The FINAL update of Act I. Gather round as we plunge head-first into this dramatically gripping ending to the first chapter of this phantasmagoric magnum opus of Obsidian Entertainment. Seeing as I cut off last time in the middle of some conversations, we'll continue from right there.
We had Kaelyn left over, so let's interrogate her. Seeing as this conversation is very long and there isn't any soundtrack music from this area that's long or appropriate enough, I will have to provide long, atmospheric songs from the real world.
Try this.
My powers are well-served in dealing with the aftermath of a battle, but it would not be wise to seek the counsel of one of the shamans of Rashemen in dealing with this army. They know the spirits, the beast gods of this land, far better than I. If this conflict can be settled without violence, they would know.
So you are from the upper planes?
I come from the slopes of Celestia. My heritage is evidenced in ym wings - and my eyes.
Your eyes are unusual.
I noticed that... your eyes are like mirrors, which makes them doubly pleasing to me. It allows me to admire my reflection without need for a looking glass.
I see.
I hope you can, with eyes like that. I'm a lot to take in at once, so feel free to study me at length if you must, I am used to such attention.
You might need to step back to look at Gann - his ego alone can fill a castle.
[Influence Gain: Gann] Such fire in your words, they burn me! Quick, get the priestess to fan me with her wings.
Are you making light of me?
I would 'never' do such a thing. Although with eyes like yours, do you know what light is?
You are strange. There is much about your heritage that evidences in your behaviour.
About Gann?
I am curious what this ebony-eyed creature of the slopes of Celestia sees in a humble hagspawn such as I. Pray, priestess, continue.
Very well. I see that your feet find the patterns of dirt and sand beneath them unconfortable, as if you are used to stepping in dreams, not earth. You toss about words like a wind around you, in the hopes that their speed and flurry wil deflect questions and prevent you from being seen for what you are. You are hurt, Gannayev-of-Dreams. And that pain drives you to hurt others, for you have been taught that that is the wheel that turns the world.
You saw that for looking at him?
[Intelligence] So you are blind to colours?
My grandfather once said it was something my belief had chosen, not my blood. I would not call it blindness, but I see the world differently, yes. My eyes can perceive the spectrum of planes at times, even if the array of colors is lost on them.
I have... walked in the Shadow Plane before, yes.
Your journey marked you, and I sense an absence within you, as if your heart was removed. Its painhas faded, to be replaced with something new, an affliction... seeping into the open wound. Whatever affliction I sense within you that has filled the wound - it feels larger than the wound itself, as if the wound is merely a door. [Influence Gain: Kaelyn] I do not know if Ilmater's blessings will aid you, but the fact you bear such pain is a testament to your strength of will.
[Perception] I noticed your wings. [Intelligence] Are you able to fly?
No, I cannot. The wings simply serve as a cloak, and at times a shield from the sun or elements. They are another mark of Celestia, one that I welcome.
So, you are a follower of the god Ilmater, correct?
That is correct. I am a sister of the Ilmatari, follower if Ilmater, the Suffering God. We bring confort to those in pain, and take the painful burdens of others onto ourselves.
What brought you to the faith?
Many faiths seek to help those who suffer, but it is my feeling that only Ilmater approaches it... justly. In Ilmater's teachings, I find there is truth. Through his priests and his blessings, we seek to help all who hurt. There is a freedom in such all-encompassing sacrifice, I find.
You speak as one who has been treated unjustly - and without freedom as well.
[Influence: Failure] It is difficult to express, and I am not certain I have the words. Suffice to say that I found the call of Ilmater's teachings stronger.
When we met, you mentioned the "House of the Triad". What is that?
The House of the Triad is not a temple, nor is it a place upon the Prime Material Plane. It is the name bestowed to the three great mountains circling Mount Celestia on the outer planes. The realms of Torm, Tyr and Ilmater lie upon the crest of each mountain, and the triumvirate forms the House of teh Triad. It is a place of great beauty, where the orchestrations of devas are carried on the wind and sun. But it is sealed to me, and never again shall I know its confort.
But as a priest of Ilmater, can't you go to his realm?
No creature there can feel pain, fatigue or even exhaustion. One is renewed within its walls. There are times I miss it, I must confess.
