Putting the 'role' back in role-playing games since 2002.
Donate to Codex
Good Old Games
  • Welcome to rpgcodex.net, a site dedicated to discussing computer based role-playing games in a free and open fashion. We're less strict than other forums, but please refer to the rules.

    "This message is awaiting moderator approval": All new users must pass through our moderation queue before they will be able to post normally. Until your account has "passed" your posts will only be visible to yourself (and moderators) until they are approved. Give us a week to get around to approving / deleting / ignoring your mundane opinion on crap before hassling us about it. Once you have passed the moderation period (think of it as a test), you will be able to post normally, just like all the other retards.

In Progress Lets play the best Storyfag RPG of all time: Betrayal at Krondor!

Sergiu64

Sergiu64

Arcane
Glory to Ukraine
Joined
Jun 8, 2010
Messages
2,644
Location
Sic semper tyrannis.
More rusalki await.

But first lets try that code. Does a snake's hiss even have a shape?

i-sh9th2Z-M.png


Apparently patching together the guesses does work!

i-Jg6FzFX-M.png


I head further to the north and see a house. Also, is there an enemy off to the distance?

i-FKR7ckv-M.png


Handmade shovels? I guess a man's gotta eat - and apparently farming doesn't pay enough of the bills.

i-kCShZ74-M.png


I... think you just told us what we're missing.

i-fZW4pvx-M.png


I head back up to the inns - its getting dark and the dude at the inn mentioned something about the Mercs protecting the rusalki during the day - but nothing was to be found then. It does appear that night is better as Gorath notices something!

i-99h8grb-M.png


Its kinda cool that undead ambushes sound so different from ordinary ones.

i-FVR5pRZ-M.png


Scouting is tough to raise, so this is nice.

i-fJr4DQ4-M.png


Especially for Gorath himself since his skill is the one being used.

i-qqCps4C-M.png


We're getting pretty sneaky so we make a few steps without triggering the ambush and it teaches us to be even more sneaky.

i-vgb6hLq-M.png


Gorath is still surprisingly unhealthy for an elf.

i-vxHnndg-M.png


Owyn would be pretty bad at it if not for the moccasins.

i-xMPjMXv-M.png


James's skills as a thief are self evident.

i-DgCJzLT-M.png


Soon after we do trigger the ambush however.

i-ZzMkXtm-M.png


James misses.

i-2BvT8mh-M.png


Another one hits him with a bolt for 32.
Owyn freezes one that has not moved yet.

i-CFh5KWv-M.png


Gorath misses a crossbow shot.

i-jtwm8GW-M.png


James switches targets to the one that shot him since he know it'll go next. Hits for 12.

i-mgBdnFw-M.png


Owyn freezes the other one.

i-33zQNK8-M.png


Gorath misses a crossbow shot again.

i-93KknBc-M.png


James fails to hit this time.

i-8542fmV-M.png


Owyn freezes the last active rusalka.

i-BmKGVLC-M.png


James misses one that was frozen first.

i-BLgs8mG-M.png


Owyn starts resting. Gorath hits that one for 25.

i-qbGJGSq-M.png


James starts resting too. Gorath hits with a swing. 31.

i-qb6PkVL-M.png


Gorath had to finish it with a thrust for 27.

i-s5cLqLB-M.png


Switching to the closer one - first thrust is for 24.

i-pnvfRLW-M.png


A swing for 32 finishes that one.

i-8nKB89m-M.png


As the other characters are approaching full travel health - Gorath approaches last rusalki and hits for 24.

i-W2k7qRh-M.png


He has to pause for James to get to full health - and rusalki wakes up - Owyn re-freezes and everyone gets topped up.
Gorath continues for 25.

i-RwtRNC6-M.png


James actually finishes the fight with a hit for 14.

i-ZqBjQ3b-M.png


We get a good night sleep and head past the house with the knick-knack salesman.

i-p8KcXMD-M.png


We can't sneak up on him. But I guess he sounds friendly?

i-C8gcbjK-M.png


Or not... It's three on one, what an idiot.

i-4vqcpKH-M.png


He's fast - gets into range with Gorath and misses him.
James hits him for 22.

i-CVkCc5t-M.png


Owyn does as well - 4.

i-P7zvLWz-M.png


Gorath misses with a swing however. Enemy misses him with one in turn.

i-Wm462hK-M.png


James misses too.

i-sX8xTpP-M.png


Owyn hits for 4 again.

i-dcwqCrc-M.png


Gorath switches to thrusts. Hits - for 42. Enemy is still up.

i-S6BJmTB-M.png


James misses again however.

i-MCGJ5zq-M.png


Owyn finishes the fight with a thrust for 5. I don't care if this guy had 20 speed - he still only gets to go once per turn.

i-R6gWPcC-M.png


Who's looting now?

i-5CqMd9J-M.png


He was next to a dig hole.

i-JN6SLpD-M.png


We keep on keeping on and come up to some side road with a sign. Obviously we investigate.

