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A 'blasphemer'. Sure. Krara snorts as she steps closer to the captive, speaking in slightly accented Jinsul Which is why so many of you jumped right on board with his plans to come back here and try to take out every other species that fled this place I'm sure? I've seen plenty of you jinsul before, and to a one they have been pretty damn dedicated to that 'blasphemer' Dhurus she subtly emphasizes the word. Which makes me think: are you really one of the few lone true faithful standing against a majority of heretics? Or are you just wasting our time here with nothing more to say?
A 'blasphemer'. Sure. Krara snorts as she steps closer to the captive, speaking in slightly accented Jinsul Which is why so many of you jumped right on board with his plans to come back here and try to take out every other species that fled this place I'm sure? I've seen plenty of you jinsul before, and to a one they have been pretty damn dedicated to that 'blasphemer' Dhurus she subtly emphasizes the word. Which makes me think: are you really one of the few lone true faithful standing against a majority of heretics? Or are you just wasting our time here with nothing more to say?
The jinsul's eyes narrow dramatically at this. She seems to cower some at the implications of the Vesk's words but then counters with her own intimiadating growl. A series of rapid clicks later the computer translates: "You weren't there when he took over. He bested our best and made them adornments for his ships. He murdered any who opposed him in cold blood and often times people related to him. Sure many were on board with his rule at first, simply because he was the most powerful, but like a true tyrant he made quick work of any opposition! And anyways this isn't the time to fight over petty religion, I'm your captive and I have information that you need. Now let me talk to someone higher rank who can actually guarantee my safety. Teskrkah," she seems to be indicating herself with this comment, " is a survivor. But time is short put me on the line with the leadership or I stay silent." She shuts up. Clearly waiting for someone with the highest of clearance.
Wraith will move close and speak quietly and conspiratorially to the jinsul.
"Kladrical will be proud of your actions--sacrificing yourself like this for the sake of an assassination mission. Doubtless you will be rewarded when it succeeds."
She pauses, clearly thrown for a loop at the mention that there might be a reward for her actions. She pauses, considering her actions, and finally seems to break. Her words come slow at first, and quietly, building in tempo but never above the sound of a whisper. "Fine. You're just wasting my time. Our time." She pauses to do a gesture that Wraith recognizes as the jinsul equivalent of spitting, before continuing. "I surrendered hoping I could tell some higher up there is a mole in your ranks! But I'm not stupid enough to think my people's enemies would accept me with open arms. So when I had the chance I took it. We knew Radas-whatever was here because a colleague of yours told us he would be. "
She stops for a moment to clear her throat and in hopes that you might finally call up someone with clearance to handle this. She gives a defeated click or two before continuing. "Tsimtsara, a nelentu from the Kreiholm Freehold, is the woman you are looking for! Now hurry up and get me somewhere saf..."
The clicks and words get cut off as a huge thunderous voice echoes around the cockpit. As the reverberations of the shout finish echoing through the bridge, Teshrkah pales trembling. “It’s Dhurus. He’s found ou…” as she utters the words though her trembles become violent convulsions and her form loses all color, ending with the woman bursting into violent white energy and sound, momentarily blinding and deafening. As the spots and reverberations clear, two jinsul shaped beings shake their legs and then hiss at you, closing in for a fight.
These are Blooddrinker Demons! And have the normal demonic immunity to electricity and poison. But given these demons are shaped like jinsuls meaning they probably are as hard to flank as a regular jinsul.
The jinsul like-things spring forward and lash out at the two closest to them. The one that almost looks formed mostly from Teskrkah's carapace springs at Requiem, lashing out at him with un-jinsul-like fangs.
It finds a weak point in the vlaka's armor and buries it's teeth in but only leaves a few scratches as it tears off a chunk of armor.
The other thing drenched in blood leaps in-between Wraith and Krara...
... And settles for the bigger, tastier-looking vesk. It snaps it's dripping jaws at her midsection clearly going for the tasty intestines.
It's teeth find her armor pathetically ill-equipped to handle being bitten and it nearly takes the entirety of her midsection plating off with it's voracious bite.
