My Sexy Skill Has Increased! Let's Play A Dance with Rogues

I don't mind that so much because of how it's set up in the market scene: the duergar's claims that she killed a gray render with her bare hands are an exaggeration to get a customer to buy, and then she happens to get lucky when she's called on to prove her fighting prowess (mostly because she can hide in plain sight and backstab). If she had to keep fighting in the pits, she wouldn't have held out for very long. (On a similar note, I attribute Vico's success that you mention above, as well as the Princess', to the fact that there apparently aren't (m)any Rogues in the pits.)

I was seriously disappointed that there isn't anything to skulk around in Maeralssin even when you get the chance to try. The city exploration, and the fact that there are little side stories hidden everywhere, is one of the reasons I love Part 1, and I miss it a lot in Part 2.

There aren't any more Dhorn -- not alive, anyway -- but we do find Rual'thor.



It turns to Rizzen, more or less ignoring me. "It has been a while since I've been greeted by your sight, dark elf. I trust your mother fares well?"

"Well enough. But I've come on a private matter. This surfacer female." He points at me. "You were the one to catch her?"

"Yes indeed. She's so pretty, isn't she...? Pale, yet so... curvaceous... So much different from the women of your own kind... Is she more than a slave to you? Do you long to make her squeal under you?"

"No."

That's... good.

"The equipment she had with her. I'd like to see it. Perhaps we can work out a deal."

"You want to spend money on her...? Does she occupy that mind of yours that much...?"

"You should know that money is not an issue to my house."



EVEN THE MIND FLAYER.

"Pity???"

"That was a hint of sarcasm, little slave."

"Funny."

"You think so?" He raises an eyebrow.

"That was a hint of sarcasm, too."

He smiles. "I thought the squid would be more reasonable. Oh well. Let us search its lair now."



I've never been so happy to see my own armor.

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p.s. The inventory system in NWN kind of sucks because bags of holding are too small, so you have to juggle a whole bunch of them, and the inventory is on a bunch of separate grids that lack any kind of auto-rearrange-to-fit button.

Also there is a glitch here that disappears all of your bags of holding when your inventory gets removed, even the ones that I had bought fair and square instead of just cheating in. So then I had to stand around for like 15 minutes cheating in more bags of holding and putting all my crap back into them and reorganizing my entire inventory.

The first time I played Part 2, this is where I ragequit.

Really, game? REALLY?

...wtf I must've mentally blocked that part. Wat.

Seriously though, why are you surprised.

I know I shouldn't be but just...I figured at least one character would be immune. D:

Rizzen.

Nah he's not remember the ogling her backside when she's picking the lock? He just hides it well.

That Dhorn guy that hates sex!!!
Why do you always forget about the poor man? :C
Or could it be that in the end he will confess his undying lust for the Princess?!

Would you kill me if I told you that I would not mind this at all?
I've spent more hours arranging my stuff in my houses in Skyrim than actually killing dragons.
I love to collect stuff and store them neatly and in a well organized manner so I'm never lacking anything at all should a quest need it.
In the end I never used 5% of whatever I stored, and couldn't even sell it all because by that point I had all of the shopkeepers' money. ALL OF IT.

He hates sex. But it's more like, he's attracted to the Princess and hates himself/her for it. I think.

Oh, I usually enjoy the tedium of inventory organization. You should have seen my house(s) the time I tried to play Morrowind. ("Wait, this game has a plot? I thought it was just going around stealing people's crap.")

I guess I just have limits, and ADWR hit them.

... D:
Really?
The Princess got so much swag that she turned the celibate hero, who was MY LAST HOPE, the mind flayer and the dragon to the sex side of the force?
Fuck I
i need a moment

Everyone in the game has the same sexual orientation and that is PRINCESS ASAP.

But, of course, in this universe, women are always cheap. :(

I have never actually lost bags of holding at this point and I usually have at least nine of them. The strip script does not make an exception for bags of holding in the character's inventory so sometimes a timing issue can cause this. I wonder if there would be away to rework the scripts and have them empty the bags on a subsequent pass. I think the biggest problem is that the script used for stripping the character at this point is too primitive. It would be better to use more containers and sort the equipment into them based on type -- that would remove some of the tedium of the inventory tetris.

If you are referring to Arto, the Dhorn serial killer that has tried to kill her several times, I think it would be less about sex and more about power. While not mentioned in this version of Part I, in a previous version before he trapped her in a burning house, he mentioned that he had a wife and children. The burning house does add a bit more drama to the scene than him just walking away however. I think he eventually views the Princess as nothing more than a stepping stone to more power. If you go back to post #888 on page 23 you see a snippet of conversation that establishes this.