i-hLWhRpw-M.png


And come up to a house with... two wells behind it.

i-gxzqNzt-M.png


Hmmm, no one is here and both wells are normal.

i-92nS3xF-M.png


We proceed down the road and see another small house - but before we get to it we stumble into an ambush. Gorath's neck hair is sleeping on the job. At least its a single enemy.

i-Tg3s9tH-M.png


A shade? I expected more rusalki.

i-fTnXNvJ-M.png


James hits the shade for 12.

i-xsFZWNB-M.png


Owyn tries to freeze the Shade with the Grief spell - but it has no effect!!!

i-WwqzdfM-M.png


Shade shoots James for 26.
James misses.

i-DrTTscH-M.png


Owyn blinds the shade instead.

i-2HKQbDj-M.png


Gorath hits it for 22.

i-mm5dtNM-M.png


James keeps resting and Owyn rests and blinds with rinse on repeat until James is at full combat health.
Gorath hits the shade for 23.

i-F56SVVs-M.png


James finishes the fight with a hit for 13.

i-VgrHSNq-M.png


Its interesting how things in the periphery appear on the combat. But the house out of combat is a bit prettier.

i-TLn5HDz-M.png


That seems like a fortune, but I guess we're rich now - so might as well. Maybe she can figure out why the rusalki are active here.

i-ZrtX52b-M.png


That... doesn't sound like we're going to get a very good reading. And we paid 50 gold dammit!

i-SPLwgLQ-M.png


Local rumors? Strange topic for a fortune teller. But I suppose there is a local rusalki problem.

i-ZJVKsnQ-M.png


What the hell is happening? We know for a fact there were rusalki near that inn at night.

i-hZxmtpr-M.png


Either the woman's been abused or something else is going on.

i-9xFRhmf-M.png


We ask to have our future read.

i-cdLbWGX-M.png


That's quite vague.

i-szjF6r6-M.png


Its also strange for there to be an option to "Reject" a reading. Well, I guess we'll accept to be nice.

i-Jzw4LQz-M.png


I mean... we really don't but...

i-B58Dc4Z-M.png


The last option was to speak to the dead, but she's also useless there.

i-SXfCLwj-M.png


You know what... we paid 50 gold. What is this trash reading? We ask for the future again and this time Reject the reading. And... the husband was abusive after all?

i-zNCkBQc-M.png


Well, this reading just became a lot more fun. Worth the 50 gold for the show. And now we'll even get some exercise.
i-wCCWT63-M.png


The rusalki is not actually visible, but when we move one step...

i-KfqHZ6t-M.png


Hmmm, is this a non-rusalki ambush?

i-wsPkNzn-M.png


Whatever it is - James got better at looking for ambushes.

i-cSzmM7b-M.png


It is the rusalka after all. James misses it.

i-xXN4Gps-M.png


Owyn freezes it.

i-B9gggzJ-M.png


James misses it again.

i-HL63xmm-M.png


And again...

i-6gbvWG8-M.png


Gorath hits it though. I can't quite tell the damage. Maybe 27.

i-L55K352-M.png


Since I can't quite tell the damage and its frozen - Gorath and James keep hitting it until it dies.

i-LFGfR3n-M.png


The exercise helped Gorath.

i-NwZNtDJ-M.png


We check on the fortune teller. Was the rusalka their daughter?

i-JJbshKN-M.png


Sounds like not. Being a medium supposedly has these dangers.

i-DwWhNJz-M.png


Well, we get a reading from a woman that was recently possessed and hit with a firewood stick.

i-H6vtVhF-M.png


I can't imagine life after losing the only child, but sometimes fates are cruel.

i-Mdnmz4s-M.png


Next time we'll try to find out if we killed all the rusalki.
 
Nutria

Nutria

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Messages
2,261
Location
한양
Strap Yourselves In
I found this part to be pretty goddamn creepy when I first played it out.

My advice here would be that you should have Owyn toss a few fireballs if you get into a favorable circumstance like there's just some dude trying to flee. That will build up his accuracy skill. One thing I love about this game is that everyone ends up being even more important later on and you get very well rewarded for paying attention to them.
 
Sergiu64

Sergiu64

Arcane
Glory to Ukraine
Joined
Jun 8, 2010
Messages
2,644
Location
Sic semper tyrannis.
Time to move one past this rusalki business.

