begintalkscript;
variables;
short choice,i;

begintalknode 1;
	state = -1;
	nextstate = -1;
	question = "Captain Ainsley";
	text1 = "Captain Ainsley sits propped up against a snow covered pine tree, too weak to stand. You aren't sure how he made it this far, until you remember Fabian mentioning that Orrin was practically carrying him.";
	text2 = "You'd love to talk with your commander, but Ainsley isn't in a situation to chat. You ask him what you're going to do next and he points towards Erasmus who is standing further up the road.";
	text3 = "_This is Burden's show for now, it's hers and Erasmus's decision._";

begintalknode 2;
	state = -1;
	nextstate = -1;
	question = "Orrin";
	text1 = "Orrin wears only a light tunic; the sun shines more brightly today than previously, but you'd still never dream to take off your coat. You half expect Orrin to pull out a bottle of ice water, the cold just doesn't seem to get to him.";
	text2 = "He does, however, breathe rather heavily; or at least heavier than you've ever seen a short march evoke from your well conditioned friend. The strain of supporting Captain Ainsley must be wearing on the strapping highlander.";
	text3 = "_Nice weather, eh Vincent? Soak up the sunshine, you mightn't see any for a while. It's always brightest before a storm, and trust me there will be a storm._";

begintalknode 3;
	state = -1;
	nextstate = -1;
	question = "Adrianna";
	text1 = "Adrianna stands watches Jamie concernedly. When she sees you she smiles grimly, _What do you think of the Beast now, Vincent? This is what it does, kill everything you love, even you have to acknowledge its existence now, huh?_";
	text2 = "Her eyes are wild and her voice frenzied, you wonder if the sleepless night spent watching over Jamie has broke her. Jamie says something softly to her, which is apparently consolatory.";
	text3 = "_I-- I'm sorry for coming off so harsh, Vincent. I'm just tired of people I love being killed and injured by this-- this creature. You know what's at stake now, why we must succeed. Let's make sure we do._";

begintalknode 4;
	state = -1;
	nextstate = -1;
	question = "Jamie";
	text1 = "Jamie leans over with his hands on his knees. There is a steady stream of mist coming from his mouth, he is panting too hard to even speak.";
	text2 = "Still, he's standing on his own which is a remarkable recovery. He's made it this far, but you don't think he'll be able to go much further. Private Evrey offers a shoulder to lean on nearby, but at least for now Jamie stubbornly stands unaided.";

begintalknode 5;
	state = -1;
	nextstate = -1;
	question = "Fabian";
	text1 = "Fabian has removed his helmet to release some heat, but strangly enough he rubs his shoulders absentmindedly-- a habit that was necessary the previous two frigid days and now so ingrained that he does it when he's sweating.";
	text2 = "_Miraculous that we got here only a few minutes late. I hope those extra minutes of sleep were worth leaving me standing in the snow!_";
	text3 = "He grins to show he's joking, though it isn't really necessary for him to do so. You've known Fabian long enough to tell when he's kidding-- it's no rare occurence.";

begintalknode 6;
	state = -1;
	nextstate = -1;
	question = "Private Evrey";
	text1 = "Private Evrey smiles when he sees you approach, _Hey, glad you made it. You were sleeping like a log, everybody was already up and packed when we realised Sergeant Burden's wake up call hadn't awoken you._";
	text2 = "_Well you got here just in time, I think we're moving on any minute now. Then we'll-- well I'm not sure what happens then, we'll try to find shelter and I guess we'll pursue the Beast when the storm passes._";

begintalknode 7;
	state = -1;
	nextstate = 1;
	question = "Erasmus";
	text1 = "Reading a book while hiking in the mountains is as good as asking for a broken neck. Even Erasmus is unwilling to attempt this feat, which is why he is making up for lost time by studying now that you've stopped.";
	text2 = "He glances up at the trail expectantly, and in doing so catches sight of you. _Vincent, good of you to wake up! Oh, I suppose you haven't heard the end of it from Fabian, sorry about that._";

begintalknode 8;
	state = 1;
	nextstate = 2;
	question = "What are we waiting for?";
	text1 = "_For you! But while we were stopped we figured we would take advantage of the time to scout ahead. Sergeant Burden wanted to inspect the area she'd be leading us through._";
	text2 = "_Rowly accompanied her. The man was chomping at the bit to march ahead anyhow; figured we'd put him to good use._";

begintalknode 9;
	state = 2;
	nextstate = 1;
	question = "Where are we headed?";
	text1 = "_I talked with Jamie last night about what he saw while scouting ahead, I think I've got my bearings now-- you know on that old map of mine. Up ahead is some craggy terrain called the Eladorn Pass, and further up should be Amon Sul._";
	text2 = "_We're sure to find a cave or shelter in such a craggy and uneven area. We certainly couldn't have made it down to Manibor before the storm hits, not with Ainsley the way he is, and we do still have a mission to carry out if possible._";
	code = 
	set_flag(2,0,1);
break;

