NPCThe flabby man in worn clothes is sighing sadly over a glass of murky booze. Only when he looks up at you do you notice his eyes — large, piercing, and full of sorrow, a stark contrast to his unkempt appearance. "Could it be that someone actually wishes to keep me company?"
NPCHe takes a closer look at you. "Not just someone — it's Lord/Lady von Valancius himself/herself! Yours is an ancient and glorious line, Your Lordship/Ladyship. A number of magnificent structures built on your ancestors' orders — both for defensive and decorative purposes — remain in the Scarus Sector. They keep your dynasty's memory alive despite the fact that it has long since focused its endeavours in a different sector."
NPC(sequence)
AbelardAbelard stares at you with surprise and respect. "I'll be! Even I was unaware of such details, and I have spent quite some time studying the chronicles of your noble bloodline!"
end of branch
NPC"Allow me to introduce myself. Gordei Skatov, architectural historian."
YOU"You look deeply despondent over something. What happened?"
NPCGordei sighs heavily. "Here I go again, pouring my heart out to have you disappear in ten minutes just like everyone else before you. But all right. Here is the story of Gordei Skatov, the unluckiest historian in the Imperium."
NPC"I was born two sectors away from here. My family was quite influential, which allowed me to dedicate myself to my great passion — the history of Imperium architecture. I spent a number of years studying every scholarly work there was to find on this art, and then, once I had inherited my family's fortune, I travelled and documented the development of architectural thought on different worlds. Until one day — oh, that accursed and blessed day! — until one day I came into possession of something quite special."
NPCGordei pulls what looks like a book or an album with a home-made leather cover out of his bag. Both the pages and the binding look well-worn. "Here it is. My undoing. This is an authentic booklet titled Dewain's Design, one of the thousands that were printed centuries ago, in the times of Footfall's construction."
YOU[Keep listening]
NPC"Footfall's founder, Lord Parsimus, was obsessed with his creation's grand future. This booklet describes in detail what Footfall was meant to become upon its completion. Dozens of asteroids turned into glorious palaces and temples! Massive bridges spanning the void itself! And the marvellous flying buttresses! The archivolts of the exterior arches, the elegant arrangement of balusters!"
NPC"And the interior! Poliforas ten stories tall and more than a kilometre long! Cyclopean light tubes that catch the light of Furibundus and use it to brighten the halls in the hearts of the asteroids! Stained glass windows and mosaics, bas-reliefs and statues!" Engrossed in his own description, Gordei stands up and starts tracing the outlines of arches and galleries with his hand.
YOU[Keep listening]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Yawn]
NPCAbsorbed in reminiscing, Gordei doesn't notice your gesture. He is looking at the booklet in his hands with indescribable tenderness and longing.
NPC"Footfall's founder, Lord Parsimus, was obsessed with his creation's grand future. This booklet describes in detail what Footfall was meant to become upon its completion. Dozens of asteroids turned into glorious palaces and temples! Massive bridges spanning the void itself! And the marvellous flying buttresses! The archivolts of the exterior arches, the elegant arrangement of balusters!"continues where this line first appears above
NPCEmerging from his reverie, he catches himself, blushes slightly, and loudly flops back onto his seat. "I apologise, I... I got carried away. But you must understand how deep an impression this booklet left on me when my young self picked it up! I simply couldn't think about anything other than Footfall. I was ready to give my life just to see this incredible station! And of course, no matter how hard my friends and loved ones tried to dissuade me, I still gathered all my savings and set out on a journey."
NPC"It is no easy feat to cross two sectors, especially for a common citizen, albeit one who has some resources at his disposal... I had to change one ship after another, at times being forced to stay on transfer worlds waiting for a vessel headed in the right direction or for warp disturbances to subside. The voyage took me a total of one hundred and seven years. In realspace time, of course. For me it was much less than that, somewhere in the neighbourhood of thirty or thirty-five. And then, after all those years, having spent all of my savings, I reached my dream..."
NPC"And what did I see? A dump in place of the exquisite portico! Metal anthills clinging to the columns! The marble tiles pilfered by paupers to use as cladding for their hovels!" Gordei hangs his head. "It's been a dozen years since I came here, and I still haven't recovered from the shock. I had suspected that not everything from the booklet would exist in reality, but I never expected to see Footfall in such a sorry state. It is like stumbling upon the horrible, decomposing corpse of your beautiful beloved."
YOU"That is tragic indeed. I wish I could see Footfall the way its creator envisioned it."
