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GEK
PuzzleType: TRA_NPC_FILLER_
Alien: Friend, any good advice? Yellow is good, yes? Due some luck!
The Gek seems absorbed in a display of flashing red lights on the screen in front of them. They stab at the buttons, and periodically the lights flash yellow. This is accompanied by a fanfare, and appears to please the Gek a great deal.
{Advise they continue}
The Gek heeds my advice, and makes a particularly elaborate series of button presses. The lights do not turn yellow. The Gek appears very troubled.
{Advise they stop}
The Gek is unimpressed with my meddling. They ignore me, and continue to play.
Alien: You smell me friend, but how do you feel? What does it do to your soul?
As I approach the Gek, I become aware of a thin mist surrounding them. It is lightly, almost pleasantly, scented. Nonetheless, I cannot help but feel a deep apprehension.
{Wave away mist}
I cough as I try to wave away the strange mist coming from this Gek. Try as I might, I cannot clear the air. I must leave.
{Leave quickly}
The Gek watches me as I leave. I can feel their eyes following me, but worse - the mist seems to follow me too.
Alien: Scrub scrub scrub! So fresh, so clean, so happy!
If I look closely, the Gek appears to be secreting a greasy substance from their skin. The oil covers their body, rolling into their cracks and crevices. It smells sweeter than I anticipate.
Perhaps I should give the Gek some privacy.
{Stare}
The Gek ignores me as I stare at them. I do not know how much time passes as I stand hypnotised by the slow drip of oil upon scales.
{Leave}
I leave the Gek be. We all deserve our privacy during intimate moments.
Alien: Friend! A real friend does not spy on other friends plans, yes?
The Gek shoots me an irritated glance as I approach. They conceal whatever it was they were working on, and pointedly wait for me to leave.
{Try to see their work}
The Gek gestures at me angrily, waving me away. As I turn, I notice them making what appears to be addition to their list.
{Leave}
The Gek stares at me as I leave. They do not resume their work until they are certain I am too far away to see it.
Alien: Lost it all... no units... trade account is blocked... feels like I lost my blood!
The Gek is a most miserable sight, a picture of dismay and deflation. They look at me in a way that begs for pity.
{Wave them away}
The Gek hangs their head as I leave. I did not think it was possible for them to look any more deflated, but I was wrong.
{Give 10 units}
The Gek is overjoyed, looking at me with what might even be described as love.
Alien: Hello friend! My face is trustworthy, yes? Units for you! Just need account details.
The Gek holds out a small device. The exact nature of the display is not clear to me, but I recognise the symbol for units, alongside an extremely large number.
{Attempt to take units}
I interface with the Gek's device. It lights up as we exchange data, but otherwise nothing else seems to happen. I receive no units, but the Gek appears delighted.
{Leave}
Something about this Gek makes me cautious. I leave, their device untouched.
Alien: One, two, three... one, two, three, four... one, two! Two!
This Gek is absorbed in some game of their own creation, playfully clicking their tongue as they look around the room. When they see me, I am given three brief clicks before they continue their more general survey.
{Click my tongue}
The Gek squeals with delight. I do not understand the significance of what has occurred, but I am pleased to have made someone happy.
{Leave}
The rhythm of the Gek's clicking changes as I leave, but otherwise they pay me little regard.
Alien: Hello friend. Smell is good, yes?
From the moment I entered the room, I could smell this Gek. I do not believe a more alluring scent has never entered my nose. It feels inevitable that I approached, like fate itself had pushed me to this moment.
{Surrender to bliss}
I inhale deeply. My mind seems to pause, lost in deep relaxation the likes of which I have never experienced. I do not know if this lasted moments or years, but as I resurface I feel entirely refreshed, as if I were whole new person.
{Resist the smell}
As I resist, I feel the Gek pheromones beginning to do their work. But I triumph, and pull myself away.
Alien: Buy! Buy! No, no, no! Stop! Stop! Sell! Or maybe buy.
The Gek is busy watching a small screen. Numbers flash, change colour, soar to new heights and then tumble downwards. It is a struggle to keep up with this torrent of information, let alone process it.
{Observe quietly}
I watch for some time, but I am unable to make sense of the data they Gek is watching so keenly.
{Interrupt their concentration}
My attempts to interfere are ineffective. The Gek is so used to processing all this information, one more source of distraction barely makes a difference.
Alien: Friend, it is nearly the end of the day. My eyes are tired, my hands are tired. So nearly time for home!
The Gek seems to be lacking all energy. They are consumed by the most terrible lethargy, barely able to drag themselves to examine their personal timepiece.
