One Ring to Rule Them All... (Off)

Once, then I've read about ubering (and Charisma is probably one of the most often ridiculously lowered stats), I tried to imagine: how will it be for the protagonist with next-to-nothing leadership potential?
This little scene is the result.
Brief explanation: party is just out of Irenicus' Dungeon. Berenor is a human mage with Charisma 3 and the party's Bhaalspawn and (not very) esteemed leader.
Oh, and the ring in question is a Ring of Human Influence. For those who forgot, it sets the wearer's charisma on 18.
Of course, all comments and corrections are warmly welcomed.
So, without further ado...



One Ring to Rule Them All…


Minsc: Look, an ogre!
Aerie: I’m not an ogre! I am an elf! It’s those ch-chains… Only you can’t see them.
Berenor: I think…
Minsc: Minsc is confused. Boo doesn’t smell evil from the ogre with the nice voice.
Yoshimo: I advise to be very cautious. Especially in a place like this one.
Aerie: I am Aerie, priestess of Baervar and w-wizardess. I worked in this circus… Kalah, the illusionist, put his enchantments on our tent. And on all of us! He turned me into this… ogre!
Yoshimo: It sounds like truth. Remember those illusions near entrance?
Berenor: I probably could…
Jaheira: If you are wizardess, ogre-girl, maybe you could offer some advice how to dispel these enchantments?
Aerie: N-no. But I know how to break the spell on me! You only have to remove the chains… they are invisible… The key to them is a sword; those two peasants over there have it. But… I saw them tear someone apart and… and eat him… No, it’s true!
Jaheira: Ogre or girl, do not lie to us.
Aerie: I’m not lying!
Berenor: If somebody will listen to me at last…
Minsc: Minsc has killed evil peasants! They will be eating no one anymore!
Jaheira: Minsc, give me their sword.
Berenor: …I’m suggesting…
Minsc: Hurray! The ogre became a pretty elf lady!
Berenor: …to try to dispel the illusion… Oh.
Yoshimo: Who are you, beautiful lady? And what are you doing in a strange place such as this?
Aerie: I… I am so glad. That rough skin, the horrible warts… The nasty disheveled locks… What?
Jaheira: Don’t be so hard on yourself, girl.
Aerie: Why you, you… Ah!
Berenor: Isn’t it the time to move on, already?
Minsc: Now we have pretty elven witch! Minsc is glad.
Yoshimo: I think it is time to see what else has this Kalah character got in store for us.
Aerie: We must save uncle Quayle! You… you will take me with you? Please?
Minsc: Forward, heroes! To save the uncle and to chop evil Kalah into little bits!
Jaheira: Wait, Minsc, I think Berenor wanted to say something.
Berenor: (silently waves his hand.)


Kalah: Ah, my beastie.
Aerie: What?! I am not…
Minsc: She’s not a beastie, she’s a witch, evil gnome!
Kalah: What? You are not my beastie? But you all are my beasties, don’t you see?
Berenor: That jelly over there…
Kalah: You, bald giant with a rat…
Minsc: Boo is not a rat! And Minsc is not a beastie.
Boo: Squeak!
Kalah: …and you, severe half-elf…
Jaheira: Pray you won’t know how beastly I can be, stupid gnome.
Kalah: …and you, shifty-eyed Kara-Turan.
Yoshimo: How touching. I am his beastie now.
Berenor: Gnome, haven’t you forgotten someone?
Aerie: Kalah, there’s my uncle Quayle?
Quayle: Aerie, girl, there are you? I (schloop) cannot see, I have no eyes!
Kalah: It seems I have forgotten someone. Well, it’s not important. Let’s have a show, shall we? Have fun, my beasties! Tear each other apa…
(Berenor casts Hold Monster on Kalah. Kalah freezes in place.)
Minsc: CHAAARGE!
(Party chops up Kalah and his shadows. The moment the gnome falls dead, illusions vanish.)

Aerie: Uncle Quayle, you… are you again!
Quayle: Ha-ha! I knew Kalah would bite more than he can chew!
Aerie: Thank Baervar! I just don’t know what would I do without you.
Quayle: My little Aerie, I think it is time for you to find out. I’ve taught you everything I knew. Now you’ll have to learn the rest on your own.
Aerie: But uncle…
Quayle: Hush, Aerie. Dear adventurers, will you take my girl in your party?
Minsc: Of course! The witch Aerie will help us search for Imoen!
Jaheira: Girl definitely has shown some spirit. A little naïve, perhaps, but we’ll change it.
Yoshimo: Welcome to our party, dear Aerie!
Boo: Squeak!
Minsc: Boo says we forgot to ask someone.