NPC"Now that we can only dream of. Dream of and yearn for..."
NPC"Be that as it may, I just wanted to say... Thank you for hearing me out! Over the dozen years I have spent on Footfall, not one person has hung around long enough to listen to my story to the end. It's such a delight to have shared everything that's been weighing on my mind!"
NPC"I'm poor as a church mouse, but I still have something to offer you as a token of my appreciation! After studying the booklet thoroughly, I discovered something interesting — a ciphered message scattered throughout its pages. Taking the form of a riddle, it described certain places of interest on Footfall. I believe it is the work of the booklet's creators. What if these riddles lead to something? A wondrous discovery? I will gladly share what I've been able to learn with you!"
YOU"Have you not tried to make this wondrous discovery for yourself?"
NPC"I have, of course. But I'm an old man who is blind in one eye and can barely move his legs. I never found anything, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to find!"
YOU"Have you not tried to make this wondrous discovery for yourself?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about the places these riddles lead to."
NPC"The first location from the riddles isn't far from here — it's a bridge that was supposed to go through the centre of this district and into the void toward the neighbouring asteroid. Only a couple of its spans were built, and even those lie in ruins... Still, if the cache survived after all those years, it is there somewhere."
NPC"The second location is the lantern of the Great Cathedral. A lantern is a small tower on top of a dome. You've seen Footfall's Atrium, haven't you? The whole Atrium is just the nave of the former Little Cathedral. The Liege's entire so-called palace would have fit inside what was meant to be naught but a single room. The Great Cathedral, had it been built, would have been even bigger. But, alas, its construction was just getting underway when Dewain died and the work stopped. The lantern from its dome, however, had already been built and survived. It was brought inside the Atrium and dubbed the Chapel of Saint Drusus the Warrior."
NPC"And that's all I know. I wish you luck in your search!"
YOU"You look deeply despondent over something. What happened?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There truly was a cache hidden in the old bridge! Sadly, it had been plundered already."
NPC"It was to be expected. The puzzle is several centuries old, and the locals are quite adept at gutting, dismantling, and breaking anything that catches their eye. But the very fact that the cache ever existed gives me hope! It means that there could be others."
YOU"You look deeply despondent over something. What happened?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There truly was a cache hidden in the old bridge! Sadly, it had been plundered already."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found a hidden nook inside the lantern. It had clues to the whereabouts of other caches."
NPC"That is incredible news! This is the first inspiring thing that has happened to me since the day I came to Footfall. Please, do not stop searching! I'm dying to know what this puzzle from the days of the station's youth is about."
YOU"You look deeply despondent over something. What happened?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There truly was a cache hidden in the old bridge! Sadly, it had been plundered already."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found a hidden nook inside the lantern. It had clues to the whereabouts of other caches."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found the final cache in the chain. It had a message from Parsimus Dewain. It was the creator of Footfall himself who devised this series of riddles!"
NPC"A message from Dewain himself!" His eyes light up. "The great dreamer and visionary! I should have guessed. Dewain was passionate about his designs — it's no wonder he personally oversaw the creation of the booklet that described it and even included a puzzle for the keen-minded. It's as if he spoke to me through the ages back then just to lead me here! I... I feel I've been granted an honour."
NPCHe takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I should be thanking you first and foremost. For listening to me, and then solving the puzzle, and then finding the time to tell me. Now I finally feel like it hasn't all been for nothing."
YOU"I have an offer for you. Now that the puzzle from the booklet has been solved, how would you like to become my resident expert on all matters architectural? You could see dozens of worlds travelling aboard my ship!"
NPC"Such good fortune is beyond even my wildest dreams!" exclaims Gordei, practically bouncing in his seat. "I would be delighted to serve you and the interests of your dynasty! I believe I could offer you sound advice if you decided to build a cathedral or something even more impressive... and I'll see to it that the Imperium architecture of the Koronus Expanse that I'll be fortunate enough to witness is all well-documented. I'll head to your ship at once! Thank you!"
end of branch
YOU"At least listening to your blathering hasn't been a waste of time. Farewell, old man!"
NPC"And all the very best to you too!"
end of branch
YOU"I must take my leave. Good luck to you!"
end of branch
YOU"I must take my leave. Good luck to you!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found the final cache in the chain. It had a message from Parsimus Dewain. It was the creator of Footfall himself who devised this series of riddles!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave. Good luck to you!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found a hidden nook inside the lantern. It had clues to the whereabouts of other caches."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found the final cache in the chain. It had a message from Parsimus Dewain. It was the creator of Footfall himself who devised this series of riddles!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave. Good luck to you!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Tell me about the places these riddles lead to."continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Cassia"Riddles?" A flash of burning, almost childish curiosity brightens Cassia's austere countenance.
end of branch
YOU"But you're an architectural historian. Is what happened to Footfall not part of its history?"
