Script - For Golvan

For explanations and advice on quest completion, see For Golvan.

This article contains spoilers. If you do not wish to read further, please return to the home page.

Aeira's Good Deed

Haven't you lost a book? I have it. Please stop by at the Bookstore when you come to Dunbarton. - Aeira

Aeira
Oh good, so the owl found you. I have a book that belongs to you!


(This book isn't yours at all, but somehow your signature is on the back.)

Aeira
For some reason the owl dropped it on my head instead of using the mailbox. I mean what kind of bird drops things on people's heads? When I picked it up and dusted it off, I noticed your signature on the back. Lucky that I found it right? There's not a book in the world that isn't meaningful to its owner. Don't lose it again, okay?

(You head to Avon and inquire about to book to Marlowe.)

Marlowe
An author named Golvan? No, I don't know him. I know most of the writers of Erinn, so it's opdd that I've never heard of Golvan.
May I see that book?

> Prompt: Give book or Quit

Quit

Marlowe
I guess you're not ready to let me read it yet. Come back when you change your mind.

Well of Avon

If you wish to reveal Golvan's identity, I'll help. I'd like to meet him myself if I get an opportunity. - Marlowe

> Prompt: Give book

(The pages of the book turn swiftly, as though pushed by a strong wind)

Marlowe
This smell is strange but vaguely familiar. It smells of Erinn, but there's the faint scent of Avon on this book. Isn't it curious that such a book ended up here?
Take this Ink Bottle there. You should be able to find a clue somewhere in the Coill Dungeon.

(You received an Ink Bottle from Marlowe, and head to Coill Dungeon as instructed.)

(While the dungeon appears the same, you spot a few odd-looking butterflies and fountains that spit ink on your way. When you arrive to the boss's room, paper sheep, paper butterflies as well as a strange well overflowing with ink are present. A person seemingly made of paper sits by it, but rises as soon as she notices you.)

Aisling
Halt! Knave! Play page thief! Put not a crease on my men.


Aisling
Pray, is that a vial of ink in thy hand? Art thou after the ink of Avon?
Thou art a fool should thou thinkst the ink might gold power for a Milletian. I'll pay thee no heed, if thou leavest now.
This well art ours! It hast the power to mend our sorry fates. It is our final hope! And thou. Canst. Have it.

(Aisling engages you in battle. After dealing with her, you head back to Avon to tell Marlowe of what you have seen.)

Marlowe
Have you been to Avon's ink well? Long ago it was a normal well, but that all changed when Shapespeare was banished to Avon.
Gods dumped his plays into the rivers where the magical ink seeped from the pages. They forced those tainted waters through that well in order to purify Avon.
That's when the well began to fill with Shakespeare's ink.
Long ago, the gods declared that ink could only be used with the Magical Spinning Wheel. That book is cursed, and it would be disastrous of the gods caught wind of its presence.
For the sake of everyone, you must hide it in a place no one can find.

(You received a page of the short story book from Marlowe.)

Marlowe
You can enter Golvan's story by taking the short story page onto the stage. Sneak into it, and throw away the book before it brings chaos upon us all.

(You head to the Globe Theater and use up the short story page.)

Shadow Mission: Golvan's Delusion

> On-screen Text: Traveling through the mountains was a mistake.

> On-screen Text: This trip that was supposed to take only half a day instead continued well into the night.

> On-screen Text: It was only after the moon Ladeca had sunk well beneath the seat of the mountains that the traveler arrived at the castle.

> On-screen Text: A man is standing with his back turned against you.

(You approach the man, which seems strangely two-dimensional. He is in the middle of writing something at his desk.)

Golvan
Halt thy infernal racket! I've almost finished. This is a scene of great import.
Who art thou any way, and from whence did thou came? Ah, what dost thee hold in thy hand? By my fay, my magnum opus! The 808th story!

(You walk over and hand him the short story book.)

Golvan
So, thou art a fan of mine art thou not? Here to procure my autograph, no doubt.
Hold on a minute.

(Golvan starts to sign the book, and while he is distracted, you slip away.)

Golvan
There it is.

(Golvan presents the book, but no one is there to receive it anymore.)

Golvan
... Where didst thou go? Hmm. I thought thou hath tarried some time for my signature.
What ho, a name is written on the back. Thou art lucky that I know how to treat my fans.
Have patience, (Character Name)! I will return thy tome to thee through owl mail.


Golvan
Oh... That reminds me. I hath not heard from my betrothed newly.

(MISSION END)

Marlowe
Did you hide the book? No one saw you, right?

