Lost Mysteries of the Ancients
Part 3B -- Important NPCs (Paivel)
If first time speaking to him:
Paivel: So you have returned to us, da'len. We are grateful you are whole and well.
The shemlen are responsible for this. [1]
I'm glad to be here, as well, Hahren. [2]
1 - The shemlen are responsible for this.
Paivel: The shemlen, eh? And I suppose the shemlen dragged you into that cave? Twisted your arms to prevent you from coming to tell the keeper of it, first? [4]
2 - I'm glad to be here, as well, Hahren.
Paivel: So you should be! What were you two thinking, wandering into that cave without first coming to tell the keeper! [4]
If the player has the troublemaker flag set:
Paivel: I'll take your disrespect as an indication of your good health.
If the player has the fight flag set:
Paivel: Always ready for a fight, are you? I'll take that as a sign of your improved health.
Otherwise:
Paivel: Tsk. Such disrespect you show your elders. At least you still have fire in your belly. (sets the fight flag)
All options then continue with:
Paivel: What were you two thinking, wandering in there without first coming to tell the keeper? Are you that foolish? [4]
Dialogue Options:
- Tamlen insisted we go inside.
>>> Paivel: Tamlen's idea, eh? And you've no mind of your own?
- We wanted to see if there was anything to tell, Hahren.
>>> Paivel: Once you saw what was inside, you should have returned. But you kept exploring, didn't you?
- You're right, Hahren. We should've come back here, first.
>>> Paivel: I suppose your youth can be forgiven. Sadly, Tamlen pays the price.
Paivel: Losing you would be a terrible crime, da'len. You belong to more than just yourself. Or do you not remember?
Dialogue Options:
- What do you mean? [continue]
- I'm sorry, Hahren. I'll try harder next time.
>>> Paivel: Sigh. Would you even know the reason behind your efforts? I wonder.
- So I made a mistake. Why go on about it?
>>> Paivel: Ah, the impatience of youth. Obviously, you do not remember why we struggle, or why that is important.
Paivel: Let us tell these children of the fall of the Dales. You can honor me by sharing in the telling.
Dialogue Options:
- I have important things to do, Hahren. [5]
- Certainly, Hahren. [6]
- Tell it yourself. I'm no storyteller. [7]
- I don't know if I remember all of the tale. [7]
5 - I have important things to do, Hahren.
Paivel: I suppose Tamlen cannot wait for tales. Another time, then.
[Ends conversation]
Paivel: Come, then… help me as I go along. [8]
7 – Tell it yourself…/I don’t remember…
Paivel: All Dalish should know this tale and hold its lessons close to heart.
Dialogue Options:
- If you want to tell a story, tell it.
>>> Paivel: How our history stays alive when our young have no interest, I'll never know. [8] (Paivel will tell the tale alone)
- All right, but you may regret asking. [8]
Paivel: Children, hear of the fall of the Dales! Hear the tale of what makes you Dalish.
If player agreed to help tell the story:
Paivel: Would you care to begin, da'len?
All proceed to the dialogue. Throughout section 8, dialogue options will only appear as long as Paivel isn't telling the story alone.
Dialogue Options:
- Long ago, we were slaves to the humans. (continue, skip Paivel’s next line of dialogue)
- Why don't you tell it from here, Hahren? (sets forget story flag and Paivel will tell the rest of the story alone)
- Well, children, it starts with a mommy and daddy elf...
>>> Paivel: Ahem. Let us start with the history that makes us Dalish. When we were slaves. (sets smartass flag and Paivel will tell the rest of the story alone).
Paivel: Long ago, our people were slaves to the humans.
Paivel: Yes, slaves to a terrible empire the humans built on the darkest magic. When it fell, we became free.
Paivel: We built a homeland in the Dales, worshipping the Creators and rebuilding the culture and history we lost in our long years of slavery.
Dialogue Options:
- But the humans wouldn't let us be. (continue, skip Paivel’s next line of dialogue)
- I forget what comes next. (sets forget story flag and Paivel will tell the rest of the story alone)
- If you've ever lost your bow, it was a lot like that. (sets smartass flag and Paivel will tell the rest of the story alone)
Paivel: But the humans would not leave us be.
Paivel: They were resentful: because we would not worship their gods, and because we put our people first.
Paivel: Over the years, their nations grew cold toward the Dales. In their eyes, we were blasphemers and cruel tyrants.
Dialogue Options:
- Then the humans declared war on the Dales. (continue, skip Paivel’s next line of dialogue)
- And then... some kind of war? I forget. (sets forget story flag and Paivel will tell the rest of the story alone)
- But also great for festivals, we're told. (sets smartass flag and Paivel will tell the rest of the story alone)
Paivel: A war erupted. The humans invaded our homeland in the name of their one god, denouncing our "sacrilegious" nation.
Paivel: And so the Dales fell. They took our lands and dispersed our people, forcing us to live in their cities and abandon our gods.
