You see a very peculiar procession marching down the street; the people are moaning and weeping to strike terror in your hearts. Slowly, and without giving you a second look, the crowd passes you by, and only a faint smell of blood and excrement remains hanging in the air.
A beggar
“Have pity on a poor, destitute man whom the fates have hounded into desperation! I’ve lost my wife and kids, my house collapsed because I could not afford to pay the craftsmen and my master turned me out on the street because he was afraid I’d bring him bad luck! And then…”
Suddenly, the man looks about hectically. As he does so, you too notice the approaching guardsmen. The beggar tries to escape, but two of the soldiers catch up with him and carry him off. The officer turns toward you with a stony expression: “Do not believe anything this scum tells you, and do not give them any money. That is forbidden in this town, for there is no fate. All ills are but the just punishment meted out by the Gods.”
A priest
In front of you, the crowd suddenly and hurriedly parts, and you see a man stepover everything that fell down in the hectic attempts to get out of his way. He shows no concern. Walking down the middle of the street, he seems to take no further notice, much less show any consideration; the priest seems oblivious to the world around him.
Will you
make way as well
or stay in the middle of the street?
[NAME] stumbles and falls, but the priest doesn’t appear to notice. He steps across [him/her] just like he steps across everything in his path. He is hardly past them when the people hurry to get the street back in order.
The man doesn’t stop until he’s immediately in front of you. He stares at you with a glare that sends cold shivers down your spines.
Do you
Step aside in a hurry?
Return his stare?
With hardly any noticeable hesitation, the priest continues on his way; there is no apparent emotion in his face or bearing.
Time seems to have come to a halt; for an eternity, you face each other. Neither is willing to give way. After a considerable time, the man takes one step aside and passes by. But then he turns back toward you and gives you a final look. A look that makes your blood run cold.
A Beggaress / A Pauper / An Ugly Man
“Alms for a poor man!”
Do you give something to the beggar?
“By the Divines, I beseech you, help a woman thrown into destitution through no fault of her own!”
Do you give something to the woman?
“Hey, you! If you haven’t got my leg to give me back, you could at least part with a few Silvers, don’t you think?”
Will you give something to the pauper?
“The Gods may reward you for this, honorable travelers.”
“Thank you, you lights of Praios, you warriors of Rondra…”. Three alleys on, you can still hear the blessings of all twelve Divines being called down upon you.
“You are indeed an example of mercy and generosity, a thousand thanks for your bountiful help.”
“May the Gods reward you,” the beggar[ess] says ambiguously, but with an empty expression.
It takes quite a while until the beggar[ess] finally gives up, as you are quite obviously unwilling to part with any money.
“You are indeed a showcase of mercy and generosity. The Gods shall certainly reward you,” the beggar[ess] ‘thanks’ you humbly, but with a sour face!
“Show some mercy! I have a family to feed and an old, sick mother, and…”.
Do you interrupt the flood of words by giving her something at last?
A small boy
There’s a little boy in torn clothes standing in front of you and looking up with big, round eyes. “Please…” Do you give the child something?
Angrily, the tyke sticks out his tongue at you before hurrying around the nearest corner.
How many Silver crowns are you going to give to the child?
“Is that all?”
Hastily, the little boy pockets the coins and runs away around the nearest corner.
A harlot
“Hello, love darlin’, fancy a good time? How about it? I’ll make a special price for the lot of you. I promise it’ll be an experience!”
Depending on your affection and gender, you spend some more or less pleasant hours with the male prostitute.
Depending on your affection and gender, you spend some more or less pleasant hours with the prostitute.
A market stall
“Salamanders! Domesticated, house-trained salamanders! They’ll turn away bad luck, protect the house against fire and make women fertile!”
Do you want to take a closer look at the stall?
The woman across the table looks at you strangely when you stop in front of her.
“Forgive me your excellencies, but I only sell salamanders and not their stones.”
Do you at least buy a salamander for 10 Ducats?
The woman takes a salamander and holds the wriggeling little animal out to you.You grab the salamander and while you are thinking about where to put it, theanimal manages to get free and disappears behind the stall.
You don’t have enough money.
A little Girl
A little girl comes running towards you. With a beaming smile, the child puts a silver crown into [NAME] hand and says: “Here!”
