HoonDing

Are there any good alternatives? Photobucket is even worse.

Not far across the bridge is a camp with a lot of Orcs (and one Ogre). Quite a difficult fight, considering the party is heavily outnumbered and there are several Orc archers. Jaakon's fireworks, however, are quite helpful. A crevice in the rock face leads to a hidden valley where another Orc camp is located. The last Orc camp has three Ogres and ten Orcs, but can be picked off one by one by carefully approaching the camp from the side. With this camp cleared, the party is done with the Hunting Preserve. The party returns to Nadoret to acquire/craft some heavy armour for Ardo and Forgrimm. At this point will be approached by Old Greyhair and have the opportunity to start the final part of the main quest. However, for now this will be ignored. BEGGAR GREYHAIR: Something

Back at the Elven woods, Urdiriel tells Alari Springborn about her sister Sanraya, currently living among the pirates in Hammberg. ALARI SPRINGBORN: Sanya bha, feyiama. Did you find Sanraya? URDIRIEL: Yes, she lives with the River Pirates and is happy there ALARI SPRINGBORN: Like those Humans who were here? But doesn't she have to block out all that noise just to bear it, and then shout down the others just to be heard? URDIRIEL: She gets by. She is fascinated by their stories and has had some adventures of her own. ALARI SPRINGBORN: Oh, she can sing of it when she returns home one day! When she yearns for the light and finds her way back to us... URDIRIEL: Time will tell. However, the Elves now have another problem that needs solving. ISALIEL WINGSTROKE: Fate guides your steps! We welcome your return with joy, feyiama, for your help is needed again. URDIRIEL: Not the ruins again? ISALIEL WINGSTROKE: No, the lake forest to the north. The river from there carries impure water with a terrible stench. The creatures are sick and restless. We can use magic to purify the water, but the source remains a mystery. Our refined senses cannot bear the stench and in the distance a misty cloud obscures the lake. URDIRIEL: It can't smell worse than Forgrimm. I'll take care of it. In the northern forest, the party is attacked by a lot of animals, bears included, driven mad by the stench. Urdiriel renders them all docile with the Elvens pell "Meek you be". Due to the high level difference between the party and animals at this point, killing them is no longer worth it since they all give 0 experience. The source of the stench appears to be the body of a Linnorm. The problem can be solved by applying the Amoeba spores that Urdiriel bought from Crooked Otto a while back. Upon returning to Isaliel, the party however is sent back... due to some unforseen consequences. Feasting upon the body of the Linnorm made the Amoebas full-grown. After whacking them, the party finds the High Elven sword that Gwendala is looking for. After returning the sword to Gwendala, the party is finished with the Elven woods. The party then returns to the Hunting Preserve, where the way across the stone bridge has finally been cleared. The rest of the Orcs can now be purged.