As I return to the road I'm facing a little hill to the right with a small copse of trees to the left of it. And... something that looks like it might be a chest under those trees. On closer approach it seems there are a lot of chests!

i-BpdNthV-M.png


First one is trapped.

i-qLmfpNT-M.png


Given James' astronomical lockpicking skill - I am no longer afraid of trapped chests.

i-cCtM8rZ-M.png


Yeah, its nice to be safe from those. They've caused more deaths than any of the combats.

i-sMqgGMg-M.png


We're definitely finding better stuff here.

i-hNCwsnM-M.png


Unfortunately we already have this spell.

i-qJVLhTN-M.png


As we make another step towards a second chest - an ambush triggers!

i-23BXQ4C-M.png


James misses the enemy that charged Owyn.

i-23BXQ4C-M.png


Owyn hits that guy for 4.

i-gjPLdMm-M.png


Gorath hits for 46 and finishes the enemy.

i-BXhsrmr-M.png


James hits the next guy for 24.

i-MqRXDfZ-M.png


Owyn hits him for 5.

i-w3bSkSL-M.png


Gorath hits the other guy for 43 - that guy tries to limp away.

i-tBNqVhD-M.png


James misses.

i-7FZ7C4v-M.png


Owyn hits with a swing - 13.

i-rD8F8GX-M.png


Gorath finishes the limper with a hit for 47.

i-KKFxz4V-M.png


My life would be easier if James was better at hitting. Unfortunately it's not because he's not.

i-VfXVQgQ-M.png


Owyn connects with a swing and finishes the fight - 14 damage.

i-QPbJHq5-M.png


Well, at least he's getting better.

i-XQGdn5r-M.png


It doesn't seem like the improved armor is helping these guys much against Gorath's strength and swords. The contrast in difficulty between shades/rusalki and human enemies is stark.

i-JHMPZ58-M.png


Ohoh. Good thing they didn't fire.

i-BDVPBg4-M.png


This guy must have been their smith.

i-C45Ww52-M.png


Second chest is not trapped, but is locked.

i-Smh7XkF-M.png


It can't stand up to James's skilll. And this is a lot of cash for one chest!

i-jw84tGv-M.png


Next two (first time we see this many chests at once!) chests are puzzle locks.

The options are:

TRKY
EAIE
HLLD
BEER

i-mStr8D7-M.png


Options for this one are:

WEMHI
GOPTD
HRLEF
NHIOS

i-FCN2npV-M.png


Answers and loot:

I guess moredhel are always born with hair?

i-XRws5pf-M.png


Unfortunately the Clerical rags do not stack with the ones we got from another chest.

i-5gBDBtR-M.png


You'd think the barrel would lose more weight from losing its rainwater.

i-pzMz8FG-M.png


Game is throwing gold at us at this point.

i-2WZ4bBd-M.png


There's a temporary weapon enhancement by that name. I assume this spell does the same thing. Probably not worth casting as Gorath dominates as it is and Owyn's turns are better spent disabling enemies.

i-pVJW978-M.png

There's actually yet another chest here. Its locked.

i-RSPQ87f-M.png


That's level 1 blessings. We have much better weapons now.

i-TjCZt6J-M.png


As we continue north we notice a sign. Looks like we've reached the last village before Romney.

i-w4K2G3n-M.png


Before dealing with the rest of the houses I decide to sell our stuff.

i-HdcScVN-M.png


Ah, a jewelry store. Oh well, we seem to have found a lot of rubies lately.

i-pwB84rf-M.png


And seems like they will sell for a lot!

i-6rcSrkx-M.png


I'm not sure why jewelers sell keys, but I think its time to buy that ring.

i-VDTdwQ7-M.png


Notice our gold total grew by 500ish gold. That's AFTER we bought the ring. Selling all those rubies was nice!

i-T7N6gDw-M.png


Its unfortunate that we can't actually wear the damned thing and it has to take a slot in our inventory.

i-nSMWgBz-M.png


Seems like it raises the owner's Scouting skill by 15%.

i-h45nP9B-M.png


Time to check out the houses.

i-4VrDhmr-M.png


No one here.

i-QNKDgF3-M.png


This one is bigger.

i-6HGcDMH-M.png


And apparently well built.

i-rt2FTNh-M.png


Yes, we saw it in the distance.

i-dsZbXhH-M.png


Next house.

i-GLWKTzT-M.png


Hmmm... did James even go to school? Seems like kids that end up as the mockers do not have normal childhoods.

i-Xf3sGvP-M.png


We're getting closer to that temple?

i-DjsZzfz-M.png


Ah, a loot house.

i-ZWWgxf5-M.png


Someone seriously left a fortune here?

i-2fSW6mK-M.png


Let's see who this temple is dedicated to.

i-kh5Xvd4-M.png


Why would a dude tell us about a temple on the other side of town if its abandoned?

i-qBkM4Vf-M.png


This seems like a big village.

i-bqbxLb9-M.png


Hahaha!

i-Cs9NXQx-M.png


This is not as funny, Gorath actually lost health points to the cat attack.

i-sLGXC2X-M.png


Second to last house.

i-WJVxJ22-M.png


Sounds like this guy got a world class education.

i-26cwxwM-M.png


Why is he trying to sell it if he knows it can get him in trouble?

i-b46GQ5W-M.png


Last house!

i-xL99txc-M.png


Sounds like a fun place!

i-F99DnC8-M.png


Yes, it does seem our guys are always on a critical mission and do not have time to explore local varieties of Ale.

i-WW9QjCF-M.png


We return to the road and notice a hole.

i-kRJTLqz-M.png


More rubies! We go sell it at the jeweler before setting out.

i-p2HmfCh-M.png


Seems like there should be no more rusalki so I go back to turn in the quest. No such luck though... not sure where I'm missing more rusalki, perhaps I have to wait until next chapter.

i-cWJ2TPM-M.png


We are approaching our destination. I wonder what those Men from Bas Tyra have to tell us about Nighthawks and Moredhel!
 
