evandorf

Removing the Stain of Dishonor Execution of Captured Terrorist Scheduled In a brief, yet charged announcement this morning, High Speaker Sarnac made known that Karzsekani taakul under Hizoni Izweski have completed the questioning and interrogation of the lone surviving attacker of the Szekziran envoy shuttle. It was also announced that the full investigation continues and that they had uncovered sufficient information to pursue the matter to its conclusion and root out every last traitor responsible for the brazen affront on Izweski honor and the safety of the Karzsekan’s allies. The individual was identified as a Vharzkani of low birth with no known residence beyond the wastes and outskirts surrounding Darakath and Sahltyr. No name or clan was forthcoming. The High Speaker states that the prisoner has been branded guwan for their dishonor and an execution by beheading has been scheduled in two days’ time. ( A small, attached clip shows several sinta on a raised stage in a square near the entrance to Izweski Keep. A slender, golden-yellow scaled sinta in Izweski colors is at the front addressing a large crowd. The video starts midway through the speech. ) The High Speaker declined to answer further questions at this time but other sources close to the Spymaster and her office were able to shed some light on the origin and aims of this attack stating, “In regard to motive, we appear to be dealing with a group deluded with a madness of the coalition’s resurgence. I will not waste my breath repeating the myths they cling to of the fallen kingdom. Our primary concern is their fanaticism which, while zealous, will not protect them from the Karzsekan’s justice.” Further Reading Nikziran Underway: How Various Regions Are Affected Karzsekani Navy Reviews Proposal for New Scout Craft Hopeful Reports from the Lords Verdant

A Question of Taste Tempers Flare Amid Darakath Reconstruction Woes Veshah T'vurzt - Vharzkan Correspondent Darakath; a city familiar with strife and turmoil. Even before the war, the inhabitants were known for their fierce pride and tradition. It remains a defining characteristic of Vharzki culture, and it carries its people through every daily crisis to see the next morning. Unfortunately, this unyielding nature has come into conflict with local authorities more than once, and developments over the past two weeks have done nothing but entrench both sides in fixed positions. Eight days ago, Lord Gwarlza announced that, despite instances of vandalism and theft affecting materials and equipment, reconstruction efforts within the city were progressing slowly but surely. He continued, saying that as they advance past the initial, functional stages of rebuilding, greater care should now be given to final outward appearances and the glory of Darakath’s architecture moving forward. To this end, beautification efforts have been announced for sections of the city that have progressed beyond simple utility. Initial responses to this announcement were mixed, though many residents expressed great joy at the promise of returning the city to its former glory. Darakath architecture was considered one of the heights of sinta craftsmanship in years prior to the war, with vast and ornate reliefs, sculptures, complex rooflines and ornamentation. Unfortunately, a large majority of works in the old aesthetic, aptly named ‘broken traditional’, contain iconography and likenesses intrinsically linked with the infamous coalition. Other images and symbols harken to Th’akhist beliefs and veneration. Lord Gwarlza has made it clear that they will be scouring Darakath of any remaining ‘broken traditional’ works as part of the renovations. No expense is being spared in the commission of artists, both local and afield, to define a new period of art for the city. Sinta who stand against the change have gone on record stating the removal of ‘broken traditional’ pieces is an affront to their ancestors and erasure of their history, while some Th’ahkist practitioners fear the reprisal of ancestor spirits and the heretical “Most Honored” as symbols of veneration are removed. These concerns have widely been dismissed by city leadership however, citing pre-existing law that prohibits possession of old kingdom paraphernalia. This has done little to stem the outcry as dissidents claim that such an interpretation of the law is too broad and a distinction should be made between wartime emblems and icons of cultural significance. So great is their fanaticism that a number of Kaa have made camp in a plaza outside of the municipal utility headquarters where a statue dedicated to Kolere Koss yet stands. At time of writing, five days have elapsed since the beginning of their vigil and a handful have even shackled themselves to the piece to prevent its demolition. Concerns have also been raised regarding the logistics and provisioning for this endeavour. A number of city wards, such as the administrative districts surrounding the Gwarlza clan compound, government buildings, and key infrastructure have been repaired and functional for some time, while other areas have been scheduled for work to begin based on priority assigned by city leadership. There are grumblings that sections of the city have been purposefully neglected and an undercurrent of support exists for propositions that postpone the beautification until after the city is rebuilt in its entirety. At the same time, Xsain workers from the Klax hive have begun to arrive in conjunction with an announcement that an agreement with Ta'Akaix'Xurezte K'lax, of Zkaii’s brood, has been reached after negotiations were facilitated via Hephaestus Industries. The inclusion of alien and corporate influence in the project has been decried by a number of influential Kaa throughout the city. Regardless, Lord Gwarlza shows no inclination to reverse course stating that the resources of Hephaestus Industries partnered with the workers of the Klax Hive will catapult Darakath into greater prominence and return it to its rightful place on the world stage. Only time will prove the wisdom of these new strategies. We pray for the recovery of Darakath and the success of its people in their endeavors. As always, we will keep you updated as more information is made available. Further Reading: Wasted Blood: The Story of a Nobleborn Guwandi Trial of Captured Terrorist Concludes, Execution Scheduled The Uezwik Incident - What We Learned and What Can Still Be Achieved