Returning to Van Haring at the Tollgate to turn in the pirates' silver emblems and gold, the party is introduced to someone new: Ulwina Neisbeck, another NPC from Drakensang 1. ULWINA NEISBECK: Pleased to meet you. Angwart has told me a lot about you. COMMANDANT VAN HARING: Yes... Madam Neisbeck is one of the most respected ladies in all Ferdok and urgently requires help. You seem to be the best for the job. URDIRIEL: What is your request? ULWINA NEISBECK: My poor brother has fallen into the hands of those villainous pirates. We can't afford the ransom those criminals are demanding. My family and I are desperate. URDIRIEL: I want to deal directly with the pirates. Maybe they'll show some pity when I explain our situation. I heard you might be able to help me find the pirates. ARDO: Fair Lady, I bow before your courage! But as a man of honor and a knight, I cannot allow you to put yourself in such danger! Allow me and my companions to free your brother! ULWINA NEISBECK: Oh, this is too generous of you, Sir...? ARDO: Ardo. Ardo of Boarstock! ULWINA NEISBECK: Oh, so it's you... well, many thanks Sir Boarstock. I am moved by your chivalry. But I'd still rather try on my own. If you could just show me the way? URDIRIEL: Yes, I can tell you the way to the pirate camp. COMMANDANT VAN HARING: What? A lady like you, defenseless among that pack of ruffians? By my honor, I cannot permit this! I wish we had more men, then we'd finish that scum once and for all! ULWINA NEISBECK: Yes, it is regrettable that we are forced to take such measures. But don't worry, I will take care. Could you tell me where to find their camp? URDIRIEL: Speak with the captain of the Thalaria. He will show you the way. ULWINA NEISBECK: Thank you, I will. Goodbye, Angwart. Adieu! Ulwina Neisbeck leaves and as the party goes on their way, Commandant Van Haring calls them back. COMMANDANT VAN HARING: Er, just a moment. I'm not very happy about the idea of this young lady being at the mercy of that pirate scum. And in my jurisdiction! Unfortunately I cannot spare any of my men. But someone should look for Madam Neisbeck at the pirate camp and make sure she's safe. COMMANDANT VAN HARING: Do you think you could do it? I'd feel much happier. Well, think about it and err... good luck on your travels. The party returns to Hammerberg and finds Ulwina Neisbeck in the Captain's Wheel, quarreling with Eilif Thunderfist. EILIF THUNDERFIST: Neisbeck woman, be silent! EILIF THUNDERFIST: You sent this reptile to me, Urdiriel Teardream? URDIRIEL: She asked me to help to free her abducted brother. ULWINA NEISBECK: Yes, the uncertain fate of my brother... Captain Thunderfist has been very uncooperative. Even though I've done my best to appeal to her common sense. EILIF THUNDERFIST: Lightning take you! Do you ever stop talking, woman? Get out of my sight! ULWINA NEISBECK: Tsk, and she calls herself a pirate leader! I won't waste any more of my time on you, Eilif Thunderfist. But pray to your holy whale that you never cross me again! After Ulwina Neisbeck leaves, Eilif reveals to Urdiriel what's really going on. EILIF THUNDERFIST: You can smell people like her a mile off, even upwind and even among liars, thieves and pirates! ULWINA NEISBECK: What did she do that angered you so? EILIF THUNDERFIST: Dead? Are you sure? She told me that she wanted to free him. URDIRIEL: As sure as Soorman is dead. He must have wanted to pocket the ransom himself. Take a look in his hut in the southwest. Ulwina's brother should be freed! EILIF THUNDERFIST: With pleasure. I also want to know what's going on. Following Eilif's advice, the party heads to the hut and finds some of Soorman's remaining cronies. Killing them frees Ulwina Neisbeck's brother. VITOLD NEISBECK: Are you another lackey of that nefarious Irontaste? Do the Gods plan my end? URDIRIEL: My name is Urdiriel Teardream. Thunderfist sent me to release you. Captain Irontaste is dead. VITOLD NEISBECK: Praise be to Tsa! Many of my companions have died at his hand. I feared to hear Golgari's wings myself. But my prayers were answered. URDIRIEL: Another thing. Your sister got a ransom demand and traveled here personally... VITOLD NEISBECK: What? Ulwina is here? I... I had already escaped two of her bounty hunters, but now I'm a prisoner here! Please, by the Gods, help me! URDIRIEL: What do you suggest? VITOLD NEISBECK: [He takes out a hidden item] When my father - may he rest in peace - handed the business over to us, he had Leonardo the Mechanicus create two music boxes. VITOLD NEISBECK: But Ulwina doesn't like to share. She wants sole control. Give her my timepiece and tell her I'm dead. If the Gods wish it, I will escape. URDIRIEL: How can you just leave half of your inheritance to that woman? VITOLD NEISBECK: My life is worth more to me. I can only recommend that you stay away from her. She is completely unscrupulous... Thank you and farewell. URDIRIEL: Here, take these 10 ducats. They should help you on your way. VITOLD NEISBECK: I am fortunate indeed to have met such an honorable and generous savior. I thank you, Urdiriel Teardream, and I hope to repay this debt one day. May the Twelfgods be with you! Now, the party can earn a fair amount of gold by tricking Ulwina Neisbeck. ULWINA NEISBECK: Oh, you again. Listen, my patience is at an end. Anyone who gets rid of my brother once and for all will be richly rewarded, understood? The rest is up to you... URDIRIEL: I found this by your brother's body. [Give Ulwina the music box] ULWINA NEISBECK: Really ... yes, it must be true! I had my doubts about hiring you, but you have earned your reward. Here, I think this should be appropriate. And now, farewell. Reporting back to Eilif Thunderfist then ends the quest. NEXT: wrapping up Elven Woods & Hunting Preserve.

