Part 8: The Brotherhood of Gethryn

Chapter 8: The Brotherhood of Gethryn

Last time, we disguised ourself as an evil lady and rescued a nice lady. That pretty much sums it up.

First off, we may as well thank Grub, although he didn't help us that much.



Grub: I am glad to help. I ask for little from this world, but a large donation of gold would not be refused!

Diermot: I will remember you, Grub!

Grub: A gratifying thought indeed, sir!

Okay, so I guess we should pay a visit to Goewin, seeing as we just rescued her.


You've got to admire this girl's work ethic, she literally went straight from captivity to her shop.

APOTHECARY WORKSHOP. The room is filled with jars and bottles containing coloured liquids and powders. Bunches of dried herb hang from the blackened beams. The air is thick with an intoxicating mixture of pungent aromas.



Goewin: How do you know my name, stranger? Is this another trick?

Diermot: No, Goewin. It was I who set you free, disguised as Selena.

Goewin: I thank you from the bottom of my heart, but will you not tell me your name?

As you gaze into her beautiful eyes you are conscious of a warm feeling swelling in your breast. You long to take the girl in your arms, but something holds you back. You find it hard to express yourself in words, something that has never happened before.



Goewin: I... I don't know what to say.

Diermot: Trust me. When Selena is gone we shall have all the time in the world.

Goewin: As you wish, stranger. Again I give you my thanks.

Aww, Diermot's in love.

Diermot: What do you think I should do about Selena?


That was surprisingly not-helpful considering how much effort we put into rescuing you.

I guess we should go ask around... again.


Hang on, there's a poster on the wall of the Monk's Lodge. Let's check it out.

REWARD! A unique hand-crafter terracotta statuette depicting the Temptation of Gethryn will be gievn to the person returning the book stolen from this house. Apply within.

Rewards are always good. The door is now unlocked and we can go inside. How exciting!


Maybe exciting wasn't the right word.

MONK'S LODGE. The room is light and airy with a high ceiling and undecorated walls. The floor is paved with worn, uneven stones. You notice an unusual aroma of musky incense.

Looks like the monks aren't home right now though. Let's snoop around, and by "snoop around", I mean "let's look at the only object in the room".

The book is filled with what appears to be philosophical observations, one for each day of the year. It is open at the page corresponding to today's date, and reads: "You search, but find nothing."


Ah, here's the fat monk now. Let's have a chat with him, assuming he won't just ignore us again.

Diermot: Greetings, stranger. What is your name?




Diermot: Nice place you've got here.

Whelk: Thank you. We like it. Have you come to return the book?

Diermot: Er - np, I'm afraid not.

Whelk: Oh, dear! Never mind. It's so seldom we recieve visitors.

Diermot: Why did you not speak earlier?

Whelk: It is forbidden for us to communicate with people in the street. As Gethryn wrote: 'In a world of mindless chatter, co concern with mortal matters.'

Diermot: Am I disturbing you?

Whelk: No, no, of course not! Please make yourself at home.

Now we'll talk to the thin monk.

Diermot: Greetings, stranger. What is your name?

That's the last time Diermot will say that in the whole game. Thank Gethryn for that.




Diermot: I'm sorry, I didn't realise I was interrupting you.

Toby: It doesn't matter. I was getting bored anyway. Have you come about the book?

Diermot: Er - no, I'm afraid not.

Toby: Damn! If we don't find it soon Brother Whelk will expect me to write another one!

Diermot: Why did you not speak earlier?

Toby: It's one of your rules. Above all we seek humility, wisdom, and the ability to keep a straight face in public.

Diermot: What do you meditate about?

Toby: The little things in life. The great philosopher Gethryn, who founded our brotherhood, recommended daily cogitation on those everyday events which are the warp and weft of human experience.

So, we now have a new quest. Find the book of Gethryn.


Ratty is still getting confused, we'd better have an important talk with him later.

For now though, we have more pressing matters.



Ratpouch: I suppose we ought to find out more about this Selena person, sir.

So, we're looking for info and a book. Let's pump the most useful characters for leads.



Ewan: What? Me, a poor struggling greengrocer? I've got my business to think of, and fifteen varieties of vegetable to support - I mean sell.


