Meridian 59 User's Guide
Talking to Permanent Residents
Some of the people in Meridian seem like they've been here forever. In fact, they never seem to leave: they're always there, in the same place, just where you'd expect to find them. Inkeepers, wise men, priestesses, and assorted instructors and oracles in particular have become dependable community fixtures. Because they're constantly dealing with the public -- and the public tends to ask the same questions over and over -- you may have to experiment with a different communication style when talking to these folks. Here are some suggestions:
- Keep your responses to their comments short. One word -- perhaps a keyword from one of their previous utterances -- often works well enough to keep them talking. For example, if a bartender says, "I hear there is plenty of good fishing at the beach today," you might respond with a one-word response: "Fishing".
If you're lucky (or unlucky, depending on how well you like fish stories), this will lead to a thrilling round of fish stories -- where to catch them, what kind of bait to use, and who's been hanging around the docks lately. Some of these oldtimers are fountains of wisdom and useful information, so you might want to listen up, and bait them on with a continuous stream of one-word questions. (Other words to try include "message," "errand," and the ever-popular "hint.")
On the other hand, if the barkeep has other fish to fry, he may not choose to chat. In that case:
- Keep trying. Choose another word from his initial comment -- say, "beach" -- and try that. Maybe he'll feel like giving you directions, tide tables, and a weather report. Maybe he'll go back to drying his glasses. Maybe you should try another subject, or another tavern.
- If they repeat themselves, it means they didn't understand you -- or didn't think you said anything worth responding to.
