LadyofNemesis
N5
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Posts: 4,946 Likes: 12,302
inherit
10314
0
12,302
LadyofNemesis
4,946
July 2018
ladyofnemesis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
|
Post by LadyofNemesis on Sept 11, 2020 16:56:27 GMT
|
|
LadyofNemesis
N5
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Posts: 4,946 Likes: 12,302
inherit
10314
0
12,302
LadyofNemesis
4,946
July 2018
ladyofnemesis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
|
Post by LadyofNemesis on Sept 11, 2020 20:17:55 GMT
So instead of replaying my entire female Hawke...I just replayed the ending to change Anders' fate (also not going to replay the entirety for DAI for just a few changes in dialogue...that's just...yeah...bit much) For now I'm going to think a bit on my male playthrough I've finally decided on making a Cousland...who yet needs a name and appearance
Currently dubbing between Viggo or Iorwerth as a name
|
|
azarhal
N7
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Posts: 9,300 Likes: 26,094
inherit
1519
0
Oct 10, 2024 21:23:45 GMT
26,094
azarhal
9,300
Sept 9, 2016 12:15:16 GMT
September 2016
azarhal
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
|
Post by azarhal on Sept 11, 2020 20:53:01 GMT
After the misadventure at the Circle Tower, Rius returned to camp for some down time and then set course for the Brecilian Forest. They should be able to find some Dalish there. Hopefully they don't poke the group full of arrows before they gets to talk. The arrows didn't fly, but the Dalishs couldn't help. They were under attacks by werewolves, some of the clan wounded and transforming. Rius didn't really understand why they didn't kill the wounded and moved out of the area. Their keeper Zatharian seemed shifty to Rius, but that might just be because he insulted his war hound. See Rius loves animals, he never got to have any while living in Duster Town and Nugs are well nugs. Now he has a war hound and a wolf pet. Also, Alistair, but he talks too much. Anyhow, Rius tried to talk to a few of the Dalish who seemed in distress but none wanted any help. Except their master craftsman. He promised to make something out of ironbark if Rius brought some from the forest. While Zatharian wanted Rius to kill an evil wolf called Witherfangs who was apparently responsible for the werewolf curse. So Rius set for into the forest. Where he meet talking Werewolves, lots of angry bears, some darkspawns...and talking trees. Oh and a mad man and undeads as well. That place was almost as bad as the Circle Tower. Rius decided to get the ironbark and leave for Denerim for some sanity instead. The rest of the forest was magically blocked anyhow and no sign of the wolf he was sent to hunt down. In Denerim, he was offered some stealing job by a guy named Slim...but wasn't slim at all, kinda fat actually. They were lucrative. The place was in a bit of a lockdown thought, as the Alienage was closed down. Rius did some "shopping" in the square and then set out to explore the rest of the city. While being there, he also tried to find this Genitivi guy, but outside a two corpses in his house he wasn't there. The two corpse are Weylon and Fake Weylon. Rius did find some writing that might shade light where he went thought. ------------------- Rius is going to side with the Werewolves because Zatharian didn't like Meatshield I always call the dog that in DAO and DA2, lol.
|
|
inherit
1685
0
1,636
riverdaleswhiteflash
1,501
Sept 28, 2016 8:03:42 GMT
September 2016
riverdaleswhiteflash
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire
|
Post by riverdaleswhiteflash on Sept 11, 2020 21:25:28 GMT
After Thomas Hawke finished selling the junk he'd picked up at the Black Emporium, he decided to visit some of this friends, just to see if they were feeling chatty... but none of them were.
Well, the sun came up while he was doing that, and he decided to head to Hightown to see if he could find something to do...
... and he found a dwarf blaming Thomas and Varric for his sons'... disappearances? Deaths? One of the two?
Further questioning revealed that this man (Yevhen) had three sons, and they went into the same Deep Roads entrance the Tethras expedition used... even though the main reason the Tethras family picked that entrance was that nobody had looted it yet. (You'd think the sons would find their own entrance.)
The elven maid spoke pretty freely of the three men: she didn't respect the eldest (Emrys), didn't like the middle son (Iwan) one bit, and loved the youngest (Merin) as though he was her own.
(Between her maternal love for the youngest son and the fact that her boss was willing to mostly put up with her speaking freely, you gotta wonder if she and her boss are an item.)
The dwarf and his maid also told Thomas that the middle son had suggested this idea, and that he'd suggested they go alone so they wouldn't have to share the profits.
Brilliant planning.
Thomas agreed to go back to the Deep Roads, to Anders's mild annoyance. (He probably figured he'd never have to go there again. Poor guy. He probably wishes I could just tell the templars that some apostate mages were hiding down there and that the dwarves might know where to find them. That would have solved the problem, if only Thomas had thought of it.)
Thomas set out for the Deep Roads, and arrived at the thaig Thomas had thought he'd looted. He found a bit of treasure, and eventually came to the oldest son. Emrys explained that Iwan had left both him and their youngest brother to their fates, and that the youngest was specifically locked in a chamber full of darkspawn to die. Thomas wondered if the middle son had taken the wrong lesson from Bartrand.
Apparently they were seeking a sword that an ancient smith had left behind in this thaig. And that is probably still here, since Thomas didn't remember running into anything like that.
He went into the chambers the youngest son was locked in (and now that he thought about it, he didn't think he'd been in those chambers before. Maybe the reason they think they can still get something here is that Thomas and Varric didn't loot it well enough?) And they had to put down two emissaries and an army of bolters to save the youngest son. The first one didn't gie the party any trouble (because Merrill immediately froze it, Thomas hit it with Mark of Death, and everyone immediately dogpiled it) but the second one almost took Fenris down with a glowing orb AoE.
Yeouch. Earn the relatively happy ending, right?
Merin was horrified to learn what it was like to be an Orzammar dwarf, and was apparently thinking of signing up to join the fight against the darkspawn. (I'm sure his father will be happy to hear that, since he says he left Orzammar so that he wouldn't have to risk losing his sons to the darkspawn.)
Even though the youngest son had reason not to care whether his middle brother was okay, he still asked about him. Thomas opined that he was probably so nasty, the darkspawn had made him their king...
... but when they got there, Iwan had been freshly regicided. Thomas took a golem control rod off the corpse, and then tried waving it at the first golem they encountered. It got up and started attacking the other golems, and for some reason Thomas didn't even bother trying to control them with it. He simply slaughtered the other golems with his new golem slave, and didn't see anything wrong with it because he has no reason to know that there's a person in each and every one of those statues.
The group encountered more darkspawn... including another emissary. Thomas immediately fired an arrow to pin it to the ground, Merrill immediately coated it in ice, and the entire party immediately dogpiled it. The rest of the darkspawn were no trouble after that: not even the ogre lasted long.
The group came to a room Thomas wasn't sure he'd explored before, and found a smashed chest that he figured must have contained the sword Iwan had died for. A shame: Thomas might have had a use for it. But at least the rest of the room was more intact. Thomas looted it and then went back to the surface.
Thomas stopped in to sell most of the loot in Hightown, although he kept a lyrium-infused bilge hoop to sell to a whisky-master in Darktown. Thomas accepted Yevhen's thanks (and payment) and then headed to Darktown to sell the bilge hoop. He passed Lilley's corpse on the way: someone should really give her to the flames. He also passed the Coterie barker, who was still barking about Javaris's leases.
Before the first trip to the Deep Roads, Bartrand warned Thomas to conclude all of his business in Kirkwall because they'd be gone about a month. So unless they spent most of that month underground, and most of the route was between the dragon's lair and the Lyrium Idol's shrine, Thomas had to have left Kirkwall for about the same length of time on this trip.
How much do these leases have to suck, that she still hasn't sold them after that many days of barking?
And if that much time has passed, why has nobody done anything about Lilley's body?
Anyway, Thomas asked the whisky-master if he recognized the bilge-hoop that had fallen into Thomas's hands. He probably didn't, given where Thomas had found it, but he took it nonetheless.
Maybe now, Thomas should head home for a well deserved rest. It's not like the situation with the Qunari could have noticeably deteriorated in the probably-a-month he spent chasing Yevhen's sons, right?
|
|
LadyofNemesis
N5
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Posts: 4,946 Likes: 12,302
inherit
10314
0
12,302
LadyofNemesis
4,946
July 2018
ladyofnemesis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
|
Post by LadyofNemesis on Sept 11, 2020 21:35:23 GMT
See Rius loves animals, he never got to have any while living in Duster Town and Nugs are well nugs. Now he has a war hound and a wolf pet. Also, Alistair, but he talks too much. ------------------- Rius is going to side with the Werewolves because Zatharian didn't like Meatshield I always call the dog that in DAO and DA2, lol. "Also Alistair but he talks too much" made me laugh
-- But but...unlimited supplies of elfroot! Since you don't have a healer you need that stuff!