When Avarosh and his thugs lie dead, Prince Arom reveals what's really going on. PRINCE AROM: What a battle! Avarosh and the other traitors have met their end. It's good that the monsters of the deep held them up for so long. URDIRIEL: Is it not yet time to tell me more about the delving? I'm sure you know more than you have told me so far. ARDO: It seemed that Avarosh knew you? PRINCE AROM: You fought well. You deserve to learn the truth. Listen well! I was here once before, as a young Dwarf. I was accompanied by my friend Torlosh, a smith of Angrosh-given skill. We were driven by the craving for adventure and a certain amount of defiance for my father. PRINCE AROM: We sought the secret of Norgamashzrom and had heard that a Dwarf by the name of Avarosh was looking for adventurers. He had found a few mineshafts that might lead there. We met Avarosh and made a deal with him. He would show us the entrance to Norgamashzrom. In return, we would recover a rare metal from the bottom of the delving for him. Anything else we found would belong to us... URDIRIEL: I understand. Avarosh deceived you. PRINCE AROM: ... He certainly did! We entered the delving. Then we saw them... the corpses of the other Dwarves. They had murdered each other. They must have been the first expedition... also sent by Avarosh. As we stood there and wondered why the Dwarves had killed each other, I started to hear a whispering in my head. The voice was very quiet at first... but as we went deeper it grew louder... and harsher. PRINCE AROM: I realized that Torlosh heard it too when I saw his face. He was no longer my old friend... something had possessed him... he stared at me with hate-filled eyes... URDIRIEL: The ore spoke to you, just as it did to Avarosh and his men. It is just as well the Leprechaun's spell is protecting us. PRINCE AROM: Yes... we probably would have been at each other's throats. Just like Torlosh and me all those years ago. But I'll tell you about that later. Let us set off now, we must put an end to all this... URDIRIEL: I don't think I quite understand what you mean. Arom? You want to... PRINCE AROM: ... I want to get right to the bottom and end this. I'll do away with that hell iron once and for all. URDIRIEL: How? PRINCE AROM: I have some very special Hylailian fire. It burns with such a heat that even huge rocks melt. If I light it at the heart of the mountain, the entire delving will collapse in on itself. URDIRIEL: I'm with you. Let's go. PRINCE AROM: Scales and teeth! So be it. The party moves on and enters Norgamashzrom proper... and eventually finds a destroyed elevator guarded by several rock goblins and a rock golem. After all enemies are disposed of, Prince Arom reveals more. PRINCE AROM: Do you see the remains of the elevator? That is where my friend Torlosh died... many years ago, through his own treachery. URDIRIEL: Do you want to tell me about it now? PRINCE AROM: Yes, I will. You have earned it. This passage leads to the heart of the delving. That's where the unholy metal is. It is alive and immeasurably evil. Legends say that it was brought into the world by the arch-demon Agrimoth himself. PRINCE AROM: Torlosh and I fought there. I was able to withstand the call of the unholy metal, but Torlosh wanted to bring it to the surface. He wanted to use it to forge powerful weapons to use against our enemies... oh, such folly. When I told him that I would never allow it, he attacked me. He was full of rage and the whisperings of the metal seemed to make him stronger. We fought for almost two hours and... I couldn't kill him. URDIRIEL: What? You were unable to defeat him? PRINCE AROM: No, you don't understand... how could I kill... my best friend? I fled... and ran to the elevator... As it took me to the surface I saw Torlosh below, smashing at the machinery, his face filled with hate.. I managed to jump out just before the whole thing came crashing down and buried Torlosh. URDIRIEL: What happened to Avarosh? And why did you not return? PRINCE AROM: I left the delving full of despair and rage. With a couple of well-placed blows, I collapsed a couple of supports and blocked the entrance to Norgamashzrom. I went to Avarosh and vowed that I would punish him if he ever looked for the forbidden delving again. I told my father that Torlosh died a hero's death. I could not tell him the truth... to this day. URDIRIEL: [Perception] Tell me Arom, where is Torlosh's body? PRINCE AROM: Hmm... maybe the elevator did not kill him outright and he managed to crawl a little deeper into the delving. Hurry... I must know where his body lies. Not much further on, the party reaches the heart of the delving... a nasty surprise awaits. The horribly mutated Torlosh is still alive and needs to be killed. After killing Torlosh, Arom sets the charges of Hylailian fire and the party hurries out of the delving. Mission accomplished. A thankful Arom awards the party with his own axe, Anglagorum. A truly killer weapon in the hands of Forgrimm.