Nutria

Nutria

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Messages
2,261
Location
한양
Strap Yourselves In
That damn Galon Griefmaker really is op. If there's something I would say is... suboptimal about this game, it's that you have to do the quest to get that sword to learn enough to understand this chapter. But if you get it this early then Gorath is just plowing through everything.
 
Johannes

Johannes

Arcane
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
10,669
Location
casting coach
IIRC there's an opportunity to make yuge gains by selling gems in Romney when you get there, the prices being sky high to some inflation plot event. So selling them here already might've been a waste.
 
CappenVarra

CappenVarra

phase-based phantasmist
Patron
Joined
Mar 14, 2011
Messages
2,912
Location
Ardamai
also, what a shame it must be working for the kingdom when you cant even sample some free booze offered by a kindly brewmaster

what's the point of life if you cant stop and taste the free beers, ciders, etc.?
 
Nutria

Nutria

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Messages
2,261
Location
한양
Strap Yourselves In
Johannes said:
IIRC there's an opportunity to make yuge gains by selling gems in Romney when you get there, the prices being sky high to some inflation plot event. So selling them here already might've been a waste.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this is another thing where the second time you play the game you know how to exploit this to the extreme. It's not just gems, it's everything iirc. So if you've got OCD you can't help but go back and loot every corpse and make sure you cash in on that opportunity. And then you've got way too much money for the game to be balanced anymore.
 
Sergiu64

Sergiu64

Arcane
Glory to Ukraine
Joined
Jun 8, 2010
Messages
2,644
Location
Sic semper tyrannis.
Well, we're doing fairly good on money as is. Anyway - lets get to Romney!

Some way up the road we notice a house.

i-Z2GvRTP-M.png


Rusalki, abandoned homes, doesn't seem like this area of the Kingdom is a thriving place.

i-LxQMSwq-M.png


Seems like it was abandoned for a while. That sword has had a lot of time to acquire rust.

i-5n4WHrT-M.png


A bit further on, we see a rogue off the road.

i-wbCDjKg-M.png


Seems like a mess of them actually. Crawler's men again? Some hidey holes too.

i-8CNWWBF-M.png


Our stealth skills are decent nowadays.

i-3NmB9jM-M.png


James hits the guy on the left for 23.

i-7s9P6BF-M.png


Gorath gets shot for 10. As I switch Owyn's skills - seems like his Stealth has gotten better.

i-H3B7JZz-M.png


Oh yea, here's that new spell.

i-Lnr8zTM-M.png


Owyn fireballs the central guy - 60 damage and he's still up. 2 pirates to both sides take 13.

i-ff8wGtM-M.png


Gorath also got better at sneaking about.

i-RwmcNH6-M.png


Gorath finishes one of the pirates with a hit for a 40-something.

i-Kgn7Rzx-M.png


James finishes the fireballed guy - he was running. 26 damage.

i-bvhWPhd-M.png


He gets hit for 13 in melee.
Owyn rests. Gorath takes a guy out with a swing. 56 damage.

i-pVM9T45-M.png


James is parried by the archer.

i-tMfBH6p-M.png


Gorath can't get in range. James misses again.

i-PLGk9mp-M.png


His target switches to Gorath and hits for 11.
Gorath retaliates with a swing. 58 damage puts the guy down.

i-SJcHmPn-M.png


James hits the last guy for 24.

i-cL2PRxp-M.png


Owyn hits for 4.

i-rJdTzSV-M.png


Owyn freezes the last guy as he tries to run away. Everyone rests up before Gorath finishes the fight with a hit for 48.

i-BSsXgwm-M.png


No wonder Gorath got shot kinda hard.

i-KF4gXkx-M.png


These little sums add up.

i-hpnbzGG-M.png


Those rations were good.

i-LjJjsPf-M.png


They need much better equipment to challenge us.

i-SLwwMhp-M.png


That healing pack can't help him now.

i-tgbnc5K-M.png


Swords and food in a hidey hole? Maybe they were trying to set up some kind of armed group?

i-QvhbrNK-M.png


Or hiding weapons used in some kind of a crime?

i-Dd5zCLd-M.png


As we head further there's a side road leading to a small house.

i-6hqX6bv-M.png


What is this about? Some kind of wards on the house?

i-2D9b4HR-M.png


Something seemed off about the location of the house and I decided to check behind it. Good idea - there's a chest there.

i-9tSkLP8-M.png


The possibilities are:

EITL
TOEE
RGLS
SNGD

i-Dq6BSBX-M.png


No, its not this.

i-Z3mnjgZ-M.png


The answer and loot:

