mishisings: (Jimothy)
I know it's you, Imoen. Who else would wear something so obnoxiously pink? Not to mention I've known you my entire life.

Just in case you lost your memory.

Why the hell would I lose my memory? And where have you been all this time? I've been looking all over for you.

[​IMG]

Can I just say that I really hate these responses? They're so... puffed up, to borrow an expression from from our current interlocutor. We won't always get these kinds of pompous choices, but when we do, I reserve my right to paraphrase.

I can't talk long, kid. I'm going on a trip with Gorion, but he won't tell me where.

Kid? I'm not much younger than you, though you sure got tall fast. Relatively, anyway. A journey, eh? I never get to travel. Wish I could go with ya. Yep, i really wish I could. Yessir. Really do.

All right all right. I get the message. I'll ask if you can go with us.

Oh, don't be silly, Gorion would never let you finish the sentence. Especially after what that letter of his said... er... did I say that? No, of course I didn't. Never saw no letter. Nope. I'll just get back to work now. You had better go. Gorion is waiting.

Yeah... Take care of yourself while I'm gone, will you?

Sure thing, Jimmie!

Hey, watch it! You're the only person who can call me that, got it?

With nothing left to do, we can at last approach Gorion.

[​IMG]

Can you at least tell me where we're going?

Alas, I cannot, for I have not truly decided yet. All that is certain is that we will be far safer on the move. Perhaps the woods might offer some secluded security, or perhaps the city of Baldur's Gate would offer cover amidst its teeming throngs of people. I do not know where we shall end up, but I have a few friends here and there. Hmm... I will think on this.

What could possibly harm us here? This place is a fortress. And those assassins I ran into were jokes.

Whoops. It just occurred to me that we probably should have gone to see Gorion earlier. This dialogue makes more sense if we haven't been attacked yet. Oh well.

Candlekeep is indeed a formidable obstacle for ne'er-do-wells, but it is not insurmountable. No matter how thick the mesh, at least one mosquito always finds its way through. No, my child, we must leave as soon as possible, for our safety, and for that of our friends here.

So let's go, already.

[​IMG]

Listen carefully. If we should ever become separated, it is imperative that you make your way to the Friendly Arm Inn. There, you will meet Khalid and Jaheira. They have long been my friends, and you can trust them.

[​IMG]

Come quickly, child. The night can only get worse so we must find shelter soon. Don't worry, I will explain everything as soon as there is time. Wait, there is something wrong. We are in an ambush. Prepare yourself.

[​IMG]

[​IMG]

Jim gets hit by a spell first thing, and Gorion urges her to run away even as he starts casting his own spells.

[​IMG]

He kills the two ogres and puts the woman to sleep, but none of his spells are enough to stop the armored figure. When he runs out, he charges the man with his knife, but is slain. Thus ends the prologue.

[​IMG]

[​IMG]

NEXT: A Badly Drawn Tree!
mishisings: (Jimothy)
Next stop: The infirmary. This place is super-easy to miss. I think my first two playthroughs I didn't even realize you could enter this building.

[​IMG]

In the base game, the only things of interest there are a priest of Ohgma who will give you a potion if you ask him to, and a desk that can be unlocked and stolen from, though you have to be careful the guards aren't alerted. (If you're caught, the Watchers say they don't care who your foster father is, lawbreakers will not be tolerated, and demand you give them all your money. If you refuse, it's possible to die in the tutorial area like a chump.) We get another health potion out of the deal. With only five hp, we need all the help we can get.

But our main goal in coming in here wasn't health potions.

[​IMG]

But... that was a compliment. I honestly wasn't trying to make fun, why would you even think that? Look, no offense meant. I talked with your fiancee. She doesn't feel well at all.

Sir Trun: *sigh* I know, and it tortures me that I am incapable of helping her. It... it is like I am paralyzed... My injury is no reason for my behaviour toward her. I... I fell in love with a beautiful young maiden and proposed to her, and now...

You can't handle the thought that she might be stronger than you?

Sir Trun: No, no, not that. I... *sigh* Since she already talked to you, it won't hurt if I do so, too. Actually I feel a great urge to talk about this with someone who cares to listen.

Sir Trun: We got into an unexpected fight. Everything was going well. Then all of a sudden, one of the creatures sunk its teeth into my arm. I wasn't able to free myself, and it was dragging me toward the portal... There was a pain at my shoulder, and the next thing I knew, I was lying in front of the portal, watching it close behind the last of the monters. Linda was standing beside me, pale as a ghost, my sword in her hands. She saved my life the only way it was possible in that moment, by chopping off my arm.


