HoonDing

The party heads into the tavern, The Captain's Wheel, where the pirate leaders Hookensang, Bardshock and Irontaste are. Since the party had good dealings with Hookensang in the recent past, Urdiriel goes to speak with him first. HOOKENSANG: By the Twelfgods! Ethra is small indeed! I am most pleased to see a familiar face. What brings you here? URDIRIEL: I am searching for someone, and therefore need to see Thunderfist. Can I can count on your vote? HOOKENSANG: You helped me get the Elven puff. Of course I will help you! However, I fear my vote does not count for much around here. URDIRIEL: Why not? You're a Captain on the council, aren't you? HOOKENSANG: I urgently need help against a person who is trying to discredit my leadership. Otherwise the crew will refuse to guide my ship to safe harbors. URDIRIEL: Let me guess... your first mate? HOOKENSANG: He accuses me of personal profit at the expense of the crew. After meeting with the sponsor of our last mission, the share of the loot to be distributed to the crew went missing. URDIRIEL: Do you think he's the thief? HOOKENSANG: Judge for yourself. He's just over there splashing out on expensive liquor. His very presence here is a mockery because every time he toasts me he also spreads his lies. URDIRIEL: Maybe I should listen to his "lies"... over a few drinks. HOOKENSANG: I trust in your discretion. Be advised, you will be at a disadvantage when drinking with him. Unless... you buy him something a little stronger. Prem Fire, for example! URDIRIEL: That's a good tip. I'll deal with him. HOOKENSANG: I thank you - once again. Your helpful attitude will not go unrewarded. Urdiriel follows Hookensang's advice and drives the first mate, Matt Bravethorn, drunk. Following the drunken Bravethorn outside leads the party to the graveyard, where Bravethorn hid the pirate loot. Driving off Bravethorn and returning the loot to Hookensang grants him his vote. Three to go. Next, Urdiriel returns to the tavern to speak with Innkeeper Jadira, aka "Bardshock"... and find the Tavern King, the third person who owes Goldtooth some ducats. JADIRA: A new face! Just call me Jadira and feel free to talk to me any time. URDIRIEL: Your name sounds so exotic. Where are you from, Jadira? JADIRA: I'm a true Zahori, my people are a traveling people with fire in their blood. This is why I traveled the land when I was young. I stayed nowhere for longer than a month and had many adventures. Sometimes I worked as a camp follower or I sang and I danced. JADIRA: Then I met Rumpo and followed him here. The old innkeeper had just died so I took over the business. Now they play the music that I want to hear. URDIRIEL: I'm looking for Radomir, the Tavern King. Is he here? JADIRA: Radomir? That drunken dog is bound to be here soon. Why not keep me company until then. URDIRIEL: Jadira, you're on the Captain's Council. I... JADIRA: ... you need my vote, I presume. You'll get it, but first I want see if you're too fancy for a little job. I can't stand people who can't get stuck in. JADIRA: Go to the distillery just outside the village and ask the lazy dog there where my delivery is. Get him to hurry up and bring the schnapps right over. Do that and you'll get my vote. URDIRIEL: A simple errand... I understand. After speaking with Jadira, the Tavern King will come waltzing in. RADOMIR: Hmmm... who're you? Tavern King wants to drink! URDIRIEL: Avarosh wants his money back. RADOMIR: Avarosh Greedy Pockets? He can wait. Not the only one I owe money. An' now I need a drink. URDIRIEL: Pay up first before you drink all your money! RADOMIR: Not a chance. Now leave me in peace. CANO: [Fast Talk] Avarosh said this is your last chance to pay up. Otherwise, he wants to settle the matter differently. RADOMIR: [success] Oh, did he! Then I'm lucky you're such a peashful fellow. URDIRIEL: I'm glad we understand one another. RADOMIR: Here's the money. Now let me dr...drink in peace. Regards to Avarosh Greedy Pockets. Now, after getting hold of the 31 ducats of owed debt, the party returns to Avarosh. But of course, the little pest still has another job to do before granting his vote. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Yes, yes. Here comes my lackey... well? Did you call in all the debts for me? URDIRIEL: I got your 31 ducats. It was child's play. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Child's play? Yes, yes... well you're not getting my vote for child's play. You knew that, right? Hehehe! URDIRIEL: Yes. How do you intend to further exploit my predicament? GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: I'm told my mine is haunted and work has ground to a halt. Get my Dwarves delving again, yes? URDIRIEL: You haven't told me where the delving is. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Over the bridge and then right. Not left, got that? I'll put a nice big cross on your map in case that's too much for you to handle. There, hehe. URDIRIEL: What exactly is haunting the delving? GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: If I knew that, I wouldn't have to send anyone, would I? Must I explain everything to you? Go on, time is gold... how many times do I have to I tell you? URDIRIEL: Alright, I'll help you one last time. Before heading to the delving, the party leaves through the town gate to fetch the booze for Jadira. They also come upon Soorman's bosun Ork just outside the gate. SHIP's ORK ZUTAR: Tarock, stranger! You want leave village? URDIRIEL: Yes! Are you Soorman's Bosun Ork? I have to come to you first if I want to speak to him? Right? SHIP's ORK ZUTAR: Zutar! Great ship Ork of Captain Irontaste! You careful, lots! Say me 'Blackfur' and I make crunch on you! URDIRIEL: Soorman? I need his vote. Can you help me? SHIP's ORK ZUTAR: Goar woahl, you smart! No-one bother captain. Orders! URDIRIEL: How can I convince you to let me speak with the Captain? SHIP's ORK ZUTAR: Har har, you smart enough - you come when work to do. Get Baruckas like little Redpelt here. They gone! Can always get new ones. But I want make crunch, teach others not leave! URDIRIEL: What? What are you talking about? I don't understand a word. SHIP's ORK ZUTAR: Want crunch leader of runaways. Then other Redpelts know... not good run away. Bring me leader! Then you go Irontaste, Kaya! URDIRIEL: Sounds mean, but I'll do it. SHIP's ORK ZUTAR: Katwar! Haha, and you go quick south. Soorman clever. So you better go quick, if you want talk Captain. JAAKON: If I understood him correctly, he said we should go south. We should hurry before his men beat us to it. What a bizarre way of speaking... Near the distillery, it soon becomes apparent why Jadira didn't receive her delivery. Trolls again... DISTILLER: Help me! Please help me! URDIRIEL: What happened? DISTILLER: It's terrible! These trolls just turned up... wanted sugar, anything sweet. They smelled the alcohol and tried it. Now they're smashing the place up looking for something sweet to eat. Get rid of the trolls! Otherwise they'll tear my hut apart too. URDIRIEL: I'll deal with it. There's a choice between either fighting or outwitting the Trolls. ERGAMACK: Sweet powder! We want mooore! CANO: [Fast Talk] You were too greedy! You ate and drank everything too quickly. Now the 'Sweet powder spring' has run out. ERGAMACK: [success] Oh no! That's bad! No more sweet powder? Never? Baaaad. URDIRIEL: Never again! Unfortunately! ERGAMACK: Oh no! Come! We get bee nests now. They grow back. After driving off the Trolls, the distiller grants the party with what remains of the booze... one bottle of schnapps.

