Ark Stranded 1

You’re up. Not sure where we are, but I hope you’re not afraid of heights.
Although right now, that’s probably the least of our worries.

Quiet you two, the bosun’s about to speak.

(horn blows)

That’s the signal. Take the guests to the Captain.

It’s time.

(opens cage)

Follow me.

By the Divines, where on the island are we?

In the mountains.

Yeah, thanks, I never would’ve guessed.

You’re welcome.

By the way, your friend over there called us guests.
You know people don’t usually throw guests in cages.
Typically they give them food and wine and very comfortable chairs.

You’ll have food. But first you must speak with the Captain.

Yeah, your friend mentioned a captain. Are you all sailors?

Not yet. No boat to sail on.

No ocean either.

Don’t plan on sailing the ocean. People who sail in the ocean, die in the ocean.

So… then where do you plan on sailing?

Up. We go up.

(to player) Up, he says. Well, I’m confused. Let’s hope their Captain can actually form a complete sentence.

LYCAN VERSION

(opens cage)

Follow me.

I couldn’t help but notice you took my friend’s gear but not mine.

The Captain says you’re already half naked. Not much point to go any further.

Fair enough.

By the way, your fellow man called us guests.
I’d think a guest would be free to come and go as he pleases.

You’ll be able to go. After you speak with the Captain.

And what kind of person is our Captain?

The Captain is the captain.

I can’t argue with that logic. So who are you people, where are you from?

Doesn’t matter where we’re from. Only where we’re going.

And where is that?

Up. We go up.

Again, I find that impossible to dispute.

We’re here. Up the stairs, both of you.

 

Hellos

A bond between a man and his pet is sacred.

A pet is a man’s soul. A man must care for it as he cares for himself.

My pet fox is a good dog.

 

Neimos

Re-Take (this was read incorrectly, take said”I don’t see what you get”)

Riksanne, your husband’s such a stiff. I don’t get what you see in him.

 

Do you have any work for me?
I might. How good are you with a bow?

I’m all right.
Is that truth or modesty? It’s so hard to tell when you’ve spend your life around liars. Good ones at that.
I guess it doesn’t matter. You’re new, which makes you the only one here I can even remotely trust.

I’m a master of archery.
Then you’ll be perfect for this.

I can use one in a pinch.
Good to know. Sometimes even the best archers aren’t worth a scamp’s backside if the pressure’s on.
I rather have someone with a slow pulse and cold heart.

Terrible. I couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.
Well, then this might not be the job for you. Still, it might be amusing to watch you try.

That depends. What are you asking?
Straight to the point, no foreplay. I like it.

The job’s simple. There’s a few birds circling the area around the docks.
I need you to shoot one down, and check his leg for a note.
I’d do it myself, but the guard’s got her eyes trained on me at all times.

What’s the note say?
It’s just a letter from my pen pal. Completely harmless.

Why is the guard so concerned over you?
It’s a mystery to me. I’ve been nothing but courteous.

That’s all the questions I had.
All right then. Happy hunting.

Actually, I already found your note.
Well, I guess it’s my lucky day. I’ll read it later when Inska’s by the dock.

One thing I love about that woman is she never strays from her routine. She’s basically a sundial with a bad haircut.
Anyways, here. A small gesture of appreciation. I’d say a token, but that’s a bad word to use around here.

I’ve got your note.
Good work. I’ll read it later when Inska’s by the dock.

 

 

 

======================================

old lines

Well, well. Look what we have here. A fellow Stranded.
As the new blood around here, we need to watch each other’s backs.
And if the situation presents itself, maybe do a little business.

 

What’s your job here?
To put it simply, I bring in goods from far off places.
There’s a lot of wrecks on the far side of the island. A lot of ships that wash ashore with good cargo.

 

How do you obtain these goods? 
I have my ways. Trade secret, you understand.

 

How long have you been on this island?
Not long. A few months back I was a merchant in Jehanna, a port town in High Rock.
I got into a little trouble there and had to start over.
A man offered me offered a token. Said it’d take me to a place where no one could find me.
I didn’t take it literally, of course. But it turns out he wasn’t lying.