The various dreams that we have seen that the Princess has with him in them also establish the idea of his power over her as well. The first he kills her father; the second with him clearly dominating her through sex. Arto is very much a Paladin turned into a total fanatic. His interpretation of "Good" is a bit off however. :)

If you are in a relationship with Bran (or Pia or Vico), you will not be able to enter into a relationship with Rizzen. It also doesn't appear that getting any of them killed before will allow a relationship to occur either. ;)

(Just a tip, but I think it would be best to put that in spoiler tags because we haven't seen some of it yet) My name is Dory :D
Anyway, I refreshed my memory by reading the wiki, and while he does see her as a stepping stone to power, I also wonder if he has no sexual attraction to her at all?
Nerys mentioned that he does and hates her and himself for it.

It's happened to me every time I got to that point (so four or five times?) so it wasn't just a fluke thing. IDK why it would happen to me and not you.

That he feels sexual attraction to her is more my theory/interpretation than anything directly stated in the text, I think, although I need to refresh my memory as we continue towards the end. I think WaterRabbit64 is right that it's at least in part about him gaining power through sex, but from the way the sexual aspects are presented I feel that there's something there.

(We did see both those dreams already, MariPanda, so no spoilers there.)

Hmm. Well, since this is ADWR we're talking, where the DRAGON and the MINDFLAYER were attracted to the Princess, I wouldn't exactly put it past this game.

(We did? Jegus my memory is bad!)

jumping in to insist that, of all the people that are dateable, rizzen is the best one.
also, that general dude that hates sex? yeah, something tells me he doesn't actually hate sex. I feel like there was something in the game that made this concrete, but maybe I just imagined it...

ALSO THE BAGS OF HOLDING.

Agreed on Rizzen being the best. Creepy "I own you" felt more like posturing to me.

I ask Rizzen if he knows Ulviirerd Rilynett.

His eyes flash with anger. "Why do you ask?"

"This Ulviirerd Rilynett may know what has happened to one of my companions."

"I see." He relaxes again. "Ulviirerd Rilynett is a dark elven ambassador, currently living in Maeralssin. She occupies a mansion in the north-western part of the city. And, no, I won't go back to rescue that surfacer companion of yours. Now let's move on."

It takes some prodding -- so much that it starts to make me nervous -- but he finally agrees to let me go back. I hope he's still there. I can't afford to take this much time...



We're attacked on the way into the city. Drow sent by Rizzen's mother. It's not safe for us this close to the city. When I head towards the gates, Rizzen refuses to follow.

"I'll wait here. For a short while. If you're not back soon, you'll be on your own. And don't think about betraying me."

It's for the best. I can hide better without him anyway. And if he leaves... it'll probably make things easier, once Bran's with me again.

I look, but there's no one around. I shake off the feeling and sneak inside the mansion.

There are some guards -- mostly Gnolls. They don't notice me. There's a prison cell on the first floor. I unlock it, hoping to find Bran there, but it's a stranger.



He eyes me briefly, then crosses his arms behind his back and stares straight at the wall.

"Who are you?"

He doesn't respond.

"I might be able to get you out of here."

Still no response.

"Do you have a name perhaps?"

"Lieutenant Becks, Third Squadron, Special Forces of the Dhorn Empire."

A Dhorn. Shit. Maybe I can at least get some information out of him, if he'll talk to me.

"Uh... Nice to meet you."

For a moment he frowns at me, then he stares at the wall again.

"Are there any other Dhorn here?"

That wall must be really interesting...

I'm a fan of this guy's dialogue in general, but particularly this line.

[Persuade] "I'm not a dark elf. I'm an enemy of theirs, too."

[Success] He turns to face me and studies me.

"I'm looking for a friend of mine who's also a prisoner of the dark elves. Are there any other prisoners in here?"

"Can't say for sure. Heard screams from above, though."

"How did you end up in this cell, anyway?"

"Wounded in battle, lost consciousness. Woke up here."

"Why were you down here at all?"

"Pursuing fugitive criminal..." He eyes me ponderingly.

[Bluff] "I'm a runaway slave. I'm trying to find a way out of the elven city."

[Success] He nods.

"Can you tell me where the rest of your squadron is? Perhaps we could try to reach them together..."

"Cannot say. Probably moved on to catch our target."

"How many men did you bring?"

"Twenty soldiers, two officers, one squadron leader."

