Episode 3 Finale Sneak Peek #5

The following preview is of the Episode 3 finale. If you have not played the alpha build up to the very end of its current content, or if you would like to avoid major spoilers for how things play out, you may want to skip this post. As the finale is very dependent on companion and approval levels, prior actions, and player choice, the following is only a sample of what may occur on some routes.

Conditions:

• Low Aeran approval + got shot by him in Episode 1

• Low Solarath approval (below 50)

• MC studied with Varyn

This preview is an example of multiple branching dialogue paths in a confrontation.

[CHOICE DIALOGUE] “Your silence speaks volumes, Grand Archsage. Do you have an opinion on this or are you going to let Arantir do all the work?”

 “I would take care not to insult an Imperial general, $lastname. For it may be the last words you say.” 

“She doesn’t scare me.” 

“Unwise. She should.” His gaze flicks over you—looking you up and down, lingering on the staff—and his smile only broadens. “My opinions are my own. And you, unfortunately, are not privy to them on account of who you work for. This is an ordinary turn of events, is it not? To refuse to share your motives so openly with those who have not earned your trust, who are one step away from becoming your adversaries. Or does that make me unreasonable?” 

“I think you’ve been unreasonable from the day you were born.”

 He arches an eyebrow. “Oh?” 

“I think your head is so far up your own ass you don’t even know what reasonable looks like.” 

“Is that so? By all means, do go on.” 

[CHOICE] 1. “You’re arrogant, Quirinus. The kind of person who thinks they’re entitled to the world because of their magic and power and circumstances of birth.”  
2. This is a game to him. You know it, he knows it, Aeran certainly knows it. Don’t let your distaste for him talk you into playing his game. 

“Is it arrogance or is it confidence? I know my place, $lastname. Do you know yours?” 

[CHOICE] 1. “I’m well aware of what I am.”
2. “I did once—and now I don’t. Maybe that phenomenally talented mind of yours can figure out why.”
3. Stop talking. 

“Avoiding the question, I see.” 

“It’s not one that needed an answer. I’m a Wayfarer. That tells you everything you need to know.” 

“And once again you insist on this round-about away of addressing the point. Do you know what I see, $lastname?” 

You grit your teeth. Perhaps you shouldn’t have taken the bait. You are normally so confident in situations like this, and yet you can feel control of the conversation slipping away. 

1. “Your opinion of me is the last thing I care about, trust me.”
[CHOICE] 2. “Two Wayfarers and the object of your affections. You know what’s so curious to me, Grand Archsage? All this talk, and still you hesitate. You want the Astrial so badly, and yet you’re unwilling to fight us for it. Why is that, I wonder?” 

Quirinus smiles. “Because regardless of what you think of me, $lastname, I do not wish for this to end in bloodshed.” 

“Really? Why should I believe that?” 

“Because of the truth you’ve pointed out yourself. We have the means to seize the Astrial right here and now, and yet we have not.” 

Your eyes narrow, and a dull ache spreading between your brows. You are talking loops around this man, and all you’ve gotten is a headache. “You’re a smart man, Quirinus—” 

He smirks. “A compliment? How unexpected—” 

“—and because of that I doubt you are one to rush into things until you are certain you have the upper hand. We pose a problem, don’t we? You want this staff so badly, and yet you’re unwilling to fight us for it. Is it the risk, hm? Unwilling to pitch mage against Wayfarer and see how it ends? We’re outnumbered, true, but how many of your people do you think we can kill before we’re overpowered?” 

His smirk fades. “Enough—” 

“One? Two? Six? Twelve?” Your eyes sweep over the contingent of mages. “It could be you. It could be Arantir. Aeran’s good with a bow. Usually. Most times. Never misses a shot when facing down his enemies. Who’s to say he won’t strike you down first?” 

“Enough!” 

To your surprise, it is Quirinus who spoke, not Aeran. You’re a little disappointed—you half expected to goad some kind of reaction out of him beyond his quickly plummeting approval. You turn, raising your head as you face the Grand Archsage—his expression has twisted into something dark and disturbed, anger glinting in his eyes. You have finally gotten under his skin, though you can’t imagine why. Talking too much, perhaps. 

“Touched a nerve?” you ask. 

He passes a hand across his face. “Have you always been such a viper, or are those irritating tendencies something Varyn failed to suppress?” 

You shrug. “Varyn never suppressed anything. Encouraged, on the other hand…” 

His scowl deepens. “I see of her two students where Brissa chose to focus her time and energies,” he says with cruel swiftness, as if trying to push the knife in deeper. Someone the remark means nothing; it only leaves you numb. “Regardless of what you think of me, $lastname, I have no interest in killing Wayfarers. It would be a great waste to kill you now when there are so few of your kind left. Your order is gone, and with them went whole generations of trained magiani, the likes of which we may never see again. There is a need for people like you. People with your skills, your talents. Without you, the world will lack balance. It would be misaligned. The Farans understand such things, but here in Arathia we are not so cultured. The emperor—” 

“Sounds like bullshit to me.”