An Unfamiliar Sense
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Practice
Harding: I’m heading out to practice my new magic. I could use some moral support. I really have to get better at using my new abilities. Don’t want to drop a rock on someone’s head.
Rook meets up with Harding in Arlathan Forest.
Harding: This should be perfect! It’s wide open. Lots of rocks. And away from people. I don’t want to try anything where I could hit someone.
| Rook was optimistic about Harding’s magic | Rook was wary about Harding’s magic | Rook was baffled by Harding’s magic |
|---|---|---|
| Rook: Oh, this sounds exciting!Harding: I know! | Rook: Do you… actually think you might hurt someone?Harding: Not on purpose! If I can actually work my magic safely, maybe I can convince you it isn’t bad. | Rook: Maybe if I see more of this stone magic, it’ll seem less weird.Harding: This is all new to me too, you know. |
Harding: Come on.
They continue walking.
| Rook was optimistic/baffled about the magic | Rook was wary about the magic |
|---|---|
| Rook: Being able to move the terrain’s going to be really useful for a scout.Harding: Getting up high. For good vantage!Rook: Let’s try it out! For practice. | Rook: Your new abilities are a bit worrisome, but I’m sure they’ll be useful. You could use them to get places you can’t reach. Things like that?Harding: Good point! I should try it out, don’t you think? |
They get to a wall.
Harding: All right. See this rock? I’m going to move it.
She tries to use her magic, but nothing happens.
Harding: Awkward.
Dialogue options:
1 - Affable: Use words.
Rook: Maybe if you used words?
Harding: What? Tell the rock what to do?
Rook: Sort of.
Harding: It’s not a dog.
Rook: Yeah, but just try it.
She tries again.
Harding: Fly!
Rook: (Stifled giggles)
Harding: You are the worst. The worst!
2 - Sarcastic: Do you need privacy?
Harding: Why are you just standing there?
Rook: Do you want me to turn around? Give you two some privacy?
She tries again.
Harding: But I did it before. When we were fighting darkspawn.
Rook: We were in danger. Maybe that helped?
3 - Stoic: Keep trying.
Rook: Don’t give up. You’re still new at this.
Harding: I can do this. I can do this.
Rook: You can do this.
She tries again.
Harding: But I did it before. When we were fighting darkspawn.
Rook: We were in danger. Maybe that helped?
4 - Scene continues.
Return to previous tree.Harding: So a mental cue. Some kind of emotional trigger?
Dialogue options:
Rook: Maybe you could think about how your abilities protect us.
Harding: Instinct. Protection. Shield myself. Shield others. If I had this magic before, I could’ve…
She tries again, and the rock moves.
Harding: I could’ve protected the people who matter. (Sighs)
Dialogue options:
- Flirt: Wanna talk? [6]
- Affable: Don’t blame yourself. [7]
- Sarcastic: Look at what you did! [8]
- Stoic: You can’t save everyone. [9]
6 - Flirt: Wanna talk?
Rook: I’m here for you if you want to vent.
Harding: And make us both miserable? Let’s not. I just want to enjoy the moment. Being around you makes me feel lighter, somehow.
Dialogue options:
- Affable: Your hair is so pretty. [10]
- Sarcastic: Let’s do this more often. [11]
- Stoic: I doubt it’s me. [12]
10 - Affable: Your hair is so pretty.
Rook: Your hair is so bright in the sunlight. Sorry. It’s just… really pretty.
Harding: Oh. Th-thanks.
11 - Sarcastic: Let’s do this more often.
Rook: We should do this more often.
Harding: Just you and me? People might talk.
Rook: About what? That we like doing stuff together? Ooh, scandalous.
Harding: Right. Right, of course, why would they talk?
Rook: Did you mean something else?
Harding: No? No. Of course not. I mean…
12 - Stoic: I doubt it’s me.
Rook: Not sure I have anything to do with it. But hey, it’s good to be useful.
Harding: I hope so.
Rook: Oh?
Dwarf Rook Non-Dwarf Rook Harding: Uh, just talking. About… dwarf stuff. You know. Harding: Uh, I mean… you know, getting stuff off high shelves. Rook: Right…
14 - Scene continues.
Return to previous tree.Rook: Are you blushing?
Harding: No! I mean, yeah! You try moving rocks with your mind. I… I mean, I should go practice more, shouldn’t I? I should.
Scene ends.
7 - Affable: Don’t blame yourself.
Rook: You can’t blame yourself for everything. It’ll destroy you.
Harding: Some thoughts just come. They leave their mark, even when you push them away. I just have to concentrate on the people I can help.
Scene ends.
8 - Sarcastic: Look at what you did!
Rook: Okay, but you did move the rocks, though.
Harding: Wow, you’re usually way better at distraction.
Rook: Thanks! Wait…
Harding: I could focus on the people I can help now, instead of the ones I couldn’t.
Scene ends.
9 - Stoic: You can’t save everyone.
Rook: You can’t be everywhere. Even with these abilities.
Harding: I should give up and not even try?
Rook: Didn’t say that. I just meant that no one’s safe forever, even with magic.
Harding: Either way, I think I’ll need more practice with this, don’t you?
Scene ends.
Rook: You’re thinking too hard about it. Maybe think less and feel more. Have fun. Go with what feels good.
Harding: Feels good. Right. Connection. Joy. Fun. You know, we would sometimes go to the shore of Lake Calenhad, in summer. My friends and I would collect stones, and see who could build the best rock fort. I bet my fort would be the best now.
She tries again, and the rock moves.
Harding: (Laughs) It worked! It worked! That was a great idea, Rook!
Dialogue options:
- Flirt: It’s nice to see you happy. [6]
- Affable: It was you. [7]
- Sarcastic: You’re welcome. [8]
- Stoic: But can you do it again? [9]
6 - Flirt: It’s nice to see you happy.
Rook: I haven’t seen you look this happy in a while, Harding.
Harding: I know. Life, right? Let’s not talk about it.
Dialogue options:
- Affable: Your hair is so pretty. [10]
- Sarcastic: Let’s do this more often. [11]
- Stoic: I doubt it’s me. [12]
10 - Affable: Your hair is so pretty.
Rook: Your hair is so bright in the sunlight. Sorry. It’s just… really pretty.
Harding: Oh. Th-thanks.
11 - Sarcastic: Let’s do this more often.
Rook: We should do this more often.
Harding: Just you and me? People might talk.
Rook: About what? That we like doing stuff together? Ooh, scandalous.
Harding: Right. Right, of course, why would they talk?
Rook: Did you mean something else?
Harding: No? No. Of course not. I mean…
12 - Stoic: I doubt it’s me.
Rook: Not sure I have anything to do with it. But hey, it’s good to be useful.
Harding: I hope so.
Rook: Oh?
Dwarf Rook Non-Dwarf Rook Harding: Uh, just talking. About… dwarf stuff. You know. Harding: Uh, I mean… you know, getting stuff off high shelves. Rook: Right…
14 - Scene continues.
Return to previous tree.Rook: Are you blushing?
Harding: No! I mean, yeah! You try moving rocks with your mind. I… I mean, I should go practice more, shouldn’t I? I should.
Scene ends.
7 - Affable: It was you.
Rook: I provided encouragement. Everything else was you.
Harding: But the encouragement was the thing. Well, I did it once. What’s important is whether I can do it again.
Scene ends.
8 - Sarcastic: You’re welcome.
Rook: Happy to help. Assuming I helped.
Scene ends.
9 - Stoic: But can you do it again?
Rook: You’ll need to repeat that.
Harding: I hope I can. At least I know my emotions are the key.
Scene ends.