Cueddhaest

The Cueddhaest are one of the Aliens in The Long Journey Home. They are beings of pure energy which inhabit thin shells grown on their homeplanets to interact with others. Without it a mere touch would be fatal.

Description
The Cueddhaest are energy beings that live inside of large insect-like carapaces with masks. As a species, they often appear in pairs aboard their own vessels due to an old agreement their warring factions had. They balance each other out. Unlike other races, they are already beings of polarized energy which cannot permanently die. Their energy can be released into the environment, which can allow for them to be reborn as themselves or their polar opposite. To the Cueddhaest, this process is "a nuisance".

A philosophical and wise race, the Cueddhaest now seek the same one "Truth" ever since they mended the great factional schism in the past. Cueddhaest believe that finding and using the three mythical instruments the Starfather left them, a Compass, an Astrolabe and a Sextant, can lead them to the legendary location called the Pillars of Ascension where they will ascend to the Nextplane. Their faction are still present and disagree on the nature of "the Truth", but are unified in their search for ascension.

Generally, most other races are indifferent to the Cueddhaest.

The Cueddhaest often appear as a pair, arguing about which of them should address the player. The orange Cueddhaest are Heralds of the Symbiotry of the Labyrinth and the blue are Heralds of the Second Testament. Both factions follow the same religious books, but the factions interpret them differently and put their emphasis on different parts. Even though their opinions can be quite contradicting they are united in their search for the threefold Key that opens the way through the Pillars of Ascension to the Nextplane.

In the quest The Translator, the heretics actually call themselves by names, making 'Xact' one of the rare examples of their actual language and nomenclature. 'Xact' is a dark Cueddhaest and by letting their natures take over, the Cueddhaest of the Non-Truth give a rare glimpse of the old times and don't balance each other out. The dark Cueddhaest are impulsive and vile, while the light Cueddhaest can be logical and cold. The quest offers two approaches to the same problem... getting rid of you!

There are clear hints, that the Cueddhaest are directly linked to the Cerulean Dawn. Both races are energy beings and linked by the Cerulean Crusade. The threefold Key indicates, that there is a third faction of the Cueddhaest and their stories indicate, that Cueddhaest are nothing else than the Cerulean Dawn - just working with more peaceful methods to achieve their ultimate goal of ascending to the Nextplane.

Religion
The religion of the Cueddhaest is written down in their books. The religious background stories are mainly told by the Cueddhaest at the end of each conversation. The player can buy three of their books, but is not able to get any information about the contained lore. There are five sermons, which summarize the story of the universe from the perspective of the Cueddhaest including the role of the Maylaa, %$^£, and the Cerulean Dawn.
 * Book of the Crusade:
 * From Darkness into Light are Cueddhaest born, and to darkness from light is it out destiny to fade and be reborn. As we shine, it is our task and privilege to illuminate Starfather's veins. To bring truth to the Labyrinth of Stars. Yet over time, the candles of heaven expired. From the dark places came the dragons that were death and war and entropy, against whom only the Truth could stand, yet in Non Truth did we find ourselves. The Elders spoke. This state of affairs could not continue. The Great Crusade was called, to venture forth into the Labyrinth of Stars and discover the threefold Key that would open the way through the Pillars of Ascension.


 * Book of the Dawn:
 * The way of the Cueddhaest has always been the way of disharmony and schism, as Starfather decreed upon our creation. None but Starmother and Starfather can know the whole Truth, yet to be lesser is to be part of the Non Truth. So were our factions always separated, that the search for Truth never end, and vigilance against Non Truth be rendered as sacred as its purification. Yet over time, the power of Truth and Non-Truth wavered. Factions of Cueddhaest belief swelled and became dominant; their Non Truth too now taken for Truth. All others were silenced. All other believers were cast to the dark places, to be left behind once the Cerulean Crusade for the Pillars of Ascension began. Which is where the trouble really started.


 * Book of Fallen Candles:
 * The self-proclaimed greatest and wisest of us formed the Crusade. The Amarinth. The Consecrant. The Heralds of the Twin Polarities. The Teneb and the Lambent. The Singers of the :Light. All united as the Dawn. The Dawn of a new era. The Dawn of prophecy. The Dawn destined to rise. The Dawn, following the path of the Truth to the Pillars of Ascension, and beyond. Leaving the rest of us behind... It has been many Great Cycles. We have grown since then. We have reformed. Matured. We have found our own Truth in the darkness. Now we are finally ready to follow the Path. To bring the Light. Find the Threefold Key. Go beyond the Pillars.


 * Book of the Second Schism:
 * In the wake of the Cerulean Crusade, those Cueddhaest left behind felt to conflict. Truth against Truth. Non-Truth against Non-Truth. Cycle unto Cycle. Cycle unto Great Cycle. Great Cycle unto Great Cycle, for it is not Cueddhaest nature to be destroyed. Cueddhaest energy dissipates. Energy cycles through Starfather's veins. Cueddhaest soul reforms once again to take up old arms. War continues. In retrospect, it was a very pointless war... Finally, we noticed. The Candles of Heaven, all extinguished. We were alone. Just Cueddhaest in the endless silence of the dark places. Finally tried talking. Had tried everything else. So was founded the Covenant of the New Dawn. Every Cueddhaest faction twinned together. Every Cueddhaest pairbonded. No longer could any claim clear ownership of Truth. Nor could any be surely decryed as being of the Non-Truth. No more war. No more skirmishes. But also, no Starfather. No Starmother. Not even the Labyrinth of Stars. Only the darkness. So was it finally declared time. To reforge as the Crusade of the Second Dawn. To fulfill Starfather's prophecy. To follow the Path of the Old Dawn to the Pillars of Ascension and ascend unto the Nextplane.