Not quite sure how they go up white. Maybe on the up swing when you're about to crack them.

i-pFm8TqX-M.png


Oh wow.

i-sTwJhMm-M.png


Remember that bolt Nago hit Owyn with in Chapter one? This is the spell. It's like Fireball - except only does damage to one guy and freezes him like Grief of 1000 Nights.

i-5mGJWBG-M.png


It's already got the level 3 blessing.

i-d8Pr8wg-M.png


The thrust looks really good. Is it an upgrade for James?

i-cmgtDsq-M.png


Yup! +10 Damage and +10 to hit. James never swings anyway due to low melee skill.

i-S7GMns9-M.png

Back on the main road there's some kind of an inn.

i-7F5h9xb-M.png


Not sure where they get all the business from.

i-V7sfxmz-M.png


Guess they don't have that much business given the lute payout.

i-GJSJJTG-M.png


Wow, cheap prices!

i-LLBTwnf-M.png


After a night of sleep we move on and soon see the bridge into Romney.

i-Gdd7j2x-M.png


Yup!

i-PpZNXdm-M.png


Great... What now?

i-vZdk7dj-M.png


Fun fact - this guy can teach us Assessment, but ONLY if we get to him in Chapter 1 - which we have no business doing given story reasons. Just one of the strange ways the game rewards random exploration.

i-Lr8N2Bw-M.png


Good thing we got that seal as a reward from James' twin.

i-MJWpnJb-M.png


What is going on in this town? Is it like Venice or something, Guilds left and right and apparently they have more military strength than the police?

i-h7SZS8r-M.png


Yeah, this is none of our business. We need to talk to the guys from Bas-Tyra.

i-gBJWzhT-M.png


Oh! Sounds like we're going to get some good leads soon.

i-xsxjMfm-M.png


I had to look up what a reeve is.

i-v272v9s-M.png


Large town? Its good Mitchel told us exactly where to find the King's men.

i-vXSMvq8-M.png


I'm still not clear as to how this town works.

i-TjrDMtW-M.png


Well, apparently its well works.

i-gqG4Bdh-M.png


Lets sell loot before we go find that Tavern.

i-GbXsZwq-M.png


Hmmm, weapon's shop?

i-DRcfPk8-M.png


Yup!

i-wzLSFW8-M.png


Some good armors too.

i-wjDfHTK-M.png


After selling our stuff we had even more gold. So I decide to take a look at those better armors. First the Euliliko one. Seems like its barely an upgrade over Elven - 30% vs 25%.
Owyn gets it.

i-LVBS7MT-M.png


This one is a significant upgrade though. I get one for Gorath and James. Getting a discount on them was HARD. The city of Guilds knows how to Haggle.

i-KdHW23g-M.png


What's in this building?

i-FVcq7Gn-M.png


Hmmm, so the Duke is already here yet Mitchel is still accosting people trying to enter town?

i-zrMmWZp-M.png


Assassinated leader? Maybe that's why they were involved in an uprising? Or was the assassination AFTER the fact? Still, assassinations sound like Nighthawks - maybe they're destabilizing the situation here. Anyway, this town is even more of a mystery now.

i-qfvGb4G-M.png


Seems like the Duke is a competent sort.

i-pTGnLs8-M.png


Ok, time to learn what we need from those men from Bas-Tyra.

i-CgqmT3d-M.png


Oh... jeez. I know this is an unstable town but how do you murder a whole squad of soldiers without being noticed? Guess we won't be learning much from these men after all.

i-S9sRtsj-M.png


The screen fades to black. Chapter 2 is over.
 
Nutria

Nutria

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Messages
2,261
Location
한양
Strap Yourselves In
For most of the game I relied on Flamecast for hitting a group of enemies, especially when they're bunched up so if you miss your target you'll hit the guy next to him. Skyfire was my goto in an ordinary battle when I just wanted to hit one guy and be efficient and not use up too much of Owyn's health. I must have never beaten that chest because I only ever got Fetters of Rime much later on. It's really good for incapacitating tough enemies.

The first time I played this, I was pretty shocked at the ending of Chapter 2. I dunno, maybe I was just a naive kid, but they had been subtly building up that we were going to meet these awesome new characters so it was pretty shocking to find them dead.
 
Sergiu64

Sergiu64

Arcane
Glory to Ukraine
Joined
Jun 8, 2010
Messages
2,644
Location
Sic semper tyrannis.
Nutria said:
For most of the game I relied on Flamecast for hitting a group of enemies, especially when they're bunched up so if you miss your target you'll hit the guy next to him. Skyfire was my goto in an ordinary battle when I just wanted to hit one guy and be efficient and not use up too much of Owyn's health. I must have never beaten that chest because I only ever got Fetters of Rime much later on. It's really good for incapacitating tough enemies.

The first time I played this, I was pretty shocked at the ending of Chapter 2. I dunno, maybe I was just a naive kid, but they had been subtly building up that we were going to meet these awesome new characters so it was pretty shocking to find them dead.
Click to expand...

