CampaignDialogue:WoF

This is a transcription of all dialogue from Winds of Fate. It is meant as a resource for Wesnoth writers. If you don't want spoilers, leave this page now.

Death Dialogue

Gorlack

So much left... unfinished...

Reshan

Gorlack: Reshan!

Scenario 1: The Hunt

Story Text

From the skies above, the glider caste felt the Winds of Fate.

They saw the diminishment of our nourishing lands as the isles of Morogor slipped into the sea. They heard the cries of starving hatchlings before the wasting's eternal hush.

Newer flights scraped out a meager existence on islets of rock their ancestors would have scorned. With envious eyes these flights gazed upon the green expanses of the central isles. Then it began...

One by one, the most desperate flights turned rogue. They broke the long peace among drakes by invading the domains of their neighbors. One by one, the rogues were destroyed by the honorable flights in accord with the Ways. Still more turned; two by two, then four by four. Soon enough there would be more flights to betray the Ways of Morogor than uphold them.

It was in this dark time the glider caste felt a familiar Windpath under their wings, a path newly recast from the twisting Winds of Fate. Curious landbound creatures had been sighted on the Isle of Omarath. Faring across the ocean upon their wooden sea skimmers, they journeyed from beyond one side of the horizon to the other. Even the strongest of wing could not safely follow them so far as they went, lest they pass the point of no return. Just the same, the ancient glider caste had more than a notion of their destination.

For their Spoken Memories told what other castes had forgotten. There are lands beyond Morogor, across the Great Ocean. From there drakes came long ago. To this wider world we needed return.

Introductory Dialogue

Reshan: Behold, the Isle of Gaall. The most perilous hunting ground in the Domain of Vladnir. Many a hunter has become its prey.

Gorlack: Our trial for aspirancy has come at last. The hunt that awaits us below will prove a worthy test.

Reshan: If only we could still count Karron among us...

I fear without his aid this trial will outmatch us. We too may fall prey to this isle.

Gorlack: Karron never was among us, verily. His heart sought glory over our greater purpose.

We need no further hunters to prevail here. No less of a challenge readies us for aspirancy. Neither the reascension long fortold by your caste.

Call the Hunt.

Reshan: By your will - Hunters! Descend!

Turn 3

Reshan: Behold the many healing oases which dot this isle. Their cleansing waters purge miasma from wounds. While the tailleaf growing at their shores makes a fine poultice.

Any of us injured during the hunt should seek an oasis for healing.

Reaching the southern village

Unit: Ah, it's you, Gorlack. In my fire for the hunt, I strayed from Karron's pack. Then a bite from venomous prey drove my retreat here.

The waters flowing from the Cenotaph of Kotick have purged the venom from my wound. I ask sanction to join your hunt, so I might now purge the dishonor of my folly.

Gorlack: It was Karron that dishonored himself by not regathering you.

My sanction is given.

Reaching the northern village

Karron: So it is, that timid Gorlack attempts the Trial of Gaall.

Gorlack: So it is, that brave Karron cowers within the Cenotaph of Morogor.

Reshan: Karron, you're without companions.

Karron: One was slain. The other went astray.

Reshan: To attempt this trial with only two allies was unwise.

Karron: Yet so have I already succeeded, little glider. All my prey-tokens are gathered; my hunt is ended.

Gorlack: Then take your leave.

Karron: As you wish.

Gorlack: ... Karron, hold.

It's perilous to depart from this place unaided.

For your own sake, join us.

Karron: Gorlack, it's purely for your sakes that I shall do so. One final time.

When this isle is behind us, we part again as foes. You'll taste humiliation at the contention. I shall deliver it.

Karron is defeated

Karron: Curse these nipping beasts!

Gorlack, the rest are in your keeping; I must withdraw.

Victory Dialogue

Reshan: Victory is yours, Aspirant Gorlack.

Gorlack: Learn from this trial, Reshan. Your doubt voiced at the onset of this hunt; see now its futility.

Reshan: Your Windpath was well chosen. I was wrong to doubt your fearless heart, to which I owe my life.

Gorlack... though you've forbade it, I must speak of the cave.

My life - debt to you must be -

Gorlack: Nay!

There's nothing more to be said of that place.

You know what lies ahead. Henceforth, we must look only to the future.

Scenario 2: Reclamation

Story Text

Having risen to the rank of aspirant, Gorlack only needed perform an act of duty to secure his entry into the contention.

The opportunity arose with a summons from Dominant Vladnir...

Vladnir: The treachery of Gorath Ohm was only a brush with the coming war between flights. Many eyes watch us that will soon be of rogues. They spy frailty... for even now an infestation of voracious landbound creatures keeps a holdfast on our northermost isle. This isle that was before bountiful with game is now laid bare by these infesters.

Karron: So then let this pestilence be harvested in place of the meat it has taken!

Vladnir: Aspirant Karron, offer your ploy of attack.

