Part 75: Stonewall

Chapter 7: Stonewall


I’m gonna need more weights today.


Hey, doc. Anything cooking today?
Oh yes! I believe I am on the verge of a major discovery! It came to me last night—I believe that there is a formula which can be used to create a Rehydration Solution!
A what?
Such a solution could be used to restore fluidity to any substance or object that has become prematurely dry. Why, if we can but manufacture Dr. Cranium’s Rehydration Solution in sufficient quantities, we could rehydrate the great Shapeirian desert!
Wow, really?
Of course, there are a few small bugs to be worked out. It would take most of the water in the world’s oceans to make that much Solution. Then there is the tiny snag that I have not been able to remember the formula since awakening from the dream.
Well, I’ve still got that list from the HERO magazine.

I was apparently wrong when I said earlier that one can finish the game without the manual. While you can get remarkably far, the Rehydration Solution is required to finish the last quest, so in the end you can do basically everything except win the game without the formula list.

Ah, excellent! That sounds just about right! By the way, I could use some Grue Goo for one of my experiments. It would be most kind if you could bring me some when you return for the Rehydration Solution.
What’s Grue Goo? And why would I want any Solution?
Why wouldn’t you?
Well, because I’m wet enough as it is.
Very well. But I’ll have a spare bottle waiting for you if you should ever need it.
Speaking of, can I get my potions for today?
Hmm? Oh, right. Here you are: one Healing Drink and one Universal Poison Antidote.
So, anything else going on today?
I was just thinking back to some past experiments. You know, the scientist never fails to observe nature. Why, if I had not gone on an observation trip in the forest, I would never have found that garden with all the rare and exotic flora.
The what in the garden?
Plant life, my simple friend. The forest outside of town is quite a fascinating area. The trees are primarily deciduous with the occasional conifer.
You lost me again.
Never mind about it, then. Let me tell you about the garden! It contains several varieties of plants and trees that cannot be found anywhere else in this region. I had some fascinating experimental results with a bush I dug up there. Unfortunately, I was not able to keep it alive in captivity.
Wait a second…

[Flashback]



[End Flashback]

That dirt pile was YOU?
Oh yes. The bush used to grow seven different types of blossoms before it died. There is still a tree that provides fruit in a very peculiar cycle in the garden. There are also many beautiful flowers and plants growing there. I am convinced that the garden must have been intentionally planted, as it contains specimens that are not native to this region. Whoever planted it clearly did not understand the basic tenets of ecology. Fortunately, few of the spores have spread to the wider forest so far.
How the heck do you manage to get around? Hell, how did you even get to Spielburg in the summer? The pass is closed!
Oho, two dimensional barriers are no deterrent to the scientist! Did you want to see my balloon?
Not really.
That’s a shame. It really is quite a nice balloon. By the way, was there anything else about your adventures you wished to tell me about?
I guess I could tell you about my trip to Shapeir. A few days after I had finally gotten settled in Shameen’s inn, there were a bunch of attacks from elementals. I never met a pizza elemental, but as for the others…

*Hours Pass*

Now you are talking about science! The elements are the building blocks of everything in nature. I am sure I have never heard of anyone constructing creatures purely of a single element, but it certainly makes scientific sense.
Wait, so you get the idea of a water lady sucking up an infinite fountain, but you don’t believe me about turning Baba Yaga into a frog?
Of course. One of those two things is an extrapolation of a basic scientific principle, and the other is pure fairy tale nonsense.
Whatever you say, man. See you tomorrow.
Be sure to let me know of any scientific discoveries you should make here in Mordavia.



The Leshy. Directions: one south and three east from the town screen, or immediately southeast from the cemetery.

*Meow*

Did that bush just meow?


*ROAR*

Ahh!

You hear a giggle from behind the bush. Then a squeaky voice asks, “One and one and one make three; tell me what you make of me? Reading, writing, riddling game; can you tell me what’s my name?”


That’s easy, I was even just reading about you. You’re the forest spirit, the leshy!




Leshy, leshy, look and see; in a bush or up a tree. Leshy, leshy, off the track; hello Ilya, welcome back! Leshy, leshy, riddle rhyme; can you solve them every time?


Man, it’s just like old times again.


Directions: One south, four east (past the leshy), three north, one more east, then north again.

Colorful wagons surround the fire pit in this authentic Mordavian gypsy camp. You’ve heard that gypsies like to keep to themselves, but surely they won’t mind just one visitor.

Hey, I found the gypsy camp!


You sense a feeling of wariness from around you. You are clearly not welcome here.

…And I guess the gypsies found me.


