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I've noticed this name being included in many lines of my possible answers to different people. I don't quite understand why this name keeps coming up among the choices I'm given.

I don't suppose this name it's mine... but, is he someone I should be afraid of? If I lie using that name, is he going to come to me and deliver me a couple of more scars?

Please: don't spoil me more than I have asked for. (Right now I'm in the Lower Ward.)


TIA


Cheers

P.S. At this point, do I need all those pages/ entries I had gathered in the Mortuary? Will they be of any further use?
I've been sick of carrying them with me for so long.

It's sort of an in-joke within the game. You offer up Adahn often enough as your name (since you don't know it), and eventually you'll meet Adahn in a bar. He provides you with a few trinkets.

Originally posted by Aubrey
P.S. At this point, do I need all those pages/ entries I had gathered in the Mortuary? Will they be of any further use?
I've been sick of carrying them with me for so long.

You don't need them anymore, unless you think you might have missed something at the Mortuary. They mainly serve as clues or sources of background information.

For example, one of the notes was written by a Dustman who was looking for a misplaced prybar. He needed it to open a container that couldn't be opened because the door was stuck. You probably found the prybar he was looking for, and you could have used it to open some "locked" containers. The game says they're "locked", but all you have to do is bash them open; you don't need a key. Do you see the purpose of the note now?

I think the Mortuary receiving journal is there just to help you get acquainted with the Mortuary. If you found the missing page, it had a couple of clues. To begin with, the missing page tells how the Nameless One was brought to the Mortuary: one of Pharod's people did it. The Nameless One's body was carrying some fist irons and a few coins. You probably found them in one of the cabinets. If you had read the note before you found them, it might have occurred to you to go looking for them. (To be honest, it didn't occur to me to look for them because I figured they were long gone.) That note (or one like it) also says that Pharod has been bringing in a lot of bodies that are very, very old. As you probably found out later, Pharod was stealing bodies from the catacombs and selling them back the Dustmen. The note was a clue about that. (Not that I had any idea what was going on the first time I saw it.)

There's also a note concerning worker number 42 on the upper floor of the Mortuary. That particular worker is behaving strangely, almost as if it were following some old orders that someone gave it decades ago. As it turns out, one of the Nameless One's previous incarnations had something to do with that. If you watched Ei-Vene while she was working, you would have gotten another clue.

If you used the portal to escape the Mortuary, you probably found Penn's note. It mentions Emoric and Pharod. You've probably met Emoric, and you have definitely met Pharod. You might even have discovered where Pharod has been getting so many bodies. (All you had to do was ask him.) You might even bump into Penn sometime, if you haven't already. If you read Penn's note, then you know he's an Anarchist and he's been spying on the Dustmen. Perhaps you can talk to him about it.

None of the notes has any significance that I can think of beyond that, so you don't need to carry them with you any longer.

BTW, I never found a use for the cobblestone, so you can chunk it. If you've been carrying around the Nameless One's intestines (Marta the Seamstress had something to do with that), you don't need to keep them unless you meet a certain NPC. I don't know if you want me to spoil that for you, but if you're curious, I'll tell you more.

You're correct. Reading carefully all those pages makes Mortuary very easy. And since I don't need them anymore, I'd gladly throw them away to free some space in my inventory.

Now, about a certain NPC, I'm not sure whom you're talking of. So far we're five: Me (Nameless One), Dak'kon, Morte, Annah and Fall-From-Grace. I released Ingus, but for some reason, I didn't like him, and I left him behind. I haven't met other NPCs so far, but there have to be more, right? Do you think I should keep the intestines? (blah! it's disgusting!)

Thanks!

I am going to keep this to two sentences just as an antithesis to VonDondu's impressive works in this thread that I can't even come close to. There are two more NPC's in the game that you can collect, it depends on your choice and I think the one character comes in far too late to make him effective in combat, a good character otherwise though, on a side note, keep the intestines.

Originally posted by Aubrey
Now, about a certain NPC, I'm not sure whom you're talking of. So far we're five: Me (Nameless One), Dak'kon, Morte, Annah and Fall-From-Grace. I released Ingus, but for some reason, I didn't like him, and I left him behind. I haven't met other NPCs so far, but there have to be more, right? Do you think I should keep the intestines? (blah! it's disgusting!)

Regarding the intestines: I take it you've seen Marta, and she's handed you the intestines? If you don't plan to keep Ignus in your party, there's one more opportunity to turn them into something less disgusting and more useful. I'll explain more about that, but only if you want it.

Two more NPCs to find. One lies in a small place that is both large and complicated. The other is nowhere to be found, save where he believes himself to be. Who says you have to be an oracle to come up with accurate but confusing clues?