(During this dialogue Berenor searches the Kalah’s corpse. He removes a ring from the dead gnome’s finger and puts it on his own.)

Quayle: Berenor! You are here, old friend! Long time no see! How are you? How’s adventuring business?
Berenor: Don’t even ask, Quayle.
Quayle: Will you take my little girl with that party of yours, Berenor? She’s a good girl, but she has to learn more about the world. Under your guidance she will be all right.
Aerie: I will miss you, uncle. You… you will take me with you, Berenor?
Minsc: Berenor, let’s take the elven witch in our party!
Berenor: All right. Welcome to our party, dear Aerie!
Yoshimo: It’s strange… I feel like I’ve already said that line.
Jaheira: Where are we going now, o fearless leader?
Berenor: Come, friends. Athkatla is waiting!

(Exeunt.)

Once, then I've read about ubering (and Charisma is probably one of the most often ridiculously lowered stats), I tried to imagine: how will it be for the protagonist with next-to-nothing leadership potential?

Ah, yes. It is sad though, isn't it? After all, Charisma was one of the most important stats in BG1 and it is close to useless in BG2. I have to say, that initially I used to create PC's with 18 in the main stat cathegories, like a 18STR/18DEX/18CON fighter-types, all at Charisma expense. But now I found that boring... these days I play a female paladin with 16STR/16DEX/11CON, but - 17INT and 18 natural Charisma. And my half-elven F/M has 17STR/15DEX/13CON/15INT... but very high natural Wisdom and Charisma... it's really fun to have a non-perfect char

This little scene is the result.
Brief explanation: party is just out of Irenicus' Dungeon. Berenor is a human mage with Charisma 3 and the party's Bhaalspawn and (not very) esteemed leader.

Well, I think he has something in common with Theo, Bhaalspawn from my novel. Jaheira has led his party from FAI... probably that is why he's still alive, too...

Minsc: Look, an ogre!
Aerie: I’m not an ogre! I am an elf! It’s those ch-chains… Only you can’t see them.
Berenor: I think…
Minsc: Minsc is confused. Boo doesn’t smell evil from the ogre with the nice voice.
Yoshimo: I advise to be very cautious. Especially in a place like this one.
Aerie: I am Aerie, priestess of Baervar and w-wizardess. I worked in this circus… Kalah, the illusionist, put his enchantments on our tent. And on all of us! He turned me into this… ogre!
Yoshimo: It sounds like truth. Remember those illusions near entrance?
Berenor: I probably could…
Jaheira: If you are wizardess, ogre-girl, maybe you could offer some advice how to dispel these enchantments?
Aerie: N-no. But I know how to break the spell on me! You only have to remove the chains… they are invisible… The key to them is a sword; those two peasants over there have it. But… I saw them tear someone apart and… and eat him… No, it’s true!
Jaheira: Ogre or girl, do not lie to us.
Aerie: I’m not lying!
Berenor: If somebody will listen to me at last…

I see what you mean, poor guy can't get a word in... and I kinda hoped that the lack of Charisma will mean a bad end to Aerie...

Yoshimo: Who are you, beautiful lady? And what are you doing in a strange place such as this?
Aerie: I… I am so glad. That rough skin, the horrible warts… The nasty disheveled locks… What?
Jaheira: Don’t be so hard on yourself, girl.
Aerie: Why you, you… Ah!
Berenor: Isn’t it the time to move on, already?
Minsc: Now we have pretty elven witch! Minsc is glad.
Yoshimo: I think it is time to see what else has this Kalah character got in store for us.
Aerie: We must save uncle Quayle! You… you will take me with you? Please?

Good thing she remembered, she seemed too busy adoring her beautiful, silky skin...

Minsc: Forward, heroes! To save the uncle and to chop evil Kalah into little bits!
Jaheira: Wait, Minsc, I think Berenor wanted to say something.
Berenor: (silently waves his hand.)

LOL! That's mightly sweet of Jaheira to even bother to ask, y'know...

Kalah: You, bald giant with a rat…
Minsc: Boo is not a rat! And Minsc is not a beastie.
Boo: Squeak!
Kalah: …and you, severe half-elf…
Jaheira: Pray you won’t know how beastly I can be, stupid gnome.

LOL, that's a good line!

Kalah: It seems I have forgotten someone. Well, it’s not important. Let’s have a show, shall we? Have fun, my beasties! Tear each other apa…
(Berenor casts Hold Monster on Kalah. Kalah freezes in place.)
Minsc: CHAAARGE!
(Party chops up Kalah and his shadows. The moment the gnome falls dead, illusions vanish.)

That was quite thoughtless of Kalah. After all, he claimed that he did it all, because nobody respected him and generally ignored him... and here he repayed poor Berenor with the same...

