An impatient bank teller is clearly having a tough day. Will you show an interest in her problems?
Level: 6
Start: Talia Lish, Bank, Sol Jump Gate
Introduction
Talia Lish seems to be sullenly waiting on someone and taps at a functional bank terminal, as if investigating it. She takes slight steps to right and then left with a quick look around before she sighs dejectedly and returns to her previous position.
The frown on Talia Lish is harsh, and there appears to be much on her mind.
You have accepted the "She Sells Spaceshells" mission.
- Approach Talia Lish.
Are you alright? Is there something I could help you with?
While she, at first, seems startled at your words, she calms with a grateful exhale.
Talia Lish says: Oh, thank the comets! Are you here with my …
She hesitates, as if searching for the right word.
Talia Lish says: … medicine?
- Ask who she is waiting on.
- Ask about medicine.
Who:
(Social check)
Me: Are you waiting for someone in particular?
With a single nod, she replies.
Talia Lish says: Yeah, but … I guess it isn’t you, is it?
- Ask about medicine.
(Intelligence check)
Me: Medicine? Are you in need of medicine?
She lifts a shoulder, shrugging slightly, unwilling to make eye-contact.
Talia Lish says: Guess you’re not … who I’m waiting on to bring me … ah.
- Leave this strange encounter.
- Offer to walk with her to seek medical attention.
Walk with her:
Me: If you’re in need of medicine, I’ll be happy to walk you to the clinic.
She draws away slightly.
Talia Lish says: It isn’t really like that. I’m fine. I’m sorry to worry you. I can’t leave while I’m on shift, anyhow. I mean, … well … I’d like to wait here.
- Leave this strange encounter.
- Offer assistance anyway.
Offer assistance:
Me: Well, if you don’t want to go to the clinic, how else can I help you?
She waits for a few pedestrians to pass before leaning close to you with whispers of secrecy. Although she seems hesitant at first, her request comes in a hushed flurry of words.
Talia Lish says: I was told that someone would be by to deliver something. It’s something important. Something from off-station. The first message indicated that I should meet them in the ruins, but I’m working! I can’t slip away for a day vacation to the ruins. So, I said I would be here, but the message was sketchy, said they were concerned about security. Maybe you can do for me? It's just a little shipment of candy.
- Agree to go to ruins for her.
- Ask about shipment.
Ask:
Me: What kind of off-station shipment gets nervous about security? What are you waiting on?
She shakes her head while glancing past you.
Talia Lish says: I know I said ‘medicine,’ but candy, okay? It’s candy.
- Inquire about security
Me: Why would security care about a shipment of candy?
Talia Lish says: Look, can you go or can’t you? I can pay!
- Agree to go to ruins for her.
- Decline offer to get involved.
Agree:
Me: If you can pay me for my time, I can go down to the ruins and get your shipment.
Talia Lish’s stormy eyes brighten slightly.
Talia Lish says: I would be so grateful. Please, would you? All I know is that there’s a person there that will answer to ‘Lolly.’ They will have my stuff. It’s already been scanned in.
With a scrunch of her nose she shakes her head to clarify.
Talia Lish says: ‘Scanned in,’ I mean … well, that’s the payment process. Last shipment I scanned in, they scanned my thumb for a few future purchases. I had the credit, and thought pre-paying would ease up … you know what, this isn’t important. What’s important is that it’s been paid for. You’re looking for someone that answers to Lolly, and they’re in the ruins.
Seek out Lolly in the ruins for Talia Lish’s shipment of candy.
Next area: Ruins, Sol Jump Gate
- Search for Lolly.
As you explore the Ruins, searching for Lolly, you feel a presence, somewhere in your blind spot. Gradually, it becomes apparent that someone is keeping a close eye on you. Standing near a right-angle of a ruined building, a man your CORETECHS identifies as Davis Zell eyes your approach cautiously. He stands with the air of one who feels a sense of ownership over these sections of the Ruins, and regards you as one who has impinged on his territory.
Next NPC: Davis Zell, Ruins, Sol Jump Gate
- Ask about Lolly.
- Silently walk past.
//Walk past:
Davis Zell says: Looking for someone?
- Ask about Lolly.
- Leave, abandoning this task.
Ask:
Me: Excuse me, I’m looking for someone that goes by Lolly.
