Scorpiox

"Alas, it was no adventure - could have been, mind, but thankfully didn't get that far - more like a chance meeting. Wasn't really significant, don't know why I mentioned it to be honest, just thought I'd say that we'd met before." Haldor let out a sigh of relief. "So, what the fields like then? Seems odd to have such a range of venomous, dangerous beasts just roaming a farm. With me, recent quests haven't been quite so simple, we barely averted the birth of a violent new goddess, and a lot of good men died for it. But hey, now we won I can chill out a bit, sample yet more of the local ales. Going to the theatre some time in the near future, been invited by a nice girl from the convent of Ennoc. Should promise to be fun; although Nerwen's made me promise to do any biting." The nord put on a joking grim smile, before bursting into laughter. "How's your career been running then, Carvenhall?"

To be honest the whole quest can be summed up with the word 'awkward'.

Haldor represses a grin. "I believe we, er... met before. Long time ago, anyway. Name's Haldor, take yourself a seat." After the elf was sat down, the nord continued. "So, what sort of thing has been going down for you, mister Carvenhall?"

No idea where he said it, but it definitely is John Lennon.

I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist putting a lovely quote by John Lennon in there; I just think it sums up pretty well what Althior needs to learn. Scorpiox's philosophical quote tally: Friedrich Niezche: I Abraham Lincoln: I John Lennon: I

Haldor's face sinks. "Finnegan, I'm afraid there's little hope. You might want to start looking for a new master." "Althior, you've changed too much, it isn't healthy. I can't bring myself to be angry, this is just pitiful; I merely... feel sorry for you having come this far. The only betrayal and deceit is from you, Althior. To be honest, it's nothing other than pathetic to hear you, my old friend, trying his hand at biting remarks and cruel statements. None of them faze me, because none of them are true. Yes, there is tragedy in life, but by this you will only ever add to it in your selfish, self-righteous path to self-destruction. Let me tell you a tale I heard, of the wandering minstral named John of Lennon who left his profession to become a monk after many years. John was successful, but he gave it all up to be happy and content with his life; and this is what he said: "When I was young, my mother told me that it didn't matter what I became in life, only that I was happy. When I went to train as a warrior, my instructor asked me what I desired to be when I passed my training. I told him that I wanted to be happy. He said I didn't understand the question; I told him he didn't understand life." Take note of that, it means a lot. But you see; I could have helped you, we could have helped you; but you spat all that back in our faces. I don't know, this saddens me more than I've been since Hans died... and since you died too. Perhaps, one day when you're alone, cold and weak, you'll wish you hadn't have blown out every last one of the people who wanted to save you." The nord turns and walks away. "Rest in piece, Althior Emorith, if only his soul were allowed a greater end. Sorrow, pull up a chair with me. There's no use crying on the grave of our lost friend now, we have to move on. Come, I know shamefully little of you in person, besides that what I've overheard. How has the life been kind to you these past months?" Haldor sits down at a table, his back to Althior.

If only the Golden Pill did the same...

Aww, don't be so hard on me. I haven't seen The Matrix since the horrendous failure that was Revolutions.

That would be a good idea.

Isn't that the one that makes you forget?

One little bit of advice: don't go to Westfield shopping centre for the Pick A Brick, there's really nothing there except basic elements. The Build A Minifigure and display case features are excellent though! I will further the 'Don't go to WH Smith's' line too, the prices are so unnecessarily high that there isn't much point without a discount or voucher.

Haldor slinks over from the corner as the row flares up and the scene grows bigger. He remains calm, as though simply stating a fact. "You know, Althior, you should stop and think for a moment. Screaming and shouting only does its best to let us all know that it's you who is finding it difficult to live with themselves. For all the number of times you've assured us that you have a future, do you really believe that? If it were me granted a second chance, I'd leapt at it to get on with my life, knowing that I should be grateful for being able to get back up unlike the rest of the miserable sods. I look at you, and I think 'What a terrible shame, the poor bastard is so set apart from this experiance that he's determined to make everyone feel as bad as he does.' That saddens me, because it ain't nothing like the Althior I used to know, the one who'd pull up a pint with a smile, knowing that today ain't so bad as it could have been. That rings true, it could have been worse. You could have just died, and then it would have been end of chapter for good old Emorith. Instead, you were given the chance to keep going, stay grateful of that, and let us keep well and happy before we roll over and die. As you say, we're all going to rot in the end; so what's the point in wasting your time being miserable?" With that, the shaman returned to his quiet solitude.

To be honest, Haldor's always been pretty nice, it's just been covered up a bit over past quests. I'm sure they would be, if only one existed. Don't no-one try shipping Haldor, he's taken for all that it matters. And to whomever suggested that thing a while ago, Endgame I think; I'm actually rather tempted to scrap Gerdur and roll in a travelling minstrel named Dave the Knife for the sheer hell of making references every three minutes.

I don't know, Heroica needs more Rick Astley. And David Bowie. Mostly just David Bowie.

Haldor sits back in the corner of the room with his feet by the fire, watching. Just as the heroes picked to go and stop the poisoner are announced, Arthur shows his face back in the hall, dressed in the uniform of the town watch. Haldor says nothing, and turns his gaze away.

Haldor looked confused. "No, that makes no sense. This city isn't so lawless that people are ambushed and murdered in the streets; and the only other possibility is the Wolfgang, who you are on good terms with. I fail to see who would be capable of such a thing in our town. And yet, you returned from the dead; but I can almost guarantee that this wasn't done out of the goodness of some sod's heart. No-one brings back bodies cause they're nice, this necromancer who did it will have had motives, and you best go and try find out what they are before things start raining down around your ears." The nord blinked as Althior hurried out of the hall whilst he was still talking. "As long as I live, I will never understand people who simply run from their problems instead of facing them." The shaman then begins ferreting around for any sort of drink he can find nearby.

Who knows? The Fox is a jack of all trades, after all...

Haldor's face did not change for a moment. "Aye, that I have. But you see, it's been a while, things've happened. I fought to save this city from damn-near destruction, and that can change a man beyond recognition. You could also say that I've become a better man, but many would disagree. But one thing that stays the same; I'm honest with my friends. I'm not stupid, Althior, I know that something has happened, and I want to hear it from your mouth. Go on, explain." The nord remained on his feet in a staunch silence.

Haldor looked down briefly at Althior's outstreached hand, but made no effort to return the gesture. "Look, you going to tell me what's up, or do I have to crawl back to Finnegan? I can see something's... changed, how about an explanation?

"Fine, I'll do it. Keep your stakes handy, folks." Haldor tossed his pint onto the floor and walked over cautiously. "Hail, Althior, my friend. We meet again. How's life... been to you, in the many long months we've been parted?"

Haldor nudges Finnegan. "So what? I don't want to risk it with a man who could well be after my head while I'm after the drinks."

The nord sits back town again, and speaks to Finnegan quietly. "I'm not going to kill you, pull yourself together. Now tell me, is it still Althior, or not? Can we help him, or is it better just to put an end to this right now?"

Haldor leapt to his feet, shocked. The nord grasped the aura by two shoulder-like protrusions and proceded to shake him. "You... what? He died, how? And how is he still here? Has he kept his mind? Do we need to kill him? Is he a threat?! Tell me?!"

"Nice try Mario, but our princess is in another castle." Aww, that's a shame, but you can make it up to me by listening to and/or buying that album. Since Flipz seems to constantly equate Heroica moments to music, how about something truly amazing?... and relevant! Noooooo! Pink Floyd > Disney!

Haldor swings around to face the aura, confused. "Oh really? What can I help you with, then?"