Tales From the Tabard Inn

By Lazarus

mcleod989@yahoo.com

Thank you for downloading Tales From the Tabard Inn, my third scenario for Blades of Avernum. This scenario functions a bit differently than most of the scenarios out there, so it's important you read the next few sections of this readme, especially the stuff about graphics.

Tales From the Tabard Inn is a collection of 5 short scenarios, which intertwine to tell 5 different sides of one story. This means the point of view is often changing, and when it does the graphic for your PC must also change. Unfortunately I can't do this using scripts, due to the limitations of BoA. Windows users will have to paste G904 into the "Game Graphics" folder in BoA's Data folder, and G1651-G1812 into the "Art Graphics" folder (Don't worry about backing up the old graphics you're pasting over, I included a backup copy of them with the scenario.) You may have to restart BoA for the changes to take effect. Mac users shouldn't have to worry about this entire step.

Now that this is done, you're ready to play. When you begin the scenario your party will be cut down to 1 member (I'll be restoring the party at the end. I've become more generous since Frostbite.) This is the "Bard" character. Set his portrait and appearance to the appropriate graphic shown below. Now you can talk to the Inn's guests, some of which will tell you their story. When a new Tale begins, reset your portrait and character graphic to the appropriate graphics, again listed in the table below. Mac users DO have to do this.

If you haven't already, read the previous paragraph (and the one before that as well, if you're a windows user.) The table below tells you which graphic corresponds to which character. It is important that you reset your graphic and portrait to the appropriate sheet whenever you enter a new Tale. Remember, this is done by clicking the abilities button and selecting "Change Character Graphic"

Name	Appearance	Portrait
Bard
Knight
Merchant
Bounty Hunter
Prisoner
Priestess

Beta Testers

Enraged Slith - Who has yet to master the BoA-workout-plan.
Iffy - Who did fine for a first timer.
Nikki - Who is unable to appreciate high art. Suck it.
Nioca - Whose report had me hooked at line one (The rest didn't disappoint.)
TM - Whose description defies snippets.
Tyranicus - Who, despite reassurance that this time would be different, was yet again a huge disappointment.

Graphics

TGM-- Throwing Daggers, Dialog Pics (300, 301, 302, 304, 305, 306, 307, Bard PC portrait), Bounty Hunter, Gallows (Along with gallow floors, stairs and cliffs)
Luz-- Floors (All of G400 except color swaps by TGM), pews, wooden stairs, tables, ramps
Ephesos-- Trees, Fake doors.
Enraged Slith-- Knight, north facing cart.
TM-- Blue Zealot, Black bandit, Stone cliffs
Shinobi-- Samael
Nioca-- Bottom (A color edit which I further edited)

Everything else was either googled, nethergated, geneforged, or altered by myself.

Version History

1.0.0 - Original Release

Other Thanks

Thanks to Notus, Isaac and the rest of the Windows 3D editor team.
Thanks to Dintiradan for creating Astring-- if typos bothered you just know there would be a million more without this program.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the 24 Hour Scenario Contest
Thanks to TGM and Enraged Slith, both of whom promptly met my requests for custom graphics. If you like the gallows scene you have these two to thank.
Thanks to TM, who was not only the first tester for the Tabard Inn compilation, but was also my betatester for the individual contest entries.

Q&A

Q. I'm in the Inn, now what?
A. Talk to people. Several of the NPCs at the Tabard Inn will tell you their story, which basically starts up the mini-scenarios that comprise this scenario.
Q. I can't move, and nothing seems to be going on. What gives?
A. If you aren't allowed to move, try clicking wait. If that doesn't trigger an event, try talking to nearby NPCs (it'll usually be obvious who.)
Q. In what order should I play the Tales?
A. It doesn't really matter, you can play them in any order you want. None of the Tales make perfect sense until you've started playing the others, so if something happens that seems random or unexplained, expect to have it explained later.
Q. Cut the crap-- I know there's a best order and you're going to tell me.
A. If you really can't make up your mind on your own then you could try Knight, Merchant, Prisoner, Priestess, Bounty Hunter. But feel free to deviate from that-- if you're dying to hear the Bounty Hunter's Tale you don't have to wait to play it.
Q. I'm getting my ass kicked.
A. First make sure your gear is equipped. When you enter a new tale you get all new gear, which you have to put back on. When a tale starts, see what potions, spells, and equipment you've been given so you know what you have at your disposal. When it comes time to fight, buff yourself with spells or potions and wear down opponents with range attacks if that's an option.
Q. How do I leave?
A. You can only leave from the Inn, which means you can't leave during the middle of a tale. Once you leave by the north or south road your party will be restored and you can pick up your gear before leaving the scenario.
Q. Alright, you trashed my graphics file and now I'm done with the scenario. How do I fix this?
A. I've included a zip of all the original graphics that are replaced in Tales From the Tabard Inn, so Windows users can simply unzip this file (located in the same folder as the Readme-- I presume you've already found it :P) and paste its contents into the 'Art Graphics' Folder in the BoA data folder. G904 (the portraits) must go in 'Game Graphics.'