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Jinsul-shaped...things
Rahdokama
Basalt
Krara 6/28 SP
Nexus
Wraith-19
‘Requiem’ 9/18 SP
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Current map
Krara has a momentary vision of the things being right next to her and seeing it nearly rip out her guts, but the blood soaked thing instead targets Vexus, thinking his ghoul-lookalike is sutable for consumption. the demon thing aims for the throat but gets a good grip on the android's shoulder instead, causing the arm to seize up for a second.
Vexus retaliates by laying two hands on the demon and funneling his entropy into desolving the energy bond holding the demon together. It seems to work, dissolving a leg completely, but doesn't seem as effective as Vexus would have thought. The electricity gets funneled into the plating of the hull completely unaffecting the demon.
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Red Demon -15
Purple Demon
Wraith-19
Basalt
‘Requiem’ 9/18 SP
Nexus 18/40 SP
Krara Untouched
Rahdokama
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Current map
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Letting out a startled yelp as the creature tears a chunk out of their armour, Reqiuem jumps backwards to try and free tome space. "They are demons! No electricity!" they call over the comms device as they focus on the Purple beast that attacked him and caused synapses in their brain to snap and hopefully tear.
The Blooddrinker demons have light resistances to fire, acid and cold, but most regular weapons hurt them just fine. They aren't particularly good at over coming battles of will either.
Requiem backs up a step and tries to crush the mind of the demon who tore out part of his armor. The purple jinsul demon stops moving for a second and gives a screech of pain as some sort of liquid starts seeping from it's mouth.
Wraith tries to fade from sight of the demon and nearly does, but she finds that the blood red demon still seems aware of her, as it quickly dodges out of the way of her short knife, hissing angrily.
Krara inspires her companions to try hitting the red demon and killing it for good. She also readies her weapon for further combat.
Basalt also takes a similar course of action, also shooting his target. It hits but the energy stream seems to only bore a little into the purple carapace protecting the demon.
Rahdokama drops into a green energy field and moves in closer, feinting attacking the purple demon but ultimately slamming his weapon into the one covered in blood. It leaves the demon in a sorry state, still standing and furious, but clearly on it's last legs.
The two demons have their targets, blood aims for the android next to him, trying to get at that tasty looking neck, he get the other shoulder this time but his grip proves to have less leverage than the first one, only leaving pinpricks in the android's skin.
Carapace goes for the exposed back side of the vesk that attacked his comrade. He tries to get a hold of Rahdokama's shoulder and lands heavily against his armor. The teeth puncturing small holes along the vesk's armor and piercing skin every here and there.
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Red Demon -22
Purple Demon -14
Wraith-19
Basalt
‘Requiem’ 9/18 SP
Nexus 9/40 SP
Krara
Rahdokama 20/32 SP
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Current map
Basalt decides to move in closer and take the fight to the enemy. He gets his gauntlets ready and tries to slam a punch into the purple enemy, but it dodges out of the way and hisses back at him.
Rahdokama takes aim at the one who bit him and lands a solid blow, burning the demon some, but feels that he would have hit harder if he was just trying to smash the demon.
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Red Demon -32
Purple Demon -23 (?)
Wraith-19
Basalt
‘Requiem’ 9/18 SP
Nexus 18/40 SP
Krara
Rahdokama 20/32 SP
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Current map
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"Metal weapons and bullets are best, but elements other than electricity will have minor effect!" Requiem calls out as they take another step back, drawing their Azimuth pistol. Knowing it won't do much, but not wishing to use all their spells at such an early moment in this war the Vlakan takes a shot at red, hearing it's breathing heavier than the other.
for
Requiem falls out a warning and follows it up with a laser blast that barely leaves a mark but does chip away at the drying blood armor on the demon. He does inspire Krara to dash in and head but it as well. It causes the demon to getter for a moment before collapsing into nothingness leaving a victorious vesk with blood smeared on her forehead.
Wraith moves after the other demon. She catches it off guard, and gets a nasty cut in on the demon's leg leaving it in very nearly the state that it's companion had been in not long ago.
Vexus moves in and clobber down the last demon ending their threat on the Sunrise Miaden.
Turning on the autopilot routine left by Radaszam, the ship flies to the main fleet and docks with the vesk's ship. He gives you a long look before asking "Gods tell me that's not her covering you, is it? What happened? And it had better not be you torturing her!"