As the party returns to the Thalaria, a Dwarf stops them. Apparently there's trouble at the Dwarven delving... another sidequest beckons. BRIDGEMAN: You there! Go up to the delving, quickly! Avarosh is in the mines and trouble's brewing up there. URDIRIEL: What happened? BRIDGEMAN: I don't know exactly. You helped us out before. Maybe the ghost came back? Back at the delving, we meet another NPC from Drakensang 1: Prince Arom, son of Arombolosh, King of the Dwarves. PRINCE AROM: I heard that you helped Avarosh. Do you have any idea what you've done? Ka baskan draxin! URDIRIEL: Does it have anything to do with Norgamashzrom, by any chance? PRINCE AROM: You know about Norgamashzrom? You know my father's law forbidding all from searching for the unholy delving? URDIRIEL: Yes, I know your father's law. But I wanted to help the Dwarves who had been turned to stone. PRINCE AROM: That does you honor! Now I need your help. We must stop Avarosh or something terrible will happen. URDIRIEL: Fine, what do you have in mind? PRINCE AROM: We must go into the delving together and stop Avarosh from going deeper. I will tell you more on the way. Let's go right now! URDIRIEL: I will follow you, Prince Arom. Back in the delving, the "Bosnickel" shows his face again. BOSNICKEL: Heeheehee, oh no oh no... here I am again. Hear me, sweet prince! URDIRIEL: You must be Bosnickel. He who guards this delving so wisely, keeping strangers from the hell iron. BOSNICKEL: Yes, that is I. But what anguish! This heroic brute chased me off... I faiiiiled. URDIRIEL: I'm sorry. I'd have helped you if you'd told me what you were planning. BOSNICKEL: How was I to know who you are? If you told me why, what, who you are, I'd have told you who, what, why I'm here! Heehee, apology accepted. Here, have a flower! Heehee. URDIRIEL: As your vanquisher, I command you: What must I do to stop Avarosh? BOSNICKEL: My powers are at an end - now you must change the trend! Heeheehee... URDIRIEL: Speak plainly and clearly, we're running out of time! BOSNICKEL: As the vanquisher wishes! Starting report from the delving: After ejection of poor Leprechaun NOGO, Avarosh and his men have breached the delving again. They have opened the entrance to the shaft known as Norgamashzrom in the Dwarven tongue and are now in the passageways. They're following the call of the hell iron and their greed for said iron is evolving into evil and hatred for all that lives. BOSNICKEL: With his last strength, NOGO managed to cast a powerful Leprechaun curse commanding all other creatures of the deep to attack the intruders. If you should decide to stop the Dwarves before they reach the mother lode, NOGO will cast a spell protecting you from the power of the hell iron. The magic should protect you from any of its harmful effects. Tell me when you wish to begin and receive the protection. End of report! But take care! If you leave the delving... oh my! Then is the protection... gone! disappeared... poof! BOSNICKEL: Want to go deeper into the delving? You might want you protection. URDIRIEL: Yes. BOSNICKEL: So be it. You have the protection. Don't forget, you can't leave the delving until it's Dwarf free! It's been emotional. Toodles! The stairs to the deeper parts of the delving are guarded by a lot of Dwarves armed with arbalests and barricaded behind trapped crates. Down the stairs, there even more Dwarves and traps. Eventually the party makes it to the deepest part of the delving, where the entrance to Norgamashzrom is located. A confrontation with Avarosh follows. GOLTOOTH AVAROSH: Prince Arom? You really do have a talent for turning up at the worst possible moment... And I should have got rid of you a long time ago. Drodda! I knew you were the type to stick your nose in where it's not wanted. PRINCE AROM: Garoshem Avarosh grosho Gramtax! Lower your weapon and give up Norgamashzrom forever. If not, I shall force you to do so. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Give up? Hehe, you really don't know me. Finally, I have the miracle metal. Nobody can take it from me now. Now! Shoot them down, clan garoshim! During the battle, Avarosh and his guards stay conveniently clustered together while they're shooting the party, giving Jaakon ample opportunity to try out his Fireball spell.

