<<set $shabr_trust to 0>>\nCHARACTER SELECT \n\nAre you:\n\n[[Scott|companion1][$ryder = "Scott"]]\n\n[[Sara|companion1][$ryder = "Sara"]]

"You should listen to your mom," you say. "She's got your best interests at heart. I know it's hard, but you're gonna live a thousand years - you've got plenty of time!" \n\nThe kid sniffs. "You're just like the rest. I'll show you!" She stomps off in a huff. \n\nYou move on to your next mission. \n\nEND\n\n[[start over|load]]

"I can't tell you how to live your life. But I can't be getting involved with krogan breeding issues. It'd be a pretty bad look for the Human Pathfinder to undermine a krogan parent." \n\nThe kid visibly sags. "I see. Thanks for listening." <<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">>Drack pats her reassuringly on the arm. "You've got spirit and guts. You'll be a great match for any warrior." <<endif>>\n\nEND\n\n[[start over|load]]\n

"Well, good luck with it all," you say. "I hope he's everything he says he is." \n\n"Thanks. It's nice not to be treated like a whelp." <<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">>She looks suspiciously at Drack, who grins. "You ARE a whelp."<<endif>>\n\nYou move on to your next mission. \n\nEND\n\n[[start over|load]]

SHABR: He has biotics, too, which is really unusual for a krogan. I know Urdnot Wrex was a powerful biotic. My kids could be warlords! \n\n<<if $companion1 is "PeeBee" or $companion2 is "PeeBee">>\nPEEBEE: Hey hey, don't get carried away. They could be academics. <<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Cora" or $companion2 is "Cora">>CORA: Don't forget that biotics isn't just about tearing spaceships in half. It comes with responsibilities. \nSHABR: Tearing spaceships in half sounds freaking AMAZING. \nCORA: ...yeah, ok, it is pretty great. <<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">>DRACK: There's nothing wrong with conventional methods. An RPG to the undercarriage will do all the lifting you need. <<endif>>\n\n[[drive some more|drive3]]

CONFIRM LOADOUT\n\nYou are <<print $ryder>>, and your squadmates are <<print $companion1>> and <<print $companion2>>. \n\n[[CONFIRM|fightpits]]\n\n[[CANCEL|load]]

You'd like some credits, but your soft heart feels for the kid... and besides, helping her out could be fun. Who doesn't love a lover? \n\n[[Take Shabr to the meeting point|drive1]]\n\n

The drive out to the meeting point is long and deserted. On the way, Shabr chats excitedly about what Thax has promised her. \n\n"He says he's got trade deals on Kadara, Voeld, and he's expanding into Eos. Not just weapons, either - appliances, tools, food and water, even clothing." \n\n<<if $companion1 is "Vetra" or $companion2 is "Vetra">>VETRA: Hmmm. I've heard the name... never met him myself, though. <<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Liam" or $companion2 is "Liam">>\nLIAM: Good, I need some new kicks.<<endif>> \n<<if $companion1 is "Jaal" or $companion2 is "Jaal">>JAAL: Does he, perhaps, sell perfumes and cosmetics? <<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">>DRACK: What sort of weapons? <<endif>>\n\n[[keep driving|drive2]]

!Krantt & Credibility\n!!A Mass Effect Andromeda writing test\n\nby [[Barbara Kerr|https://twitter.com/ms45]]\n\n[[Start game|load]]

"You ok?" you ask the young krogan. \n\n"Yeah. You're the human Pathfinder, right?" \n\n"Sure am." \n\n"I... don't know how humans work. You want to have kids, right?" \n\n[[Hell yes|kids][$kids = "yes"]]\n\n[[Hell no|kids][$kids = "no"]]\n\n[[No, but I get why you do|kids][$kids = "gen"]]\n

"You fucking LIED to me!" Shabr shouts. She puts her head down and runs at Thax, who has anticipated this exact reaction. Before anyone can move, Thax has snapped Shabr into stasis and disappeared into a waiting vehicle. \n\n"GOOD LUCK, KID!" you hear Thax yell before speeding off into the desert. \n\n[[Take Shabr home|epilogue]]\n