The party finds "Snow Rose", the first of the three that owe Goldtooth Avarosh money, near the exit gate. SNOW ROSE: Who are you? Competition or adventurers? URDIRIEL: Competition? I earn my money in different ways. SNOW ROSE: Pleased to hear it. In that case, we won't get in each other's way. URDIRIEL: Avarosh sent me. It's about your debts. SNOW ROSE: Ohhh, good old Avarosh. But I already told him I don't have his money. CANO: [seduce] Oh! You disappoint me, good lady. How can a lady of your class be indebted to a ruffian like Avarosh? With your Rahja-given looks, I'm sure you don't need it! SNOW ROSE: Sweet thing, what pretty words. You certainly know how to talk to a lady like me. Hmm... and those big brown eyes. Here, take the money and come back again soon. URDIRIEL: Avarosh will be pleased and you'll be left in peace at last. The next person in debt, Yapper Bodo, is with his dogs behind the tavern. YAPPER BODO: I suppose you want to buy a dog? Well you can forget that. They're all reserved. URDIRIEL: You owe money to Avarosh. I am here to collect. YAPPER BODO: He can wait until I've sold this litter here. Then he can have his ducats. Tell him that! ARDO: Tell me, are all your dogs pure-bred Grimmtooth Bull Terriers? I've rarely seen such splendid specimens. They respond well to a little praise when they do something right. YAPPER BODO: What? A true expert! Are you also a breeder? Here, take the money. I won't deny a fellow dog-lover. URDIRIEL: You have spared me a deal of trouble. Thank you. YAPPER BODO: I know Avarosh won't leave me in peace until I pay and you seem to be alright, even though you're a stranger here. Not far from Yapper Bodo on the dock is Captain Rumpo, aka "Widowfriend", who despite his hideous looks is strange alluring to the opposite sex... CAPTAIN RUMPO: What glorious creature approaches? Your aspect alone entrances me. Pray, let me hear your voice. URDIRIEL: Err... what? You are ... ? I... errm... CAPTAIN RUMPO: Such power in your words! How gladly would I pit my strength against yours until we both reclined exhausted. URDIRIEL: Mind your mouth. I could challenge you in another discipline that might not be so pleasant for you. CAPTAIN RUMPO: I like strong women. ... Oh, that reminds me of my problem. URDIRIEL: I knew you had a problem. CAPTAIN RUMPO: You're just in time to help me out of a difficult situation, should you be so disposed. JAAKON: [Human Nature] Such educated discourse and unkempt appearance are rare companions. Something's wrong here. CAPTAIN RUMPO: There is no need to whisper. Speak openly! URDIRIEL: Well, I could help you, if only you would give me your vote in return. I want to meet with your leader. CAPTAIN RUMPO: I would be pleased to do so, but first I would ask that you help me. URDIRIEL: Then pray tell how awkward your predicament is. CAPTAIN RUMPO: I trust you will handle the following information discreetly. I trust that I will not have to ask Master Farfara here to deal with any problems that might arise from your actions. URDIRIEL: Of course! CAPTAIN RUMPO: I recently forgot my snuff box during a secret tryst with the barmaid in her chamber under the tavern. There is now a danger that her sweetheart will find it and make an unfortunate inference to my person. URDIRIEL: What's the problem with getting back a snuff box? CAPTAIN RUMPO: Leti's sweetheart is Captain Irontaste. He has been spending a lot of time conducting his business from the tavern recently. I'm sure you appreciate my problem? URDIRIEL: I'm not stupid. So we have a deal? CAPTAIN RUMPO: Naturally, I would be most grateful if you could retrieve the snuff box as quickly as possible. I presume... I can trust in the good impression you have made on me! URDIRIEL: Growler Bodo is right by the back exit. One false move and the dogs will bark down the whole village. CAPTAIN RUMPO: How could I forget the dog breeder? Forgive me! Well, Alrico tricked him once by telling him he was taking a crate of Stonesoftener to the cellar for Jadira. URDIRIEL: And was he succesful? CAPTAIN RUMPO: It's a strong Dwarf schnapps from Angbar. Bodo and Hookensang are the only ones here who drink the stuff - for good reason. URDIRIEL: Why don't you use that pretext yourself? CAPTAIN RUMPO: Bodo recently found out that somebody gave his dogs a sleeping potion. I don't want him to suspect me. You're new here, so he won't consider you. URDIRIEL: Alrigh then, I will try Alrico's trick. Once inside the tavern tavern basement, it appears the barmaid is still in her room. However, she soon leaves for the bathroom, enabling Urdiriel to sneak into the room and look for Rumpo's snuff box. Strangely enough, there are two snuff boxes lying around... Returning the snuff boxes to Rumpo, he will identify the correct one. However, he still has a second task before granting his vote: cheering up his bosun, Alrico Farfara. ALRICO FARFARA: Who... ah, what a warm sight in this cold wilderness. Allow me to introduce myself. Alrico Farfara, a son of Grangor, the fairest city of Fairfield. ARDO: Greetings, noble Alrico Farfara. I am Ardo of Boar... err Ardo, a merchant of the Middenrealm. CANO: My name is Cano ui Benadin of the fairest city in Albernia, the beautiful Havena. I spend so much time surrounded by these ruffians, it's wonderful to meet a nobleman. JAAKON: Jaakon Zagor, guild mage of Festum. ALRICO FARFARA: And to whom else do I owe the honor? URDIRIEL: Err... Urdiriel Teardream is my name. ALRICO FARFARA: My lady, the pleasure is all mine. And how can Alrico Farfara help you? URDIRIEL: Your captain is worried about you. He wants me to help you and cheer you up. ALRICO FARFARA: Oh, I had just forgotten the shame that fills my heart with grief. But you bring me hope, if the captain thinks that you might be able to retrieve the thing most precious to me above all others. URDIRIEL: What exactly is the problem? ALRICO FARFARA: It is my rapier, a noble weapon made of the finest steel, fashioned by the best smiths in Grangor. It is a family heirloom that has been with the Farfaras since time immemorial. Stolen by a worthy servant of the notorious Soorman... CANO: [Human Nature] Hmm, go on, noble Alrico. [i shouldn't let him beguile me. He has a silver tongue.] ALRICO FARFARA: Well, I have tried everything to retrieve my rapier, but the fellow just won't give it back. Either I must spill blood or live with the eternal humiliation and shame. URDIRIEL: I could try talking with the thief. Where can I find him? ALRICO FARFARA: Wonderful! Maybe you will be able to take back what is mine from that blockhead. But you should know he's a mean customer and he has like-minded friends. You'll find him with his cronies at the dueling ground. At the dueling ground, Alrico's task can be elegantly solved by letting Cano pickpocket the rapier off the thugs' leader. After Alrico has his rapier back, Rumpo's vote is ours. Four to go.

