Merrill


“Watch your step, da’len.”

The Keeper’s warning comes too late -- as usual -- and I trip over the rock, bruising my knees and losing the skin on my palms to the jagged mountain rock. Mythal’enast! Someday, I’ll learn to watch where I’m going. I struggle to my feet, hands covered in blood, and look around.

We’re here.

The cave mouth is unbearably spooky, even for Sundermount, which you’d think was trying for some sort of spookiness medal. Most Terrifying Mountain in Thedas, maybe. Mist swirls out of the blackness as if it’s breathing, and the hillside around it is barren. A gaping maw, devouring all the life within its reach…

Not a good mindset, Merrill. Think positive! At least the weather’s fair.

“You feel it too, then.” The Keeper’s voice snaps me back to reality. She’s looking at me expectantly. .. which means I’ve forgotten something. I try to smooth my tunic and succeed in smearing blood down the front. Wonderful. And I still don’t know what it is she’s waiting for—oh! Answer. Right.

“Yes, Keeper. The voice is much louder here.” The whisper tugs at the edge of my thoughts, and I can make it out if I concentrate. In the camp, I could only hear it in my dreams, and the words were lost upon waking. Only a memory of terrible loneliness remained. Even the Keeper woke sobbing the second night.

Come to me.

I shiver. This is definitely the source.

“Follow me, da’len. And keep your wits about you.” The Keeper vanishes into the hungry mouth of the cave. I take a deep breath and go inside.

The dark is a shock after the sun-drenched mountainside. Like jumping into a pool of icy water on a hot day. My eyes adjust to the dimness, we pass through a narrow passageway into a grand chamber and I see… ruins. Light shines through cracks in the ceiling, broken by the shifting of time and tree roots. Not a cave after all then? A temple or a tomb or… I don’t know what this is. Strange.

“It doesn’t look elvish, does it, Keeper? Tevinter, maybe?” I look to the Keeper, who is peering silently at some sort of archway with a disapproving frown that I know all too well. Poor archway. It didn’t do anything.

“If this place was part of the war, then it doesn’t matter who built it. It is dangerous.” The Keeper turns from the archway, apparently dismissing it. “If it isn’t from the war, it is unknown, and probably still dangerous.” I’m certain there’s a flaw in her reasoning somewhere, but it seems like the middle of the creepy tomb-cavern is a bad place to argue the point. She descends a short stairway into the temple below.

I trail after her, giving the archway a reassuring pat as I pass.

Come to me.

The voice comes from the far end of the temple, from an ugly statue of a big squatting… thing with too many arms and legs. Well, that’s not promising at all.

“Who calls us?” The Keeper demands, drawing herself up. She looks the way I imagine the elves of Arlathan did, regal and wise, and the timbre of her voice says, I don’t care if you are a spirit, I will thrash you if you give me a reason. She scolded a wild sylvan with that voice once, and it stumbled off looking ashamed of itself. Well, as ashamed as a tree can look, anyway.

Help me.

Oh, that was not the right answer at all.

Keeper Marethari seems to grow taller, becoming a towering pillar of angry Dalishness. “Name yourself! Or be left to your silence.”

I am One Who is Trapped. Help me.

“Your name!” I have never seen the Keeper this angry. Not even when Tamlen disappeared.

Three seems to be the magic number. Audacity. The voice is like a winter wind, bitter and ragged.

“A demon.” The Keeper spits the word as if it tastes foul. She nods at me, “Bound to the statue. It will not threaten the camp.” She turns to leave, satisfied.

Wait! I have been trapped here for time beyond counting. I bore witness to the fall of your kingdom. Help me, Keeper of the Dalish, and I will give you knowledge of all I have seen. For a moment, I see visions of the world as it once was. An empire that spanned all Thedas, glittering cities of the elvhen…. All this could be yours.

“Come, da’len.” The Keeper beckons. The vision fades.

I turn and follow her out into the light.

Fenris

The hunters were after him again.

