While the post-revamp Necron lore has grown on me from my initial salt due to... well, let's face it, basically Trazyn and Zandrekh, but there's other neat parts too, I still feel like there was something lost from their original premise in the changeover.
Because like, in Warhammer 40K, there's this continual theme of "War dehumanizes," through stuff like the Servitors, the Wraith constructs, the Rubric Marines, the Dreadnoughts, the Black Rage, ect.
And I feel like, for all its faults, the old Necron lore was interesting in that it was basically the endpoint of where a society geared towards that sort of perpetual total war leads.
It leads to an entire people turned to soulless automata, fighting for reasons they no longer remember or care about, puppets of laughing gods; with the stars stained red with blood and black with tears...
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Surprisingly, none of the doors in Moonrise are locked, at least so far, which I was not expecting. I guess maybe it's assumed that by the time you've made it inside the gates you're one of The Family.
Our next exploration room is what appears to be some sort of alchemical lab with a drow lady walking between various tables and making cryptic statements about what she's working on.
Her name is Araj Oblodra, and @zenjestrr has informed me that I need to bring Astarion to talk to her; let's see if the game actually makes that clear or if I'm going to be metagaming. XD
"Araj Oblodra, trader in all things occult." She has a low, pleasant voice and looks him over with mild, academic interest. "A very great pleasure to meet you, True Soul. Should you be interested, I have a particular offer I'd like to make."
"Let's hear about this special offer of yours."
"Put plainly, I'd like your blood," she says matter-of-factly. "A vial of True Soul's blood specifically. With one drop, I can brew a rather potent potion for you. The rest, I keep for myself."
Hector blinks at her slowly a few times. Not quite what I expected. "And what exactly are you planning to do with your share?" he asks cautiously.
"Research, naturally," Araj says smoothly. "We Oblodras are simply curious by nature."
Narrator: [HISTORY] You realize why the name rings familiar - House Oblodra was purged a century ago by an alliance of rival drow houses. Among the many crimes tallied against them - their reckless experimentation with illithid breeding stock.
Ew.
"It's not True Soul blood you want," he says bluntly. "It's illithid-tainted blood."
She blinks, startled, and then her eyes narrow with acute interest. "Blessed by the Absolute but not blinded by it? Now I simply must study you. The beings you speak of have no use for gods, and yet here we stand in a church of their making. Unless they are not the makers but simply the means - wouldn't that be a secret worth knowing?"
He listens in silence, and finds himself curiously swayed by her point. If she is telling the truth - she is not here because she believes in the Absolute, but she wants to know what the mind flayers are doing either creating or supporting this cult. And that is something he wants to know, very badly.
"So let me adjust my offer," Oblodra goes on. "Your blood and your *silence* in exchange for the potions I mention - and a tidy pile of gold besides."
He is no good at these mercenary negotiations...but if he's interpreting her correctly, she could be a valuable ally. "What kind of potion can you make?" he asks.
"No idea," the alchemist says, with a sort of feigned cheeriness. "But it will be unique to you - your blood essence and the Absolute's blessing intertwined. We can learn what that means together, hm?"
He sighs. Damn, now she's caught his curiosity as well as his need for allies. He glances at the others questioningly for a moment, and then shrugs. "All right," he says, extending one arm in her direction. "Let's do it."
"Just a little prick and it's all over," she croons gently. "Close your eyes...a little pain for a lot of gold. And..."
He barely even feels the needle as it slides under his skin. Her movements are deft, incredibly practiced, and within moments she has drawn a small vial of dark blood from his vein. A few moments more and she has poured some of it into a second prepared vial held in her pocket.
"There we are. All of your very best traits in a bottle. Use it well!"
He takes the vial and is in the middle of turning away to examine it when she continues, "And, if I may, would you have a moment to discuss another more personal matter?"
He pauses, turns and looks back at her without speaking, waiting for her to go on.
"Truth be told," she says casually, "I heard tell of your coming before you arrived. Ketheric's dogs prowl far and wide round the Tower. I know you travel with a delightful night-walker in your retinue. Please - I have a proposal for him. I will reward you both handsomely."
Hector squints warily at her. So far he has found this woman fairly straightforward in her dealings, but it is not only his own safety he has to be concerned with.
"You aren't working for Cazador, are you?"
She smiles coolly. "That is not a name which has ever passed my lips. I am a friend to you. I wish to be a friend to him."
"What kind of proposal?" Hector presses.
But she shakes her head. "I will speak of it when he is here. Not before. But it will be to your advantage, I promise."
Hector purses his lips thoughtfully. "My vampiric friend?" he finally says slowly. "Sure, I can bring him here." If he's willing to come, at least...
Her eyebrows lift, and her face takes on a distinctly flustered appearance for a brief moment before she masks it. "I-- I must prepare for his arrival!" Without another word she turns and hurries away.
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