I Cannot Say
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Personal Conversation
Bellara: Who created you?
Archive Spirit: I cannot say.
Bellara: What can you say?
Archive Spirit: I cannot say.
Bellara: Right. Deserved that.
Rook: Got the archive spirit working, I see?
Bellara: Rook! You’re here. And I did! Sort of. A little bit. It appears—but it won’t tell me anything.
Archive Spirit: You simply ask the wrong questions. A common affliction of the weak-minded.
Bellara: Also that. It’s kind of mean.
Dialogue options:
1 - Affable: How does that happen?
Rook: I thought it was just an archive? How can it be mean?
Bellara: The creator. Its creator, I mean. An archive spirit takes on the personality of whoever makes it. Which… okay. That’s an idea…
2 - Sarcastic: Insult it back.
Rook: Just insult it right back—assuming you know how to insult a spirit. Bellara: I’ve never thought about it. How would you do that…?
| Emmrich recruited | Emmrich not recruited |
|---|---|
| Bellara: Emmrich might know. Hmm… that’s an idea. | Bellara: That’s an idea. |
3 - Stoic: Show it who’s boss!
Rook: You should remind that thing who’s in charge.
Bellara: Hmm… that’s an idea.
4 - Scene continues.
Return to previous tree.Bellara: Cyrian learned a lot. Taught me a lot. About these archives. They have, well… not thoughts like us. But sort of… pathways, I guess. They can only respond to specific questions. Worded in specific ways. So: If you’re powerful, like almost god-level powerful… How would you talk to someone you see as lesser?
Dialogue options:
5 - Condescendingly, it seems.
Rook: Really condescendingly, based on experience so far.
Bellara: Right! You wouldn’t ask questions, you’d tell them what to do. So let’s try that.
6 - Forcefully.
Rook: I’d probably just tell them what to do.
Bellara: Right! Don’t waste time on them, just get to the point. Let’s try it.
7 - Like a jerk.
Rook: Given our examples, I’d be kind of a demanding jerk.
Bellara: Right! So. Let’s try that.
8 - Scene continues.
Return to previous tree.Bellara: Archive! Tell me who built you.
Archive Spirit: One of the greatest of Elvhenan. A steward of her glory. Truly, I was blessed to bathe in his warmth. Anaris built me. And to him I shall someday return.
Bellara: You mean… the Forgotten One?
Archive Spirit: I cannot say.
Race dependent dialogue:
Bellara: Good point. That was us.
Dialogue options:
9 - Forgotten One?
Rook: A Forgotten One? You mean the “bad gods” parents use to scare their kids into behaving?
Bellara: Don’t speak their name, or they’ll come for you. Now we know what the so-called “good” gods were like. Really like, I mean.
10 - That name. Anaris…
Rook: Anaris. I know I’ve heard that name before.
Bellara: Yeah. A Forgotten One. Remember the nursery rhymes? Don’t speak their names, or they’ll come for you? Unlike our so-called “good” gods. Which, well. We saw what happened there.
11 - What was us?
Rook: What do you mean by “that was us”?
Bellara: The Dalish called them that. Forgotten Ones, I mean. I don’t know what they were before. You weren’t supposed to speak their names, or else they’d come for you. Remember? The nursery rhymes? You know. Unlike the upstanding Ghilan’nain, or Elgar’nan.
12 - Scene continues.
Return to previous tree.Bellara: So who knows what they really were. The Forgotten Ones.
Non-Elf Rook: Bellara: Good point. It came later.
Dialogue options:
9 - Forgotten One?
Rook: What or who is a Forgotten One?
Bellara: The bad gods. Or so we were taught. Told never to speak their names. Elgar’nan, Ghilan’nain—they were the good ones that you could pray to.
10 - Who’s Anaris?
Rook: Did that name mean something to you?
Bellara: He’s a Forgotten One. Got told they were the “bad” gods. We couldn’t speak their names. Not like the good gods. You know, Elgar’nan. Ghilan’nain.
11 - What came later?
Rook: What do you mean by “it came later?”
Bellara: Oh! I meant “later, after Elvhenan fell.” We didn’t call them the Forgotten Ones ‘til after that. They were the “bad” gods. Disease. Pestilence. Weren’t supposed to speak their names. Not like the good gods. You know, Elgar’nan. Ghilan’nain.
12 - Scene continues.
Return to previous tree.Bellara: But now we know the truth. About the Evanuris. So we don’t know for sure. What the Forgotten Ones were, I mean.
Bellara: They used to say Solas was one. So best-case scenario, like him. Worst case… well. You heard it talk.
Rook: Right. So this thing’s dangerous if it belonged to one of them.
Bellara: Could be. But still: important. And invaluable. Everything Anaris knew? This thing knows. And my people deserve to know. If I can get it to tell me.
Dialogue options:
- Investigate: [Ask about the Evenuris.] [13]
- Investigate: [Ask about Solas.] [14]
- Affable: Do what you need to do. [15]
- Sarcastic: Good luck. [16]
- Stoic: Don’t make things worse. [17]
13 - Investigate: [Ask about the Evenuris.]
Rook: Archive: Tell me about the Evanuris.
Archive Spirit: A group of cowards. Hiding behind their more “powerful” magic and “superior” numbers. Their jealousy of Anaris was palpable. Their war is unending. But Anaris will prevail.
14 - Investigate: [Ask about Solas.]
Rook: Archive: Tell me about the Dread Wolf.
Archive Spirit: An ideologue and a fool who will soon pay the price. When Anaris dispatches the Evanuris, he will spare a thought for Fen’Harel.
15 - Affable: Do what you need to do.
| Elf Rook | Non-Elf Rook |
|---|---|
| Rook: You’ve got a chance to learn more about our people. Go for it. | Rook: You have a chance to learn more about your people. Go for it. |
Rook: Just be careful, and try not to break anything.
Bellara: Right. Thanks, Rook.
Archive Spirit: All thanks must be given to Anaris! For he will cast down the oppressive Evanuris and take his rightful place!
16 - Sarcastic: Good luck.
Rook: Have fun with the condescending spirit!
Bellara: I’ll try. Could be worse. I guess.
Archive Spirit: Worse, like the wound of betrayal Lord Anaris suffered. Soon he will cast down the oppressors and take his rightful place!
17 - Stoic: Don’t make things worse.
Rook: Don’t piss it off. Or accidentally bring back a would-be god.
Bellara: The two we’ve got aren’t really “would-be.” But they’re probably enough.
Rook: Good call.
Bellara: Okay! I’ll get back to it. Thanks, Rook.
Archive Spirit: All thanks must be given to Anaris! For he will cast down the oppressive Evanuris and take his rightful place!
18 - Scene continues.
Return to previous tree.Rook: What a shame I can’t stay longer. Good luck!
Bellara: Appreciate the support.
+ Bellara Approves
Deleted Dialogue