Gauld/Stories

General Stories Misc

Quotes

On Sortied

We Rokkans are as strong as mountains.

On Entering a Room

Are we getting rowdy here? My but that takes me back!

When Quest Begins

Keep it safe now, hear?

Make sure your gear is in order, unless you want to end up dead.

Response to Beginning of a Quest

And be sure to watch out for rockslides!

You bet! This old arm of mine is always ready for a scrap.

When Controlling Character in Quest

More fighting, is it?

When Receiving a Heal

I live for my granddaughter!

Looks like I got a second lease on life!

When Entering a Boss' Room

Now there's a foe with a face worth breaking.

Let's dig us up a big win here!

Response to Entering a Boss' Room

Right. Let's break 'em good!

Aw, this'll be easy!

Upon Getting to Low Health

Is that all you've got? Bring it on!

I'm not about to die here and abandon my granddaughter!

Upon Opening a Chest

Anything in there my granddaughter might enjoy?

Gave it a bit of a love tap there. Heh, hope I didn't break it.

Boss on Low Health

It won't be long before I can see my granddaughter again.

A bit more and we'll strike the mother lode!

Boss Enters Break State

I'm not so soft that I'd let this gem of a chance slip away!

Get your pickaxes out—it's time to DIG!

Rare Enemy Spawns

I wager my granddaughter would like a rare sight like that.

That's rarer than a 50-carat gemstone!

Upon Death

Oh, Angie...

Guess I'm losing my touch...

Upon Revival

My granddaughter is waiting on me!

When Using Weapon/Shared Skills

Damage: I'll smash you.

Buff Self: My Rokkan strength can split up boulders.

Buff Ally: Need a hand?

Debuff Enemy: I'll show you true experience.

Heal Ally: People who live fast tend to die young.

Heal Self: I'm solid as a boulder.

Player Uses Damaging Skill

Now there's a fine sight!

Not bad! You'd be well at home in the tunnels!

When Shape Shifting is Ready

This dragon is fit to blast!

It's time for some shapeshifting!

Shape Shifting into Dragon

Oh I'm real mad now!

Idle During Quest

Looks like the old arm is working just fine.

I wonder what my granddaughter is doing right now...

Quest Clear

I fight to protect my granddaughter.

Quest Failure

I can't let my granddaughter see me like this...

Home Screen Walking

Don't go asking me about the past.

How's the old metal girl doing today?

Nighttime reminds me of bygone days.

Tunnels are my true stomping ground.

I'm worried about my granddaughter.

These old scars are aching today...

Home Screen Inside

Rokkans are a mining folk. We aren't happy unless we're knee-deep in ore and the like.

I'd be long since dead if it weren't for this tough rokkan body of mine.

This old girl here is my metal arm. Threw my original one away the same time I did my past.

HUH?! I'LL KILL YOU! ...Oh, well, hell. Sorry about that. Old habits die hard, I suppose.

I need to think up games for my granddaughter. So far I have staring contests and dirt sorting.

Once my granddaughter is of age, any who come to call on her will have to pass muster with me.

Home Screen Portrait

Us miners don't feel right unless we're spending time in a deep dank shaft.

Looking after young ones is atonement for things I did it my wilder days.

Hm? I hear my granddaughter crying! Hold on, child, I'm coming!

I understand the thinking of evil people. A jackal always knows a jackal.

Thank you for taking me into your home. My granddaughter will be happy here.

Collection Portrait

There's no trick to mining. Just find a huge boulder, break

it in two and then... Hm? What do you mean, most folks can't do that?

Whenever I get angry I start to shout and yell like I did in my old days.

If anyone puts a frown on my granddaughter's face, they'll hear about it from me.

I'm not much for machinery. I tend to end up breaking things.

My little brother and I still have unfinished business. I suppose that is my destiny.

At The Halidom

Living among folks like this takes me way, way back...

I'm not much for sun. Makes me...itchy.

Seven-and-a-half hells! I got separated from my granddaughter!

New Mana Circle Unlocked

I'm still in my prime!

On Mana Circle Fully Unbound

A man can't make the past disappear. All he can do is try to move on.

On Promotion to 5

A man can't make the past disappear. All he can do is try to move on.

