To the Core

Stories of Lore 44

Evidently that was a trap. Decaelys has the ability to manipulate space and time, apparently that includes recalling to previous states like Elym on a much larger scale. The Areti suddenly disappeared from all scanners and re-appeared in Auwana along with Faelyn’s fleet. Though this has delayed their arrival at Enohas.

Meanwhile, pirate fleets appeared in Enohas for no real reason now. They aren’t exactly equipped to launch a full scale ground assault on the moon to make any progress until Faelyn returns. Instead they’ve been utilized to make an effort to extract Asmodan and his new merkas cult. Our fighters didn’t make it easy for them but our fleet was otherwise occupied to actually prevent the extraction.

We did confirm a kill on Valadeus however. He was in one of the ships our fighters shot down and despite him being  a demon lord, space is very indiscriminate on its oxygen distribution.

Moon successfully defended for now it appears.

Eleazor is back with keys to a ringworld infested with rampant native life forms that eradicated its creator. Perhaps not the original deal that was worked out with Echo Prime, though given the circumstances it was the best she could do now that the exerlus are falling apart.The downside is that might not be entirely convenient in location. It is on the western outskirts of the ‘Western Reach’ as it has been referred to.

For some reason Eleazor keeps offering to barter with people for their possessions up and down the streets though, which seems unnecessary given how much we pay him.

As to your other query, the Hasao Tei isn’t particularly powerful as military force. They are a strong civilian government with high approval ratings. They do have some strong champions among their numbers but they serve mostly as suppliers to the Heroes Guild at the moment. There is some potential there but they are mostly just another colony out here on the frontier harboring refugees.

I’ve opted to ask Kaylen to deal with the Revenants for us in attempting negotiation once again since they find her more likeable. Though she said it would have to wait until she gets back from Enohas. Same for Song Clan.

The colonies of the Villena Alliance are spread out and have largely managed to stay out of everything going on. They are playing very carefully in response to our diplomatic missions. Aware that until a distinct winner is available, our war with the Phantoms might not be wise for them to get involved with. Unlike the Thenican refugees, they still have something to lose if they anger Faelyn and few means to stop the Phantoms from crushing them. Though there are murmurs and discreet messages indicating a hidden support for our cause. We did learn that they are somewhat suspicious of the pirates on the frontier, while we already were pretty certain it was Asmodan helping out the Phantoms it is at least a good sign that the colonists are also noticing the correlation despite the PR campaign the Phantoms have been running.

We have surmised that the Villena colonies aren’t particularly satisfied with being ruled by somewhat they learned is working for monsters, not to mention they’d love to not pay tribute, but they are small frontier colonies just thankful that Nelta didn’t destroy them and there is a general feeling of powerlessness among them.

The explorers are still exploring, though the cruiser we sent into the Western Reach reports multiple evasions of pirate attacks. The pirates were verified to be alien in nature and unlikely to be working for Asmodan. The explorer’s report that the Western Reach is, in their captain’s own words, “Fuckin crazy as shit” on his official report. Eleazor confirmed this as well, informing us that this is due to the path of progress they have taken and the constant threats they live under. Though apparently the galactic community considers us to also be a part of the Western Reach. I’ll just move that border a little bit.

To a similar note, the explorer’s looking for signs of Arkaric keep finding a lot of evidence that he has been establishing several assets in the Western Reach. This came as a surprise to no one that the calculator of chaos likes the most chaotic region of the galaxy.

The VSS Raptor is still trying to get ahold of what is going on around Jydoq and establish diplomatic relations with local colonies. They have also been following the astral knights around for protection.

The one looking for the stolen shipment is pretty sure Asmodan did it but is having a hard time tracking him. Even though we kind of know where he is or at least was just a moment ago we don’t actually know where the shipment went. Though Allison from Nah Division is pretty sure it would have worked its way to the Solvang station in Sol.

Also I’m told that operation grassy gnoll is proceeding a bit more aggressively due to the death of Valadeus causing some opportunities to be seized upon in the demon kingdom.

Well it has been an uneventful anticlimatic month here on the moon of Enohas. Lancaster I suppose successfully diverted the incoming fleet so they never got around to landing on the moon. Instead the pirate fleets opted to extract their leaders since our own fleet was also missing and sort all this out later. Also a bit of a ‘what are all these people doing here, Valadeus said they left’ situation.

We’re waiting to hear on if we intend to stick around and guard the moon. We could refurbish Jamalia if we wanted to, or strip it for parts to send to Garden City. Enohas is still a golden world even if the political relationship with the primitive natives is flopping back and forth all the time. Though there is a chance that the Phantoms come back and better prepared this time.

