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TRIALS
The Trial
I enter Castle Never and speak to Sir Nevalle to begin the Trial. The Trial itself isn't particularly important, because even if you lose Sand will invoke an appeal to Trial by Combat. However, there is a definite incentive to win the Trial as there will be an xp reward and an item reward from Lord Nasher for doing so.
Here's a detailed breakdown of what can affect the trial outcome: http://nwn2.wikia.com/wiki/Trial
I have done some things to help myself out beforehand by finding the clues in Ember, the Glowstone Caverns, and the Duskwood Grove, as well as raising some doubts in Alaine's mind. I thus already have some verdict points in my favour. Having accrued high influence with Shandra beforehand helps as well.
As for the Trial itself, conduct the Trial yourself if you want to win, since Sand would otherwise lose it for you. I earn enough points to gain the Master Orator feat by placing every witness available on the stand and relying on Diplomacy skill checks (Diplomacy being the skill that I'll have the most ranks in). It's only a matter of time before Lord Nasher pronounces a not guilty verdict in my favour.
However, Torio invokes the right of appeal by calling for Trial by Combat. Lorne Starling steps in as her combat champion.
*Evil* The Trial
Here's the evil version of the Trial. First, I speak to Ophala in the Moonstone Mask about Torio. I complement Sand's skills in order to increase my influence with him by +1. If would have lost -1 influence with him if I stated that his skills were exagerrated.
Next, I buy an Amulet of the Master from Dayne in the Blacklake District. Zarathos can easily make several Intimidation checks that come up during the trial, but some Diplomacy checks can still be helpful as well. His having taken Diplomacy skill ranks in order to qualify for the Warpriest prestige class, plus the +6 Diplomacy skill bonus from the Amulet of the Master, is enough for his needs.Since he's thrown in his lot with the Shadow Thieves, different witnesses show up, like Venton Orley and Reylene. Note that I avoided extensive questioning of Alaine the first time she showed. It would do more harm than good, since I wasn't able to make her question her own recollection when I saw her in Port Llast.
Rite of Tyr
Now I enter the Temple of Tyr in the Merchant Quarter. I speak with Prior Hlam to undergo the Rite of Tyr.
Khelgar comes in, and expresses his desire to fight Lorne in order to get justice for Ember and for Valeria. It is this event that needs to happen before Khelgar can complete the Trial of Justice, the last trial before he can become a Monk. Valeria politely declines so as to avoid an influence loss with Khelgar.
Next, either Qara or Sand will come in, depending on whom I have more influence with. For Valeria, it is Qara who comes in. She offers to fight as my champion instead of me. I decline, and take a small -1 hit in influence with Qara.
If the protagonist is female, then either Bishop or Casavir will come in depending on whom I have more influence with and offer to fight in my place as my champion. I gently let Casavir down, but he gives me a Ritual Flask that can heal hit points and provide minor defensive benefits at the same time.
Lastly, I speak to Sir Nevalle. I deliberately choose responses that will find favor with Lord Nasher and proceed to the next stage.
*Evil* Rite of Tyr
*Note* I bought a Potion of Heal from Nya before the Trial, which will come in handy. Unlike Valeria, Zarathos insults Khelgar by telling him he'll need someone who doesn't fight on instict.
Since Zarathos has more influience with Sand, it is Sand who comes in instead of Qara. I take him up on his offer, and he gives me a Potion of Cure Critical Wounds, a Potion of Antidote, and a Potion of Invisibility.
If the protagonist is male, then either Elanee or Neeshka will come in depending on whom you have more influence with. Elanee would have hinted that she's been stalking the male protagonist for his whole life. However, it is Neeshka who comes in since I've been annoying Elanee every chance I've had. Neeshka will apply minor combat penalties to Lorne. I also take the chance to lose -1 influence with Neeshka by telling her I don't want any company during the Rite.
Lastly, Sir Nevalle comes in. I deliberately chose a more ambitious and selfish reply.
Trial by Combat
First, before the Trial by Combat itself begins, there's a chance to have Shandra fight Lorne instead of me. But I'd rather do it myself. Also, had my influence with Grobnar been high enough, he would have played an inspiration that would have given Valeria some damage reduction.
