Quest Idea: Two Flames

[Snakez]

Well, Im not very sure where this should be posted, and having no experience at all with scripting this is purely an idea only. This is just basically to see if im on the right track, and to try and recieve some constructive criticism.


<This can be part of a temple quest or other to try and improve your understanding of life>

Setting
Some dungeon, underground. Fairly dark, No monsters, No items.
Two People <Probably Breton> Are locked in cages, There is no way to free them.
The Cages are side by side with a large wall between them, meaning they cannot see each other <Not sure if this is improtant, just thought to add it>

There is a candle in front of each of their cages, out of reach to them.

Dialogue from each person, Each one says that the candle represents their life, and that when it is extinguished, they die.

<Dremora, or suitable creature appears, tells you that to leave the cave you must extinguish a flame>
<Maybe some means to prevent player from leaving the cave/dungeon until a flame has been extinguished?>

Each one asks you to extinguish the others flame
<Probably some little story trying to get you to hate the other person and extinguish their flame>

Say the two people are Called Marc and Simone...

If the player extinguishes the candle in front of Marc's cage, Simone dies, and vice versa.

After one dies the player should talk to the one left living, where a dialouge saying something like "Damn You! I was trying to get you to Put out his/her flame so I would die. How am I supposed to live forever knowing my lover is dead?"


This is to try and make the player realise that things are not always the way they seem to be, and even though they may be doing what they think is right, usually they are wrong.





Anyway, thats just an idea I had, hope you can do something with it.
I was considering posting some Book proposals as well, just some little Roleplaying stories I have written in my spare time.

Farewell

[Snakez]

All this time and no reply? comeone some criticism at least

[Infinitium]

So why didn't they simply tell the player that it was in fact the other flame that represented their life. What happens if the player assaults the daedroth? How did they end up in this situation? What happens if the player extuinguish both flames? Is there any kind of reward involved? What happens after the player gets his scolding?

[Anonymous]

I pretty much like the general idea of this one.

Just some thoughts on what Infinitium had for questions...

1. Perhaps they didn't tell because they were magically prevented from such?

2. If the player attacks the Daedroth or whatever it is, both of the people die?

3. Perhaps they are there as a punishment? or maybe they are actually 2 different types of daedra there to test the player (in disguise of course)?

4. I would suggest making it impossible to extinguish both flames? (not sure its possible to do? perhaps by making the other candle a static when the other is used?)

5. Rewards could be almost anything... an Item, Spell, Money... maybe a permanent increase to one attribute... something on those lines?

6. Maybe after the scolding (if it goes that route) depending on which is chosen the player is asked to help the one still alive... an example would be if the female still lives perhaps she implores you to give her some money to help raise the child growing in her womb (afterall, you just basically killed the father)? if you let the man live maybe He asks for money to help build a new temple or something in memory of his lost love?

*LOL*... sorry, just brainstorming here, coming up with quest ideas is fairly easy for Me, its the implimentation of them I am still trying to work out...

[Abramul]

Idea for this: They wanted to live forever.

They made a bargain with a daedroth (NOT necessarily a freaky crocodile-thing, simply singular of daedra), who agreed to grant them what they wanted...on his own terms. One of them will live forever in Nirn, and the other dies now, but lives in memory.

[ChickenHawk]

i like the idea, but should it be so that if one doesn't
extinquish neither ones light, you can still get out?
because i myself wouldn't extinquish neither one.

[The_Writing_Wraith]

i like the idea, but should it be so that if one doesn't
extinquish neither ones light, you can still get out?
because i myself wouldn't extinquish neither one.

If you, Snakez, do go this route be sure that there is a price to be paid by the player in some manner. Perhaps the Daedroth has the player do something in exchange later (a second quest or the like)?

If you're going to make a quest like this make sure there is no easy way out.

[Dexter]

I don't like the idea of the flames being linked to the lives of the prisoners. It seems a stretch of lore to have one of them die when the flame goes out. Perhaps, when one of the flames goes out, a pack of scamps jump on the prisoner and devoures him or something, but just dying when a flame goes out seems to far-fetched to me.

[The_Writing_Wraith]

I don't like the idea of the flames being linked to the lives of the prisoners. It seems a stretch of lore to have one of them die when the flame goes out. Perhaps, when one of the flames goes out, a pack of scamps jump on the prisoner and devoures him or something, but just dying when a flame goes out seems to far-fetched to me.

But it is a very, very good symbol. In literature, theater, and a lot of the visual arts a candle flame is used as a symbol for the presence of life, or the life of a character. Besides, we're dealling with deadra, some kind of strange magical link wouldn't be particularly strange.

[Dexter]

Yeah, it's good symbolism. However, without some explanation as to why one of them will die with a flame goes out, I can't approve this. And I want Elder Scrolls magic here, because this could easily mutate into a bad lore cliche.

[Anonymous]

Why complicate things? There is already a daedra standing there, how about it turning and killing the one the candle belongs too? Simple, effective, and something a daedra would do.