Minsc: Of course! The witch Aerie will help us search for Imoen!
Jaheira: Girl definitely has shown some spirit. A little naïve, perhaps, but we’ll change it.
Yoshimo: Welcome to our party, dear Aerie!
Boo: Squeak!

Uh-oh... you'll be sorry for this decision... better by earplugs already cause the whining will start soon...

Quayle: Berenor! You are here, old friend! Long time no see! How are you? How’s adventuring business?
Berenor: Don’t even ask, Quayle.
Quayle: Will you take my little girl with that party of yours, Berenor? She’s a good girl, but she has to learn more about the world. Under your guidance she will be all right.
Aerie: I will miss you, uncle. You… you will take me with you, Berenor?
Minsc: Berenor, let’s take the elven witch in our party!
Berenor: All right. Welcome to our party, dear Aerie!

Quite the turnaround, eh? I bet Berenor is enjoing it... but of course, he will have to wear the ring of Acuity and the ring of Wizardy eventually, so his Charisma will drop to 3 again...

Jaheira: Where are we going now, o fearless leader?

LOL! And a turnaround of attitude too... I wonder if there is a Charisma check to trigger Jaheira-romance - after all, this is the first LT and she was unlikely to address Berenor as the fearless leader before...

That was quite amusing, I must say.

Once, then I've read about ubering (and Charisma is probably one of the most often ridiculously lowered stats), I tried to imagine: how will it be for the protagonist with next-to-nothing leadership potential?

Ah, yes. It is sad though, isn't it? After all, Charisma was one of the most important stats in BG1 and it is close to useless in BG2. I have to say, that initially I used to create PC's with 18 in the main stat cathegories, like a 18STR/18DEX/18CON fighter-types, all at Charisma expense. But now I found that boring... these days I play a female paladin with 16STR/16DEX/11CON, but - 17INT and 18 natural Charisma. And my half-elven F/M has 17STR/15DEX/13CON/15INT... but very high natural Wisdom and Charisma... it's really fun to have a non-perfect char

In Torment "social" stats (especially Wisdom) make a HUGE difference.

Well, I think he has something in common with Theo, Bhaalspawn from my novel. Jaheira has led his party from FAI... probably that is why he's still alive, too...

Probably the same thing happened with Berenor. Although Berenor's "gift" could be useful for travelling alone.
Bandits: Give us all your money or we'll kick you inna... Darn! Where'd he go?
Berenor: (shrugs, walks away.)

I see what you mean, poor guy can't get a word in... and I kinda hoped that the lack of Charisma will mean a bad end to Aerie...

No such luck

Aerie: We must save uncle Quayle! You… you will take me with you? Please?

Good thing she remembered, she seemed too busy adoring her beautiful, silky skin...

She did rather, didn't she?

Minsc: Forward, heroes! To save the uncle and to chop evil Kalah into little bits!
Jaheira: Wait, Minsc, I think Berenor wanted to say something.
Berenor: (silently waves his hand.)

LOL! That's mightly sweet of Jaheira to even bother to ask, y'know...

At least she asked. Others just ignore him.

Jaheira: Pray you won’t know how beastly I can be, stupid gnome.

LOL, that's a good line!

Thanks! I tried to catch her reaction.

That was quite thoughtless of Kalah. After all, he claimed that he did it all, because nobody respected him and generally ignored him... and here he repayed poor Berenor with the same...

And that was his downfall

Minsc: Of course! The witch Aerie will help us search for Imoen!
Jaheira: Girl definitely has shown some spirit. A little naïve, perhaps, but we’ll change it.
Yoshimo: Welcome to our party, dear Aerie!
Boo: Squeak!

Uh-oh... you'll be sorry for this decision... better by earplugs already cause the whining will start soon...

Quite the turnaround, eh? I bet Berenor is enjoing it... but of course, he will have to wear the ring of Acuity and the ring of Wizardy eventually, so his Charisma will drop to 3 again...

Jaheira: Where are we going now, o fearless leader?

LOL! And a turnaround of attitude too... I wonder if there is a Charisma check to trigger Jaheira-romance - after all, this is the first LT and she was unlikely to address Berenor as the fearless leader before...

Yep, the first Lovetalk. I hope for Berenor's sake he'll keep this ring permanently.
And if he has a gram of sence, that is, if he doesn't have Wisdom 3 as well, he'll do it.

That was quite amusing, I must say.

Thanks, and thanks for commenting!

Berenor: I probably could…
Jaheira: If you are wizardess, ogre-girl, maybe you could offer some advice how to dispel these enchantments?

Totally ignoring him.

