Posts from Sylvester Archipelago
Well, now I understand that I overdid it with the ostentatious coolness of the NPCs and their role in the plot. But that was the ESSENCE of this part of the expedition. And specifically, of this particular city. Initially, it was intended to guide players through a PARABOLA (an arc?) of opportunities to influence the story and quests (i.e., to be actors, not just spectators). So that it wouldn't seem that some mercenaries from who-knows-where suddenly become super-cool and super-influential figures in the world. INITIALLY, the island was planned as a platform for players' independent actions, where NPCs would play a minor role. While the city of histeons was planned to be exactly the opposite. Why? First, as I said above, so that ordinary mercenaries wouldn't seem too cool. Second, I decided that players would enjoy having a more significant impact on the plot in the city, and then having an even greater impact directly on the island. Of course, as Ples said, it didn't seem very good. Perhaps it really was.
Regarding individual quests, I will quote myself with some corrections.
Also, the quest with the restaurant may seem a bit DISAPPOINTING. Because Lucia could have killed them all herself; even in the first battle, she told Tiberius to hide and do nothing. But she still took him with her, which led to his death.
Well, yes, but I wrote that he could have done everything differently from the very beginning. He could have simply not gone into Lucia's cabin. Just not go in. Why didn't I even give them the opportunity to find Lutiel and the others who could have told them where the elf was? Why did I leave the witch there? Precisely so that they would go and rescue Bruttius and Zalatov themselves. But Tiberius went to Lucia to ask where Lutiel was. And then, of course, I strengthened those who were in the restaurant. And in the end, I planned a separate battle for Lucia with Cornut, while Tiberius and Sarael would deal with his minions on their own. But, unfortunately, they ended up in the only tunnel, with fatal consequences. And if the witch had saved them there, it would have looked even worse. Perhaps it was not necessary to include the possibility of her joining the rescue mission, but I thought that the choice between "we save them ourselves" and "we save them together with the terminator" would be better. Maybe Heroist and Revan just didn't understand my hints that they shouldn't look for Lutiel, but should act on their own. Or maybe I didn't hint well enough.
Although I also understand why it might not have looked very good, if you sum it up with the murder of Atamus and the warriors from the arena. Or in combination with the fact that some events were also hardcoded. Just like the disappointment with the smuggling (why does the Order need this at all?). It's a pity that such a misunderstanding arose.
With the murder of Atamus, it's approximately the same as with Lucia. The quest was intended for a character from the Order, but no one created such a character, and I needed to show why what happened in the city happened. And I had to call in two players to HELP with the quest. Although initially it was planned as a test of strength for a member of the Order. With weaker opponents, of course. I don't know, maybe I should have just shown his murder as a literary part.
There couldn't have been weak fighters in the arena in principle. A large city with many warriors from strong Clans, and then someone sails in from who-knows-where and wins))) it doesn't seem very good to me.
And the smuggling is one of Lutiel's cover stories. Almost the main part of his activities according to the original plan. The Order itself is not directly involved in this. How can you play the role of a smuggler without engaging in smuggling? Something like that.
It turned out not very well, it's clear now. But what can you do? We have what we have.
Added 7 minutes ago
[Will they at least let you choose a cabin?]
Небо – угроз не слышит
Небо – ведёт особый счёт
Небо – тебя найдёт
No. You'll be sleeping on deck with the sailors.
Небо – угроз не слышит
Небо – ведёт особый счёт
Небо – тебя найдёт
After sending Sarael on his final voyage, Bruttius decided to check on his fellow countryman Tiberius's cabin. "It's strange what Lucia said about him. He went to the Halekids? How? Death magic? Probably. But... It's unclear. It's unclear why a Madian would even play with that magic."
There, Medja was about to go to the arena to learn a skill, so I can't post the last battle and send you further yet. We are waiting for his actions.
"Well, if even Apollin could hit with the first blow, why am I worse?" joked the Rhyorvalian.
{I activate the God bonus, if it works}
INITIALLY, the island was planned as a platform for players' independent actions, where NPCs would play a minor role. While the city of Hysteos was planned exactly the opposite.

В тихой однообразной жизни всегда так бывает: каждый отдельный день бесконечно долог, но месяцы и годы мчатся с непостижимой быстротой.
I wanted to offer you some flowers, but a crown would suit a princess like you much better
Смысл жизни в том, что жизнь на тебе не заканчивается
The sky... Tiberius left a crossbow in the room there, right? Is it still there? My next actions depend on that, because I'm currently without weapons.
Added 3 minutes ago
I also didn't realize that the island would be a place for independent action. Moreover, from this post, I concluded that Lutiel is hoping more for three NPCs than for us. Well, you can read the dialogue yourself.
{activating God bonus, if it works}
Небо – угроз не слышит
Небо – ведёт особый счёт
Небо – тебя найдёт
True.
"Actually, it would be nice to improve it a bit," thought Bruttius and decided to visit Zalatov, as he assumed that he might have some tools among his inventory.
Odd, as before, visited Zen after the battles were over.
— Well, if even Apollon managed to hit with the first blow, why should I be any worse? — joked the R'lyehian.
[Zen covers 8 units of distance
Odd covers 12 units of distance, attacks, and deals 67 units of damage to Zen (233)
Zen attacks and deals 142*2=284 (crit.) units of damage to Odd (0)
Odd is unable to continue the duel. Zen wins.]
- I will teach you, - said Zen, offering his hand to the defeated Odd. - Few manage to hit me. I don't know how that clumsy brute Apollon managed it. You have to lose your vigilance for just a second with such an opponent, and you're already dead. Come with me, my servants will take care of your wounds.