(You tell him about Golvan)

Marlowe
Truly, you met Golvan? Strange that you would find him there. He is naught but a character in a play. Shakespeare once wrote a play titled 'For Golvan.' It was never published, but he allowed me to read it.
Golvan must have escaped the pages of his play into the world of Erinn. If he was a single piece of paper, then he probably thinks he's a real person. Golvan is caught in a delusion of his own making.
Trapped, between the world of the play and the world of Erinn. Such a cruel twist of fate, just like his father.... Ah.
It seems I've said too much already. Now that the book is successfully hidden, we should keep its existence a quiet secret.

Aeira's Mistake

Somehow your book keeps showing up here. You know, Golvan's story? I'm not going to sell it, but I don't really have space on the shelves for it. Come by the Dunbarton Bookstore to pick it up. - Aeira

Aeira
(Character Name)! I had something to give you... but I don't have it with me right now.
I don't know if someone is playing a joke, but that book somehow ended up at my bookstore again. You know, the book with your signature on it.
I meant to keep it safe and return it to you, but I accidentally sold it to Nele.
I shouldn't have, I know... But I was mesmerized by Nele's song and before I knew it... I'm so sorry!

(You head to Emain Macha's town square, Nele's usual hangout spot.)

Nele
Oh, there you are. You're here for the book right? Well, too bad. You can't have it.


Nele
Who would've thought I'd be able to read an unpublished story from Shakespeare. Especially one as strange as this. It'll be tough to part with.... Oh well. Here you go.
I've already stored it away as a song in my heart. You want me to sing it? Now? I need time to prepare! Maybe next time.

(You received the book that contains Golvan and your signature from Nele.)

(You head back to Avon and tell Marlowe about the book.'s return.)

Marlowe
It is as I feared. That accursed book has returned. As long as Golvan remains in Erinn, that book will continue to appear. Golvan will never stop writing, be he in his play or as a paper life in Erinn.
According to Shakespeare, a writer with nothing to do but write is happy. By that account, Golvan should be glad, but he is cursed with the inability to finish a story.
His sorry fate lies somewhere between comedy and tragedy. Golvan's endless scribbling will cause a problem for the gods just like Shakespeare, except we'll all pay for it.
Place the empty bottle onto the altar in Coill Dungeon, and fill it with ink from Avon's well. Bring back the ink, and we'll erase Golvan from existence.

> Prompt: Receive Empty Bottle from Marlowe

> On-Screen Text: You have given Golvan's Short Story Book to Marlowe.

(You received an Empty Bottle from Marlowe.)

Dangerous Golvan

A dangerous new presence has appeared in Erinn: Golvan. His existence alone puts us all in danger. Help me drive him out of Erinn. - Marlowe

(Once again, you head into Coill Dungeon, this time in search for the inkwell. Aisling stands in your way once more, but you still defeat her.)

Aisling
Dost thou take me for a fool? Your treachery came to me on the wings of a paper butterfly. I weet thy plans for that ink.
Thou dost desire to kill Golvan. You can't, please... Golvan is my fiance.
Within our stories, to meet would be an exercise in folly. We could only know each other through letters.
Whenas I transformed into paper, no longer could we write to he, and no longer could he write to me.

(Aisling stands back up and walks to you.)

Aisling
I canst deny you. Take thine ink from this well.
But heed my one request. Giveth one thing to Golvan before he expires.


Aisling
Taketh this paper crane to him as my final gift.

(On these words, she then fades away.)

(You return to Marlowe with the filled ink bottle.)

Marlowe
I never imagined I would use the ink like this.


(Marlowe pours ink on the short story book.)

Marlowe
Just like the pages of this book, I intend to drown Golvan in black. A rogue like him could interfere with Shakespeare's escape.

(You received a staned page from Marlowe.)

Marlowe
Return to the stage with this page. Force Golvan to realize that he is a paper life, and he will return to the play. Golvan couldn't live knowing he's not truly an author.

(You head to the Globe Theater.)

Shadow Mission: The first and the Last

> On-screen Text: This trip that was supposed to take... (This book is eerily familiar.)

> On-screen Text: Traveling through the mountains was a mistake... (It feels like you've just done this.)

> On-screen Text: It was only after the moon Ladeca... (It feels like you've just read this.)

> On-screen Text: The man with his back turned to you looked familiar.

(You approach Golvan, who is pacing around. When he notices you, you are met with a greeting.)

Golvan
What ho (Character Name)! Such a dedicated fan I have not yet seen. Dost thou desire another autograph? Hand me the book, good sir, and thou shalt receive it.

