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Gevalarsk Nor is the Eoxian representative to Absalom Station. As such, he works closely with the representatives of the other Pact Worlds. While he is not on the Pact Council as such, he is one of the most powerful men on Eox, and thus an enormously influential and important person.
Nor, like all Eoxians, is undead--the people of Eox turned to necromancy when a catastrophic war turned their native planet into a wasteland. Nor specifically is a Necrovite--a powerful form of undead that uses a technomagical device called a electroencephalon to achieve a sort of immortality. The Electroencephalon stores the consciousness and soul of the necrovite, and it can't be destroyed as long as the electroencephalon is whole--he will reform in a matter of days upon destruction of his corporeal form.
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Chiskisk seems surprised by the messages.
<Really? I wonder why? Perhaps...most likely it deals with the Drift Rock. Most of your number are new to the station--it is the only reason a man like Nor would have heard of you.>
They muse quietly.
<Most likely, you have it in your power to do something he needs. I would guess that would be information--something you may not even know you know.>
They nod.
<Well, if you are coming to me as Chiskisk, member of the Forum and your superior, then I say: go to this meeting. See what the senior diplomat from Eox wants. if it is in the societies power to grant it, we will do so.>
They tap the desk quietly.
<This is an intriguing development. I eagerly await your next report, Starfinder.>
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Sprockin' hell, dis makes me uneasy. An' not cuz'a where dis guy comes from. I ran crew along side's some Eox guys b'fore, they wuz just as agreeable ta smuggle cargo along wit as any breathin' an' blood types. But dis Nor guy? They got all dis rank an' office drek, dat makes me nervous.
'Ey, who's da new 'Finder and why dey gotta fishie swimming in dere?Looks tasty, I wonder if dere savin' dat fer lunch later?
Spotting the group as they approach the meeting place, Ellison notices Bepo among their number, and gestures acknowledgment to him. Hearing B-bop, the fish changes color from a purple to a more maroon hue.
<No, I am afraid I am not on the menu. Well, hopefully not at least.>
Turning to examine each creature for a moment.
<Such an interesting assortment of beings. I am Ellison, though I often encourage others to just call me L.>. At these words, each of you get the impression of a warm current of water, teeming with life, that flows across a reef. <Are you all here to meet the ambassador as well?>
Greetings L, my name is Talek, and yes we are here to meet the ambassador as well. Interestingly i spent the last several years working as a guard on Eox, I wonder if there is a connection to the currently contested asteroid and Eox.
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Jax palms his forehead,"Can someone tell me why we have a walking fish tank joining the squad, because I dont recall ordering the calamari?"
Jax shakes his head and mutters under his breath,"Just once I'd like for someone normal to join the group like a human or an elf. My luck though, we'll end up with an uplifted dog or something. (sigh)"
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The Eoxian embassy is in the ritzy Parkside neighborhood, near the Eye. The building is beautiful, in a gloomy sort of way--all black marble and pale limestone, with high vaulted ceilings and disconcertingly organic architectural details.
When you arrive, a pair of skeletal attendants silently beckon you forward, and you are led to a spacious office.
Behind a massive stone desk you see Gevalarsk Nor, his eyes dots of green fire in empty sockets. He has the elongated skull common to elebrians, and wears fine silks of black and crimson.
"Thank you." he says quietly, his voice rich, deep and commanding. He gestures towards a set of seven matched chairs.
"I am Gevalarsk Nor."
”It is an honor to make your acquaintance Ambassador. I must admit, I was surprised by the invitation, but certainly pleased by it as well. Is there something I can do for you?”
Looking to the others and then back to the ambassador.
”Perhaps that should be, the Starfinder Society. What can the Society do for you.”
Tiktik only vaguely heard what the Stellifera said, as he approached with intense fascination. Slowly he reached out and poked the water frame to see if he could reach inside, and then carefully examining to see if the force field containing the water prevented his fingers from emerging wet.
"Whoa! You'reamazing! Howareyoudoingthat? Canyouteachme? It'sgottafeelliketakingawarmbathallday! I'mTiktikbytheway. AlthoughsomepeoplecallmeOverclock." he shrugged. "Eitherisfine."
Tiktik gladly takes a seat and replies to ambassador in Eoxian, "Hithere! Isittruethatyou'rea Necrovite? Whatamarvelousachievement! TheideaofpreservingyourconsciousnessintheElectroencephalonisbrilliant. Trueimmortalityandapurenessofthoughtwithoutanylimitationsofthebody. IthinkI'dliketotryitsomeday. Wastheprocessdifficult? painful? tingly?"
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"I as well am pleased to make your acquaintance, ambassador." Jax humbly takes a bow and wave of his hand as he does so.