With the death of Valadeus this creates a bit of a window in the demon kingdom. While it is very likely that his territories and holding will be taken over by Asmodan and then perhaps distributed to a new demon puppet for the Phantoms it is a time of political instability as Valadeus was one of the major players. This has also given Voriuk a chance to start meddling with things once again. The deaths of Valadeus, Vidarius, and the absence of Kanika have left the Phantoms in a politically weakened state and now Sakhessa is the default leader of the Phantoms.

We’ve sent a team out to Jydoq, which quickly met up with the VSS Raptor and its crew. Evidently they have been having a rough time and are now exploring by following the chapter around in the hopes of not being attacked by bandits as often.

New Age labs has analyzed the recent disaster at Auwana. They have come to a hypothesis that Decaelys is the mechanism by which the Phantoms have been moving throughout the galaxy. Given her ability to instantly  recall to a place she once occupied, seems kind of obvious now. It is also likely  that if time were to be accelerated for her they could cover years of travelling within a matter of months for everyone else. The obvious downside to this would be that you would still age, the obvious counter to that is the Phantoms are staffed almost entirely by long lived species and immortals.

We also analyzed the data Lancaster sent over regarding the other spell they had left in place that didn’t trigger. Our sahad experts are not certain but they think it is likely it prevents FTL acceleration. Had Lancaster gotten closer to it, she would not have been able to escape Faelyn’s fleet at all. Both were created via a ritual, similar to how the cult works. Though it was utilizing Decaelys’ jesai methods, but that is how she can create spells so massive as to control entire fleets or regions of space.

All that being said, we did not get the opportunity to try and negotiate with her. As soon as Faelyn’s fleet was set to arrive at the system, they suddenly warped backwards into Auwana because of Lancaster. The labs are hard at work analyzing any data they can on Decaelys since she is evidently the most powerful sahad caster we’ve ever encountered and there is much to learn from her. Unfortunately, without Vasia they are definitely struggling.

Contacting the Valdir can be summarized as “getting judged by Kaisa”. Though the desire to be able to control the ichor to create drones that don’t bite everything once they fall out of the synapse is particularly triggering to her.

Also Kaisa stole our ritual and your infinite sending technique. This whole time we’ve mostly paid Indal lip service as not to anger Kaisa who keeps calling him a god despite him just being a dude with an axe that swings really good. The Valdir synapse just became infinite, omnipresent, and Kaisa just sucker punched everyone in the brain to let them know it. I don’t know what the qualifications are to become a deity, Ankathi has a very laid out plan and series of requirements. Though at this point, I’m not really sure who is going to dispute Kaisa on her mad ramblings anymore given that she can send them to you any time any where for any reason. So….all hail the god emperor? We may wish to ask Ankathi’s opinion. Also Lancaster would like a word with you.

As for the ichor experiments, they absorb mana from radiant sources better. At least if the drone is produced at the Zenaka 04 lab lake. Might want to bring a sample back here as we do have an arcane star near Moncayo.

We’ve established the Zion colony on Jydoq. Two local governments are displeased that we didn’t ask for permission first though they also disagree on which of them you should ask. It’s the Alnae warlord situation all over again, some groups think they represent the old government and disagree who does. Either way its there now.

As for your question about the long range aethernet relay, the 650 billion one IS the one that connects two systems. You chain them together to get a larger galactic network but each system within a certain range would need one. Interstellar communications are expensive. Space is big.

We found Yaellah. She remanifested after awhile, unkillable lich alien and all. Then she just took off, sahad alien that can jump between planets of its own volition and all. My money is on that she knows where Vasia is and went to go find her.

Larazja, or what is left of her, is still with the fleets and we haven’t been able to throw her in the puddle yet.

Cyberware that increases your mana capacity is called a mech, or an exosuit. Or armor. I mean technically we can put a mana battery in the chassis of any cybernetics we want but it still needs to be recharged and takes up space. So it can technically be done it’s just often better for anyone who actually needs that to wear armor and strap some extra mana packs to it rather than compromise the design of the cybernetics to fit that battery internally. Since you have to live in your cybernetics all day but you only go into battle once every now and then. Unless you’re Selona. He just put a living creature in himself to serve as a battery, that works I suppose.

Also as far as I can tell, my non organic stealth thing is unique to my parasite. We could theoretically replicate it, Koura Kures had most of the data on working with the parasites. However, Lancaster fired me so I don’t work on parasite research anymore. I’m sure Vasia would just subject a hundred people to conditions similar to mine to see if it replicated but from a more practical standpoint we’re not sure why I have this specific mutation.

I am not going to comment on your vacation trips to meet with Setal you are planning. Though you’re not anywhere near the portal at the moment.

I would ask Irae about the demon lords thing, her knights were specifically looking into that and are better qualified.