Adventurer Story Episodes

Episode 1

Happy Anonymity

Hah! Yah! ...Phew! I know there's a juicy vein of ore waiting for me if I can just cut through this hard bedrock. Hoo-eee, but ya work like a dog, Gauld! Might consider takin' a break there 'afore yer arms fall off, yessir. If you want to rest, be my guest. There's juice in these old bones yet. Consarnit and hornswaggle! Reckon I know now why all the miners here look up to ya like they does! But are ya sure ya won't rest? 'Cause a certain someone just came by what to— Here now, listen to me! I'm not made of such slight stuff that a hard day's work will put me in the grave! Eeeek! I'm s-sorry! Angie! H-hi, Gramps. I, um...made you lunch? And you're just in time, darling! Your old Gramps was just thinking about how tuckered out he was. Yeee-haw! Who knew a big fella like you would be such a softy for ol' Angie?! My granddaughter is an angel, and there ain't an old man around whose heart wouldn't melt at the sight of her! Yer darn tootin' about that! Well, I'm off to see to m'own vittles. Hooo-eee! Lunch! Thanks for showing me how to get over here, Mr. Miner! Um, Gramps? You weren't...mad at me just now, were you? Never, child. Never in life. You're my everything. Hee hee! Yay! Okay, then let's eat! I made a toooon of food for you. I hope it's enough. Well, what a lucky old pickaxe I am, getting to eat homemade food from my lovely little granddaughter... Gramps, stooop! We eat together at home every day! And that doesn't dim my excitement one whit. Now let's have a look-see at what you whipped up here... Hmm? The hell ya think yer doin', ya sonofa horse's hind end?! YER the one what wanted a fight! I'll kill ya nine ways from Sunday! Eeek! I'm scared! S-s-s-scaaaaaared... Damn! She's having another fit! *pant* *pant* *pant* It's okay, baby. Gramps's got you. ...Oh, damn them two rockbrains! Oy! Knock it off, the both of ya! Don't be startin' fights here. Sit down, old timer, unless ya wanna piece of what I'm gonna give HIM! Yeah, back off, Gauld! Lemme show this dad-sizzle idiot what-for! ...You givin' me guff? Erk! Wh-whoa... This old timer's got bite... S-sorry 'bout that, Gauld. Guess I sorta let my temper get the best of me. If you get it, then buzz off. You're scaring my granddaughter. Wh-whatever ya say, Gauld! There there, Angie. It's all right now. The scary men are gone. *pant* R-really? Really. I'm sorry you had to see that, but it's all going to be fine. I'm sorry, Gramps. I just... It wasn't your fault, love. No need to go blaming yourself. You two made it back okay? Yep. Sorry for the trouble. Hell, the fault's with me. I didn't tell the new guy 'bout Angie's fits, and... Still, poor little lass. Poor indeed. It never fails—if she sees folks get violent, she gets the shakes like nothing I've ever seen. Her body freezes up in fear, like, and her breathing gets real hard. I imagine that kind of thing takes her back to the day her ma and pa were killed. Gotta do what ya must to protect her. Hell, I get it. You bet I will. (...But do I have the RIGHT, is the question?) (Do I have the right to embrace a pure little girl with these bloodstained hands?) Anyhow, I'm off to sort out the newbies. We can't be havin' fists fly down here! That boy sure had a short fuse. What's his deal? As I hear it, he's got some rotten business in his past—claims he's turned over a new leaf, though. Accordin' to the boss, he was damn near beggin' to work in this here mine. This mine in particular? Shady. Mighty shady. Ilia's beard, Gauld! Quit givin' me the devil's stare, wouldja? Whenever yer riled, ya get this damn-all intense look about ya. Reckon that's what put the pins to that fight before. It's enough to make a man wonder what dark shafts ya wandered down in yer bad old days, so it is! Haw haw! What, me? I'm just a regular old pickaxe who's working the mines to support his little granddaughter. Well, if ya say so. Just ease off on the death stare, will ya? It's givin' folks a real case of the knock-knees. ...Not good. I need to watch it. Still, sounds like we've got ourselves a once and former troublemaker here. Sure hope this new fella can keep his past in the past...

