Dialogue and descriptions from The Longest Journey by Funcom - Transcript compiled by Bluejay, slightly modified by me
The crackle of wood and the cosy glow from the fireplace filled the room. A white-haired old lady with a shawl over her shoulders, her face seamed with age, sat in a chair before the fireplace. A young man and girl lounged at ease at her feet.
Lady Alvane:
So .. you have come to hear me tell a story, have you?
Young Girl:
If you please, we would love to hear one of your stories. You have seen so much, you have lived so long.
Lady Alvane:
(chuckled) So good of you to remind me of my age, child. No, don't worry -- I am an old woman but I've lived a long and fulfilling life. And I do have stories to tell. Which story would you like to hear?
Young Girl:
A true one. A true story.
Lady Alvane:
All my stories are true, child. There are enough fairy tales in the worlds already. There's no need for me to make up more, believe me.
Young Man:
Tell us the story of the Balance then.
Lady Alvane:
(laughed) You want the story of the Balance? Oh, that's a long story, child and not one I'd venture to tell at this hour. But perhaps I could tell you a story I heard a long time ago ... a story that became the crucial turning point in the history of the Balance and that set in motion the wheels that, to this day, are still turning.
Young Man:
Please, yes, that does sound like a story we would like to hear.
Lady Alvane:
Very well. This story, like all good stories, begins where it ends, in a tower, in a realm that is no more.
In a tower, a glimmering disc turned. The symbol in the centre shimmered red and blue. Two dragons carved on the edge of the rotating disc chased each other, eyes aglow. Suspended in a beam in a chamber atop the tower, a man awakened, his eyes reflecting the eery glow of the beam before turning into the normal eyes of a human. The beam faded away as he was gently lowered to the ground. As he left the chamber, the symbol darkened amd faded to grey.
In another world, streams of hovercrafts flowed sleekly in the sky of an immense modern city. Skyscrapers reached loftily into the sky, casting smaller buildings into insignificance. In one of these abodes, April Ryan lay asleep in her bed. Her bed suddenly fell away and she found herself standing on a wide ledge, near the edge of a cliff. Her shoulders sagged as she realised what had happened.
April:
Oh, no, don't tell me I'm dreaming .. again. You know, for once -- just once -- it would be nice to have a decent night's sleep without waking screaming from a bad dream at four AM.
Before her, the land spread out to the horizon. Tall spires of rock and crags loomed, turning and twisting formlessly. Stars twinkled and gleamed faintly in the sky as the setting sun on the horizon slowly withdrew. It looked postcard pretty but then real life never looked that good. In the distance, a large dark cloud loomed. It looked like a storm was heading her way.
April:
Even the weather sucks in my dreams. I feel so charmed.
Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled loudly. That should really had been the cue to wake up. But it did not look like her wish would come true any time. Getting stuck on a high cliff in a storm was a good way to be fried, she had better look for a way down. She looked cautiously over the edge of the cliff and could not even begin to guess how far up she was, clouds blanketed the bottom. She backed away and walked towards a solitary tree growing out of the cliff. The ground trembled. She stumbled as she tried to keep her balance.
April:
What's happening?
There was a cry. An enormous egg rolled down from a nearby pile of stones to rest perilously on the tips of the tree roots protruding from the edge of the cliff. The cry rang out again.
April:
Oh ... perfect. I guess if I don't do something to save that egg, I'll suffer seven years of bad karma or something. Lucky thing the egg got caught between those roots. It's a long way down.
She took a closer look at the egg. It looked reptilian but that could not be. It was much, much too big and besides, she did not much care for reptiles. The cry resounded once more as she gingerly touched the egg.
April:
Did that sound come from the egg? Boy, that's some chick. I don't think I can get a good grip on it. It's too big and slippery and I might drop it by accident.
She looked around for something that she could use to retrieve the agg. The nearby tree was withered bone dry.
April:
I'm an artist, not a botanist ... but I'm pretty certain this tree is dead, or close to it.
The concave pile of stones next to the tree seemed to be the nest.
April:
It's a nest, padded with large scales. Very large scales. For some strange reason, I have a feeling I should get the hell outta here before the tenants return. (She picked up one of the scales) This is interesting. I've never seen a scale this size before. I'll keep it as a souvenir.
The bubble of running water drew her to a brook flowing down the side of the cliff near the tree.
April:
Fresh mountain water. Back in the real world they'd probably charge fifteen bucks a bottle for this. Something happened to this rock quite recently and it probably altered the course of the stream. Hey, maybe that's why the tree is dying.
She returned to the tree to see a twig sticking out from the trunk.
April:
It's as dry as bone. It'd probably snap right off in a second.
It looked too fragile to help her in her rescue mission but it was better than nothing. She reached out and broke it off. The tree groaned and a ghostly green visage appeared in the withered foliage of the tree.
Wood Spirit:
Oh, the suffering we must endure.
April:
(gasped) Wh .. what?