Is there any chance for a demo? I don't remember whether the first game had one. I'd like to know how well it will run on my computer... last I checked, I barely passed the minimum requirements.

Must be tough, playing games you don't like.

BG2, Darkensang: River of Time & Divine Divinity.

Hammerberg turns out to be a cold, snowy place at the foot of the Anvil Mountains. On the docks, a dwarf named Avarosh quickly addresses the party to give the rundown of the place. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Tell me, who are you? What do you want? Time is gold! URDIRIEL: We... er... we're just simple traveling merchants... This is... err... Gammlund. What's it to you? GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: They call me Goldtooth and I'll tell you what it has to do with me. First, I don't tolerate competition. Second, I take care of my businesses here. And third, I tell my friends when my nose tells me something stinks. Something's not quite right about you and your cronies. URDIRIEL: You're not different to me. People like us make our own rules, am I right? GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: That's an attitude that will gain you both followers and enemies... but the rules here apply to all, understood? URDIRIEL: What are these rules? GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Differences are settled at the dueling ground. Keep your weapons sheathed anywhere else. If somebody tries to take your life, defend yourself. But no vendettas and no complaining. Any questions? URDIRIEL: I think I can manage that. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Do you like waiting in the reeds? URDIRIEL: Huh? Do I like what... where? ...Is that some kind of euphemism? Well... err... I'd really just like to know whether you saw a red-haired woman. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: I see... I can't tell you anything about that. CANO: [Human Nature] You don't know anything? Or are you not allowed to tell us anything? GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: [success] Yes, yes, you're right. Hookensang brought a woman with him a while ago... but you'll have to look for the Captain yourself. He hasn't shown his face for a while. URDIRIEL: It's this woman I'm looking for. Where can I find her? GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: I see... You want to talk to Thunderfist! But I'm afraid I must disappoint you... we don't let just anybody do that. URDIRIEL: What do I have to do? GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: You can only meet Thunderfist if you have enough people vouch for you. Not just anybody, of course... people with a certain amount of influences. Like me. URDIRIEL: I see... and who has influence here? GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: The Council members. Apart from me, there's "Irontaste", "Widowfriend", "Hookensang" and "Bardshock"... Hehe, but I doubt you'll be able to get their agreement. URDIRIEL: I need to know more about the Council members. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Yes, yes, but you won't manage it anyway... hehe... who would you like to know about? URDIRIEL: What about you, "Goldtooth"? GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Aye, Avaroth, son of Gramtax is my name. And my tooth isn't all the gold I have either, hehe. I mine precious metals in the delving and I run all kinds of other lucrative businesses. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Loans, for example, at interest of course. That reminds me... I need someone to call in a few debts for me. It seems to me, you want to get on my good side, don't you? URDIRIEL: You're right. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Yes, yes. Then make yourself useful! Those who don't make their payments get a visit, understand? Will you take care of it? URDIRIEL: Who do you want me to visit? GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: The first is "Growler" Bodo, a dog breeder. You'll find him near the back harbor. He's stubborn as a mule, that one! Threats of violence don't work on him... and don't call him Growler. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: The second one is Radomir, the "Tavern King". I'll give you three guesses where you can find him. A tricky fellow! Don't let him fool you. And then there's Zira, our tender "Snow White". She hangs around behind the tavern fluttering her eyelashes and waiting for business. Heh, yes, yes! URDIRIEL: Is that all? As you said earlier, time is gold! GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: And I'm losing gold as we speak! Growler Bodo owes me 12 ducats, Radomir owes me 11 ducats, and Snow White owes me 8 ducats. That's 31 ducats in total. Any questions? URDIRIEL: Tell me about "Irontaste". GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Phewin Soorman is a dangerous man. Aye! He got into the banditry business early in life. First coaches, then ships... who knows what else! The only thing that's certain is that you won't have much fun speaking with him. He spends a lot of time doing business deals in the tavern. GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: First you must speak with his bosun - a stinking Blackfur, hehe. I wonder if you'll survive that? Aye... we shall see! URDIRIEL: Tell me about "Widowfriend". GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Rumpo Berchbold. A man who made it from common mercenary to captain... how did he do it? Aye, I'd like to know that. He's usually over at the back pier, that show-off. Ask him yourself, hehe. URDIRIEL: Tell me about "Bardshock". GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Hehe, Jadira Cruento is a Zahori. You know... the traveling people. She took over the booze house after they strung up the old innkeeper here. Now they all dance to her tune down there. URDIRIEL: Tell me about "Hookensang". GOLDTOOTH AVAROSH: Ahh, our very own nobility, Timorn of Stoneground. But he'll soon be residing on a stony riverbed if he's not careful, hehe. You can still find him in the tavern. On their way from the docks, the party bumps into an old friend. CAPTAIN BURGESS: Hey! You there! You're the one I gave a good beating! URDIRIEL: I remember. You came up behind me and knocked me down right at the beginning of this adventure! CAPTAIN BURGESS: I hate you! Everything went wrong in my life after I gave you that beating. URDIRIEL: Tell me what happened, I'm curious. CAPTAIN BURGESS: I ran off when your cronies stuck their noses in. In the rush to escape, my ship floundered on one of the greatest rocks. I barely made it back here on the ship's tiny lifeboat. Most of my people went down with the ship. Worst of all, before all this happened I had a chance of getting on the Council! Now that Hookensang sits there instead of me! It's all your fault! URDIRIEL: At least I don't need your vote. CAPTAIN BURGESS: I don't care about that. I feel like giving you another bump on the head for everything that's happened because of you and your cronies. Unfortunately for him, Captain Burgess gets trounced badly and whimpers off. Revenge is sweet. NEXT: various tasks for the Council.

