Vaulters

The true origin of the **Vaulters** is lost even to themselves. Their history, as they teach it to their children, begins within a great, metal habitat lodged beneath the surface of Auriga. Naturally conservative and wary, the Vaulters have limited relationships with the other peoples of Auriga. By selecting one Strategic Resource as a Holy Resource , the Vaulters can use it far beyond common understanding. They can create unique unit designs and city improvements or even teleporting armies that can instantly move between cities. Defense and research are also part of their main strengths.

## Lore

*This is a time of change for the Vaulters. For countless generations they lived as loosely-federated clans in the vast underground labyrinths that riddle Auriga. Their skills in mining and crafting made them comfortable, and their study of ancient artifacts slowly unlocked the secrets of their world's past. Though their origins were lost in legends and myth, they had found peace and prosperity in the deep places of the planet.*

*Suddenly, now, the Vaulters have been forced to abandon those ancient halls. The Great Quake broke walls and ruined roads and bridges; as their towns crumbled around them they fled to the surface. Some turn for answers to the priests in the Church of the Great Orrery, others look to their leader, Zolya Ilona, First of the Bloodline. For a people deeply bound by tradition and unused to change, the surface of Auriga is a frightening place.*

*Torn between the secrets of the planet, their own traditions, and their need to survive, the Vaulters may struggle. But they will not fade, or surrender.*

## Faction Traits

### Holy Resource

This trait provides the ability to select one strategic resource to be used as a booster. This functions similarly to a luxury resource booster, in that by spending a sum of the resource, the empire will get a temporary boost; the cost and duration of this effect is the same as for luxury resource boosters. The effects are as follows:

  Glassteel
  Adamantian
  Palladian
  Mithrite
  Hyperium
+15%  on cities

During the time that the booster is in effect, the selected resource is considered the Holy Resource, and having any of the resources selected as the Holy Resource provides a number of bonuses beyond the booster effects. First, it unlocks the ability for your units to teleport between cities; so long as an army has some movement points remaining, it can teleport from any city tile in one city to any other city in the empire, so long as there is a city tile in the destination city open for them to arrive at. This ability is incredibly useful for quickly moving units around your empire, and because it is not prevented by siege, can be used to get reinforcements to a besieged city very quickly. Additionally, because all Vaulter units have the Technolover capacity, any weapons or armor they're equipped with that is made from the Holy Resource will provide a 35% greater bonus to attributes, i.e. a weapon that grants +20 attack normally will grant +27 attack if it's made from the Holy Resource.

Many of the unique city improvements also require that a Holy Resource be selected, as they will use the Holy Resource as the strategic resource cost rather than a set strategic resource. While this does increase the amount that the Holy Resource is used pretty significantly, the Holy Resource also has some bonuses to its production rate to make up for that. By default, there is a 200% increase to the production of the Holy Resource in the empire each turn during winter, but the Resource Magnetron city improvement and the Extreme Yields technology - unlocked in Chapter 7 and 8 of the Vaulters faction quest, respectively - also provide bonuses to Holy Resource production, meaning that selecting a Holy Resource can be a way to greatly increase production of that resource in the right situation.

### Teleportation Finesse

During a Dust Eclipse, the Vaulters' teleportation ability has some expanded functionality. Instead of only being able to teleport units between cities, it is now possible to teleport units - but not heroes - onto an army being lead by a hero anywhere on the map; however, there must be room in the army for the units that are to be teleported, as those units will automatically merge into the hero's army, and will not teleport if there isn't enough room.

As with normal teleportation, a Holy Resource booster must be chosen, and the units to be teleported must do so from a tile of a city you control.

## Unique Technologies

  Focus:  |  Holy Resource

  **Effects:**
+200% Holy Resource on empire

## Heroes

Note: *Base Attributes* reflect the unit's attributes before bonuses from equipment or capacities.

All Vaulter heroes are able to wield Longbows, Crossbows, and Shields as weapons.

### Quest Heroes

#### Agi Kinztak

Agi Kinztak appears leading an army in Chapter 6 of the Forgotten faction quest, and cannot be obtained by normal means in-game. Agi and the army she is leading must be defeated to complete the quest. Agi appears at Level 6 with a full set of Tier 2 Glassteel Armor, a Tier 2 Glassteel Crossbow, a Tier 2 Glassteel Shield, and a Tier 3 Iron Talisman. Because Agi only appears as an enemy and therefore cannot have her equipment changed, her listed attributes and capacities *will* include the bonuses gained from her equipment and level.