Davis Zell stares into you, unblinking.
Davis Zell says: For what?
- Candy.
- Medicine.
- Claim to be an old friend.
Old friend:
Me: I heard Lolly was on the jump gate station, so I thought I’d come by to say hi. We’re friends from way back.
Davis furrows his brow with a chuckle.
Davis Zell says: Did you actually expect that to work? What are you really looking for?
- Candy.
- Medicine.
Candy:
Me: I’m here to pick up a paid shipment of candy.
Davis nods a few times while pulling out a small, palm-sized black-market slate that had been discontinued cycles ago.
Davis Zell says: Name?
Medicine:
Me: I’m here to pick up a paid shipment of medicine.
Davis nods a few times while pulling out a small, palm-sized black-market slate that had been discontinued cycles ago.
Davis Zell says: You mean candy. What’s your name?
Both choices continue:
- Say you're here for Talia Lish.
- Say your name.
Your name:
Davis scoffs with a nod.
Davis Zell says: You’re not on the list, <name>. But, one quick thumb-scan and you will be.
Davis holds up the small, antiquated slate.
Davis Zell says: Although, I should tell you. Lolly traveled with no samples. Only here with that which has been paid for.
- Say you're here for Talia Lish.
Me: I'm here to pick-up for Talia Lish.
Davis sucks his teeth with a sigh. Shaking his head, he produces a small, clear bag from the pocket of his jumpsuit. The bag is full of little confections that shimmer with vivid hues, like tiny gems.
Davis Zell says: Talia is a sad one. Guess there’s no surprise in her staying out of the shadows. Paranoia is rough. These are her Spaceshells.
- Ask about Talia.
- Return to Talia Lish.
- Ask about Spaceshells.
Ask about Talia:
(Social check?)
Failure
Davis Zell seems supremely uncomfortable about speaking on this.
- Ask about Talia.
- Return to Talia Lish.
- Ask about Spaceshells.
Success
Me: You said Talia is a sad one. What do you mean?
Davis sucks in a deep breath while glancing down the alley to his side.
Davis Zell says: You get that this is a job, right? I do a job, I get credits, I get to eat more than saw-dust government rations. The job doesn’t care if I agree or disagree. I just do it and get paid.
He runs a hand through his hair.
Davis Zell says: What you got in that bag there, those are Spaceshells. That’s what they’re called. There’s a chemist on Moissan that makes the batches. She’s the boss of all this. I took the job thinking I was agreeing to deliver legitimate candies through the two systems. Was I ever wrong. Now I’m trapped in this job, peddling smile-sweets to poor folks like Talia.
With an exhale of sorrow, he continues.
Davis Zell says: She was just an average, anxious human. Then her son disappeared. She says he was kidnapped or stolen. She buys Spaceshells to escape. They all do.
- Return to Talia Lish.
- Ask about Spaceshells.
Spaceshells:
Me: What are these? Candies? Are Spaceshells illegal?
The vividly colored hard-candies clank against each other in the bag with your gesture.
Davis Zell says: They sure are, sorry to break it to ya, pal. The Chemist doesn’t register the goods or pay taxes on the transport and distribution. The ingredients are hallucinogens, sure. But the tax dodge is the main crime, here. Consortium don’t play. That the chemist preys on unfortunates who want an escape? That’s secondary. No two people have the same experience either. What for some is a dream can be a nightmare for others.
- Eat a Spaceshell.
- Return the Spaceshells to Davis Zell.
- Return to Talia Lish.
Return to Zell:
Me: I really don’t want anything to do with this.
Davis nods slowly, taking the bag back into his possession.
Davis Zell says: Can’t say I blame you.
He nods over at something atop a pile of debris.
Davis Zell says: That looks like a decent weapon. Take it. Hate for you to have come down here for nothing.
You have received 1 'Scrumsettler'.
You have completed the "She Sells Spaceshells" mission.
Eat:
Davis Zell says: Aww, really?
Everything seems utterly average for a few breaths. Davis and his words fade into oblivion. Before long, a song of chimes surrounds you as colors and patterns cascade over surfaces and around corners. A small cluster of flickering lights linger just before you.
- Avoid the lingering lights.
- Reach for the lingering lights.
