The Ritual - Quest set in Divinity Original Sin 2

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Narrator - *The hoary old lady is bent over a large pot, hands clutching her mostly bare scalp. She seems on the verge of pulling out the few remaining strands of hair.* [[1. *Demand to know why she attacked Magister Willem.*->Gristle1]] [[2. *Be cautious. Observe her.*->Gristle2]] [[3. *[Scholar] Peek at a large open tome next to her.*->Gristle3]] [[4. *[Barbarian] Madness is weakness. Put the withered crone out of her misery.*->GristleCombat3]]

Gristle - Another suitor? Two in one day, hee hee, can't resist me, no, no, no, they can't. But doesn't this sweet dumpling see that I'm happily married? Shall I tell it? No matter, the ritual comes first. Always first. [[1. *Ask what ritual she's talking about.*->Immortality]] [[2. *Play along. Inquire how you can win her hand.*->Gristle1b]] [[3. *Point out you can hear what she's saying.*->GristleCombat4]]

Gristle - Illogical! Useless! [[1. (continue)->Gristle2a]]

Gristle - Two suitors in one day? Oh, don't be jealous, husband! It won't distract us from the ritual. Only the hair remains. Perhaps this one's will do! 1. (end) Gameplay: Gristle summons a host of undead and you enter combat. After combat: [[Interact with the pot.->Pot]] [[Speak with Izzy, a little girl at the outskirts of town, closest to the shack. She's surrounded by patrolling magisters.->Izzy2]] [[Pickpocket hair of an innocent from Izzy, or any other child.->GristleDead][$HaveHair to true]]

Narrator - *The pages describe some form of immortality ritual. At the bottom of a long list of instructions, a final ingredient has been circled and underlined to the point of almost shredding the parchment: The hair of an innocent.* [[1. (continue)->Gristle2a]]

Narrator - *Gristle freezes and just when you think she's about to turn on you she whirls and screeches at the skeleton in the middle of the room.* [[1. (continue)->Gristle2b]]

Gristle - Wrong, wrong, wrong, you insufferable buffoon! The ritual is flawed! There are no innocents! How do I find one, tell me! [[1. (continue)->Gristle2c]]

Narrator - *The skeleton grins at the room.* [[1. (continue)->Gristle2d]]

Gristle - You don't listen, you never listen! I can't catch the little ones! They scurry away, hiding in town. Can't go there. Too many voices! Too many. [[1. *Discreetly wave to announce your presence.*->Gristle2e]] [[2. *This woman is a danger to others. Charge her while she's distracted.*->GristleCombat1]]

Narrator - *Gristle notices you and jumps, making her wispy hair bounce. She eyes you suspiciously, then leers.* [[1. (continue)->Gristle2f]]

Narrator - *The girl stares towards the forest, eyes wide, forehead glistening with sweat.* [[1. *Hunch down and ask her why she's so pale on such a nice day.*->Izzy1]] [[2. *Snatch and cut off a lock of hair from the girls head.*->IzzyCombat]]

Izzy - I saw the bald witch! She's really real, I promise! She chased me! [[1. *The 'bald witch'?*->Izzy1a]]

Izzy - No! Help! Heeelp! [[1. (continue)->Izzy2a]]

Magister Nolan - What do you think you're doing? Let her go! 1. (end) Gameplay: - Acquire Hair of an innocent from Izzy. - Patrolling magisters attack you. After combat: [[return to Gristle's shack->Gristle's Shack Final][$HaveHair to true]]

Izzy - You don't know? She's tall as a tree, and if you dillydally in the forest, she'll snip your legs with her big shears! I wasn't dillydallying, honest! I - [[1. (continue)->Izzy1b]]

Narrator - *She stops mid-breath, all urgency gone, and hangs her head despondently.* [[1. (continue)->Izzy1c]]

Izzy - I'll never pick blueberries again... [[1. *Show her your weapon. For a lock of her hair, you'll make the witch nothing but a memory.*->Izzy1c3]] [[2. *[Wits] Tell the girl to let you cut a lock of her hair or you'll call back the witch.*->Izzy1c1]] [[3. *[Intelligence] She's embellishing the story out of fear. The witch actually sought her help.*->Izzy1c2]]

You are in Gristle's shack. Gameplay: [[Interact with the pot.->Pot1]] [[Find Izzy, a little girl at the outskirts of town, closest to the shack. Magisters are patrolling the area.->Izzy]] [[Pickpocket hair of an innocent from Izzy or any other child, then return to Gristle's shack.->Gristle's Shack Final][$HaveHair to true]]