(You hand the stained book to Golvan, who takes it. Immediately, the effects of the ink creep on him.)

Golvan
Tarry... Mine chest, grows heavy with rheum. As though ink is filling my lungs, I can barely draw breath.

(Shakespeare comes onstage, observing Golvan.)

Shakespeare
Golvan. It is time thee met thy fate. Thou art no man, but a paper life: a piece of fiction written by my hand that has escaped its bounds.
Put this farce behind thee forthwith and return to thine role as a tragic hero. Thine true place is in the story, Golvan. 'Tis where thou doth truly belong.

(Golvan falls to his knees, overtaken by the ink.)

Golvan
What devilry is this? I feel no sorrow, no joy... Yet the icy hands of dread have hold of my soft heart.
Such tragedy... All my work, even my love Aisling... I fear they too will die like a dream after waking.


(You show Aisling's paper crane to Golvan. Then, in a flash of light, Aisling appears, accompanied by other paper life.)

Aisling
Hold, please, Shakespeare! Forgive Golvan, please!

Shakespeare
Oh fateful lovers, such tragedy, that thy love for each other may never be.

Golvan
Aisling! Art thou here? Such an appearance... When thou lookst upon me, dost thou see paper like thyself?

Aisling
My dear Golvan...

Golvan
Pray, for what didst I write all this time? T'was all an illusion, unkind trickery...

(As if affected by Golvan's state, the stage itself becomes unstable.)

Aisling
Hold tight, dear Golvan! While thou art born of Shakespeare's hand, you are his no longer.
This stage is thy world and thou art its master!

Golvan
My stage...

Shakespeare
(Character Name), hurry here! Soon the curtains will fall and the stage will collapse.

Aisling
(Character Name). Please, (Character Name), I beg of thee. Save Golvan, and leave me. To die for the one I love twas my fate. T'was always my fate.

(You look over at Shakespeare, and then at Golvan. You rush towards him.)

Shakespeare
(Character Name)! I fear ye have made this terribly complicated.

Golvan
Sweet Aisling, no! To leave you behind is to leave a part of myself! Aisling! AISLING!

Aisling
Oh kind Golvan, to see thee just once hast made this paper life worth it... Farewell, my love.

(Her hand raised, you are teleported away alongside Golvan. You are moved to the stage, no longer under threat of collapse, and Golvan is healed.)

Golvan
By your hand, I remain alive. But at what cost?
Forsooth, I've lost it all. My writings, Aisling, even myself. Lost to oblivion.


(You show Aisling's paper crane to Golvan once more.)

Golvan
Oh gentle Aisling's crane... What brutal irony that two sides of the same page may never meet.
Nay, this end does not suit me. If only I couldst return to the start like my stories... A thousand times, I would do it.
Hmm... To return to the start...
My dear (Character Name). I... I would like to write a biography about thee. Thou hast been a true friend through this whole ordeal. If thou wouldst print thy signature in this book to ensure its veracity.
Good coz, I was once asked to author the Queen's biography. Dost thou doubt my motive? Nay? Then thy signature, please.

(You sign the book.)

Golvan
Thank you, you have done me a great kindness.

(As you leave, Golvan mutters to himself.)

Golvan
I think I shall return to the story. To see Aisling again, I must start from the beginning once again.
It matters not how many times I must start again. I must continue to composethe 808th story. To forget Aisling like this would be to forget mine own heart.
Should that mean that I might enter another paradox, so be it. Come cruel fate, I will face thee for eternity to recover Aisling from thy wretched grasp.

(Golvan heads out of the stage.)

Golvan
Forgive me, (Character Name).

(MISSION END)

For Golvan

Were you able to meet Golvan? I'm curious as to what happened. Could you come and update me? - Marlowe

Marlowe
Your expression tells me that everything didn't go as planned.

(You tell him about your first encounter with Golvan and Aisling.)

Marlowe
It was a mistake to let him go, (Character Name). He's a dangerous spark, that Golvan. Though, I guess you are not the only one at fault. I was not aware that Aisling would be there as well.
Like Golvan, Aisling is a paper life. I remember her from a play called 'The Queen of Swords.' In the story she was the captain of the Queen's guard. It was a tragic play. Aisling gave her life to save the lives of others.
She had another chance at life in Erinn, but it sems she's decided to sacrifice herself for Golvan. Aisling's determination and your decision have made things very complicated. Golvan has taken his fate out of Shakespeare's hands and into his own.