Originally posted by fable
Who says you have to be an oracle to come up with accurate but confusing clues?

who says you aren't an oracle?

one of the last two characters will be stumbled upon quite late as long as you don't hurry through the late game and take your time. the other involves dungeon crawling

Originally posted by Aubrey
About a certain NPC, I'm not sure whom you're talking of. So far we're five: Me (Nameless One), Dak'kon, Morte, Annah and Fall-From-Grace. I released Ingus, but for some reason, I didn't like him, and I left him behind. I haven't met other NPCs so far, but there have to be more, right? Do you think I should keep the intestines? (blah! it's disgusting!) Thanks!

Since you have already met Ignus and released him from your party, I won't keep you guessing any longer. I, too, never had much use for him, so he didn't stay in my party very long. Besides, I had a full party without him, and even if I wanted him in my party, I can't decide who I'd be willing to give up to make room for him.

Here's the "chant". (It's a spoiler.) As you probably know, some of your party members are able to teach you things. All you have to do is talk to them long enough and you'll be able to ask them (if you're the same class they are, that is). If you're a Mage, Ignus can show you a thing or two about fire. However, if you want to learn about fire, you have to be willing to let it burn you, so it will cost you. If you ask Ignus to show you some new skills, he will take some of your body parts, work his magic on them, and hand them back to you. That includes the intestines that Marta took out of your body. You've probably seen a few other body parts that can be detached and re-attached, so hopefully, it won't be too shocking or disgusting.

I'm not sure what Fable is talking about when he says, "There's one more opportunity to turn them into something less disgusting and more useful." If I'm not mistaken, there's another person you'll meet who can remove your intestines again (they grow back) and do something useful with them. In other words, you don't have to carry the old ones around with you. Either way, it's still disgusting. If you could rip them out of your body yourself, maybe you could strangle someone with them...

Sorry, that was a sick joke. But eventually, you might see something along the same lines that's kind of interesting. Detachable body parts... I guess it was inevitable.

Of the two remaining NPCs, I consider one of them to be essential. It's very difficult to find him. I'll give you a hint if you like. (Spoiler follows.) Start at the Curiosity Shoppe in the Clerk's Ward ("also known as 'Wanker City' " ). Take plenty of gold with you. (You were going to do that anyway, weren't you?) I think that's enough to get you started.

You won't meet the last NPC until you leave Sigil, so don't waste your time trying to find him in Sigil. I didn't think he was very useful, but don't forget to ask him if he has anything to teach you before you leave him behind.

Those intestines can be used for Ignus only. There is no other thing they can do.
But it's not as though you have to keep Ignus around to get the benefits he can give you. Just get him in your party, use all the dialog options and then kick him out of the party. (there are more dialog options if you're a mage - that's how you can get him to burn your body parts and teach you spells).

VonDondu, I really love the way you talk about Torment.

Thanks, Platter.

As you can see, I really like this game.

I'm not sure what Fable is talking about when he says, "There's one more opportunity to turn them into something less disgusting and more useful." If I'm not mistaken, there's another person you'll meet who can remove your intestines again (they grow back) and do something useful with them. In other words, you don't have to carry the old ones around...

Yes, and this was in fact what I meant: not that the old set could be used again, but that your intestines would come in useful--again. Ravel in her various guises gives a whole new meaning to the term, "gut feeling."

I talked to Ingus enough to learn the background story. Nameless One is mainly used as a mage, so I had asked Ingus to teach me his art. I didn't proceed too far though, 2 times was enough for me, because I noticed losing 1 maximum HP each time.

How are the intestines related to Ingus? Do you think that I should had proceed further with Ingus dialogue options to take advantage of it?

@ fable --

Ravel in her various guises gives a whole new meaning to the term, "gut feeling."

You are cynic, aren't you?

Seriously, this upcoming Ravel encounter makes me a bit nervous for I'm really scared of what it might happen...

Recalling your request to tell you what I think of the game when I play it, I just wanted to say that trusting your comments (for it had been your comments in various threads after all that made me buy it) it had been a wise move from my part. I'm really thrilled. PS:T is a game-novel, not just a game. I have more comments, but I'll post them in a new thread once I finish the game.


Cheers

Originally posted by Aubrey
I talked to Ingus enough to learn the background story. Nameless One is mainly used as a mage, so I had asked Ingus to teach me his art. I didn't proceed too far though, 2 times was enough for me, because I noticed losing 1 maximum HP each time.

How are the intestines related to Ingus? Do you think that I should had proceed further with Ingus dialogue options to take advantage of it?

If you want Ignus to teach you another spell, you can hand him the intestines. This time, it won't cost you anything because they've already been removed from the Nameless One's body. I don't think I ever used that particular spell (I preferred others), but it also gives you 24,000 experience points, so maybe it's worthwhile.