You might have not found the chest. I don't know what possessed me to check behind the house.

As for the second point - there's this narrative tool that gets over-used nowadays where the writer makes it look like a certain character or group will neatly solve all of the problems that the protagonists are facing and just as that is about to happen that character or group suddenly gets taken out. You can see it in the Game of Thrones for example as Arya is about to be returned to Katelyn and Robb by the Hound and... So similar thing happens here and a cynical reader might be very suspicious about the well being of the men from Bas-Tyra when Mitchel announces that they discovered something critical. There was also a hint earlier in the chapter - during that lecture in Malac's Cross - that the men from Bas-Tyra have made a lot of enemies in Romney.
 
Sergiu64

Sergiu64

Arcane
Glory to Ukraine
Joined
Jun 8, 2010
Messages
2,644
Location
Sic semper tyrannis.
Our plans have been dashed by a brazen act of group murder. What's next?

Next is... The Spyglass and the Spider???

i-LwTghNS-M.png


And we are now all proud owners of the knowledge of what burning human flesh smells like.

i-TQMFXBR-M.png


And what scorched bone sounds like, lovely.

i-Wrp4XbL-M.png


What's this? Does Gorath have more secrets to hide?

i-vPCgMwN-M.png


James slaps his fist into his palm, but we all know Gorath is the real badass of the party.

i-fjqCkqG-M.png


This boy remembers this from six months ago? Or am I misunderstanding something?

i-GNSTBgm-M.png


Well, we already knew moredhel were paying the Nighthawks. In fact Gorath was the one to reveal this fact to Arutha.

i-fSfNFWg-M.png


This seems like the most likely explanation. Clearly moredhel wanted Gorath dead or otherwise discredited in front of the leaders of the Kingdom.

i-9kJ6V6g-M.png


Yeah, I really don't see why he would lead James here if this is the place where he was arranging a murder.

i-3TbRBNr-M.png


Fair enough I suppose, but so far Gorath's stories have checked out and we need a lot more than a word of a tavern boy to cast doubt at this point.

i-XRzKN99-M.png


Sneaking into a den of assassins? Well, finding it would be our first trick.

i-SkKwvGG-M.png


Gorath does seem quite familiar with the way they operate. Are Nighthawks that well known in the north?

i-PpV8c4V-M.png


Yes - seems like such a public murder already goes against assassins should try to do things. Unless they want to send a message I suppose.

i-wX7XN2D-M.png


Seems like Gorath has been staring at his hands the entire conversation.

i-8t85S99-M.png


I guess he's been looking at what's in them.

i-7ZkRzwC-M.png


But what are they?

i-QTn95ts-M.png


Ah, this explains the chapter title.

i-cK7cthz-M.png


Before we leave town - lets see if we can learn anything else at the tavern. Looks like it got cleaned up and already has a few patrons.

i-Zc4KQHs-M.png


When I see a lute on the wall - I can't resist it.

i-bwJJ3s2-M.png


We talk to this guy but its that gambler that's out of money conversation again. I wonder if we needed to play against Devon in Eggley for these guys to allow us to play with them.

i-hSMQLP7-M.png


This woman seems like she's someone we need to talk to.

i-4KhPfJP-M.png


The boy? Huh... Maybe he's the boy that accused Gorath?

i-dVp3DRx-M.png


Yeah, if you asked me this person's gender in the middle of the night - I'd say a woman.

i-c4vnRr4-M.png


I can't think of a reason.

i-XKKJWkS-M.png


Dude sounds like he's been abused.

i-f6FvCb9-M.png


Did he introduce himself? No - probably IS the boy that accused Gorath. Doesn't seem to be doing that now - so I guess Gorath is not the same moredhel that paid off the Nighthawks.

i-Tht82wp-M.png


Don't think you could have done anything but get yourself killed as well kid.

i-WdNcpD3-M.png


Seems like something that should have come up in their earlier conversation.

i-j87trJ5-M.png


Leaving witnesses? Yeah, Nighthawks seem really bad at covering their tracks.

i-xhnM9Hm-M.png


Looks like this isn't going to be as difficult of an investigation as it seemed a moment ago.

i-GLrT62x-M.png


They just walk around town with their guild crests right on their clothing???

i-pFWVHKV-M.png


I suppose the boy could have overheard the ill fated soldiers conversation about those items.

i-7VVDtvk-M.png


Ah, now we have a direction.

i-2tmr6PK-M.png


Fortunately in game cities/towns are small so we won't have too much trouble finding it. Imagine if you were investigating a real life murder and your only lead was that someone bought some item in Los Angeles - good luck!

i-jdGfMs9-M.png


Well, we'll see what's up when we get there. I remember there was some locked warehouse we didn't break into.

i-XFBFWT6-M.png


Perhaps one of them was watching the soldiers beforehand?