Episode 2

Stirring Trouble

I knew it! Yer Gauld the Bloodfist! No idea what you're on about. Don't play dumb with me, old timer. That fake arm there's a dead giveaway. I came here to find you. You don't belong in a mine. I'm a miner. Where else am I supposed to crack rocks? Sakes alive, but yer a stubborn old ox. Yer old Bloodfist woulda torn itself off and run away if ya tried to use it to dig up a buncha old boulders! Nothing bloody about this limb of mine— and it works just fine for the job I do. Are you serious? C'mon now, we all know the story of the old Bloodfist. A real crimson puncher, that one! Hell yeah! Let's see that arm'a yers painted red again, old timer! ...... You belong at his side, ya know. ...C'mon, ya know who I'm talkin' about! Flap your jaws till your head flies off. I still don't have a clue. Fine. If yer gonna play stupid, I'll just have ya show me what's under that bushy beard'a yers. Looks like you've made a point to grow it nice and long to hide the "sign," but hiding it won't make it go away, old man. ...Walk away. Now. If ya want me to stop, admit who you are and come with me to see him. Otherwise... Otherwise what? You think you can handle what I'll dish out? ...... If it's the story of the Bloodfist ya want, I'll give it to ya WITH A DEMONSTRATION, ya cockle-headed daisypusher! You sure you wanna do that, old timer? I'm with HIM, after all. If you were gonna hide behind yer mama's skirts when things got hot, you shoulda told me that from the get-go! Now get the hell outta here—and tell HIM that my place is here now, got it?! Ain't smart to turn him down, old timer. Ain't smart at all. ...... That the new guy just now? Guess I hazed him a little hard. He up and quit on the spot. Saint and bejabbers, Gauld! I told ya not to be breakin' out the death stare again! I know, I know. It's just when my blood starts to boil, I only know one way to get my point across. I thought I'd changed since the old days, but maybe that's a fool's dream... Gauld? ...Never mind me. Let's get back to work. Welcome home, Gramps! Are you done working for today? I sure am, darling. And what a lucky fellow I am to have you to cheer me up after a long day in the mines. You're so funny, Gramps! ...Huh? Hee hee! Your beard is all messy. Let me wipe it off. DON'T TOUCH IT! Eeeek! Angie! Oh darling, I'm so sorry! *pant* *pant* G-Gramps... Oh, Angie... I'm sorry, love. I'm sorry, Gramps... I... *pant* Hush now. I'm the one who did wrong. I'm the one who did wrong... Meanwhile...
So we found him at last, eh? Sure did, boss! It was Gauld the Bloodfist, big as life'n twice as ugly. ...So why isn't he here? H-he wouldn't come. Didn't want to, like. I figured it was best to run back and letcha know quick as I could. I didn't order you to "figure" what was best. I ordered you to bring him to me. Was I not clear? B-boss, I'm real sorry... Take him away. I got no use for a fool that don't know how to listen. Boss, no! I did my best for ya! Lemme go, ya clods! Lemme... NOOOOO! This ain't some sweet little club where ya get extra points for "doin' yer best!" Which makes us the perfect match for the Bloodfist. Geh heh heh...