I don't recall if the Werewolves still sell elfroot (also I never sided with them so I don't know anything about that side of the story anyways)
Also Meatshield is it? Fuzzball says hi (Fuzzball was the name of my Tabris' war hound)
|
|
azarhal
N7
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Posts: 9,300 Likes: 26,094
inherit
1519
0
Oct 10, 2024 21:23:45 GMT
26,094
azarhal
9,300
Sept 9, 2016 12:15:16 GMT
September 2016
azarhal
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
|
Post by azarhal on Sept 11, 2020 22:15:46 GMT
See Rius loves animals, he never got to have any while living in Duster Town and Nugs are well nugs. Now he has a war hound and a wolf pet. Also, Alistair, but he talks too much. ------------------- Rius is going to side with the Werewolves because Zatharian didn't like Meatshield I always call the dog that in DAO and DA2, lol. "Also Alistair but he talks too much" made me laugh
-- But but...unlimited supplies of elfroot! Since you don't have a healer you need that stuff!
I don't recall if the Werewolves still sell elfroot (also I never sided with them so I don't know anything about that side of the story anyways)
Also Meatshield is it? Fuzzball says hi (Fuzzball was the name of my Tabris' war hound) I have never done the Werewolves side either, I'll try to remember to check if they sell anything after. I have to take Morrigan to make health potions and I leave in her corner of the camp. Always. Rius doesn't trust her. And I found out why I was running out of the health poultrices: I didn't set the scripts properly. Alistair and Leliana were gobbing all the health poultrices if their health was above 50% instead of below. I had set them at below 25% early in the game, but wanted to change it to below 50% after a few too many death in the Deep Roads and took the wrong options. I'm now growing my health poultrice stacks again after fixing that error. Because it turns out wolves, werewolves and bears are great source of health potions. Oh fuzzball, I think I named Dog that once in DA2, in one of my "I need to name him something else than meatshield" moments.
|
|
LadyofNemesis
N5
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Posts: 4,946 Likes: 12,302
inherit
10314
0
12,302
LadyofNemesis
4,946
July 2018
ladyofnemesis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
|
Post by LadyofNemesis on Sept 11, 2020 22:50:52 GMT
Oh fuzzball, I think I named Dog that once in DA2, in one of my "I need to name him something else than meatshield" moments. I just have a list with potential names now
I've had Roach, Biscuit, Buttercup, Dane, Hafter, Miguel Bowen, though I do still need one for my Cousland he's going to be kinda a pompous spoiled rich kid until he gets humbled ...by my Tabris (so the dog will probably also have some sort of pompous name) Because I like to imagine he and my Tabris are in the same world together and she tells him just what she thinks of him...and then proceeds to leave him in the dirt after owning his ass in a brawl Tabris: sucker Cousland:
...why do I feel like their shenanigans would be similar to those of your Wardens Sokemis ?
|
|
inherit
11247
0
1,639
Buckeldemon
Now stealin' more kidz.
1,200
July 2019
buckeldemon
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by Buckeldemon on Sept 11, 2020 22:52:18 GMT
Just reinforces that Cauthrien is a bit of a too-dumb-to-live case. Wasn't that evident the moment she gets the army to withdraw, which makes her complicit in a coup d'état without realizing it? She's all brawn no brain. Must have forgotten that. That scene also shows that she's a fuckin' cheater as well, carrying a greatsword and a kite shield. Well, I never said Surana did not have some sort of chip on her shoulder...
Oh, I thought you did not like splatter much... though I got the impression that uncle Sheo could like these messes at times, depending on his mood.
In an earlier playthrough of Surana, she actually left the urn alone (still killed the guardian and Genitivi though). I just thought of being at tad bit less... appeasing towards some characters this time. Note how I intentionally switched Wynne and Lels in. I roleplay that the dragon blood infusion is improving her blood magic to some extent (she will get more constitution and spellpower on a special item, gameplay-wise), and most things that make her more powerful are fair game, as there's a blight to defeat. On the other hand, there are certain lines. There will only splattered Caladrius in the Alienage (hope for me getting a good screenshot:P), city elves aren't going to be sacrificed. Yes, Surana is a tad bit biased. #Sorrynotsorry
--Ah, thanks for clearing that up ( riverdaleswhiteflash as well). Just reinforces that Cauthrien is a bit of a too-dumb-to-live case. Well...there's myths on Sheogorath creating musical instruments from a body... plus in the Shivering Isles expansion he tells the pc multiple times about wanting to skip rope with their intestines and wanting to rip out their eyes ...he's crazy, but that's in the job description
Caladrius became a pretty smear in my game as well, he got smited by Alistair I love the dialogue options with him on my Tabris, basically they boiled down to "shut up and die"
My Tabris did drink Avernus' concoction though...she felt it couldn't be worse then the Joining cup
Yep, that's what I meant. A single smear? Walking bomb doesn't do that, it creates droplets. Well, the potion isn't that bad of an idea... I mean, the warden is already blighted, so we might get some gameplay advantages for it. Though most the special blood powers are kinda glitchy. Now I'm most used to playing a mage or archer in Inquisition. Early on it's possible to hunt the druffalo up in the mountains with them - it's not quick, but it's possible since you can fire from a safe distance. I do not recommend trying to do the same thing with a level 3 DW rogue. I repeat: DO. NOT. ATTEMPT. It does not work out in your favor as much when you actually have to get off that huge rock. And they don't forget and just walk away either after few moments of trying to ignore them. Running for help does not help either. Remember how those soldiers just stand around and watch you get mauled by a bear? Well, turns out they are just as helpful when you run through the Haven The only time I tried to hunt Haven druffs with a melee character, I used tier 3 nug-imported weapons crafted from iron. Remembers me of a hilarious encounter my friend had once while I was watching. She took that "more damage but random targeting" upgrade for Energy Barrage and fought some hostile at Crestwood. The fight move too close to a group of druffs, they all got hit by the random bolts, my friend's party died miserably. I managed to glitch Gamordan Stormrider (got close enough to start her fight, but then kept running to get out of range), so she got stuck mid-air. That lady seems to be pretty glitchy. I once had her stuck in dive-into-ground position, head half buried and unable to sustain damage. Reload. I have never done the Werewolves side either, I'll try to remember to check if they sell anything after. No, they don't. My friend fell for this in her very first playthrough. She rolled a Cousland warrior in constant need of healing and did not use Wynne much. Then she did not like the Dalish, massacred them all and wondered where to get Elfroot from. I still tease her with this these days.
...
Got a small update.
Surana wrapped up some loose ends around Denerim. First, I did "Jowan's Intention" and met Jowan's (twin) brother.
Afterwards, Surana remembered that note from the Crows and paid a visit to the sleazebag. Arranged a band of Qunari mercenaries into a neat line for some coin, among others things. After Ignacio ran out of ideas and refused to completely call off his colleagues as well as being a dick to Zevran, his cronies were beheaded... ...and he was exploded. The only good Crow is a dead Crow. Zevran is now well set-up for any Crow-killing exploits. Speaking of which, the party also ran into Taliesen, who also got himself bleed dry and then exploded.
|
|
LadyofNemesis
N5
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Posts: 4,946 Likes: 12,302
inherit
10314
0
12,302
LadyofNemesis
4,946
July 2018
ladyofnemesis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
|
Post by LadyofNemesis on Sept 11, 2020 23:11:58 GMT
Well...there's myths on Sheogorath creating musical instruments from a body... plus in the Shivering Isles expansion he tells the pc multiple times about wanting to skip rope with their intestines and wanting to rip out their eyes ...he's crazy, but that's in the job description
Caladrius became a pretty smear in my game as well, he got smited by Alistair I love the dialogue options with him on my Tabris, basically they boiled down to "shut up and die"
My Tabris did drink Avernus' concoction though...she felt it couldn't be worse then the Joining cup
Yep, that's what I meant. A single smear? Walking bomb doesn't do that, it creates droplets. Well, the potion isn't that bad of an idea... I mean, the warden is already blighted, so we might get some gameplay advantages for it. Though most the special blood powers are kinda glitchy. I know, I've played a mage once who was a bit more...shall we say creative? In her ways of using magic...she had plenty of them from the spirit school (walking bomb among them)
also, the rogue talents from the blood stuff are apparently the only once that're not glitchy I don't use them in gameplay though...I just head canon some stuff.
Speaking of which...just defeated Meredith again in my minor rerun of DA2's ending Anders lived and...Sebastian stormed off to Starkhaven...I like this ending better.
I believe my exact words after Sebby threatened Kirkwall were "someone put a bolt through his(Seb's) head" I mean, Varric kills Gascard if he so much as twitches (provided he lives when you confront Quentin) but he won't kill Sebastian after he threatened his home
|
|
inherit
1685
0
1,636
riverdaleswhiteflash
1,501
Sept 28, 2016 8:03:42 GMT
September 2016
riverdaleswhiteflash
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire
|
Post by riverdaleswhiteflash on Sept 12, 2020 0:30:37 GMT
Thomas Hawke went back to his mansion for some rest, and that night Aveline and Isabela arrived, each wanting Hawke to save the day again.
Aveline eventually went too far in their arguments, and Isabela was this close to snapping and decking her when Thomas arrived to watch.