"No, sir, it's not her. Its what's left of the assassins sent to silence her. They were unsuccessful (I think). Also, the jinsul, Teskrkah, wishes to speak to you directly when you get the opportunity. She says we have a traitor."
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"Unfortunately it seems that their leader, Dhursus had placed some sort of Magical compulsion on them - a fail safe that killed her when she revealed what she knew." Requiem explains placatingly, smelling the jinsul's blood upon their armour and wrinkling their snout. "We did get something of use - Tsimtsara, a nelentu from the Kreiholm Freehold is apparently a traitor and led the Assassin's to you."
With the explanation given to Radazasm and hopefully placated, Requiem takes a moment to rest and bend his armour back into shape.
"Where too next my friends? Agillae-5 for Investigation? I do not mind."
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Mole’s in the Freehold Krara says, wiping the ichor from her eyes - and only her eyes. Someone named ‘ Tsimtsara’?
Also seems like they can remote-explode their own. So that’s something to be aware of.
The vesk looks at Vexus. Now that is some punching? Have you ever considered going into the Pits for a few matches?
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Vexus, taking a break to recover from the massive demon bite, gives Krara a thumbs up and says "You're no slouch yourself. That was some headbutt! Looks like you're no stranger to the sweet science. I mostly just punch spirits, but demons is a nice change of pace. That said, what kinda pay does the Pits have?" Vexus is not opposed to a new side hustle.
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Vexus, taking a break to recover from the massive demon bite, gives Krara a thumbs up and says "You're no slouch yourself. That was some headbutt! Looks like you're no stranger to the sweet science. I mostly just punch spirits, but demons is a nice change of pace. That said, what kinda pay does the Pits have?" Vexus is not opposed to a new side hustle.
Honestly? Not great she admits with a shrug. But you do well enough to get exposure, that's when the good opportunities come around. One has to put in their dues, way of the worlds.
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"That was some good work back there, well done team." He turns to Radaszam, "Now with what information we were able to extract, what are we going to do with it, sir? This Dhursus sounds dangerous, enough to kill one of his own, and i bet you the Veskarium he is out there somewhere. What are our next steps?"
Radaszam nods at your explanations. "Gotcha, so the woman was killed by a fail safe. Damn I was hoping I could get more information out of her, if whe truly was cooperating. But the information we did get is hopefully good and holds true. I'll do some digging in the matter, maybe have Celita check her transmissions for the past little bit. But I believe a congratulations are in order. Good work team. That was some valuable information. If we keep any more prisoners we need to isolate them before pumping them for information, huh?" The vesk ponders it for a second before turning to you and giving your team a dismissal salute. "Anyways, my work for you is done. I hear Venture Captain Naiaj has work she needs help with."
Venture-Captain Naiaj’s face appears on a communication screen, her features even paler and more somber than usual. She pauses for a moment before speaking. “A group of elite jinsul starships ambushed one of our scout flights near the starship graveyard orbiting Agillae-5. None of our agents responded to my summons. I assume they’re all dead. The jinsuls have left, but we need to know where they’re going next or we’ll be cleaning up another massacre. Check the remains of our ship, Parting Glance, for anything that might tip us off about their next target.” She flicks something on her screen and the flight path for a ship pops up on your display. “These are the last known coordinates for the ship as well as their projected flight path.”
A quick jump through the drift later and you arrive at the last known coordinates. A quick scan shows a massive debris field not too far away with what seems like a mostly intact ship. Navigating in closer proves this is the Parting Glance. Sadly the ship is clearly dead in the water space, the port bow and stern have been badly breached, leaving most if not all of the ship exposed to the vacuum. The Jinsul ship that did this, though, proves to be nowhere in sight or scanner range, only a fading trail of exhaust particles remaining.
Everyone suits up, using some emergency space suits if needed, and heads over. The giant gaping hole in the stern proves to be a good entry point. Inside the ship has clearly been raided, with many things torn out of the walls or smashed.
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Sealing her armor before leaving the shuttle, Krara leaps across to the shattered ship before activating her boot clamps for a moment to stay in place as the vesk looks around the scene.
Damn. Naiaj was right to not expect survivors. She waits for the others to join before stating.