[​IMG]

This option is unbelievable. Who talks like this? But it's the least offensive of the dialogue options that aren't "fuck if I know, good luck with your life, buddy" so we take it.

[​IMG]

If Broken Forum has taught me anything, it's that good communication is the key to a healthy relationship. Also, never trust a partridge.

Sir Trun: We tried talking, but it didn't work. No, I have to bring something with me when I go to her. If only I could think of something appropriate...

She sounds like a badass, it physically hurts to see her torn up about something this stupid. I can only see one possibility. You're going to teach her how to fight. Take her as your squire.

Sir Trun: I beg your pardon? That is absurd. She is a young maiden, innocent and frail...

Do you even notice the shit coming out of your mouth? She chopped off your arm in one hit!

Sir Trun: Wait... I... I see what you mean. It is hidden inside her, isn't it? The gift shows differently in different people. Some know from early childhood where their path will lead. For others, the revelation comes all of a sudden, as a great surprise. Yes, it seems the only way to go forward, and leave this horrible memory behind us. She made the first step onto this path. To expect her to return to her former life would be cruel... and unrealistic. I will go to her now. I'll be approaching her with an unusual present for a woman of her origin: my sword.

Sir Trun: My body recovered a long time ago. It was my mind that felt injured and wouldn't come to rest. You dragged me out of my thoughts of despair, and I thank you deeply! We are in your debt. Now I will go to her... I am eager to see how she will react. Is she really ready for this? I am also bothered as to what I will tell her parents, who imagine their daughter on an educational journey in Candlekeep... *weary smile* Farewell, in case we don't meet again. May Tyr protect you.


We gain a small boost in reputation and 150 exp from this exchange.

[​IMG]

Now that I've hugged Mrs. Stabby and I've got all my gear, I just need to say goodbye to one other person. I bet she's ditching chores in the bunkhouse.

[​IMG]

Fuck, another one of these guys?

This one gets a lucky critical and hits her for 4 hp. Lucky we stole that potion. Two more whacks with her stick and he's down for the count, just like the other guy, though.

Y'know, I always thought it was weird how everyone in Candlekeep carried a stick around, even the guards, but now I'm starting to see why they all swear by it.

[​IMG]

The moment we leave the bunkhouse we run into Linda again.

[​IMG]

Linda: Maybe... maybe he will fall in love with his fighting squire just as he fell in love with the maiden once... Maybe. For now he has a task as a knight, as do I as squire. May Lathander bless you with all his power. Farewell.

Uh, no problem. Hope things work out for you. Though if he acts like you're a different person now that you're his squire, I wouldn't hold my breath.

[​IMG]

On our way to see Gorion, we pass by these guys. They're the Chanters, they just sing the Prophecies of the Wise Alaundo, all day, every day. The first time I encountered them I was like "What is this racket. Is my game broken?" but now their chanting is music to my ears. I dunno how it happened, they just grew on me.

[​IMG]

Over this way is proof that I have no self-control. While I was looking for BGTutu mods I came across this NPC mod called Finch. She's a gnome librarian companion and I couldn't resist installing her. Since she's not romanceable and we're going to have enough trouble juggling party members as it is, we won't be seeing much of her, but I figured I'd introduce her just the same. In the interest of making this Candlekeep sequence a little less boring.

Why? It's really just a boring little castle town.

The wondrous books! Rows and stacks of scroll casings and leather-bound volumes covering every subject under the sun and stars! I can imagine no greater joy than the opportunity to learn something new with each passing day. Perhaps that explains why I found my heart's home in the service of Deneir.

Ah, you're a cleric of Deneir. No wonder you love this place.

Truly, my brief time here in your home town has been a great joy. I can imagine no finer occupation than living with my nose in a book! Alas, I have dallied in Candlekeep longer than I should have in service t of my temple, though I am certain Deneir would understand. Anyhoo, I leave with all haste. I have a list of works needed to establish a new library on the Amnish border. I located a likely seller of one volume in Beregost, so off I go!

And she heads off.

Can we get going now? Please? I've killed 6 rats, two assassins, done pretty much everyone's petty errands, and we need to get going before the Gatewarden tries to teach me about group combat like I haven't heard his lecture ten million times befo-

Heya, it's me, Imoen!