Being a minor criminal isn't against server rules, but the key is that you have to do it in such a way as that it flies under the radar. One of the key considerations on the current ship is that you have to remain employable. There are a lot of other characters who will be willing to keep your secrets so long as they get something out of it without putting their neck out too much. Then again, there are other characters who will snitch on you and get you under the scrutiny of the security department or CCIA. Subtlety and patience will be the name of the game, and you'll have to take time to create relationships you can trust in to include in your schemes. Consider also running a traitor antag with a low intensity gimmick. You can run more clearly illegal activities to boost your character's overall vibe and practice approaching potential partners or co-criminals from the safety of non-canonicity. Using exploitables can also help you flag potential allies, even if you don't use the information directly. Off the top of my head I can remember a number of minor criminals in recent history. There has been an IC drug smuggling operation that eventually came to light in a CCIA investigation. Secret shells are a thing, but difficult to pull off. Illicit relationships between IPCs and Dominians ( though on this your mileage may vary ). There's probably many others that I forget or am not aware of. As with everything though, if you have questions or concerns that something might be against server rules, there's nothing wrong with ahelping first.

Joint Operation Culminates in Heartland Raids Investigation Into Origin of Weapons Used in Shuttle Attack Makes Decisive Progress Yuask Vilissn - Intelligence Correspondent The morning peace of several Izweskan holdings was broken earlier today as taakul, and other agents under the direction of Symaster Hizoni Izweski, conducted raids against a number of dwellings and industrial buildings speckled throughout remote areas and towns in the lands surrounding Skalamar. Aiding them in their efforts were a handful of veteran assault teams hand-picked by the Lord’s Claws to ensure victory. All of the targets chosen are reported to have been suspected of either direct participation in the attack on the Szekziran shuttle four weeks ago, or harboring their accomplices and co-conspirators. Citing the ongoing investigation as sensitive and classified, the Spymaster’s office has provided few details, but states that their collaborative operation with their military counterparts has been a verifiable success. More information has been promised once the need for secrecy has passed, but eye-witness reports were able to describe the swift and decisive strikes. (The following interview is only in audio form, either due to a lack of video equipment onsite or, as is sometimes done, at the request of the interviewee; in either event the reason is not stated. The sinta speaks in a clear, treble tone with lower caste accent but using distinct noble diction and pattern. Written and dubbed translations are available with the broadcast.) By most accounts, the skirmishes that occurred were short and uncompromising, lasting only minutes. There is also a clear trend of the traitors being recognized as having spent time in the wastes but to what degree is uncertain. It also appears that few were captured alive though it is assumed this is more due to preservation of their treacherous cabal than to any form of true honor. However, at least one suspect was confirmed by multiple witnesses as being taken into custody alive, though it was also reported that he was raving traditionalist propaganda and myth so it’s unclear how much this might help the investigation. We expect to have an update on this story soon as the taakul work to analyze the evidence acquired and seek out the source of this corruption. As of yet, no group has come forward to claim responsibility for the shuttle attack leaving many to wonder - is this still more terrorism from existing organizations such as the Champions of Moghes or are new threats are on the rise? Further Reading: Gakal'zaal; should we re-take it? A recent poll shows surprising results. Medical Study on Ouerea Proposed, Shamans Claim Heresy Remaining Szekzir Delegation Returns Home via Orbital Transit