i-856RTkJ-M.png


Ah! Drugging the soldiers likely made the task of murdering them much easier. But why not just kill them with poison outright then?
Upside Down Keg... wasn't that the brewery in Sloop? Maybe its good we decided not to try their ale.

i-rdL3S3L-M.png


Especially not to bad place where no one feeds you.

i-7fX4KnL-M.png


We go to that house were we got kicked out by the Duke to see if he can lend any assistance but instead learn of yet another murder. Think that was the fat guy that spoke up during the last meeting.

i-mkzZ94b-M.png


And instead get another task - seemingly unrelated to our main quest.

i-rdQSzhV-M.png


Dammit, the Duke was supposed to help us - not give us more work to do.

i-SBmSHs3-M.png


At least it sounds like we'll be going in the same direction. Perhaps that house that made us feel strange?

i-V5qTp24-M.png


So this the first item we found on the dead soldiers.

i-vn4g472-M.png


Oh, it has a practical use?

i-CCf2Zvx-M.png


Looks like it works the same way of Eyes of Ishap spell - except this doesn't cost any health!

i-BHxT4GT-M.png


Seems like something a guild of Assassins might find useful.

i-NxJz722-M.png


Ah, like an infinite Silverthorn!

i-M2WwQtX-M.png


As if we needed more help beating everyone up.

i-NdwBptJ-M.png


It's getting dark - so I'm finally able to show this spell that we got in Silden. I still have no idea why I don't see Nightfingers in the spell book when we're fighting.

i-N5TqzDZ-M.png


So we have 2 leads and both of them are to the South. Brewery in Sloop then off to Silden.
 
Nutria

Nutria

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Messages
2,261
Location
한양
Strap Yourselves In
These are my two favorite items of the game. They serve you well right up to the end. The spyglass is great for finding stuff like chests and is useful in certain quests. The spider keeps your blades constantly poisoned and also gives you unlimited poisoned arrows. I remember the last time I played this agonizing over which character should keep them when I went to a new chapter.
 
Sergiu64

Sergiu64

Arcane
Glory to Ukraine
Joined
Jun 8, 2010
Messages
2,644
Location
Sic semper tyrannis.
Time to make a dent in this investigation.

But soon after we start on our way down south we get ambushed.

i-MqHqhGC-M.png


James attacks but is parried.

i-SwNfhVw-M.png


Lets take a look at that new spell!

i-9Qds8k4-M.png


Owyn hits with the freezing spell. No damage since I only invested 5 hp.

i-MdGcGdm-M.png


James hits this time. Only 21 damage. Guess this Nighthawk has good defense or armor.

i-8bJtn3C-M.png


Owyn hits for 5. Guess James's strength is the thing that's making the damage low.

i-n5Mq9WW-M.png


James hits for 21 again.

i-RTm7vTk-M.png


Owyn misses this time.

i-SrvZm67-M.png


Gorath is finally in range. Hits... for 28? Perhaps the poison on swords actually REDUCES their damage? I remember similar problem in Nago fight.

i-pgZtx3V-M.png


James hits for 23 and kills the unfrozen Nighthawk.

i-9LwZnXK-M.png


James is the first one to get in range with the frozen Nighthawk - 20 damage.

i-mrgHHtT-M.png


Owyn hits for 5.

i-Ft49qc2-M.png


James misses as the Nighthawk becomes unfrozen.

i-3b2bHWh-M.png


Owyn hits for 5 - I'd swing - but it costs health.

i-k9dXJ9s-M.png


Gorath hits for 27.

i-8GcpB3b-M.png


James finishes the fight with a hit for 22.

i-B7HKMsJ-M.png


Normal armor, yeah must be that the poison REDUCES sword damage. I have no idea why, won't be using it on blades anymore.

i-Cb9MdpC-M.png


Normal armor here too :\

i-HjHvjcL-M.png


Owyn got a little stronger. Its good to give him some training sometime.

i-rPqDmmG-M.png


We come by that road inn - and are allowed to play there for money agian.

i-Gv7F9QP-M.png


And here's that house with dream effect. Is this where the Steelsoul guy lives?

i-9tdNG24-M.png


Apparently not.

i-mxsdzLJ-M.png


We keep checking the looking glass and get a glimpse of Romney over the river. Its cool that they have on-map representation of Cities as well.

i-3Xm8QJ3-M.png


And here's Sloop, that brewery was here I believe.

i-vCH6PcR-M.png


There it is.

i-dxr9Qt8-M.png


A sharp faced fellow tells us that it was Waylander's doing!!

i-T6NpZ3W-M.png


Hmmm, that explains a lot of things - including why this brewery master went along with it.

i-8z87cTs-M.png


That's... one way to make a sales pitch I guess.

i-LQQw68K-M.png


Well, I just watched Joe Musgrove pitch the first No No in Padres history - so everyone gets a shot of Brandy.

i-j4VxmjS-M.png


And is now slightly drunk and worse at everything.

i-DpX4xf7-M.png


We go back to Romney - but do no see Waylander outside. Oh well might as well pop in to sell stuff. Wait... what is with these prices?