 

By business, I assume you mean something criminal. (Thief)
Me? Oh no, I’m a humble merchant, plying his trade in a quaint, seaside village.
But given your talents, I may need your services at some point.

 

Smart idea, paying the fine to Inska. The guard back in High Rock was just as insane.
Truth is, I was slated for the executioner’s axe. Only place safe was somewhere completely off the map.

That’s surprisingly candid.
Well, I like to test the waters a bit. People either react in one of two ways.
They applaud me for being so forthright, at which point I tell them I was falsely accused.
Or they say something completely different, at which point, we proceed to find out where our interests might meet.

So you’re criminal scum. Why are you not in chains?
Well, did I mention I was falsely accused? Just like you were.
Because let’s face it, the guard is more corrupt than any criminal ever could be.

What crime were you accused of?
The most heinous crime of them all. I went against my gut. Did a job I knew was a setup.

So you’re a thief.
That is hefty accusation coming from someone like yourself. But you might say it takes one to know one.

Going against your gut is a bad idea.
Greed is a fickle lover. It can drive you to great things but make you blind to the obvious.

You should trust your brain, not your innards.
My brain got me caught. Take my advice, always listen to your gut.

A job? That could mean any number of things.
That’s why I use it. It means the right thing to the right person.
But to the wrong person, it’s vague enough not to be incriminating.

 

Store
Everything you see here.
Take a look.

If you have any goods you need to unload, I’m your man, and this is your store.

I’ll wash your goods clean, for a price.

Hellos

If you believe the talk about Stranded living in the mountains, well, I’ve got a flying ship to sell you.

It’s best to be cautious in this town. Nowhere to run or hide if you get caught.

The guard, Inska, likes to inspect my wares. She says she’s looking for stolen goods, but I think she has a thing for me.

Inska’s got her eyes trained on me again. It’s these boyish good looks, I tell you.

The Elder’s a strange one. He’d stick out like sore thumb, if he weren’t hiding away in his cottage.

The oaf’s running the inn now, huh. Let’s just hope the ale doesn’t have nails in it.

I hear you’re living in that house on the coast. Elder Tynne offered it to me once. I told him I’d rather sleep on bed of slaughterfish.

I would avoid exploring any caves to the south. No treasure, and they smell like a troll’s armpit.

I like the inn. It’s where I do all my plotting.

 

Goodbye

Watch yourself.
Remember, you scratch my back, I scratch yours.
See ya.
Stay sharp.
All right then.

 

Scene

I’ve got my eye on you, Neimos. I know you’re up to something.

 

If that’s what you need to tell yourself to stop your aching heart.

 

What? What are you saying?

 

Oh, we both know the real reason you come to my shop. And it’s not to look at my wares.

 

Ugh. You’re disgusting.

 

You can only lie to yourself for so long.

 

Scene with Mojari

Hey cat, is it true that your people are excellent pickpockets?

 

Very much so. Except the only pocket this one picks is the ocean’s.

 

Well, if you find any coin purses in there, let me know.

 

Scene with Rolggi

You know, you should be teaching your kid a better trade.

 

What’s that? You want to be a kid for a day? 

 

I SAID, …ah, forget it. You can’t hear a damn thing anyway. Stupid old man.

 

How dare you! Respect your elders.

 

Oh, so now you can hear me.

 

No, but I can read a few lips.

 

Scene 

Riksanne, your husband’s such a stiff. I don’t get what you see in him.

 

He’s a good man who works an honest trade. What’s not to like?

 

Ah, so you favor honest men. I never stood a chance.

 

Quest

Hey, I heard a little rumor on the grapevine. Is it true the blacksmith wants to challenge the Orc?

Yes, it’s true.
Well, let’s hope he wins then. Of course, I’m not the kind of guy who relies on hope. I want the odds stacked in my favor.

What business is it of yours?
None. And yet, I’m the kind of guy who can’t help but meddle.