 * Book of the Final Dawn:
 * Starfather had given the primal Cueddhaest more than the spark of life. He gave them the Truth, that the path to the Pillars of Ascension was not one that could be walked alone. To that end, he broke the Key to the Pillars of Ascension into three parts, for three was the number, and the most appropriate number. First of the three parts was the Astrolabe, to guide our souls. The Compass, to guide our hearts. Finally, the Sextant, to guide our bodies. Once united, they would show the path to where the Pillars of Ascension would finally open. The Nextplane beckons us, to join those who came before. Starfather be praised. Starmother be praised.

Interactions
Cueddhaest invite the player to listen to one of their five sermons, whenever the conversation is finished. Listening to them all unlocks the "THERE MAY BE A TEST LATER" achievement. Declining decreases the respect. Insulting the Cueddhaest makes them insulting humans in various ways. Insulting a friendly alien race or praising an enemy alien race decreases the respect. Cueddhaest Heralds give away The Book of Fallen Candles or The Book of the Second Testament as a gift. Reading them can start the Tomb Raider quest. Active weapons decrease the respect.

Ask
Work - Adds the Cueddhaest Shell topic

Work (Herald) - Talks about the three holy items and the ascendance to the nextplane.

Work (Templar) - They will ask for a donation of 100

Cueddhaest Shell (planet) - Adds 2-4 Cueddhaest Shells

Reeve Supplies (gate/starport) - Adds Reeve supplies

Wanted Criminal - Adds location

Talk
Mizzurani - Adds evidence during the Chemtrails in the Sky quest.

Tchansu - Talking about it twice decreases the respect

Show
Arecibo Beacon - Increases respect

Cueddhaest - 50-100 & increases respect

Cueddhaest Shell (gate/starport) - Exchanged for 150 per pair. Single Cueddhaest Shells are not accepted.

Maylaa item (herald)- exchanged for increased respect

Maylaa item (templar)- exchanged for EM Tank

Mysterious Carcass - Adds clue during The Investigation quest

Xaquindi Samples (herald) - Exchanged for Xaquindi Ointment

Praise
Cueddhaest - They will ask for a donation of 100

Trade
Gates always only pay 75% of normal merchants but also sell equipment and medicine for 75% of their normal price.

All purchases have an increased price of 10% so that each decision counts and reselling in the same system comes at a loss.

In rogue mode all the prices are 75% of the ones in story or adventure mode.

Cueddhaest pay:
 * 200% for krypton (80)
 * 150% for gases
 * 50% for metals
 * 150% for relics & Tchansu artifacts
 * 150% for Maylaa artifacts
 * 0% for technical devices (except Maylaa) & Glukkt VR Erotica

Whenever they make the first offer they will always offer 80% of the real price.

Cueddhaest are the only race, that sells their prophecies: The Book of the First Dawn, The Book of the Second Testament and The Book of Fallen Candles.

Starports and ships
The starports are empty after the Cueddhaest ascend.

City
Cities on Cueddhaest planets provide the player with a merchant, the lander can be refueled and repaired, a shop offers equipment and medical items, and the shipyard sells lander modules. Cities are the place, where the Cueddhaest grow their shells. They can be delivered to Cueddhaest starports for 150per pair. They offer 2-4 shells at a time.

Gas Mining
The Cueddhaest Gas Mining offers the standard facilities of a merchant, restock and repair. The shipyard sells lander modules. The Gas Mining exclusively sells the Nanofiber Filter for 165.

Gate
Cueddhaest gates offer a shop and the full restock and repair facilities. The merchant only pays 75% of the usual prices. The shop is cheaper as well. Gate travels cost twice as much for enemies (max 300) and only half the price for friends (min 25). Once the Cueddhaest left the galaxy, the passage is for free.

Shipyard
Shipyards offer a merchant, repair, restock, and (surprise!) a shipyard for ship modules.

Starbase
Starbases offer the full set of service facilities with merchant, shop, restock and repair facilities, but the shipyard only offers civil ship modules.

Herald
A Cueddhaest Herald is a civil ship with a merchant. When first encountering the humans (after the humans met any other Cueddhaest in the game), they will give The Book of Fallen Candles or The Book of the Second Testament away for free. They will try to escape, if attacked.

Heralds have one shield all around and no weapons.

Templar
Cueddhaest Templars are the military ship of the Cueddhaest. It can perform cargo scans and when hostile, it will attack the player.

The ship has 1 dynamic cannon at the back dealing shield damage and 2 canons on each wing dealing either hull or shield damage. There is also a static cannon to the front dealing great damage with a very slow reload time. The ship can spawn two more little ships, which lay mines.

A Templar has 4 shields protecting the front, back, and the wings of the ship.

Cargo Scan
Cueddhaest Templars can start a cargo scan, when the player enters a Cueddhaest sector. The player can refuse the scan, which decreases the Cueddhaest respect. If the player agrees to the scan and the Templar finds something, he can either hand it over (increases respect), or refuse to do so, which decreases the respect and ends the conversation.

The contrabands are:
 * Glukkt VR Erotica
 * Meat
 * Drinks (including poison)
 * Jassikan artifacts
 * Illegal items
 * EM tanks

Diplomacy
Friends: Glukkt, Meorcl, Reeve, Vine Consensus, Wolphax, Subbeq

Enemies: Ilitza, Logos, Raxact, K'schar, %$^£

Friends will get offered more items in the shop and might receive a small medical item as a token of friendship.

"We are Heralds of the Cueddhaest, here to bring Truth to this dark corner of the galaxy. Admittedly, we're still fighting over which of our truths is right."

Assessment of the Entrope
(only accessible with Entrope Administrator Password on Entrope Stations)

Information gathering in progress.

WARNING: Designate matches profile AA-33432