{Pat them sympathetically}
The Gek smiles wearily, but I fear I have only indulged their tiredness.
{Slap them}
The Gek is startled. I have taken them by such surprise they do not know how to react. I leave before they come round.
Alien: Hello friend! I have many new smells, from many days of work! Observe!
The Gek examines me before releasing a series of unusual odours. They come thick and fast, each producing strange new sensations. I smell fear, love, yellow, moonlight, sleep, the number four. And then, it is finished. The Gek looks proud.
{Ask for more}
The Gek seems thrilled to have pleased me, but they are exhausted by their demonstration. I leave them to rest.
{Walk away}
The Gek is crestfallen. They poured their soul into this display of smells, and I have snubbed them.
Alien: Another friend. But no friends are Vy'keen. All say Vy'keen are bad, but I would love Vy'keen friend.
The Gek examines me as I approach. They are clearly disappointed, although they offer no clues as to why.
{Shout}
The Gek is initially startled, but then begins to smile. They shout back. If I did not know better, I would swear they were saying 'Grah!'
{Stare}
The Gek stares back, disdain in their eyes. I leave.
Alien: Two, three, four... two, three, four... two, three, four...
The Gek barely regards me as I approach. They are clearly expending a great deal of mental effort concentrating on something. They sway gently, miming delicate finger movements.
{Whistle}
The Gek follows me lead, thrilled to have a musical companion. I cannot hear the tune in their head, but whatever instrument they are imagining is giving them great pleasure.
{Wave hands dramatically}
The Gek takes my waving to be some indication of tempo, and increases their movements to match time with me. I stop before I exhaust them.
Alien: Hello friend! You will help Gek, yes? Simple thing, only need genetic details for petition!
The Gek looks at me with hope, their trustworthy eyes and beak beaming as I approach. They gesture towards me with a data pad, as if to make a request...
{Touch the datapad}
I touch the datapad, giving my biosignature. I am not sure what the Gek intends to do with these details, but it is no matter. The machine does not appear to support a lifeform such as me, and rejects my input.
{Refuse}
It does not seem wise to go around touching devices offered to me by strange Gek.
Alien: Not again! Too many like you, insulting Gek, laughing at pheremones! Go away!
The Gek gestures at me angrily as I approach. They wave their tiny hands and snap their break with considerable fury.
{Cower}
At first, the Gek seems surprised to have so scared me. But they soon adjust to their new found power, and cackle at my flight.
{Laugh}
My laughter only enrages the Gek further. I leave before I drive them to violence.
Alien: Ah, mother, father, fellow spawn... the memories...
The Gek is lost to an idle reverie, pleasant smells drifting from its glands as it sways side to side. They pay me little attention.
{Sniff the Gek}
I inhale deeply. The Gek smells delicious, and does not seem to mind my intrusion among their private scents.
{Leave}
However beautiful this Geks smells, they are not producing this pheromone for me. I leave them be.
Alien: Friend! Hello! I have been awake! Yes, not asleep!
The Gek snaps to attention as I approach. They seem bleary-eyed, as if they have been asleep.
{Reassure}
The Gek relaxes as I show them I mean no harm. As I leave, I notice their eyes beginning to return to their slumber.
{Shout}
I shout at the Gek. They wince, their tired mind struggling to focus.
Alien: Have you seen it, friend? The eye, the great crimson eye?! It always watches!
There is a fear lurking behind the eyes of this Gek, as if they have seen things that no being should see. They gesture at me with alarm.
{Reassure}
Nothing I do calms the Gek. They were anxious before I arrived, and will remain anxious after I leave.
{Panic}
My panic only seems to increase the Gek's alarm. I leave, both of us screaming.
Alien: Fun... oh, friend, do you see it? Fun!
The Gek glances at me as I approach, but they are clearly preoccupied. They are struggling to control themselves, a laugh desperately trying to escape.
{Tickle}
The Gek explodes with mirth. I leave, before this turns to irritation.
{Leave}
I doubt I will ever understand whatever private joke the Gek is enjoying. I leave them to it.
Alien: No, no, no. Traveller always brings trouble! Not for this Gek. Not for me.
The Gek protests as I approach. I have made no demands, and yet they seem keen to pre-emptively turn me down.
{Bow}
My gesture of politeness does little to reassure the Gek. They dismiss me.
{Leave}
The Gek looks relieved as I leave, as if they have avoided some great catastrophe.