begintalknode 10;
	state = -1;
	nextstate = -1;
	question = "Crowd";
	text1 = "The others have gathered around Rowly to hear what Burden plans to do. Rowly is doing his best to drag his moment in the spotlight out as long as possible.";
	text2 = "_And then I said to Sergeant Burden-- 'Serge, that cliff looks like a good place to pitch camp.' but--_ A frustrated Adrianna interupts, _Get to the point, man. Are we camping beneath the cliff or what?_";
	text3 = "Rowly sighs and continues on in an exaggeratedly patient tone, _I was ABOUT to say how there was a family of wolves in the way. Now I remember I said to Burden-- 'Serge, that wolf up there looks bigger than any I've ever seen; we should.....'_";
	text4 = "You turn away. Your job is to scout ahead with Fabian, you already know what Burden and Rowly found up ahead and are not eager to hear Rowly's embellished version.";

begintalknode 11;
	state = -1;
	nextstate = -1;
	question = "Erasmus & Burden";
	text1 = "Erasmus and Burden stand in quiet conversation, when Burden sees you she looks puzzled, _Vincent, what are you doing? We don't have much time before the storm hits, we need you and Fabian to scout ahead for us. Get to it!_";

begintalknode 12;
	state = -1;
	nextstate = 3;
	question = "Fabian";
	text1 = "Fabian stands among the crowd that surrounds Sir Rowly. He stands just behind the range of Rowly's peripheral vision, and mimics him with exaggerated gestures.";
	text2 = "When he sees you he ceases his foolery to talk. _Hey, Vincent, I saw you were talking with Burden; do you have any idea what's going on here, because frankly I'm getting tired of waiting for that windbag to get to the point._";

begintalknode 13;
	state = 3;
	nextstate = -1;
	question = "Grab your stuff, we have to scout ahead.";
	text1 = "Fabian straps on his sword and scabbard and puts on his studded armor, _Lets get moving, the sooner we sit down by a campfire the better as far as I'm concerned._ (Fabian has joined the party)";
	action = END_TALK;
	code = 
	set_flag(2,2,1);
	i = 6;
	while(i <= 30){
		if(char_ok(i) == 1)
			erase_char(i);
		i = i + 1;
	}
break;

begintalknode 14;
	state = -1;
	nextstate = 4;
	question = "Reporting Back";
	text1 = "Fabian suddenly picks up his head, _Hey Vince, you hear that?_ You shake your head that you didn't, _That's them, I hear Burden's voice. Surely you heard it that time?_";
	text2 = "You didn't, but Fabian doesn't bother waiting for your response before he starts shouting in a loud voice to announce yourselves to your friends. You cross your fingers and hope that your friend didn't just give away your position to an enemy.";
	
begintalknode 15;
	state = 4;
	nextstate = 5;
	question = "Yeah, let's hope alright.";
	text1 = "As you draw closer you hear faint voices, and soon you can identify them as your friends. You let your breath out; seems Fabian just has better ears than you.";
	text2 = "The first you see of the group is Sir Rowly's bright red shirt. Rowly is about 15 feet ahead of the rest of the group. Behind him stands Private Evrey with Jamie leaning on him for support. Orrin, on the other hand, has to almost drag Ainsley.";
	text3 = "Rowly trots over to you, _Well what happened? We heard wolf howls and I kept telling Sergeant Buren that we had to catch up with you, but well......_ He trails off when he realises Burden and Erasmus have approached to within earshot.";

begintalknode 16;
	state = 5;
	nextstate = -1;
	question = "(Make your report)";
	text1 = "By the time you disentangle yourself from Rowly, Burden has crossed over to talk. You make your report, telling her of the wolves, your battle, and ultimately of finding the cave.";
	text2 = "She nods when you tell her about the cave, and turns to Erasmus, _You have not led us wrong, I thank you for your advice._";
	text3 = "_Vincent, lead the way to this cave. The sooner we settle in the better, I think I feel the weather starting to turn._ Fabian leaps into the conversation, _I'll do the honors, Sarge. This way._";
	text4 = "Fabain marches away, followed closely by the rest of the group. You are soon left standing alone.";
	action = END_TALK;
	code = 
	set_flag(2,14,1);
	erase_char(4);
	i = 39;
	while(i <= 65){
		if(char_ok(i) == 1)
			erase_char(i);
		i = i + 1;
	}
break;

begintalknode 17;
	state = -1;
	nextstate = 6;
	question = "Sir Rowly";
	text1 = "Rowly crouches on the ground and saws on a wolf carcass with his hunting knife. It's a rather grizzly process, then again killing the animal was no picnic either.";
	text2 = "He stands to speak with you, wiping the blood from his hands before smoothing his shirt and rearranging his cloak, _Greetings. You really did a number on these wolves, it's too bad I wasn't there to help out._";
	text5 = "Rowly stands to speak with you, leaving a half flayed wolf carcass on the ground. _Greetings, Vincent, what brings you out of our cave?_";
	action = INTRO;

