Preserving adventure video game history one pixel at a time.
Playthroughs of classic adventure games with commentary. Sierra, Lucasarts and other classic games included.
In Which Our Hero reunites Nikolai and Anna and clears Mordavia of wraiths.
A big night after a big day: Marcus starts off traipsing and tromping through the woods after putting the Wisps back in their swamp. He happens upon Anna's ghost, who is now joined by the ghost of Nikolai: at last the lovers are reunited in death. And Nikolai sounds like Robby Benson!
We talk to them for a while, and then go on a little wraithbusting spree, taking care of the rest of the restless undead in Mordavia valley. Our loot haul this time includes a killer set of plate mail armor, so Marcus is finally covered (so to speak.)
Back at town we rest in our room for a bit before going off to meet the Domovoi, who tells us of another Domovoi in 'the bad place' near the inn. Presumably the monastery. Which is where we leave off this time.
In Which Our Hero pledges to help save an innocent man and teaches the Burgomeister what it means to be a Hero.
Picking up where we left off, we walk into the Burgomeister's office and pump him for information about this gypsy business. It seems that the gypsy was just wandering outside of town and happened to be there when people were looking for Igor. So naturally, they brought him in, locked him up and want to burn him. Reason is lost on the mob so unless someone can prove the gypsy's innocence - figure out what happened to Igor - this guy's going to burn for just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The second video covers Marcus telling the Burgomeister about finding Piotyr's sword, the battle with the wraith and the ghost in the town square. It turns out that Piotyr was suspected of abandoning Dmitri's grandmother and this sword proves he didn't, that he was killed in battle instead. Dmitri is impressed, so much so that he gives Marcus Piotyr's Paladin shield as well (woohoo!) and tells Marcus that his faith in Heroes and Paladins is restored.
All in a day's work!
The rest of the video is Marcus' morning routine, talking to Olga, looking for Igor, and finally going to Nikolai and telling him about the ghost we saw in the forest. Before we can stop him, he runs off to find her.
In Which Our Hero helps a ghost come to terms with her death and learns of a crime that has been committed - maybe.
This is where things really start to take off. We open the first video with Marcus addressing some various ghostly undead issues: first, it's back to the female ghost in the forest, whom Marcus finally convinces she's a ghost. We then return and learn her name: Anna. As if we didn't realize it already. This is Nikolai's lost love, who perished after being out at dusk. Seemingly on an errand for Dr. Cranium, but who's counting?
Then Marcus heads to another wraith barrow where he does battle with the vicious undead and is triumphant. Another wraith horde to add to the stack. It's too bad Marcus can only buy candy and sandwiches with his loot. Maybe he should look into the deed on Borgov Castle...
Back to town and the inn, where Marcus has a quick meal, a good night's sleep and wakes up for the second video.
There is a lot of dialogue in this one and not a lot of commentary, mostly because I wanted you guys to enjoy it. As I pointed out in the commentary, this is the start of the events that lead to the endgame of Shadows of Darkness. We're through learning about the town and this series of events will lead us to our final confrontation. But enough about that: this is something to be savored.
Marcus rolls out of bed, heads downstairs, noshes a bit and walks out to Mordavia's fine morning. The birds are singing, the sun is shining, and there's a lynch mob ready to tie a gypsy to the stake and burn him.
What?
It seems that Igor the gravedigger's gone missing. And the mob caught a gypsy outside of town. Naturally, gypsies are werewolves and eat people so this gypsy was brought into town for questioning as he is clearly related to Igor's disappearance. Or is he?
Looks like Marcus is going to have his work cut out for him.
Personal note: this is one of my favorite scenes in the series because it combines so many great elements of gothic fiction: the paranoid mob, the slightly supernatural, the disappearance of someone familiar and the terrible things that linger just beneath the surface of common folk. So yeah, enjoy.
In Which Our Hero deals with various women in various stages of life and unlife.
Women. Marcus just doesn't seem to have much luck with them, eh? This video is like navigating a minefield of the fairer sex.
The first woman just doesn't believe that she's dead. Dead as a doornail. In fact, she's a ghost, but she won't listen to Marcus when he tries to inform her this is why she's so confused.
The second? Remember Katrina? She's a piece of work. She teaches Marcus magic, gives him a healing potion, responds well to his flirting but then leaves at the first sign of commitment. Sheesh.
Back at the Inn to lick our wounds, we meet a whole new character: Punny Bones. More about him in tomorrow's update...