An old crone
An old woman comes toward you. She is feeling for her way with a stick and moves forward very slowly. When she is next to [NAME], she stumbles into [his/her] arms, where upon she starts to curse obscenely. Right in the middle of her shouting, her face suddenly lights up.
“I can see again! I can see again! Oh, dear Gods, thank you! Thank you for sending us this miracle worker!”
Proclaiming her happiness with a bounce in her step, she runs down the street. The people around you look at you in a mixture of awe and fear until the old lady has run in front of the next house; then, they simply go about their respective business again.
[NAME] spots a notice on a house wall. The piece of paper reads simply:
“Eat more cheese toast!”
You come across another notice on a house wall. This time, the piece of paper reads:
“Better not eat more cheese toast!”
A rider
The people jump aside in front of you, when a bearded, broad-shouldered rider comes galloping down the street at a breakneck speed. He reins in his horse in front of you and dismounts before his steed has fully stopped; then, he swings wide and loudly cuffs [NAME] around the ear. Before you can react in any way, he jumps back on his horse, pulls at the reins to turn the animal around and disappears as fast as he came. The people around you look just as puzzled as you do with the exception of an old man with a spotty apron.
“Too much brimstone,” he says and shakes his head. “Far too much brimstone.”
There’s a man kneeling on the street in front of you shoveling rice back into a sack that apparently fell over. When your shadows fall across him, he looks up and eyes you suspiciously.
“Did you do that?”
As you approach, a young man drops one of the balls he is juggling. He scoops it up again with a well-oiled movement, and the whole thing would probably have passed unnoticed if he hadn’t suddenly stared right at [NAME].
“[S]he put a hex on me! I’m not staying here for one more second!”
Within moments, the jesters have disappeared, and the only people remaining on the scene are a number of spectators looking at [NAME] in a fairly hostile manner. You have robbed them of their entertainment.
Will you
stare back and look just as hostile
or rather make tracks, inconspicuous like?
The crowd stays hostile, but no one makes a move. Only a fat man standing in the front row shakes his fist in a threatening manner.
“We don’t want any [Conjurers/Witches] here! Get lost!”
Now do you want to
leave already
or do you refuse to give in to these scum-dogs and try to appear threatening yourselves?
Just when the fat man and [NAME] are standing eye to eye and the situation threatens to become critical, ten town guards come marching around the corner. As a result the fat gets very friendly, shaking the hand of [NAME], pretending they are old friends and then clears off as inconspicuous as possible.
Just when the fat man and [NAME] are standing eye to eye and the situation threatens to become critical, ten town guards come marching around the corner.
“Riot, huh?
Brawling in the streets, hm?
Shut up and come along!”
You realize that you must accept such a friendly invitation. You spend a not too cozy night on wet straw. Your only consolation is that the fat man shares your misery and seemed to have invited all the fleas of the town as well…
“This is Bengram, one of the traitors!” suddenly a voice sounds behind you.
Amongst a group of shady figures stands an ugly, old man, pointing with his finger towards [NAME]. Some bypassers, who realized this incident, stare at you in a hostile manner.
While [NAME] sprints around the next corner, all ahead inspite of his short legs, [NAME] and [NAME] seem to be in no hurry. They have to suffer some kicks and punches by the outraged crowd, before they manage to escape too.
[NAME] looks around astonished, then shruggs, turns around and simply continues [his/her] way. While the crowd stays unsure about what to do and the old man keeps standing there with his arm raised, you turn around and follow your mate as cool as possible. Hardly turned around the next corner, you all start running as if by command.
[NAME] laughs at the old man:
“If I had to look at this face in the mirror everyday, I would be nearly blind too!” The old freezes for a moment, then he starts to swear intensly at you. The crowd stops its hostile manner and appreciates the funny situation. After some time the pals of the old succeed in dragging him away while he keeps scolding continousely.
“Bengram!” [NAME] drawls. [NAME] looks angrily at [NAME], then both start laughing as if by command.
A group of playing children disperses crying when a grimly looking, heavy armored Orc, obviously an officer, comes around the corner. A little girl stumbles and hits the pavement three paces in front of the Orc and keeps lying there crying.
The grim expression on the Orc’s face disappears at once. He reaches the girl by two quick paces and kneels down next to her.
Carefully and trying not to frighten the child he helps the girl getting back on her feet again. Some bypassers, who appear on the other end of the street, are interpreting the scene in a different way: Yelling outraged and, most of them, with bare fists they attack the surprised Orc, while a woman tries to “rescue” the girl.
Do you
stand by the Orc?
or keep yourself out of this?
With your equipment you are superior to the mob, but they are in the majority and more of them approach from all directions. The situation doesn’t change until some units of armed Orcs come running up. Suddenly the mob’s disappeared and you are surrounded by about 50 fight-experienced Orcs!
Lucky, your “protégé” didn’t suffer any damage so he can explain the situation. He thanks you in Arkanian without any accent, followed by some Orcish commands. A few seconds later you’re all alone in the streets again.
While you are heading toward the next street end, the Orc rages with his weapons among the crowd, though it’s only a question of time when he has to succumb to their superior numbers. Just reaching the street’s end you see some units of armed Orcs approaching, surrounding the fighting ones immediately.
From the yells you hear, you read that Tiefhusen’s population is decreased once again for a notable amount.
[NAME] hardly manages to catch the hand, which was meant to drag [NAME] bag out of the pocket. When the thief realizes, that he won’t be able to get free, he pulls out a knife, but handles it in a markable clumsy way. [NAME] gives him some beating, causing the thief to drop the knife, then [NAME] sends him packing by a tremendous kick.
The thief stops at the next corner, turns around and shakes his fist threatening against you. When you start approaching him, he hurries to make tracks.
An old woman, carrying a bucket of water, approaches you. She stops moving after every single step, putting the bucket down, gasping for breath and then takes the bucket again to start her next step. None of the bypassers takes any notice of her.
Do you
help the woman?
or continue your way?
[NAME] takes the bucket, when the old woman just has put it down again and says: “Let me carry the bucket. Just tell me, where to deliver it!” First the woman looks frightened at [NAME], then she pulls her wrinkles to a terrible grimace, which is supposed to be a thankful smile.
It nearly lasts an hour, until you manage to deliver the bucket to the old woaman’s hut, which mainly results from the fact, that she hardly moves faster without that bucket. “Accept my thanks, noble heroes!” the woman says in a piping voice, “Since the Orcs came across the Svellt, nobody helps me anymore, just because I have a lot of friends among the dwarves…”
“Wait, I’ve got something for you!” says the old woman when you say good-bye to her. A bit ponderous she rummages inside a chest, which holds a lot of stuff. After all she fishes out a mandrake root and, with a beaming smile, puts it into the hand of [NAME].
Suddenly you hear a thin, male voice calling repeatedly:
“You scoundrels. Stop!”
Do you
wait to have a word with this “big mouth”
or continue on your way
An old man, stooped on a stick, limps around the corner with an astonishing speed. After shortly turning around he approaches you and says:
“For sure, you are members of the gang making trouble at the river banks. Seeing you here again, I will set the town guard on you.”
Do you
give the old some beating
offer him appropriate hush-money
assure him, you’re just leaving the town
You hardly started your “work” on the old man when 20 guards approach out of the shadow of a nearby building. One of them grabs [NAME] and beats [NAME], supported by his pals, until [NAME] lies unconsciously on the ground. After that an extremely powerful hulk says:
“Know one thing, strangers! Those who do not respect Peridor, will be taught respect by Arnuld.”
Then the guards and the old man retreat without any further words.
The old man nods appreciatively and says:
“10 Ducats, here and now and you may go your ways.”
Do you
accept his claim
or give him a lesson
“If you pack your bags and pay a fine of 10 Ducats, you may leave this place as free men.”
Do you
With the clue
“Over there’s the town gate”,
the old man turns around and limps away.
“These are not 10 Ducats.
I’ll accept it for today, but pay your debts in the future.”
You turn around the next corner, finding yourself surrounded by 20 strong guards.
“Why do you run away from old Peridor’s crying? You don’t have something to hide, do you?”, an extremely powerful hulk says.
[NAME] declares our innocence, but the guard seems not to like this.
He grabs [NAME] and beats [NAME], supported by his pals, until [NAME] lies unconsciously on the ground. After that the hulk says:
“Know one thing, strangers! Who doesn’t respect Peridor, will be taught respect by Arnuld.”
“Hail, strangers! Welcome to our town. May you always feel the friendship of the citizens. Though watch out for Peridor and his pals. He and some of the town guards use the situation to extort money from strangers.”
You notice, some paces away, a young fellow loosing a small, filled, close to burst in bag.
Do you
pick up the bag and return it to him
pick up the bag and have a look inside first
simply continue on your way
You take the bag and run behind the man. When you catch him up he denies to be the owner of this bag. But then he suddenly grabs it and runs away.
You just have opened the bag, when a patrol of the town guard appears behind you and arrests you with the words:
“The procession of Thonny is prohibited at Lowangen, violations will be punished by a day in the jail and confiscation of the dangerous drug.”
Suddenly you’re stopped by a patrol of the town guard:
“You lost this bag, let’s have a look to what’s inside.
Aah Thonny!
The pocession of Thonny is prohibited at Lowangen, violations will be punished by a day in the jail and confiscation of the dangerous drug.”
An old woman approaches [NAME] excitedly:
“A great disaster threatens you, I feel for sure, though I’m able to protect you.
For 10 Ducats you’ll get an amulet from me, which will protect you from evil magic.”
Do you want to buy an amulet from the old woman?
“As you wish, but you were warned!”
You manage to haggle down the old woman to 8 Ducats.
“If you don’t have enough money, I’m not able to help you!”
A middle-aged woman stands motionless at a street corner. In front of her body she holds a parchment in a manner, other ones would carry a shield. “Lightbeam” is written in large, kitschy letters on the paper.
Do you
address the woman?
or move on?
Suddenly the woman comes to life. With glowing eyes she extols Praios and the Order of Light, explains the advantages of the true faith and the Only True God and shatters the other eleven ones by her words. [NAME] looks totally shattered too!
Do you
continue listening to the woman?
or tear [NAME] along?
With most shimmering colors the woman describes the life under the protection of the True Lord and you see the damnation of the unbelievers in darkest black. [NAME] stands in front of the woman, his mouth and eyes wide open, and seems to absorb every single word of the woman intensively.
Do you
really continue listening to the woman?
or finally tear along [NAME] now?
The woman is a great demagogue. Half an hour later she has convinced [NAME] and [NAME] leaves your party to start a new life under the protection of the Highest Light!
[NAME] manages to change [NAME] mind just on more time!
Dwarvish children are even more cute than all the other ones. These here, at the other end of the alley, stare at you with wide open eyes. When you approach them, one of the kids runs at [NAME], wielding a big wooden axe, while the other ones retreat fearsomely.
With astonishing powerful blows, the little one beats at [NAME] shin until it turns blue and it lasts some seconds until [NAME] reacts. With an immense leap and an even more immense yell [NAME] jumps back, though the kiddy doesn’t give up, toddles swiftly behind and starts again his “work” on [NAME] shin.
Finally that goes too far for [NAME], with one hand [NAME] takes the axe from the child, with the other one [NAME] picks the whippersnapper up. While the little one keeps beating around, hanging from [NAME] stretched out arm, a woman, attracted by the noise, comes out two buildings away, grabs the kiddy’s ear and tears him along, scolding loudly, back to the house. She closes the door with a loud bang.
[NAME] stares at the empty street for a while, then at the closed door. With a shrug, [NAME] leans the wooden axe against the wall next to the door.
Stunned [NAME] watches the dwarf in wide robes, who stops in the middle of a mudpuddle without sinking in a single span. The dwarf bends down, moves his hands over the floor in circles and mumbles some inaudible words. Then he vanishes with a great phenomenon of light and colors.
[NAME] stands blinded for a few seconds, then [NAME] steps into the mud with determination, where [NAME] sinks up to [NAME] knees.
A dwarf wearing worker’s clothes approaches [NAME] and beholds [NAME] intensely.
“Elvish work, eh?” he says disparagingly.
A dwarf approaches you somewhat swaying. “Holy mackerel,” he laughs when he reaches you, “I told you straight away, Olbar can’t stand much. - He just ran down after sixty beers!” Giggling, he staggers away.