Originally posted by Aubrey
Seriously, this upcoming Ravel encounter makes me a bit nervous for I'm really scared of what might happen...

Why shouldn't you be scared and nervous? She's a night hag, a very powerful creature, and the most evil one of all. When I went to see her, I was scared, but I couldn't wait to ask her a lot of questions. Be sure to save your game before you talk to her. Nothing you can think of ahead of time will prepare you for what happens, so just go with the flow. We can talk about the encounter later, if you'd like.

If you don't mind, I'd like to give you one more tip. It's a minor spoiler. See if you can get into the private sensatorium at the Festhall if you haven't already done so.

BTW, have you joined any factions? If so, which one(s)?

Originally posted by fable
Ravel in her various guises gives a whole new meaning to the term, "gut feeling."

That's not a nice thing to say. What did she ever do to YOU?

Originally posted by VonDondu
That's not a nice thing to say. What did she ever do to YOU?

Besides make you immortal at the expense of killing hordes of people, and cause you to periodically lose your memory?

You are cynic, aren't you?

Nah. Just somebody who momentarily gave into the use of a bad pun.

The more I think about the plot in PS:T as we've discussed it, here, the more I regard it as the best yet seen in CRPGs. It is masterfully designed, rather than nothing more than a series of events hung on a need to kill a final big baddie, as in the BG and IWD series. Don't get me wrong; I greatly enjoy those games, especially BG2 (which Bioware admitted owed a lot to PS:T). But their main plot and theme are primitive when compared to PS:T. Only two games come anywhere near it, IMO: Ultima VIIa, and Betrayal at Krondor. And BaK's theme of protecting what is best against invaders is pretty superficial compared to PS:T, even though the plot and chapters are ingeniously constructed.

In short, PS:T is just a damn good game. What a shame Interplay's accountants killed a successor, and the bosses fired the creative folks on the BIS team.

Originally posted by fable
Besides make you immortal at the expense of killing hordes of people, and cause you to periodically lose your memory?

She gave the Nameless One exactly what he asked for. Besides that, she has done many other nice things for him in her various...forms. What, do you bite the hand that feeds you?

Originally posted by VonDondu
She gave the Nameless One exactly what he asked for. Besides that, she has done many other nice things for him in her various...forms. What, do you bite the hand that feeds you?

You know, PS:T really sets the alignment system on its ear, even as it uses the thing in its fascinating worlds of Order, Chaos, Good and Evil. Ravel, for instance: she's evil, isn't she? And yet--she has a soft spot for the NO. All her fractured personalities that he/you see are neutral or good, and all will help you. Chaotic Neutral? No; there are many reliable references to her malicious nature and her lack of concern for life throughout the game. Is she an evil character capable of roleplaying good and neutral? This begs the question, IMO. She is what she is, and the tidy, airtight alignment divisions simply don't fit her.

Btw, does anyone else think Ravel dies a bit too easily in PS:T? In other words, is it possible she's fooled her killer, just as she's fooled the NO into thinking he killed her?

Fable, those are good questions, and I'd like to discuss them. But I think we need to avoid putting too many spoilers into this thread.

Ravel is evil through and through. Just because she's not a mindless monster who kills everything on sight doesn't make her Neutral or Good. I think the problem is, we have trouble defining what an Evil character is supposed to be like. Consider demons, for example. They walk around the planes for thousands of years without being killed by bounty hunters or law enforcement officers, but they're definitely evil. Obviously, Evil characters don't have to be violent all of the time, and they can fit into the normal structure of society. They can even love other people, have children, and be upstanding members of their community. But they're still evil. Take one of my former employers, who is evil incarnate. (Please.) It's a complex thing.

@ fable --

Nah. Just somebody who momentarily gave into the use of a bad pun.

Pun understood. Nevertheless, it's both awful and disgusting to see your intestines in your inventory. And, yes: I have found myself identified completely with Nameless One. (Another pro.)

@ VonDondu --

If you don't mind, I'd like to give you one more tip. It's a minor spoiler. See if you can get into the private sensatorium at the Festhall if you haven't already done so.

BTW, have you joined any factions? If so, which one(s)?

I have already visited both public and private sensatorium. Thanks for the tip though.

And yes, I have joined Dustmen faction, but failed to betray that jerk Pharod, because I had given him my word not to do it. So this quest will remain open, I'm afraid.

At this point I should tell that yesterday I denounced my loyalty to Dustmen in order to gain access to the sensorium, but later I discovered a girl who told me that she had met before (in the past) and I had been member of the Sensates. (Duh! Why did she told me earlier? She could had saved me hours of game!
)

So, I had to go back and redone nearly all the quests in Clerk's Ward; which, by the way, wasn't bad at all, because it was then that I discovered that I had forgotten to visit the public sensatorium.

Now, I'm not sure whether I should join Godsmen or not. I really like the Dustmen, and that damn good earing I bought from them!

Regarding Ravel, I don't think of her as bad or good either. I don't know. I have to meet her first. But, please. Continue talking generalities. Your conversations are always quite interesting. (No, it's not flattery.)

And since we're talking about the game, ...did I tell you that it's an amazing, superb game? If fable is right (and I have no reason to doubt his sayings; I'm sure he knows what he's talking about) and the creative team was fired, then the Company must had been out of their minds. The team did an excellent work, I give them full marks! I know, my opinion comes too late, but still.

Moreover, I love the stories people say. Come to think of them, they are all clues about what has happened or what is going to happen. (i.e. the story Morte shared with us in the Brothel, about the man with the three wishes, seemed to me that it was talking about Ravel). Once you are concentrated, focused and engrossed in the game, it's hard not to understand the meaning.

Something else: when I started the game, in the Mortuary, I noticed that the Zombies weren't hostile. This simple thing made me think that there was no reason to kill them, though the CD-manual states that I could do it if I wish to. But I had no reason to do it. And nearly before leaving the Mortuary, I had felt that my only approach could be that of an "innocent" one and no other.
And that, for two reason:

1. In the game, I'm an immortal, dying again and again, but never completely, which makes me wonder, Why? What I have done to deserve such a fate? Since I can't *really* die, is it worthy to fight and kill anything I don't like? No, not really. Besides, I'm not the blood-thirsty type.

2. The second one has to do with my mentality, I suppose. I never liked or like evil characters (i.e., Bodhi) -- game or life wise. I'm not a devoted realist, not a fool idealist either. I like harmony and love the ability to trust others. And I feel it applicable to this game. (I know, I haven't finished it yet...)

That's why I'm telling that the best approach to the game is an innocent one. It's like reading Joyce's Ulysses : you don't have to know everything or to study and wonder why is this and why is that. Ulysses demands a pure, open heart and an innocent mind. Then, you find yourself travelling along following the fascinating course of the book.

And that's also what PS:T demands from the player. At least, this is how I perceive the game. A personal experience nonetheless.

Cheers

Aubrey, I agree that an "innocent" approach is best. What if I woke up in a slab in a Mortuary with amnesia in real life? Would I immediately go on a killing spree? Of course not!

Unfortunately, it took me some time to get used to Torment, since I'm so used to playing combat-oriented role-playing games. I don't like to play Evil characters, but in most games, if you want to be a hero, you have to kill everything that comes your way. I'm glad that Torment isn't like that. I feel like I can really "be myself" when I play the game.

I can tell that you try to see the best in all of the characters you meet, and that will serve you well most of the time. But some of the creatures you'll meet in Torment are definitely evil.

Take Ravel, for instance. Did you get the message she left for you in one of the sensory stones? If I remember correctly, she dismembered the poor guy who put the message into the sensory stone for her. Did you talk to the skulls on Lothar's shelves? One of them was a Sensate who ran into Ravel. Look what happened to her. Ravel is not a nice person. You might get to see a different side of her sometime--you already know that her story is tied to the Nameless One's story--but no one you meet will ever have anything good to say about her. No one has a reputation like that if they don't deserve it. But you'll do well, since you keep an open mind.

As for the various factions, I'm not sure what to tell you. I can't tell you what sort of quests each of them offers without spoiling it for you. From my limited experience with them, I'd have to say that the choices you have when you become a Godsman are rather bizarre. I originally joined the Dustmen because I thought that their philosophy suited the Nameless One's personal goals, but later, I changed my mind and decided that being a Sensate or a Godsman would be more appropriate. I think it's important to believe in their philosophy if you want to join their faction. As one of the faction leaders says, you shouldn't join a faction just because of the benefits they can offer you. Besides, as good as the Dustman earring might be, I preferred to have my characters wear others.

There are so many things I'd like to say about the story, but I'm afraid it would spoil it for you. I used to hang out at BGDungeon Tavern and answer people's questions when they wanted spoilers, and I still have that instinct. I think the "little things" in a game like Shadows of Amn are cool, such as where do you find the Boots of Speed or how do you get inside the Planar Sphere. But the Nameless One's story is far grander than that.

When I finally found out the truth about the Nameless One's immortality, I deeply regretted all the times that I had let him be killed. I thought it didn't have any consequences, but when you learn the truth, you'll see that it does. When Ravel made him immortal, she did something truly evil. Her solution to the puzzle, "How can a man avoid death," is, in Fable's words, ghastly and elegant at the same time. I think you'll really be surprised when you find out why the Nameless One asked her to do it. It's possible that you'll never find out, but hopefully, you will.