Gristle - Husband. Husband! It seeks to court me. Watch me play it like a fiddle. For us, of course, for the ritual. [[1. (continue)->Gristle1b1]]

Gristle - I'll simply tell it that my sultry self is most sought after and thus... require a gift: the hair of a little one. What say you, husband? [[1. (continue)->Gristle1b1a]]

Narrator - Persuasion Success! [[1. (continue)->Izzy1c1a]]

Narrator - Persuasion Success! [[1. (continue)->Izzy1c2a]]

Izzy - You mean it? Oh, thankyouthankyouthankyou! I'll tell all my friends about you! [[1. (end)->Gristle's Shack Final][$HaveHair to true]]

Izzy - Really? Why? [[1. *Explain that all she wanted was a lock of her hair.*->Izzy1c2a1]]

Gristle - Another suitor? Two in one day, hee hee, can't resist me, no, no, no, they can't. But doesn't this sweet dumpling see that I'm happily married? Shall I tell it? No matter, the ritual comes first. Always first. [[1. *Play along. Inquire how you can win her hand.*->Gristle1b]] [[2. *Point out you can hear what she's saying.*->GristleCombat2]]

Gristle - Its twisty words won't distract us from the ritual. Don't fret, husband, only the hair remains. Perhaps this one's will do! 1. (end) Gameplay: Gristle summons a host of undead and you enter combat. After combat: [[Interact with the pot.->Pot]] [[Find Izzy, a little girl at the outskirts of town, closest to the shack. She's surrounded by patrolling magisters.->Izzy2]] [[Pickpocket hair of an innocent from Izzy or any other child, then return to Gristle's shack.->GristleDead][$HaveHair to true]]

Narrator - *You expect her to say more, but she only smirks at you with barely suppressed glee.* [[1. *Nod, smile, and back away.*->Start Shack2]]

Izzy - No! Please don't! Go ahead, just... don't cut too much. [[1. (end)->Gristle's Shack Final][$HaveHair to true]]

Izzy - Well, if that's all... okay then. But don't cut too much! [[1. (end)->Gristle's Shack Final][$HaveHair to true]] -

Gristle - Ah, the secret to everlasting life... death. The dumpling must be mad to think I'll tell it that. Hee hee, what a sap! [[1. *Play along. Inquire how you can win her hand.*->Gristle1b]] [[2. *Point out you can hear what she's saying.*->GristleCombat4]]

Gristle - Husband, it got the hair! Quickly, now! [[1. (continue)->GristleRitual2]]

Narrator - *Gristle snatches the hair from you and throws it into a pot, which begins to smoke. She leans over the pot and chants into it. A rumbling voice responds from inside, followed by a flash as the pot explodes.* [[1. (continue)->GristleRitual3]]

Narrator - *When your eyes recover, Gristle has turned into an undead. She raises her bony arms in the air and cackles in triumph. She picks up her husband and dances around with him, sending his legs flailing as their bones clack together. His head rolls on his shoulders, jaw opening in silent laughter.* 1. *They are together forever now. Leave them.* Quest Complete: - +XP - Item Rewards

Narrator - *A young Magister leaves a trail of blood as he drags himself away from the shack, breath hissing between clenched teeth with each desperate heave. Tears streak down his face.* [[1. (continue)]]

Magister Willem - Please, help me. [[1. *Ask what happened.*]] [[2. *Of course you'll help him. Help him die!*->4. Help him die.]]

Magister Willem - Please, I'm bleeding... It... It won't stop, can you... do something? [[1. *Insist. What is a lone magister doing out here?*]] [[2. *Kneel beside him and inspect his wounds.*->3. *Inspect his wounds.*]] [[3. *Actually, you enjoy watching magisters bleed.*->2. *Tell him he will die.*]]

Narrator - *When he realises your intention he gasps and tries to crawl away. You grab his hair from behind and slide a blade across his throat. His last words are lost in a bloody gurgle as he slumps forward.* 1.(End) Gameplay: [[Enter Shack->Start Shack][$WillemDead to true]]

<<set $WillemDead to false>> <<set $HaveHair to false>>

Magister Willem - But... okay. I was... ghh... investigating the children's rumors. The witch in the forest. No... agh... No one else would. Please, I... I don't want to die. [[1. *Anything else?*]] [[2. *Inspect his wounds.*->3. *Inspect his wounds.*]]

Narrator - *The huge gash across his back will kill him. You can stem the bleeding with bandages, but it will probably only prolong his pain.* [[1. *Do it. Every minute alive counts.*]] [[2. *Tell him he will die.*]]