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VY'KEEN PuzzleType: WAR_NPC_FILLER_ #1 Alien: Sentinel? No? Grah! Always sentinel hunts behind Vy'keen eyes, even when sleep. I approach the warrior, but they barely acknowledge my presence. Though they look in my direction, their gaze is fixed on a point far beyond my eyes. {Move away slowly} The Vy'keen's breathing hastens, but otherwise they remain motionless. {Meet their stare} The warrior ignores my challenge. Perhaps this is for the best. #2 Alien: Interloper! Help Vy'keen? None will talk. Abandoned, no consort for communion of Hirk! The lifeform speaks with great urgency, but between their hurried barks and fetid breath I find it difficult to concentrate on what they have to say. {Leave silently} The Vy'keen gestures as if to stop me, but then gives up and turns away. {Enable hazard protection} %NAME% looks at me in a way that implies they have seen this response before. #3 Alien: Greetings, interloper. Nothing to fear. No ill will come. Always protect. As I approach the warrior, I hear an item drop to the floor. They very deliberately ignore the faint beeping that has begun to emit from near their feet. Despite my lack of understanding, I sense I should do likewise. {Leave calmly} I nod to the warrior and back away carefully, being careful not to make any large or sudden movements. All seems well. {Leave hastily} I leave quickly, understanding the Vy'keen would not admit their mistake while being watched, and wanting to give them as much time as possible to remedy the situation. #4 Alien: Ahh, interloper. It is simple. Stop interloping, then all will have peace. Though they exhibit the same strange facial features and aggressive stance as the rest of their kind, something about this warrior exudes a calm, peaceful happiness. Such contentment appears simple, but seems to elude so many. {Wish them well} The Vy'keen nods at me serenely. I feel a great sense of calm. {Gesture angrily} My gesture seems not to affect the warrior. They appear to have reached a mental state where my actions are of little consequence to them. #5 Alien: No Gek make song this beautiful. Glory in harmony, for interloper and for Hirk! I am used to hearing barks and guttural shouts from these lifeforms. Instead, this one appears to be attempting to whistle. Lacking conventional lips, their efforts could hardly be called successful. Nonetheless, with their performance complete, they look at me expectantly. {Applaud} The Vy'keen appears bashful, if such a thing is possible. They are clearly unused to such attention. {Boo} The Vy'keen looks confused and dejected. This music clearly took great effort, and they appear unable to process the idea that their music is not universally appreciated. #6 Alien: Watch, interloper! A weapon to strike fear into all! All sentinels will flee before Vy'keen! The lifeform gestures at me as I approach. They draw my attention to their weapon, an impressive sidearm. Is this a threat, an attempt to intimidate? A boast? A friendly display meant in good faith? Their culture remains so unknown to me. {Look impressed} The Vy'keen appears thrilled. They give their multitool a small polish, a brief gesture that belies great pride. {Look dismissive} The Vy'keen gestures the multitool with even greater aggression. I leave quickly. #7 Alien: Vy'keen will aid interloper. But Vy'keen request interloper wait until meal is finished. The warrior sighs as I step into their space. They push aside the morsel they had been occupied with, and stare at me with great impatience. {Apologise} The Vy'keen appears angered by my apology. They throw part of their meal at me as I leave. {Leave without speaking} The Vy'keen stares at me as I leave, but takes no further action. #8 Alien: Signals received all night, never ending signals repeat in Vy'keen ears. No sleep, always hearing cries. The warrior seems to greet me, but does so with a noticeable lack of energy. Their movements are slow, and their eyes struggle to focus. {Touch their shoulder} The warriors relaxes, but says nothing. I should leave them to rest. {Leave silently} The Vy'keen looks pleased to have been left in peace. #9 Alien: Grah, why are you here, interloper? If you are here, then where am I? Where is Vy'keen command? The warrior looks confused as I approach. They scan their surroundings nervously, their worried eyes darting around the room. {Gesture calmly} The warrior is not reassured by my attempts to keep calm. If anything, they appear to be in greater distress. {Gesture angrily} My anger speaks to the warrior in a way I did not anticipate. They have clearly been conditioned to expect this sort of exchange, and it appears to bring them comfort. #10 Alien: Interloper is always welcome, naturally. Vy'keen salute you. But interloper is not who is expected. Grah! The being looked at me with great expectation as I approached. Having assessed me, however, I appear to have been found wanting. They give me their attention, but their focus is clearly on the entrance, as if waiting for another. {Leave} The warrior watches me leave, apparently even less impressed than before I arrived. {Stare} The