## Faction Quest

*Your legends speak of places and things that you do not see on the world of Auriga. It is time to learn more about your planet and your past and, in this way, preserve your future.*

 They call themselves Vaulters. They found me scorched and blackened in an ancient cavern that their people had long forgotten. How long had I lain in that darkness? Only the stars know, but my limbs, rusted and groaning, tell me ages must've passed. I will never forget the looks on their faces -- haunted, awestruck, but above all, fearful. The realm that they'd called home, the subterranean paths and chambers that riddled the planet, had come under attack from some cataclysmic force, had shaken and split and ruptured, decimating their numbers.
Their leader, the First of the bloodline as she is known, recognized in me something valuable, and brought me back to life in that dusty crypt. For this I will be eternally grateful. I vow to be her faithful servant until the end of days, wherever that may lead.
 Summary
 My saviors have retreated from the chaos of the subterranean realm, seeking sanctuary on Auriga's surface. Out first task is to assimilate a minor faction.
 Reward

 First of the bloodline Zolya has taken the first step in securing the Vaulter's future; a strong alliance with a local tribe has been built. Alas, my own progress in uncovering my history has not been so fruitful. My memory circuits have all but failed, and only confusing glimpses of the past cross my electronic mind. I see tormented faces, hear gargled screams, feel the slick touch of warm blood. Memories of the operations I performed? Or something darker? On my chassis is stenciled my droid class: Operation and Medical Procedures Robot... but I am certain I was known by another name. Whatever it was eludes me though.
To save myself from madness, I try not to dwell on these matters, instead focus on the plight of my new masters. The legends of their past are awakening. Far beneath the surface, in the excavations that only came to light from the subterranean quakes, they discover more and more ancient relics bearing their sigils. They yearn to unravel these mysteries -- perhaps even learn things that will grand them an advantage over the other races that stalk this great planet. First of the Bloodline Zolya discusses these things with the fire of a zealot in her eyes. I have a feeling that their story and my own will entwine.
 Summary
 For a civilization to flourish, valuable resources must be secured and borders made safe. My masters must found two Strategic Resource mines, and eliminate any invaders in their lands.
2. Our new installations have drawn the attention of roving armies. They are unlikely to leave us in peace, so it will be war...
 Reward
2. Winter Shelters

 First of the Bloodline Zolya has taken the first step in securing the Vaulter's future: a strong alliance with a local tribe has been built. Alas, my own progress in uncovering my history has not been so fruitful. My memory circuits have all but failed, and only confusing glimpses of the past cross my electronic mind. I see tormented faces, hear gargled screams, feel the slick touch of warm blood. Memories of the operations I performed? Or something darker? On my chassis is stenciled my droid class: Operation and Medical Procedures Robot... but I am certain I was known by another name. Whatever it was eludes me though.
To save myself from madness, I try not to dwell on these matters, instead focus on the plight of my new masters. The legends of their past are awakening. Far beneath the surface, in the excavations that only came to light from the subterranean quakes, they discover more and more ancient relics bearing their sigils. They yearn to unravel these mysteries - perhaps even learn things that will grant them an advantage over the other races that stalk this great planet. First of the Bloodline Zolya discusses these things with the fire of a zealot in her eyes. I have a feeling that their story and my own will entwine.
 Summary
 The changes to Auriga are not limited to the underground realm. My masters must locate ancient sites that can shed light on these natural disasters.
2. There is no such thing as too much knowledge; we must find and search the [Ruins] in the region called [Region].
3. Our search parties have drawn the attention of roving armies. They are unlikely to leave us in peace, so it will be war...
 Reward
2. Deep Diviner
3. Winter Shelters

 Opbot! My name is Opbot! The name came to me as I performed an amputation on a Vaulter fighter who was grievously injured in a recent battle. The act must've dislodged old memories. I remember living on a great ark. It was a place of light and peace and refinement.Then something terrible happened. My surgical facility was overrun with the wounded. Under flickering lights and dying power I carried out endless surgeries. Soon, the anesthetics ran low. Screams rang through the hollow space, and the blood... the blood never ended. I think something broke inside of me...
The Vaulters aren't interested in my ramblings. Their attention is on Auriga. The planet shifts and turns, but to what end is unclear. I sense unease among their ranks. Division, even. Some yearn to return to their dimly-lit underground halls, pray to the old gods, and wait out whatever calamity is befalling Auriga. First of the Bloodline Zolya has other ideas though. And fortunately, she still has the support of the majority. For now.
 Summary
 Much data has been collected regarding Auriga's changes. We can take advantage of our knowledge to protect us from the effects of the Dark Season and grow our cities.
2. Build 2 new Boroughs in your city [City].
 Reward
2. Mad Fairies Droplist, picks 1