"I must say you have the most exquisite taste. I admire what you have done with the place. It gives of an eerie yet pleasing feel, and I must say your attire is equally as impressive if not more so. The color arrangement gives off a sophisticated yet powerful presence." After complimenting, Jax ever so slightly turns his head towards L with a smirk in his attempts to out do the Stellifera.
"Ambassador Nor, whatever it is you requested of us, I assure you, we proud, distinguished members of the Starfinder Society will accomplish your needs and desires."
Volter, being very quiet this whole time since having to reunite with these people, decides to speak up, "What could an ambassador possibly have any interest in newly joined Starfinder members?"
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“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. I’m certain you’re aware of the recent interest in the prospecting ship Acreon and the asteroid being referred to as the ‘Drift Rock,’ and I believe you’re also acquainted with the dispute betweenAstral Extractions and the Hardscrabble Collective over both the ship and the asteroid. Both parties are currently awaiting legal arbitration, but the wheels of justice often turn quite slowly. As a result, I have offered my services as a mediator in hopes of finding a solution that is equitable to both factions.
“The first step in this, of course, is learning the specifics of the opposing claims. Reports of your recent endeavors in dealing with some of Absalom Station’s most notorious gangs have led me to believe that you might be useful in this undertaking as well. You’re new to the station, you seem to possess a wide range of skills and abilities, and you certainly appear capable. In short, you’re perfectly positioned as a neutral third party that could cut through all of the red tape surrounding this issue and get to the heart of the matter.
“I would like you to go to the Acreon, find out precisely what happened to its crew, and ascertain the value of its asteroid cargo, as well as determine whether this Drift Rock is truly as ‘mysterious’ as the media claims.”
Volter doesn't detect any falsehood.
Talek switches to common But i digress, if we are to undertake this task for you is there any assistance, as mediator, that you can provide that will allow us to access the ship to allow us to begin our investigation? Also what sort o of rmuneration are we to expect for performing said investigation?
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The ambassador nods.
"You are too kind. Many outsiders don't understand the kind of beauty you can find on Eox."
Back in common, he continues. "I have already arranged for the use of a station shuttle to transport you to the Acreon--the Hippocampus. It's a modified Ringworks Wanderer-class shuttle."
He steeples his fingers. "As to the subject of pay, I'm prepared to pay you 1,100 credits for your services in this matter."
1,100 credits per member of the investigating team or for the entire team?
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"4,200 credits total, divided among yourselves as you wish."
He pauses, then continues.
"There is one additional detail that I’d like to ask your help with,” Nor says, smoothing down his robes with his bony fingers. “Among its other cargo, the Acreon was carrying a package destined for the embassy. Of course, with the ship being quarantined, the package has been
undeliverable. I’ve been eagerly awaiting its arrival, and I’d consider it a personal favor if you could find the package and bring it to me when you return to the station. It’s clearly marked, so I don't imagine it will be too difficult to find.
"If you can recover this package and bring it to me, I can pay you an additional 3,500 credits."
I find these terms to be acceptable, however i am but one voice in our little collective. Would you allow us to confer briefly before rendering a decision?
As the group step away out of earshot, Volter says, "They seem to be on the level and the mission is pretty straight forward. Also I think it's important to find out what happened to the crew as no one else seems to be examining this case. I'm willing to investigate."
”Wellheisawfullywitholdingwithhissecretstoimmortality.“ he grumbled, then said energetically, ”ButthenagainheseemswayfriendlierthanIwasexpectingfromzombiefolk! Pluswhoknowswhatkindofinterestingstuffwemightfindonthatship. I’min!”
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Sprock me! I thought you wuz some kinda water ella'menal thing! Drek, didn't realize YOU wuz the 'pilot' at da wheel! Sorry 'bout dat crack 'bout lookin' tasty, I ain't got no appetite fer eatin' sump'tin dat talks back ta me. Come ta think'a it, I've prob'ly been sized up on someone's menu once or twice.
Anyways, won't happen again, fer sure.
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The necrovite smiles when you agree, his voice smooth and pleasant.
"Excellent! Station Security is already aware of the plan, and your ship is ready and waiting in Docking Bay 17. You can leave whenever you are ready--if you need more time to prepare, by all means take it, but I would prefer we dealt with this sooner rather than later, before there is more violence."
"The only thing I'd like to point out, is that it seems to me that with the quarantine you mentioned, there might just be something dangerous on either the 'Drift Rock' or the Acreon. I'm not saying I'm not interested to find out what it is. But there is a good chance that this could be very dangerous. And if the legal issues are cleared up and one party, or both parties come to lay claim to either while we are still there? That could put us in a very difficult position. That amount of credits would really be nice, but might you have anything to help protect us, just in case things do go sideways?"
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"It would be very foolish of either side to act against the agents of the arbitrator in charge of the case." He says. "However, you are correct, they may make some sort of move on you. But, as you have already displayed, you are quite qualified to deal with things of that nature. The pay you are being offered is because you are who you are."