Unrest in Darakath and Wider Vharzkan Region Proposed Implementation of Nikziran Rankles Local Sensibilities Veshah T'vurzt - Vharzkan Correspondent Situated in some of the lands hardest hit by the consequences of the war, the cities of Darakath, Sahltyr, and Janvir, have historically held an undercurrent of dissatisfaction and malcontent beyond what would be expected due to the pressures of rationing and the refugee crisis. Pre-war sentiment and even some lingering, treasonous loyalties to the fallen coalition have left the area continuously vulnerable to dissidents and agitators working to slow any form of progress under the guise of continuing a fight long since ended. Over the last two months, a spike of disgruntlement and unrest has been felt in what was once the Vharzk steppes, resulting in an increase of attacks on guardsmen, raids on provision stockpiles, and vandalism of Izweski and Karszekani standards and iconography. While reports of these crimes exist across the area, the majority of these events are located within the still-recovering city of Darakath. These incidents are often accompanied with anti-Nikziran sentiment and messages decrying the movement as a simple power grab. Since the declaration of intent to standardize and regulate the structure of nobility and titles within the Karszekani, as well as institute new democratic systems of succession, the drafting and codifying of this new structure has occupied a large portion of the existing nobility’s time in all corners of the realm. No official release has been given but it is apparent that Karszekan Izweski intends to build a strong, stable framework that will apply to all vassals though many details of how it will be implemented in a given region will be the purview of local Lords, or Kreshan. One of the principal considerations left to the Kreshan of a given area is determining qualifications and restrictions for those seeking election. When speaking with local sinta, it becomes clear that guidelines for these restrictions implemented by the current Lord of Darakath, Razkara Gwarlza, has become the primary source of dissatisfaction. (The following interview is video recorded with a Kaa, or fisher, clearly employed in some type of construction taking rest in the midday. They speak in a rough sinta'azaziba dialect but captioned and dubbed translations are available with the broadcast.) So far, no official word from Skalamar has been given regarding the state of the region or the legitimacy of the restrictions currently affecting its democratic elections. As always we will continue to bring you updates as they become available. Further Reading: Skalamar authorities report progress in tracking the origins of illicit weaponry deployed in recent shuttle attack. A question of taste; rebuilding efforts in Darakath stunted as arguments arise over old vs. modern architecture. Contact? A re-evaluation on how much of an impact alien influence truly had on the beginning of The Unification War.

To be clear, this isn’t a suggestion to make everything have a smell or have functional noses. This is just about the corpses giving local narrates irrespective of whether they can be seen.

Basically, make corpses smell. I’d have to look at the code but I know monkeys and mice have a decomposition timer before they start to show signs. I’m not sure if human/alien mobs do. Some things to consider: - The smell local narrate is not given if the body is in a morgue tray, fridge, or extremely cold atmosphere. -Possible escalating messages of smell based on Time of Death. Something that a trained detective might be able to clock before doing the full autopsy, but allow them to make decisions in the field. - Could lead to being able to store bodies in more hidden locations but still allow for the smell to give it away.

Szek-Hakh Delegation Shuttle Attacked A Day of Hope and Promise Ends in Uncertainty Earlier today, as the Szekziran envoys departed for home, a cowardly strike against their shuttle was launched as they left the safety of the city’s air defenses. As we reported, this diplomatic delegation was present at the Karszekan’s request to discuss terms of collaboration and fealty. Since then the self-proclaimed Szekzir, Lady Lazak Szek-Hakh, was confirmed to be present and negotiating with Izweski leadership personally. Secrecy of the visit was cited as due to security concerns and it appears those concerns have been vindicated. It is assumed that the presence of Szekzir Lazak is the primary motivator of the attack witnessed today, though as of yet no group has officially claimed responsibility. Details of the members present only became public knowledge some hours ago as it was announced that the area known as the Queendom would be officially recognized as a sovereign region of the Karszekani. As part of the agreement, Clan Szek-Hakh was invested with control of the full Guzan region, doubling its effective domain size. A variable tithe of commodities from the region was also agreed upon; to be reviewed at a later date as the Szekzir works to improve the local infrastructure and output. To aid in this effort, Master of Rivers Hutay’zai has been tasked with increasing the Guzan region’s priority in reclamation efforts. So far no mention of Viridis resources have officially been allocated but it is surmised that this is primarily a logistical hurdle and sources say that Lady Szek-Hakh has shown continued interest in the promise shown by the Lords Verdant. An official denouncement of Si’akh practices in the region was also given while High Priest Azandar was present to bless the proceedings. Once all parties accepted the terms and the negotiations were completed, a short but respectable ceremony was held; oaths were sworn, allegiances given, and Szekziran Szek-Hakh and her entourage boarded their shuttle for the return trip home. The Lord’s Claws, Mizaru Izweski, released the following details of the attack in an official report: Szekzir Szek-Hakh has been reported as bruised but alive. All survivors were returned to Skalamar for treatment where they are expected to make full recoveries. The Karszekan has made plans to provide his guests a more secure, trans-orbital return trip home and has vowed to discover the source of the attack. Funerals with full honors are scheduled for the pilot and co-pilot of the downed Gryphon. The same has been offered to the fallen of the Szek-Hakh but it is expected that they will decline and instead bear their loved ones home. We will continue to bring you updates as the situation unfolds. Further Reading: Growing Unrest Reported in the Vharzkan House of Medicine Affected by Continued Drop in Phoron Availability Optimistic Progress Reported by Viridis Oversight