i-G9LZdd3-M.png


Seems like the guild war has made weapons and armor priceless. We sell the few things we picked up for some crazy markup.

i-Z5H6Fdb-M.png


We go back south - past Sloop and get ambushed again. I still don't know how it keeps happening, we don't get a scouting warning and I don't see their figures before the fight.

i-p9NKWVV-M.png


James hits for 32. Yeah, it's definitely the poison that was making us hit for a lot less damage.

i-FfWrJ3P-M.png


Owyn misses with a swing.

i-5nM54vq-M.png


Gorath hits for 45.

i-FfGGX2R-M.png


James finishes a Nighthawk with a hit for 34.

i-wJXQ2tZ-M.png


Gorath gets hit for... 7. Those new armors are nice.
Owyn freezes the archer.

i-Qrxp2vm-M.png


Gorath hits with a swing for 57 - obviously the Nighthawk dies.

i-3Sxz3GR-M.png


James somehow misses the frozen one. The new rapier has made him a LOT more effective due to extra accuracy and his natural speed giving him the ability to reach far away enemies. But it can only do so much.

i-m9gpVJn-M.png


Does better with the second attempt - 31 damage.

i-jTcX7qM-M.png


A hit from Gorath for 46 damage finishes the fight.

i-JRgtb8c-M.png


Owyn got a bit better at defending. He's quite the fighter for a mage.

i-vcFWrZs-M.png


That stuff is protective and therefore mostly useless, but still sells well.

i-mk9QgDg-M.png


Those rations were poisoned. Nighthawks and their poisons....

i-2ZkXwtC-M.png


Don't think we've seen that kind of a string before.

i-8H7R3Fb-M.png


Pretty sure that wouldn't work with his tiny crossbow.

i-DjG7qSj-M.png


We reach a house with some signs. It was previously abandoned - but perhaps that's where that guild guy is this time.

i-prd5Ght-M.png


The chest is empty - did we loot it before?

i-NkkZ3s3-M.png


Chief Reeve? Hmmm, that actually sounds like Waylander. We do need to talk to him too.

i-DcqTM5d-M.png


So that's what the chest is for.

i-DHnv883-M.png


But giving them food for no reason does not seem like it would get us anywhere.

i-w5jm4JL-M.png


Wasn't there a chest we left behind with some food poison? We head south in attempts to find it but run into another ambush.

i-CSsg7Wt-M.png


Gorath gets hit for 8.
James hits for 29. Then gets shot for 4.

i-7cDFf55-M.png


Owyn freezes the archer.

i-Hm25XZz-M.png


Gorath swings and hits for 55.

i-NKrRJPF-M.png


James finishes a Nighthawk with a hit for 31.

i-26cDRrs-M.png


Gorath's thrust for 50 finishes the second Nighthawk.

i-TJPZm8Q-M.png


James hits the last guy for 31.

i-pd3vJDg-M.png


Gorath ends the fight with a hit for 46.

i-KN9DxvB-M.png


Since our bags are perpetually full nowadays - coins suit us quite well.

i-x6Zhdjm-M.png


Even the silver ones. By the way - why is silver blue in this world?

i-DPckjmT-M.png


Whew, looks like if we got shot by this guy - we'd have to deal with poisoned status.

i-V8rzKrd-M.png


Oh, and James got stronger.

i-ZBRKmzv-M.png


We keep going on the road until reaching the copse of trees between the two overpriced taverns - one of the chests had this!

i-6g2FL26-M.png


Next time - we'll use some poison of our own!
 
Nutria

Nutria

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Messages
2,261
Location
한양
Strap Yourselves In
The only thing I ever noticed poison on swords doing was the damage-over-time effect. It's only a few points per turn, but if you've got the spider you can do it for free an unlimited number of times. So I'd use that any time I wasn't going into a fight that I thought was going to be so hard I needed to use something stronger like naphtha.
 
Sergiu64

Sergiu64

Arcane
Glory to Ukraine
Joined
Jun 8, 2010
Messages
2,644
Location
Sic semper tyrannis.
ERYFKRAD said:
CappenVarra said:
that poison reducing sword damage thing is weird, makes no sense
Click to expand...
Probably getting damage past 255 or whatever.
Click to expand...

There's no way. I think it's disabling strength bonus since the bolts is the other thing you can poison and don't take the strength bonus. Might only be a bug in this version of the game. Don't remember this effect from previous play throughs.

Anyway, won't be using poison from now on - taking all these screenshots takes time, so the faster the fight, the easier my life is.
 
Nutria

Nutria

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Messages
2,261
Location
한양
Strap Yourselves In
Just promise me that when some moredhel charges you, you load a poisoned tsurani quarrel into your crossbow and you stare at him right in his eyes and you say, "There's damage-over-time on this ammunition type. So ask yourself, do you feel lucky, punk?"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

As an Amazon Associate, rpgcodex.net earns from qualifying purchases.
Back
Top Bottom