Transcript (Elpis)

[filikos]

Bold: Main voiced cutscene

Italics: Non-voiced quest dialogue

Small italics: Optional dialogue

Index;

• Hope Upon A Flower
• Petalouda Hunt
• In Search Of Hermes
• Ponder, Warrant, Cherish, Welcome
• Lives Apart
• Their Greatest Contribution
• Aether To Aether
• A Sentimental Gift
• Verdict And Execution
• Travelers At The Crossroads
• A Past, Not Yet Come To Pass
• Witness To The Spectacle
• Worthy Of His Back
• A Flower Upon Your Return
• Hunger In The Garden
• Words Without Sound
• Follow, Wander, Stumble, Listen
• Caging The Messenger (pre-dungeon)
• Caging The Messenger (post-dungeon)
• Thou Must Live, Die, And Know

Comments

A Sentimental Gift

[filikos]

Hermes: I fear this discussion may take a while, during which time... Meteion? Are you feeling unwell?

Meteion: It's not me, Hermes. It's you... I won't go to the meeting. I'll stay with [NAME].

Hermes: Loath though I am to impose, may I leave Meteion in your care again? I'm in your debt. If you'll excuse me...

Meteion: Can you help me with something, [NAME]? The meeting will make Hermes sad. I want to cheer him up. With a flower. Hermes likes flowers the most. Of all the creations in Elpis. Most creations are expected to be interesting. Or beautiful. Or strong. Better in some way. But flowers are different. They're designed to suit our emotions. What we feel and want to convey. Hermes likes that. I can't make flowers. So I'll search for one. And I want you to search with me. Let's start here. At the Twelve Wonders.

Meteion: Ooh, Elpis flowers! They're here too! Hermes likes and dislikes them. At the same time. Like me, they're entelechies. Like me, they feel his pain and turn dark... that's only for Hermes, though. For others, they're always white and bright. ...Truly!? The flower was dark in your home!? Then... do you have it too? A dark emotion?

"I've felt great fury and frustration."

Meteion: I see... Hermes has felt the same. A fire burning in your breast. A trembling hand. But no one understands. Please, [NAME]. Won't you lend them to me? Your fury and frustration... I want you to make the flower dark. In front of Hermes. He has been in a dark place. Since before he created me. He needs to know that he isn't there alone. That others are sad too. Truly? You'll do it? Thank you, [NAME]! Thank you. It means more to me than I can say! I can't wait to see how Hermes reacts! Let's go back and fetch him!

Meteion: It seems they're still talking. Let's wait until they've finished.

Meteion: Hermes!
Hermes: Oh... you were waiting for me.
Meteion: You've finished talking?
Hermes: Yes. We've come to a decision. My thanks for keeping Meteion company. Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus have already retired to their rooms. There is a room for you too, if you would follow me.
Meteion: Wait! I want to show you something first.

Hermes: Elpis flowers...?
Meteion: Go on!

*WoL makes the flowers go dark*

Meteion: You're not the only one, Hermes. Others feel sad too. You're not alone.
Hermes: I see Meteion has shared much with you. May we talk a moment? ...I do not think it wrong that we live for the star. That we strive to make it a better place. And yet, in carrying out my duties here, there are times when I am plagued by doubt. Do you recall what Hythlodaeus said, when we first spoke of my nomination? Death is a privilege of those who have fulfilled their purpose. A choice they embrace of their own free will. And when they depart, it is always beautiful. Perhaps it is... but only for man. Creations that he deems useless are discarded with nary a second thought. Some scarcely born into the world. Afforded a handful of breaths before life and potential are abruptly extinguished. We make an effort to spare them the pain. But they sense what awaits. Rage in anguish and cower in fear... and it is not beautiful. Yet no one cares. No one. So fixated are we upon the duty that we do not pause to question the method. Pain and suffering... confusion and despair... writ plain in the eyes of those poor creatures. Yet no one sees. We turn a blind eye and carry on in blissful ignorance. Naught amiss, and always- always the blossoms shine pure and white. A contradiction so blatant I could scream. Want to scream. How can you all accept this... aberration!? Then I wonder... am I the aberration for thinking thus? And I am filled with dread... but now I know I'm not alone. Not the only one for whom the flowers weep. I won't ask what you thought as you kneeled beside the Elpis. Or if you only did it at Meteion's insistence. Nevertheless... I thank you. To know that you too have experienced suffering... is a comfort.

"Glad I could be of service."

Hermes: To so willingly lend an ear to ease my burden... you are a strange one. The stars in the heavens... know you what they are? Though it is too far to tell, each glittering light could be a world not unlike Etheirys. A world filled with life. So many stars, so many lives... for us, there may be no higher purpose than to live for our world, but what of the other living beings out there? What is it that gives their lives meaning? That drives them day after day after day? To pose that question to our undiscovered cousins, I created beings of dynamis, who can traverse the vast emptiness between the stars. Meteion and her sisters. Aye, sisters. She has a great many of them, and they have already departed on their journey. Traveling to one star, and then the next, in search of life. As one might expect, exploration on such a grand scale is rife with difficulties, and thus far I've naught to show for it. But I have faith that we will make some manner of discovery ere long. And when we do, I should be glad to share our findings with you, in gratitude for your kindness. ...It's getting rather late. We had best find our beds. 'Twould not do for both of us to be sleep deprived on the morrow. Come, Meteion! Let us head back.
Meteion: All right!