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Encounter Conditions
Only with a fishing pole equipped
Initial Text
As you're looking for a fishing spot, you find one that someone's already taken. A wrinkled man, who might be old or merely weathered, stands amid some rocks and tosses his line into the water sheltered from the gently lapping waves.
Or, after fighting and losing to him:
The fisher, looking no worse the wear from your altercation, sees you as you're looking for fishing spots. His eyes flicker with recognition and he opens his mouth a bit, but doesn't call out, electing to look back out over the water.
Summary of Choices
- Ask for a sample (after talking to Andrea the grad student about meeting a fisher) - get fisher serum
- Talk fishing - information, more after catching a lake gulper
- Discuss memories (only after fighting and losing to him) - information
- Share the fishing spot - Fishing: Find damp seaweed, empty can, lake bluegill, lake gulper, lake perch, lake squid, withered tendrils, partially digested fish, waterlogged shirt; or with high test: find waterlogged crate and 2-3 fresh mollusk or fight Terrible Serpent
- Jump him - Fight Artyom, unlocks more dialog if you lose/win
- Leave him be - Nothing
Choice Text and Results
Ask for a sample
He sighs and cuts his hand on one of the jagger rocks, spilling far more blood than you actually need, and speaks to you gravely as you take the sample. "If you ever figure out what's really going on with us, you gotta tell me."
He keeps bleeding after you collect the sample, but doesn't seem terribly concerned about it.
You found: fisher serum
Talk fishing
"Good fishing out here," he explains, "although it can take a firm hand on the reel. I prefer the worms you get in the things that wash up, the ones people think are sea serpents."
He reaches into a coat pocket and pulls out a handful of wriggling worms the same color as his skin. "Kinda gross," he concedes, "but I catch the best eels with them. Whenever I'm having a bad day, I cut one of those guys up and it gets a whole lot better."
"Seen damned big ones a couple times, though. Never seen one of them take the bait… might just take a better fisher than me… but there's nothing practice can't fix."
"It's always the one that got away, isn't it?" He smiles as he hooks one of the worms and casts it out into the shallows.
Or, after catching a lake gulper:
He looks down at the strange eel you've caught. "Yes! Good catch, good catch. The one I saw was this one… just, bigger. Their jaws are something else, aren't they?"
"Might've just been seeing things, thinking it was so big." He nods, but one corner of his mouth is quirked down doubtfully.
You've earned 6 XP in Will
Or, subsequent times:
You chat a bit about fishing. Eventually, the topic comes back around to that strange eel.
"I could swear I saw a bigger one, a huge thing in the depths… well, longer than my arm at least. Light can play weird tricks on you in the water, though, and it wasn't interested in taking bait."
You've earned 2 XP in Will
Discuss memories
"Hmm," he glowers at the shimmering waters. "First thing I remember is waking up not far from here, coughing up whatever the fuck's in the water. I was up against the rocks, like the lake threw me out."
After a moment, he clarifies "like even it knew better than to keep me."
He pauses for a long time, eventually finishing his thoughts so quietly they're hard to pick up over the sounds of lapping water. "Get the feeling I don't want to remember anything before that."
"Mm," he changes the subject, "think my name's Artyom… pretty sure, but a posh fucker came down once: suit, monocle, cufflinks, the whole nine. He called me Hymir, said I just needed to stay right where I am."
He shivers, rooted to the spot. He shakes his head, seeming to suggest this isn't a worthwhile topic either, and tosses his line in.
Share the fishing spot
He grunts discontentedly before gesturing at the calm waters. "Don't see any drones trying to stop you. S'guess it's fine."
You didn't hook anything. The fisher tries not to grin as he looks over at you "bad luck." Or, gain some items listed below.
Or, after fighting and losing to Artyom:
He thinks for a second and nods. "Sure, go ahead. I'll give you some pointers."
Better chance at "You've gotten better at fishing."?Normal fishing:
You found some of: damp seaweed, empty can, lake bluegill, lake gulper, lake perch, lake squid, withered tendrils, partially digested fish, waterlogged shirt, (lake gulper may require certain fishing skill or bait?)
High Test fishing:
Wow, you snagged something heavy. It's quite a workout just hauling it up.
You found: lakebottom rock
You found: 0, 2 or 3 fresh mollusksA massive serpent rises out of the water, your line leading to the edge of its mouth. It bellows in anger and leaps to attack you.
(Fight Terrible Serpent)You've gained 3 XP in Strength
or
Jump him
He scowls at you. "You want a fishing rod and a couple handfuls of worms? Come and get 'em, you degenerate fuck."
(Fight Artyom)
Or, after fighting and losing to him:
He sighs "you know this does fuck-all, right?" but still raises his fists.
(Fight Artyom)
Leave him be
You leave him to his devices.