Gaia is Great! Definitive Edition.

Update: Chapter 4 is here, with voice acting throughout its additions and even more atmospheric horror! Notice a bug or missing voice lines at the start and end of Part 4? Please leave a comment on one of the Youtube videos so I can fix it.

Introduction:

Upon the Exodus from Earth, the Cult of Gaia was forgotten. Memories of what they stood for have predominantly been lost to time. You are drawn by forces unknown on entering Cydonia. You won't like how this story ends.

What It Does:

This mod adds a quest guiding you toward relics of an ancient cult. It rewards exploration of the Universe (and Earth) while learning the history of this cult through notes and items that introduce benefits and dangers (detailed below). A number of random events can happen when one has the items equipped or uses them.  For questions, please refer to the FAQ section. If you do not find your answer there, please leave a comment on one of the YouTube videos for the mod (in the Media tab and below). I will get back to you promptly.

Installation:

New Installation: You can install this mod on Creation Club (or Nexus Mods). Updated Installation: Same installation method. Unequip, then equip the items given at the end of each chapter to start the next stage. Or use the Bolt.

Getting Started:

The quest will be activated automatically while progressing through the Main Quest. Forces will call to you on first entering Cydonia.

Equipment Benefits (and Dangers):

Ashes with Melted Ring: On equipping the item, your character gains 5% increased weapon damage while losing 5 armor class for each helmet/armor equipped, contingent on the character not being in a committed relationship. Every time the player changes locations, there is a 0.5% chance that a Memory will appear to attempt to destroy the player, which drops lore on death. This chance increases as one gets closer to their companions, ultimately becoming zero on entering a committed relationship.

Robes of Gaia: Equipping the item gives a 10% chance of turning non-essential enemies who strike the player into a memory of Earth, with a 3% chance of summoning a fearsome creature to lay waste to all beings. It will only survive for 30 seconds before its essence is drained. The creature will be hostile to the wearer as well. After activation, the forces channeled by the armor require 30 seconds to return to equilibrium. If the forces are insufficient to transform or attempt the destruction of those who strike the wearer, remnants of Earth are still summoned. If a blasphemer is known to be essential for the wearer's journey and set to be destroyed, the striker will be brought closer to Earth and stricken with fear.

Scorched Hydraulic Bolt: Using this aid item will return you to your home (your active ship). If you then use it on your ship, you will be reminded of what you have lost and brought to a dark place. Your memories may become overwhelming when conducting such reflection on your ship, carrying forward feelings of regret, rage, and pain.

Cultist Tea: Using this aid item will provide several bonuses, while also making you briefly oblivious to the chaos that exists outside yourself. Though beware that time will move much faster during this peace, and your meditation will be observed. To find more and revel in its mercies, visit new planets or return to the dark place using the bolt as you may find more in a new location there. 

Gaia Tokens and Gaia's Seeds: The purpose of the collectibles is unknown to your character at this time. Perhaps you will discover their meaning in a future release.

Requirements:

This mod does not require any outside mods, including the Script Extender, and it does not require Shattered Space or Terran Armada.

Future Plans: (IN PROGRESS) Make a quest line that tells a story of this forgotten Cult of Gaia.

Support Me:

Follow my YouTube channel here, where I make modding tutorials. https://www.youtube.com/@ImADoctorNotA Support me on KoFi while I have less time to consistently make content: https://ko-fi.com/imadoctornota Join my Patreon for updates here. https://www.patreon.com/c/ImADoctorNotA

FAQ:

Q: What do I do if I notice a bug or have questions? A: Please leave a comment on one of the Youtube videos I have included with this mod. Nexus does not provide email notifications.

Q: Where is the story? A: There is a more concrete story in the notes that are quest items. A more subtle story comes in items that the Memory carries and quest objectives. My goal was to create atmosphere, so you'll get more from this mod if you try to read between the lines and make it your own. 

Q: Does this mod have any conflicts with others? A: It should not. Everything added through this mod is a new entry. While it modifies some existing game entries (such as the Player object), it adds new scripts that should not conflict with existing or other mods' elements.

Q: I am in Neon (or another location), and the quest marker points towards an elevator I can't use? A: The floor you cannot access belongs to an NPC. Perhaps there is a way to get the key.

Q: A blasphemer initially forgot about me on equipping the robes, then soon attacked me again. What is happening? A: Gaia can make an enemy forget about you, but your enemy will not forget about your bounty or their nature, if they generally attack anyone that is not them.

Q: A key enemy was turned into a plant and I did not get their loot. What do I do? A: Progress to the end of the quest's Part 3. You will find them.

Q: I already picked up the Bayu key before this quest, and I cannot progress? A: Please refer to this video to pick up another to trigger progression: https://youtu.be/yj2py4n-ido.

Q: I played the prior release of GiG, and now I no longer have any of my progress? A: To make the mod more stable with additional releases, I have converted this to a full master, rather than a small master, which necessitates a fresh save or going through the Unity. I sadly could not find any alternatives to this necessary change. If you want to jump right into part 4, you can CoC into the Recovery Room or use the bolt that I have placed in the Lodge basement (find it here: https://youtu.be/wesUArCX4s4).

Q: I reached Part 4 and all it tells me is that I need to get more involved with the Crimson Fleet? A: Proceed through the Crimson Fleet questline to get the necessary quest book and book opening up another Earth location.

Acknowledgements:

phinix: Provided guidance on playing and stopping Wwise sounds in scripting. ZeeOgre: Provided a script to produce Xbox archive files.les.