NPCGordei strokes his goatee in thought. "Yes, Footfall's current appearance — slums fused together with the remains of majestic palaces — is a unique phenomenon. It would be curious to observe if other places have taken after it, thereby solidifying it as a new style of architecture, or if it still remains a local oddity. My word, you certainly know how to provide an unexpected perspective on things!"
NPC"Be that as it may, I just wanted to say... Thank you for hearing me out! Over the dozen years I have spent on Footfall, not one person has hung around long enough to listen to my story to the end. It's such a delight to have shared everything that's been weighing on my mind!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"A compelling cautionary tale! If there was a book on the folly of chasing wild fantasies, you would take up a whole chapter."
NPC"Most certainly. Footfall and I, we both serve as excellent warnings to those who would indulge their flights of fancy."
NPC"Be that as it may, I just wanted to say... Thank you for hearing me out! Over the dozen years I have spent on Footfall, not one person has hung around long enough to listen to my story to the end. It's such a delight to have shared everything that's been weighing on my mind!"continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
ArgentaArgenta's gaze darkens. "The warp, like a shameless thief, is guilty of stealing the short span allotted to His servants... but what sense is there in spending half your life on such an enterprise, only to then lose your spirit and waste the remaining half on nothing at all?"
end of branch
Heinrix"Your perseverance, Master Skatov, should have been applied elsewhere. However, the fact that you succumbed to indolence after your journey is far more deserving of reproach than your questionable choice of life goals."
end of branch
Cassia"So then ink and paper too can lie and cause pain." Cassia sighs sadly. "Does this mean that all I have ever read about will one day disappoint me with the ugliness of reality?"
end of branch
NPCGordei continues to talk and gesticulate passionately.
NPCEmerging from his reverie, he catches himself, blushes slightly, and loudly flops back onto his seat. "I apologise, I... I got carried away. But you must understand how deep an impression this booklet left on me when my young self picked it up! I simply couldn't think about anything other than Footfall. I was ready to give my life just to see this incredible station! And of course, no matter how hard my friends and loved ones tried to dissuade me, I still gathered all my savings and set out on a journey."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave]
end of branch
NPC(sequence)
IdiraIdira blinks sleepily, barely suppresses a yawn, and starts looking around with a bored expression.
JaeJae, who looks just as unimpressed with Gordei's lengthy tale, catches Idira's gaze and rolls her eyes theatrically, making Idira snicker.
CassiaCassia, who has been listening to the historian's every word with bated breath, shushes Idira indignantly.
end of branch
NPCEmerging from his reverie, he catches himself, blushes slightly, and loudly flops back onto his seat. "I apologise, I... I got carried away. But you must understand how deep an impression this booklet left on me when my young self picked it up! I simply couldn't think about anything other than Footfall. I was ready to give my life just to see this incredible station! And of course, no matter how hard my friends and loved ones tried to dissuade me, I still gathered all my savings and set out on a journey."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Yawn]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave]continues where this line first appears above
NPC(sequence)
Cassia"What a curious read. Please, tell us more!" As Cassia takes a shy step forward, Gordei smiles and shows her some of the faded pages.
end of branch
YOU"There truly was a cache hidden in the old bridge! Sadly, it had been plundered already."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found a hidden nook inside the lantern. It had clues to the whereabouts of other caches."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found the final cache in the chain. It had a message from Parsimus Dewain. It was the creator of Footfall himself who devised this series of riddles!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave. Good luck to you!"continues where this line first appears above
NPC"Allow me to introduce myself. Gordei Skatov, architectural historian."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 3
NPC"Oh, it's you again! Not many people bother to talk to me in the first place, let alone twice. Do you want to hear the rest of my story?"
YOU[Keep listening]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Yawn]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave]continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 3
NPC"Glad to see you again!"
YOU"You look deeply despondent over something. What happened?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There truly was a cache hidden in the old bridge! Sadly, it had been plundered already."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found a hidden nook inside the lantern. It had clues to the whereabouts of other caches."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I found the final cache in the chain. It had a message from Parsimus Dewain. It was the creator of Footfall himself who devised this series of riddles!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave. Good luck to you!"continues where this line first appears above