Show me one game reviewer who plays a game all the way to the end.

That half-naked lady would fit better in Siliconera.

Only part where PB should try harder is with the female character models. Anyway, according to the Deep Silver forum both Commandant Carlos and Patty will return.

They better bring back Patty.

The game runs pretty well on medium settings on my rig. Crysis in name alone.

I can't wait for the review of:

Jasmine casts a spell and turns Eilif's Marus against the party. A big battle breaks out. Key to winning this battle is dealing with the Marus as fast as possible, since Jasmine and Soorman will also join the battle. One Maru is quickly killed with melee skills that cause wounds, while Jaakon turns a second one to stone. In the meantime, Cano turns another Maru back to the party's cause with his "A Better Offer" miracle. Once the Marus are under control, Soorman falls quickly... ...while Jasmin teleports away after taking a couple of hits. After killing the remaining two Marus, Eilif will spill the beans about the connection between Mora and the pirates. CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: Ha! By Swafnir, what a battle! URDIRIEL: Are you finally going to tell me where Mora is? CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: That I will! Mora is not here. The white hoods took her to the castle, to Dajin, Baron of Nadoret. URDIRIEL: How are you involved with the Baron? CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: We had an agreement. He kept the authorities off our backs in return for a share of the loot. And he tipped us off about the river trade. JAAKON: The Baron's treachery won't go unpunished. CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: Soorman convinced the weaklings in the Council to play along. I never liked the whole thing, especially after those white hoods turned up. Now it will end. URDIRIEL: What about the woman in white - that Jasmine of the Creek? CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: I wish I had the chance to give that traitor a proper talking to. With my fists! She's probably gone to Castle Nadoret. To her master, Coldstone. JAAKON: I'll give him no more mercy than he gave Fayris. CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: A feud? Then listen. I know a secret way into the castle. The harbor master of Nadoret has the key. I wish you a good battle, Urdiriel Teardream! URDIRIEL: What happened to Mora? CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: We had orders to capture the ship she was traveling on. But we didn't take her prisoner. She came with us willingly. Almost as if she knew exactly what to expect. There's some dirty secret behind all this. URDIRIEL: How is Coldstone involved? CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: They were secretive, those white hoods. I just know that they got involved in the whole business and always wanted more... from the Baron too, so it seems. URDIRIEL: Tell me about the deal with the Baron? CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: The tollkeepers told us what the ships were carrying and how well guarded they were. Then we shared the loot with them. Dajin has been demanding an increasingly bigger share ever since the white hoods arrived. URDIRIEL: That's all I needed to know. Eilif then takes the party back to Hammerberg. CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: Here we are. If you stay in Hammerberg for a while, have a drink and a chat with me in the tavern. I need to think about my future. CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: As for your future, Sjahskari, I'm sure fate will show you the way. You seem a better leader than I was, Urdiriel Teardream. URDIRIEL: Good luck to you, Eilif Sigridsdottir! CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: [she turns to Ardo] And you! I like the way you fight! May the strength of your sword arm last many years. ARDO: I... erm... Rondra be with you, Madam Eilif. With the part of the main quest in Hammerberg finished, the course is now clear: the Baron must be apprehended. NEXT: sidequests.