Three things are needed to win against Lorne, whether it's you personally or another character you choose another to fight in your place as champion. One, you need something to give yourself a way of taking minimal damage from Lorne, whether it's high armor class or spell buffs or damage reduction. Secondly, you need a way to bring his health down in a hurry, whether it's spells or weapons. Third, you need a way to keep him at a distance once he's brought down to zero health. The reason is that once he's on death's door, he'll go into a special Frenzied state whereby he won't take any damage until the Frenzied state wears off. A Haste spell or effect is optimum for the task.
Valeria begins by casting Haste on herself. She then keeps her distance from Lorne, taking the chance to buff herself up with spells (i.e. Improved Invisibility, Mirror Image, Stoneskin, Greater Magic Weapon) when she gets the chance. Once she's set up, she switches off her Improved Combat Expertise mode and goes after Lorne with physical attacks. Once Lorne enters his Frenzied state, Valeria simply keeps running away until his Frenzy wears off. She concludes matters by finishing him off with another attack.
The video concludes with Black Garius killing Lorne for his failures and cussing out Torio Claven.
*Evil* Trial by Combat
Zarathos starts off with an Magic Vestments spell. He hoped to get off a Divine Power spell as well, but he got interrupted. Oh well. In any event, he simply cuts Lorne down to no hit points, although he does need to consume that Potion of Heal be bought from Nya after taking several blows himself from Lorne's Falchion.
That Potion of Invisibility that Sand gave him now really comes in handy once Lorne enters his invincible state. Zarathos simply gulps the Potion and slips away. He simply waits it out for Lorne's invicibility to wear off, and then charges in for the finishing blow.
Unlike Valeria, he kills Lorne then and there. That results in Black Garius speaking only with Torio Claven during the subsequent cutscene.
Message from Aldanon
I am now back at the Sunken Flagon. In one chest will be Lorne's Falchion (Falchion +3, +1d12 massive criticals) and the Belt of Hill Giant Strength (+3 Strength) as rewards for defeating Lorne in combat. Bishop replaces the Stonefire Axe +1 with Lorne's Falchion as his melee weapon. Shandra dons the Belt of Hill Giant Strength, which meshes with her Strength of 13 to raise it to 16.
Another chest will have the Amulet of Truth (True Seeing), which will be my reward for proving my innocence during the Trial. But I just sell it.
Meanwhile, Wolf delivers a message from Aldanon urging for a meeting at Aldanon's home. But I have a few other things to take care of first.
Trial of Justice
As previously mentioned, Khelgar having his moment of outrage is what was needed for the Trial of Justice. I simply need to speak to Prior Hlam in the Temple of Tyr to confirm it, whereupon Khelgar can now become a Monk.
Most of the video shows Khelgar's level-ups, emphasizing bare-handed combat. There are a few items I equip him with:
I also purchased the Ring of Might (Improved Critical (Unarmed Strike), Weapon Specialization (Unarmed Strike)) from Oleff Uskar. Normally I would have to take four Fighter levels to be able to get Weapon Specialization (Unarmed) for a Monk. But the ring more or less lets me have it for free. Either way, the ring will provide a considerable boost to Khelgar's fighting ability.
*Evil* I prefer to leave Khelgar as a Fighter instead of a Monk during the evil playthrough. The reason being that Khelgar will be easier to deal with during the climax if he remains a Fighter, since as a Monk he would inflict lots of damage and have high Spell Resistance. I can still collect the 250xp for the Trial of Justice quest, but I can still leave Khelgar as a Fighter by avoiding dialogue options with either Prior Hlam or Khelgar that involves completing the Monk training.
Zinn
I have a couple of side quests to do before I actually go to Aldanon's Manse. The first time I walk to Port Last after the Trial, I'll get accosted by a group of Bounty Hunters led by a Dwarf named Zinn. His followers are a pair of Elves named Shahra and Nyira, as well as a Gnome Wizard named Olov. Valeria leads off with a Slow spell, Elanee with an Ice Storm, and Qara with a Chain Lightning. Elanee also follows up with a Call Lightning Storm. Easy victory is assured thereafter.
There's a lot of loot to score here, which I sell unless otherwise noted below:Now it's time to head on over to Aldanon's Manse.
