NPC's. Also known as Non-playable Characters, these programmed people or creatures populate most of the game world. Usually, their interaction with players and the world are limited to a couple of lines or cinematic scenes. However, this NPC in front of me feels like a living, breathing person.
"Why the fuck would you bring Sinter's pupil here you stupid disciple!" the old man yells at Eleanor with a little bit of a southern drawl and throws a toy's arm at her.
Before it could reach her though, the arm disintegrates. She bows deeply and says, "Sorry, Master! I saw that he made a toy and I just thought that he should learn more from the best."
With those words, the old man calms down a bit and lifts up his face in pride.
"Of course," he scoffs. "Anyone would be blessed if they could even kiss my feet."
"Yes, of course!" Eleanor piles on his ego. "That's why he's here! To learn from you. Isn't that right Devon?" she says and nudges me with her elbow.
"O-of course," I say as I bow slightly. "I just finished Jimmy here on my own so I would like to know an expert's opinion."
The old man seems satisfied as he begins to smile cheekily. He takes his extravagant monocle and approaches Jimmy. "Now let's see what kinda amateur tried to make this."
I watch nervously as he uses his monocle to inspect Jimmy from head to toe. I did my best with it but if I made a mistake somehow, I hope it's not too late to fix it. After his thorough inspection, he wears a grim expression.
"Did you say you made it yourself?" he asks gravely.
I nod sheepishly.
"Well, shit..." he says. "Stupid disciple, I don't know what your friend here does in his free time but he'll put a lot of my students to shame."
My face lights up. "Really?!" I exclaim. "You're not messing with me right?"
He sighs. "Be honest with me boy. Are you Sinter's disciple?"
I shake my head. "Hell no! He tried to kill us when we entered his dungeon so I blew him up."
His face shows some shock but also a hint of sadness. "So the old motherfucker's dead huh..."
The air in the room turns a bit awkward. I look at Eleanor and she looks at me; both of us don't know how to proceed.
"So you got his methods?" he breaks the silence.
"Y-yes!" I reply. "I learned it and combined it with what I knew."
He nods knowingly. "It shows in your work. That thing there ain't pure Sinter technology," he says as he sits back down on his high stool.
"So, will you be able to help my friend improve, Master?" Eleanor asks.
He shakes his head. "Nah. His method's totally different from mine since he took on Sinter's theories. If anyone could teach him, it'd be Sinter but seeing that you killed him, that ain't possible. In any case, your friend's talented enough and he ain't the type to improve with teaching anyway so I won't worry too much."
Even though he's just an NPC, praise coming from someone who's called the [Master Toymaker] is pretty satisfying. I look at Jimmy and my heart fills with pride with what I created.
"Umm... Mister Horatio, Sir," I call out sheepishly.
"Drop the Mister and the Sir, boy. I ain't that fucking old!" he swears at me.
"Yes! Uh... Horatio. If you don't mind my asking, what's your relationship with Sinter?" I ask.
He sighs and fishes out a picture frame from one of his drawers. He hands it to me and I see a group of dirty, friendly-looking men. Among them are two familiar men who are locking arms.
"We were partners for a long time," he says. "Then we had a disagreement on how to proceed with our craft so we split."
Damn... it must have been a pretty nasty disagreement. They look so close in this photo. Eleanor and I look at each other and somehow, we know what each of us are thinking. I hope we never end up like them.
"Sir," I start. "There must be something I could improve on. Something that you can help me with."
He shakes his head again. "Sorry, boy. You're a talented kid so I wish I could help ya out."
I feel my shoulders slump. Sinter, the only man who can potentially teach me more, is dead and this man who's his equal deviates too much from what I already know.
"Oh wait!" he exclaims as his face lights up with excitement. "I know seven failures who could help ya out."
Eleanor and I look at him curiously.
Horatio rolls his stool to the nearby window and shouts, "Oi! Any of you fuckers wanna guide some people to the rails? The first one to enter my door gets a bonus!"
We don't even have to wait long before we feel the ground shake beneath our feet. Soon enough, a short, thin man rolls in through the oak door. I catch a glimpse of the disappointed stampede behind him before the door closes.
"Yes, sir! Here I am sir!" he squeaks.
"Perfect," Horatio replies. "Guide these two to the crack house near the railroads and come back. I'll give you your bonus on your next pay cheque." He then turns to us and tosses a coin to Eleanor. "Sinter and I had seven disciples who chose to do their own stupid shit instead of getting serious. Fuckers could have been so much more. Lately though, I've been hearing that they've set up base at the crack house near the railroads and experimenting with some magic shit. Just rumors really but if it's true, then they could help you two improve."
Eleanor and I gulp in anticipation as we look at the shimmering gold coin in her hand. Then, as expected, the notice appears.
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[Story Quest: The Seven Mistakes]
Summary: Sinter and Horatio were masters of robotics and machines. They took on seven promising students who later on decided to go their separate ways. Lately though, Horatio heard of a rumor that they've come together once more and experimenting with magic at the nearby crack house close to the railroads. Seek out the seven and find out if the rumor is true.
[Completion Condition: Make contact with the seven and verify the rumors]
[Success Reward: Questline Continuation, EXP, 300 gold]
[Failure: Questline End]
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This is it! My first quest! Eleanor and I look at each other excitedly and turn to our scrawny guide.
"Lead the way my friend!" I announce.