Back at the Tollgate, a mage will now appear near the docks. It is Rakorium Muntagonis, the brilliant (but absent-minded) Dean of the Quicksilver Hall in Festum. Another legendary figure in the Dark Eye setting who is also a fairly important NPC in Drakensang 1. ARCHMAGE RAKORIUM: Oh, err... Nottel, finally! Oh, forgive me... I thought you were my apprentice... oh dear, oh dear... URDIRIEL: Is there a problem? Can I help? RIVER GUARDSMAN: This man just appeared on the dock with a pile of crates. He says he's the Dean of a magic academy, so we're trying to be as respectful as possible... RIVER GUARDSMAN: ...but whenever we ask him something he just starts talking about someone called Nottel! I don't think he even exists! ARCHMAGE RAKORIUM: Oh, that's an interesting theory, my young friend! Are you also familiar with Galotta's commentary on Philosophica Magica, according to which we are all just imaginary figments dreamt up by alien beings? JAAKON: [Arcane Lore] You are clearly alluding to the fact that some scholars doubt the actual existence of our Third Sphere. ARCHMAGE RAKORIUM: Quite right. In his treatise, Galotta also says that Ethra and the Cosmos actually only exist as ideas and can therefore be changed at any time. Worrying, don't you think? At that time, the colleague believed it was the Gods who dreamed our world. But really, there's no reason why it couldn't be me, for example. An interesting concept, I think. ARCHMAGE RAKORIUM: Do you mind if I ask your name, incidentally? One wants to know... one whom has imagined... eh? Haha... URDIRIEL: My name is Urdiriel Teardream. Can I help you in some way? ARCHMAGE RAKORIUM: Hmm, maybe you could look for Nottel for me, yes? Please tell him that I need him here urgently. He's probably forgotten the time again, absent-minded boy that he is. URDIRIEL: Where could Nottel be? ARCHMAGE RAKORIUM: Well, I did tell him about those old witch stones up there... Very powerful... Good for sphere travel and blood magic... hmm... RIVER GUARDSMAN: You mean that stone circle to the northeast? I've been there... it's an eerie place... ARCHMAGE RAKORIUM: Yes, haha... it's the kind of thing that interests young people... no wonder Nottel has been away so long... The party heads to the stone circle and finds Nottel rooted in the middle of it. NOVICE NOTTEL: Praise be to the Mother of Wisdom! I wasn't even sure he would notice I was gone. Could you help me? Otherwise I'll be standing here all night. URDIRIEL: Are you Nottel? NOVICE NOTTEL: Oh, you've already spoken with Master Rakorium? Yes, I'm his apprentice. I'm actually called Ungfred, not Nottel... the Master just seems to find it easier to call me that, I guess. URDIRIEL: What? Your master can't even get your name right? NOVICE NOTTEL: Well... Nottel was the name of Master Rakorium's first apprentice. And to make things easier, that's just what he calls all his apprentices now... he's a little... ahem... His duties as Dean mean he's a very busy man. URDIRIEL: What happened? NOVICE NOTTEL: I wanted to take a look at this stone circle. The Compendium of Miraculous Stones describes it as an unusual specimen. It resembles the work of Dwarven Geodes, but it's much older. I noticed some strange magical traps on the way here... obviously some type of contained Transversalis. The stone circle itself seems to have a powerful magical aura. Very strange. NOVICE NOTTEL: I cast an Analytica spell on the stones and it must have caused some kind of feedback. Now the arcane currents have me trapped here. Err, are you still listening? URDIRIEL: How can I help you? NOVICE NOTTEL: There's some kind of magical matrix between these stones that won't let me leave. You have to find a way to interrupt the flow of magical energy. I think the source of the energy is somewhere below the stone circle... I saw a cave on the way here. Maybe you'll find something there. NOVICE NOTTEL: Unfortunately the entrance looked like it was blocked... but I'm sure Master Rakorium can help you with that. He's an expert in Transformation magic. Please, go and ask him to help you... then go to the cave and look for the source of the magic and try to cut it off. Rakorium grants the party with a magical pick-axe that is used to clear the entrance to the cave that Nottel spoke of. Inside the cave, soon an unknown magician appears out of nowhere and addresses the party. MARAWAMIR AY ELBURUM: What? Who are you? What are you doing down here? Did he send you? URDIRIEL: I'm looking for the source of some magical energies. MARAWAMIR AY ELBURUM: Magical energies? Do you mean our ritual? It was interrupted! Weeks of preparation and then somebody up there fools with the stones! I'm sure he had a hand in this! MARAWAMIR AY ELBURUM: He's been trying to thwart me ever since the ritual was interrupted! He's using every means possible to stop me from completing it! He's constantly hiding the components! Don't believe his lies! It's obvious he is not to be trusted! You should help me find the ingredients! URDIRIEL: Who is he? MARAWAMIR AY ELBURUM: He was once my companion, but now he shows his true face. He is evil and unscrupulous to the core... he wants nothing more than destroy me. He must not achieve his goal! URDIRIEL: Who are you? MARAWAMIR AY ELBURUM: I am Marawamir ay Elburum, mage and researcher of arcane secrets. The ritual I began must be ended! He must not succeed! MARAWAMIR AY ELBURUM: No time! I must continue! Bring the ingredients to me when you have them! I shall wait for you in the cave beneath the stone circle! And be careful... I'm sure he's laid traps. Soon after Marawamir teleports away, "he" appears... and is apparently Marawamir's undead version. MARAWAMIR AY ELBURUM: Halt! I know that you're helping that weakling by looking for the components for the ritual! Forget that pathetic worm! From now on, you shall obey my will! URDIRIEL: Why should I obey you? You don't look particularly trustworthy. MARAWAMIR AY ELBURUM: If you serve me, I shall richly reward you. I have the power to grant you any wishes... oppose me and I shall destroy you! Collect the components from the surrounding rooms and bring them to the center of the place of ritual. I shall wait for you there. After going through the entire cave complex, the party gathers the five ingredients, which turn out to be five rare plant components. Taking the ingredients to the ritual place, the two mages will start battling and Urdiriel must make a decision which of the two mages to help... by either completing or reversing the ritual. To complete the ritual, the ingredients must be placed in the correct order in each of the bowls. The correct order is revealed by solving a small puzzle. The only way to release Nottel is to reverse the ritual. When the skeleton mage then attempts to complete the ritual, he disappears. MARAWAMIR AY ELBURUM: Thanks be to Hesinde, he is gone! Some things shouldn't be shared. As old Rohal said: "When you stare deep into your soul, eventually it stares back." MARAWAMIR AY ELBURUM: Very clever of you to arrange the components in the opposite sequence... that reversed the ritual. The stones above ground are no longer charged with magical energy, if you're interested. MARAWAMIR AY ELBURUM: Well, err... I think I'll dedicate my time to different research in the future... Maybe I'll go back to dissecting small animals, or big ones... err, farewell! Transversalis Teleport! Heading back to the docks, Nottel and Master Rakorium are reunited. NOVICE NOTTEL: Hello! Thank you for saving me. When I felt the magical powers abating, I went straight back to Master Rakorium. Now I need to deal with the tollkeepers... the two guards look shaken up. Speak to my master again, he's sure to reward you... if he recognizes you. ARCHMAGE RAKORIUM: Aha, you're back again! And there's.. err... ah, Nottel... URDIRIEL: Yes, I managed to free him. ARCHMAGE RAKORIUM: Oh, thank Hesinde! I thought I'd have to get another one... hmm, yes. ARCHMAGE RAKORIUM: Well, shall we be on our way? This time we should make it to Havena... I hope Prince Bennain won't be too annoyed by the delay... Get ready then, and... NOVICE NOTTEL: But Master, what about our research material? Surely we can't just leave it here? ARCHMAGE RAKORIUM: Oh, ah yes... We should take that with us, shouldn't we? Come along then, Nottel. Transversalis... Master Rakorium teleports away and now the party can finally move on to the pirate hideout, Hammerberg.

Back at the Hunting Preserve, Enno of Vardock will now offer a quest to do some Spring cleaning and rid the place of marauding Orks. The Orks are located in the western part of the preserve and are not too difficult to deal with. However, there are also Ogres among them. Ogres hit very hard and have a large amount of HP. They can however be efficiently beaten by using melee debuffs followed by applying wounding attacks. On the stone bridge, there are two Ogres to fight. The party finds the way beyond the bridge blocked by a tree. Enno of Vardock's servants will remove it, but this will take a while... the party will return later to finish the job. Back at the Elven woods, Urdiriel hands over the Elven arrow she crafted to Linwen Owlwing. He now has two more tasks before he will help making the ultimate weapon. LINWEN OWLWING: You have now discovered that there is more to weaponforming than the right grip techniques. It is important to start with a clear idea of what you want to create. URDIRIEL: Yes... it is as if the arrow was already in the branch from which you formed it. LINWEN OWLWING: Three Elves must combine their magic to form the weapon with you. Speak with Calenleya Arrowsong and Ilcoron Sparkweaver and ask them if they wish to help. Calenleya Arrowsong tasks the party with some typical Elven hippie stuff, i.e. walking around the woods and listening to the melody of it. Upon returning to her, she will ask how many deer live in the forest. Ilcoron Sparkweaver asks to craft a pommel for him. After performing these two minor tasks, Linwen Owlwing, Calenleya Arrowsong and Ilcoron Sparkweaver will gather with Urdiriel and sing the perfect weapon into existence. LINWEN OWLWING: Magic and song will help to define the form. To work in harmony with us, you must open your senses by singing with us. LINWEN OWLWING: I call on you all! Unite and channel your powers into this weapon. Diun i'dao sala mandra! CALENLEYA ARROWSONG: The bond is complete... Fey'y sanya sala ia'dhamandra-mha aya tharmandra! URDIRIEL: Fey'y sanya sala ia'dhamandra-mha aya tharmandra! ILCORON SPARKWEAVER: Ia sala biuanda sany'ray! E

Fable 3 coming to PC on same day as Witcher 2

Is there a PC demo? I'm interested since this is supposed to be the spiritual successor to Painkiller.

Pure FPS are about shooting enemies non-stop, not watching cutscenes and scripted events every ten minutes.

"Physical damage: 14,666" Still the offline MMO, I see.

I'll wait until the Gamespy, Gamespot and IGN reviews before deciding.

On the island, the party comes upon a strange magical structure. A disembodied voice greets the party... VOICE: Please... don't hurt me... no more anguish! I implore you! URDIRIEL: What... is someone talking to me? Where are you? The voice belongs to the blue creature that Van Haring's book spoke of. How long has it been trapped on the island? WATER NYMPH: Forgive me, but I can't communicate with you in any other way... URDIRIEL: I cannot hear you, but I can sense your voice inside my head... don't be afraid of me. WATER NYMPH: I understand your thoughts. But the language of you landfolk is foreign to me. I was afraid that he had come back at first... he lived on land like you. He made me suffer a great deal. But he suffered, too. He hasn't come to this place for a long time. WATER NYMPH: The one who lives on land, who I told you about... he shackled me to this place. Do you see these rocks here? He placed a mighty spell on them, so that I'm unable to leave this island... URDIRIEL: I've never seen a creature like yourself before. Do you really live under the water? WATER NYMPH: Yes, the rivers and depths of the ocean are home to us. Yet at times we go on land, where we meet some of your kind. That frequently brings us children of the water a great deal of pain... WATER NYMPH: One of your kind saw me on the shore one night and came over to me. He said that I belonged to him now and bound me to this spot... but I can't survive here. I long to return to my people. URDIRIEL: How can I set you free? WATER NYMPH: Perhaps there is a way... but to help me you must understand the herbs of the forest. The one who lives on land used them to work the spell. My senses were numb when he brought me here, I couldn't see everything he did exactly. But he placed herbs in the bowl on these stones. A different one in each. URDIRIEL: Please continue. WATER NYMPH: Then he turned the stones in a certain way and then suddenly there was light in this place that began flashing in a myriad of colors. It was like looking at the sun through a waterfall. Shortly after that it seemed as if my legs were turning into frozen water. Then I lost consciousness. Ever since then every time I distance myself more than a few steps from the island, my body stiffens, as if it is turning to ice and I lose my senses. WATER NYMPH: I've been trying to escape from this spell for many moon cycles. But it's hopeless. The herbs that grow on this island aren't the right ones to help me escape. URDIRIEL: Do you know anything else about these strange stones? WATER NYMPH: They can be turned, but I can't interpret the symbols on them. However, I do know that the right herbs are needed to work the magic. I beg you, help me! If you find the right herbs and turn the stones in the right away, then I'll surely be set free. URDIRIEL: Fear not. I will do what I can to help you. WATER NYMPH: You would be guaranteed my gratitude for all time. I can't bear this place any longer... I've been separated from my people for such a long time. Our first task in order to free the nymph is to align the symbols on the obelisks with the ones on the rotating disk. The hints that the nymph gave, combined with Urdiriel's Survival skill, reveal that the only plants that do not grow on the island are: Festering toadstool, Firemoss, Whirlweed and Oneberry. Putting these plants in the correct bowl will free the nymph. Some knowledge of TDE lore is helpful here, since the symbols correspond to 4 of the 6 elements used in TDE, namely Water, Fire, Humus and Air... meaning that Whirlweed corresponds to Fire, Oneberry to Water, Toadstool to Air and Firemoss to Humus. However, since putting the right plant in the right bowl will cause one of the central colors in the rotating disk to disappear, trial-and-error works just as well. Solving the puzzle causes a spray of colors, and the water nymph is finally free. As a reward, Urdiriel receives a mind-melt. WATER NYMPH: The chill in my limbs... it has disappeared... did it! I'm free! WATER NYMPH: I'm so happy! I can finally go back to the waters of my homeland! Back home to my own people! Thank you! WATER NYMPH: I don't have anything precious that I can give you for it... but perhaps I can give you a gift that you will think is much more valuable. Open your mind to me... URDIRIEL: That... that's quite overwhelming! Thank you. Good luck on your homeward journey. The party is now ready to travel again. At this point, the defeated adversaries from the Arena will appear on the docks. Now we get a nice reference to Blade of Destiny (River of Time takes place in 1009 BF, 1 year before the events of Realms of Arkania). IFIRNIA THE AMAZON: Good to see you! URDIRIEL: What are you doing here at the harbor? IFIRNIA THE AMAZON: We have decided to follow the call of Tronde Torbenson the Hetman and move to Thorwal. IFIRNIA THE AMAZON: Rumor has it that he is looking for heroes to search for a lost sword in the wilderness of Orkland. URDIRIEL: And now you're waiting for a boat? IFIRNIA THE AMAZON: We even had a boat which would have taken us to Havena at the end of the Great River... but Tragash is mulish when it comes to travel by water. TRAGASH: The boat was old, and its wood was rotten. That wreck's probably already sunk, believe you me! CONNAR BABEK: Coward! TRAGASH: Shut your mouth! THURAZZ: Tragash-Scared-of-the-Water! Ha ha! Your new name! Heh heh.... TRAGASH: You'll land in the water yourself if you don't... IFIRNIA THE AMAZON: Quiet! All three of you! You're behaving like children! TRAGASH: But I'm not scared! And I'll prove it too... I'll board the next boat that's going to Havena... so there! IFIRNIA THE AMAZON: Hmm, this will certainly be an unforgettable adventure... I hope we meet again some day! URDIRIEL: I hope so, too. Have a good journey! NEXT: return to Hunting Preserve/Tollgate

That's a big rat... The boss rat isn't as hard as the one in Drakensang 1, but the fight can become tricky since it will call forth an infinite number of increasingly tougher smaller rats, and after a number of these are killed the big rat will go berserk, increasing its damage and making it much more dangerous. Once the rat reaches 10 levels of berserk, it can even one-shot party members. Therefore, it needs to be dealt with as quickly as possible. It doesn't take too long for the big rat to be defeated. Now, remembering what was written in Hubert van Haring's book, the party heads to the marketplace. Behind the Praios Temple is Crooked Otto, a vendor that sells all kinds of weird junk (including amoeba spores, which will be important later in the game). With a high enough level in Animal Lore, Crooked Otto will open his special inventory and the party can buy Candied Kosh Bunting Tongues, which according to Van Haring's book is very effective in persuading Trolls... The party heads to the Troll Bridge outside Nadoret and meets up with the three Trolls Krolwum, Brulbu and Mombo. KROLWUM: You there... stop! MOMBO: Correct. Road end here. URDIRIEL: But the road continues behind your tree... KROLWUM: Yeah. Uhh... hmm... Road go on, yes... but... uhh... BRULBU: ... road only for Troll! Is Troll road! MOMBO: Right! And you midget man, and midget man not Troll. So go you elsewhere. URDIRIEL: I may not be a Troll, but a magician is expecting me. I'm sure you know who I mean. KROLWUM: 'Course we know! Glitterman good friend. And he sure not say we let other midget man through. So you no go through! URDIRIEL: Your loyalty is very commendable. He must be a really nice magician if he's your friend. KROLWUM: Yes, he be. He give us always reward. Ku... emm... Ka... uh... Tongues! Sweet tongues! Maybe you bring sweet tongues, show us your friend of Little Spellcaster. URDIRIEL: "Sweet tongues"? You don't mean candied Kosh bunting tongues, do you? KROLWUM: Yaa, right name. Sweet, good! FORGRIMM: Kosh bunting tongues? Are a few screws perhaps loose in your head? They don't only taste fantastic, they're also darn expensive! I'd rather eat them myself than give them to Trolls! KROLWUM: Hairy midget man complain all he want, it no matter... want to past us go, bring you sweet tongues. Mmmm, tastem sooo much goood! After handing over the tongues, the Trolls clear the road. Past the Trolls, the party eventually reaches the small island that was mentioned in Van Haring's book. There's still a boat around to travel there.

Returning to Nadoret, Urdiriel decides to fight in the Arena for some (relatively) easy money and experience. Each round, a certain investment of ducats is needed to enter the ring, but winning the fight earns back double the investment. First opponent: a peasant called Stonenoggin Barakor. Very easy. Second opponent: Connar Babek, an unarmored fighter with a trident. Easy. Third opponent: Ifirnia the Amazon. Moderately easy. Fourth opponent: Tragash, a Dwarf with a big hammer. First difficult opponent since he can perform Hammer Strike, a combat skill that inflicts three times the base weapon damage and knocks the enemy down. However, being an Elf Urdiriel has access to the spell Ice-Cold Warrior, which allows her to ignore all damage for 60 seconds (only to suffer all damage afterwards in one go). This is makes it very easy to get through the final three opponents. Fifth opponent: Thurazz the Ork. Pretty tough fight since he has access to a variety of combat skills. After beating the five regular opponents, Arena Master Wulfgrim himself will enter the Ring. Normally a very difficult opponent, the Ice-Cold Warrior spell combined with Lightning makes it a walk-over. Mission accomplished. Becoming Arena champion nets Urdiriel about 50 ducats. After leaving the Arena and walking around the city, a citizen calls out to the party. Urdiriel decides to check it out. TOWNSMAN KOSTAN: Thanks be to the Twelfgods! Finally someone who looks strong and able! I... we, oh, what am I saying: All of Nadoret is in danger! I need someone to take care of these filthy creatures right away! CANO: [Human Nature] You're hiding something, otherwise you would have called the Town Guard to help you. TOWNSMAN KOSTAN: What? I... but you've got it all wrong! I was trying to convince the guards of the looming danger, but they only mocked me. If something isn't done soon, then it will be too late! CANO: [Fast Talk] Perhaps we shouldn't get involved here. That all sounds quite suspicious... TOWNSMAN KOSTAN: [success] No, wait! I'll admit it: these Wolf Rats... didn't show up by chance. They... I... well I... bred them. URDIRIEL: What? Breeding them? You can't be serious! TOWNSMAN KOSTAN: I beg you, no one must find out about this! The disgrace would be unbearable! I'm just a poor wretch and got the idea because rat tails are worth decent gold due to their value as a cooking ingredient. URDIRIEL: Giant Wolf Rats... Hmm. I'll see what I can do. TOWNSMAN KOSTAN: I'll never forget this favor! But you should know that these specimens are unbelievably large and strong, because they've... well... eaten something magical... A young breeding female rat has already escaped. It's unthinkable what would happen if the dominant male rat got out as well. He is incredibly wild and strong, a terrible beast! TOWNSMAN KOSTAN: I had already hired some mercenaries, but they were unsuccesful! I gave them the last money I had. They still have it on them, along with their armor, so that will be your reward. TOWNSMAN KOSTAN: But be warned. I can't take any risks, that's why I'm going to lock the door behind you and only open it when the dominant male rat has been killed! Note: the female rat that Kostan speaks of appears in Drakensang 1. Anyway, it is time for some rat slaying.

Trailer needs less generic male Nord. Otherwise, looks promising.

So what happened, BioWare? Why didn't we receive Frazetta but instead, Elmore?

At long last, by the prowess of our party and Alari's healing skills, Ardo is revived. ARDO: Where am I? What happened? Why...? FORGRIMM: Kangrosha, finally. You're awake! You've been healed by Elven sorcery. ARDO: Aah, I feel strong enough to tear down a tree! CANO: You'd better not. Shorty here has tested the Elves' patience enough as it is. If it weren't for me... FORGRIMM: Dosh rogelo! Blabbermouth! FORGRIMM: You'd be far worse off, if it weren't for the heroics of this brave soul, my friend. ARDO: If that's the case, then I owe you my gratitude and recognition. It is time to speak openly. FORGRIMM: Well, his real name is Ardo of Boarstock and his family guards the Imperial Insignia. Hmm, yes... CANO: And then along came Mora and stole it, the most important of all... ARDO: The Crown of Raul! ARDO: Now you know our true quest... the thousand-year-old crown of the Middenrealm was stolen from me. And we need your help to find it. URDIRIEL: I don't see the problem. There it is. Everything's alright! FORGRIMM: Nothing is alright, woman! CANO: Appearances are deceptive... it was to me that Phex whispered the truth. This crown is... a glorious fake. URDIRIEL: A fake! That's how you knew Mora beat you to it! ARDO: It seems I have missed rather a lot. FORGRIMM: Ardo, you need to know something... that scoundrel with the magic dagger... it was he who got Mora and Cano to steal the crown. ARDO: She didn't act alone? If she was working for somebody else, that means... JAAKON: Mora is part of a bigger plan... probably aimed at destroying the authority of His Magnificence, Emperor Hal. The consequences of such an undertaking would be... URDIRIEL: ... catastrophic! All of the Middenrealm could descend into chaos! ARDO: Now you know what's at stake... will you join us in our quest? URDIRIEL: You can count on my help, my friends. ARDO: Your answer does you honor. I was right about you. CANO: Excellent, then let us find Mora! ... and the crown, of course. Now that we know where the pirates are hiding... From now on, Ardo becomes a party member. However, before moving on we'll talk to him some more. URDIRIEL: How do you assess the situation? ARDO: The situation is extremely critical. If the crown falls into the wrong hands, then the Emperor can be discredited. That's why it's so important that we find out where Mora disappeared to with the crown. URDIRIEL: Tell me something about the crown. ARDO: It is said that after Bosparan fell, a griffin crowned Raul the Great with twelve golden feathers, which were transformed into a crown overnight. He had large gemstones set into it, to symbolize the Empire's provinces. ARDO: The genuine Raul's Crown has the power to sow courage, recognize duplicity and to give the ruler insight into the concerns of the people. But that only happens if it is worn by the rightful Emperor... otherwise it will call down the wrath of the gods! ARDO: About sixty divine cycles ago, Emperor Bardo had a copy of the crown made for his twin sister Cella, in order to rule jointly with her. After Reto of Gareth seized power, the object ended up in the secret chambers... or so we thought. URDIRIEL: Tell me something about yourself, Ardo. ARDO: I was born 34 divine cycles ago as the son of Hl

There should have been a Renegade interrupt for everytime Thane went on his "sand-coloured eyes... light on the sand", or whatever, trips.

In the Hall of Invocation, our party must now decide which of the seal stones to use, if any. The more seal stones used, the easier the demon will be defeated but the lesser the reward will be. Without any seal stones used, the demon has following powers: - health regeneration - aura that drains magic - aura that damages the party's attack values - aura that damages the party's endurance and HP values - high armour rating Using no seal stones at all requires a lot of resources that the party at this point does not have: Urdiriel only has 20 incendiary arrows and 60 poison arrows at this point, not to mention the party lacks any magic potions. Thus, Urdiriel decides to apply the Seal of Power, removing the demon's regeneration, and the Seal of Presence, so that the party's attack values will remain intact. Aligning the pentagram correctly and the demon appears. With two seals used, the fight is still rather long. Biggest contributors to doing damage here are Cano with his star throwing and Urdiriel with her Marksman skill, as both ignore armour. Forgrimm is merely there to keep the demon distracted, while Jaakon is completely useless due to the demon's mana drain. Eventually, the demon goes down and the party obtains the theriac. Heading down, Archon Megalon is of course back for another condescending lecture. ARCHON MEGALON: *claps* Observation object "test group two" completes the experiment alive. URDIRIEL: I suppose there is no need to tell you that I defeated the demon. ARCHON MEGALON: A correct inference. But indulge me with the details: how many seal stones have you brought me? URDIRIEL: Three. ARCHON MEGALON: You kept more than you used... your greed obviously triumphed over your fear. Interesting... URDIRIEL: It was the only sensible decision. ARCHON MEGALON: I'll give you a piece of old druid wisdom in gratitude for participating in my experiment: "Stay one step ahead of time, or it will catch up to you". Archon Megalon's reward for three seals is a recipe for "demonic armour" and a fair amount of ducats. The party then leaves the ruins and delivers the theriac medicine to Alari Springborn. Finally, Ardo can be healed. NEXT UPDATE: Ardo reveals all.

With all turnkeys in hand, the party heads back to the big door. Now, however, the leader of the Dark Amazons will show. DARK AMAZON LEADER: Halt! You there! What are you doing here? The Dark Goddess calls only woman warriors! URDIRIEL: Dark Goddess? I am here for another reason. DARK AMAZON LEADER: Do not waste our time! Or do you wish to feel my anger? Explain yourself! URDIRIEL: A man I met at the ruins made me take part in his experiment. DARK AMAZON LEADER: You can trust a man no more than you can trust a snake. And I trust you even less. Sisters, attack! There is just no reasoning with these misandrists and they need to be slain. This ends the threat of the Dark Amazons. Urdiriel now uses the turnkeys to open the door to the lower levels. The party can finally move on. The party quickly comes upon the source of evil that is burdening the Elves: two giant statues of the arch-demoness Thargunitoth. The party's task is to destroy them both while skeletons spawn endlessly. After destroying the statues, Archon Megalon shows his face again. ARCHON MEGALON: Very impressive, how these demonic manifestations stimulate fear reception, don't you think? They affected nearly every sentient being in the region. URDIRIEL: Did you tell the Dark Amazons they would find their Dark Goddess here? ARCHON MEGALON: These supposedly fearless ladies were merely victims of their own greed and delusions. My contribution was meager. URDIRIEL: These deceived woman warriors murdered the Elf guards in cold blood... now they are dead as well. ARCHON MEGALON: After the failure of test group one, I shall follow your own confrontation with the demon with interest. And of course, the decision you make with the seal stones. URDIRIEL: You can follow me all you want, so long as you don't keep me from the remedy my friend needs. ARCHON MEGALON: I'll even help you in the right direction: the remedy you seek was hidden by its previous owner in a rather inaccessible location. It is in the Hall of Invocation under the summoning circle... but you must activate the pentagram to get to the theriac. This in turn, will summon the demon. URDIRIEL: I will vanquish the beast. Now keep me here no longer. The next area consists of two large halls with various siderooms, all crawling with gargoyles, giant spiders, crypt lice and other vermin. Our task is to find the five McGuffins for Archon Megalon: the Seal of Power, Magic, Presence, Curses and Defense. They are hidden in the siderooms. After obtaining the five seals, the party heads to the Hall of Invocation. It is time to face the demon.

Inside the ruins, it soon appears that the party is not alone. Archon Megalon suckered more fools into the ruins for his 'experiment', in this case Amazons. It was they who killed the Elven guards. After killing the Amazons and entering a dark corridor of the ruins, the party finds the place is swarming undead. Our task is to acquire the three turnkeys to open the big door that leads to the lower levels. Each of these turnkeys is obtained by solving a puzzle in a specific puzzle room. However, a group of Amazons has reached the first puzzleroom and solved the puzzle before the party. After killing them, the party obtains the first turnstone. Inside another part of the ruins, there is a non-hostile Amazon who addresses the party. LARYS: You there... Halt! Not a step further! Don't you know that our Dark Goddess waits down there to be awakened by her true servants? URDIRIEL: Your sisters didn't talk, they just attacked straight away. LARYS: They do not speak with Elves. Give me a reason not to call my sisters to slay you! URDIRIEL: How can you serve a Goddess with a skull for a face? LARYS: Skull? URDIRIEL: One of your sisters has already seen the face of your 'Goddess' in her nightmares. LARYS: Nightmares? I... I don't know what you're talking about. The Goddess is both mother and savior to us. CANO: [Human Nature] You have nightmares, don't you? LARYS: I... yes. Her face was dreadful... URDIRIEL: Why did you betray your true goddess? LARYS: The Sword Goddess had never stood with me. Why shouldn't I betray her? URDIRIEL: You betrayed your goddess because she never helped you? LARYS: I merely followed my sisters into the cult... they said it was the right thing to do. CANO: [Human Nature] You are lying. LARYS: You trust your intuition enough to damn my soul? URDIRIEL: You are lying... but I will help you so that you have a choice. LARYS: Then... then maybe there is a way. A Priestess of Rondra met her death within these walls... her soul still wanders here. My sisters have tried to banish it, but they cannot approach the holy aura of her soul. LARYS: If you help her to find Rondra, maybe she would absolve my soul... would you do that? URDIRIEL: Of course... anything for the Gods. Not far from Larys we find the room with the soul of the slain Rondra priestess. LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: Ah! Righteous warriors, here in this terrible place. URDIRIEL: Who are you? LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: In life, I was Leondril Liontongue of Thunderbrook... I served Lady Rondra. And who are you? URDIRIEL: My name is Urdiriel Teardream. LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: Be warned then, Urdiriel Teardream! A servant of Boron's adversary is at work here. URDIRIEL: A Dark Covenanter? What is his name? LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: He calls himself Thargazz. He's a short man with hair like white straw... you must have encountered him, as he has made his lair here in these ruins. Although, I haven't seen him for some time. URDIRIEL: Hmm, I have never met him. LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: Thargazz is a follower of the dark Borbarad, whom he served faithfully during the Mage Wars... he is extremely powerful and unscrupulous. URDIRIEL: Borbarad? Is that not the enemy of Rohal the Wise? And weren't the Mage Wars over five hundred years ago? LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: Five hundred years? Can it really be so long? By Rondra! Is the Dark Covenanter really still alive? If he is dead, nobody will be able to free my soul! URDIRIEL: He bound your soul to here? LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: My soul is trapped here, damned to an eternity wandering this unholy place. URDIRIEL: How terrible! Can your soul be freed? LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: He took my bones, my holy sword and my Rondra amulet and buried them so they would never be found again. URDIRIEL: Did he saw where he buried them? LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: No, he wasn't that stupid, unfortunately. He just laughed scornfully and said they were buried in four different places. URDIRIEL: So I must find your bones. Will that release you? LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: Almost. If you find my bones, the sword and the amulet and place them in this sarcophagus next to me in Rondra's name, then my soul will be free to find Boron's Halls. Dare you help me? URDIRIEL: I will help you, Human. LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: I thank you in the name of the Goddess! But you should not delay any further... something has been pulling at my soul ever since I have been here. I cannot fight it much longer. URDIRIEL: Something wishes to consume your soul? LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: The call of the Dark Goddess is strong... I feel it in every fiber of my immortal soul. She wants to drag me down to the Lower Hells... but I still resist. URDIRIEL: Call? What call? LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: Something dwells within these walls... it must be a manifestation of an arch-demoness. It calls for my soul... I fight it, but I don't have much more strength. Soon it will consume me. URDIRIEL: How soon? LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: I will hold out for as long as I can... but my strength will eventually fail me. URDIRIEL: What can we do about it? LEONDRIL LIONTONGUE: The manifestation must dwell somewhere within these vaults, that is the center of her power. Destroy it and the unholy call will fall silent. But be careful... she will guard it well. URDIRIEL: I think I know what to do. At this point, we already dug up the Priestess' bones and amulet and only need to find one more stone head. Past the room with the priestess, we find another puzzle room. After solving an equilibrium puzzle, the second turnkey is ours. In another part of the ruins we find the final puzzle room. This puzzle consists of safely guiding a skeleton past some traps by mirroring its movements. This room also contains the last stone head and the sword. Now, the Priestess' soul can be freed. The party returns to the Priestess, at which point Larys will show up and reveal what was already obvious. LARYS: You return! Did you find the bones of the Priestess? URDIRIEL: I did. They lay beneath the stone heads. LARYS: Then the time has come to tell you the truth... I tricked you! I was just using you to get to the priestesses' bones. Thanks to you we can now sacrifice her soul to the Dark Goddess! URDIRIEL: I suspected as much... but it was worth the risk to save your soul song. LARYS: Sisters! Kill her! Needless to say, the party smacks them and can now save the Priestess. As a reward, we get to keep the Priestess' sword and amulet.

It's nice to see how much Aleroth has grown since Divine Divinity... when there were only six houses. Have you played Divine Divinity? Rivellon is a much more interesting and fleshed out world in that game, actually.