After killing the bosun Ork, a series of large battles with Soorman's pirate cronies will break out on the way to Soorman's ship. With the Marus and Eilif by our side, however, the pirates don't stand much of a chance. RIVER PIRATE: Eilif! You're a good fighter but a lousy leader. You lost your last ship to the Riverfather! And did anyone ever get a look at that treasure? I don't think it even exists! CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: You believe in a fairy tale about the Riverfather but not in the treasure that went down with my ship? Anyone who mutinies for a few ducats can expect to pay with their life. Marus, kill them! In the next area, Soorman's pirates will quickly surrender after killing a few. In the final area before Soorman's ship, the pirates quickly head for the hills. Finally, the party reaches Soorman's ship. It is time to settle the score once and for all. CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: No Soorman. The time has come for us to fight. I'm sick of your lies. CAPTAIN SOORMAN: Do you know what I am sick of? Those disgusting, stupid animals! Those Marus, guarding your painted skin. It is time to end this... Soorman has a final trick up his sleeve... Jasmine of the Creek.

After passing through the gate, our party enters the secret harbor where the pirate captains' ships are moored. It turns out to be a huge natural cavern heated by a hot spring. Soorman's bosun Ork is back again as support in killing Thunderfist. However, Urdiriel has no intentions whatsoever to do Soorman's bidding. The party heads down to Thunderfist's ship. Thunderfist appears to have three huge lizard-like creatures called Marus as bodyguards. The white-robed mage that Sanraya spoke of is also on board... Thunderfist turns out to be a huge Thorwalian woman. CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: Well it's me, Eilif Sigridsdottir, also known at Thunderfist! CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: What is your name and what do you want? JASMINE OF THE CREEK: Don't talk to them. The best answer is death. CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: Under my roof, all speak for themselves, Jasmine of the Creek! CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: Get out of here before you get hurt. Jasmine is dismissed and Thunderfist addresses the party. It's time to deal with this annoying Soorman. CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: Now, by Swafnir, what do you have to say to me? URDIRIEL: My name is Urdiriel Teardream and I... CANO: Mora! We seek her! It took us so long to get here. Please tell us where she is! CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: And why should I help you? URDIRIEL: Because I can help you too. Soorman is planning to attack you. CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: Soorman? That treacherous landlubber! As if he would help anybody but himself. However, there is a surprise. Soorman finally makes his move. RIVER PIRATE: Captain Thunderfist! Treachery! Soorman intends to kill you all. He's bought off our people and barricaded the back of the cave. CAPTAIN EILIF THUNDERFIST: That miserable bunch will get to know me, alright! Fight at my side and then we'll see. You, boy, guard my ship! My loyal Marus, onward! Soorman's bosun Ork shows up again as well... apparently he was part of the plan all along. But as Urdiriel dealt with the runaway Goblins in a peaceful manner, the Ork can be robbed off his allies. SHIP's ORK ZUTAR: You walk good in Irontaste trap, har har! Ergoch Redpelts and Zutar make crunch on you! Look forward this, I do! URDIRIEL: Goblins, don't listen to the bad Ork! Flee! A Reshamama is waiting in the woods. She will help you. YOBBO: Yeees! Yobbo know Reshamama! She better than bosun Ork and stronger. Shoo! We flee! SHIP's ORK ZUTAR: Ghorkai! Stubborn bait go! No Redpelts... More crunch for Zutar. SHIP's ORK ZUTAR: Finish talk! You lose head now. Ai Kattach! Finally, some action.

You'd still meet those enemies on occasion, but they'd be dead in less than a second. Save, of course, those epic gnolls.

That reminds me, if you create a black Hawke, will your entire family be black or will Hawke be adopted again?

What's the fascination with this Fenris character? His thread has more than 1,000+ pages, leaving all other characters far away in the dust.

CloudStrife.jpg

Beyond Good & Evil had a great multi-stage boss fight. At one point the game even reversed the controls.

But... but... it's about the story.