Ewan just dropped a bombshell! Luthern has a revolution going on? No way! We'd better go see him.



Luthern: Not exactly! But I have devised a scheme, the next phase in our struggle against the oppressor!

Luthern: Are you with us, brother?



Diermot: What does this scheme involve?

Luthern: A symbolic gesture against injustice! This will demonstrate the discontent of the people in a way that Selena cannot ignore!

Luthern: Now, are you going to help us?

Diermot: Of course I am!

Luthern: Good! The plan is simple, but brilliant, even if I say so myself.



Diermot: I'm having second thoughts about this!

Luthern: Don't worry! Our last demonstration was a resounding success!

Diermot: What did you do?

Luthern: Goewin and Wulf defaced the Town Hall sign! A glorious blow for democracy and freedom!

Diermot: And they both got arrested...

Luthern: Ah. That was an unfortunate slip up, but we were inexperienced. This time nothing can stop us!


Damn right! This guy is clueless.

Luthern: You disappoint me. But I wish you luck.

He get's it from his mother you know...

Diermot: What can you tell me about the Skorl?



Let's ask someone who has some experience in real combat situations.



Ultar: Bide time. Find help in Turnvale. Then you fix her!

Diermot: What can you tell me about the Skorl?

Ultar: Back in Stormlands, Ultar's mother is best cook! She wins every year at Barbarian barbecue! I am very proud of her.

Diermot: What's that got to do with the Skorl?

Ultar: Her best dish, Skorl-in-a-basket!

I'll have to try that sometime. Let's ask the girl with the inside word on the Skorl.

Diermot: What do you think I should do about Selena?


Subtle!

Diermot: How do I know I can trust you?

Edwina: I'm just a simple, honest peasant girl, a sweet and innocent young thing!

Diermot: What can you tell me about the Skorl?

Edwina: They're more dangerous than they seem! Selena thinks she's the ruler of Turnvale, but she's just tolerated by the Skorl.

Diermot: She seems to be managing very well.


Interesting, that info could be useful later.

You may not be surprised to know that the book is in the hands of Mallin. He's a sly dog.



Mallin: Will you take this book to Morkus, stranger? You'll be well rewarded!



Diermot: Why don't you take it yourself?

Mallin: I'm being watched! You can't trust anyone in Turnvale.

Diermot: Yes, certainly!

He hands you a book wrapped in dirty cloth.

That was easy! We now have the book, let's have a look at it.

The pages are covered with exquisitely lettered characters, but you do not recognise the language used.

Mallin said we'd be well rewarded for taking the book to Morkus. I wonder if it'll be more valuable than a crappy statuette from the monks?

On the way, we may as well ask Grub about it.



Diermot: Does this book mean anything to you?

Grub: I am a freelance mystic, not a linguist! It is not of any language that I know.

Diermot: What can you tell me about the monks?

Grub: They are members of the Brotherhood of Gethryn. They have taken a vow never to meddle in the ways of ordinary men, a good thing considering their strange beliefs.

Diermot: What do they believe?

Grub: That the world if round, like a child's ball.

Diermot: No! That's absolutely ridiculous!



Diermot: And what's supposed to be on the outside?

Grub: There is no outside. Don't think about it - you'll end up as silly as them!

It doesn't sound so implausible to me. We haven't asked Ratpouch about the book yet.

Diermot: Does this book mean anything to you?



Diermot: That's fantastic, Ratty! Can you tell me what it means?

Ratpouch: No, sir. I don't understand a word of it.

Diermot: Then how do you come to know what it is?

Ratpouch: I used to clean the toilets at the Chapeltown monastery, sir. It paid well, but I didn't like the hours.

And so, we come to the lovely Morkus.



Morkus: Shut up right now, before I lose my temper!

We can keep saying this to him to get him really riled up.

Morkus: I'm warning you, I get unreasonable when I've had more than five pints! ...and today I've had fifteen!

Again:

Morkus: Nellie, you'd better get rid of this whelp or you'll have a very nasty disembowelment to clean up - again!

Nellie: Leave him alone, sir, please! He gets so irritable when he's been drinking.

Third time:

Morkus: GO AWAY!

And once more:

Morkus: ARRRGH!

We can even try to just give it to him.



Morkus stares with cod-like eyes as you offer him the parcel. His lips part, and he belches loudly.