It transpired that Isabela wanted Thomas's help retrieving the relic she was hunting. (She finally let slip that it was a book, even though she'd previously pretended not to know what it was.) Apparently, someone named Wall-Eyed Sam was going to be selling it in Lowtown that night. Aveline, on the other hand, wanted Thomas to help persuade the Arishok to hand over two fugitives who'd converted to the Qun to escape justice. Aveline worried that if the Qunari start sheltering fugitives, anyone who wants to hide from the guards might go to their compound... and that if the city as a whole thought that was possible, they might go to war against the Qunari.
I think we've previously established just how lazy Thomas is about the truly important stuff, and anyway Isabela claimed that getting the book back would help... although she didn't explain how. Doesn't matter: Thomas is chasing the sidequest. He picked up Anders and Merrill, and the three of them accompanied Isabela to Lowtown to find the book... and ran smack into a Sten and his unit insisting the book be handed over. Isabela denied having it, and rather than establish whether or not she was telling the truth, the Qunari immediately attacked.
I think we've established by how nervous I am handling fights without a warrior in the party, but it didn't go so badly. Merrill got the three in front with Cone of Cold, Thomas got the whole lot with Miasmic Flask, and only one of them lived long enough to start attacking. Thomas re-disabled him with Pinning Shot, and the whole party dogpiled him.
Thomas expressed some worry about killing Qunari again. (Remember that the Qunari killed Petrice for killing one convert who couldn't even do much for the group.) Isabela finally confessed that the book she was hunting was a sacred text written by a major Qunari philosopher whose name she couldn't recall. (One assumes it wasn't "Cousland.") Isabela admitted that she'd stolen it from the Orlesian authorities just as they were about to hand it to the Qunari, and that the Qunari had chased Isabela to Kirkwall to get it.
They can't leave Kirkwall without it, and the Tevinters are trying to buy it from Kirkwall's underworld in order to take a swing at Qunandar's morale.
If Thomas was the responsible type, he would have insisted they hand it over to the Arishok. But he said Isabela could have it, figuring that they could appease the Qunari some other way. (Maybe they could sell out the guy who was threatening to kill Isabela over that book? They have absolutely no reason to look on him kindly.)
The gang walked into the foundry (not the one Quentin was hiding under: there are apparently two identical foundries in Lowtown) and found a fence trying to sell the book to a few Tevinter mages with no warrior or rogue bodyguards. Then the Qunari interrupted the sale, the fence fled, and Isabela (the closest thing the party had to a tank) chased after him.
That's not good...
... but it wasn't that bad, either. Thomas still had Miasmic Flask, Merrill still had Cone of Cold, and the Tevinters and the Qunari were fighting amongst themselves instead of uniting against Hawke, Merrill, and Anders. So the three took care of business, and started looting the Foundry. They even found some insoles that they thought Isabela might like adding to her boots.
But that's going to have to wait: Wall-Eyed Sam was lying dead a few paces outside the foundry. He had a note from Isabela on his body; it said that she was glad to have an ally like Hawke, but that she couldn't continue putting him in danger. She was sorry to leave, but she was leaving.
Thomas decided that that business was handled, and went off to the Black Emporium to sell all his daggers, since Isabela was the only one who used them. (Thomas is an archer, and Varric is Varric.) It was morning by then, and Aveline was standing in front of the dock-side slum palace.
She told Thomas to handle any outstanding business he had before entering, which isn't ominous at all. Is she planning to fall to an evil mind-control idol and shut him in a thaig?
But Thomas wasn't doing anything at the moment, and agreed to enter right then. The door-guards said they couldn't all enter, and Aveline took Thomas and a few of her guards... even though Anders and Merrill would have been appreciably more useful.
Aveline immediately got down to business, but the Arishok said he'd rather talk about the relic that vanished just as his men were about to retrieve it. Thomas said that it could be anywhere, and the Arishok allowed that was true... but let on that he knew that that was partially Hawke's fault.
Wow, any plan Thomas could have come up to fix the "relic" issue kinda hinged on the Arishok not knowing that. How the hell did he know that, anyway? Thomas was pretty sure he'd killed anyone there who owed the Arishok any answers.
Aveline was able to bring the conversation around to the two fugitives, and Thomas tried to get the Arishok to turn against them by raising the possibility that they don't really believe and are just sheltering behind the Arishok. The Arishok didn't deny that that was likely true, but he didn't care why the elves had joined him, just that they had. And to further emphasize his refusal to hand them over, the Arishok had them appear behind Thomas and Aveline (just in case they'd forgotten they were in his house) to tell their story.
A guard had forced himself on their sister, and they weren't able to get the other guards to listen to them. So the viddathari killed him. Thomas asked Aveline if this was true, and she quickly brushed it aside by saying she'd look into that later... which sounded an awful lot like she was admitting it was plausible.
You can argue either way on whether or not they were justified if what they were saying was true... but Thomas has been ignoring the law all game, went after Ser Alrik mostly to protect Bethany from him, and was darkly pleased when the Qunari killed Petrice rather than let her go to trial. So he couldn't argue they were wrong even if he wanted to, and he flatly admitted as much when asked.
But if the Arishok sheltered them, that could lead to absolutely anyone who has a problem with the guards showing up at his door. And anyway, Thomas knew that this business with the Arishok sheltering fugitives was only going to cause more and bigger conflicts with the government of Kirkwall, so when the Arishok asked what Thomas thought the solution to this whole thing was, he tried to get the Arishok to leave Kirkwall with the fugitives he already had.
He didn't even know that the relic was still here. Why was he staying?
But the Arishok refused to go for it: he simply ordered his spearmen to start raining down javelins on everyone in the slum-palace who wasn't his. Aveline managed to knock the spear meant to impale her aside with her sword, but the other guards in the compound got nailed. (Amazing how much good their plate armor didn't do: Merril's armor is probably more protective than theirs, and she walks around functionally naked.)
Thomas and Aveline retreated to Lowtown (and wasn't it sporting of the viddathari behind them to let them pass?) They met up with Fenris, Merrill, and Anders. Merrill expressed her relief to see Thomas okay, and Aveline suggested the four fight their way through to the Hawke mansion while she rallied the guard. (Although what good they'd do in armor that weak is beyond Thomas.)
Thomas and company battled their way through the streets. As of writing, they've killed a party of Qunari, been ambushed from behind by another Qunari party that had no particular reason to be behind them, and reached the gate of the Alienage. (I say "gate" because they've shut a wrought-iron monstrosity against the invaders. Good to know they know how to handle this.)
|
|
azarhal
N7
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Posts: 9,300 Likes: 26,094
inherit
1519
0
Oct 10, 2024 21:23:45 GMT
26,094
azarhal
9,300
Sept 9, 2016 12:15:16 GMT
September 2016
azarhal
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
|
Post by azarhal on Sept 12, 2020 0:46:33 GMT
Rius went back to the forest and ended up cleaning up a ruins (elven apparently), full of undeads, weird spirits and werewolves...and Zatharian, because he showed up after Rius accepted to go fetch him for the Lady of the Forest so he could end his curse. See, Zatharian is an asshole. He cursed humans and their descendants for centuries as "justice" for his dead son and raped daughter. It also made him somewhat immortal as a side effect, looks like the guy enjoyed that aspect too. He didn't even want to remove the curse. Rius sided with the werewolves and got Zatharian to remove the curse, killing himself in the process. After securing the help of the remaining elves, as the werewolves were now human again, Rius set off to a ancient Warden's Keep. The place is related to how the Grey Wardens were originally kicked-out of Ferelden. There was this guy Dryden hanging out in camp since leaving Ostagar and he was getting annoying about it. Beside Rius thought that it was trying to find Wardens weapons against the Blight or a chasing the ashes of a woman who died more than a thousand years ago. Weapons won. Sorry old lady, your ashes will have to wait. ---- This is stupid, killing all the Elves while called "siding with the werewolves" in term of achievement is actually something suggested by the Warden and it requires a persuade check. So I ended up convincing Zatharian to end the curses instead...which is what I always do and what the Lady of the Forest request. Also, the voice set I selected for my Warden is just awesome: "What does the supernatural always smell so awful?" while fighting a bunch of undeads.
|
|
inherit
1685
0
1,636
riverdaleswhiteflash
1,501
Sept 28, 2016 8:03:42 GMT
September 2016
riverdaleswhiteflash
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire
|
Post by riverdaleswhiteflash on Sept 12, 2020 2:25:08 GMT
Noplace to go but forward.
Thomas Hawke advanced through the plaza his Uncle Gamlen used to live in. (I say "used to" because he seems to have moved in with his nephew.) Said plaza was the scene of a battle between a bunch of Grey Wardens and some Qunari invaders. Thomas and Merrill immediately double-teamed their saarebas while the rest of the party danced in the mosh pit below.
Once those Qunari were dealt with, more entered the battle through both entrances to the plaza. (Jeez, the Qunari seem to totally control the city right now.)
