Non-Linear Dialogue - Archaeologist

//A gnome woman with blonde hair and a large, brown hat turns to you. She smiles, her skin crinkling around her blue eyes.// Ines: Ah! You must be the people the Delian League sent out here to retrieve the weapon of the Gods. I’m Ines Galanis, lead archaeologist of this dig site. I have the weapon right here. //She produces a sickle with an ornately decorated handle from her belt.// Ines: Don’t be fooled by its size. Before its removal, it was ten times bigger than this. I’m not sure why exactly it shrunk, other than, perhaps, it simply wants to be used. //She looks at you somberly before giving you the sickle.// Ines: Anyways, you’ll get to decide who in the Delian League will recieve it. I don’t envy your position. [[What does a lead archaeologist do?]] [[What have you learned here?]] [[How did you get into this work?]] [[Is there anything dangerous around here?]] [[What is this weapon?]] [[What do you think the Delian League will do with this weapon?]] [[What would you do with the weapon?]] [[Leave.]]

//Ines gestures around her // Ines: Everything from managing excavations to managing drama between the crew. I established the grid you see marked by string around the site and planned the careful removal of the sickle from the skeleton’s ribcage. [[Let's talk about something else.]]

//She claps her hands together, and her entire face alights with enthusiasm as she speaks.// Ines: So much, and we’ve only just started! The location of this skeleton relative to Hades’ Chasm and the sickle itself all indicate that this was once Kronos’ mortal form. The very one he inhabited when the titans and Gods fought during the Titanomachy. This is huge news for us, as it’s the first full corporeal remains from that battle! The skeleton and area surrounding it has residual magic, which builds on theories about the impact of the Titanomachy on this valley. Our focus was excavating the sickle, but now we can explore what else this site might offer! [[I thought Kronos was in Tartarus.]] [[Let's talk about something else.]]

//Ines raises an eyebrow.// Ines: What’s not dangerous? The squirrels are big enough to gnaw your arm off, and the valley is filled with undead creatures that have dragged their way out of Hades’ Chasm. Now, there are cultists who are summoning monsters all over the place. [[Let's talk about something else.]]

Ines: It is a weapon of titanic power that has been claimed and made adaptable by the Gods. Circa 10,000 years ago, this belonged to Kronos, but Zeus wrenched it from his hands and used it to slay him. Now, divine magic courses through it, begging someone with a strong connection to the Gods to wield it once more. [[Let's talk about something else.]]

//Her blue eyes level with yours, as her expression turns serious.// Ines: Keep it. Beyond that? I’m not sure. It’s a great honor to be chosen by a God, and an even greater honor to have proof of it. People will be more likely to look up to them, bow down to them, and do whatever they wish because denying them would be the same as denying a god. There are no worse fates than that. [[Let's talk about something else.]]

//Ines' eyes widened. She clearly has never been asked this before. // Ines: Honestly? Keep it. It’s better in the hands of a scholar than a politician. There’s so much we could learn about the Gods, the titans, and our past by studying it more in the context of this site, but alas… //Her expression turns whistful as she lets out a heavy sigh.// [[Maybe you should keep it then.]] [[I think I’ll give it to Karista. (faction leader)]] [[I think I’ll give it to Theoxenos. (faction leader)]] [[I think I’ll give it to Effie. (faction leader)]] [[Maybe I will keep it.]] [[Let's talk about something else.]]

Ines: What's on your mind? [[What does a lead archaeologist do?]] [[What have you learned here?]] [[How did you get into this work?]] [[Is there anything dangerous around here?]] [[What is this weapon?]] [[What do you think the Delian League will do with this weapon?]] [[What would you do with the weapon?]] [[Leave.]]

//She hesitates before responding. Her gaze darts to the distance like she's looking for the right words.// Ines: I always had a curiosity for these things. I remember when I was little—maybe 20 or 30 years old—I visited the temple of Poseidon and saw an amphora filled with an endless amount of water. When I asked about it, the priest simply called it a blessing, but I wanted to know why it was there.---How it worked. Did they walk into the temple one day and it magically kept pouring water, or did they find it somewhere? The priest got so sick of me asking questions, he feigned a dizzy spell and left the temple hall. My sister made fun of me for that… I suppose that’s the other reason I’m out here. After Eldira was ostracized, I didn’t think it was fair for her to be out on her own. I always hoped I’d run into her out here. [[What does it mean to be ostracized?]] [[(If PC read letter in Ines' private chest) Eldira? Is that who wrote you the letter that was in your chest?]] [[Did you find her?]]