RYDER: I can't make this decision for you, Shabr. Whatever you decide, we got your back. \n\n<<if $shabr_trust >0>>[[Shabr decides she needs time to think|maybe]]<<else>>[[Shabr gets angry and blasts Thax|no]]\n<<endif>>\n\n\n

"That's not a lot of details," you say. "What's supposed to happen here? Do your kids stay with you here on Elaaden, or do you go live with this Thax guy, or what? Is there, I dunno, a dowry or something?"\n\n<<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">>DRACK: Usually we just take a bottle of Ryncol.<<endif>>\n\nThe young krogan pauses. "I guess I never thought of that. But I'm supposed to meet him out in Paradise Sands. It's kind of in the middle of nowhere." She looks at you directly. "Can you come with me? If he's sincere, he should pay any merc fees you have. If not... " Her voice trails off. \n\n[[Fine, I'll help|accept]]\n\n[[I better not|end3]]\n

"Well, what's stopping you?" you ask. \n\n"That's just it! I have a breeding offer! He sounds wonderful, but Kaur doesn't even want him to go through the tests. She says the Thax clan are nothing but merchants. But I'm strong! My babies will be strong like me!" \n<<if $companion1 is "Cora" or $companion2 is "Cora">>\n\nCORA: *Sounds* wonderful? Have you even met this guy?<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">>\n\nDRACK: So, make him do the tests. He passes, your mom's gotta agree. If he doesn't, ditch him.<<endif>>\n\n"Have you actually met him? What do you know about him?" you ask. \n\n"I haven't met him in person," the girl confesses. "But he wrote to me personally! He has a trading company and a decent supply of water. And he already has ten children, so he's definitely fertile."\n\n<<if $companion1 is "Vetra" or $companion2 is "Vetra">>VETRA: Yeah, sounds like a real catch.<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Liam" or $companion2 is "Liam">>LIAM: Water, huh. I'd kill for a hot shower.<<endif>>\n\n[[That's not a lot of detail...|details]]\n\n[[Listen to your mom|end1]] (MISSION REFUSED)\n\n[[Good luck|end2]] (MISSION REFUSED)\n\n\n[[start again|load]]

Krantt and Credibility

RYDER: Shabr, did Thax ever explicitly tell you he's not Krogan?\n\nSHABR: I... no, I just assumed... \n\nRYDER: And you know how Asari breed, right? That their kids are always Asari? \n\nSHABR: Yes, of course I do! I'm not stupid! \n\n<<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">>\n<<set $shabr_trust -=1>>\nDRACK: Would you have come if you'd known? \n<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Vetra" or $companion2 is "Vetra">><<if $companion1 neq "Drack" and $companion2 neq "Drack">>\nVETRA: Would you have come if you'd known? \n<<endif>><<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Cora" or $companion2 is "Cora">>\n<<if $companion1 neq "Drack" and $companion2 neq "Drack">>\n<<set $shabr_trust +=1>>\nCORA: It's difficult, but... asari family is a powerful thing. At least hear Thax out. \n<<endif>><<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "PeeBee" or $companion2 is "PeeBee">>\n<<set $shabr_trust -=1>>\nPEEBEE: So you know how Asari culture is supposed to be all diplomatic and peaceful? Lying to foreigners is a huge part of that. HUUUUGE. \n<<endif>>\n\n\n<<if visited("breeding") == 0>>[[Asari reproduction|breeding]]<<endif>>\n<<if visited("lying") == 0>>[[What else is Thax lying about?|lying]]<<endif>>\n<<if visited("more") == 0>>[[You can have more kids|more]]<<endif>>\n<<if visited("half") == 0>>[[Well, Thax IS already half krogan...|half]]<<endif>>\n\n[[Well, Shabr?|next]]