Reach:
You extend your hands to the twinkling glimmers that hover. They appear to ease closer to your open palms.
Avoid:
You turn and step away from the strange glimmers of light. In seeming response, the illumination swells to a brilliant and violent brightness.
Either choice continues:
- Touch your face.
Sense begins to fade from thoughts of purple jackdaw the darkness of the room is a gaping mouth. Who sucks the oxygen from lungs with pores of paisley one time was a hoverboard.
- Mistake.
The melt of pipe condensation with rust billow over towering flight to feel freedom once again. Your hands are the hands of a miner. Your heart is the heart of the revolution. Who woke from the clone pod of green oozing lies, lies, lies, murder, murder, murderer?
- Glabrezu.
- Varrding.
- Zuggtmoy.
Glabrezu:
Prisms swirl in your mind. Boots are useless inside out.
- Varrding.
- Zuggtmoy.
Varrding:
Does water flow into your mouth and lungs? Can you float? Do we all float? Bloat.
- Glabrezu.
- Zuggtmoy.
Zuggtmov:
A scent rises: wet and bog. Sweet decay, fungus is with you.
- Glabrezu.
- Varrding.
After any two selections:
- Eyelids purple scale. Rub eyes.
Sleek inky tentacles begin to tug at your periphery. The scent of a brig, possibly the brig from Taungoo, crawls up your nostrils as a bell-like voice, reminding you of a Benevolent Dynamic employee you once met, chimes words just out of focus for you to understand.
- Attempt to block out the words.
- Strain to hear the words.
Block:
Me: Hummmm la-la-la-la-la!
Try as you might, nothing seems to obscure the muddy rumbles that clog your ringing ears.
Strain:
Try as you might, nothing can be discerned from the swirling noises colliding in your ringing ears.
Either choice continues:
- Hold very still.
- Make a break for the bank.
Bank:
Your feet grow too heavy to lift. Without choice, you pause.
- Hold very still.
- Make a break for the bank.
Still:
The black tentacles whip wildly into your field of vision. A voice you know to be your own begins to speak from within your mind.
The Voice says: <name>? What are we doing, <name>? Why can’t we move, <name>? Why are we … here? You remember that, what was her name? Tau Statioooooon. Yesssssss. Evvvvvvvvangeline would be sssssssso proud of the sssssstate we’re in. WAKE UP!! Do we have a clone? Are we a clone? Dead Eye, Dead Eye, in a box, what a sorry, empty loss WAKE UP! They’re coming, they’re coming, they’re coming, they’re coming, they’re coming.
- Close your eyes. Take a deep breath.
You close your eyes and take in a single, deep breath. Along the short line of time that the air enters your lungs, the voice is diminishing.
The Voice says: <name> hide. Hide from them. Hide from usssssss. Hide from you. <name>! <name>!!! The void calls to us! <name>!!!!
Upon opening your eyes, you are removed from the experience.
You should probably deliver the remainder of the goods to Talia Lish in the Bank now. A mental note is made: perhaps this chemist on Moissan would be worth meeting.
Next NPC: Talia Lish, Bank, Sol Jump Gate
- Return to Talia Lish with the Spaceshells.
Talia Lish smiles as you return.
Talia Lish says: Thanks for … you know, the delivery. Are … are you okay?
She quickly takes the bag of Spaceshells from you.
- Take the payment and leave.
- Feign ignorance about the Spaceshells.
- Complain about the Spaceshells.
Feign ignorance:
Me: Gosh. Candy, huh? And here I thought you were in dire need of medicine!
Talia Lish looks away in shame.
Talia Lish says: Yeah, well … not medicine. Just candy, after all. Thanks.
- Take the payment and leave.
Me: I did as you asked. I’d like my credits, now.
Talia, in consternation, looks from you to the baggie as if quickly counting. She slides your credits with a frown.
You have received 140.00 credits.
Talia Lish says: Thanks. Leave now.
It's clear Talia no longer sees you. All that exists in her world right now is the small baggie in her hand, which she examines with a dead-to-the-world level of focus. It would be a push to describe her as appearing satisfied, but there's certainly a relief in her posture which wasn't there before. Your intervention seems to have brought some kind of relief to her former edginess.
You have completed the "She Sells Spaceshells" mission.
<— Return to Missions