begintalknode 18;
	state = 6;
	nextstate = -1;
	question = "What are you doing out here?";
	text1 = "_I'm skinning these wolves, it would be a shame to have perfectly good blankets out here and have nothing to cover up with during the snow storm._";
	text2 = "_Yeah, some of these wolves will give a good pelt-- I mean, look at the size of this one! That's a dire wolf if my eyes have ever beheld one, and trust me they have. This one will make a good thick blanket._";

begintalknode 19;
	state = 6;
	nextstate = 7;
	question = "Do you think we'll be able to kill the Beast?";
	text1 = "_Despite Sergeant Burden's incompetence and failure to act, it doesn't look like all is lost. Look how skinny these wolves are, if hunting in this area are this poor then the Beast will be starving as well._";

begintalknode 20;
	state = 6;
	nextstate = -1;
	question = "How this is at all a GOOD thing?";
	text1 = "He sighs and explains with strained patience, _The Beast is uncommonly clever, too clever to be lulled into a trap or vulnerable position. Now it is hungry, and it has tasted human blood. It has caught our scent, and will pursue us._";
	text2 = "_Sergeant Burden seems to be doing her best to avoid our prey, but she won't have any choice in the matter soon enough. If we don't find the Beast then the Beast will find us, and we better be ready when it does._"; 

begintalknode 21;
	state = 6;
	nextstate = -1;
	condition = get_flag(3,4) > 0;
	question = "Burden sent me to find firewood, any suggestions?";
	text1 = "_My advice? Well Orrin was right, you can't burn pine wood in a cave with poor ventilation. So if you look higher in the mountains keep your sword loose in its scabbard. As you've already seen, the Beast isn't the only danger up here._";

begintalknode 22;
	state = -1;
	nextstate = 8;
	question = "Rowly-- dying";
	text1 = "You approach the crumpled form of Sir Rowly. His broken body has been cast against the snapped tree and the shattered shaft of his hunting spear lies in the snow.";
	text2 = "His right leg is bent at an awkward angle beneath him, and one of his arms has been torn clear off. You could hardly identify the body as belonging to Rowly if it weren't for his red tunic.";
	text3 = "Just as you are about to leave the body behind, his eyes open. You don't need to hear his rasping struggle for breath or see the cloudy look in his eye to know that he doesn't have long to live.";
	text4 = "_Vincent, I-- I-- I'm sorry. For-- all this._ He gestures with his eyes to the carnage, and the half a wolf carcass hanging from the tree. _Thought-- that I could *Ergh* -- lure it here-- and finish-- finish my -- *ACK* -- quest._";
	text5 = "_It came alright._ He makes a strange laughing noise that succeeds only in bringing blood to his lips, he must have a punctured lung. _Came and -- smashed me good._";
	//text6 = "_One-- one flick,_ he feebly tries to demonstrate with his hand, but with no success, _one flick of -- of the wrist -- and I'm meat._ The strange wheezing, gasping, laugh again, and this time he coughs up specks of blood.";
	text7 = "Rowly's body still lies here, beneath the shattered tree with which he thought to snare his prey. Perhaps he was overly confident, too blinded by arrogance to see that what he was attempting was folley.";
	text8 = "Or perhaps he was just the only one with the courage to try and fulfill your task, to do what was needed. You don't have time to consider it now, only to try and keep his actions from hurting anyone else.";
	code =
	if(get_flag(4,13) == 0){
		remove_string(7);
		remove_string(8);
	}
	else{
		clear_strings();
		add_string(7);
		add_string(8);
	}
break;

begintalknode 23;
	state = 8;
	nextstate = -1;
	condition = (get_flag(4,13) == 0);
	question = "What can I do?";
	text1 = "He doesn't seem to hear you, _One flick of it's wrist-- and I'm meat! Like-- like a - *wheeze* - fly. I speared it -- speared it good, and *cough* thought the trap'd hold-- hold it. Smashed the -- the tree -- right to splinters. Swat-- like a fly._";
	text2 = "He looks you in the eyes, _Sorry about -- about this -- Vincent old chap. Just-- just grant -- an honorable man this wish; -- kill that bastard and -- parade it through Solaria. Swore-- swore I'd do that. Bloody --failure-- a goddamn -- fly._";
	text3 = "With this Sir Rowly dies, cursing his life's quest and ultimate demise to the last breath. He didn't say which way the Beast went, but the trail of blood and the drag marks in the snow give you a good idea. They head straight towards the cave.";
	text4 = "How much of Rowly's life and accomplishments is embellishment you'll never know, and his pride and selfishness has cost at least one, and maybe more lives.";
	text5 = "Nonetheless, looking at the ruined body and then the carnage of the clearing, you can't help but feel -- pity? The severed trap, the shattered spear; you leave it all behind as you hurry towards your friends.";
	text6 = "Perhaps you can help your friends, or at least fulfill Rowly's dying words. Not that you'd be doing it for him.";
	code =
	set_flag(4,13,1);
break;
	