

THE PRICE OF FRIENDSHIP


Quallo related?

Prostitution jokes?  Aerie/Viconia/Jaheira charging you money with each flirt.  No.  No no no.

Tree of Life gut check enhancement?  Nah.

Quallo it is.

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Instead of just killing Quallo's friend, the player is warned that he must find a NEW friend for Quallo,
before Quallo will be able to help him.  If the player kills the carrion crawler, the quest is broken and
Lilarcor won't be retrievable.

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Friends that can be found, brought to Quallo, and he interrogates them:

Hobgoblin warrior.
Kobold.
Jerry the Jelly!!
Captive nymph en route to the Copper Coronet by slavers.

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Hobgoblin

The PC can wander back through the sewers and comes upon a band of
hobgoblin warriors.  They yell and are about to attack but the PC
can stop them, and one of them will follow in the hopes of getting
gold, which the PC can promise.

HOBGOB: Hey!  Say quicklike; you slaver, or you deadman?
PC: Hold!  I have no quarrel with you, and I have a deal for you.

HOB: Deal?  Speak quick.  I get angry if talk too long.

PC: I can offer you 500 gold for this job.  All you need to do is befriend an old man.  Don't ask why.   -> 1
PC: I offer you the opportunity to redeem your evil ways.  There is an old man nearby in need of a friend, and I am seeking one for him.  If he accepts you, your sins will be forgiven!   -> combat
PC: You'll do as I say!  There is a man close by seeking a 'friend'.  You will act the part, or suffer my wrath!    combat

HOB1: Gold?  This better be no tricks, <PRO_RACE>!  We go.
(teleport to Quallo.  Other hobs escapearea(), Quallo interviews goblin, and refuses him as a friend.)

*THE INTERVIEW*

Quallo: So, you're back?  I suppose I can't hope for much.

PC: I have with me a hobgoblin who is willing to be your friend, Quallo.

Q: Nasty fellows, those hobgoblins.  But I judge on character, not heredity.~
=
~So, you would be my friend, I have three questions for you.  The first is this: I cannot feed myself.  Will you feed me?~

HOB:
~Hurr, would I feed you?!  You fool, I would--~
PC1: Remember our deal, beast!      1
PC2: (Remain silent.)
PC3: Of course he would, as would any good friend, Quallo.     1

H1: I... bah!  I would spit kobold from sewer and roast on fire for you... friend.

H2: I would... I would spit you on sword and roast you over fire for ME to eat!  This bargain not worth 500 gold!
EscapeArea()

Quallo:
That is an honourable thing to do, one any true friend would do.  My second question: I am so alone, I weep.  When I weep, will you hold me?

Hob: Grah?!  Hold you?  I not whore!  This not worth five THOUSAND gold.  Waste of time, it is!
EscapeArea()

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KOBOLD

Same thing.  PC finds a lone kobold, and can convince it to help.

Kob: Snrf!  You finds me!  No hurt!  No hurt!

PC: Silence, dog creature.  I am here to ask a question of you.
PC: Calm yourself.  I am not going to hurt you, but I have a question to ask.

Kob: You...?  You not kill?  Man things always hunts me, and now that cast out of clan, so hard to hide and run and flee.

PC: That is a sad state of affairs, but I can offer you freedom from such worries, if you are merely willing to befriend an old man.
PC: I didn't come here to listen to your whining!  If you had half a brain, you would come with me.  An old man seeks a 'friend', and if he chooses you, you will be free from all your problems.

Kob: I not knows if can trust man things, but will come with.  No hurts, please.  Yarf!

*THE INTERVIEW*

Quallo: So, you're back?  I suppose I can't hope for much.

PC: I have with me a kobold who offers his friendship.

Q: The smell of the sewers has been so long in my nose that the normal revulsion for such creatures is beyond me.  I will ask my questions.
=
~You who would be my friend, answer me this: I am beset by a sickness.  It chills me.  How will you warm me?~

Kob: ~I's... er, I has fur!  Like small litterlings we stay close, and fur gives warmth to all.
=
~(The kobolds turns to you.) I does good, yes?~

Q: You do, little one, you do good.  But now my second question: Your pack returns, with the leader who cast you out dead.  They want you to return.  What do you do?

Kob: Eyegnash dead?  They do's want back?  Yes!  Yessss, I goes!  Please can go?  Where are's they?

Q: They are not here, fickle little thing.  You can never be my friend.

Kob: Yurf!  Then I go!  I goes back to pack and find Eyegnash.  Maybe...  arf!
EscapeArea()

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Captive woman is being escorted through the sewers by two slavers.  Slavers attack, are killed.

Woman: Oh!  I thank you!  They were taking me... they said I was to be in a brothel somewhere in the docks.
=
~I... I'm sorry, but I can't repay you.  I have nothing.~

PC: You are a slave, and simply chattel.  That you no longer belong to them means you belong to me, and you will do my bidding.  An old man is in need of a friend, and you will be that friend!
PC: I seek no repayment.  You may go if you wish, but I ask a favour of you nevertheless.  Refuse as you will.  An old man nearby is in need of a companion.  Your future will be secure and you will be safe if you become his friend.