Dude, what’s wrong with your face?
Nothing! Leave or I will not be able to restrain these wolves.
Hey now, I just wanted to ask a question about—
No questions! Go away, or the wolves will gnaw your bones.
Look, if it comes down to it, I can handle a few wolves. Now are you going to tell me what I want to know, or are we going to have a disagreement?


You can’t actually walk past a certain point and I don’t think the gypsy can be pestered into attacking, but this will happen if you try to be aggressive with spells or daggers.

Fine then, I’ll leave. But I WILL be back.


The Rusalka. The bit at the end is the Death Anthem. Directions: three south, three west, then one more south from the town screen.

You have a strange, disquieting feeling along with a sense of sorrow, longing, and unfulfilled desires as you near the lake. The briny lake seems to draw you towards it.


This is one of the most beautiful women you’ve ever seen. She has lovely, long golden-green hair (although your eyesight tends to focus a bit lower than that).


It’s so cold here in this lake. Please come and hold me and help me to be warm again.
This seems like a great idea.



You wade out to the lake woman and take her in your arms. Her skin is soft but very cold. The lake spirit moans softly as she holds you closer and closer and tighter and tighter, then pulls you down into the lake.



*Glub glub*





(Give or take about twelve hours)


Why hello, Nick, old friend. I seem to recall that you were one of the loudest people arguing for me to get kicked out of town. And now life has dealt you a harsh blow and poor Anna has gone missing, likely dead. I’m sure life won’t mind if a few of your things go missing in the night.


No, I believe life has a few more downs in store for you, old friend.


_{I sure hope old Nick’s eyesight has gone bad, because I feel like using a torch for some reason.}


*SQUEEK*

Oh right, that.
Help, vampires! Murderers! Help! Help me! Thieves! Help!


Unlike all previous robbery houses, you can actually get away after alarm is given. Specifically, if you are on the top floor when Nikolai wakes up, the hero will make a beeline for the window and get out before anything bad happens. You can even break right back in immediately. It also usually takes about 2-3 alerts before Nikolai wakes up fully.

_{Right, greasing the hinges first.}

You search around in the wardrobe, but the only thing loose and portable is a garlic clove that has come loose from the garlic braid you see in here.

_{Now what’s this, a locked chest? What do you have that’s worth taking?}


One of the faces is of a good-looking young man. A glance at the old man’s face and a little imagination shows it is probably his portrait from when he was younger. The other face is of a young and lovely woman. This picture is marred by a spot where some liquid has dripped upon it.

<sub>Oh, I see. Poor Anna. I had almost asked her…but then she surprised me with the engagement news. Screw it, I’m keeping this.


Now for this floor.


What, another music box? The last one almost got me caught, and I don’t have a place to fence stuff this time…oh, to hell with it.</sub>

The Music Box

Anna, is that you? Oh, Anna, how you love that music box I gave you. Anna, Anna, how I love you. …But you are dead, and I am hearing things in my dreams. How I miss you, Anna.

You hear the sound of the old man falling back asleep.

_{Phew, saved by sleep once again. Pity I can’t take it…no, he should at least keep the music box.}


You find a small bottle of healing potion, which you take. You also find a large book too bulky to take with you. It’s a diary. The author was working in Castle Borgov when the boyar was still around and mentions a secret passage in the boyar’s crypt.

<sub>Fascinating. I wonder how much stuff the new owner has rattling around in there?


God damn that is an ugly mug. Now what’s in the drawer?</sub>

Pawing around in the odds and ends, you pick up a dagger, one crown, and eleven kopeks as the only things worth taking.

Should I take the mug?
Let’s get a couple things straight:
1. The chest the mug was on is open, so there’s nowhere to put it.
2. The mug is so ugly you don’t want it.
Alright, alright, I get it.

The mug is also the only way I managed to get caught in Nikolai’s house. Fleeing works fine on the upper floor, but there are few ways to make enough noise on the bottom floor where you can’t get away. One is to turn on the music box, but he’ll always go to sleep afterwards. The other is to drop the mug a few times until he gets alerted. You can’t even do it by not sneaking since the bottom floor is solid (and squeakless) stone. Nevertheless…

What? Who? Anna, is that you? What? Who is there? Dmitri, is that you? Help, thieves! Vampires! Dmitri, come quickly! Help!



You can also murder the old man, although his ghost gets pretty pissy about it:




Great, made it out.


…So I woke the old guy up, but he went back to sleep a few minutes later. Plus there was this mug…man, you should have seen it. The most hideous thing I ever saw.
Good, good! It seems you do really well under pressure. It is a pity that we can no longer fence things here. You could probably earn a lot of money.
So are you going to tell me anything now?
No, I don’t think so. All the good places are very dangerous, and it would be a shame to lose you so soon.
Great. So I’m still on my own?
For now. Go find some other place in town to rob, and then we’ll see.