“Queendom” Delegation Meets with the Karszekan Forging the Future of Sezk-Hakh Lands and Greater Guzan Approximately two weeks ago, a declaration was broadcast from the region controlled by the Sezk-Hakh clan acknowledging the Karszekan’s efforts in restructuring of titles and fealty under the Nikziran. The message also stated the intentions of Lazak Sezk-Hakh; that their domain will hereafter be known as Szekziran and they would also be adopting elected positions similar to the Karszekani. Crucially, nothing was said regarding the Szekzir’s intentions of fealty to the Karszekan and it has led to much concern and speculation in the minds of our readers at home and abroad. In the time since we reported the announcement very little has been said officially by way of response from Skalamar. High Speaker Sarnac repeated their stance that the matter was being debated but until an official position was determined they would not engage in speculation. It appears the time of waiting has ended and in dramatic fashion. An official statement has been released stating that earlier this week a delegation from the Szekziran had been received in Skalamar and that they have been in talks with the Karszekan and other officials to forge the future of the “Queendom” and its place within the Karszekani. Spymaster Hizoni Izweski cited security concerns as the reason that the arrival of the delegation was not met with more ceremony and that every precaution was being taken to ensure the safety of the envoys present. Whether or not the venerable Lazak Sezk-Hakh is present has not been confirmed but, given the previous attempts at assassination and their advancing years, great prudence is shown in restricting this information. The released statement continues by announcing that the talks with Szekziran officials have borne fruit and that the minutiae of tithe, title, and other considerations are actively being discussed and drafted. While details of any arrangement are sparse, it is speculated that possible further wastes encroachment has brought the “Queendom” to the table and that any agreement may hinge on access to reclamation technology or Viridis resources. Access to the region’s aquaculture has been hampered in the years following the war but some are hopeful that improvements to the area and relations in general will provide a boost in available provisions both locally and globally. Not everyone is as optimistic in regards to the outcome of this new collaboration. High Priest Azandar, as well as many others within the church, have made it clear that regardless of any political concessions made by the Sezk-Hakh leadership, the changes which have come about in the Szekziran due to the consequences of the war pose a real and present danger to the spiritual well-being of all Sinta who come in contact with them. “These Sinta would willingly discard their roles and aspects [of the great spirit] as one changes soiled clothes. Transcendence of the Sublime Barrier brings one closer to understanding Sk’akh but requires dedication and considerable contemplation”, said one church official we spoke with. “I am aware of the challenges they faced after the war, and you must do what you must to survive, but their time spent in isolation and warped duty has poisoned their spirits. Look at these ‘Healer-Protectors’ they venerate; blood thirsty Taa who would rather murder the sick than see them healed. Mark my words, Guzan will not be truly cleansed until the spiritual sickness is dealt with.” It is expected that talks will complete within the coming weeks and, should things go well, a public demonstration of fealty by the Szekziran will take place soon after. As always we will keep you informed of updates as they become available.

This could use some clarification, given its age, but at first glance this looks like a stance taken due to the fact that borers started the round in someone's head. I can see why there would be a ruling against running to have it removed as soon as it made its presence known. It would be the height of gimmick squashing, but not only has the culture shifted since 2020, borers spawned from the uplink already have someone working with them.

I think their potency is a little overestimated. It will be a simpler implementation if we don’t have to modify their behavior and unlike cult or rev it’s not a permanent conversion. The infested person has almost full autonomy and even when the borer takes over their mind they can retake control. The borer can also be removed with surgery. I also don’t look at this like a vamp or ling conversion. The antag using the borers doesn’t necessarily have to be one of the infested. They could simply use them as a tool or work with the borers.

I wouldn’t expect you to be able to buy a large amount of them. One at a time, possibly with a total limit like with sana. My experience with borers has been that once the crew knows what’s going on they are easy to defeat since helmets and other full head coverings block the conversion process.

My understanding of borer mechanics is that you have to apply psionics multiple times to your host and you don’t get everything you would get from a jump starter all at once. You also get incapacitated and twitch like mad and generally attract attention every time this happens.

Full disclosure, I watched Wrath of Khan immediately before making this so it’s not my most original or creative suggestion but I still think the idea has merit. It would allow uplink users to include an oft unseen antag and utilize them in modes outside of the standard borer/bughunt setups. The details about how many you can buy, how much they cost, and other restrictions can be hammered out.