Paivel: But many of us refused to relinquish our ways. We instead chose to scatter to the winds, wandering the lands.
Dialogue Options:
- We chose wandering the lands rather than the human rule. (continue)
- Please tell the rest, Hahren. (sets forget story flag and Paivel will tell the rest of the story alone)
- Not to mention that shemlen cities smell terrible. (sets smartass flag and Paivel will tell the rest of the story alone)
Paivel: To survive and preserve our culture, the clans stay apart until the day the Elvhenan have a homeland once more.
Dialogue Options:
- We shall return the old ways to those who have lost them. (continue, skip Paivel’s next line of dialogue)
- Then... um... (sets forget story flag and Paivel will tell the rest of the story alone)
- Just think of the celebration we'll have then!
>>> Paivel: All right, that's quite enough out of you. (sets smartass flag and Paivel will tell the rest of the story alone)
Paivel: We shall then return the old ways to those of our people who have lost them.
Paivel: "We are the Dalish: keepers of the lost lore, walkers of the lonely path."
Player: "We are the last Elvhenan. Never again shall we submit."
If the player has the forget story flag:
Paivel: At least you remembered the Oath of the Dales. I appreciate your forbearance nevertheless, da'len. [9]
If the player has the smartass flag:
The Oath of the Dales and no smart-mouthed comment? Thank the Creators for small mercies. [9]
Otherwise:
Paivel: I will let you get back to your tasks. I pray you find Tamlen quickly. [9]
Dialogue Options:
- I would like to hear more about our history. [10]
- What do you know about that Grey Warden? [17]
- What do you know about darkspawn? [18]
- Did elves ever live in caves? [19]
- I should go. [20]
10 - I would like to hear more about our history.
Paivel: Now that's something I rarely hear. Of course.
Dialogue Options:
- Tell me about Arlathan. [11]
- Do no books record our history? [12]
- Why do the shems allow us to exist if they hate us so much? [13]
- What happened to the elves who didn't join the Dalish? [14]
- Do you think we'll ever find another homeland? [15]
- I think that's all. Thank you. [16]
11 - Tell me about Arlathan.
Paivel: Ah yes, the lost city. Before the shemlen enslaved us, even before they came to this part of the world, our people lived in glorious Arlathan.
Paivel: Legends say that our ancestors were immortal, and we possessed magic the shemlen could only dream of. [10]
12 - Do no books record our history?
Paivel: When the humans enslaved us, they took away our language, our history, and our immortality. We quickened to the pace of life and retained nothing of ourselves.
Paivel: We were slaves for so long that even when we became free, there was little for us to recover. If books still exist, I do not know of them. [10]
13 - Why do the shems allow us to exist if they hate us so much?
Paivel: Perhaps they have no choice. Dalish clans are scattered to the winds and rarely gather... which makes us difficult for any organized effort to destroy.
Paivel: And why bother? We have nothing they want... no land, no treasure. And we always move on, allowing no one to grow too angry with us.
Paivel: Some might see this as cowardly, but we are proud. We are the last and we will survive. [10]
14 - What happened to the elves who didn't join the Dalish?
Paivel: They remain in human cities, forgetting all they once had. We call them "flat-ears"; for they differ little from their shemlen masters.
Paivel: A few may return, but we must accept that they know nothing of the lore or why we keep it. [10]
15 - Do you think we'll ever find another homeland?
Paivel: We can hope to find a new home one day, where the Dalish and the flat-ears will build a land greater even than Arlathan.
Paivel: We shall teach the flat-ears the lore they lost... and perhaps they will teach us to understand the shemlen at last. That is the only way we shall truly live in peace. [10]
16 - I think that's all. Thank you.
Paivel: Then I'm sure you have much to do, unless you've other questions... [9]
17 - What do you know about that Grey Warden?
Paivel: The one who brought you back? Very little. He seemed decent enough, as humans go.
Paivel: As for Grey Wardens, they're heroes without a doubt. Members of our own clan joined their ranks in ages past. [9]
18 - What do you know about darkspawn?
Paivel: Only that they eat living flesh and lurk in underground tunnels once ruled by the durgen'len: the dwarves.
Paivel: In the last Blight long ago, the Grey Wardens all but wiped them out. Should they return, all races will shudder. [9]
19 - Did elves ever live in caves?
Paivel: I've never heard of such a thing.
Paivel: But in the days of ancient Arlathan, we lived free and spread far across the continent.
Paivel: We were as varied as the shemlen, though fewer in number. Perhaps some of us lived in caves then, but all knowledge from that era is lost. [9]
Paivel: Of course. May the gods guide your path, da'len.
[End conversation]
Paivel: You return again, da'len? What can I do for you?
I would like to hear more about our history. [10]
What do you know about that Grey Warden? [17]
What do you know about darkspawn? [18]
Did elves ever live in caves? [19]
Let’s hear that story you mentioned before. [8]
Lost Mysteries of the Ancients Masterpost
Part 3C: Environmental Dialogue
