#crossroad keep

Useless rpgs recs. Rpgs where you can have a castle, a manor or a place to call home

I'm near the end of Neverwinter Nights 2 (the Original Campaign at least) and I issued my final orders in Crossroad Keep. For people who are interested in how I handled things check out the stuff below the break.

PS: I'd give up the keep in a heartbeat if I could get Shandra Jerro back.

At the beginning, Ophelia really doesn’t handle the new situation well and is completely lost as how to react to Devon’s interest in her and Daeghun’s sudden coldness that breaks her heart. Hated bureaucracy becomes a shield against Devon’s attention, a great excuse to not having time for him and oddly enough, provides comfort. She knows the papers, she knows how to deal with them, this is something familiar, therefore comforting. And it prevents her from thinking too hard about the situation she deems completely out of her control.

Even later, when Devon’s efforts pay off and she opens up to him, Ophie’s bent on maintaining the illusion of competence even more, because it’s too late to quit the game and her father is a wizard – she HAS to present herself in the best light possible in front of a WIZARD. Old complexes kick back in very successfully and are an enormous source of motivation. Aside from that, Ophelia probably decides to play a bit safer card when it comes to Neverwinter and is more diplomatic, all for the sake of not creating an even bigger mess in her life, as she barely handles one that’s already present.

((Because I think it’s quite original and nobody before posted, HOW the Keep exactly looks when their KC is in charge.

after getting the Keep, Ophelia had two priorities (after the rage sustained enough to let her think clearly): 1. help people, 2. make herself as independent from Neverwinter as it was possible

she follows one rule: “this is MY Keep” – she decides about everything and her decisions are final, no further discussion (and I can see Nevalle discussing A LOT before finally learning he might have as well tried to persuade a stone wall)

I imagine Sand actually helping her with some of the stuff in the early time… okay, helping much, and Ophelia slowly learning, how to manage paperwork and other things

since my bard has an Appraisal skill on 30 or something, she was surprisingly very savvy when it came to dealing with finances, so my vault was ridiculously full before the war (if you ever wonder, why Ophelia has enough money to give everyone presents or to drown the Keep in Sand’s portraits); I guess she takes care of gold, not because of greed, but because she sees it as a valuable tool

she really cares about her own soldiers – the best equipment (sometimes smuggled from Luskan if Neverwinter or Lords’ Alliance can’t offer anything better), only the best candidates are recruited, and while she understands Greycloacks need discipline and it’d be strange for them to call her by her first name, she shows them, that she is a fighter too and knows, what it is, to get her hands dirty, to get sweaty during sparring, to cut herself; she accompanies them often on patrols to boost morale, and I think all of them respects her for that she doesn’t avoid normal soldier's life

she treats servants in the Keep as helpers rather than as servants – she is very warm and forgiving, she often talks with them about their problems; in return, servants are loyal, share with her all rumours and keep her informed

the same rule applies to villagers – since she goes on patrols, she meets them fairly often; always smiling, interested in their life, asking if they are feeling safe, she always highlights her non-noble upbringing; villages have to pay a minimal tax, however

she isn't a milady or Knight Captain, she is either Ophelia or 'miss Farlong'

she keeps Uncus from Shadow Thieves and drow merchant Caelryna Seerar around, and in the Keep there is a small, controlled black market – only for her and her companions; she pays Uncus to share with her information about events at the North and in Neverwinter itself, to have one more source of information, as she knows that Nasher doesn’t always say the whole truth – this results probably in her being more informed about Luskan problems than Neverwinter spies

Torio appeared in the Keep at the very first opportunity – Ophelia strongly believes in the potential usefulness of the old enemies

the Keep is open for everybody and anything, as long as they don’t cause troubles; the thread with Valen made me realize this really might have something to do with her being fascinated by Sigil, I think my little bard takes pride in the exotic residents she attracts – this also means freaking the heck out of less open-minded and more careful nobles

in the Keep there is Wizard’s Tower and Sun Soul Monastery (Neverwinter Nine and the god that Nasher follows? Seriously? No dice with my Ophie.)

after coming back from the adventure at the Unapproachable East and seeing, what changes Khelgar implemented, after the first frustration fit, Ophelia slowly and discreetly started to work (and I can see Safiya sharing her headmistress’ tips with her) to establish her own rules once again

Nevalle doesn’t know about black market, smuggling weapons from Luskan and two dozens of other things that happen around, even pretty innocent, because Ophelia keeps him badly informed as a rule; she also forges his signatures on documents he should never see

let’s say that Ophelia’s approach to law is… opportunistic, she tries to keep the effect convenient for both sides – the things should be done and if a law regulation is ‘stupid’ enough to get in the way, we are ignoring it; ironically, this makes half of the things go smoother, even if her decisions aren’t exactly legal – but who the hells care, it is HER Keep! (I can see Sand sometimes slightly panicking over this as her lawyer)