Aerie: N-no. But I know how to break the spell on me! You only have to remove the chains… they are invisible… The key to them is a sword; those two peasants over there have it. But… I saw them tear someone apart and… and eat him… No, it’s true!
Jaheira: Ogre or girl, do not lie to us.
Aerie: I’m not lying!
Berenor: If somebody will listen to me at last…
Minsc: Minsc has killed evil peasants! They will be eating no one anymore!
Jaheira: Minsc, give me their sword.
Berenor: …I’m suggesting…

But nobody's listening.

[quote]
Kalah: Ah, my beastie.
Aerie: What?! I am not…
Minsc: She’s not a beastie, she’s a witch, evil gnome!
Kalah: What? You are not my beastie? But you all are my beasties, don’t you see?
Berenor: That jelly over there…
Kalah: You, bald giant with a rat…
Minsc: Boo is not a rat! And Minsc is not a beastie.
Boo: Squeak!
Kalah: …and you, severe half-elf…
Jaheira: Pray you won’t know how beastly I can be, stupid gnome.
Kalah: …and you, shifty-eyed Kara-Turan.
Yoshimo: How touching. I am his beastie now.
Berenor: Gnome, haven’t you forgotten someone?

Huh? Did anyone say something?

Aerie: Kalah, there’s my uncle Quayle?
Quayle: Aerie, girl, there are you? I (schloop) cannot see, I have no eyes!

I like the sound effect.

[quote]
(During this dialogue Berenor searches the Kalah’s corpse. He removes a ring from the dead gnome’s finger and puts it on his own.)
[/quote]

Time to teach these fools some respect.

[quote]
Quayle: Berenor! You are here, old friend! Long time no see! How are you? How’s adventuring business?
Berenor: Don’t even ask, Quayle.
Quayle: Will you take my little girl with that party of yours, Berenor? She’s a good girl, but she has to learn more about the world. Under your guidance she will be all right.
Aerie: I will miss you, uncle. You… you will take me with you, Berenor?
Minsc: Berenor, let’s take the elven witch in our party!
Berenor: All right. Welcome to our party, dear Aerie!
Yoshimo: It’s strange… I feel like I’ve already said that line.
Jaheira: Where are we going now, o fearless leader?
Berenor: Come, friends. Athkatla is waiting!
[/quote]

Let's hope that he never looses that ring.

Good story

Hunter

Berenor: I probably could…
Jaheira: If you are wizardess, ogre-girl, maybe you could offer some advice how to dispel these enchantments?

Totally ignoring him.

Jaheira was party's "omnipresent authority figure" since the FA Inn.

Aerie: N-no. But I know how to break the spell on me! You only have to remove the chains… they are invisible… The key to them is a sword; those two peasants over there have it. But… I saw them tear someone apart and… and eat him… No, it’s true!
Jaheira: Ogre or girl, do not lie to us.
Aerie: I’m not lying!
Berenor: If somebody will listen to me at last…
Minsc: Minsc has killed evil peasants! They will be eating no one anymore!
Jaheira: Minsc, give me their sword.
Berenor: …I’m suggesting…

But nobody's listening.

He's used to it

Kalah: Ah, my beastie.
Aerie: What?! I am not…
Minsc: She’s not a beastie, she’s a witch, evil gnome!
Kalah: What? You are not my beastie? But you all are my beasties, don’t you see?
Berenor: That jelly over there…
Kalah: You, bald giant with a rat…
Minsc: Boo is not a rat! And Minsc is not a beastie.
Boo: Squeak!
Kalah: …and you, severe half-elf…
Jaheira: Pray you won’t know how beastly I can be, stupid gnome.
Kalah: …and you, shifty-eyed Kara-Turan.
Yoshimo: How touching. I am his beastie now.
Berenor: Gnome, haven’t you forgotten someone?

Huh? Did anyone say something?

Nah... There's nobody else here. Or not?

Aerie: Kalah, there’s my uncle Quayle?
Quayle: Aerie, girl, there are you? I (schloop) cannot see, I have no eyes!

I like the sound effect.

Yep, should be "sound emoticon". Another useful one would be "Squeak!"

(During this dialogue Berenor searches the Kalah’s corpse. He removes a ring from the dead gnome’s finger and puts it on his own.)

Time to teach these fools some respect.

Believe me, he's looking forward to it.

Let's hope that he never looses that ring.

Yep, would be embarassing if he'd remove it in a middle of a Lovetalk

Good story

Hunter

Thanks, and thanks for commenting!

I read this story at least trice during the past week and every time it gave me a good laugh. You are making a good use of the piece of equipment and breath life into stats concept. Thank you for sharing!

I read this story at least trice during the past week and every time it gave me a good laugh. You are making a good use of the piece of equipment and breath life into stats concept. Thank you for sharing!

Thank you!