Added 29 minutes later
Gordian sadly walked around the room, turning the crossbow in his hands. "Strange, I didn't think Tiberius knew how to use crossbows. And I just happen to be without a weapon... I'll consider this a stroke of luck, if the death of a comrade in arms can be considered lucky."
"Actually, it would be nice to improve it a little," thought Bruttii and decided to visit Zalatov, as he assumed that he might have some tools among his inventory.
Небо – угроз не слышит
Небо – ведёт особый счёт
Небо – тебя найдёт
(improvement is not possible)
Lucina
The rotting walls of the old tavern were drafty, letting in the cold northern wind. The warmth from the blazing hearth was barely noticeable; it was an unpleasant, cheerless, and devilishly cold place. There was nothing in this squalid establishment worth paying attention to, and there weren't many people around either. Among them, one could only distinguish an Orc, a Madian woman, five R’lyeh warriors, and, of course, the tavern owner with his young son, who took care of the few customers that showed up from time to time.
Radiating genuine curiosity, the innkeeper's son awkwardly carried two plates in his hands, placing them on the table near the fireplace where two people sat: one face was already familiar, but he had never seen the other before.
"Thank you," the girl replied briefly, almost without emotion, but just looking at her beautiful face made the young man's heart beat faster.
"Is there anything else I can get for you?" he asked, still staring intently at the attractive newcomer.
"No." The boy was thin, pale, and clearly ill or simply not very healthy. It wasn't surprising that he was assigned such work. Lucina perfectly understood the feelings of this young man: nothing happens in this city, the sky is gray, everything around is white, only gloomy bearded men and rude women walk around, and then suddenly a beauty like her appears out of nowhere, and even talking to her seems impossible because she has nothing to offer. "I'll call you if I need something," she added, giving him a slight smile.
The boy, embarrassed and happy, ran away.
"The meat isn't very fresh," sighed the Madian woman, complaining to her companion as they both began to eat. "And it's terribly prepared."
"Ha-ha," the Orc merely laughed in response, "eat what you're given and don't complain!"
"Well, I wouldn't want to starve, so I guess I have to," Lucina said, reluctantly agreeing to try the R’lyeh cuisine. "Vakgar, let's get down to business; I don't want to stay in this godforsaken city any longer than necessary."
"I found someone. Ivar Ironbeard. The old man may not be very influential, but he's reliable and keeps his word. He's willing to buy the goods at a good price."
"That's great."
By the time they finished eating, five drunken warriors had gathered around their table. They had been having fun in another part of the tavern.
"Hey, Vakgar, did you bring a girlfriend with you today?" asked a R’lyeh warrior, chuckling to himself. The others followed suit. "Don't you want to give us some entertainment? Let's take care of this bitch together! For all the lands that her rotten homeland took from our proud people!"
"Better not push it, Vilmar," warned the Orc.
"Hic! Or what?!" A heavy, smelly hand belonging to a R’lyeh warrior unpleasantly gripped the Madian woman's shoulder, and that was the last time Vilmar, son of the north, touched anyone: Lucina drew her pistol with her free hand and shot the arrogant man between the eyes; death was instantaneous. Vakgar had to deal with the rest; the girl just fired from behind him.
"I always thought you were smarter," the Orc said dryly.
"Ah, I keep forgetting that I am just a fragile woman and cannot handle a crowd of ugly men on my own. But it's good that you were here, isn't it?"
"You rely on me too much... But something else interests me. You are usually not so bloodthirsty; we could have simply driven them away like dogs, which is what they are. So why did you decide to kill?"
"It's because of this country. The Kingdom of R’lyeh. There's nothing here. Only snow, ice, and cold. Even the food is disgusting."
"And?"
"I needed to relieve some stress."
“In the world, there is nothing better than money. The wider your pocket, the more opportunities and ways you have in life to realize your desires, because money is the essence of freedom. No, really, you can buy anything you want, and anyone you want, if you have enough money for it. Wealthy people who don't know what to do with themselves or suffer from a lack of true friends or genuine love are just crazy, fools. Something is wrong with them.” — Lucina.
Beliefs: Lord of Shadows: +5 to dexterity and perception; free assassin skill
Characteristics:
Constitution - 16 (+6)
Intelligence - 20
Strength - 10
Dexterity - 22 (+7)
Speed - 22 (+12)
Willpower - 10
Perception - 35 (+20)
Abilities:
Firearms (pistols) IV (8)
Persuasion (2)
Luck (2)
Assassin (0)
Equipment:
Pistol nicknamed "Butterfly," small knife, favorite mirror, money, essential travel items, cosmetics, jewelry.
Why she wants to get on the ship: She has been in Limiskla for the last two or three weeks, entertaining herself in various ways, including wanting to watch the battles in the arena. To protect herself from the encroachments of wild Hysteosians, she met with another Madian; when she charmed him, he assured her that "I work for an important person, so no one will touch you!" Unfortunately, when she visited the restaurant where he worked for the last time, she found only his frozen corpse. Considering this moment, all recent events in the city, and rumors, Lucina wanted to leave the city as soon as possible.
I decided not to bother with stat tweaking and just distributed them as I saw fit for this particular character. Maybe it's not very viable, and you can't really assassinate anyone with a loud gun, but whatever.
Too bad. But I'll still go to Zalatov.
Небо – угроз не слышит
Небо – ведёт особый счёт
Небо – тебя найдёт