Dialogue (preview)
Zone de Texte: I realize that the only way to convince you to try a new NPC is to offer some kind of preview of the writing and the story, even more so when the NPC has both an unusual race and a peculiar lineage. The gripping half dragon tale starts when a young woman called Sheena is brought before Lord Jierdan Firkraag, bearing his human appearance. This first ‘cutscene’ starts as soon as you reach the orcs ambush. Lord Jierdan: I welcome you Sheena. My spies have been searching the lands for over two years, and I was starting to despair myself of never meeting you. Sheena: If you intended to give me a warm welcome Lord Jierdan, then explain to me why your goons dragged me here, in chains and gagged? Lord Jierdan: Forgive my careless servants, I had asked Conster to bring you here as my guest, and certainly not to harm you. Rest assured, he shall be dealt with. Conster: My Lord, she wouldn’t listen to reason, and we lost four orogs in our attempt to safely bind her. Lord Jierdan: Apart from a few bruises, she appears unscathed. You are excused Conster. As for you Sheena, let me tell you the reason for your visit. Ever since your mother's death and words reaching my ears of *a daughter* attending the funeral, I have relentlessly been looking for you . Sheena: But… why? Lord Jierdan: Long ago, I met your mother. Our relationship lasted only briefly and I never expected a child would result from our fleeting liaison. I left her *unaware* of what was growing inside her. Sheena: Are suggesting I am your- Lord Jierdan: Daughter? Ah yes! Humans are prone to concealing the truth, veiling it with countless lies. Those of your mother about me undoubtedly entailed my premature death at the hand of some evil foe. By now, you should have realized your father was not human. Sheena: Your words are poison. Let my mother rest in peace, she was a fine woman. Lord Jierdan: Your mother was as pathetic and weak as are all humans. Let go of that wretched human part of yours, it will only bring you pain and death. Sheena: Why did you have a liaison with my mother if you so despise the human race? Lord Jierdan: Assuming my human form, I was once curious and eager to learn more about this carnal ritual humans call love. In the end, your mother proved to be nothing more than an amusing experiment. Sheena: I don’t want to hear anymore of this! Let me go! Lord Jierdan: *I* will say when it is over! I devised great plans for you. Sheena: And I don’t want to take a part in them. They are likely filled with evil intent. Lord Jierdan: You are headstrong child. For your own good, I will not allow you to neglect such a grand opportunity. Lord Jierdan: Conster, I want the child to reflect on her predicament. Lock her up in one of the empty cells. A few days of confinement will break her impetuous will. Conster: Yes, my Lord. Sheena: You are a monster! I will not let myself be caged so easily. (Polymorphs into a half red dragon) Lord Jierdan: It is useless to resist, my power far exceeds yours. (Polymorphs into a red dragon) You later find Sheena locked up in a dark and dank cell, next to Garren's child, spellbound by her father, and unable to talk to you. Once released from her father's evil influence, Sheena will swiftly attire her human appearance, and will now be able to talk, but only if pressed. She will relate how she came into Firkraag’s custody with a few well written short stories, and also where she comes from, and who she really is. The choice will then be yours to simply let her go, propose to join your party or kill her, that is if you still assume she poses a threat. If Sheena joins you, she will have at least two banters with every NPC (often more), a friendship path available to both male and female PCs, some flirts and a romance for male PCs interested in that kind of relationship (if you do, you might want to read the read-me file because the path isn’t exactly easy to find). Mazzy & Sheena: this third banter will eventually lead Sheena to consider a romance, but not before you are treated to a fourth banter. It is partly filled with naïve humor that I so much like. Sheena: Is there a Halfling you hold dear in your heart, Mazzy? Mazzy: Patrick was dear to me, but our adventures cost him his life. Sheena: Adventure is hardly propitious in helping you find a soul mate or keep one. Mazzy: Traveling gives us every opportunity to meet new people. Something you will unlikely achieve if you stay in one place. Sheena: Those new people always remain perfect strangers, their faces slowly disappearing from our memories with the passage of time. Mazzy: Don't you have at least a trifle faith in fate? Sheena: You mean like finding a beautiful, sensitive, caring and loving half dragon knocking on my bedroom door tonight. Mazzy: Obviously, your wishful thinking far exceeds my Halfling imagination. I meant the odds of finding a half dragon are far better traveling than if you stay in your secluded mountains. Sheena: The odds he would try to kill us before asking my hand are also much more favorable. It doesn't mean I have given up all hopes, but my prospects couldn't be gloomier, Mazzy. Mazzy: Why focus on your own kind? Your disguise is not displeasing to the eye. Sheena: Are you suggesting I start a serious relationship based on a deceit? Mazzy: You can always reveal yourself before anything gets too serious. At least, you could say you tried. Sheena: I'll need time to get used to such an extravagant idea. Jaheira & Sheena: this second banter with Jaheira explains why Sheena has a good nature, and did not turn into an evil monster like her late father. Jaheira: My first judgment of you has been harsh. Although it certainly calls for an apology, I fail to stumble on the right words. Sheena: And what or who made you so suddenly change your mind? Jaheira: You maintain a certain balance of character I appreciate. It was unexpected at first sight. Sheena: Appearances can be deceitful, and mine more than most. Jaheira:Your appearance may be cursed — child — but your heart is blessed. I imagine your parents loving and compassionate as I see no trace of hatred toward others. Sheena: They always tried to make me