warrior holds my stare for a short while, and then looks away. As I leave, I see a new respect in their eyes. {Ask for help} #11 Alien: Vy'keen is busy! Gek send threats. Must respond! Must deploy weapon words! The warrior grunts distractedly, not giving me its full attention. They seem preoccupied by the small device they are holding. {Leave them be} The Vy'keen gives me little attention as they turn back to their device. {Poke the device} Whatever I have done has brought great delight to the warrior, who laughs to themselves as they watch the device. I wonder what I have caused. #12 Alien: Grah! Sentinels must be tracked. They swarm, they hunt! Why? Interloper, where to strike? The lifeform greets me and gestures at a series of charts in front of them. They appear to be adding their own notes, adding what appear to be tallies next to certain locations. {Mark an area in the north} The warrior nods in thanks and appears to ready themselves for some great action. I wonder what I have caused. {Mark an area in the south} The warrior briefly tenses, but then adopts a posture of great determination. I hope I have not prompted them to do something foolish. #13 Alien: Grah! Fate halts your doom, interloper! Chance smiles on you and frowns on Vy'keen once again. The warrior watches me approach, and then rolls a selection of marked cubes across the surface in front of them. They examine the results, grunt, and look at me with what appears to be disappointment, {Smile} The warrior sneers at me, and continues to examine the cubes in front of them. {Take a cube} The Vy'keen seems alarmed. I place the cube back on the table, but when the warrior notes which glyph faces them they become even more agitated. #14 Alien: Grah, Vy'keen must practise! Fingers are scarred, so scarred. Even interloper must cease interruptions! The warrior looks up at me sharply. I have clearly interrupted their concentration. A small knife stands embedded in the surface in front of them, remarkably close to the fingers of their glove. {Watch closely} The Vy'keen continues to practise, but the pressure of an audience causes them to be clumsy and stiff. I leave before I cost them a finger. {Make a loud noise} The Vy'keen is startled, though not so much by the noise as by the sudden and unanticipated impact of the knife upon their knuckle. I leave quickly. #15 Alien: Grah! Interloper, my weapon! Look! Named for consort, who also brings death to many! The warrior is busy scratching markings into the paintwork of their weapon. Their work is as yet incomplete, but they are clearly proud of their progress. {Cower} The Vy'keen cackles, thrilled by my response to their work. {Look dismissive} The Vy'keen seems crestfallen. I have clearly given them some great insult. #16 Alien: Grah! This Vy'keen the most powerful, who deals the most death! No fluffy creatures shall be saved and loved and cuddled! None! Grah! As I approach, the lifeform stuffs something small and furry into a pocket. They fidget uncomfortably, attempting to speak over the persistent squeaking. {Look away discreetly} I look away, giving the warrior a moment to adjust themselves. {Stare} The Vy'keen burns under my gaze, growing more and more uncomfortable by the moment. I hear a loud squeak, and the fidgeting appears to stop. #17 Alien: Interloper! Warrior has plans for greatest exocraft! It will bring much glory and much death! Grah! This warrior seems preoccupied with a series of images of exocraft. They appear to have been assembled from several different sources and then taped together. {Look impressed} The Vy'keen looks at me carefully, and then adds several more notes to their diagram. {Make an addition} The warrior examines my addition with scorn, immediately erasing it from their plan. #18 Alien: Interloper, do not gaze upon my poor words. Vy'keen has killed many Sentinels, but engraving is not my skill. As I approach, the warrior hastily covers up a tablet in front of them. They appear to have been etching something, but my presence makes them uncomfortable. {Look impressed} The Vy'keen stares at me, but it is not a happy look. They seem to doubt my sincerity. {Draw multi-tool} The Vy'keen looks at me with surprise, and then appears to take inspiration. They discard their carving knife. I wonder what thought I have prompted. #19 Alien: Grah! Grah! Grah! Death! Death! Death! Victory! Grah! Victory! This warrior appears to be in some sort of trance. It would seem unwise to disturb them further. {Chant along} I attempt to mimic the warrior's chant, but my throat is unable to make the strange guttural noises of my fellow singer. Nonetheless, they appear to appreciate my efforts. {Leave quietly} The Vy'keen's chant trails off as I leave. They watch me, apparently disappointed that I did not join in. #20 Alien: Zzzzz... no... not the feathers... not there... zzzzz... Though their eyes are open, this Vy'keen appears to be asleep. {Leave quietly} I move away silently. I would not want to see one of these warriors awake suddenly. {Shout} The Vy'keen jolts, but soon resumes their peaceful muttering. These warriors must sleep deeply. I wonder what they dream about?