You arrive at the meeting point specified by Thax. There's some abandoned buildings, some crash debris, and those weird scourge plants. And of course, there's a bunch of scavengers hiding in the scenery. \n\nThere is a BATTLE, in which Shabr very much demonstrates her capacity for mayhem, which is abruptly brought to an end when...\n\n[[DRAMATIC CUTSCENE|asari]]

RYDER: Well, there's nothing stopping you having kids the regular way. Later, I mean. \n\n<<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">>\n<<set $shabr_trust -=1>>DRACK: It's not the same and you know it, Ryder. \n<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Vetra" or $companion2 is "Vetra">>\n<<set $shabr_trust -=1>>VETRA: That's not really the main issue here, is it.\n<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "PeeBee" or $companion2 is "PeeBee">>\nPEEBEE: If it helps, it was pretty common for krogan and asari to get it on during the... you know...\n\nSHABR: Just say the fucking genophage. \n\nPEEBEE: ...yeah, that. \n<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Cora" or $companion2 is "Cora">>\n<<set $shabr_trust +=1>>CORA: Asari take the most interesting and unique parts of your mind and body to create something completely new. I know you're angry, but you shouldn't reject this out of hand.\n<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Jaal" or $companion2 is "Jaal">>\n<<set $shabr_trust +=1>>JAAL: I have over twenty brothers and sisters from many mothers. This would be just the same. \n<<endif>>\n\nRYDER: I mean, no-one's going to refuse to make you a breeding offer because you have asari kids... are they? \n\nSHABR: I don't *think* so? \n\n\n<<if visited("breeding") == 0>>[[Asari reproduction|breeding]]<<endif>>\n<<if visited("lying") == 0>>[[What else is Thax lying about?|lying]]<<endif>>\n<<if visited("more") == 0>>[[You can have more kids|more]]<<endif>>\n<<if visited("half") == 0>>[[Well, Thax IS already half krogan...|half]]<<endif>>\n\n[[Well, Shabr?|next]]\n

SHABR: But you're- *she lowers her shotgun*\n\nTHAX: - from a long line of Krogan Asari. My lineage includes Okeere, Weyrloc, Drau and Hailot. It's a little on the thinky side, but that's not a bad thing. \n\nRYDER: That's not the deal you sold Shabr. \n\n<<if $companion1 is "Vetra" or $companion2 is "Vetra">>VETRA: Smart move. Asshole move, but smart.<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">>DRACK: Those aren't the krogan we're looking for. <<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "PeeBee" or $companion2 is "PeeBee">>PEEBEE: Yeeahhhh, that's not how that works.<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Cora" or $companion2 is "Cora">>CORA: Are you okay, Shabr?<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Jaal" or $companion2 is "Jaal">>JAAL: What is the meaning of this?<<endif>> \n<<if $companion1 is "Liam" or $companion2 is "Liam">>LIAM: We humans have a word for that. That word is "bullshit".<<endif>> \n\n[[Asari reproduction|breeding]]\n[[What else is Thax lying about?|lying]]\n[[You can have more kids|more]]\n[[Well, Thax IS already half krogan...|half]]\n

You are strolling away from the fight pits, where you have just lost a large amount of credits on a varren fight, when you overhear an agitated baritone on the verge of a headbutting. \n\n"Breeding is a privilege! Your father was selected from hundreds of specimens, and our clan didn't pour our blood and pain into making our babies the best they can be just for you to breed with a damn merchant!" \n\n"I'm 150 years old! What am I supposed to do, wait til I can say I don't have the genophage?" \n\n"You can defer to your elders and betters! We have traditions for a reason!" \n\nWhen you turn around, you see the smaller krogan headbutting the larger one. They scuffle, and the larger krogan returns the headbutt and leaves in a huff. \n\n<<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">>DRACK: It's probably a stupid reason.<<endif>> \n\n[[talk to the smaller krogan|talkshabr]]\n\n[[start again|load]]