Episode 3

Haunted by the Past

Well, well. Gauld the Bloodfist. No idea what you're talking about. Who are you, stranger? Don't think I've seen your mug around these parts. Name's Hawk—although you might be better off calling me "the Reaper." The assassin?! It's said that when you pick a target, they never get out alive. You of all people should know better than to put stock in base rumors. After all, the Bloodfist himself escaped the Reaper. ...... If you'd come to finish the job, I reckon I'd be dead already. So why are you here, then? I'm trying to dismantle a rokkan criminal organization called the Burly Boys. N-never heard of 'em! Well, that's surprising, considering you used to be their leader. ...It's got nothing to do with me. Not anymore. If that's how you feel, I won't push for your help—but you'd be wise to keep one ear very close to the ground. That a threat? Just advice. The Burly Boys you knew were criminals, but at least they had a code. This new iteration, though, is nothing but a pack of wild jackals. Their only business is crime, and they don't care who gets hurt—including members of their own gang. The decline is obvious, and everyone who remembers their former glory is saying the same thing... "If only Gauld the Bloodfist was here." I think we're done talking here, friend. Like I said, it's nothing to do with me. But the Burly Boys— Enough! Me and this arm have one task now, and that's protecting our family. Apologies for the trouble, in that case. I wish you and your family well. I... Strange to see you here at this hour, Gauld. You usually head straight home as soon as it's quittin' time. You get into a fight with Angie or something? I couldn't ever fight with my Angie! It's just that... Well... Still seekin' comfort in solitude, Gauld? Ha! Some things don't ever change. Bareed! What are you doing here?! And what more can you possibly want from me at this point? Pretty cold way to treat a man ya used to break bread AND necks with. That's in the past. You and me? We're done. I used to think the same. Turns out it ain't quite the case. Come with me, Gauld! Let's get out there and crack some skulls! I know ya gotta have the same old itch I do! Ain't that right, Bloodfist? That man is gone. You should know that better than any—you're the one who took that fist from me. Eh, I'm not so sure. Ya ask me, you're just as strong and angry as ya were back in the day. You're one of us, after all. You'll always be a Burly Boy. My place is in a small little house with my small little family. FAMILY?! You turned your back on your family! You sayin' you got someone else? A granddaughter, as a matter of fact. And I swore this arm would be used for nothing but taking care of her. Wait a sec. You ain't talkin' about GIRARD'S kid, are ya?! Oh, that is RICH! You're takin' some girl what ain't even yer own blood and callin' her yer GRANDDAUGHTER?! Blood's got nothing to do with it. Angie is family. That's that. WE were yer family, Gauld! Us! The Burly Boys! Ain't no damned point in playin' house with that thug's kid! The HELL did you just say, dog?! You impylin' Angie ain't my family?! Even if me and Angie ain't related by blood, that— N-no! That's not true! ...Is it, Gramps?  ?! Angie? What are you doin' here?! Someone told me they saw you go in here... But is it true, Gramps? Is all the stuff that scary man said true? Er... True as treasure, little lass! Oh, and if ya wanna know about yer REAL daddy, I can give you all the dirty details... He was a no-good thug who ain't related to ol' Gauld at all. Gramps? You...lied to me? I'm not really your granddaughter? Oh, girl. Look, it's true we're not related by blood, but— N-no! Stay back! You're a LIAR! Angie, wait! ANGIE! Geh heh heh. Oh, this is some good info right here. Some good info indeed...