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"So, back to this package you were speaking about. What exactly is it we are looking for and would it be in plain sight? What is the size of this package? What specifically is the symbol we are looking for? Also, most importantly, this item you are wanting us to retrieve for you is worth nearly as much as you're paying us to do this job for you. I have to ask, for the safety of my party, what the contents may be for it to draw such a price? Are we talking drugs? A family heirloom? An artifact of some sort?"
<Sadly little TikTik, this body is the result of my people being murdered and driven nearly to extinction. When the Aboliths landed on Parin, well, no one knew what kind of destruction they would bring to the lands. Simply put, they were an invasive species and upset the balance of nature there. My ancestors had to adapt to survive. They learned how to sharpen their minds to create these bodies, which let us move out of the waters. Over time, we met other creatures and started spreading out into the universe. Which is how I am here now.>
As L is relaying this info he shifts through a many different colors, but mostly shades of grey or red.
<So, I suppose I could try to teach you such things. But, for my people, they paid in blood and death.>
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The green flame in his eye sockets twinkles merrily.
"The package contains no contraband. Nothing illegal, nothing that will get you into any trouble. Simply a bit of personal property that I would like to see safely returned.
"The package is a shipping container, addressed to the Eoxian Embassy here on Absalom Station. You can't miss it."
Tiktik only heard “yes” and bounced with joy, ”Ohboyohboy! YesterdayVoltertaughtmetelepathy, andnowyou’regonnateachmehowtomakeawaterbody! Ican’twait! Youguysarethebestfriendsever!” he hugged the watery form tightly.
”Ooh! Icouldhelpyoutoo! Icanteachyouhowtotalktomachinesorcomputers. Icanmakeyoustuff, ormakeuourstuffbetter. LookatthiscoolnewrifleImade!”
”Neat! Wegetashipofourown! Icanfinallytestoutmyinvertedfluxtheories! Wewillmakeyousuperproud, Mr. Nor!”
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The Hippocampus lifts off smoothly, gliding out into the black.
Absalom Station looms, but slowly fades as the little shuttle gains speed and distance as the ship enters the Armada, the vast cloud of ships constantly encircling the station.
Eventually even the armada fades behind you, as you enter the quarantine zone surrounding the Acreon and the Drift Rock.
Suddenly, your scanners pick up a ship--a tiny single person craft, that detaches itself from the rest of the armada and begins approaching rapidly on an intercept course.
Curiously, the ship doesn't seem to be broadcasting any identification codes.
An alarm begins blaring in the Hippocampus bridge--the little ship is coming in weapons hot, and ready for combat.
The mystery ship pilot wins, and will post moves second.
Up next, everyone!
Scanning
Tiktik giggles with anticipation. <Wegettoblowsomethingupalready! Icandivertpower. Dowewanttogofaster? Hitharder? Orboostthescanners?>
Speaking through the voice modulator to help direct the crew faster. ”Everyone, be ready for combat. Looks like things may be going south faster than I had expected. Can we try hailing them? They may just have the wrong idea of our intentions. If they won’t reply, feel free to open fire. I am all too aware of what happens if we don’t respond in kind.”
Talek places his hands on the compute console at the science officers staton and his develops a blank stare on his face more so then his normally emotionless features. The terminal display seems to react to his mere touch and commands begin scrolling across the screen though his hands never touch any of the keys. Targeting their weapon systems
with the +2 from tiktiks roll
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Seeing the anonymous hostile ship incoming, B-Bop let's out a slow exhale as he straightens his sunglasses and then cracks his knuckles before gripping the ship controls and sending the craft forward through the airless void.
Oh, we gots some poozer who wants ta space rumble, huh? Well, dis frak-face is gonna regret dat sprockin' bad life decision.
Bepo is on the Light laser Canon.
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Tiktik hastily diverts powers to the sensors.
The science officers sweep the new ship with their scanners. They learn that it is a Necroglider, from Death's Head Shipworks on Eox, a tiny fighter with a 12 speed and perfect maneuverability. The ship has one living crew present.
B-Bop speeds the ship forward, flying evasively () The nimble little fighter blasts forward, sliding off to the side of the Hippocampus. It is clear the ship is much, much faster than yours, and maneuvering will be difficult.
Bepo is unable to draw a bead on the craft, but Jax rotates the turret as the fighter banks around the slower Hippocampus and fires.
The tungsten shell slams into the fighter, blowing right the ships meager shields!
The hit seems to have damaged the ships engines!
Hippocampus (5F/5P/5S/5R), 0 Damage
??? (0F/?/?/?), ? Damage
Up Next!
Everybody!
”Nice shot Jax. Good job everyone, let’s do it again, but why a Necroglider? Someone else from Eox wanting to get the Ambassadors package?”