After all the hard work, the party returns to Avarosh to finally obtain his vote. Now only Soorman's vote is left. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: That took a cursed long time, by Phex! Did you take care of everything? URDIRIEL: I met a Leprechaun in your delving, but I managed to drive him away. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Good, good! those Leprechauns are a terrible plague! I'll hire some more Dwarves to make up for the lost time, yes! URDIRIEL: Do I finally have your vote now? GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Yes, yes, if you wish. But now I must take care of the delving. URDIRIEL: Could there be a reason for the Leprechaun's actions? GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Errm... sure. The reason is... Leprechauns are malicious, snot-nosed little pests who just like to cause trouble. URDIRIEL: You shouldn't be digging in that delving, Avarosh. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Bah! Old ghost stories! Just as stupid as all that talk about the River Father. The only thing I believe in is hard, shiny, jingling cash. Here, take a little for your trouble and forget the whole thing. URDIRIEL: I'll leave it to your conscience. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Hehe, you're talking to the wrong Dwarf there. I don't go in for all that Praios-like prattle, understand? URDIRIEL: Whatever you say. At any rate, it is time to return to Soorman and see what task he will have. CAPTAIN SOORMAN: Your people are vermin. Didn't I send you away already? URDIRIEL: I understand you don't seem to like Elves. CAPTAIN SOORMAN: You understand? What do you understand? Shut your mouth if you don't know what you're talking about. URDIRIEL: I haven't even said what I want. CAPTAIN SOORMAN: The last vote so you can finally meet Thunderfist? CAPTAIN SOORMAN: You won't get my vote for a personal favor. I need more than that. The question is: 'Can I trust you?' URDIRIEL: How do you intend to find out? CAPTAIN SOORMAN: Take this letter to my friend. He owes me a share of the loot from his last raid. Give him this letter with my instructions unopened. URDIRIEL: Is that all? CAPTAIN SOORMAN: The man is called Big Nose Barnabas. His place is in the woods east of here. ... Meet me back here with the loot. Nice and easy, hmm? URDIRIEL: Just as you say. I'll be back. Outside the tavern, Urdiriel decides to open the letter anyway. The message is rather unexpected. However, the situation can be turned to our hand by pulling a little "Phexcapade". Behind one of the houses are two ruffians called Bragan and Jorgen that can help us. CANO: [streetwise] I'm starting to think you provide special scribe skills at a price. BRAGAN: But what Praios doesn't know brings in the dough... right? JORGEN: Do you do fake sayings now as well as coins and letters? It's 'What Praios doesn't know, won't melt the snow.' BRAGAN: Praios is the Sun God, you Goblin fart! Why would he worry about the snow? JORGEN: And why would... oh, I give up... I just know I'm cold. And the 'wisdom' of Praios is more likely to burn witches at the stake these days. URDIRIEL: Hmm, very informative. So you're a forger. BRAGAN: The penny has dropped, has it? Would you like to avail yourself of my services? URDIRIEL: I need a letter with this handwriting, but with a different message. BRAGAN: Let me see. Hmm. Changing this message would be a worth a lot to you, wouldn't it? What do you want it to say? URDIRIEL: "Give the bearer of this message the loot and all your gold!" BRAGAN: I'll do it for 10 ducats. URDIRIEL: Deal. Do it! With the faked document in hand, the party heads to Barnabas' farm. The ploy works like a charm. ZEKE BARNABAS: Hmm...? Are you lost...? URDIRIEL: This is a letter from Captain Soorman. ZEKE BARNABAS: Soorman? But we had an agreement... URDIRIEL: Hmm, aha... Loot and all your gold... I see. [reads quietly] ZEKE BARNABAS: Phew, I'm relieved that we're quits. Here, take it. Returning to Soorman, he doesn't seem to be in the least surprised when the party shows up with the loot. CAPTAIN SOORMAN: Did you take my message to Big Nose Barnabas? URDIRIEL: Here's the loot. Or did you think I wouldn't manage it? CAPTAIN SOORMAN: Hmhm, you have exceeded my expectations. URDIRIEL: The errand wasn't exactly what I was expecting either. CAPTAIN SOORMAN: I think you get to know people best when you surprise them. URDIRIEL: So do I get your vote now? CAPTAIN SOORMAN: My vote? Do I look like Arella the river mermaid? Do I have shells on my chest or the tail of a fish? Hmm? URDIRIEL: Err, what? No, but... CAPTAIN SOORMAN: Listen to me. If you want to see your friend again, then do exactly as I tell you. URDIRIEL: Another errand before I get to meet Thunderfist? CAPTAIN SOORMAN: Hmm, no. Thunderfist is too stubborn to tell you where you'll find the red-head. I, on the other hand, can help you if you help me. URDIRIEL: You want to go behind your leader's back? CAPTAIN SOORMAN: More than that. I want to be the leader. And you will kill Thunderfist for me. URDIRIEL: Kill? That's a suicide mission! CAPTAIN SOORMAN: There are enough people ready to help me seize power. As soon as you attack, they will fight by your side. CAPTAIN SOORMAN: Should you decide to speak of my plans to anybody else, then Golgari's wings will be the next thing you hear after the screams of your friends. URDIRIEL: I see. CAPTAIN SOORMAN: So you know there is only one right answer to my question. Will you do it? URDIRIEL: No. If you think you can use me for your purposes, you're badly mistaken. CAPTAIN SOORMAN: Oh really? Very well. Take the eastern path through the woods to the gate. I will tell the guards to let you pass through the cave. Think hard about what your friend's life is worth to you. Hmhmm. Outside, the party is suddenly approached by Leti the barmaid. BARMAID LETI: Wait! I... I heard. I heard everything. URDIRIEL: Calm down and start again from the beginning. BARMAID LETI: He wants to force you to kill Thunderfist? You mustn't do it! ... I feel so bad. URDIRIEL: Why do you feel bad? BARMAID LETI: Because I helped him too! But I didn't know his intentions! I don't want them all to kill each other... URDIRIEL: But you know one of them will have to lose, don't you? BARMAID LETI: *bursts into tears*...! But I don't want to live with a murderer. What if he has you killed too? I couldn't stand it! ARDO: Poor girl. That rogue has no scruples whatsoever. It's good that you have seen his true face. CANO: A clever man considers all his options. Come, my dear. A pretty girl like you shouldn't cry. You should sparkle like a star! JAAKON: Soorman has already tried to lure us into a trap once before. We should take care. BARMAID LETI: So... so now what? URDIRIEL: I would rather not talk about my plans. But thank you for your honesty, Leti. BARMAID LETI: I understand. The Twelfgods be with you! Oh... what have I done? Thus, our party heads to the gate Soorman spoke of and can finally meet up with Thunderfist. NEXT: less talkin' and moar fightin'