feel human, and never showed any disdain for my appearance. Yes, I look back with fond memories of my childhood. Jaheira: They should be proud of turning you into a compassionate being. I wouldn’t dare to imagine your becoming, if fate had placed you in the wrong hands. Yoshimo & Sheena: I simply love the following banter because the dialogue does not reveal much and appears to be senseless, but there is something going on in the backstage. Sheena: Tell me Yoshimo, how did you become a bounty hunter? Yoshimo: As a child, my hands were pretty agile, and I could sneak unseen almost anywhere I pleased. Both gifts never left me, and thus became an accomplished bounty hunter, feared by all and hated by many I might add. Sheena: I imagine any petty thief's childhood similar to yours. Still, do you enjoy hunting your prey? Yoshimo: Ah! A double edged question. Well, the hunt is sometimes far more pleasurable than the prospect of the reward itself, especially when the prey is cunning or shows evasive abilities. Sheena: Do you mean, you would a hunt a man or an elf for sport, rejoicing in his fear? Yoshimo: I may be a man with few scruples, but do not indulge in sadistic behaviors. Such manner would only lessen the noble art of hunting. Sheena: So, what is your real motivation? Yoshimo: One has also to earn a living. Such thing is best achieved when using one's skills and expertise, and at times, the wits one has been blessed with. Sheena: The quaintness of your motives in life resembles your whimsical childhood. Have you no other ambition in your chosen career, but to earn a living? Yoshimo: Where have I erred to draw your indignation? And then I ask, what is life's goal if not to survive or fill the void of a vast emptiness? Sheena: I've asked for your real aspiration in life thrice now, but all your answers were extremely disappointing. Yoshimo: If your questions were slightly less ambiguous, I perhaps, could give you a straight answer. Sheena: I thought a bounty hunter would enjoy a chase in a maze. Obviously not. Yoshimo: Leave me be Sheena. I tire of your idiosyncrasies. The backstage of their argument is Yoshimo’s later betrayal of the PC. Sheena is clearly sensing there is something wrong with Yoshimo. Although she can’t grasp exactly what is wrong, she keeps the pressure on Yoshimo by asking trivial questions about his life and aspirations, in the hope something will come out. Yoshimo is frustrating Sheena by willfully serving trivial platitudes (earn a living, survive, fill the void), and until he tires of being questioned. Interjection preview: Samuel is a renowned weapon-smith in Faerun (second Friendship Talk), and a loving stepfather who raised Sheena as if she were his own daughter. Sheena: Samuel Thunderstorm sends his greeting, Cromwell. Cromwell: Pah! The old cracker wouldn't be able to open a nutshell with his hammer, let alone craft a decent blade. Yer probably here asking me t' fix that cursed blade he sold you. Sheena: I'm his stepdaughter. You know that ain't true, Cromwell. Cromwell: I remember thee. Ye had flappy wings and a big tail the last time we met. Ye lost them fer better features. But yer right, be it not fer competition, I'd hav' to admit Samuel is a bloody good smithy. Beats steel faster than a sprinting dwarf. Sheena: Is there any way you can enhance my blade? Cromwell: Plain to see. Twas made with his love of ye. Wouldn't touch it, unless he gave me his blessing. Sheena: I understand. Do we have anything you could forge an item with? Friendship path preview: this is the first FT (Friendship talk) between your PC and Sheena, and available responses will vary according to your race. She will cautiously, using flattery, want to know how you perceive half dragons. Sheena: Rare are the people who look kindly on half breeds, especially half dragons. You show neither fear nor prejudice. Such trait is remarkable. PC 1: Half breeds, especially of orc origin, are particularly despised. I would have countless remembrances of futile mockery to share with you. I envy you your disguising skills. PC 2: My pointy ears had caught a fair share of mockery among humans, but surely a mere pang compared with what people must have tossed at you. PC 3: My origin are -after all- as contemptible as yours, and the reason I spared you. PC 4: I do not look favorably on half breeds, and only had an interest in your vested powers. PC 5: Your life must have been quite harsh, Sheena. Sheena’s response to PC 1: I should have surmised the obvious. Your greenish pigmentation leaves me little doubts about your lineage. Yes. I may have been more fortunate as my concealment skills appeared quite early in my childhood... Sheena’s friendship path is seasoned with a few long tales, which I hope you will enjoy. Romance path preview: unlike other romances, Sheena will have a crush on you, and right after Mazzy’s fourth banter, which actually serves to trigger it. Whether you fall for it or simply tell her you’re not interested, the choice of involving yourself in a relationship with a half dragon remains rightfully yours, and you shall be given more opportunities to say no than yes. Sheena: What I'm about to say makes me nervous <CHARNAME>. I've never felt so vulnerable in my life, and do hope you won't laugh. Sheena: I-I think I love you <CHARNAME>. PC: Believing or being sure makes a world of difference, young girl. PC: I share some feelings too Sheena, but they do not go as deep I'm afraid. Shall we remain friends? PC: The way you sometimes looked at me betrayed your feelings long ago. As time went by, I believe I also began having some strong feelings for you, but I am not sure yet where they will lead us. PC: At times, you are a lovely, adorable and hearty young woman, whom my heart would certainly like to hold dear. But then, I am also repelled by the other you. Sorry, my feelings are too ambiguous to even consider that kind of relationship. Flirts preview: hugging Sheena. Sheena: (You move behind Sheena, your cheek against hers, wrapping her in your arms. In your protective embrace, you sway from side to side). Sheena whispers: my time with you is a blessed one. So ends the preview of Sheena’s dialogues.