NEXT: Yes, Imoen, We Know It's You
mishisings: (Jimothy)
And now for an announcement: I've decided to take Shar-Teel out of the running. I've been thinking pretty much all week about how to manage it and the only way it would be possible is if we all agreed that we wanted to romance Shar-Teel and Xan and be unabashedly, unashamedly, Eeeeeeville the whole game through. And since Xan has nowhere near the same amount of votes as Coran, that's clearly not going to happen.

[​IMG]

This is what I'm carrying right now. All I had initially was this stick that Gorion gave me. The gem Phlydia gave me in return for finding her book, the knives and hammer I found in the priests' quarters. What kind of priest carries a great big warhammer, though? I thought they all went in for clubs and maces and things? What I didn't find in there was Mrs. Stabby. She must be in the storage shed.

[​IMG]

Hello and welcome to Mishi's Modded Miscellany. For our first installment, let's talk about the Infinite Ammo Stack component of the BGII tweakpack. In the base game you could only have up to 20 arrows in a bundle, which is somewhat realistic, but you've seen the inventory. If you're an archer you end up with half those little squares filled up with stacks of 20 arrows and it leaves no room for anything else, and that's not even taking into account all the different types of arrows. You got your regular arrows, your +1 arrows, your +2 arrows, your fire arrows, your acid arrows, your biting arrows. It's just much less hassle all around if you can have all your arrows of the same type in a single stack. I've also got the infinite gem stack component on and the infinite potion stack component.

Winthrop doesn't have much for sale, and we don't have much money. Once we sold the crap we picked up, we had just enough to get a shortbow, a stack of arrows and a set of leather armor.

[​IMG]

We bring him his scroll, and the old guy casts Protection from Evil on us. Which would be great, if it lasted long enough to be of any use. In a previous playthrough I planned it so that I would have him cast that on me and then hightail it to the priests' quarters to face the assassin, but the spell expired before I got halfway there.

[​IMG]

Ah, now this is more interesting. It's part of the Mini Quests and Encounters Mod.

Linda: If only that would be... You are Gorion's foster child, aren't you? Yes, I think I want to talk with you about it.

You can tell just by looking at me?

Linda: You don't look like a sage and you're not dressed richly enough to be a guest. I made an educated guess.


Oh. Fair enough. Continue.

Linda: Have you been to the infirmary? My fiance is recovering there from the injuries he got in his last fight.

No, I haven't spoken to him.

Linda: He has an obvious injury: he lost an arm. But the wounds that are still troubling him are his memories of what happened during this fight, and the conditions under which he lost that arm. I... I am troubled by it too. You see... I cut off his arm. It... it was the only thing to do.

Ha! How sweet. Is that some kind of courting ritual where you come from? (Never make the obvious assumption first. That's diplomacy, right?)

Linda: Keep your mockery to yourself, please. Of course it is not. We were on our way to Candlekeep, when suddenly a portal started opening near us. Monsters came out and started attacking. It was horrible. Sir Trun defended us, and it looked as if he would win easily. Then one of the creatures bit into his arm, dragging him toward the portal. He lost his sword...

Linda: There was only one possible way to save him, and I used it. Otherwise, he would be dead by now.


I don't get it. You saved his life. Would he rather have died?

Linda: No, it is not that easy. Sir Trun proposed to me, what seems like a long, long time ago, and we went on this educational journey to Candlekeep. You have to understand, I am the daughter of a noble family, and never touched any kind of weapon. His... his gaze upon me when he realized what happened...

Linda: Forgive me, but I do not want to talk more about it. I need to be patient, and hope that he will overcome his feelings. Poor Sir Trun... he is so brave. He grimly tries not to attribute any importance to the matter, but doesn't succeed in overcoming his feelings of horror. He is bound to his proposal to a woman he now fears, and is trying to convince himself it is nothing to worry about. I still see that look in his eyes...


So his precious flower turned out to have thorns and now he doesn't want you anymore? Sounds like a grade-A jerk to me. You're better off without him.

Linda: I decided not to go to the infirmary until someone brings the news of his recovery, or until he approaches me himself.


Oh, fine. I'll play cupid for you. It's not like I'm in a hurry or anything.

[​IMG]

Reevor gives us 5 gp to kill the rats in the storehouse.