With all of that handled, the Wardens expressed their thanks for the save, but refused to stay to help fight the invaders. They claimed that they were on something more important (though they could not say what) and that they were forbidden to involve themselves in politics (as though Jeeves Tabris hadn't spent two campaigns breaking that rule into pieces.) But they were willing to spread the word of the Qunari invasion to the rest of the Free Marches, and Thomas allowed that that might help if things got as bad as they possibly could.
The two groups parted ways, and Thomas decided to make a slight detour to check out the foundry where Isabela had left the party.
It was being looted by the coterie.
Thomas understood the hustle, but he also understood that killing looters is... a good experience, shall we say?
L'otters were not afraid. They damn well should have been.
With that distraction handled, Thomas continued up the terraces Lowtown was built on until he came to a fairly large force of Qunari backed up by elven converts.
Thomas hadn't known there were that many elves in Kirkwall. The Alienage certainly couldn't have held them all. But then again, Thomas had already killed an entire ship-load of Qunari (not counting the many Tal'Vashoth he'd killed on the Wounded Coast,) so it's a bit late to start quibbling about that now.
Thomas continued into Hightown, and found two Qunari dragging a woman by her heel.
Thomas immediately had to fight down some unpleasant mental images of where this might be going. It was almost a relief when the Qunari noticed them and let the poor woman go in order to handle the people who could actually fight back.
The Sten in charge said that it was unfortunate the Arishok hadn't taken them hostage, as though he had been trying for a non-lethal capture with that rain of spears. (Although on the other hand, none of those spears had gotten too close to Hawke himself...) Anyway, the Sten ordered his men to attack, and he certainly didn't seem to be trying for nonlethal.
The group handled the Qunari as they were accustomed to, until a saarebas who hadn't been part of the fight to that point managed to knock the party down in a single blast. He came up to finish the job... and was shut down by a templar who wore a red hood instead of a helmet. The templar backstabbed the saarebas's head clean off and helped Thomas up.
She introduced herself as Knight-Commander Meredith... and after a short pause, she realized she knew who Thomas was. The name "Hawke" appeared far too often in her reports for her liking. (Thomas didn't ask which sibling Meredith was complaining about.) For his part, Thomas was pretty annoyed with Meredith for locking up his sister and not following up Emeric's leads.
Meredith stated that despite her irritation with (whichever) Hawke, the important thing was resisting the Qunari. Thomas couldn't disagree.
Meredith said that the Qunari seemed to be rounding up the nobles of Hightown and taking them to the Keep, but that she didn't know why. Fenris opined that they were likely taking them to one place for easy processing: everyone there would be given a choice between joining the Qun, and joining the choir invisible. Thomas figured that was as good a reason to drag a woman around by her ankle as any, and better than he'd assumed they'd had.
Meredith left to rally the templars, and Thomas looted the square he'd almost died in before continuing. And as he left, he stepped over a single qunari corpse surrounded by multiple dead guardsmen. (Seriously, how the hell!? He's not even wearing armor!)
He ran into the carta and the Qunari going at it, and the gang immediately got into it with both groups using AoEs like Miasmic Flask, Fireball, Cone of Cold, and Wounds of the Past. The carta thugs died pretty swiftly, and the Qunari soldiers didn't last much longer. Thomas is pretty sure both sides got reinforcements (how many Qunari were on that ship!?) but the reinforcements didn't last long either. Eventually the only enemies left on the field were two carta assassins, and each one spent a couple of seconds fighting the entire party at once.
The gang continued until they'd reached the square directly below the Viscount's Keep. They fought another force of Qunari, and used the usual standby: geek the saarebas first, drop Cones of Cold and Miasmic Flasks on large groups, etc. Then Hawke helped a survivor to his feet, and he revealed that he was the First Enchanter. (Isn't he supposed to be with Meredith? Protecting mages is supposed to be part of her job.)
Thomas noted that all of the other mages around seemed to be dead, and Orsino expressed shock... before finding a survivor, who turned out to be Bethany.
Thank the Maker she made it. That would have been an even more dismal family reunion.
Meredith reunited with the survivors among the mages she'd failed to protect and tried to take charge of the situation. Orsino tried to take charge himself. Thomas tried to take charge as well and was kind of surprised when it actually worked.
Meredith asked him what the plan was, and now that Thomas had his sister back, he half-jokingly suggested fleeing. When it became clear that nobody else was up for that, he suggested heading into the Viscount's Keep to see what was up.
The Qunari had it pretty well locked down. Orsino suggested a diversion to draw the Qunari away, hoping the hostages would be safer that way.
Meredith suggested cowabunga.
Cowabunga it was.
The group slaughtered the Qunari with every means at their disposal (including the use of blood magic right in front of the Knight-Commander.) They handled the door guards, but Orsino ran back from the direction they'd come from to tell them more Qunari were coming.
Meredith told Thomas and Company to run in while Meredith, the templars, Orsino, and Bethany held the door.
|
|
Nyx
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Prime Posts: 720
Prime Likes: 894
Posts: 123 Likes: 352
inherit
799
0
352
Nyx
123
August 2016
lostinreverie19
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
720
894
|
Post by Nyx on Sept 12, 2020 3:05:45 GMT
Meredith suggested cowabunga. Cowabunga it was. The group slaughtered the Qunari with every means at their disposal (including the use of blood magic right in front of the Knight-Commander.) They handled the door guards, but Orsino ran back from the direction they'd come from to tell them more Qunari were coming. Meredith told Thomas and Company to run in while Meredith, the templars, Orsino, and Bethany held the door. This is hilarious. I love it.
|
|
inherit
1685
0
1,636
riverdaleswhiteflash
1,501
Sept 28, 2016 8:03:42 GMT
September 2016
riverdaleswhiteflash
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire
|
Post by riverdaleswhiteflash on Sept 12, 2020 5:18:16 GMT
Meredith suggested cowabunga. Cowabunga it was. The group slaughtered the Qunari with every means at their disposal (including the use of blood magic right in front of the Knight-Commander.) They handled the door guards, but Orsino ran back from the direction they'd come from to tell them more Qunari were coming. Meredith told Thomas and Company to run in while Meredith, the templars, Orsino, and Bethany held the door. This is hilarious. I love it. Thanks. ----- Thomas Hawke went into the keep, and insisted on taking point. There was no way the Qunari had had time to lay decent traps, so he didn't know why he felt the need to go out in front... ... but he found the decision rewarded when he found two pressure plates on the landing on the main stairwell. Seriously, the Qunari work fast. Thomas disabled them (pausing to hold Fenris back once, because he just will not stop trying to disarm the traps with his feet) and then started dismembering the Qunari. Once that was accomplished Thomas turned around and started looting everything that wasn't nailed down. (Hey, he didn't kill l'otters in Lowtown because he objected to their taking advantage of the situation. He was just in it for the experience.) He couldn't get into the guard barracks, or the Viscount's offices, so that was unfortunate, but he got enough loot anyway. Anyway, then Thomas had to go in and face the Arishok. He walked in to find the Arishok berating the nobility of the city, the Viscount's head on the floor, and a nobleman wearing the same kind of outfit Thomas wore during his off-time dead of a twisted neck. The Arishok had a short conversation with Thomas, in which he admitted that he'd expected Thomas would be able to fight through the Arishok's entire army... before ordering five or six men to kill him anyway. (I can't really pin down how much this guy cares for the lives of his subordinates. On the one hand, he sent an assassin to punish Petrice for killing one man. On the other hand, he's put up with Hawke killing a whole lot of them, and I can't imagine he expects the five or six men he just ordered to kill Thomas to survive attempting to do so. Not to mention that he deliberately sacrificed three men to make the saar'qamek formula seem more valuable than it is... and oh yeah, he started an invasion of Kirkwall that he had to figure would cost a lot of his soldiers their lives.) With that fight over with, the Arishok admitted his respect for Hawke, but said that he couldn't leave without the Tome of Koslun (so that's how it's pronounced.) He asked Thomas if he had a solution to this problem that didn't require it. The question was clearly rhetorical, but that didn't mean no answer was possible. Now, Hawke didn't want to help him capture Isabela, but he knew the name of the person Isabela was planning to hand it to... ... and Isabela punched a Qunari soldier out of the way and walked in with the Tome. The Arishok declared that the Qun's demands were satisfied, and that he could leave with the thief. Uh, no the hell he couldn't. Handing Isabela over to be punished for her theft would probably be the responsible thing to do, but I think we've established that Thomas isn't the most responsible man in the world. The Arishok said that they could settle this with a duel to the death. Thomas didn't really feel like going one-on-one with a giant who's dual-wielding two-handed weapons. The Arishok declared that that meant everyone in the room had to die, and ordered his men into the fight. Well, whatever. Thomas didn't really expect this to end bloodlessly when he went to bat for Isabela. And he figured he benefited more from letting his friends in on the fun than the Arishok did by ordering his soldiers into it. This wasn't actually the worst fight the team had faced. Nobody hit the ground, although Merrill and Fenris both came close to it. When the fight was over, the Arishok collapsed on the stairs, and Thomas's bow and quiver turned into a pair of daggers. (Well, the game calls them daggers: they're really more like shortswords.) He stabbed them into the Arishok, who ominously declared that the Qunari would return one day. Knight-Commander Meredith burst into the room to see the Arishok dead, and hesitantly asked if it was over. Thomas confirmed that it was. From Meredith's body language, she didn't seem to have gotten enough blood yet. Or maybe she'd already decided to use this crisis to increase her own power, and knew Thomas was going to be a major obstacle in that path. Either way, she didn't seem to entirely want to declare that "Kirkwall has a new Champion." But she kinda had to, given what the nobles in that room had seen Thomas and Company do. ------ Fast forward a few years: First Enchanter Orsino is trying to rally the nobles against Knight-Commander Meredith, claiming that she's taking over the city using their fear of... well, him. And while he's probably right that they fear him, they seem to be going for it. And why not? Meredith is seizing secular power in addition to the power granted by her position in the Chantry hierarchy, and she is clamping down with that power. And this "scary mage" probably knows exactly what that feels like, and would logically want to see the templars taken down a peg. True to form, Knight-Commander Meredith storms up and demands the assembly end, and tries to arrest Orsino for treason. Thomas Hawke arrives on the scene, accompanied by the same line-up he'd killed the Arishok with, and Orsino tried to bring him into the conversation, figuring that getting him to try to take Meredith down a peg would only help him win the nobles' support. Meredith declares that she must rule, whatever the nobles think, until a worthy successor appears. Orsino worries that she'll never agree one has appeared. Thomas opines that Orsino has a point... and tries to suggest to Meredith that maybe he should rule, since he can't do worse than Meredith is. Meredith flatly says that she will never allow that. ... and Grand Cleric Elthina appears, and tries to break up the argument. She asks Orsino if what he's doing is really wise, and he concedes that it isn't. Gee, I dunno. It seems to me if I was going to argue with someone who had the power to make me Tranquil, I'd want a whole lot of really important people watching the argument too. Elthina asks the templars who'd accompanied Meredith to bring Orsino back to the Circle. "Gently, please." (She was probably supposed to sound like a wise, kind grandma, but frankly she sounds more like a grandma-themed supervillain.) Meredith says that forget gentleness, Elthina should throw him in chains. And Elthina basically calms her down (sounding more like an actual grandma this time) and asks her to go back to the Circle "like a good girl." I'm not going to deny that Meredith was kind of acting like a child here, but it's still unnerving to see her treated like one when she's clearly older than Hawke (who's probably about my IRL age by Act III.) Thomas asks if she thinks this solved the problem. Elthina concedes that no, they're probably not going to see reason. To quote Anders: "Sometimes, you just know trouble is coming."
|
|
inherit
11247
0
1,639
Buckeldemon
Now stealin' more kidz.
1,200
July 2019
buckeldemon
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by Buckeldemon on Sept 12, 2020 16:46:27 GMT
I know, I've played a mage once who was a bit more...shall we say creative? In her ways of using magic...she had plenty of them from the spirit school (walking bomb among them)
also, the rogue talents from the blood stuff are apparently the only once that're not glitchy I don't use them in gameplay though...I just head canon some stuff.
Speaking of which...just defeated Meredith again in my minor rerun of DA2's ending Anders lived and...Sebastian stormed off to Starkhaven...I like this ending better.
I believe my exact words after Sebby threatened Kirkwall were "someone put a bolt through his(Seb's) head" I mean, Varric kills Gascard if he so much as twitches (provided he lives when you confront Quentin) but he won't kill Sebastian after he threatened his home Heh, you did confess your like for grease fire.
Dark Sustenance seems to work but my Surana doesn't really need it as a blood mage. The rest is... well, there is apparently a nasty bug with dual weapon expert applying its glitchy bleeding damage to the player character if they are under the effect of an ability that continously drains health. I had something similar happen to a mage of mine during the siege at Vigil's Keep. I had no self-inflicted damage on my character, but I hit the disciple leader (a dual-wielder) who waits off-map to a certain point with a cloud AOE spell and got afflicted with permanent bleeding damage from that shitty dual-wield talent. After the Vigil's guard officer also suddenly turned hostile for no apparent reason, I called it quits and went to save Amaranthine instead.
Well, Varric is inconsequential at times.
Elthina asks the templars who'd accompanied Meredith to bring Orsino back to the Circle. "Gently, please." (She was probably supposed to sound like a wise, kind grandma, but frankly she sounds more like a grandma-themed supervillain.)Meredith says that forget gentleness, Elthina should throw him in chains. And Elthina basically calms her down (sounding more like an actual grandma this time) and asks her to go back to the Circle "like a good girl." I'm not going to deny that Meredith was kind of acting like a child here, but it's still unnerving to see her treated like one when she's clearly older than Hawke (who's probably about my IRL age by Act III.) Oh, that's hilarious. Your playthrough is a very good read.
Hawke was born around 9:06/9:07. Meredith became Knight-Captain in 9:14, so I guess her d.o.b. is somewhere between 8:85-8:90.
|
|
Sokemis
N3
Games: Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Jade Empire
Posts: 876 Likes: 1,827
inherit
9163
0
1,827
Sokemis
876
August 2017
sokemis
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Jade Empire
|
Post by Sokemis on Sept 12, 2020 19:11:49 GMT
...why do I feel like their shenanigans would be similar to those of your Wardens Sokemis ? I could see it happening, lol. Don't think it came to blows between them, but probably came close a couple times. Naliea did break Alistair's nose though. Twice. Remembers me of a hilarious encounter my friend had once while I was watching. She took that "more damage but random targeting" upgrade for Energy Barrage and fought some hostile at Crestwood. The fight move too close to a group of druffs, they all got hit by the random bolts, my friend's party died miserably. Those druffalos are so touchy aren't they I think I did the same thing with one of my mages, accidently set of the whole herd while fighting baddies.
|
|
LadyofNemesis
N5
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Posts: 4,946 Likes: 12,302
inherit
10314
0
12,302
LadyofNemesis
4,946
July 2018
ladyofnemesis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
|
Post by LadyofNemesis on Sept 12, 2020 19:38:28 GMT
...why do I feel like their shenanigans would be similar to those of your Wardens Sokemis ? I could see it happening, lol. Don't think it came to blows between them, but probably came close a couple times. Naliea did break Alistair's nose though. Twice. Raelyn surprisingly got along well with Alistair (only thing they ever argued about was the fact she had Isolde kill Connor) was still hurt he didn't trust her with the truth about his birthright, but after his explanation could understand it as well. She was also fiercely protective and loyal to him, insisting on supporting his claim for the throne (also she hated Anora for selling her out...twice )
But I sincerely doubt she'll get along with my Cousland, who I plan on starting out as a pompous holier than thou "I'm a noble so bow to me" sort of guy I've yet to decide on the choices he'll make, though he does get humbled throughout the journey...
I know I said they'd exist in the same world state, but many of the things Cousland would do wouldn't mix with those my Tabris did mostly concerning rulers...seeing as I'll likely need Loghain in order to sacrifice him to Archie...and you can't do that with just Alistair (who rules alone in my canon world state) and my Tabris has personal beef with Loghain as well...seeing as he did sell her people (among them nearly her dad) into slavery Cousland: [about Loghain] we need him! Tabris: *already sharpening Alistair's blade* what the hell you talking about? (yeah, Alistair killed Loghain )
--
Hm...speaking of which...would a "Lawful Good" Warden fall for Morrigan or for Leliana? (because I love Kieran...but don't know if a "good" character would romance Morrigan given the more questionable decisions she supports)
|
|
azarhal
N7
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Posts: 9,300 Likes: 26,094
inherit
1519
0
Oct 10, 2024 21:23:45 GMT
26,094
azarhal
9,300
Sept 9, 2016 12:15:16 GMT
September 2016
azarhal
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
|
Post by azarhal on Sept 12, 2020 20:20:31 GMT
Rius cleaned-up the Warden's Keep. He's now wondering if the Grey Warden job is more about killing demons and undeads than darkspawns. The place was filled with those things. And also a very old Warden from about a century ago when the king attacked them. The former Warden Commander was even a monstrosity, the mabari saw right through it. What was left of her was quickly dispatched. There wasn't that much loot to deal with the Wardens in there either, but Rius found a few interesting pieces still. After that the group set off to the Frostback Mountains. Maybe a small villages in the mountain would do some good. Once they arrived there, the locals were not particularity friendly. Nobody had seen Genitivi either. Rius ended up finding a corpse in the backstore of the only shop in the area. Made everyone mad in the village. The party found Genitivi hurt in the local church. Alistair and Leliana were quite confuse that they had a Father instead of a Mother too, but that's human religion Rius didn't really care. But not madder than the cultists under the village worshiping a dragon and drinking blood. Are humans just mad? Rius was starting to think that maybe he should return to Orzammar and let the Blight kill all the humans, but that wouldn't be helpful for Orzammar so he marched on. Once at the Templar where the ashes were, Rius and his companions had to deal with tests, more spirits except these were not into murdering at first sight like all the others encountered so far. One even took Leske's appearance. Rius finally made it to the urn, took some ashes and hoped the humans were right that it was a cure-all. After, Genitivi talking about a bunch of thing Rius didn't care about, it was just a dead woman ashes afterall. The group ran back to Redcliff and the Eamon got cured. Then it was time for payback to Loghain. Or something like that, Rius really hopes he'll be able to stab him in the back for real at least once but hopefully twice. Just to make sure he's dead. Eamon will call a Landsmeet and while waiting for everyone to arrive Rius will do some reconnaissance in Denerim as well as help Queen Anora. She asked for help, probably a trap, but Rius doesn't have other choices. ------------------------ I love the Gauntlet, but Rius didn't like it.