Nellie: He probably don't like the way you talk, sir.

Either that, or he's just a cock.


Ewan, on the other hand, is very much not a cock.

Diermot: Does this book mean anything to you?

Ewan: Oh, yes! That looks familiar, sir. It's a little-known collection of handy ips on home improvements, I'll be bound.

Diermot: You really do talk nonsense, Ewan!

Ewan: Very true! Being surrounded by vegetables all day warps your mind. Few people realise the insidious nature of the vegetable world.

Diermot: How has the invasion affected your business?

Ewan: Badly, sir! The Skorl take most of the food, leaving me with an empty purse and an empty belly.

Poor Ewan. I really feel bad for him now. Oh well...



Ultar: Oh, no! Book of Gethryn!

Diermot: You recognise it?

Ultar: Read it. All talk, no action.

Funny, I didn't have Ultar pegged as much of a reader.

Anyway, let's return this book to the monks and get our "reward".



Whelk: The book of Gethryn! Our most valued treasure! Here, take this statuette - a fine reward for your honesty!

He hands you a small carving. The grotesque figure is vaguely human-shaped, with limbs of different lengths twistedat impossible angles. The face is hideously ugly and contorted.

Thank you, Whelk, for this ugly and completely useless piece of shit.

Diermot: What is that strange smell?

Whelk: I beg your pardon. We monks live on a strict diet of sprouts and lentils.

Diermot: No, I mean the incense.

Whelk: Oh, that! It's something Brother Toby brought back from his visit to the barbarians. I still burn it occasionally, for medicinal purposes of course. Here, take some!

The monk gives you a few small sprigs of dried plant material.

More completely useless inventory!

Diermot: Can you help me to defeat Selena?

Whelk: Goodness me, no! I'm a monk and an artist! We live by a strict code of non-violence.



Diermot: Don't you care about the people of Turnvale?

Whelk: Not a great deal. They have no appreciation of art.

Diermot: Is there anyone else who might help?

Whelk: Certainly! There's a Dragon in the caves which would make mincemeat out of Selena and the Skorl.

Whelk: Of course, you'd have to find a way to open the gate which leads to the caves.

Diermot: What do you suggest?

Whelk: If I were you I would forget Selena, the Skorl and Turnvale and go back to where you came from. Now if you'll excuse me I must practise my chanting.


Very helpful. You could just tell me to shut up, you know.

Let's try Toby.



Diermot: What is that strange smell?

Toby: It is incense. I was given it by a barbarian while on a visit to Stormlands. Brother Whelk burns it sometimes, though I have warned him against the practise. I feel it lowers the tone of the place.

Diermot: Can you help me to defeat Selena?

Toby: What ever gave you that idea? No, friend. She's a woman! You'll need to find a more powerful ally than me!

Diermot: Is there anyone else who might help?


Remember those herbs. This game is usually good to you, but if you forget those three herbs, you're essentially dead.

Toby: When you wake the Dragon, use the infusion quickly! They are bad-tempered creatures at the best of times.

Diermot: Where can I get the herbs?

Toby: You're not very bright are you? I've always suspected that bravery and stupidity go hand in hand.

Diermot: How do I get to the Dragon?



Toby: I'm sure someome in town will be able to tell you how to open the gate. Now I must be about my business.



Whelk: That will require bravery, intelligence, wit and skill. Are you sure you're the right man for the job?


Modesty? Surely not?

Diermot: Hmm. Perhaps I'm overqualified?

Whelk: Give me strength!

Well, our path is clear-ish. We need to enter the Weregate and confront the dragon, hoping he will help us defeat Selena if we drug him. How hard can it be?


Ratpouch, I'm sure you'll be up to the task! Are you with me?

Diermot: Do you want to be a hero, Ratty?

Ratpouch: Not if it involves physical pain, sir!

Diermot: Oh, Ratty! I thought you were brave!


Umm...

Diermot: How do I get to the Dragon?

Ratpouch: I don't want to meet no Dragon, sir! Please don't make me go through that gate!

Diermot: What are you so worried about?


Well, we're going to have to do this with or without Ratpouch.

Next time we find a use for Ultar, make Ratpouch do some work for a change and finally enter the Weregate.