 

 

Why do you want the blacksmith to win?
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t care about his ego, fragile as it is. I just have a vested interest in him not being the innkeeper.
It’s bad enough we don’t have a tavern wench, the last thing I want is my drinks served by a bitter blacksmith.

 

What did you have in mind?
Just a little friendly neighborhood sabotage.
The Orc keeps a pile of ingots in the cellar. I want you to swap them out with some that are…less than pure.
With those ingots, her wares will struggle to hold shape. The Nord wins the duel, and our precious inn keeps its feminine touch.

All right, I’ll make the swap.
Good. Here’s the ingots. I’ll leave the rest to you.

Sorry, I’m not interested.
A shame. I weep for the fate of our only inn. But I suppose there are other places to drink.

 

Post Main Quest

So apparently people are saying half the village turned to ghosts last night. Interesting.

 

There’s got to be a way to profit off all this turmoil.  Hm…I’ve got it! Ghost charms. Helps ward off the dead.

Riksanne

Pronunciation guide:

Elder Tynne – like a tine on a fork, rhymes with time

Ylldra/Ylldi – The Y is like an “i”, so ill-druh, ill-dee

Neimos – Nay-mos

Lycan – Lie-can

Akshei – Ahk-shay

Rolggi – roll-gee, hard G

EXT. – Farm, Ylldraheim island

The player receives a token to travel to an unknown location. They give it to a ferryman, who then takes them to the island of Ylldraheim. It’s a seemingly peaceful fishing village. Riksanne is a Redguard who owns a local farm, which she runs with her husband Akshei. For context, the island is cursed, where half the inhabitants are dead. The player eventually discovers that Akshei, among many others, is actually a ghost. The player can then restore them to their zombified form, or let them rest in the afterlife as they originally should have.

 

(initial greet)

Oh wow! It’s not every day you see a new face.

So, what’s your story? How did you come to our humble village?

Two strangers gave me a token and I took the boat here.
Ha, sounds a lot like my own experience. Well, don’t worry, it may not look like much, but you’re going to love it here. I promise.

It was mostly by accident.
Well, sometimes accidents can be a good thing.
I know this place doesn’t look like much, but I think you’re going to love it here.
Not to mention, we’re going to love having you! It’s always fun when someone new shows up.

Doesn’t matter. I’m just passing through.
That’s a shame, I hope you reconsider.

I’m here on an errand.
Well, I hope you complete it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t stay when you’re done!

 

 

When’s the last time someone new arrived?
By Ylldra, I’m not sure. Neimos came to the island a couple seasons ago.
Before that there was the Captain and Shurzub. That was last year.
Everyone else has been here for at least five years. Even Dastri.

How did you come to the island?
My husband, Akshei, met someone at the inn who gave him a token.
And as far as I was concerned, anywhere was better than Winterhold, so I gave him my blessing.

Tell me about your husband.
Oh, he’s pretty soft spoken. He doesn’t use a lot of words. And when he has to, he doesn’t mince them either.
Right now he’s investigating this rot that’s taken some of the trees in the village.
I try not to worry too much about it, but it’s hard not to be a little concerned considering it’s our farm.

 

What do you do around here?
My husband and I run the farm. We grow crops and feed the village.
I feel like it’s pretty important to give them something to eat other than fish.

Do you not like fish?
It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just I can’t eat it every day, for every meal. At some point, I’d rather eat rocks.

Yeah, fish is fine, but I prefer a good steak.
Oh, I love steak! But I’m not about to kill our cow to get it.
Although I haven’t given her a name yet, just in case. You never know when you just have to eat something!

I like vegetables myself.
They’re healthy. I’m always telling my husband to eat more. But to his point, there’s only so much we can grow.

Having some variety is good.
I completely agree! Things tend get stale otherwise. It’s not that I hate any particular foods, I just loathe boredom.

What have you got for sale?
Take a look.
Everything you see here.
Food and drink, fresh from the farm.

Basic hellos

If you ever need anything let me know. I’m basically the town mom.