|
|
Sokemis
N3
Games: Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Jade Empire
Posts: 876 Likes: 1,827
inherit
9163
0
1,827
Sokemis
876
August 2017
sokemis
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Jade Empire
|
Post by Sokemis on Sept 12, 2020 21:25:51 GMT
LadyofNemesis To be fair to Alistair he didn't deserve either of the punches, and to be fair to Naliea she didn't actually mean to punch him the second time. First time was right around Lothering - they were going up a steep, rocky hill and he grabbed her arm to steady her. At that point in time her first instinct was still to punch him rather than thank him. The second time he tried to wake her from a nightmare. Her body woke up before her mind did and she came up swinging. In general though, the two of them had what I call a "unrequited friendship". In the beginning when she still didn't trust him, he was already thinking of her as at least a possible friend. By the end when she considered him a true and close friend, he thought of her like a little sister. As far as Tabris/Cousland's decisions, they had some different choices/outcomes in their respective playthroughs that I mesh together in headcanon world, with them "overriding" each other at some points. In headcanon world there's instances for both of them where things would have gone better if the other one had made the choice, and then there's instances for both where it's a good thing they were there. Most of their major decisions (with the notable exception of Connor's fate) at least were pretty much the same, even if they were made for different reasons. As far as both were concerned though Loghain (and Anora) had to go, Alistair agreed since Loghain didn't survive the duel with him . On the surface, I think a LG Cousland would probably be more likely to fall for Leliana, but it's obviously not a definite. Can't always predict who the heart's going to choose. Maybe you could look at it like a "rivalmance"? Then there's always the option for the DR (unless you're aiming for a non-OGB Kieran), which I think even a LG character could agree to if survival instinct takes over or they've come to trust Morrigan enough over the course of the game. Although she didn't like the idea, my lawful-good Cousland was surprisingly more receptive to the DR than my chaotic-good Tabris, who had to be guilted into it by Morrigan.
|
|
azarhal
N7
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Posts: 9,300 Likes: 26,094
inherit
1519
0
Oct 10, 2024 21:23:45 GMT
26,094
azarhal
9,300
Sept 9, 2016 12:15:16 GMT
September 2016
azarhal
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
|
Post by azarhal on Sept 13, 2020 1:17:32 GMT
Rius did things. Yes things. Cleaned up the streets of Denerim from small bandits and soldiers armies trying to kill him. Help the Crows kill a few peoples, all Howes or Loghain's men. Was nicely rewarded too. And then assaulted with disguise Howe's estate in Denerim to free Anora. Assaulted because with the amount of people in the dungeons, all his men should be dead by now. Those dungeons were full of very interesting people too. People kidnapped because they were speaking against Loghains. Now all free and maybe useful, except for that one crazy dude. Well make that two crazy dudes. Anora was finally free, sorta, Ser Cauthrien showed up. That's Loghain's right hand woman. She never left the estate after afterward. In the big fight with Loghain's men to leave the estate, Anora ran away. Rius made it back to Eamon's estate and found her there. Now the Wardens are going to the Alienage to see what is going on there. Eamon also say to watch over Anora. Rius doesn't see the point, Anora looks fine as a queen. Alistair would be a terrible King, but Eamon doesn't see it that way. Rius doesn't want to lose is buddy. ---- Ser Cauthrien and her men lost to a big bear and healing potions spamming. Rius was the last person standing, literally. Also, I'm playing on easy...and almost died in the fight. I think it's only the second time I beat her there.
|
|
inherit
1685
0
1,636
riverdaleswhiteflash
1,501
Sept 28, 2016 8:03:42 GMT
September 2016
riverdaleswhiteflash
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire
|
Post by riverdaleswhiteflash on Sept 13, 2020 3:12:11 GMT
Oh, that's hilarious. Your playthrough is a very good read. Thanks. So, since the third act of DA2 takes place in 9:37, Hawke would be in his early thirties. And Meredith would likely be in her late forties or early fifties. Yeah, that's about what I'd figured. Thanks. Ser Cauthrien and her men lost to a big bear and healing potions spamming. Rius was the last person standing, literally. Also, I'm playing on easy...and almost died in the fight. I think it's only the second time I beat her there. My first time through, everyone wound up on the ground except for Sten. He eventually beat Cauthrien in a greatsword duel (by drinking a poultice every third or fourth swing,) and switched out his greatsword for the one he'd taken from her corpse. My second time, only half the party went down. It wound up being Leiliana backstabbing her, and my Warden swinging at her with his greatsword. Leiliana wound up being the one to finish her. (I remember all of this because the picture of Cauthrien spinning around to do the death animation stuck in my mind: I couldn't even tell you who the other two party members were, except that Wynne was probably one of them.) And yeah, I was doing all of this on Easy too. Cauthrien really knows how to swing that sword. Anyway, on with the plot... ---- ---- Thomas Hawke mingled with the crowd a bit after the show ended, and heard from some of the assembled nobles. Some of them expressed sympathy for mages, and most seemed entirely okay with the idea that Thomas might become the Viscount. Thomas also found a Qunari soldier standing by his house. That could potentially foreshadow very unpleasant things... ... but no, he was just under orders to gather the swords of the Qunari who'd died in the invasion of Kirkwall. Thomas agreed to do it for him as long as he was well paid, because he can't really go around doing something like that for free, right? And then Thomas decided to head to the Black Emporium: he'd been holding on to the junk he'd picked up looting the City of Kirkwall during the Qunari invasion for three years, either out of laziness or a desire to let the goods he'd stolen cool. Either way, it had been three years, so it was probably time to let the stuff go. He passed Hubert on the way out of Hightown, and the first thing Hubert said was "we're ruined!" Thomas is currently carrying more than a hundred sovereigns, plus some stuff he's planning to sell that's got to be worth another two or three, and some stuff he might or might not eventually sell that's probably worth about ten. "We're" ruined? Anyway, Hubert explained that he'd just received a cartload of bodies, pulled by a horse. The horse was apparently the only surviving member of the party, and Hubert couldn't get it to tell him what had happened, because none of the mages he knew could make a horse talk. (Maybe he was hoping Thomas could do it? He'd gotten Sabin to speak.) Thomas left him to continue interrogating the horse, and went to investigate in a more direct manner. He stopped at the Black Emporium along the way, since while it wasn't strictly on the way, he didn't think anyone would die while he was wasting that time who wasn't already doomed. He sold the stuff in his junk-bag (including five poison rings! What kind of hellhole of backstabbing is Hightown?!) and Fenris's old maul. (Fenris was now wielding a large double-headed axe Thomas had... probably found in the Viscount's palace? Who can even remember?) There were no survivors in the Bone Pit when Thomas got there, as far as anyone could tell. It was just burnt wreckage and corpses. He'd promised these men he'd keep them safe. So this is what a broken promise feels like. Thomas couldn't find what had caused the devastation on the ledges, though he did find some stuff he thought might be salable later... and he realized he'd never been into the valley before. Maybe there was something there that he'd missed this whole time. A demon, or a cult... ... or a high dragon. This is very clearly going to suck. The dragon immediately jumped into combat. And I do mean "jumped," which is weird considering that it should not be able to do that at its size, even with its wings. Fenris moved into axing range, Anders tried to stay close enough that Fenris still benefited from Anders's healing aura, and Merrill and Thomas moved far enough apart that no AoE could hit them both. (They hoped.) The group managed to whittle enough tiny pieces off of it (the creature is strangely durable for something that large and acrobatic) that it jumped onto an unreachable ledge. It summoned more dragonlings than are way too many dragonlings, and started chucking fireballs at the party while they handled the trash mobs. The group took down all of the dragonlings, and then started a drawn out game of dodgeball... with the balls being great balls of fire. It was pretty funny to watch: the party all stood in one place (so that they didn't have to waste time figuring out who was in the crosshairs,) waited for the dragon to inhale, and then immediately and simultaneously took off running to a stretch of sand that wasn't about to turn into glass. The group eventually started to suspect the dragon would keep doing this all day unless they got within range to attack it... but they decided to keep playing the game long enough for Merrill to turn off her blood magic and regain some mana. Merrill eventually managed to get back all of her mana, and then after a quick trip to the sidelines to take down a dragonling who'd dodged the fighting (during which the dragon managed to land a fireball right in the center of the party) the party climbed the ledges to get within arrow and spell range of the dragon. They managed to annoy it off of the ledges, and the fight started again in earnest. (Or, at least the part that Fenris could contribute to started again; everyone else was capable of fighting at range.) The dragon eventually got frustrated again and summoned more of its children to die in its place (A+ parenting there) and one of them was a female mature enough to have wings herself. The group put this second mob down, and then got into it with the high dragon again... until she took another break and summoned yet more dragonlings, along with two winged females. Seriously. How much is she getting, that she's got enough children to willingly sacrifice this many? The party eventually managed to cut off enough little pieces that the dragon fell over. (And not a moment too soon: right before the slaying cutscene triggered, it picked Fenris up and started shaking him like a dog shakes a rat.) Thomas pulled out two short-swords from nowhere again and jumped on the dragon's head. He stabbed it, dismounted elegantly, and started looting it. He found a new cuirass to match the gloves he'd gotten when he killed the Arishok, a new bow he hopes to become dextrous enough to use soon, and an armor upgrade for Fenris that would let him hold one more rune in his armor (for someone who hates mages so much, the guy has really enchantable armor.) And he also thinks the high dragon's blood might be of use to him... But anyway, he had to go back to Hubert and report that everyone at the mine was dead. As expected, Hubert cared more about the equipment they might be able to salvage (not that any of it was in good enough shape for that, apart from the stuff Thomas had already pinched.) Hubert despaired that he was ruined, and that he couldn't even pay Thomas for the dragon-slaying he'd done. Thomas said that the mine itself was still valuable, and persuaded Hubert to hand over the deed to it. Then Thomas sold Hubert some of the stuff he'd picked up the mine, and Hubert was able to pay him for that. So clearly, he wasn't that broke.
|
|
inherit
168
0
14,251
Rascoth
4,257
August 2016
rascoth
|
Post by Rascoth on Sept 13, 2020 9:40:03 GMT
Inquisitor and co. went to Western Approach before Crestwood and because I'm stubborn, I cleared whole area. On my way from Griffon Wing Keep to Coracavus I stopped to creepily look at Adamant. Soon, my dear fortress, soon... No giant disappeared on me in sand this time, but a group of Venatori did. Almost in the same spot. I'm starting to suspect something's wrong with sand there. Not that I mind, as long as it doesn't swallow one of my people. Now I'm 99,9% sure it's going to happen to one of my party memebers next time I fight in that spot.Hit lvl16 by the end of the Approach, so Red Water time. Took Varric, Bull and Dorian. I had wonderful idea to go after Vinsomer right away. Lvl16, with not-so-optimal-party still on lvl15 and Inquisitor as the only one with semi-decent gear. Dorian and Varric had reviving party while Bull and Aien carried whole fight. That was fun Crestwood next. First thing to do was to make sure Jana avoided her sad fate. That done, time for more exploration. I deny all accusations of pushing Cassandra into the water. Anyway, swept whole area, met with Hawke and Stroud (I'm jumping between Stroud and Loghain in my canon, because while I like having Loghain, I feel like Stroud makes more sense as Hawke's contact), retook Caer Bronach and dealt with undead-rising rift. There was also Northern Hunter to deal with, but please *laughs in Vinsomer* she went down in no time. Also, can I keep Command for longer than one quest? Pretty please? Only one quick trip to Western Approach and we can hit Adamant... but first, Promise of Destruction. Had to reload when loot with key to the door got stuck on top of doorframe and I couldn't reach it. One last trick in hopes of stopping me? Pity it didn't work. One dead Lord Seeker later, Inquisitor told Cassandra only she can decide what to do next. Which I'm certain will end up with Seekers rebuilt. I'm fine with that. After meeting with Hawke, Here Lies the Abyss. Took my warriors for a spin. Inquisitor decided to recreate "this is fine" meme right at the beginning of the siege. Bull went from "yeah, dragon!" to "oh shit, demons..." in span of minutes. One of these days I really need to bring whole freak out party with me, because being stuck in the Fade is not demanding enough and I need additional babysitting job. For the first time in forever I didn't get "Maker, stop, both of you" option during Hawke/Warden fight. I was surprised, to say the least, considering even my non-faithful Inquisitors tend to get it. Even Aien got it in my previous pt with him. The only difference is that I talked with Divine/spirit before reclaiming my second batch of memories and specifically said I don't believe in the Maker. Huh, I'll remember to pick more ambiguous answer next time, since while I don't like to be seen as believer, I missed option to tell them to shut up. Non-believer answer is far too calm for my liking Stroud stayed behind and Wardens joined the Inquisition. Cassandra wasn't too happy about that, but she'll live.Next, all post-Adamant stuff and I think Emerald Graves? I want to clear at least one zone before WEWH and Emerald Graves seems perfect with Before the Dawn objective.
|
|
Norstaera
N3
Stealth Swooper
This morning my husband said I was evil like June Cleaver. I cried a single tear of wicked happiness
Games: Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition
Posts: 387 Likes: 748
inherit
Stealth Swooper
1178
0
748
Norstaera
This morning my husband said I was evil like June Cleaver. I cried a single tear of wicked happiness
387
Aug 24, 2016 16:13:41 GMT
August 2016
norstaera
Bottom
http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/3ead/s5mkgfa593ihxkkzg.jpg
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition
|
Post by Norstaera on Sept 13, 2020 18:51:41 GMT
Excerpt from JASMINE’S JOURNAL:
Traps, Traps, Traps and more Traps
I am so very tired, Clara. The Lord Seeker wasn’t even there . . . it was all a trap created by an Envy demon possessing him. I’ll tell you what we learned tomorrow. *yawn* I’d like to sleep a week. *yawns again*
*frowns thoughtfully* I don’t remember taking my boots off last night, but I must have since they were on the floor by my bed this morning. But if I took them off why didn’t I crawl under all the covers instead of lying on top of the bed and just wrapping a blanket around me? I suppose it doesn’t really matter. As soon as the templars that remain arrive and have an opportunity to prepare, including rest, we will need to seal the breach.
Before I make my report to Cu- my advisors I need to make sure I understand and remember as much as possible. Some of it is easy. Lord Abernache and a group of nobles accompanied us to meet the Templars. I should have known something was wrong when Ser Barris met us instead of the Lord Seeker and asked me to raise banners to demonstrate my priorities. I thought it silly but did so in order to be polite, I didn’t want the Templars to see me as rude and overbearing as Abernache.
Inside we still didn’t see Lord Seeker Lucius but more Templars and guards. Knight-Captain Denam sprang the trap. Poor Ser Barris had nothing to do with it; he was caught just as we were. They, the red Templars, didn’t just attack us they attacked the nobles outside. Lord Abernache was killed in the fighting; I should ask Josephine about writing a letter of condolence to his family. Denam was slowly turning his men into red Templars, starting with the leadership. I don’t think they even told all the men what was happening, the BASTARDS. Excuse my language, but that’s how I feel.
I was ready to confront the soon-to-be-former Lord Seeker Lucius with all my outrage and the power of the Inquisition as soon as we finished fighting the corrupted Templars. That would have been too easy. Easy? Nothing has been easy since the explosion. It looked like the Lord Seeker, but it was an envy demon wearing his form. The moment I touched it, it cast me into . . . well, at first I thought it was the Fade but I was wrong.
Clara, I was cast into a nightmare in my own head! It was so creepy and scary. Josephine, Leliana, Cullen . . . they were all there but different. Dark melting versions – I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I also saw an Inquisition gone mad and cruel with power and, and Cullen hated me. Oh, it was horrible. A spirit, Cole, helped me see what was going on and to escape. The envy demon was trying to learn about me so it could take my place. We didn’t let that happen. Well, you know this since I’m here. I must be even more tired than I thought. Hmm, somebody’s knocking at the door, be right back.
*sits back down, face red*
| That was Cullen. He wanted to see how I was feeling. He, um, stopped by last night when he saw my light on and was concerned when I didn’t answer. When he saw me slumped on my bed he was worried until he realized I was simply asleep, so he removed my boots and draped a blanket on me . . . Maker, I hope I wasn’t drooling . . . at least that’s one small mystery solved. Why is it that being around that man makes me feel and react like a silly schoolgirl? I used to feel so bewildered and bemused by some of the female apprentices when they were around one male or another. I’m a grown woman in my twenties trying to save the world; I should be past such ridiculousness. Still . . . seeing him this morning with a smile on his face is much better than the visions from my nightmare(?) if that’s the right word. |
Back to recent events, wait, who is Cole? A figment of my imagination? Well, no need to include that in my official report. That’s all we need, for people to think the Herald of Andraste is just a mad woman with a few tricks. Once I found my way out of my own head, weird, we found more untouched Templars. They helped us and during our efforts to track the envy demon we found out a part of the Elder One’s plans – Clara, he wants to murder Empress Celene and take advantage of the resulting chaos to destroy Orlais and then all of southern Thedas. That’s, that’s insane!