Truth be told, he’d known for several days. He’d seen it in the eyes of the innkeeper, the way the fat man guiltily glanced away and refused to meet his gaze. He’d seen it in the pitying look of the whore that stood on the corner, and the way she covered it up with a smile. The patrons in that squalid tavern where he went to buy his meals grew quiet when he entered now, and it was not the uncomfortable silence of human townsfolk being confronted with a strange elf covered in strange skin markings and carrying a large sword—rather it was the silence of men who knew trouble had just walked through the door and were now doing their best to pretend it didn’t exist. Fenris knew the difference very well.

He’d been lazy. Despite the fact that he’d known, still part of him refused to admit that it was so. He’d hoped against hope that he was wrong, that the signs were simply a fugitive’s paranoia. His stay in the last three towns had been longer and longer, his efforts to cover up his distinctive markings almost nonexistent. He told himself that this was a challenge. Let them come. Let them try and take him back, if they dared. Deep down, however, he wondered if he hadn’t simply grown weary of the chase.

Now was the time. He’d already cleaned his few meager possessions out of his room at the inn and jumped out the window. It led to a dark alley in the back, with enough ledges below that a quick descent was easily accomplished. That was why Fenris had chosen the room after an inspection that had the innkeeper staring at him in worry. He almost had to wonder how long it would take the fat man before curiosity, or a lack of payment, would lead him to check and find Fenris gone. A week, perhaps less if the innkeeper was the one who’d sold him out.

There was nothing in the alley save for a few lone rats and an elven vagrant asleep against a garbage heap. Fenris paused and stared at the man in disgust. He’d thought to blend in more once he’d escaped the Imperium. In a land where elves were free, certainly one more elf would go unnoticed? He’d been a fool, of course. How was he to know that so many of his people would squander their freedom living like frightened cattle? If his only choices were to either dress as meekly as the local humans expected their elves to be, run off to find the wandering clans that grubbed in the dirt for whatever scraps the human kingdoms threw them, or to fight… then his choice was clear.

The vagrant stirred awake as Fenris drew the greatsword from his back. The elf squealed in sudden terror but Fenris ignored him. There were others coming now, cloaked in the alley’s shadows—at least two on either side and… one above? He listened, and heard the faintest scraping on the clay tiles up above. Yes, no doubt a crossbowman. They thought they had him pinned.

Fenris launched himself towards the end of the alley that led away from the main street. Here it led into a maze of twisty courtyards, sewage and lines of hung laundry… but it would be darker there, easier for him to run without stirring the town guard. Why the hunters never tried bribing the guard to help their hunt he couldn’t say. Regardless, he’d run amiss of the guard in another town and they’d impeded his efforts to escape as much as they impeded the hunters. It wasn’t worth the risk.

The vagrant shouted in fear and drunkenly scrambled to his feet, but Fenris was already past him. Two long figures approached, barely visible but moving fast now as they realized their quarry was aware of the chase. Fenris caught a glimpse of maroon. Tevinter soldiers, then. Good, that would make this easier. Not that he wouldn’t have killed mercenaries just as easily, but it was less pleasant than slaughtering dogs like these.

A wide arc of his blade knocked the first hunter aside as he parried. The second rushed forward, hoping to take advantage of an opening—only to meet Fenris’s fist. The markings on his skin flashed brightly, the lyrium within them sending magic crawling through his flesh, and his fist phased through the man’s helmet and directly into his head. He lurched to a halt, stunned with terror.

So they weren’t warned. Fools.

The lyrium markings flashed again as Fenris partially solidified his fist. The hunter jolted back, blood gushing forth from his mouth and his ears. By now the first hunter was already recovered and swinging his blade. Fenris expertly hauled the second around by his head, putting him into the path of the swing. The sword chopped deeply into the man’s shoulder, and with a kick he sent both of them flying together into the brick wall. His fist was covered in dark red gore.

He would have stayed to finish them off, but the other hunters were already figuring things out. A crossbow bolt flew by Fenris’s head, barely nicking his left ear, and he could hear the booted feet of more soldiers rushing his way. He ran into the alleyway, leaping over the hunter who struggled to push off his dead comrade, and sped into the maze. Dark doorways flew by as he raced. He cut down clotheslines and tossed over barrels to present obstacles behind him. They were definitely giving chase—he could hear them swearing in Tevinter, and the crossbowman above scrambling to get into position.