Karron: Full encirclement from offshore. No escape will be permitted. From the circle I shall spy their thinnest line of defense. Then strike through it to reach the nighest watchtower. From there I rally a force to purge the isle. Wherever their defenses thin to feed a counterattack against me, the circle will fall upon.

Vladnir: A firm ploy, Aspirant Karron. Now offer yours, Aspirant Gorlack.

Gorlack: Cornered prey defends its back. Encircly is folly. Let our prey think they can thwart us. Two equal wings of drakes. First wing strikes southeast watchtower on first dawn. The creatures will rally to fall upon it, a mere half force as it is. On second dawn, second wing strikes opposite from northwest. When they'll find our prey's back turned to them.

Karron: Your first wing wouldn't last the day, Gorlack. It's you who speaks folly!

Gorlack: The wing will hold. I shall lead it myself to see that it does.

Vladnir: Aspirant Gorlack, for the first time your ploy is bolder than Aspirant Karron's. I'm curious as to why.

Gorlack: So that I may capture the leader of our prey unspoilt. Urged by the touch of flame, this creature might breathe secrets for reaching far lands beyond the sea.

Karron: Again you waste time pondering Reshan's glider myths! If the far lands of glider legend ever were, they now dwell below the waves. Every raindrop drowns more of the world till the sky itself is filled.

Gorlack: Wingless. Finless. These intruders are land bound. They can only be from distant land.

Vladnir: So it will be. Aspirant Gorlack, you may take this captive for inquisition. Aspirant Karron, you have lead of the second wing. The Hunt is called.

Introductory Dialogue

Reshan: It seems by our swift approach we have evaded our foe's notice. They have yet to rally a defense.

Gorlack: We shall retake the nigh watchtower before they do so. From there we rally a defense of our own.

Reshan: If we are to ensnare their leader unharmed, then we must surround it with our hunters.

Gorlack: Make that your first task, Reshan. Once we have our captive, burn their sea skimmers. The landbound prey may then be left for our younger hunters to harvest.

Turn 1

Viragar: Rally! Rally! Get to your posts, you scum! Wyrms are raining down on us! Pull our boats back and keep the fire breathers off them!

Viragar is captured

Gorlack: Speak, prey. Your kind fares beyond these isles. You'll tell us of your destinations.

Viragar: Release me now and maybe I let some of you live... for future sport of my archers! Hahahaha!

Gorlack: Put him on the Spit of Telling.

Viragar is killed

Gorlack: Nay! It was to be taken alive!

Diary

Narrator: ... that a fearsome war between drakes is fast approaching.

Each flight is led by a 'dominant' and advised by three ranked intendants. Beneath these are aspirant, whose position is like a princeship except their ascensionto dominant is decided by contest. There's also a caste system that cuts across the flights, with four castes -

- Burners are strategic thinkers and show special concern for their fellow drakes. They're natural leaders. But prideful and prone to losing sight of the little things that grow into defeat.

- Clashers are trusted by all to fairly enforce the Ways of Morogor. They guard the drake hatcheries, and also libraries of secret knowledge engraved into ceramic tablets. They keep these secrets not just from us, but from the other castes.

- Fighters are bold. Quick thinking but decisive to the point of shortsightedness. They're our biggest trouble here.

- Gliders have a curious mind steeped in the 'Spoken Memories', a kind of oral history unknown to the other castes. As scouts, messengers, and stewards of the hunting grounds, they know Morogor is sinking. But the other castes ignore their warnings.

A young glider, Reshan, told me his caste hopes to escape Morogor, and I suspect our arrival here may have encouraged them. Thankfully, Jessene keeps all her navigational charts under lock and key. If she hadn't, the beating of dragon wings might be heard over Southbay!

Jessene says her people are familiar with these dragons. Their tomes describe such a race of monsters that drove the Wesfolk from the distant west. And the gliders too have stories of drakes living far beyond Morogor. Reshan told me a few of these stories, before our parley was broken by another rebellion from the fighter caste.

- Prince Leodren of Southbay,

26th day of the Eastwood Oceanic Expedition

Finding the Drake Clasher

Gorlack: Clasher, fall in.

Unit: My duty is to first destroy the Secrets of our library.

The Secrets my caste keeps mustn't be seen by a foe.

Gorlack: There's no foe on this isle, only prey.

The hunt has been called. Your prior duty is hereby superseded.

Sheet

Normal unit

Unit: This firescale is far too cumbersome for armor making...

Clasher glyphs are engraved into it; this firescale must bear Secrets of their caste.

Clasher unit

Unit: It's forbidden for me to speak the Secrets engraved into this firescale.

By the Ways of Morogor, we clashers must keep our Secrets.

Turn 7

Reshan: Lo! Karron reinforces us.

Karron: I see Gorlack still lasts...

Wing, descend upon the interlopers. Leave no survivors!