 The source of the feeling of darkness inside me revealed itself. I killed. I, a droid built to heal people, killed. All the suffering, all the bloodshed I witnessed must have caused something in my mind to snap. I went on a murderous spree. The instruments used to ease pain became tools I used to inflict pain. Countless men and women died at my hands. Thank the gods, but somehow I was stopped, left for scrap in some abandoned place. But now I learn the worst thing. The Vaulters who saved me are the descendants of those who I murdered. In many of their faces I see the faces of those I cut to ribbons. My shame and guilt burn bright, but I do not have the strength to confess.
 Summary
 Evidence for the legendary "Argosy", a near-impregnable fortress thought only a myth, has come to light. The site must be found... and entered.
2. Search the ancient [Ruins] in [Region], using a Hero that is equipped with the Deep Diviner.
 Reward
2. Mad Fairies Droplist, picks 1

 Stalking the dimly-lit corridors of the "Argosy" has brought back all the horrors in my mind. I remember odd details - desperate hands gripping a bulkhead, a woman scrabbling to get away into a vent, staring at a bloody scalpel with gleeful fascination. The memories stun me immobile, unable to speak. My behavior has not esaped the notice of First of the Bloodline Zolya. She doesn't ask outright, but as we explore the site together she gives me plenty of chance to talk. I dissemble, afraid to tell her the truth. Our bond is weakening.
 Summary
 The "Argosy" is much more than a fortress. It is a starship. The long task of repair must begin - part of which is finding the missing parts. The stars await.
2. The leader is willing to help, but does not believe in receiving nothing in return. He requests that we return later - with 50 [Luxury Resource] and 30 [Strategic Resource].
3. The [Minor Faction] village has supported us with reinforcements. It is time to search the ruins with an army led by a Vaulter Hero.
 Reward
2. [Minor Faction] Army: 3 Units
3. Mad Fairies Droplist, picks 1

 I have told Zolya my dark shame. My mechanical limbs shook as I confessed. For a long while she stayed silent. She told me that this was a hard truth for her to hear, but better that she knew than didn't. She said she'd begun to draw away from me, but with this confession she could begin to have faith in me again. "Will it happen again?" she whispered. I told her I couldn't be certain it would not, but that I thought it unlikely. "You harm a single one of my people, and I will have you broken into a million pieces." After these words she has said nothing more on the subject, and i believe that she keeps my confession to herself. I mustn't let her down. I long to be back among the stars.
 Summary
 Rebels claiming that Zolya leads the Vaulters to annihilation have taken a city, crippling the supply of vital resources. They must be dealt with.
2. During 10 turns, stop using the Vaulters Holy Resource Boosters. Assign a Vaulter Hero with the skill [Skill] to one of your cities.
 Reward
2. Mad Fairies Droplist, picks 1

 The fighting across Auriga intensifies as the many races of the planet battle for survival. Every day more and more Vaulter wounded cross my operating table. They bleed and moan and scream, and long-forgotten feelings stalk the fringes of my mind. I do what I can to share the burden, disseminate what I know to the other vaulter medics, but they cannot match my abilities. I was built to heal, to mend, so why do I find it so hard? Even though I am a machine, I give myself downtime, but the breaks never feel long enough. Soon it will be time for my next shift, and I am afraid of what might happen, but I cannot neglect my duties. I wish whatever outcome the Vaulters are fated comes to pass soon.
 Summary
 Ancient technologies can only be revived with newfound sciences. For the “Argosy” to become spaceworthy, science investment must be prioritized.
 Reward

 The fighting across Auriga intensifies as the many races of the planet battle for survival. Every day more and more Vaulter wounded cross my operating table. They bleed and moan and scream, and long-forgotten feelings stalk the fringes of my mind. I do what I can to share the burden, disseminate what I know to the other vaulter medics, but they cannot match my abilities. I was built to heal, to mend, so why do I find it so hard? Even though I am a machine, I give myself downtime, but the breaks never feel long enough. Soon it will be time for my next shift, and I am afraid of what might happen, but I cannot neglect my duties. I wish whatever outcome the Vaulters are fated comes to pass soon.
 Summary
 A spaceworthy “Argosy” will be worth nothing without a star map. Zolya must make the necessary preparations.
 Reward

 Blood, blood, blood, everywhere blood! I close mechanical eyes yet my mind's eye remains stained red. In the silence of the night I still hear the sudden change in tone of my auto-saw as it meets a patient's bone. I cannot take much more of this! At least I have found the courage to tell Zolya of my growing impulses. Four Vaulter guards are now stationed in my theatre. They think they are there to protect me from attack, when the fact is the opposite is the truth. I can remember the peace of the endless dark, and I simply wish to be among the stars again, free.
 Summary
 Endless Necrophage attacks disrupt the launch of the "Argosy". If the Vaulters are to escape Auriga, the old enemy must be defeated once and for all.
2. Survive the Necrophage waves attacking [City], for at least the next 5 turns.
3. A final wave of this insect plague is coming: an army with a Proliferator advances on [City]. Defend your people!
 Reward
2. Mad Fairies Droplist, picks 1
3. Extreme Yields, Temple of the Earth's Core