That must be suffering in itself.
So, tell me a little about yourself.
[Influence: Failure] MY history is in the past, where it belongs. Let us look to the future, and what we may accomplish. I am sorry, but my past efforts have shamed me, and they are difficult to speak of.
Forgive me, I meant no disrespect to your privacy.
[Influence Gain: Kaelyn] No, it is I who must ask your forgiveness. Perhaps as we travel more together, I shall find the words and the will to speak them.
[Lore]When we met Davorik, you mentioned you were once a doomguide, which means you once followed Kelemvor.
Yes. Part of the tenets of Kelemvor is to comfort the dying, for them to make peace with death. It was once a task taht conforted me as well.
What happened?
What do you mean?
In Kelemvor's faith, they teach that death is not something to be feared, that it is part of the natural cycle. But that is not true. If one does not worship the gods, then there is much to fear - and no prospects of peace in the afterlife.
No prospects of peace? I don't understand.
To comfort a dying child... knowing it is destined to scream eternally in an ever-living wall... A midwife of the Planes who has never heard of such a thing as gods, and entire plane of seawives who farm the sea and seed the oceans to bring about life... to know that they are bound to become stones in the wall of a faithless citadel, crushed together by dogma and ritual that has never once been reflected upon. That never once has been examined for what it is.
You're speaking of the Wall of the Faithless.
Yes, the great wall that encircles the City of Judgement. Its bricks are sould that never pledged fealty to any god - now knew that they had to to achieve paradise in the afterlife. They are mortared there, crushed together to suffer by archaic law. No matter how good, or pure, or unselfish they were - it matters only if they followed the proper rituals to a deity, any deity.
That does seem unjust.
[Influence Gain: Kaelyn] You goddamn right it's unjust, nigga... I mean, that is my sentiment as well. Religion is not ritual. It is intended to comfort, to strengthen, not to punish. Is lip service to a god... is that what is important? Or is it the acts and belief that matter?
What do you beleive should be done?
My conscience cannot be silenced on this. I hear justice. I hear the last words of those who suffer and need comfort. All of these things I hear always. But beyond them, in the Fugue Plane, I hear the cries of those dead who lie within the wall. And I cannot forsake them.
If you go, I will go with you and help you if I can.
[Influence Gain: Kaelyn] I would welcome your help, and it lends me strength to know that you are my ally in this. I will fly to them, and I will grant them wings as I have. I shall release them from the curse that their death has become. Because it is the right thing to do for one's spirit to be at peace.
I led the socond crusade to tear down this wall. Like the first, it failed, but I still live. It will continue.
Second Crusade?
What happened during the First Crusade?
My grandfather sought to dissuade me from my efforts with the tale of the first crusade. I do not think he understood the tale he was telling. Before then, I did not even know that there had been previous attempts to bring down the Wall. To realise that others had felt as I did gave me a new strength - new conviction.
Who led the Crusade?
One mortal sought to cast down the wall and failed, even with an army at his back. His name was Akachi, sometimes known as the Betrayer.
Why did your grandfather tell you such a tale?
Tell me more about your grandfather.
He is a solar, and I one of his descendents. His blood runs through my veins, but my perspective and my spirit are my own, not tied to the higher planes.
GODDAMN!! That's one long conversation. It's also pretty self-explanatory, so there's not much commentary on hidden meanings and stuff to give. We learn some background info on Gann. He hides from his own past and from his own life by living mostly in the dreams of others. He invades people's dreams as a means of escape from all the questions that he should be seeking answers for, instead. I've seen a post on this forum, a long time ago, that made the point of likening Gann to a simple-minded religious fundamentalist. The reasoning was that he seems to see everything through the perspective of dreams, like others would with God. Every opinion, personality and phenomenon that he comes across must have some kind of explanation stemming from the person's dreams. It's kind of like Freud, in that (IIRC) he believed that every psychological disorder was caused by a mix of repressed trauma and sexual attraction to one's relatives.
Kaelyn's personality is also further explored. She's more of a zealot than anything else. Most people would agree with her cause, though, so it's no big issue sympathising with her. I suggest, though, that you hold your judgement about the Wall for now until you've heard the gods' side of the story near the end of the game.
