Expand all | Hide all flags | Hide context | Hide tags | Hide checkflag | Hide setflag | Hide roll | Hide approv | Hide ruletag | Hide node id

    Synopsis:

    After giving Astarion the Tome of Thayan Necromancy, he begins to study it at camp to learn its secrets. He's frustrated by the voices of the spirits contained within the book, which are stopping him from accessing the secrets he's sure it contains. If he pushes the spirits too far, they'll respond with force - tearing at him with spectral hands. As you discuss the book with Astarion, his tone is on edge - nearly obsessive about discovering what's in the book. He won't part with it, even if he can't read it right now.


  • 22.
    Astarion
    : Come on, come on. What are you hiding?devnoteAVATAR = False
    • 21.
      Astarion
      : Can you summon the dead? Bring them back? Can you - ugh, can you shut up and let me read?devnote
      • 16. Player: I didn't say anything.
        • 28.
          Astarion
          : What? No - not you.
          • 76.
            Astarion
            : I was just perusing this little find and - WILL YOU SHUT UP?!devnote
            • 77. [Visual State]
              • 48.
                Astarion
                : Forgive me. This book reads you more than you read it.devnote
                • 75. Player: What do you mean?
                  • 41.
                    Astarion
                    : I mean it plays with your mind. There are secrets here, but the book has spirits. They fight you every step of the way.
                    • Link to Node 78
                • 2. Player: Sounds dangerous. Maybe you should leave it alone.
                  • 19.
                    Astarion
                    : No, there's something in here. But the voices - the spirits in the book won't let me see it.
                    • 78. [Visual State]
                      • 62.
                        Astarion
                        : I almost reached the end before they drove me out. And drove me all but mad.FOR_DangerousBook_State_BookFinished
                        • Link to Node 58
                      • 12.
                        Astarion
                        : I got deep into the pages of this book before they drove me out. And almost drove me mad.FOR_DangerousBook_State_SecondPageRead
                        • 58.
                          Astarion
                          : Now every time I open it, the voices surge back into my mind. I can't reason with them - they exist to protect that book.
                          • 9. Player: Gale would take it off your hands.ORI_Gale_Knows_NeedsMagicItems, REALLY_GALE = False['Astarion -1']
                            • 35.
                              Astarion
                              : No! He's not eating this one. It's too valuable.
                              • Link to Node 71
                          • 6. Player: It's powerful magic, not to be toyed with. I could take it off your hands.REALLY_GALE['Astarion -1']
                            • 51.
                              Astarion
                              : No! You're not eating this one. It's too valuable.ORI_Gale_Knows_NeedsMagicItems
                              • Link to Node 71
                            • 67.
                              Astarion
                              : Generous, but I'd prefer to keep it. It may be rather valuable.ORI_Gale_Knows_NeedsMagicItems = False
                              • Link to Node 71
                          • 30. Player: What secrets?
                            • 56.
                              Astarion
                              : I don't know. That's the point - they're secret.devnote
                              • Link to Node 71
                          • 70. Player: Is there anything we can do?
                            • 14.
                              Astarion
                              : Maybe. Maybe not. It's hard to know what's lurking in here.
                              • 71.
                                Astarion
                                : Someone went through a lot of trouble to protect this tome. It has to be something more than a book of cantrips.devnote
                                • 42.
                                  Astarion
                                  : Still, I doubt this will help us with our parasites. Maybe it's better to put it aside for now.devnote
                                  • 72. [Visual State]
                                    • 38. Player: Yes, best to focus on what's urgent.
                                      • 24.
                                        Astarion
                                        : Indeed. As long as the spirits remember their mission, the book is a lost cause.
                                        • 53.
                                          Astarion
                                          : And I should rest. This has all been a lot.devnote
                                          End
                                    • 11. Player: Keep at it. Maybe you'll figure out a way.
                                      • 25.
                                        Astarion
                                        : As long as those spirits remember their mission, I doubt it. Keeping the book safe is all they know.
                                        • 32.
                                          Astarion
                                          : But still, we live in hope. Figuratively speaking.
                                          End
                                    • 10. Player: What are you hoping to find in there anyway?
                                      • 65.
                                        Astarion
                                        : It's a book of necromancy, full of secrets about controlling the dead, returning the dead to life, and who knows what else.
                                        • 46.
                                          Astarion
                                          : Whatever's in here, it might give me an edge over Cazador. Or free me from him entirely.ORI_Astarion_Knows_CazadorMaster
                                          • 5.