Episode 4

The Bloodfist

*pant* *pant* She's nowhere to be seen... Oh, Angie, where have you gone?! Have ya managed to track down that adorable little moppet of yours yet? I ain't got time for yer crap, Bareed! Not sure I'd take that tone with me, old friend. 'Specially not if ya wanna see that kid again. WHAT DID YOU DO?! Now THERE'S the Bloodfist I remember! Never were able to control yer temper. Still, the girl is safe as houses back at my place, so don't ya worry none. Ya KIDNAPPED her?! Oh, but I've MISSED ya, Gauld! And no, I ain't kidnapped no one. Just think of it as yer old pal keepin' a young girl safe. But if ya want her to stay all pretty and unharmed, yer gonna do what I say! Let me see her. Please. Gah ha ha! Oh, it's so damn hard to tell ya no, Gauld. It really is. Buuuut...no. Not unless ya come back to be my right-hand man with the Burly Boys! Why are you so obsessed with me? YOU'RE the boss now! I turned all that over to you and walked away! My time is over. You're the only one who thinks that way. We got problems comin' at us from every which'a way, and all folks can say is that they'd be done and dusted if the ol' Bloodfist was still around. So that's why they need to see YOU backin' ME! Ease their minds, like. ...All right. I'll do it. Gah ha ha! Ya see? This ain't so hard! Just fall in line and do what I say, and nobody's gotta get hurt. GAAAAH HA HA HA HA! Urgh... *sniffle* GRAMPS! ...Oh, wait. You're not my gramps. I'm sorry, Angie. I really am. But I never meant to lie to you. I was just waiting for you to get a little older before I told you the whole truth. I just... I can't believe it. How could you keep it a secret? ...Because I was scared. Scared how? I was scared what you'd think of me if I told you the whole truth. I thought you might just quit outta my life for good. But that was cowardice, and it caused you pain. I can't tell you how sorry I am. Can you please forgive me? And maybe...call me Gramps again? Hmm... Well, Gr— Okay, think that's enough'a the heartfelt reunion! Get over here, little miss. Eeek! Bareed! If ya lay another finger on her, yer gonna deal with ME! I give the orders here, Gauld! You shut up and take 'em! Aaah... AAAAAAAH! Ah, hell! She's havin' a fit! Bareed, please. I'm sorry. You just... You have to stay calm in front of her. No violence or harsh words. Okay? GAAAH HA HA! Now who whoulda thought the Bloodfist would bow his head to ME?! But I ain't an unreasonable man. If ya want the kid healthy and happy, ya just gotta do what I say. Easy, no? ...All right. Then for starters, ya can sit right here, shut yer yap, and not move. Got it? ...Oh, don't lookit me like that! I got a mountain'a work for ya—you'll be outta here before ya have time to get bored. Oh, Angie... Later that night...
I'm sorry, Angie. This is all my fault. I can't let that go on any longer. Even if it means— Staining your hands once again? The Reaper! Why are you here? I told you, I'm trying to put an end to the Burly Boys. You planning to kill Bareed? And am I on the list now, too? If necessary. ...It's no surprise it's come to this for Bareed. But please, just not right now! Is this about Angie? You know about her? I've seen people like her before. That's a girl with some deep hurt. And it's all because of me. Her real dad was one of the Burly Boys— guy named Girard. He was a bad sort, and that's puttin' it lightly. He'd throw the Burly Boys name around to lord over people, then take off the second things got hairy. Never kept a promise. Only thought about himself. But the Burly Boys was made for guys like that. We were all bad, more or less. But then he crossed the one line we had. He killed one of our own. He knew the hell that would come for him, so he stabbed us in the back and sold us out to a rival organization. As the boss, I couldn't let it slide. I tracked him down and...dealt with it. ...And she saw it. ...Yes. Angie saw my arm covered in her own father's blood. Now, she was just a baby back then, so she doesn't really remember it. Not clearly, anyway. But she's terrified by violence. Terrified. Even a raised voice is enough to send her into a crazed fit. We had it rough as kids ourselves. Useless parents tossed us out and forced us into a life on the street. We started the Burly Boys in order to have a place lost boys like us could make a little coin. Soon enough, we were thriving. Before I knew it, I'd gone from BEING an unhappy kid to MAKING them. Once I realized that, I knew the group couldn't continue. So you stopped being the Bloodfist. I didn't need an arm covered in blood— I needed one that could comfort a child. Guess maybe that was my own way to run away. From the Burly Boys, from my past...all of it. I should have used my fist to beat the Boys into shape. Instead, I destroyed it. My life's just one mistake after another... If you make a mistake, make it right. It's not too late to do that now. Heh. Strange world indeed where I'm being comforted by the Reaper. It's precisely because of the life I've lived that I wish for a peaceful and happy world—the life I failed to obtain. Suffering makes for strange bedfellows. Still, you're right—if I'm going to make this right, I have to start now. I need to find Angie and Bareed. Will you help me, Reaper? I will. Just hang on, Angie... Gramps is comin' for ya!