Elder Tynne really needs to take a bigger interest in town affairs.

How are things? Settling in?

I hope you’re adjusting well to life here. It can take a little while, but it’s worth the effort.

I heard you were given the cottage on the coast! I’m so happy for you.

 

Scene with Akshei
How are the crops faring, love?

Looks like the harvest will be smaller this season.

That’s not good. Well, on the bright side, it’ll be better for your back!

 

Scene with Akshei

Hon, what are you thinking for dinner tonight?

Is it my turn to cook?

I think so. I did make you that amazing clam chowder last night.

Funny, I thought it was the Gourmet who made that.

Oh love, flatter all you want, it’s not going to get you out of cooking tonight.

Scene with Rolggi

Next season I’d like to grow some scallions but I’m not sure the soil is right for it.

What? You need a Potion of the Stallion? I’m sorry, but this is a family store. We don’t sell that kind of smut here.

Scene with Ylldi

You know, I heard a terrible rumor the other day, that you two are trying to leave the island!

It’s true. We’re looking to take the ferry back to Skyrim.

Well, as someone who’s been there, I’ll tell you right now, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. In fact, it’s probably brown and covered in snow.

Sorry, that just makes me want to see it more.

Scene with Lycan

It’s nice to see Lycan with someone other than Ylldi.

I agree. For once I’m not being yelled at.

Right? She should appreciate you more.

I tell her that every day.

Well, we shouldn’t gossip, but the things they say about her, I wonder sometimes…

To be fair, I’m the one usually saying them.

Scene with Neimos

Riksanne, your husband’s such a stiff. I don’t get what you see in him.

He’s a good man who works an honest trade. What’s not to like?

Ah, so you favor honest men. I never stood a chance.

Main Quest 3 scene

(angry mob gathers outside Elder’s house)

This is an outrage! I demand to know what’s happened to my sister!

And poor Dastri…she’s just a child for Ylldra’s sake!

Everyone calm down. I have diagnosed the problem and I am working on a solution as we speak.

Diagnosed the problem? My husband is a ghost you fool!

Yes, he has a clear case of uh…ghostus maledictus, which is magical term and obviously not something I made up.
Now run along, little villagers. This will all be taken care of in a day or two, you have my word.

Ghost commentary
Before he turned, my husband mentioned the rot found its way into town. That can’t be a coincidence.

Post-Quest, if saved

Love, is that really you?

I think so. Best I can tell.

This is so strange. But, you’re alive, and that’s all that matters.

(village ghosts returned to human form)

I’m so relieved everything is back to normal.
I hope all this ghost business didn’t give you a bad impression. This village is usually very ordinary.
That’s why I was so disheartened when I heard the rumors you were trying to leave.

I am leaving, actually.
Oh! Was it something I said? I do have a habit of overselling the village.
Well, we’ll be sad to see you go.

Don’t worry, I plan on staying for a little while longer.
Oh thank Ylldra, that makes me feel a little better.
But if you do leave, I hope you’ll remember us fondly.

There is nothing about this place that’s ordinary.
I think you just got here at a strange time. You just need to stay here a few years, then you’ll see!

They’re true. But thank you for being so welcoming.
Of course! I know it must be hard being new, so I’m glad you felt at home here, even if it was only for a little while.

Hellos

I think I’ll do most of the chores this month. Don’t want my love exerting himself given he just got his body back.

The other night I had a strange dream about the day my husband died. But he’s clearly still alive.

I’m so glad the village is back to normal. Things are looking up again.

It’s a shame you’re leaving so soon. You just got here!

Scene if village ghosts die

I remember it now. The whole family fell ill. Dastri died months after her parents.
We buried her next to their grave. The three of them.

Akshei too. He died in Winterhold. I remember coming to this island to get away from those memories.
But then he was here, like nothing happened. And I forgot the fact he was ever gone.

Hellos

I’m not sure whether to stay or go back to Skyrim. Last time I tried running away. This time I know that’s not the answer.

It’s hard having to mourn my husband a second time.