Gives You Teeth

Come on, let's talk to this Tassos fellow.

Tassos

This area's normally off-limits, but Cahciua's told us about you.

Just follow the corridor, and head into the room at the end.

Let's go, Forename. Whatever happens, you won't catch me being surprised!

When I go on the attack, do you think I'm pushing forward too quickly?

A little. Try to keep closer to the rest of us so you don't get surrounded.

This place was originally designed by a Preservation engineer. That's why it's wall-to-wall with contraptions.

...Better you than me.

Gulool Ja

...!

Sorry ye had to see me passions spillin' over. Happens when ye put yer heart an' soul into yer craft, ye know?

An' not to be weird or nothin', but I felt a sense o' kinship when I saw ye. As if we've met in another life...

Anyroad! As I was sayin', I need someone to lend me a hand.

I haven't slept fer two nights now—not a single wink—an' I'm ripe to collapse.

Can't afford to, though—got folks relyin' on me, see. But if I'm to keep at it, I need ye to fetch me my favorite energy tonic.

That voucher's good fer two cans—one fer yerself by way o' welcome.

Can't get the stuff at any old vendin' machine, though. Ye need to talk to a bloke named Philomon. You'll find him tendin' a bar out on the main strip. Off ye go, now!

Gah, damn it all! It's such a fine-looking beauty in the blueprint—why doesn't mine look like that!?

Philomon

Welcome. What are you having?

Energy tonics you can't get from vending machines!? How dare you suggest that I sell such dangerous stuff!

Away with you! Away with you, and don't come back!

...Ahem. Got a voucher? Slip it to me, then. Nice and subtle.

Ah, so you're collecting for Genolt. A can for him and a can for you, eh?

Here you go. Yours is formulated for beginners. Gentler than the full-strength stuff.

It's not contraband or anything, so you won't run afoul of the authorities. But if the Rhodina Consortium was made aware of my special selection, it'd be bad for business.

Now, seeing as it's your first time, I want you to drink your tonic here. Just in case there're side effects.

Bottoms up, now. Need to make sure it doesn't affect you in any unintended ways.

Philomon requires that you drink the tonic in front of him, presumably so he can render aid should something go awry...

You drain the tonic in a single pull!

Philomon

Heh, now that's how you do it!

Your pulse ought to quicken soon, after which you'll start to see everything more clearly. And then, finally, you'll feel a roaring surge of energy.

People say it's like growing a pair of rainbow wings!

Well, you haven't up and carked it, so hurry along and give Genolt his tonic. He tends to leave it to the last moment, and I expect he's about to keel over.

We're learning about regulators at the moment! How's your errand coming along?

What do you think of the crew here? An interesting bunch, right? I personally recruited Genolt and Shale, by the way.

Is it just me, or are there rainbows in your eyes?

Nary a moment goes by without Genolt moaning and grunting. I presume it's how he expresses his passion for his work.

Ye've got the tonic? Give it here, quick!

Ahhhhhh, that's the stuff! Ain't nothin' like it to blow the cobwebs right out—with a great big kaboom!

Awakens something feral in me, it does. Transforms me into a remorseless beast what won't stop till it's done what it was born to do!

Anyroad, sorry for sendin' ye off on an' errand like that. I just can't concentrate without me tonic, ye know? An' the pile o' work only ever gets bigger.

Speakin' o' which, I better get back to it! Those weapons an' tools ain't goin' to enhance themselves!

Ahahaha! It begins! Mine's the clarity, mine's the precision!

Cutscene 1

Start of voiced cutscene.

Wonderful, they're here.

We've only just arrived ourselves.

Amazing...

I bid you welcome to the Backroom, Oblivion's humble headquarters.

A hideout tucked behind a drinking hole... Brings back memories, doesn't it?

Our members here are mainly creators and adapters—that is, scientists and engineers who specialize in electrope.

They use their skills to provide support to our field operatives.

Genolt, Shale—be so kind as to give our friends an overview of your duties.

Well, there's provisionin'. Got to have supplies to fight the good fight, ain't ya? Luckily, we've got the tools to craft most of what we need.

Gathering intelligence is another vital aspect of our work. Everkeep's core system is a veritable treasure trove of information. You just need to know how to get in and find it.

We also handle surveillance and communications—watching the enemy's movements and coordinating our own, that sort of thing.

And among all our activities, we spend a fair bit of effort investigating Preservation.

The organization credited with laying the foundations of electrope technology.

From the soul management system to Everkeep's design, they're behind just about everything you see here. It'd be no exaggeration to say they made this realm what it is.

But their magnum opus was without a doubt the power which was used to join Alexandria to Tural: interdimensional fusion.

G'raha Tia

Said power isn't unlike my summoning technique and the magick within Azem's crystal.