The first pair of open shutters he saw and Fenris dived through. He landed in a kitchen filled with the smell of baking bread, and a human woman screamed as he rolled to his feet. No doubt the sight of an elf in skintight armor, carrying a blade almost as large as himself, wasn’t a welcome sight. He got to his feet and noticed the surprisingly comely woman, dressed in a nightgown that revealed more of her cleavage than she no doubt expected, pressing against the wall.

He grinned at her, and she screamed again. So he grabbed a freshly-baked loaf off the counter and raced for the front door of the hovel. Already a soldier was climbing through the window, causing the woman to scream once more and faint dead away. The others would be coming around to the front, so he had to get out before…

…he stopped cold. He knew the man who stood at the doorway: maroon cloak and jet-black hair barely covering those soulless eyes. Not to mention a scar on his neck, one that Fenris had put there. Damned healing potions and their foul magic. Why couldn’t anyone stay dead?

“Avanna, Fenris. Good to see you again.” The hunter’s voice was a cold purr as he raised his crossbow and pointed the bolt at Fenris’s chest. The one on the roof, then. Clever.

“Considering what happened last time, I’m surprised you decided to try again.”

“It’s not just about the coin any longer, slave.”

Oh, how Fenris loved it when they said that. “Not afraid you’ll lose your head for good?”

“Not when we have the drop on you. You’ve become careless. Time to give yourself up.” The other hunter had made it through the window , and he could hear others shouting in the street. He supposed that he really had only two choices: give up and hope for a chance to escape later… or take his chances.

It wasn’t really a choice. He tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade and smiled at the hunter, slow and deadly. “Vishante kaffar,” he hissed. And he attacked.

Край на спойлерите.

На който му се слуша.

Подкаст от 1up.com. Понеже знам, че няма да има чак толкоз запалени фенове, които да го изслушат целия (не е и за препоръчване, бая спойлери има в него, ама наистина много), малко heads up:

-Бос битките ще използват тайминг/фази/геометрия. Например да избягате от обсега на хвърлена скала.
-Cone of Cold и Fireball не са "instant-win" умения.
-Rivalry: ако даден спътник е ваш съперник, ще получава бонуси, различни от тези, които би получил, ако е ваш приятел. Пример за това е Варик. Ако ви е съперник, ще е по-точен (защото иска да се докаже като по-добър от вас, хе-хе), а ако ви е приятел, ще даде бонус на цялото парти.
-BioWare не са били сигурни дали играта въобще може да бъде завършена на Nightmare, преди един от техните хора да извърши този подвиг миналата седмица (УАУ!).
-Диалоговото колело далеч не е толкова "просто", както го мислехме. Оказва се, че има повече опции от трите "изконни" такива - като например маслиново клонче за добър отговор, червен юмрук за лош такъв (тези ги знаем), но и торба с пари, при който избор изнудвате хората за по-голяма сума!
-Базирано на изборите ви, ще може да загубите някои от спътниците си в играта. Тоест да, да умрат. За постоянно. И завинаги.
-Стрелците са на ръба на "OMZGOLOLZ so OP!!! NREF NAO!!!!". Подушвам balance patch.
-Енджинът е 90% същия. Само че по-добре оптимизиран.

Толкова, другото са почти само спойлери. Е, има и много по-добро обяснение на уменията, но ме мързи да пиша.

И ново геймплей видео, да му еба майката.

ще го повярвам когато го видя

Че с един енджин могат да се правят коренно различни неща ли? ШОК! И УЖАС! Невиждано досега -.-

Иначе прочетох от спойлерите само за Андерс и имам да кажа само това - What The Fuck, BioWare?!
Наистина ли имаше нужда да вземат любимите ми два персонажа от експанжъна и да ги променят тотално?

Сериозно ли?

Не, честно, наистина ли? Поствам неща, които трябва да те накарат да се замислиш за играта като цяло, или поне с една идея да те накарат да си кажеш "Добре, може и поне малко това да се чувства като Dragon Age игра" и това, което на теб ти се набива в очите, е графиката?!

Както и да е. Ново геймплей видео.

А играта как ще е с времетраенето? Не следя особено новини (частично за да не си спойлвам каквото и да е).