Episode 5

True Family

Urgh... *sniffle* I ain't warnin' ya again kid—cut it out with the waterworks, or it ain't gonna go well for ya. I...I'm sorry, mister. There ya go, that's the right attitude. Just do whatever I tell ya and we'll be best pals for life. I'd hate to have to do somethin' nasty to my sweet little grandniece. G-grandniece? What, you didn't know? Me'n Gauld are kin. Brothers. Real family, bonded by blood— unlike the two'a you! Gaaah ha ha! So...we're not real family? Gah hah hah! No sweetums, ya ain't. Yer only real family went face down in the dust a loooong time ago. N-no... You're lying! Waaaaah! Kid, what did I tell ya 'bout that?! Don't make Uncle Bareed come over there and smack ya one, now! If you lay a hand on her, it's coming off. Gauld! Thought I told ya to stay in yer room like a good little boy. Guess I gotta put the hurt on ya what to make my point especially clear. ...Boys! Get out here and let fists fly! ...... Hey! I TOLD ya to get yer lousy stinkin' lazy butts OUT HERE! I don't think your boys are coming. I had to teach 'em a little lesson in how to behave earlier. Ya took 'em out all quiet-like? Dammit, Gauld! I didn't think ya knew anything but bustin' heads loud enough what to wake the dead! You always used to make fun'a folks what were sly and cagey like that! People can change as much as they want, so long as they have the desire. Oh, and I had little help, too—the kind that won't be coming for you. I'll have to be sure and thank the Reaper next time I see him. Why in the name'a hell's bakery would the Reaper help YOU?! Dammit! It's always been like this! Five minutes in yer company, and folks are trippin' over their own undies what to help ya! Everybody always loves you! Never me! YOU! Bareed, what do you even want? I gave you everything I had back then. My arm, the Burly Boys...all of it. Was that not enough? Do you need to take even more from me? YER the one what took things away! Not me! IT WAS NEVER ME! What? We started the Burly Boys together, you and me. We were gonna make a place where misfits and gutter rats could find a way to make a livin'. And YOU were the one who said we needed strength to do it—the kinda strength no one else could match. That's right. But that strength was only supposed to be a means to an end. Before I knew it, it had become the entire end itself. So THAT'S why you threw us out like day-old beef and started playin' house with some pathetic nose-picker?! Strength means somethin'! It matters! Hell, makin' the Burly Boys strong gave some folks a damn place in the world! By some folks, you mean you. Damn right I do—which is why I say ya went and stole everything from me! I want the past back, my brother. The days when you and me would sow nine kinds of hell on the local population. The days we was movin' up in the world! We can go back to that, you'n me— but only if it's you AND me! Live fast and die young was the motto. But now we're too old to do that. I've got too many important people in my life now to be throwing my weight around and damning the consequences. Then I guess I'll just have to take 'em all away from ya! Maybe I'll start with this sweet little "granddaughter" of yers! Eeek! Angie! *pant* *pant* Rrrrr... AAAAAGH! OWWW! Yer damn kid BIT me! 'Cause y-y-you're a big IDIOT!  ?! All that stuff you said Gramps stole was stuff he GAVE you in the first place! And what'd you give him back? Nothing! You never cared what HE wanted! A family has to support each other! That's what family IS! I thought Angie hated violence, but now she's layin' into Bareed like nobody's business—and that's AFTER she bit him! Time to shut that mouth of yers for good, kid. And don't say I never warned ya! I told you what would happen if you laid a hand on her, Bareed! You damned idiot! You're finished, Bareed. You and the Burly Boys both. Gah ha ha! Oh, nothing's finished at all. You got no idea 'bout the little surprise what I whipped up for ya! What?! There's a whole pile a minin' explosives stored beneath this place! Are ya ready for a BOOM, brother? Gaaaah ha ha ha ha! Damn! Where do you think you're going, Bareed? I got no plans to be buried here with the rest of the family. I'll see ya around...if ya make it out, that is! Gaaah ha ha! GAAAAH HA HA HA HA! We need to get out of here now! *pant* *pant* Whew! We made it. Are you all right, Angie? Um, yes. I'm okay. That's good. Still, we're in trouble. No way we can stick around here— not with Bareed and the rest of his gang still running the joint. In that case, I know just the place. Should have known you'd make it out alive, Reaper. If you're looking for a new home, head for a castle called the Halidom. It's run by a young Alberian royal, but this one actually has a kind heart. You really think we can just walk up to some royal's castle and ask to be let in? Oh, it happens more than you'd expect. Plus, the prince already knows about you—it was his idea for me to find you to help put down the Burly Boys. He's a man you can trust; you'll be more than welcome. If you vouch for him, that's enough for me. ...What do you think, Angie? Sound good? Oh, um... What's wrong, darling? Are you hurt? I'm sorry, Gramps! I'm sorry about all the mean things I said to you before! Water under the bridge, love. You calling me Gramps again is all I need. Besides, you saved me. Hoo-ee, but you tore into Bareed like an alley cat! It's 'cause you looked so sad! I wanted it to stop, so I just...I just did it! You're a kind soul, darling. And I know exactly what you mean. That line of thinking is what REALLY makes a family. Doing whatever it takes for each other, I mean. It is? Love conquers blood, girl. Always. So as long as you're okay with it, I'm happy to be your Gramps forever. And you can just go on being the world's most perfect granddaughter!