Conversations with a time-locked enchantress
| a time-locked enchantress | |
First conversation:
a time-locked enchantress says, "Oh thank the heavens! Someone else! Are you from the past, or the future? The future, I would gather. Anyway, I'm glad you've come, you see I thought those things were going to tear this entire place apart, and they've beaten most all of the guards, and my magic is completely ineffectual against these things, I mean, can you imagine how frustrating it has been to try to fight these things with no magic, oh dear me..."
You say, "Whoa whoa! Slow down! What happened? Where did all of these clockworks come from?"
"Err... well... see... the funniest thing! I can't be sure exactly where they came from, but I think it had something to do with Rilgor, since after I gave him the robe things started to change, but I can't figure out why because he seemed so nice and was so happy to have the robe..."
"Wait, robe? The Shiny Metallic Robe?"
"Oh why yes yes! That's the one! You see, I made this plan to get the robe, because, when I went into Guk and I couldn't find it, I assumed that someone had taken it already, so I went back in time to try and get it before they did, but I think I changed something in the time continuum which might maybe possibly have lead to all of these robots, although I haven't had a chance to really evaluate my theory..."
"Don't you ever stop talking? Now wait... are you the one who caused all of this??"
"Well... perhaps maybe! But it isn't all the way my fault! I mean, I needed the robe, someone just took them before I could get to them! You must see how this isn't really very fair!"
"How did you get the robe in the first place?"
"Well, that's another interesting story, as well... but I had to make my way to the hideout of the Circle of Unseen Hands, then I had to cast a couple of spells and umm... well... it was pretty clever if I do say so myself! I'll tell you the story... so there I was, in the hideout, and..."
"Ugh... another time. So now what? Are the clockworks going to destroy everything?"
""Going to" or "already have"? Because really, there's not a lot left. I heard that they are having a rough go of it in Velious, though, what with all of the ice and such. Just freezes their parts! It probably makes the oil run slower, too... hmm..."
"What's going to happen to the timeline, then?"
"Well... if my calculations are correct, this timeline is a pocket or bubble time -- like a space within the actual timeline. So really, there's little chance that it will become the actual timeline or alter the events of the original time. Well... a slim chance. Maybe fifty-fifty. I can't be sure, these things don't give me a minute to think..."
"What? So this could become all of our fates?! Clockworks could take over Norrath?!"
"Oh well... I mean it's theoretically possible. Really, it's kind of an unforeseen event, you must understand, so it's not really my fault, as I said before..."
"That's wonderful... okay, how can we stop it?"
"Well, hmm... I hadn't really thought about it, but I think it would primarily involve returning the shining metallic robe back to where it belongs, in the timeline it belongs in. Yes... yes, I think that would just about do it."
"Where is the robe, then?"
"I traded it to Rilgor back in the past for a silly mechanical pen. If I had that, it might be possible to get the robe back..."
"Wait, you mean this pen?"
"Oh yes yes! That's the one! Okay, now, let's see... hmm mmm mmm mmm mmm... Oh! Okay! Well, I gave it to Rilgor, so maybe it is still in the possession of his family! Yes indeed! That's certainly the best bet!"
"Okay, wait, wasn't giving him the robe in the first place what got you in this mess? Why would they have the robe if that's what caused this in the first place?"
"Well, we don't KNOW that's what caused this... it's just a logical deduction. But it's also possible that the timelines are slowly merging, like, bit by bit. In any case, it's worth a try."
"Where will I find his family, then?"
"There's no way I can tell you that... I don't know your world! You'll just have to find them. I know that I gave him the robe back in Ak'Anon, but I don't know what's ever become of that old place..."
"Well, there might be a problem there, as Ak'Anon isn't exactly what it used to be."
"Well I don't know then! It's up to you! Look around for pieces of Ak'Anon or something like that. You know that we gnomes love to be near our creations and all. I'm sure you can find something!"
"Very well. I'll return when I find something."
Second conversation with the time-locked enchantress:
a time-locked enchantress says, "These things just keep coming! Oh, they are the worst! It's good to see you again, though... did you find the robe?"
You say, "I did... but they are quite clearly showing their age." (Quest updates and completes now)
"Oh... ohhhhh this will not do at all! How did this even happen? This must be what created the time breach! This was never supposed to become of the shining metallic robe! We need to get it back! We need to repair the paradox!"
"Okay... well, how will we do that?"
"We need to go back to the only point that I KNOW the robe will be at... immediately after I gave it to Rilgor in the first place! We need to go to that point, explain what happened, and get the robe back from him!"
"Fine then... where's your time machine?"
"Well... you see, the funny thing is... mine is kind of destroyed. I'm stuck here for the time being, at least until we repair the breach. I'll need you to get it for me, and bring it back here."
"Can't you just use the portal I came through?"
"I dare not, I'm not sure if my leaving here will collapse the time bubble and merge the timelines. You will need to complete this one... just go back to Rilgor and explain!"
"I have no way there, though. I have no time machine... wait... there's the one that Gabblin found in the Moors of Ykesha...I think that one was the Clockomatic 3000."
"Oh yes! Use that one! That one has a home point within Ak'Anon, since that is where I originally activated it! It should take you exactly where you need to go!"
"Well, let's just hope that Gabblin fixed it, then. I'll return when I get the Shiny Metallic Robe."
Third and final conversation with the time-locked enchantress:
a time-locked enchantress says, "I am so glad you've come back! I'm not sure how much longer I can hold these things off! Please tell me you got the robe!"
You say, "I certainly did. After all that we've gone through... here it is."
"Oh goodie goodie goodie! Yes, with this, I can repair the time bubble and put everything right! Oh, you've been such a dear through this whole thing, I really wish I could reward you for your help!"
"Well, I think not being tossed into non-existence was reward itself."
"Oh yes, I completely agree. Oh! And on that note, we need to make sure this doesn't happen again."
"Indeed? And how?"
"Well, when you return to your time, I need you to destroy the time devices, and all of my notes. I can't let anyone build another one of these, lest the timeline be disrupted once again."
"How shall I do that?"
"Oh, just wreck the machines... I don't care how you do that. But the notes... incinerate them. Just... I don't know... toss them in the lava pools in Lavastorm. That will take care of them for sure!"
"In the lava? All right. What will you do?"
"Well, I think I know what I did wrong, so I'm going to go back and attempt to fix it. I'm pretty sure it will go just fine. I guess you'll know that I failed if there's some kind of huge cataclysm or something that like, tears everything apart. Ha ha ha! Can you imagine?"
"You know... it's kind of funny you mentioned that, because..."
"Well, I need to be going! Now hurry, I need you to leave before I close the bubble. Before you go, I want you to know that I really enjoyed meeting you!! And who knows, we may meet again one day!"
"Who can know? I'll be on my way now. Farewell to you."
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