                                            Astarion
                                            : Although I can't make any progress as long as those spirits remember their mission. It seems to be all they know.
                                            • 36.
                                              Astarion
                                              : Still. If nothing else, maybe I can beat Cazador to death with it.
                                              End
                                        • 60.
                                          Astarion
                                          : Whatever's in here, it might give me an edge over my old master Cazador. Or free me from him entirely.ORI_Astarion_Knows_CazadorMaster = FalseORI_Astarion_Knows_CazadorMaster
                                          • Link to Node 5
                                    • 47. Player: I could hold on to it if you like?
                                      • 49.
                                        Astarion
                                        : Trust me, the spirits won't be any kinder to you. As long as they remember their duty to protect this book, no one's getting in.
                                        • 26.
                                          Astarion
                                          : Anyway, I'd rather keep it where I can see it. Its time will come, I'm sure.
                                          End
                          • 52. Player: Then stop reading it!['Astarion -1']
                            • 73.
                              Astarion
                              : No! There's something in here - I know it.
                              • Link to Node 71
                          • 0. Player: Then steel your mind and destroy them. Simple.REALLY_GITHYANKI['Astarion -1']
                            • 7.
                              Astarion
                              : I wouldn't be trying to reason with them if 'murder' was an option, would I?devnote
                              • 17.
                                Astarion
                                : They're too strong for that. They must be hiding something good.
                                • Link to Node 71
                          • 40. Player: It sounds like you need an exorcism.CLERIC
                            • 43.
                              Astarion
                              : Perhaps. But would that damage the tome itself?
                              • 18. Player: Probably. It's a tome of necromancy, after all.
                                • 23.
                                  Astarion
                                  : I can't risk it. There's something valuable in here.
                                  • Link to Node 71
                              • 63. Player: I've no idea.
                                • 34.
                                  Astarion
                                  : Thank you, very helpful. But I can't risk it. There's something valuable in here.devnote
                                  • Link to Node 71
                      • 33.
                        Astarion
                        : I only read one page before their maddening whispers drove me away.FOR_DangerousBook_State_FirstPageRead
                        • Link to Node 58
                      • 27.
                        Astarion
                        : I barely opened it when they started whispering from the shadows.FOR_DangerousBook_State_BookFinished = False, FOR_DangerousBook_State_FirstPageRead = False, FOR_DangerousBook_State_SecondPageRead = False
                        • Link to Node 58
                • 66. Player: Give it to me, then.
                  • 50.
                    Astarion
                    : I can't. I feel a connection with it, but the spirits within fight me at every step.
                    • Link to Node 78
      • 55. Player: Need some help?
        • 59.
          Astarion
          : What? No. I - I'm fine.devnote
          • Link to Node 76
      • 31. Player: Stay silent.
        • 4.
          Astarion
          : No, I won't kill them! Well, maybe Wyll...devnoteORI_Wyll_State_IsInParty, REALLY_WYLL = False
          • Link to Node 69
        • 15.
          Astarion
          : No, I won't kill them! Well, maybe Shadowheart...devnoteORI_ShadowHeart_State_IsInParty, REALLY_SHADOWHEART = False
          • Link to Node 69
        • 64.
          Astarion
          : No, I won't kill them! Well, maybe the gith...devnoteORI_Laezel_State_IsInParty, REALLY_LAEZEL = False
          • Link to Node 69
        • 3.
          Astarion
          : No, I won't kill them! Well, maybe Gale...devnoteORI_Gale_State_IsInParty, REALLY_GALE = False
          • 69.
            Astarion
            : I can't. I won't. Now - stop!devnote
            • 54. [Visual State]
              • 13.
                Astarion
                : Let. Me. Go! Ah... Hello.devnote
                • 1. Player: Good book?
                  • 45.
                    Astarion
                    : A unique read, certainly. A tome of necromancy, guarded by spirits.
                    • Link to Node 78
                • 29. Player: What in the hells was that?
                  • 20.
                    Astarion
                    : I'm not sure. A dance with death, maybe.
                    • 37.
                      Astarion
                      : This is a powerful book of necromancy, but it's guarded by spirits.
                      • Link to Node 78
                • 74. Player: You're not killing anyone in this party.
                  • 61.
                    Astarion
                    : Of course I'm not. It's just - it gets to you.devnote
                    • Link to Node 37
        • 39.
          Astarion
          : No, I won't kill them! Well, maybe the tiefling...devnoteORI_Karlach_State_IsInParty, REALLY_KARLACH = False
          • Link to Node 69
        • 57.
          Astarion
          : No - stop it - I won't kill them!devnote
          • Link to Node 69
      • 44. Player: Leave.
        • 8.
          Astarion
          : Just tell me what I need to know. Tell me your secrets.devnote
          End