Magister Willem - Thanks... Hey, I'm going to make it, right? Listen, the witch is still inside. Be careful. 1. *Tell him to sit tight.* Gameplay: [[Enter the shack->Start Shack]]

Narrator - *Willem shakes his head in denial. He tries to keep crawling but a fit of coughs rack him until a final rattling breath whispers through him. He is still.* 1.(End) Gameplay: [[Enter Shack->Start Shack][$WillemDead to true]]

Narrator - *The man tries to speak but a fit of coughs rack him. When it stops, he tries to speak, but he's too weak. A final rattling breath whispers through him, and he is still.* 1.(end) Gameplay: [[Enter Shack->Start Shack][$WillemDead to true]]

In the ruined shack a skeleton in pristine clothes is propped up in a chair at a neatly arranged table, like a shrine. In the corner surrounded by books and a large pot is an old woman. Gameplay: [[Speak with the old woman.->GristleStart1]]

You are playing a character with the tags Barbarian and Scholar. These give your character additional dialogue options. You are in a forest just outside town, where you find a magister crawling away from a shack. [[Start->Magister Start]]

Narrator - *The inside of the pot is a bottomless black void.* [[1. *Snip a lock of your hair and toss it into the pot.*]] [[2. Leave the pot.]]

Narrator - *A voice rumbles from deep within the pot in an alien language. It spits, and your hair sails out of the pot.* [[1. (end)->Pot]]

You are in Gristle's shack. Gameplay: [[Speak to Gristle.]] <<if $WillemDead is false>>[[Step outside and speak to Magister Willem.->Willem]] <</if>>

You are in Gristle's shack. Gameplay: [[Interact with the pot.->Pot2]] <<if $WillemDead is false>>[[Step outside and speak to Magister Willem.->Speak to Magister Willem]] <</if>>

Narrator - *The girl stares towards the forest, eyes wide, forehead glistening with sweat.* [[1. *Hunch down and ask her why she's so pale on such a nice day.*]]

Gristle - Two suitors in one day? Oh, don't be jealous, husband! It won't distract us from the ritual. Only the hair remains. Perhaps this one's will do! 1. (end) Gameplay: Gristle summons a host of undead and you enter combat. <<if $WillemDead is false>>After Combat: [[Speak to Magister Willem.->WillemQuest]] <</if>>\ <<if $WillemDead is true>>Well, this is awkward. You killed everyone before they could give you valuable information. You monster. <</if>>

Willem - The witch... dead? [[1. *She is. Tell Willem he did good.*]] [[2. Yup. And so is he.->End2]]

Willem - I can't... move. I have to... [[1. (continue)->End1]]

Narrator - *He doesn't get further. A final rattling breath whispers through his body, and he is still.* 1.(End) Gameplay: - Quest Complete: +XP - Loot Willem for a reward.

Gristle - Its twisty words won't distract us from the ritual. Don't fret, husband, only the hair remains. Perhaps this one's will do! 1. (end) Gameplay: Gristle summons a host of undead and you enter combat. <<if $WillemDead is false>>After Combat: [[Speak to Magister Willem.->WillemQuest]] <</if>>\ <<if $WillemDead is true>>Well, this is awkward. You killed everyone before they could give you valuable information. You monster. <</if>>

Narrator - *When he realises your intention gasps and tries to crawl away. You grab his head from behind and slide a blade across his throat. His last words are lost in a bloody gurgle as he slumps forward.* 1.(End) Gameplay: Well, this is awkward. You killed everyone before they could give you valuable information. You monster.

Izzy - I saw the bald witch! She's really real, I promise! She chased me! [[1. *The bald witch?*]]

Narrator - *She stops mid-breath, all urgency gone, and hangs her head despondently.* [[1. (continue)->2]]

Izzy - I'll never pick blueberries again... [[1. *Tell her the witch is dead!*]] [[2. *[Wits] Tell her to let you cut a lock of her hair or you'll call back the witch.*]]

Izzy - You don't know? She's tall as a tree, and if you dillydally in the forest, she'll snip your legs with her big shears! I wasn't dillydallying, honest! I - [[1. (Continue)]]

Izzy - Really? Oh, thankyouthankyouthankyou! I'll tell all my friends about you! [[1. *Ask her if she'd be so kind as to reward you with a lock of her hair.*]] [[2. *Snatch and cut a lock of hair from her head.*]]

Narrator - Persuasion Success! [[1. (continue)->3]]

Izzy - No! Help! Heeelp! [[1. (continue)->fightmagisters]]