Ines: Oh, he is—or rather, his soul is. The Gods and Titans inhabited the forms of mortal giants during the Titanomachy when Zeus and his siblings overthrew Kronos’ tyrannical reign. Zeus killed Kronos’ mortal form and dragged his father’s soul through what was later named Hades’ Chasm down into the pits of Tartarus. That’s where the valley name comes from. Deathbellow: the last cry from Kronos before he would succumb to his fate. [[Let's talk about something else.]]

Ines: It means that a politician is forcibly removed from the empire for at least 10 years, but out of all the times it’s happened, no one has ever come back. It’s dangerous out in the valley. We have all the resources of the Delian League, and we still get scares from all the creatures that roam here. Those who are ostracized have nothing and no one. [[That sounds extreme.]] [[That sounds like a fitting punishment.]] [[I don’t know how to feel about that.]]

Ines: No. //Her tone is curt. There is clearly more she could say but is choosing not to.// [[I'm sorry.]] [[You're probably better off without her.]] [[Let's talk about something else.]] [[(High Insight) I find that hard to believe. You seem like someone who could find anything in this valley.]]

//Ines nods. // Ines: I’m glad we agree. [[Let's talk about something else.]]

//Ines narrows her eyes at you. // Ines: Maybe we should wrap up this conversation. Was there anything else you needed to know? [[Let's talk about something else.]]

Ines: Most people have no reason to think about it. [[Let's talk about something else.]]

//Ines becomes flustered. // Ines: Perhaps… It’s hard out here okay? And she’s my sister. [[I would do the same.]] [[I'll have to report this to the Delian League.]] [[Let's talk about something else.]]

//Ines' whole body relaxes, as she receives the items you took from her.// Ines: Thank you. What else is on your mind? [[What does a lead archaeologist do?]] [[What have you learned here?]] [[How did you get into this work?]] [[Is there anything dangerous around here?]] [[What is this weapon?]] [[What do you think the Delian League will do with this weapon?]] [[What would you do with the weapon?]] [[Leave.]]

[[(High Intimidation)]] [[(Low Intimidation)]]

//Her eyes widen then dart away from yours. She crosses her arms in front of her.// Ines: What? You went through my stuff? I mean, I don’t know what you’re talking about. [[It’s okay. I won’t tell anyone.]] [[I’m sorry. You can have it back.]] [[It’s my stuff now. Answer the question.]] [[Maybe the Delian League would be interested in seeing this letter. They probably won’t be happy to hear that you’ve been smuggling their magic items…]]

//Ines narrows her eyes at you. // Ines: I think we’re done here. [[Leave.]]

//Her expression softens. // Ines: Thank you. What else is on your mind? [[What does a lead archaeologist do?]] [[What have you learned here?]] [[How did you get into this work?]] [[Is there anything dangerous around here?]] [[What is this weapon?]] [[What do you think the Delian League will do with this weapon?]] [[What would you do with the weapon?]] [[Leave.]]

//Ines reaches for her machete. // Ines: I can't let you do that. [[Initiate Combat.]]

//Ines watches you carefully as you leave. // Ines: I hope you make the right choice.

[[(High Deception)]] [[(Low Deception)]]

//Ines looks at you, annoyed. // Ines: They would be fools to believe you. I think we’re done here. [[Leave.]]

//Ines looks at you, annoyed. // Ines: I don’t recall asking you. Do you need anything else before getting on your way? [[What does a lead archaeologist do?]] [[What have you learned here?]] [[Is there anything dangerous around here?]] [[What is this weapon?]] [[What do you think the Delian League will do with this weapon?]] [[What would you do with the weapon?]] [[Leave.]]

//Her expression softens. // Ines: Thank you, but that’s not why you’re here. What else is on your mind? [[What does a lead archaeologist do?]] [[What have you learned here?]] [[Is there anything dangerous around here?]] [[What is this weapon?]] [[What do you think the Delian League will do with this weapon?]] [[What would you do with the weapon?]] [[Leave.]]

//Ines shakes her head. // Ines: Not possible. The Delian League would have my head and, even worse, pull the funding for any future excavations. [[Let's talk about something else.]]

//Ines gives a small shrug.// Ines: At least she’ll be interested in studying it more. [[Let's talk about something else.]]

[[Positive Reputation]] [[Negative Reputation]]

Ines: Well, he’ll certainly make use of it. [[Let's talk about something else.]]

//Ines pauses for a long moment, clearly thinking before responding to you. // Ines: Interesting. I think I’m least confident in knowing what her plans are for such an artifact. [[Let's talk about something else.]]

//Ines offers you a small nod.// Ines: From what I’ve heard, that might be for the best. I wish you luck when you next face the Delian League. [[Let's talk about something else.]]

//Ines frowns. // Ines: From what I’ve heard about your exploits, I hope you will reconsider. [[Let's talk about something else.]]