[​IMG]

So this is how Wild Mages work: like all specialist mages, they get to cast one extra spell per level per day. Unlike other specialists, they aren't barred from any school of magic, because no school opposes their own. In exchange, every time they cast a spell, no matter what the spell, there's a small chance that it will go awry in a wide variety of ways, some of which are incredibly beneficial, some of which are terrible, and yes, it's possible for one of these mishaps to make a cow fall from the sky onto the target. We call these Wild Surges. There's also a first level spell called Nahal's Reckless Dweomer that nearly guarantees a wild surge.

But enough about magic, let's talk about rats. These rats are ridiculously tough. They only have about 6 HP each (which is more than Jim has in total) but their defense is ludicrously high.

Hey, I think these rats are tougher than that assassin was. That's really sad.

[​IMG]

And there's the cat.

Now you show up?! I could have used your help just now! Whose job do you think it is to kill rats?

Mrs. Stabby: ... *preens, as though nothing is wrong*


What an impudent creature. *scoops cat up and pets her despite her protests* That's what you get for being lazy.

[​IMG]

NEXT: Jim Becomes a Matchmaker!
mishisings: (Jimothy)
Just a bit of explanation before we begin:

Out of character comments will be in plain text.

In character comments will be in italics.

Text transcribed from the game will be bold and in italics.



And without further ado, here's the opening video. Please ignore the logos at the beginning.




It's not quite as... alarming as the opening video for Baldur's Gate II, but then, this is the first Baldur's Gate, and our player character isn't an experienced adventurer, she's a callow youth who has never left her hometown. Speaking of which, let's get her introduced, shall we?



This is our hero, Jimothy. While experimenting with wild magic a while back, she accidentally broke the fourth wall and doesn't know how to fix it, so don't be too alarmed if she occasionally makes references to, say, Hatoful Boyfriend or mentions a certain site by name. Or talks to you directly, like she's about to do.



So this is me! I'm not all that strong or durable, but I am pretty good with my hands, and you have to be smart to be a good mage. My favourite spell is Nahal's Reckless Dweomer, and that's not too difficult to cast, but you need to be clever to figure out how to get the cow down the stairs and out the door before Winthrop throws a fit.

Multi-classed characters aren't supposed to be able to choose a specialization, but Wild Mage is Best Mage, so I went into Shadowkeeper and added the Wild Mage kit. I also added 4 points to Charisma, because why not? We're going to be romancing everyone, so we need to be smokin' hot.

I'd have given you more of a blow-by-blow in character creation, but since I was going to cheat anyway, I figured it wasn't really kosher to act like she was lovingly crafted, and that I spent hours rolling and re-rolling to get just the stats I wanted. The extent of my fair-play is I left dexterity at 16 when I could have cheated it up to 19.





So, long story short, I grew up in this place called Candlekeep which is like a huge library-fortress, raised by a sage called Gorion who is pretty damn awesome, but won't tell me anything about my parents. Lately he's been acting all shifty and won't tell me what the problem is, and today he basically walked up to me all "No time to talk, grab your things, we're leaving."



The old man can hold his horses as far as I'm concerned. I'm not going to anywhere until I've said goodbye to Mrs. Stabby the cat.

So this is Candlekeep, the tutorial area. That green guy in the top right corner is one of legions of little green men whose only purpose is to instruct you in how to play the game and they can be safely ignored. There are, however, a few things to do here before we leave with Gorion.



Oh, brother, here we go again. Phlydia always loses her books. And she always forgets them in the same place too. I better go find it before the cows eat it. Damaging books is a serious crime here.

Fetch quests.



I'll make this simple for you, since these fetch quests are all super dumb. Phlydia's book is in the haystack next to the priests' quarters (shown here), and the cowherd, Dreppin, wants Jim to find him an antidote for his cow, which we'll find in the barracks. Hardly any of these early quests give anything other than very piddly amounts of experience. But Jim has other things on her mind.

Where's the pretty kitty?



Like petting a cat.

Shank: Far be it from me to keep you from your pressing matters, but I must insist on a moment of your time. The last moment, actually. I apologize for not fully explaining my motives, but I am on a rather tight schedule and exposition is not my forte.

And then he attacks. But he's pretty much the worst assassin in the history of ever. Jimothy has only 5 hit points, and her only weapon is a quarterstaff, which she isn't even proficient in, and she kills him in two hits.



Definitely not worth making a fuss about. Though if there are assassins after me, I probably should buy some equipment.

NEXT: Killing Rats, That Time-Honored Rite of Passage!

Profile

mishisings: (Default)
Mishi

August 2020

S M T W T F S
      1
2345678
9 101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     

Syndicate

RSS Atom

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 11th, 2025 06:02 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios