Since my current project is in its final stages, my mind has been roving around for a new idea to fixate on. I was not planning to do more modding, at least not right away, but apparently it's addictive. And this isn't a promise to complete this because God only knows what RL has in store for me over the next few months, but it's definitely something I'd like to write.
Haer'Dalis is one of my favorite NPCs, and I wanted to romance him since my first vanilla SoA playthrough. I know there is at least one project that died a few years ago, and though I've poked around on their old threads, I'm going to take this my own direction if I do write it. I did some very rough brainstorming, so here it is, though it's far from complete. Warning for longness.
What I'm looking for is feedback, suggestions, criticism, anything.I don?t believe a race requirement would be necessary, since I don?t see HD as particularly picky about race. There will also not be any alignment restrictions, though I?m thinking some tension with a lawful PC might be in order. I do intend to keep this for females only. There will be a moderate CHA (~13+?) requirement, and a low INT (11+?) requirement ? I see those two attributes as the only that would matter as far as HD?s attraction to the PC.
The romance begins with a simple inquiry into the PC?s origins. It is likely that HD already has a pretty good idea of her Bhaalspawn heritage, as he never asks about it in the vanilla game, unlike most of the other new companions. This first talk is a means to determine the PC?s openness/trust toward him. The PC can be honest, can tell him she doesn?t trust him yet, or can tell him off completely. If she is honest, the next set of LTs will begin; if she says she doesn?t trust him, she will be able to pick the dialog up at any time via PID, but no new LTs will appear until she expresses some trust in him; telling him off shows a lack of interest and will end any possible chance for future romance.
The next LT is essentially HD saying, ?Let me tell your story, my raven!? He expresses deep curiosity about her past, her present, and where the future is leading her, and begs permission to learn more about her. She is a herald of entropy and chaos, no matter what her alignment, and he is openly interested in her. If asked, however, he insists that his interest is entirely professional, and he only wishes to learn her story that he might share it with the world one day. Again, trust leads to more LTs, lack of trust will pause the romance, and rudeness ends the romance.
The next several LTs are related to the PC?s past, BG1 essentially. Through the course of the talks, the PC can turn the tables on HD and ask him personal questions as well, though he will probably give brief/evasive answers at first. PID talks allow the PC to delve more deeply into his past, but her trust (or lack thereof) toward him will effect his answers/willingness to answer.
One of the things that really struck me about HD when I first played SoA was his treatment of Yoshimo. No matter how evil or depraved the other NPCs are, HD is teasing, taunting, playful, mocking, but never openly hostile or rude to any of them ? aside from Yoshimo. His distaste for the rogue is tangible. This to me shows a side of HD that is deeply buried ? an honestly protective streak. Despite his love of entropy and decay, it angers him to trade words with the wolf in sheep's clothing. I intend to play off of that a bit. If Yoshi is in the party, there will be extra talks (nothing that spoils or reveals anything), and there will be extra talks related to his betrayal as well if he?s in the party at Spellhold.
Hmm, tangent. Anyway, back to the LTs ? after 4-5 talks about the PC?s past with bits of HD?s past mixed in, HD will ask how the PC ended up in Amn. If the PC talks openly about Irenicus and what she suffered at his hands, HD reveals a level of concern that is clearly beyond the ?professional interest? he?s expressed in the PC thus far. The PC can comment on this, pressure him if you will, or can be anything from embarrassed to neutral about it, or tell him to get away from her.
The next few LTs will be a lot of ?come here/go away? on HD?s part. Despite being a Doomguard, despite all the things he?s seen and despite his love of his beliefs, I believe it would be a daunting thing to fall for a Child of Murder. On top of that, she is a mystery to him ? where other people would have died, failed, fallen, decayed to make way for the new, she is constantly growing and surviving where she should not. He admires her, deeply, but is also intimidated on some level by her. Eventually all the tension will culminate in a decision, and I like the idea of more than one ?type? of romance ? a PC pressuring him/flirting with him/coaxing him into a relationship vs a PC who is shy/reluctant/wants to be pursued, something like that. Despite any early reluctance, however, once HD is committed, he is committed.
I do not want to write a conflict with Aerie. My opinion is that if HD is fixated on the PC, he is not going to give her a second glance. Perhaps he might do some flirting to get a reaction from the PC (though I think he would do that with any female NPC in the party, not just Aerie), but the real romance will be disabled if I have my way because I just don?t see him as being the type to fixate on two women at once.
Okay, that's all of my thoughts for the moment. This is obviously in the outline stages, but since we're talking about a NPC that's already established as a character, I think it's important to get player feedback before I get too committed to any one idea.
