Ibex is the Candidate of Righteousness.
In Stars Without Number he is mechanically the Seductress.
Appearance
Ibex is a dark-skinned black man. His face cast is CEO Tristan Walker. He typically wears a buttonless suit which has been compared to that of the Illusive Man from Mass Effect. As a point of pride, he keeps himself well put together at all times. He appears fairly youthful, but is actually the oldest Candidate in the sector by the beginning of COUNTER/Weight.[1]
In "A Splintered Branch, A Ringing Bell Pt. 1" he now walks with a cane.[2]
Personality
“
Ibex is could probably be the best kisser in the Golden Branch, but because he wants to be #1 so badly he'll only ever be #2”
Ibex is very confident and forward-thinking. He's good at seeming to do what is necessary, and at using people in a way they find gratifying rather than offensive (though he does also manage to be offensive). His self-assuredness comes off as charming to some, and violently aggravating to others.
History and Involvement
Regardless of whether it's true, Ibex thinks of himself as having come "from nothing".[3]
For a time he and his then-partner Maryland September rejected the Autonomous Diaspora. Together they helped found the September Institute in the wake of Service leaving September. After uncovering the remains of an Apostolosian mech there, they appropriated its technology to create anti-Divine projects, including Voice, and launched research into the nature of Strati.
A few years before the Golden War began in earnest,[4] Ibex left Maryland and became the Candidate of Righteousness. Towards the end of the Golden War, he joined the Kingdom despite no one wanting him there. He was eventually forced out onto Vox, and spent the next ten years building a power base on the planet for the Liberty and Discovery Automaticorps.
After some point after becoming a Candidate, Ibex aided the September Stratus program by giving them either Righteousness or a portion of its code to use to develop artificial Strati. He subsequently deferred any direct involvement in the running of the September Institute to Twelfth and a small paramilitary group he created to oversee operations.
Ibex also eventually created a series of lifelike robotic facsimiles of himself. With the aid of Righteousness, he could operate them simultaneously while his original body was hidden safely in a bunker (possibly on Glimmer). He seemed to consider this a sign that he was succumbing to Righteousness's influence.
When Ibex got word of the rise of Rigour, he spent considerable political capital aiming to build coalitions to stop it. With the September Incident delaying the confrontation, the Righteous Vanguard lost momentum, angering Righteousness. Ibex decommissioned his robot bodies and handed Righteousness over to Aria Joie. He spent years in hiding, emerging only during the gala in "A Splintered Branch, A Ringing Bell Pt. 1".[2]
Relationships
Maryland
They were partners, and left their respective cultures together to live on September. After Ibex became a candidate, they split up; their relationship was still good enough after that that Maryland was willing to ask him for help with her research at the Institute.
When Ibex sends the Chime to September, he still thinks fondly of her, but Maryland has become pretty critical of him and seems resistant to any kind of nostalgia.
Orth Godlove
When they met during the Kingdom game, Ibex thoroughly manipulated Orth into giving away his power as captain. Orth was so self-effacing that Ibex compared him to a dog. At the gala in the finale, Ibex asks Orth to ensure he is remembered as Attar Rose and not only as Ibex.[2]
Liberty and Discovery
Ibex, Liberty and Discovery became friends after his ascension to candidacy. Ibex confided in them and listened to their advice. He was aware of their decision to change bodies; he messages them right away when they came back online.[5] Despite that they had unknowingly killed Jerboa, he is glad to see them again.
Righteousness
Aria Joie
Jerboa
Kobus
Quotes
“
People like you starve to death, eventually. Because you’re so alone. Because no one wants to be near you. People like me would starve to death, except we move towards new people all the time.”