Yet though the effect is localized, to be able to fuse realities... Even with my knowledge, I struggle to conceive how it could be possible!

Incidentally, the founders of our group—a husband and wife—were members of Preservation at one point.

But they opposed the fusing of worlds, and so defected in order to prevent it.

While not entirely unexpected given what we have seen, this is still quite the revelation...

By the by, that's an interesting earring you have there. A novel way of carrying a data storage device.

Oh, you didn't know?

As a precautionary measure against machine infiltration, we scan everyone as they enter. And when we scanned you, we detected a small quantity of electrope.

Though it's been dressed up, that earring is a storage device, and no mistake. Bought it from a shop here, did you?

No, it—it isn't bought, but...inherited.

So these people sent you through the portal along with the earring...

Do you know aught of them?

Listen, Krile. The husband and wife who founded our order...

It's believed that they were Milalla.

Though we have no evidence at present, we can't rule out the possibility that they were your parents, or perhaps close relations.

This I posit because they were the very individuals who spearheaded the research into interdimensional fusion. As traitors to Preservation, they were relentlessly pursued.

If they had a child they feared they couldn't keep safe, entrusting her to the people of another world might've been their best option.

My parents...the founders of Oblivion?

Tell me everything you know about them! No matter how small or seemingly insignificant—anything and everything!

We don't even know their names, I'm afraid. In a bid to elude Preservation's agents, we suspect they erased all trace of themselves.

I'm sorry we couldn't be of more help. If you're interested, though, you're welcome to review our accumulated data.

Yes, please! As an individual and member of my order both, I wish to learn as much as possible.

G'raha Tia

I should also like to peruse the data. Where the joining of realities is concerned, I may well be of service.

Of course. Feel free to peruse to your heart's content.

Thank you!

If you like, I can examine your earring. I have to say, the prospect that it belonged to our founders has me itching to take a look.

I daresay we have enough eyes to pore over your records. Is there any other way we might be productive?

Hmmm... Not right now. We're still waiting for Zoraal Ja to make the next move.

In that case, Alisaie, would you mind accompanying me?

Gladly.

[FRUSTRATED CRY “Arrrgh”]

I buggered it up again!

<sigh> Never a moment's peace... Pay him no mind. I don't.

Oi, you two there. One o' ye give me a hand, would ye? Don't matter who.

...I just remembered I have matters to discuss with Shale.

[IMPISH GIGGLE “Hehe”]

End of cutscene.

Cutscene 2

Start of voiced cutscene.

I've been meaning to ask about that Mamool Ja child. Could he be...?

Yes. In all likelihood, he's Zoraal Ja's son.

So you think so too...

But what is he doing here?

He was abandoned, the poor dear. We found him in the driftdowns a few years ago.

To think he'd cast aside his child...

We can't say for certain who he was born to or why he was on his own. But he's a blue-scaled Hoobigo, and Zoraal Ja is the only other one around.

That being the case, everyone assumes they're father and son. Even the boy has put two and two together.

This all happened when he was very little, so he has no recollection of his parents. It breaks my heart to think of it...

What's his name?

Gulool Ja.

It was my hope that he'd grow up to be a man of principle, like his grandfather.

[APPROVING CHUCKLE “Hm”]

It's a fine name.

Ah, I should mention that the boy is a little unusual.

At first, I intended to raise him as my own. But just when I thought he was warming to me, he suddenly disappeared.

We searched high and low for several days, and where should he turn up but in the wilds near Everkeep.

What? It's a miracle he didn't fall prey to fiends!

See, that's another unusual thing. Creatures don't seem to attack him. He could pick his way through the Thunderyards as if he were on a stroll.

On making inquiries, we learned that he had been living alone and receiving food from the people of the outskirts.

This became something of a pattern. We'd track him down and bring him back, only for him to disappear again within a matter of days.

He would return to the wilds, without fail, and once again rely on the kindness of strangers to survive.

Finally, I took the hint and left him be, giving him the solitude he prefers and lending a hand only when he explicitly asks.

If Gulool Ja is Zoraal Ja's child, that makes him my nephew.

Assuming he's willing, I'd be glad to take him in like Papa did for me.

But seeing as I'm here to kill his father, I don't know if it would be right...

Who was that?

Oh dear... It's Gulool Ja.

Don't tell me he heard everything!?

This is my fault. I asked that he be kept away, but I should've taken more precautions...

I'm going after him. I need to explain!

Wait, Lamaty'i. I understand your haste, but it'd be best to coordinate a search.

Cahciua, do you have any idea where he might go?

There's no telling, I'm afraid. He could as easily be outside the tower as here in Solution Nine.

If those who can fight would search below, my mother and I will scour the district.