SHABR: The only thing that seemed a little weird was that he seemed to think he'd be raising our children. Krogan babies are raised in women's clans... but I guess now we've got our own colonies, everything's different. \n\n<<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">>\nDRACK: In my day, you had to EARN the right to be a father! You had to show how you'd instruct your kid in the krogan arts! Leadership! Weapons handling! Courage under fire!\nSHABR: Chugging a barrel of ryncol in under 30 seconds! \nDRACK: Exactly! <<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Vetra" or $companion2 is "Vetra">>VETRA: Some people would be grateful that their father wasn't a complete drifter.<<endif>> \n<<if $companion1 is "Jaal" or $companion2 is "Jaal">>JAAL: Your children are raised only by women? That seems... odd. <<endif>>\n\n[[arrive at the meeting point|meeting]]

RYDER: Well, Thax *is* already half krogan...\n\n<<if $companion1 is "Cora" or $companion2 is "Cora">>\n<<set $shabr_trust +=1>>CORA: If Thax is telling the truth, those are some impressive Krogan genes... could you be ok with that? \n<<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">>DRACK: *If*.<<endif>>\n<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">><<set $shabr_trust -=1>>DRACK: Great. An Asari descended from a mad scientist, a traitor and a bureaucrat.<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Vetra" or $companion2 is "Vetra">><<set $shabr_trust -=1>>VETRA: I'm more concerned about Thax's parenting qualities. So far, it looks pretty bad.<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Jaal" or $companion2 is "Jaal">><<set $shabr_trust +=1>>JAAL: Your children will be their own, unique selves. That is the most important thing.<<endif>>\n\n\n<<if visited("breeding") == 0>>[[Asari reproduction|breeding]]<<endif>>\n<<if visited("lying") == 0>>[[What else is Thax lying about?|lying]]<<endif>>\n<<if visited("more") == 0>>[[You can have more kids|more]]<<endif>>\n<<if visited("half") == 0>>[[Well, Thax IS already half krogan...|half]]<<endif>>\n\n[[Well, Shabr?|next]]

Later, you meet Shabr and Nakmor Kaur at the bar in New Tuchanka. \n\n"How's everything going?" you ask, cautiously. \n\nShabr gulps her ryncol. "Not bad," she says. \n\n<<if $shabr_accept == 1>>\n"She's still obsessed with this Thax asshole," grumbles Kaur. \n\n"It's somewhere to start. And we still need water," argues Shabr. \n\n"Did Thax at least apologise?" you ask. Kaur snorts. \n\n"Yeah," says Shabr. "Even offered to move to Elaaden. That could get a bit weird." \n\n"You have hundreds of perfectly good Krogan to choose from here!" interrupts Kaur. \n\n"I also have hundreds of Asari cousins! Not to mention that you were only 180 when you had me..." \n\nYou leave them to their argument. \n\nEND. \n<<else>>\n"My girl has learned some hard lessons," says Kaur. "Like knowing when something's too good to be true. And when your elders aren't just being assholes for the fun of it." \n\nShabr sighs. "I was just so excited!" \n\nKaur pats the younger krogan's shoulder. "I know. But you can do better. And you will." \n\nEND\n<<endif>>\n\n\nIf you enjoyed this quest, contact [[[email protected]!|mailto:[email protected]]] \n\n

"Whoa, that's a bit personal. I don't even know you." \n\nThe krogan blinks. "I'm Nakmor Shabr. Do you want to have kids or not?" \n\n<<if $kids is "yes">>"Well, yeah," you sympathise. "As soon as I'm sure our settlements are viable, I'm right on the breeding train." \n\n"You get it!" she says, stomping the ground and smashing her fists together.<<endif>><<if $kids is "no">>"Not really. Why?" \n\n"I guess humans don't have as many problems breeding as we do," she says, sadly.<<endif>><<if $kids is "gen">>"Not for myself, but the krogan have got some making up to do." \n\n"You get it!" she says, stomping the ground and smashing her fists together.<<endif>>\n\n"Nakmor Kaur thinks I should get all sorts of proof and references and endless meetings, but who has time for that? I wanna start having babies!"\n\n<<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">>DRACK: You got spirit, kid.<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Vetra" or $companion2 is "Vetra">>VETRA: She's just trying to look out for you.<<endif>>\n\n[["Well, what's stopping you?"|babies]]\n\n