We must stop him. I have to ask: will sealing the Breach even be enough? |
|
|
azarhal
N7
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Posts: 9,300 Likes: 26,094
inherit
1519
0
Oct 10, 2024 21:23:45 GMT
26,094
azarhal
9,300
Sept 9, 2016 12:15:16 GMT
September 2016
azarhal
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
|
Post by azarhal on Sept 13, 2020 19:34:17 GMT
After darkspawns, demons, spirits, crazy cults and stupid humans lords, Rius finally got to meet the fabled Tevinter mages. He had heard of them here and there. And these were Tevinter slavers mages to be precises. Loghain, who profess his hate for Orlais because they once invaded Ferelden and turned its citizen into slaves, literally sold the elves in the Alienage into slavery to Tevinter. That was the last element needed to call the Landsmeet and dispose Loghain. But first, Rius had some talk with Anora behind Eamon's back. He wanted to make sure that she would take the throne and Alistair would refuse it. At the Landsmeet it went as expect, the lords and ladies voted against Loghain, his own daughters speaking against him and the man turned into a madmen. Rius proposed a duel which he won easily (Loghain was stunned the whole fight ) and then he had Alistair execute him. Anora wasn't too pleased but she new the Blight came first. She was now the Queen of Ferelden and urged unity to defeat the Blight. Tus everyone went back to Redcliff. Once Rius got there, there was a few darkspawns who were dispatched with easy. Once inside the castle, it was learned the hoard was now marching toward the capital. One night of sleep and everyone would march to Denerim where the final battle would take place. Before bedtime, Riordan told Alistair and Rius that only Grey Wardens could kill the Archdemon, he would "respawn" in the nearest darkspawn otherwise. In doing so, the Grey Warden dealing the killing blow would die. Riordan was putting himself up for the kill as the oldest. Rius and Alistair were fine with that. Then Rius went to his room to get some sleep, but Morrigan was waiting in it. Rius promptly reminded her she had her own room. He wasn't too sure why she was still around actually. She said she new the price to pay to kill the Archdemon and she had a proposal. Rius told her to leave, which she did...finally. The next day, first the army had to breach the city gates. Once it was done, Riordan suggested a small party made for the Drakon's tower to have a better vintage point to jump on the Archdemon, while a few others should guard the gates. Rius took his trusted mabari and Leliana, leaving Alistair at the gates. Also was the backup's backup in case Riordan or Rius failed now. The group went through the city, defeating darkspawns generals, dragon thralls and orgres. Calling on some army helps here and there. Riordan managed to land on the Archdemon, but failed to kill him, causing the demon to crash on the higher tower in the city. Once at the tower, Rius climbed it defeating more darkspawns and then they found Sandal. Why was he there? He was in Redcliff castle the last time they saw him with his dad who was nowhere to be found here. Anyhow, Rius bought some more healing potions just in case and then continued the climb. Once at the top, the archdemon was waiting and Rius called in more reinforcements: Golems. Arl Eamon also showed up and ended up chewed by the dragon. Rius also spotted the Templar commander Gregoire, he was swarmed by darkspawns eventually. But in the end Rius managed to take down the archdemon, causing a huge pillar of light and giving his life to save Ferelden. There was a funeral with Queen Anora doing the speech. Then Rius's sister, Rica, showed up to claim the body. Rius was to be put under the Stone, not cremated like humans. Paradon-hood was even a possibility, which meant Rica's son would have his own house one day. ------ And it is done. The game crashed during the epilogue slides. In fact, it crashed a lot so I don't think I'm going to play Awakening/With hunt. I don't really feel like it now that Rius is dead anyway. I'm just going to move to DA2. It's the first time I do the Ultimate Sacrifice. That was emotional Oh and doing the final battle with just 3 characters in the party. Even on easy, outch. I died a few times. Like that one time the Archdemon jumped on my character. Can you imagine that you can end up with just you and Alistair as a party for the final battle? Good thing I could summon master ranger pets.
|
|
inherit
1685
0
1,636
riverdaleswhiteflash
1,501
Sept 28, 2016 8:03:42 GMT
September 2016
riverdaleswhiteflash
Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire
|
Post by riverdaleswhiteflash on Sept 14, 2020 1:04:37 GMT
Thomas Hawke decided to go shopping in the market square (if only to distract himself from the near-death experience he'd had there three years prior, which Meredith had had to save him from.)
He picked up a book that he used to make himself dextrous enough to use the bow he'd picked up from the dragon... and immediately sold that bow when he realized it only did fire damage. (Call me crazy, but I want a bow that isn't basically useless against Rage Demons.) He also bought a Qunari sword at the same shop that he sold the bow to and picked up the book from, and it was not cheap.
Important milestone here: between the new cuirass's bonus and the dexterity he picked up from that tome, Thomas's Critical Hit Chance is now 50%. Between that and the fact that he autocrits when flanking or hitting Stunned enemies, he might actually wind up critting more often than he doesn't from here on out.
He picked up a backpack from the robe shop too, and then decided to head back to Taarbas to drop off the sword.
Along the way, he talked to a knight who wanted to oppose Meredith, who refused to draw the conversation out for fear of templar informers. (At least she doesn't think Thomas was one of them. It'd be hard to make that mistake after he publically denounced Meredith, but people in Kirkwall can be dense about this sort of thing. He was mistaken for a templar informer three times in one day while flanked by two apostates.) The knight told him that she'd communicate by messengers if they needed to communicate further.
So then Thomas continued on to hand the blade over to Taarbas... who inquired if Thomas wanted payment for it.
Thomas had already said he wanted payment... but he'd already spent more buying the sword than he figured Taarbas was going to pay him for it, so he decided he might as well just eat the whole loss. It's not like he can't afford it. (This decision had nothing to do with the fact that I'd looked up the rewards and decided Thomas was better off getting a new bow and a lot more experience than he would be getting paid. After all, Thomas has no idea what "Wikia" is, so he can only be motivated by a particularly strange application of the sunk cost fallacy.)
That accomplished, Thomas decided he should probably go visit his uncle (who had apparently moved back into Lowtown, even though it's not like Thomas didn't have room for him.)
It was dark by the time he reached Lowtown. Given past patterns, Thomas figured that probably meant he was about to be attacked by a new gang that had formed in the last three years.
It turns out they're called the "Followers of She."
She? She what? She who?
She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? She Who Lives In Her Name? Hsi Wu, (it's pronounced "She Woo") the demon sorcerer of the sky?
She whose mysteries I can't solve yet because none of She's Followers dropped a note telling me where to find Her?
Probably that last one.
Thomas disposed of the welcoming committee right outside the entrance, and then headed to the plaza Gamlen had moved back into... and ran into more of Her Followers. He had to kill through two or three waves of them before he could get into Gamlen's place... and Merrill noted that it smelled weird?
Thomas popped in, and Gamlen got a bit sentimental. He said that he'd gained some respect for Leandra's decision to elope, since it resulted in Thomas, and that he was glad the Amell line wasn't over with.
He also said that Thomas had saved Kirkwall from the heathens, and that the Viscount should have paid Gamlen a finder's fee. Maybe so, but the Viscount was dead by the time Thomas saved Kirkwall, so it was too late then. (Maybe he should have paid Gamlen something after sending Thomas to diffuse two tense situations with them?)
Anyway, Thomas headed out to get Merrill away from the smell, and ran into a few Dominated Fighters and Dominated Scoundrels just south of the plaza.
(No, not that kind of dominated... I think? Dragon Age characters do get up to some kinky stuff... but I'm pretty sure the word is being used to refer to mind control here.)
Thomas Hawke had little choice but to kill the unfortunates, and after that, he came to some more Followers of She immediately to the west. He slaughtered them too (figuring that their Mistress was probably responsible for the outright murder he'd just had to commit) but didn't get a note.
He decided to go exploring a bit. He went to the Foundry where Isabela had left the party last time... and Her Followers were already there. Or some of them were: two or three more waves of them just dropped out of the sky in the middle of the fight. But none of them had the note Thomas needed. But still, he figure's he'll get it eventually, and anyway, there was a qunari sword buried in some rubble near the foundry. (How do you suppose that happened? There were no Qunari there during the invasion, just l'otters.) So he headed back to the entrance to Lowtown... and finding nobody there, he went into the Hanged Man to have a chat with Isabela and Varric.
Isabela still seems a bit guilty over abandoning Kirkwall. Thomas tried to tell Isabela that he couldn't have saved Kirkwall if she hadn't returned, but Isabela didn't fall for it: she's well aware Thomas could have slaughtered the lot of the Qunari if she hadn't showed up. (And how did he expect her not to realize that? That's what it came down to when Thomas refused the duel.)
Isabela said that she had no idea why the High And Mighty Champion was still hanging out with her: he's a grand noble, in both senses of the term "noble," and she's just a lying, thieving snake. Thomas pointed out that she's selling herself short... and how did she expect to sell that one, anyway? Thomas saw her turn around, and heard her try to duel the Arishok in his place.
Isabela reaffirmed their friendship, and said she'd be there if Thomas needed her.
Anyway, Thomas should probably talk to Varric before he heads out to find more of Her Followers.
|
|