I shouldn't leave him here, I suppose. It just doesn't seem right.

"Well, let's get you out of here."

He shakes his head. "Going to find a way out on my own, but not going to burden myself with you."

"You're probably going to die this way."

But I feel relieved saying it. At least it's out of my hands now.

next update

This drow right here.
Right when I saw him, I thought of this:



It's like the drow is a dark version of the adorable boy or something.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I find a few more drow upstairs, but no sign of Bran yet. I'm about to leave the room when one of them stares straight at me.



This dark elven woman has a haughty aura about her, yet she doesn't seem to be hostile. Rather, she motions for me to come to her.

If I run, she'll probably call the guard. I decide to hear her out.

"Greetings, surfacer. Fear not. I mean you no harm. I've been following your moves ever singe you entered the city."

"What do you want?"

"I take it you are after Ulviirerd?"

"You know Ulviirerd?"

She lets out a light laughter. "Ulviirerd is my mother. She has been... busy... during the last few weeks. But she uses powerful magic to protect herself from the likes of you. I might be inclined to tell you how to get into her chamber, however."

"Why would you do that?"

She laughs softly. "I only wish that you fulfill your mission."

"You want me to kill Ulviirerd."

"You are a smart surfacer girl." She smiles at me.

Why would she think that? Unless... Rizzen knew Ulviirerd, and not in a friendly way, as far as I could tell. Maybe this drow recognized me and thought I was with him. Or maybe this is just a trap.

I keep an eye out as I follow her directions to the secret door, but the way up is clear. No one seems to be following me. I emerge in a large bedroom.





I catch a quick motion from the corner of my eyes, then something hard hits my temple, and I pass out...

"Bran!"

"Shh! You don't speak until I ask you to. Unless you want to share her fate." He points over his back towards the bed, where a dark elf woman lies motionless on the floor.

"But it's me, Riona!"

"I said be quiet!"

What happened to him? Does he not recognize me? I try to catch his eye, but he looks away.

I nod.

He squats by my side and speaks with his voice lowered. "What's your name?"

I whisper. "Riona. Riona Stormborn."

"And where are you from?"

"Betancuria, you big pinhead!"

"How do you know me?"

"You are one of my companions. When you're not trying to kill me, that is."

I tell him everything that happened since we got separated. He listens carefully. Then he shakes his head. "That's too much of a story to make up..."

"I did not make this up, Bran."

A hint of a smile crosses his face. "Now tell me just one more thing. That night when we first slept together... How did we do it?"

"We didn't 'do' it. You held me close, and we cuddled."

He nods and sighs with relief, then hugs me tightly.

"Bran, I'm still tied up..."

"Right. Sorry about that."

He unties me, and I hug him close. Thank the gods he remembers me. I suppose I can't blame him for being suspicious. Who knows what kind of tricks they played on his mind.

"What happened to the dakr elf woman by the bed?"

"She's dead. I broke her neck. She was a real sadist. You wouldn't believe the things she did to her slaves... I'm not quick to condemn people, but this woman deserved death. Tenfold."

I doubt that's why her daughter wanted her dead, though. Probably just so she could take her place in power.

"That was a really bad trap this squid thing lured us into. I do not recall much afterwards, only that I woke up in this mansion. Apparently one of the dark elves had... bought me. The dark elf by the bed ruled this mansion. I think she took a liking to me. It wasn't very pleasant, and I will spare you the details. But three days ago she made a mistake and didn't tie my arms to the bed as she used to."

He doesn't look at me. I can imagine what he's been through; he knows I can. And he killed her, just like I killed Vico...

"The other dark elves haven't gotten suspicious yet. It was normal for her to withdraw into her chambers with me for days. But she has placed her guardian outside, plus I haven't been able to figure out how to unlock that damn door of hers, so I am kind of stuck. How did you get in?"

I point him to the secret door. He starts to gather up his things, then pauses.

"Who else is with you? Norah? Is she well?"

"I don't know where Norah is. I'm sorry, Bran. I've searched the illithid's lair all over but I couldn't find a trace of her... And neither of Anden."

I can tell he's trying not to cry, and I wish he wouldn't fight it.

"Perhaps they've managed to escape on their own."

"It's unlikely that Norah would abandon me."

"Perhaps she thought you were dead."

"Perhaps..." He doesn't really sound like he believes it.

"I think she is alive, Bran. It's just a feeling. But I really think she is. I cannot explain why."

He studies me for a couple of moments. Then he slowly nods. "I trust you, Riona." He takes my hand and gently squeezes it.