Gorlack: Karron, their leader is to remain alive. I want no repeat of last time.

Karron: You don't command me, Gorlack.

Gorlack: I remind you it's by Vladnir's order this creature remains whole.

Karron: So be it. My wing will hold your prize inviolate.

Mostly.

Karron is defeated

Karron: I must withdraw. Another triumph falls to Gorlack alone.

Victory Dialogue

Reshan: The sea skimmers are perished. Their hope of escape is no more.

Gorlack: Our hunters will complete the harvesting.

Now see to -

Reshan: Lo! An unknown wing approaches from northwest!

Gorlack: Announce yourselves!

Koli: I'm Second Intendant Koli of Flight Omakon.

Reshan: The troubled Domain of Omakon is six dozen leagues away.

They're strangely far out...

Karron: They're rogue.

Gorlack: State your purpose here!

Koli: My dominant has sent me to observe the status of this isle.

Karron: So your dominant has you probing for soft scales...

Probe just a little closer, rogue!

Gorlack: If you approach any closer, then by the Ways of Morogor we shall Proclaim you Rogue.

Koli: If my flight were rogue, you'd already know it. For when the time comes to move against you, we shall first warn of our cold intent. As a final honorable act towards you, our fellow drakes...

Then the needs of our hatchlings will demand the taking of your hunting grounds.

For now, I go.

Karron: Indeed, return to your dominant. Tell her of what you have seen here this day. What we've done to these creatures is only a glimpse of the fate which awaits you!

Reshan: The rogue flights grow bolder.

Gorlack: Soon they won't matter.

Go ensure that our captive is attended to, Reshan.

Scenario 3: Victory Feast

Fresh prey carcasses were justly divided among hunters in accord with the Ways of Morogor. An ample victory feast was had...

Karron: Savory... (crunch)

Sapid... (chewing)... these creatures are a delicacy without match.

Reshan: Gorlack, I bear rich tidings. The captive's mind revealed its every secret.

Gorlack: Excellent, Reshan! Speak of it.

Reshan: 'Orcs' the creatures call themselves.

Karron: (examining his meal)... 'Orkchops'.

(CRUNCH)

Reshan: They flow forth from a 'Green Isle' in the distant west. It's great enough to rival even our own central isles.

Yet, further west sits a land vast beyond perception; even from the clouds you couldn't see its entirety. Surely it's the place from which our ancestors followed Dominant Morogor into exile.

Gorlack: It may very well be, Reshan. Now speak of our prey's destination in the east.

Reshan: Perilous that way is. A wide stretch of sea unexceptional flyers might cross with fortune from the Winds of Fate.

Then only a cluster of shoals to rest them, which might be slid past unnoticed with perilous ease.

Gorlack: Go on.

Reshan: Further east, another stretch of sea, nearly as wide.

At last, the Greatland, a land as vast as the ocean itself. Likewise mysterious.

The Spoken Memories tell us drakes once thrived there into the Time of Turmoil. When nigh all of them perished in an unknown calamity.

Gorlack: If there our prey migrates, then there our prey will be most plentiful.

With the flight I earn at the contention, I shall go to this Greatland far beyond. There my eyrie will be set; a beacon leading other flights to salvation.

Karron: Gorlack, that will condemn Vladnir to destruction!

He counts on us, his aspirants, to set eyries within his domain. Only with nigh allies can Flight Vladnir hold against the rogues!

Gorlack: Mine is a higher task, Karron.

I must do as all our folk need. Lest a day comes when none can hold against the rogues. Neither the burning hunger that drives them to treachery.

Karron: Then you, who shirks an ally, must meet defeat at the contention.

I shall win the new flight myself, so that with it the Domain of Vladnir will hold!

Scenario 4: The Contention

Story Text

So the day of the contention came. Each caste elected an aspirant from their ranks to become the new dominant. Each aspirant chose carefully three intendants to aid them.

All the skills to lead a flight were tested. Each aspirant was put through trials of endurance, trials of warfare and trials of the hunt. In the end, only the two aspirants of Vladnir remained to face one another in the Arena of Dominance, in the very heart of Morogor...

Introductory Dialogue

Karron: Today, my old mentor, it's I that teaches you. You shall learn a pivotal lesson in humility!

Gorlack: If just sharp as your tongue were your teeth.

WoF: Specified Unit Names

Drakes

• Gorlack (Armageddon Drake)
• Reshan (Hurricane Drake)
• Karron (Drake Blademaster)
• Vladnir (Drake Warden)
• Koli (Drake Flameheart)
• Gelshitt Ohn (Drake Warrior)
• Gili (Drake Thrasher)
• Vashlsh Ko (Sky Drake)
• Velkré (Drake Arbiter)
• Oma'ag (Drake Flare)

Orcs

• Viragar (Orcish Warrior)
• Grol (Orcish Crossbowman)
• Pigor (Orcish Slayer)
• Grag (Orcish Warrior)