Izzy - Um, well, sure! Here you go! 1. (end) Gameplay: [[Return to Gristle's shack->GristleDead][$HaveHair to true]]

Izzy - No! Please don't! Go ahead, just... don't cut too much. 1. (end) Gameplay: You receive Hair of an innocent. [[Return to shack.->GristleDead][$HaveHair to true]]

Narrator - *Willem's breathing is shallow, his voice barely a whisper.* [[1. (continue)->WillemEnd]]

Magister Willem - The witch... is she...? [[1. *Tell him she's dead.*]]

Magister Willem - Good... *cough* I'm cold... [[1. *Tell him you have an idea of how to save him, but it involves some shifty magic.*]] [[2. *Tell him to sit tight, you'll be back.*->GristleDead]]

Magister Willem - Tell me... [[1. *Tell him to come inside the shack.*]]

Gameplay: Magister Willem enters the shack and sits by the pot. [[Speak to Magister Willem.]]

Narrator - *The exertion of moving has left him sweaty and shivering.* [[1. *Give him the hair of an innocent and tell him to throw it in the pot.*]]

Narrator - *He takes the hair and hesitates, staring into the unnatural midnight void within. He winces, then drops the hair inside.* [[1. (continue)->WillemEnd2]]

Narrator - *Alien laughter rumbles from deep within the pot, and the pot explodes in a blinding flash. When your vision returns, Willem is gone, replaced by a skeleton. It stares at its bony hands.* [[1. (continue)->WillemEnd3]]

Magister Willem - What have I done... How could you let me do this? [[1. *Tell him he's lucky to be alive. More or less.*]] [[2. *Apologise. You didn't know.*]]

Magister Willem - Lucky? I can never return to my order. My friends, family, my... life. It's over but... I'm still here. I don't know whether I should curse or thank you. Maybe you should leave before I figure that out. 1. *Very well. Wish him luck in his new life.* Quest Complete: - +XP - Item Rewards

Magister Willem - You should have! I'm an abomination. I can never return to my order. My friends, family. It's all over... You! You did this! 1. (End) Gameplay: Enter combat with Willem. Quest Complete: - +XP - Item Rewards

Narrator - *Gristle is stroking a ragged strand of her hair in front of her face, staring at it almost crosseyed.* [[1. (continue)->GristleEnd]]

Gristle - Why won't you work? What did I do wrong...? [[1. *Give Gristle the hair of an innocent.*->GristleRitual]] [[2. *With the final ingredient, the ritual is yours. Attack!*]] <<if $WillemDead is false>>[[3. *Tell her you will perform the ritual on Willem. But first, she must die.*->2. *With the final ingredient, the ritual is yours. Attack!*]] <</if>>

Gristle - It's betrayed us, husband. We shall pluck the hair from its dead, greedy hands. 1. (end) Gameplay: Gristle summons a host of undead and you enter combat. After combat: [[Interact with the pot.->Pot2]] <<if $WillemDead is false>>[[Speak to Magister Willem.->Speak to Magister Willem]] <</if>>

Narrator - *Willem's breathing is shallow, his voice barely a whisper.* [[1. (continue)->WillemEnd1]]

Magister Willem - The witch... is she...? [[1. *Tell him you're working on it.*->Gristle's Shack Final]]

Narrator - *The inside of the pot is a bottomless black void.* [[1. *Leave the pot.*->Start Shack2]]

Narrator - *The inside of the pot is a bottomless black void.* [[1. *Snip a lock of your hair and toss it into the pot.*->Pot2a]] [[2. *Leave the pot.*->GristleDead]] <<if $HaveHair is true>>[[3. *Throw in the hair of an innocent and complete the ritual.*->SelfEnd]] <</if>>

Narrator - *A voice rumbles from deep within the pot in an alien language. It spits, and your hair sails out of the pot.* [[1. (end)->GristleDead]]

Narrator - *As soon as the hair is swallowed by the darkness, a voice rumbles alien words from deep within. A flash of light blinds you as the pot explodes. When you recover, you feel as if a great weight has been lifted from you. Whatever exchange was just made, it has certainly extended your life.* Quest Complete: - New Tag. The Ritual of Life: +2 Constitution - +XP

You are in Gristle's Shack. Gameplay: [[Interact with the pot.->Pot]] [[Speak with Izzy, a little girl at the outskirts of town, closest to the shack. She's surrounded by patrolling magisters.->Izzy2]] [[Pickpocket hair of an innocent from Izzy, or any other child.->GristleDead][$HaveHair to true]]

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