Masters of Albion requires a number of NPCS to speak directly to the player, who is playing the part of an in game character that has been chosen as the hero of all Albion. The game begins with a scene where that character enters a mysterious crypt and sits on an ancient throne. Once seated, they are locked into the chair as a large warrior’s helmet clamps over their face and head. Their arms and legs are held tight, their right hand cut clean off. It is this hand that appears in the game world, the player’s God Hand, which they then use to control the world around them. However, they also have the power to possess any living being in the world, including Heroes, which the player uses in 3rd person to explore regions and fight enemies at ground level.
In this scene, one of the advisors, Valmey, sent to explain what is happening to the player, takes them out into the world to deliver a monologue, expanding on some of the concepts to the player. Valmey is a working class, west country woman in her early 40s. She is a slat of the earth character, the comic foil in the narrative, but in this scene she softens her edges. This moment alone with Valmey gives the player a different aspect of her character while addressing some of the player characters confusion about why they have been brought to this region of Albion, and why they have been chosen.
VALMEY’S INTERLUDE
Valmey takes the player on a walk up to the cliffs of Wyrmscar, a chance to explain a little.
VALMEY
That were a wild night, weren’t it?
But you survived it, and that’s what’s most important.
Can’t be a single soul in this town or in that crypt that questions your status as the chosen one, I reckon.
But hows about you n’me get away from all this bloodshed and backbreaking work for a bit? I’ve something I want to share with you.
Whyn’t you stop being a giant hand for a bit and come with me? You, er, you could possess old Beefy? Not like he’s up to much right now…
Depending on the player’s possession choice, reactions are:
Hero:
Would you look at them muscles. If only I had some oil with me, we could get you all lubed up and shiny.
Worker:
Well, it’s not hunk material, but it’ll do. Come on.
Chicken:
A clucking chicken? You taking the piss? I ain’t eating none of your eggs, right.
Dog:
You’ve come as a dog? Suit yourself, but I ain’t picking up none of your logs, right? You can do that yourself!
And off we go
Let’s walk to the stone circle, I’ve a lot I wants to say.
I brung you out here to talk woman to hand. We all appreciate what you has done, them sacrifices you’ve made – giving up your body, getting that big fecking hand and all.
Coz I reckon it’s time you knew who we really are. Me, Alwen, and Cricket, we’re all that’s left of the Order of the Blind, a group sworn to aid the Master of the Mask.
Sworn to save all Albion.
See, back when Albion was ruled by the magic, a terrible place called the Spire was created.
A bloody great big tower of magic it was. Whoever it was that ruled back then, used this great tower to control the masses.
It’s all before my time, and I don’t understand it too much, but, Alwen says the only defence against its tyranny was the Mask, a powerful magic that could only be wielded by a pure blood such as yourself.
Same mask you is wearing back in the crypt.
The walking and talking allows us to direct the player to certain locations that they need to know about without it being too obvious. The Stone Circle is one place, and now we need to get them up onto the cliffs overlooking the mining town of Wyrmscar.
Let’s head up this path. I have more to tell you. You can lead the way.
It were a hero that destroyed the Spire back then, but even when the people of Albion were celebrating the big victory, the seers foretold of evil rising once more from the ruins.
That’s when our order was created. Alwen is one of them seers, see?
You is a pure blood. Ain’t no one else in the world can put on the Mask and live, so she says. Thing is, in all the years I has been in the order, not once has we seen a pure blood, chosen or otherwise.
But here you is. That mask brought you here, like it brought me here. And Cricket. Ain’t no mistaking that.
You has been chosen to be the hero of our times. And that means, if them two know alls is right, that you is to face an evil so great, well, I don’t know what. It’s so evil it don’t bear thinking about…
It’s a burden, so it is. But, well, thing is, I just wanted to tell you that no matter what happens, you’re already a hero to me, and nothing’s gonna change that. Nothing.