Let’s take a look at Victor.
Stats in the game work as follows:
Victor has two skill trees: combat and technical. Indeed in the book, Victor is a sword wielding warrior in medium armour. Here, however, Victor will focus solely on the technical tree.
The technical tree requires mostly Intellect to be raised, which meshes very well with the fact that Victor is supposed to become a mage throughout the storyline.
In the technical skill are weapon options like chainsaw, flamer, explosives and chain gun. We will focus Victor on pistol/rifle.
The chemistry tree kind of feels overpowered, since it gives very decent protection right out of the gate?
As for Telle, she has only one skill tree: “Unknown Magic”.
Telle starts with one damage spell and one healing spell. She’ll mostly play the role of support mage until at one point she gains access to instant death spells that she’ll be able to spam non stop and become p. overpowered.
Near the starting place are some boars who are not aggressive and easy to defeat (and yes, there’s a huge annoying quest arrow on the screen which is impossible to get rid of).
Far to the west are very powerful enemies guarding a border area of sorts.
Telle’s magic almost one shots the poor boars. The very first fight in the game.
After the fight is another conversation with Telle.
Telle, I’m fed up with your riddles! Maybe you can start explaining?
Victor, why are you so angry?
I’m sorry, I’m just tired. The attack, this strange forest…
Okay, listen, but don’t be surprised and don’t ask me to repeat myself.
I am listening.
There are three worlds: The Midworld, The Highworld and The Within. You lived in The Within.
Wait, does it mean there are three parallel worlds?
Well, not exactly. It’s difficult to explain in common language…
There is only one world. We do not say that a shirt consists of the inside, the outside and the middle.
There is only one world. The difference is how you look upon it, from which side. You lived in the Within. There everything is different from my side or The Highworld.
And mages and dragons live in The Highworld?
What’s the difference? That’s only form. There is only one world, but you can look at it from different sides. And live… in different sides.
And go – through the sides?
Sometimes…
Not everybody can get there, because nobody chooses in what side to be born. Whatever you grow accustomed to, you will look upon as a thing accepted. You’ll see only what you expect to see.
What’s your perspective, then, Telle?
It’s a good question. I look from everywhere.
Does that mean that you can travel through the worlds?
Yes, I can. So, do you believe me now?
What else can I do? There are no such places where I live, that’s for sure. Your wounds heal over as if you didn’t have them at all. The passage, the attack, this strange Border… By the way, what kind of Border is it?
A great battle took place here, long, long ago…
Two armies… on one side were the people, and on the other – inhuman monsters. The army of the people was almost entirely swept away. Swords are as a disadvantage compared with arrows and axes…
Then the mages joined the battle… And the dead troop rose up again, and moved towards the monstrous enemy, and the enemy lost… it’s very difficult to kill the dead twice.
But the Mages would not relinquish their power. Their fear was too great. Forbidden words were spoken… and the dead were denied their peace.
The fallen troop of the enemy rose up from the ground as well. Fearing that everything would come to an end for the living, once and for all, former enemies closed their ranks, monster and men fighting shoulder to shoulder, against their fallen friends. But they could not overcome… as every new warrior slain rose up again and turned upon their brothers.
Then came only the one who could stop all this. This one rose between the army of the dead and the army of the living, and measured off the Grey Border.
Quite an interesting story, an epic one.
Since then, there appeared the Border, which the dead won’t cross and the living dare not enter.
Well, that explains the level 40 skeletons, I guess.
And have we entered?
Everything changes. Rivers change their courses, mountains rise up from the ground. In the past the path lay past the Border. Now I don’t know. They say it’s become dangerous to travel here.
Moving on further, just before leaving the area there is an ambush by bandits.
We’re just passing through!
You’ll pass… if we let you…
Let us go.
Gold is what we want…
I won’t pay.
Then leave the girl… you go…
I won’t go without her.
Then you’ll stay here.
Defeating the main bandit starts a curious exchange.
It’s possible to kill off the main bandit but there’s another, odd choice here.
"Enslaving" the bandit seems to impress Telle.
You’re probably right… [her voice seems confused and… guilty?]
Victor, forgive me for presuming to give you advice.
One of the bandits drops a broadsword, which is an upgrade from Victor’s starting weapon.
Now finally Victor & Telle can move on from the starting area. Time to enter Hillandia.