After locating the second stone dwarf, Urdiriel gives the wrong answer to the Bosnickel's question in order to get teleported and gain access to a hidden treasure chest. Even after giving the wrong answer, the stone Dwarves can still be easily saved by using the "Break Enchantment" spell. But answering questions correctly gives more experience. Second letter: "O". The third Dwarf is near a flooded hallway. After answering the Bosnickel's question ("What is the longest river in Aventuria?") we get the third letter, "G". And finally, the fourth Dwarf and the final letter, "O". Now, the Bosnickel can be banished. The party finds him in the deepest part of the delving. BOSNICKEL: Who's that crashing about like a heffalump? Now I have to sing my rock to sleep again! BOSNICKEL: What? Here already?! And crashing around like a heffalump! I didn't expect that. Rules are rules. Now my final question: What's my name? URDIRIEL: Are you Dave? Or Kevin? No. How about NOGO? BOSNICKEL: What? How? I don't believe it! You tricked me. Just like my cousin Rumplestiltskin. So be it. My vanquisher, command me! URDIRIEL: Listen! Leave this delving. BOSNICKEL: Today is different, this isn't the last you've seen of me... If you're greedy, look in the crate at the back. Be warned! Avarosh is the greediest of them all. He will find only corruption where he seeks.

I ordered it and am expecting to have fun.