[Dexter]

Okay, I'll buy that. But we need some background. How did these two get there? Why them? Which Prince are they serving?

[Anonymous]

Hmm... maybe one of the two made a pact with the daedra for the other to fall in love with them? then didn't want to pay the price? so the daedra upped the price to one of their lives?

*L*... this could easily spin off into a fair number of quests actually...

[Starcrunch]

Maybe, Isn't really the point here. Youreally need to create a compelling background for this event.

The questions that Dex wants answered are as follows:
Why these two people?
Which Daedra is the pact with?
What is the purpose of the pact?
How do the two relate to one another and the daedra?
How did the two people get in the cage?
Why did the daedra not kill them both?
What does the player get out of this?
What is the compelling reason for the player to choose either to die?
Why does the daedra care what the PC thinks?

There are probably others. The idea sounds intriguing but now you need to flesh it out with details and logic.

-Starcrunch

[Anonymous]

Okay, here goes...*L*

-Setting-

Within the bowls of a underground dungeon, a chill mist clings to the air as you move through its interior. Eerily, belying the nature of such places no creature disturbs the outter chambers. Upon, breaching the inner sanctum you find yourself confronted by a scene derived from nightmares.

Candles caste an unnatural light upon the figure of a daedra whom stands motionless between two suspended cages. The room, obviously a make shift temple, holds 3 other daedra (Daedroth?). None move to attack, merely watch as if anticipating.

Upon speaking with the one between the suspended figures you are presented with a choice. But, you are first to speak with the mysterious figures in the two cages. Each, concealed by a powerful spell, will tell you their own story.

One, who's voice seems to be female... Tells you that she is a Follower of Almaxia. Continuing, she tells you that she is an elderly woman who has seen many winters pass, and grew tired until the man in the other cave came along and showed her that she could love and love life again. She begs you to choose her so that her love may live on knowing he brought her happyness.

The other, who's voice seems to be male... Tells you that he once stood among the most skilled of assassins... Continuing, he tells you that until He met the woman his life held no meaning, entranced he followed her secretly wishing to learn more about her... So, he listened, and watched until one day smiling she approached him, and showed him the life he could lead... in the end, he beseaches you to choose him, so that he may repent a life of evil...

(The truth, is that both speak the truth to a degree... The man, was in fact a worshiper of Boethiah, who was sent to kill the woman...Before he could accomplish the task she saw him and held him with a spell. However, instead of calling for the guard she spoke with him, and he found himself entranced by her. For the first time he found himself astonished by her beauty, and as they spoke they each found themselves falling in love. Hours passed as the two spoke, neither realizing the restraining magics had long since failed. The man swore to return to her soon, but he said he had to do something first. He returned to the one who had hired him and foreswore his ties to both the assassins guild and to Boethiah. This of course angered the God, who sent lesser daedra to capture both the man and the woman. The woman, though capable of casting spells did not feel she would be able to stop the daedra before they slew her love, so was forced to hold her piece. While the man normally easily capable of picking the locks of the cages, knew he would not be able to slay the daedra before they killed not only him but his love. So they both were forced to wait one to come make this decision.)

Note-the daedra didn't kill them because they wished to torture the assassin for his indescression

When you once again speak with the daedra it presents you with 4 choices... Kill the Man, Kill the Woman, Kill them Both, or Kill Neither of Them...

Killing the Man, Releases the Woman to return to her Temple and increases temple reactions to the player, and decreases assassins reactions to the player.

Killing the Woman, releases the Man who swears to uphold her beliefs and goes to join the temple, this decreases temple reactions to the player, and also assassin reactions to the player, the man however gives the pc a gift of a ring of chameleon as a way of beginning his repent and change of way of life.

Killing them both, brings negative reactions from both the Assassins and the Temple, but brings the gift of a Daedric Wakazashi (plain w/no enchantments) from the Daedra who then vanish save one who attacks... who said you can trust Daedra?

Killing Neither brings an all out attack by all the daedra in the room, who would likely summon 1-2 more prior to engaging in combat to kill all 3 of you. This brings the gratitude of the Temple, the hatred of the Assassins, and only what is on the bodies of the daedra present... and perhaps the ring from the man...

[ChickenHawk]

havoc, you're good in this business, i like it.
but more player friendly would be that if pc chooses "kill neither one", neither one really wouldn't be attacked, or if attacked you could save them by acting quickly.

[The_Writing_Wraith]

Why whould the assassins guild (assuming you mean the Morag Tong) allow a Boethia worshipper in their ranks? They follow Mephala after all.

edit: Besides, Boethia is being a little over used.

[Anonymous]

Mephala could easily be used instead... I simply used Boethia as an example, I really don't want to step on the toes of the one who had the original idea for this... for that matter you could change who the woman is a follower of to make it a bit more plausable in a game play sence...

[Starcrunch]

I wouldn't worry, the origional poster has not been around since he posted this.

-Starcrunch