1: No!  NO!  You can't make me!  Not again!  Never again!  (go hostile, script makes her flee)
2: He won't... I mean, you don't want me to be his... *his*, do you?  I couldn't bear being a slave again, now that you offer me freedom!

PC: He will not accept a slave, I am certain.  You shall be his friend only be if you are both willing.
PC: You are so selfish that you would spit in my face, after making you such an offer?  You will be safe for the rest of your days!

1: Then I will come with you.
2: No!  NO!  You can't make me!  Not again!  Never again!  (go hostile, script makes her flee)

*THE INTERVIEW*

Quallo: So, you're back?  I suppose I can't hope for much.

PC: I have with me a human woman who may be willing to be your friend, Quallo.

Q: Then I shall begin my questions.
=
~I see you were once a slave, as I am.  I cannot be freed, but you are free to go.  For a true friend, would you stay, even though he could never leave this dank, sunless pit?~

W: I think that... I have known nothing but suffering above, since my husband died.  What good has the sun ever done for me?  I would stay.

Q: You see with your heart, not with your eyes.  That is good.  My next question: Food is scarce, and we have only enough food to sate the hunger of one of us.  Who gets it?

W: I... no.  If I were still a slave, then the food would all go to you, my master.  But if we are to be equals, we would each get half.  Both would be hungry, but neither would starve.

Q: Excellent.  If a friendship can survive hard times, then surely it will last.  My last question: Before my enslavement, I was a rich baron.~
=
~I was the one that taxed your husband.  I was the one that took his lands when he was ill.  I was responsible for his death, and the horrors that happened to you.~
=
~But I am now humbled.  I know of my sins, and ask that, as a friend, you forgive me.  Do you?~

W: Your questions.  How do you know how my husband died?  You aren't... you couldn't be.  What was your name, then?

Q: I am now Quallo, but was once Baron Qadeel, but that name has no meaning now.

W: NOO!  You... I will never forget what you did to my beloved Athis!  I pray that you die here, you horrible, wretched creature!  I spit on you, devil!
EscapeArea()

Q: It... it looks as if I shall never find a true friend.

PC: I shall keep looking, Quallo!
PC: Perhaps you're right.  Just give me the key to the blade, and we shall part ways.  No one can help you.
PC: This is a fool's errand!  Just give me the blade, or I may decide to end your misery permanently.

Q: You mean that?  You really do, don't you?  I may be mad, but I know the qualities of a true friend.~
=
~A true friend will never fail <PRO_HISHER> friend.  A friend will speak the truth to <PRO_HISHER> friend, no matter how hurtful.  A real friend will even bring anguish upon <PRO_HIMHER>self that <PRO_HESHE> might aid <PRO_HISHER> friend.~
=
~<CHARNAME>, my friend...  I thank you.  It has been hidden from me all this time, but you have not failed me once in all this time.  You are my friend, and forever shall it be so.~

PC: This is madness!  I will never be your friend, and I am leaving.
PC: I accept your friendship, Quallo, but I have other things to do.  I can't stay with you.
PC: Then tell me how to solve this riddle.  Tell me... *friend*.
PC: But how do I solve the riddle?  Please friend, won't you tell me?

Q1/2: ~No.  No, you will not leave.  Forever shall we be friends.  Sacrifices must be made, you see.  This is the price of frienship.~
To cutscene

Q3/4: ~Answer?  Why, there IS no answer.  But a true friend will keep seeking something that doesn't exist, if his friend bids him.~

PC: You're mad!  I will never be your friend, and I am leaving!  (to 1/2)

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CUTSCENE

The PC is transformed into the Slayer, and slays all his party-members.  An epilogue-style text bubble runs.  The game ends.

Epilogue:

~THE PRICE OF FRIENDSHIP:

As your mind fights against whatever sinister magicks Quallo controls--or are controlling him--your body is transformed into a hideous creature of nightmare.  Unbidden, you strike down your former companions, as a voice silently whispers through your mind, "They would take you away from me, friend.  They are not friends.  They die."

Your mind reels in horror as each of your comrades is struck down by that which you have fought so long to keep buried.  The essence of Bhaal.  What inestimable powers does the creature that tricked you wield, that he can so easily control you and your berserk taint?  Perhaps it will never be known.

You are calm, and though you would have it otherwise, you can only look on in bemused interest as the last of the lifeblood of your friends flows from their mangled bodies.  Your vision blurs, and you can make out the dim outline of Quallo as he stoops over their prone forms, and begins to lap up their spilled blood.  Again his repulsive and sinister voice echoes in your thoughts, "Friends forever, we shall be.  And you are a powerful friend, indeed."

Eternity awaits, but there will be no legendary exploits or vast wealth for you.  For you, there is only this dank sewer, and this insane old man.~

ActionOverride(Player,Die())
