Lore/Story The Hidden City Alternate Ending

I think Ardulf, the quest's main antagonist, should survive!

Here's some reworked quest stages and dialogue to end the quest. Let me know what you think.

Pre-Stage 16 background:

After the cutscene of the airship crashing into the Thesead's fountain, Ardulf survives the crash, albeit with several deep gashes across his face (NPC skin change). He runs up to the Thesead Mayor's office (not depicted).

Stage 16
» Get to the mayor's office before Ardulf does!

Upon entering the office, Thesead's Mayor and Ardulf are already having a conversation.

Dialogue:

Thesead's Mayor: I just told you, I already know about the city of Eltom. We can discuss this matter further after the doctor arrives. For now you should sit down, and hold this cloth to your face.

Ardulf: Don't you understand!? That city and those people shouldn't be there! By our provincial laws, every last one of them should be banished.

Player: Ardulf, stop!

Both the mayor and Ardulf look around at the player.

Thesead's Mayor: Ardulf? Excuse me soldier, who are you referring to?

Ardulf: Don't listen to them, mother! They crashed the airship, destroyed the fountain, and fought me every step of the way. I'm just trying to do the right thing... And everyone keeps working against me!

Thesead's Mayor: Ardulf, it's really you...? Soldier, get the doctor! Now!

Stage 17
» Find the doctor, and bring them to the mayor's office.

The doctor is in the building's lobby, seemingly held up.

Dialogue:

Doctor: These guards won't let me through! They've been looking through my equipment for several minutes already.

Doctor: I heard there's an emergency upstairs? Someone was in that airship crash, you say?

Doctor: You heard the solider! My bag, please.

Doctor: What building security... they let you pass with that weapon yet held me up because of my bag! Well, take me to the right place if you could. The mayor's messenger wasn't very clear. I think he went off to the bar after speaking to me.

The doctor follows the player back upstairs.

Thesead's Mayor: Thank you soldier, I was so worried! It's my son, doctor. He was hurt by the airship crash!

Doctor: Ah, I remember... Ardulf, is it? Stay seated please, and let me take a look at your face.

Stage 18
» Wait outside while the doctor heals Ardulf.

Dialogue:

Quest: You should give them some privacy.

The player exits the room, and the screen fades to black.

Stage 19
» Listen to the mayor's story.

The doctor exits the office.

Dialogue:

Doctor: Well, that's all I can do for the moment. I'll be back tomorrow with another potion. Don't strain yourself in the meantime.

Doctor: Ah, hello again soldier. You might be of use in the office. They seem to be having a disagreement.

Thesead's Mayor: Soldier, would you come in here for a moment? I just don't understand how an airship managed to escape Eltom without being stopped by the guards.

Ardulf: I already told you! The city is weak and hardly defended. They had it coming. If you paid more attention, you would understand how much of a problem Eltom is, for all of us!

Thesead's Mayor: I didn't foresee this happening. I've been so busy with reorganizing the mining teams now that the canyon is shifting multiple times a day.

Thesead's Mayor: I did send some of my assistants looking for you, but I now realize I should have gone myself. I'm sorry it's been so long.

Thesead's Mayor: But Eltom is not a problem. They risked everything to come here, and they still have to live in squalor, without any resources from Cinfras. This soldier here is a human! They may just know how terrible the conditions are in the southern continent.

Thesead's Mayor: I won't be reporting Eltom to the monarchy. And you will have to stay here for a while, doctor's orders.

Ardulf: I just don't understand... why can't you see it the way I do...?

Thesead's Mayor: There's something I've been meaning to tell you. Well, two things. I didn't expect it to be like this, but I was wondering where you'd been recently. I had a feeling you might be looking for someone.

Thesead's Mayor: I should have told you this long ago: I know where your father is now. In fact, he's the mayor of Eltom, and I've been in touch with him lately. That's how I learned of the town's existence in the first place.

Thesead's Mayor: He said he'd like to speak with you. It seems something changed in him recently.

Ardulf: Why now? It's not like anything's different than it was.

Thesead's Mayor: I don't know. It's unlike him. But things are always changing in this canyon, especially now. That said, I've not completely forgiven him myself. He made things difficult for the two of us. You know that just as well as I do.

Thesead's Mayor: I understand if you don't want to talk to him, and I'm not going to force you to. It's your decision to make.

Thesead's Mayor: There's one last thing I wanted to tell you.

Thesead's Mayor: This necklace I wear; it's from my mother. I want you to have it. Don't forget that I'll always support you, even if we're apart for a while. That's no excuse to leave anytime soon, by the way.

The mayor turns to the player.

Thesead's Mayor: Thank you for your help, soldier. It seems that you're now a part of this secret of ours. Please keep what you know about Eltom private. One day, the truth will come out, and I hope it will be at a time when others are more accepting.

QUEST COMPLETE

Post-Quest Dialogue

Ardulf can be found in Eltom at the airship docks.

Dialogue:

Ardulf: Hey, soldier. I never got your name back in my mother's office did I?

Ardulf: Well, look, I'm sorry about the... whole thing with the airship. On the bright side, I heard they fixed the fountain!

Player: What are you up to these days?

Ardulf: I've been working on an airship lately. I do know a thing or two about them, after all. It's fun being up above the mountains, and I see my mom in Thesead every few trips.

Ardulf: I had a chat with my father the other day. I see him every so often now. The town is small enough. He's been asking to have dinner with me for a while, but it's a busy season at the moment. I'm considering taking his offer when I have a few weeks off.

Ardulf: I still live in that house just outside the town. It's nice to be nearby, and I've found some good places within the walls here. Lumilda is always happy to chat.

Ardulf: Well, it was nice to see you. Oh, and if you ever want to see the canyons from above, just hop on the airship while it's docked! I can get you free passage between here and Thesead.

Post-Quest Dialogue Complete

This ending replaces the existing "secret passage" between Thesead and Eltom with an airship system. Simply take the airship from either town to go to the other one. A new airship dock will have to be built into Thesead somewhere...

This also preserves that secret that you can find from taking the airship from Eltom during or post quest (which shows the same cutscene currently). There's

Spoiler

some secret mountain spot you can find if you jump off the ship.

Simply add this secret to the new fast travel (which should look like Deltas <-> Cinfras fast travel).

 

I really like this direction. Letting Ardulf survive gives his character a much better ending, especially with the reveal about his father and his eventual change of heart.

The airship system is also a great addition since it gives players a real reason to revisit Eltom and Thesead after completing the quest. Overall, it feels more complete and leaves room for Ardulf and the world to be developed further.