I hope we can find her later, but for now, we have to get out of here.



I was waiting for this. Even if they trusted an outside to do their work, they couldn't let me leave alive. But with Bran here, I can take them down easily. We manage to slip unseen out of the city and back to where Rizzen is waiting.

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This section is just full of sexual assault survivors getting in some cathartic revenge, isn't it? I hope he high-fives us when he finds out about Vico.

For what it's worth, your "Let's Play" encouraged me to update my walkthrough for version 1.5 of Part I. I still need to go over and proofread it some more, but it should be usable in its current format. It can be accessed through this link: http://home.comcast.net/~jeffdebraal/NWN/adwr_150/adwr.html

Excellent. I'll definitely make use of it next time I play Part 1.

"It is a bit of a story. I'll tell you later, okay?"

I hope we can work this out. We could continue without Rizzen's help if we had to, but I'm afraid of getting lost. I really don't want to get stuck down here.

Bran nods. "I trust your judgment, Riona. But I'll keep an eye on him."

"Your surfacer friend is a suspicious person."

"Especially when it comes to your kind. Yes."

Rizzen snickers.

We carry on in silence for a while, moving away from the city. I see Rizzen and Bran casting glances at each other, as if they need to constantly be on their guard. A little distraction wouldn't be so bad.

"How did you become a fighter?"

"Fighter?" He laughs.

"Did I say something funny?"

"I am, or rather was, the Weaponmaster of my House. Not some street sap."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you."

"You didn't. Move on now."

So much for that.

"Your friend told me of his stay at Maeralssin. I have to admit, for a surfacer, he's rather amusing."

"It seems our dear friend Rizzen knew the late Ulviirerd."

"I always thought she had a fine taste when it came to males, but apparently I was wrong."

"Rizzen had been one of Ulviirerd's consorts a few years ago."

That explains his reaction, then. For a moment I wonder if he was willing -- but it's not exactly something I can ask.

"Tell me again how you killed her."

"I must have told you five or six times now."

I'm glad they're bonding. I think.

"Back in those days, she wasted ten to twenty salves a night. I suppose you can count yourself lucky that you still have both your arms and legs. Not to mention... You do still have one, don't you?" Rizzen grins evilly.



"Bran!"

Rizzen chuckles. "No, thanks. I believe you. You've done me a favor, killing Ulviirerd. I pay my debts."

"You don't owe me anything."

"I know that. But I think I'm going to give you a present, anyway." He points at me. "She's yours."

"Uh..."

"Riona belongs to no one."

Rizzen shrugs. "As far as I am concerned, she belongs to you now."

Bran shakes his head. "Let's go on."

I take his hand as we continue through the tunnels. Rizzen scouts ahead, giving us some space. It wasn't quite how I imagined our reunion, but it's good enough.

Rizzen doesn't even complain about taking another detour for Pia. We're attacked again along the way.





"It will, I promise you."



I'd forgotten about "Tiff." But it doesn't matter; she doesn't even say a word before she attacks, and in another minute she's dead.

"We should have spared the life of that dark elven girl. You should have left her in bed with the duergar. THAT would be proper retribution."

I shudder. I'm not sad she's dead, but what she's gone through... I can't wish that on anyone.

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There's some more player-initiated dialogue with Rizzen that I skipped over because it seems out of place if you're not romancing him. Mostly along the lines of, "So why haven't you slept with me yet? Is it because I'm not a dark elf? Is it because you're gay?" You'd think the Princess would be more grateful. (Then again she has really similar conversations with Anden; "Do you think I'm pretty?" &c.)

So, Rizzen is also a victim of sexual assault, did I get that right?

This game.

Pretty much, yeah.

I think the parallels are pretty interesting and I wish the game had done a bit more with them. I mean, the whole thing about the drow being a female dominated society, and how the Princess was oddly safer than usual during her captivity whereas Bran was the one who was raped. And how Rizzen can't stand up to the women in his family, but when he finds a woman he has power over (the Princess) he treats her not so differently from the men on the surface, instead of finding camaraderie in their similar situations. I guess I'm trying to bring that out a bit more in Riona's thoughts.

I know the game isn't going for a Serious Treatment of sexual assault, but it did bother me that there wasn't an in-game conversation with Bran where you could say, "Hey, I know how you feel, hang in there," even if he'd probably just say "I don't want to talk about it" in response.

Excuuuuuuuse me, but Rizzen is purple, you hussy.
stop being jealous bran flakes it's not his fault he's more interesting than you.