Next to Clank, Zoran's snappy retort is followed up by... nothing. Looking over, Clank sees his friend has become like a statue!
In fact, Zoran has many more problems than just his paralyzed muscles to deal with. His sluggish and black veins are coursing with something new, something foreign.
The two southern ghouls snap out in a blood-crazed frenzy, claws and teeth scraping along the surface of Zulu and Pippimi's armor.
The third ghoul manages to stand up in the greasy mess, swinging out with an uppercut as he does so. The swing knocks Lenny off balance, letting the ghoul sink his teeth into the gym owner's armor.
Adding injury to insult, the ambushing ghoul slaps Zoran again. No mercy against the motionless borai, the ghoul snarls. "A curse upon your forefathers, abomination."
Zoran 18/48 SP , Paralyzed this turn and 0 more , Ghoul Fever-Latent
Clank
z45719
Pippimi
Lenny 30/54 SP , Paralyzed this turn and 1 more
Davrin
Pink
Red
Blue 7 damage
Green 28 damage
Pippimi spins around in alarm as her allies start freezing in place. "Hold on team! Pippimi help!" Her spin sends a pair of stabs toward the green ghoul!
She glares at the green ghoul, piping up with "Ghouly soldier need to leave team alone, or Pippimi get REALLY angry."
"You leave him alone!" the halfling yells out, as he peppers the ghoul with another shot, hoping that this time it would connect.
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Pippimi's first strike sinks deep into the ghoul's leg, cutting several tendons. The ghoul looks down at her with unfeeling eyes and another toothy smile. "Living anger is so... petty."
Outside the door, Davrin hits the ghoul in a weak spot, blowing out a large chunk of muscle. The undead man growls in pain.
Zoran 18/48 SP , Paralyzed this turn and 0 more , Ghoul Fever-Latent
Clank
z45719
Lenny 30/54 SP
Pippimi
Davrin
Pink 23 damage, flat footed
Red
Blue 7 damage
Green 44 damage
Zulu keeps slashing at green.