Now, let's do something more light-hearted.
Kaji time! I only discovered that you could speak to him this way just now.
This word game no longer impresses me. I forfeit.
I'd like to ask Kaji a few questions.
Where were you on the night of the 16th?
Was it murder?
Aha! Now we have you on six counts of breaking and entering!
That could be useful. (Tell us what we want to know about Safiya and we'll talk to the DA about extenuating circumstances.)
[Influence Gain: Safiya] He's certainly... rough around the edges - but I think he's rather useful to have around.
(*turns on wire* Useful for what, exactly?.)
Can you say something for me?
Can you say, "I'm going down the river to Sing-Sing"?
Guilty!
Next case: All rise and be seated for the judge of case number 422A: The State of Rashemen v. The Ice Troll Lodge.
Here's the feat you get by successfully becoming a member of the lodge.
Well then, Edurance Test again.
This should be easy, I don't believe in the supernatural!
This time, Yulia sprinkles some sparkling powder into the water, which immediately crystalises it. Smiling in satisfaction, her hand weaves a strange pattern in the air before beckoning you to enter. You find yourself completely unprepared for how much colder the water is thatn before. Your body immediately goes numb and you wonder if this was such a good idea. The chill of the water permeates your being, and you suddenly feel a strong empathy for those adventurers unfortunate enough to meet their fate at the wrong end of a white dragon. The top of the water has frozen over again, encasing you, and your sluggish mind recalls tales of the Hells, relating how some of its levels are composed of unending ice. As your breathing becomes ever more ragged, your body screams for release from the unrelenting cold. Just as your grasp of consciousness begins to slip, you are gentl lifted from the pool and placed on the floor.
Jinny Guinea Pig?
The reward for completing a test that proves you can survive extreme cold without problems: a cold-resistance ring. How ironic. Equipping all my shit again takes time. While in the inventory, I came across this item description for another ring I got from somewhere. The devs probably got a kick from getting this into the finished product.
Arena time again:
Yeees... Test the... newcomer... Bestiality.
They all went down easily so far.
Again, she goes down after barely the first round is over.
You know, I'm a member of this lodge. How is it tarnished if your own member happens to win?
Now this is funny.
Poor dope, his pathetic sword in now mine. It's only useful if you're a rogue who hasn't got the feat that lets to sneak-attack un-sneak-attackable foes yet.
Now the STR test. This one was actually hard to beat.
My strength as is was 27. Base 23 + 4 from Belt of some kind of Giant Strength. I tries various spells and item combinations but they didn't even stack with the belt. Then I tried Greater Rage, which raised my STR to 33. Did not work. Then I tried Frenzy, which also for some reason didn't stack with my belt, but gave me a +6 bonus so that was 29.
Then I hit the obvious jackpot: Greater Rage AND Frenzy. That gave me the 35 I needed to bead the fucker. Here are the results:
As a reward, you get a belt of Storm-Giant-Super-Übermensch Strength, with +10. Again, it's a very inappropriate reward to get, seeing as I just proved that my strength can reach gratuitous levels on its own.
Anyway, now's the moment I've been waiting to get over with for a long time: the battle.
Here's a buffing montage, complete with crudely brushed codex-integration effects.
Now for the Okku battle we finally have some of the game's soundtrack
here.
He
must be dreaming if he thinks I'll do that.
You can't win the Diplomacy and Intimidate checks, once again. However, the Taunt one you can win. Here are the results:
Now, it's time for more of those wacky AoE spell effects:
This one is Earthquake plus Sunburst.
This one seems to be just Storm of Vengeance.
Meteor Storm and a Heal going off on Butch.
Same.
And the epilogue of this fight.
That shield is so ugly.
And that was the confrontation with Okku. Popular opinion, as well as my own, says that Okku is a far less interesting companion in the game than One of Many. Now for some comments form the cast:
And here's the first glimpse of the dreaded-by-retards Spirit Metre. For some reason, all my buffs get removed after the fight is over. I'll present how the SM works in more detail in the next update.
Yeah, you better run!
Anyway, that's all for this chapter. I'll put up a contents thing in the OP tomorrow to facilitate navigation and shit. See you next time.