Who is your first squadmate? \n\n[[Cora|companion2][$companion1 = "Cora"]]\n\n[[Liam|companion2][$companion1 = "Liam"]]\n\n[[PeeBee|companion2][$companion1 = "PeeBee"]]\n\n[[Jaal|companion2][$companion1 = "Jaal"]]\n\n[[Drack|companion2][$companion1 = "Drack"]]\n\n[[Vetra|companion2][$companion1 = "Vetra"]]\n\n

And who is the second squadmate? \n\n<<if $companion1 neq "Cora">>[[Cora|mission][$companion2 = "Cora"]]<<endif>>\n\n<<if $companion1 neq "Liam">>[[Liam|mission][$companion2 = "Liam"]]<<endif>>\n\n<<if $companion1 neq "PeeBee">>[[PeeBee|mission][$companion2 = "PeeBee"]]<<endif>>\n\n<<if $companion1 neq "Jaal">>[[Jaal|mission][$companion2 = "Jaal"]]<<endif>>\n\n<<if $companion1 neq "Drack">>[[Drack|mission][$companion2 = "Drack"]]<<endif>>\n\n<<if $companion1 neq "Vetra">>[[Vetra|mission][$companion2 = "Vetra"]]<<endif>>

...a huge explosion knocks you and your team on your butts. When you creak to a standing position, you see a black-clad asari holding up a biotic barrier that protects Shabr. \n\nSHABR: Who are you? Where's Thax?!\n\nASARI: Who are they? We were expecting a krogan, not a krantt. \n\nSHABR: These are my friends. I don't know who those assholes are. *waves at scavenger corpses*\n\nASARI: Your friends? Not your family?\n\nSHABR: My clan decided to be total butts. I came with some *unbiased* observers. \n\nRYDER: We came along in case Mr Thax was too good to be true. \n\nASARI: It's fine. I'm Thax. \n\n[[wait what??|thax]]

<<set $shabr_accept to 1>>\nShabr looks at Thax, at you, at your companions. Her fingers flex on her shotgun, and for a second you're mentally prepared for battle. \n\nInstead, Shabr sighs and lowers her gun. "This is... a lot. I need time to think." \n\nThax smiles and nods. "I wouldn't expect anything less. Talk to your clan. Ask them what they need. I'm very confident that this will be a good decision for you." \n\nShabr gives the asari a dirty look and replies "No more crap from you, either. Keep lying to me and you won't even be able to have your own babies." \n\n"Take all the time you need." \n\nThax hops into a ridiculously sophisticated vehicle and speeds off, flashing its lights at you as it disappears into the horizon. \n\n[[Take Shabr home|epilogue]]

Barbara Kerr @ms45

RYDER: You didn't exactly lie, but you've hardly been honest. Do you even have any trading networks? \n\n<<if $companion1 is "Liam" or $companion2 is "Liam">>\nLIAM: Scrap that's fallen off the back of a truck doesn't count.<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Vetra" or $companion2 is "Vetra">>\nVETRA: It's sure not hard to fake. <<endif>>\n\nTHAX: I didn't tell a single lie in my emails. Why don't you nip down to the shops and buy yourself something nice? It probably came from me. \n\n<<if $companion1 is "PeeBee" or $companion2 is "PeeBee">>\nPEEBEE: Can you order a conscience? \n<<endif>>\n<<if $companion1 is "Drack" or $companion2 is "Drack">>\nDRACK: How about I order a rocket up your ass?<<endif>>\n\n\n<<if visited("breeding") == 0>>[[Asari reproduction|breeding]]<<endif>>\n<<if visited("lying") == 0>>[[What else is Thax lying about?|lying]]<<endif>>\n<<if visited("more") == 0>>[[You can have more kids|more]]<<endif>>\n<<if visited("half") == 0>>[[Well, Thax IS already half krogan...|half]]<<endif>>\n\n[[Well, Shabr?|next]]