Bridge or engines? Either are where I would put the important information. Most secured part of the ship. Krara also takes out her rifle and keeps it steady in her hand. Beaten in space and left to drift in the void. An ignoble death. This is a place of bad omens.
Opening the door to the small rooms shows that this room was a gunner's chair. If anyone was in here when the fight was happening, the gaping hole in the ceiling means they probably aren't still alive.
Continuing down the main hallway takes you find the engineering and main living spaces of the ship. On one side is a glitching power core throwing sparks lighting up the ransacked room. A closer look proves that it’s too damaged to get working again, but the back up generators look fine, though their connections have been cut. You might be able to get them hooked up again with a little work.
Tools, debris and odd bits of machines float around the room, in complete disarray. The doors that lead to what should be the bridge are sealed shut and requiring some effort to pry open.
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Activating their armour’s protective field, after spending time ensuring it was sound after the demon assault, Requiem follows their companions, their keen sense of smell working overdrive in an attempt to prevent ambush. Uttering a quick prayer in the gunner’s room incase of a departed occupant, Requiem stands in the engine room with pistol drawn.
”Surely a great battle took place here which we knew I suppose. Anyone have any luck with clues?”
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"Dwarves got no business floundering about in space." Basalt grumbles. "Should keep our feet on solid ground where they belong." Having sealed his armor and secured his weapons and gear and rechecked everything at least 4 times, he propels himself toward the floating hulk.
While out there floating among the stars, he is eerily quiet. If asked about it later, Basalt claims to have been concentrating, the truth is he was wondering if this is what was thought of when his people started the search for the sky?
He finally makes it to the other craft and returns to the matter at hand. He goes with Wraith to see about getting power restored.
The team heads into the engineering space and Wraith and Basalt soon have a very stable power connection to the ship up and running. The lights turn on, dimly lighting the ship and artificial gravity, though light, is back on. The air vents even open up, but sadly with all of the gaping holes in the hulls, they might as well not exist.
From the back of the ship a pinging reverberates along the deck plating and into your armors. Otherwise it seems little has changed.
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Feeling the thrum of power running back through the ship as the cables give of a soft thrum of electricity flowing through them, Requiem smiles and turns to follow Krara and Vexus back to the helm of the ship. Hearing them by one of the doors, the Vlakan steps so that they aren’t in the way.
”Ready when you are friends, may this provide the answers we seek and hopefully some living allies.” they say softly through the comms.
Krara takes a shot at the doors, but does more harm to her back then the solid metal things. Vexus instead moves up and is able to pry them open with a long piece of metal near by. The door pops open after a moments work and slides back into its slot.
In the room you find the bridge had been blown to smithereens as well with very little chances for survival. The six corpses underlining that point beautifully. Across the bridge three humans, a ysoki, a shirren, and a kastha that you recognize as a Captain Jessyn lay splayed out over the floors and a few consoles.
Most of the devices seem to have been fried or broken, but one of the monitors is just finishing its boot routine and switches to a login page.
Rahdokhama lets the group go forward past the first door on the north of the ship, and puts his back against it. After the rest are finished with engineering room, he whispers into the comms, "I'm going to open this door, let's go."
He opens the door to c2, and peers in.
Rahdokama and Wraith find a small decontamination room that leads to different room that has been thoroughly stripped of gear. This should be the computer lab given your knowledge of the ship’s design, but it seems like every single thing that could have held data or information has either been ripped from the walls or floor or smashed to pieces.
You notice various scratches at lower levels. They seem consistent to what jinsul leg blades can do, indicating it probably was a group of jinsul commandos who looted the Parting Glance
The equipment is gone, but the foundations and moorings are still there. You recognize rather quickly that this set up is an optimal setup for scanning and processing surface information from a nearby planet or moon, suggesting that the Parting Glance was collecting data about jinsul movements on nearby planets when it was ambushed... or whoever set up the electricals on this ship did NOT know what they were doing.
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Hearing the door pop open, Requiem hears Vexus proclamation and frowns, bowing their head at the Android's statement of end of life here in the bridge.
"It is unfortunate, such is the way of War but the crew here are part of something greater, just as the rest of us. We can raise a toast to them later." They speak softly, stepping into the bridge to see if they can't find anything remaining in the bridge that could assist in the fight ahead. Should they find an active console they will call out over the comms.