Wood Spirit:
Why do you take such pleasure in torturing us?
April:
Torturing you? Who are you?
Wood Spirit:
We are the voice of all trees, the Spirit of wood and leaf.
April:
You're a talking .. tree?
Wood Spirit:
No. A tree does not talk, at least not in your tongue. The tongue of trees is the language of wood, root and leaf.
April:
Who are you then?
Wood Spirit:
Like we said, we are the voice of all trees. Whenever an injustice is done, we must speak for the tree, if we are present.
April:
(realising the cause) It's the branch. I shouldn't have broken the branch off.
Wood Spirit:
Oh, what does it matter anyway. There is nothing more to be done for us. We are simply here to provide comfort in the final passing to earth.
April:
"We"? I only see one of you.
Wood Spirit:
We are one with our host, as we are all one Spirit, but legion.
April:
Yeah, uh, thanks for clearing that up.
Wood Spirit:
We do not expect you to understand. You are human.
April:
What happened to the tree?
Wood Spirit:
Oh, the pain! As the battle raged, we --
April:
Battle?
Wood Spirit:
Between the Mother and black chaos. She was only protecting her child, but it would not back down and the force of their battle shook the mountain. The brook that fed us was led astray and without water, we began to wither and die.
April:
What's the deal with the egg?
Wood Spirit:
Egg? What e -- oh, of course. The child. Whenever the Mother was absent, we were entrusted with the safety of the child. But now, withered and without strength, we can do nothing to help. We have failed the Mother and we despair. Our shame knows no bounds.
April:
Who are you again?
Wood Spirit:
We are the Wood Spirit. We come to all trees in the hour of great need to provide comfort. Our time is running out as we speak. The passing to earth is about to begin. Leave us, now.
April:
What about the egg?
Wood Spirit:
Oh, it is too late. Without sustenance, we do not have the strength to bring it safely home. We have failed and the earth will know our shame for all time to come.
April:
Isn't there anything I can do to help?
Wood Spirit:
Oh, we do not expect a human to come to our aid.
April:
Lose the attitude, okay? Just tell me if there's anything I can do.
Wood Spirit:
It is futile. We need water but there is none, not after the brook changed course.
April:
I'll find a way. Don't panic.
Wood Spirit:
We do not panic. Unlike you, we accept our destiny. If, however, against all odds, you do succeed, we will carry the child safely back into its nest. Do not make a foolish attempt on your own. It would spell certain misery.
The Wood Spirit vanished. April returned to the brook and re-examined it carefully.
April:
According to the, uhm, "Spirit", there was some kind of battle that split the rock and changed the course of the stream.
Perhaps she could change the course of the brook. She combined the twig and scale she picked up
April:
I think I just made a funnel. Cool! I'm so proud of myself. (She placed the funnel so that the brook was diverted to the withering tree) This should do the trick.
A rush of blue light engulfed the tree, it sighed as withered leaves sprang forth lush and green on the branches.
April:
(impressed) Talk about instant rehab!
Satisfied, she walked back to the tree.
April:
Hello? Hello!
Wood Spirit:
Leave us be!
April:
Are you okay?
Wood Spirit:
We find our strength returned and so we have no time for idle conversation. We must drink and rejoice.
April:
Aren't "we" forgetting something?
Wood Spirit:
Hush. Listen. The song of the ancient wood. Is it not sweet?
April:
Sweet, definitely, yeah. The baby's probably ready to boogie down as well.
Wood Spirit:
The baby? The egg! Thank the earth, we almost forgot! (The roots moved and the egg rolled out of sight)
April:
Uh-oh!
She rushed forward anxiously but she need not have worried. The roots lifted the egg safey back to the nest. As she checked that it was all right, another trilling cry came from the egg and it was answered. A large glowing silvery-white winged creature flew past.
April:
(frightened) What ... what was that? (She retreated hastily from the nest ) Uh--oh ... (A white dragon appeared next to it)
White Dragon:
It is you. You have come.
April:
You know me?
White Dragon:
April. Daughter. I have been waiting for you.
April:
Waiting? Why?
White Dragon:
Because it begins here, with you. As it always has.
April:
What do you mean?
White Dragon:
The breach and the mending, the pain and the joy, the end of the old and the dawn of the new. A different world. I am the mother of what is, but you -- you are the mother of a future that may yet be.
April:
How will I know? How will I know what to do?
White Dragon:
I will guide you and I will protect you, as much as I can. But in the end, you are on your own.
April:
I'm afraid.
White Dragon:
You always were, my child, my daughter.
As April moved towards the White Dragon, a rumbling howl was heared.
April:
This is probably not a good thing.
The White Dragon lifted her head with a cry of anxiety. She curled herself protectively over the egg as April ran to the edge of the cliff. A black shiny pulsating amorphous cloud with a dark aura and flashes of light hovered into sight. As she backed away, it shot forth a streak of bright light at her. She screamed as she fell off the cliff.