NPCYou hear someone delicately clearing their throat. The source of this sound turns out to be the Administratum clerk you saw next to Chaplain. His clothes are neat and impeccably pressed. His face, however, reveals extreme nervousness bordering on fear. "My good Master/Mistress Fidelio! I do hope you're satisfied with the services provided by our establishment?"
NPCHe leans in a little closer and whispers, "I beg of you... help me! But please keep your voice down, we can't let anyone hear us... It's a matter of life and death!"
YOU"What's the matter?"
NPCThe clerk wipes the sweat from his brow nervously. "Please understand, it's very difficult to get by on Footfall with my wages! And Imperial regulation 4030/8L 'On Postmortal Service Workers on Peripheral Worlds' directly prohibits the chief operator of the crematorium from leaving their workplace for any reason other than sleep, food, severe illness, and ministration of sacraments."
NPC"Therefore, I am forced — practically forced! — to look for other sources of income that allow me to stay within the walls of this here establishment. I've set up a little, shall we say, enterprise — I replace the implants of the deceased with identical replicas and sell them to the right people when I have a shipment ready."
NPC"I had just prepared the newest batch of superb, unique implants of the highest quality. But I got careless! I used my first sick leave in four standard years! And it was on that very day that Master Bellardo passed away, and his family was quick to organise a ceremony in our crematorium... I simply didn't have time to prepare. And now my container full of goods — it's in the furnace, and if you don't help me, they're going to burn it any minute!"
YOU"What's the matter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait, so you hid valuables in the crematorium's furnace?"
NPC"I've been hiding them there for ten years now, and quite successfully, I might add! Only the richest citizens can afford the services of a crematorium, and, sadly, they don't die all that often. Usually I sell the goods before the next body arrives. But I got unlucky this time. Help me, I beg of you!"
YOU"What's the matter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait, so you hid valuables in the crematorium's furnace?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you need from me and what are you offering in return?"
NPC"While there's still time, could you please get to the furnace and pull the container with implants out of there? We'll split the goods fifty-fifty, you can even have first pick! Just please, hurry! They'll soon be putting the coffin with old Bellardo where it belongs, and then... poof! It will be reduced to ash, and my priceless augmetics along with it!"
YOU"What's the matter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait, so you hid valuables in the crematorium's furnace?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you need from me and what are you offering in return?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you decide to ask me specifically for help?"
NPC"There's no one else to turn to!" The clerk exclaims in dismay. "All the guests here are scoundrels, murderers, or crooks — or all three at once! I was going to send in a servitor, but only personal servitors of House Bellardo are allowed into the courtyard today, and I don't have their access codes. You're all I have left! And I can tell you're an upstanding individual... with a most noble countenance, too! The moment I saw you, I knew — he/she is the one who will save me!"
YOU"What's the matter?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait, so you hid valuables in the crematorium's furnace?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you need from me and what are you offering in return?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you decide to ask me specifically for help?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will help you on the following condition. You see, I am — most definitely — Master/Mistress Fidelio. I'm afraid I've misplaced some of my documents. If you make me a copy of everything you can find in the archives that has my name on it — you'll get your contraband."
NPC"Of course... of course, will do! You'll be most pleased with the results! Just help me, for Throne's sake..."
NPC"Throne preserve you! Make it look like you're just having a look around — it's a lot easier for you to wander into a restricted area without arousing suspicion than it is for me. Find the container — it's in the far corner — get out and come back to me! I'll be waiting!"
end of branch
YOU"I'll help if I can."
NPC"Throne preserve you! Make it look like you're just having a look around — it's a lot easier for you to wander into a restricted area without arousing suspicion than it is for me. Find the container — it's in the far corner — get out and come back to me! I'll be waiting!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to have any part in this."
NPC"Such a shame, such a terrible shame... but if you change your mind — just pop into the furnace and get the container out. It's in the far corner, you can't miss it!"
end of branch
YOU"I will help you on the following condition. You see, I am — most definitely — Master/Mistress Fidelio. I'm afraid I've misplaced some of my documents. If you make me a copy of everything you can find in the archives that has my name on it — you'll get your contraband."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'll help if I can."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to have any part in this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you decide to ask me specifically for help?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will help you on the following condition. You see, I am — most definitely — Master/Mistress Fidelio. I'm afraid I've misplaced some of my documents. If you make me a copy of everything you can find in the archives that has my name on it — you'll get your contraband."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'll help if I can."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to have any part in this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you need from me and what are you offering in return?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you decide to ask me specifically for help?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will help you on the following condition. You see, I am — most definitely — Master/Mistress Fidelio. I'm afraid I've misplaced some of my documents. If you make me a copy of everything you can find in the archives that has my name on it — you'll get your contraband."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'll help if I can."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to have any part in this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Wait, so you hid valuables in the crematorium's furnace?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What do you need from me and what are you offering in return?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why did you decide to ask me specifically for help?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will help you on the following condition. You see, I am — most definitely — Master/Mistress Fidelio. I'm afraid I've misplaced some of my documents. If you make me a copy of everything you can find in the archives that has my name on it — you'll get your contraband."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I'll help if I can."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I refuse to have any part in this."continues where this line first appears above