Иначе и аз си я преорднах вчера (Bioware все пак) Нямам търпение, щото от Ню Вегас досега почти нищо не ми е задържало вниманието особено.

Не пип, че бум, че тряс Никой да не бара стрелците. И без това си изстрадаха в първата игра, че бяха най-скучния и замотан клас. Не че не вършеха работа, но само като изкарваха цялото време на auto-attack.

Започва да ми звучи по-добре. Досега не съм играл лоша игра на Байоуер, дано да не стане комбо брейкър. Със сигурност ще играя на Nightmare , каквото ще да става.

Ако я почнеш директно на Nightmare, само ще си изскубеш косите.

Времетраенето на играта е средно 50 часа. До 65-70, ако се разтърсваш.

Тоест също като в Origins. Първия ми въртеж я свърших за 74 часа, тези дни ми стигат и 41.

спойлерите са тл;др. И за персонажите, за които се отнасят не ми пука, така че
енджинът е на 90% същия....Вие какво очаквахте, напълно нов енджин за една година ли?
Иначе малко остана, айде да минава по-бързо времето

Седем дни до демо.

Имам грозното предчувствие, че направо ще изнасиля пустото демо от преиграване в чакане на двойката, просто не ми се чака вече.

Dragon Age: Redemption.

П.С. Не исках да развалям мистерията защо стрелците са толкоз ефективни, но... всяко едно тяхно умение има допълнително действие - stun, knockback, slow и така нататък. BioWare са се замислили доколко е полезно да съществува клас, до който в буквалния смисъл на думата нищо живо да не може да се доближи...

Да ти кажа, ще го преживея някак Все едно нещо можеше да доближи магьосниците ми в Origins.
И в крайна сметка говорим за Single player игра На кой му пука за баланс между класовете?

На мен ми пука бе.

Абе винаги единия клас, леко ще доминира, но баланса в името на интересната и забавна игра е добро решение. Важното е да няма неизползваеми класове. Аз и без това си избирам спътниците по симпатии.. И да, ще играя на Nightmare, искам да ми е трудно. Ако вече си скъсам нервите, ще сваля леко, на трудните места и ще вдигна пак. Щом първата минах на тази трудност, айм нот уорийд. Пък и обичам да бия паузи, така по-малко ще ми се набиват на очи анимацииките, които ме дразнят.

Aбе не са дразнещи анимациите, така както ти ги описваш. Важното е, че макар да са бързи и зрелищни, пак има усещане за тежест в оръжието, колкото и малко да е то. В Origins имах чувството, че бях на бейзболно игрище на забавен каданс...

Абе дразнещи са си за мен.... Нашия човек върти чука като клечка за зъби и всичко е доста по-аркадно, в което не е като да няма лошо. Анимациите на първата са бавни, но имаш чувството че наистина това нещо на екрана ти, усеща тежестта на оръжието, усеща удара, абе много реалистично и култово усещане. Просто ти е кеф да насечеш някой, макар и в по-забавен кадант отколкото трябва, тук пък е нереално бърз. Трябва да си погледнат тайминга, малко сякаш. Иначе за трудността, твърдо съм решил, все пак първата я играх пак така и не ми беше чак толкова трудна, не вярвам тази по-''биткаджийската'' да ми е по-голям проблем. Само дано диалозите и персонажите, които се мъкнат с теб не разочароват. Иначе освен Андерс, някой каза че още един се връща от експанжъна, а всъщност елфчето Мерил, не е ли от Ориджинс?

Андерс и Justice се връщат заедно в общо тяло. Две в едно. Може би дори три в едно, ако не и повече. Ще остане малка мистерия предполагам. И ще е романтична опция за женски персонажи (но дали само за тях...на Байоуеър вяра да нямаш).

А палавата Мерил се мотаеше в Dalish Origin и се закачаше леко с мъжки главен герой. На мен някак повече ми допада как изглежда в първата игра. По-приятно за окото ми се струва. Пък и едва ли може да стъпи на пръста на Изабела.

Аз като разбрах че Варик няма да е LI и се отказах да си правя женски герой
Иначе специално за Андерс исках "още от същото", защото характерът му е идеален според мен, а сега са го променили на 180 градуса (май...). Ще видим де.