User:Aliceandsven/Alternate Nicholas/Q&A

Questions and Answers, with Nicholas the Traveler

Despite his busy schedule and constant state of pondering and plotting, Nicholas the Traveler has invested a sliver of time to strengthen his connection to his servants. Nicholas was asked to participate in an interview and has obliged, and here now are the answers to your questions. This is not an official interview with John Hargrove's Nick.

Paddymew wonders, "How long can Dolyak hair grow to be?"

"That is a question I know all too well, seeing as how Yakkington here can't keep his own self groomed! It can be long, quite long, especially for wild Dolyaks or those who have been fated to work in the cold regions of the Shiverpeaks. The Dwarves don't care much for Dolyak grooming, I suppose. I keep the Professor's coat shorter than the average Dolyak, so he's light on his feet and less prone to bad hair days."

"What do you do with the heaps of extra stuff that everybody gives you each week?"

"Sometimes it's all used for my purposes, often times you all are quite enthusiastic about your scavenging, and I do wind up with more than I or the Professor care to lug around. I have a friend inside the Xunlai Guild who I met a long time ago. I'll tell you, those vaults are quite expansive, you can hide any amount of anything in there given the proper social channels. Whatever I need stored goes to a special "shadow corner" of the vault complex. My friend's influence ensures that no one gives what goes in there a second thought, if they're even aware of it in the first place. That's all I'm at liberty to disclose."

Feeling quite curious, Paddymew gets straight to the point, "What is your master plan?"

"That changes from time to time as I walk through this turbulent life. Once it was to settle down in a cozy forest home with a fresh apple pie after every evening meal. The Searing has taught me a lot about life. Death is the only thing permanent. Chaos and platinum are always welcome, but with every waking moment I'm considering where to go next and what my plans are. I guess I don't really have one yet."

Nick123 asks, "When are u going to buy obi armor with all your cash?"

"Well, Nick123, I have not personally acquainted myself with whatever smith dwells in Balthazar's realm, but I can say his tastes in fashion do not match mine. If I ever really needed protective garments, I would seek out cheaper options that aren't so dangerous to acquire."

Nick123 delivers a startling question, "When are you going to kill the Emperor?"

"All in good time, Nick123, all in good time..."

French777 makes a request, "Could you use your psychic power to tell us more about events to happen in 250 years...?"

"I would be lucky to be able to predict what might happen tomorrow, let alone 250 years from now! Needless to say, being a mastermind doesn't mean being a clairvoyant, unfortunately. Maybe you'd have better luck with the inane pseudo-mesmer who insists on tracking me and trying to convince me to meet with him on a weekly basis. He likes to pretend to know a lot."

Silavor gets supernatural, "What are your thoughts about extra-terrestrial beings? Do you believe in aliens, and if so, how have they helped you get to where you are today, both literally and metaphorically?"

"I've never met an alien, though I'm not sure I'd know what an alien was with all of the strange characters that turn up around Tyria. So I won't quite believe in aliens until I meet one and can verify their former residence on another planet. I've had some strange experiences in the past though... And some odd dreams, large figures speaking to me through windows. I can't say aliens have ever helped me in any way, and if they have they were very careful not to let me know."

"Why do you always use a staff, instead of a sword? Swords are cool and shiny and sharp and sword-like; everything a staff isn't."

"It's just a matter of Traveler Protocol. The style of traveler is most accentuated by a walking stick. A sword conveys a more "Roar, I am going to stab you" type of feeling."

Deadfalk makes a request, "I would like to ask if he got any friendly relationships besides yakkington, and what he finds about the armies of people giving him those items, only to get some packages."

"Any 'friends' I have beyond Yakkington are not much more than business partners or temporary allies. I keep everyone at an arm's length and watch their movements and actions with a scrutinous eye. So, no, there isn't anyone in my life as close as my good friend Yakkington here who's seen me through thick and thin no matter what.

In regard to my servants, I haven't the faintest idea what to think of them, really. I appreciate their efforts, I'm certainly quite thankful, but I have to wonder if such great heroic folks really have nothing better to do than collect odds and ends for me. It's kind of strange, but I'm not complaining!"

The Savior asks an interesting question, "Have you ever met Bahltek? He's a traveler like you. If you have, what do you have in common, and what do you make of him?".

"Bahltek, that name rings a bell. Yes, I've met him before but only in brief passing. He seemed extraordinarily busy with something, and was not at all interested in chatting. I've never seen anyone so focused and diligent, or mysterious. We exchanged a few words about the weather, and that was that. I can tell you though, I know a mastermind when I see one. I'd say he was up to something grand."

"Have you ever explored to the west of the far shiverpeaks? On some old tyrian maps it shows an old island. Do you have any plans for it?"

"Being a man who greatly enjoys traveling, I have perused my fair share of maps. The island of which you speak, I've never been there, nor have I ever met or heard of anyone who has. On the maps I've seen that include it, it remains unmarked and unnamed. My curiosity beckons me to sail across the gap and explore it's beaches, though I'm a little hesitant. It's out of the way, and who knows what lies between there and civilization, let alone on the island itself. Maybe I ought to send some of my minions there instead?"

"You've explored all over the world, do you know where all the bloodstones are?"

"I'm afraid not. And hopefully no one ever will. I trust the gods knew what they were doing when they split the Bloodstone. And I trust that whatever power that comes from the reassembled stones can do no good in the hands of humanity."

Neil2250 wishes to know, "How Exactly Do You Use Yakington for a Mount/Siege Device?"

"It's really quite simple. You hop onto him, grab hold of his magnificent coat of fur (for dear life), and promise him a Mandragor Root Cake if he smashes whatever is ahead of him."

The Orlando seeks a glimpse of Nick's personal philosophy, "Why do you always give out 5 gifts to each person? Why not base it on a first come-first serve basis in order to get what you need quicker?"

"I am an equal opportunity employer and slayer."

The Orlando seeks insight into the secrets of a traveler, "I have to say, I've always been curious, do you have a special form of transport aside from the professor that allows you to get from area to area, or do you just know the world so much better than many others that you know the right paths to get from place to place quickly? For example, recently you moved from Sparkfly Swamp all the way to Dreadnought's Drift in a rather short amount of time, saying that the two places, while fairly geographically close, have no known paths going between them."

"Well, I do have my ship. And if I really need to get somewhere fast, hopping in and out of Xunlai Chests is great, despite the occasional headaches and memory loss..."

"How is it that you create Cottontail Tonics? I know no one else who knows how to make them, so you must have some special recipe, and if you do, would you care to share it with the world at large?"

"That is a secret recipe, you might not want to know it anyway... Let's just say it involves the dead bunnies that Eve insists on giving me every time I see her."

Markisbeest wants to know, "What race will you be once science has found a way to succesfully transfer to a different race?"

"Well, I can't say for sure that I would fit in well as a member of another race, but I am certainly interested in learning more about the Norn. Additionally, being a Norn would significantly enhance my ability to slaughter people, which would be great except it might put you all out of business!"

Yuki Winterchill asks, "Was the Searing really caused by the Charr?"

"I do not know, but it seems likely. They definitely had some hand in it. If I were a Charr I might have a better answer for you, but this is not the case. In my travels I've heard occasional rumors of Titan magic, dark gods, and more that I did not bother to retain details of. Personally, I know the Charr are a great power, but are they really powerful enough on their own to summon such a force that could wipe out an entire nation? I suppose that's not helpful, answering a question with another question!"

Steering away from the gloomy topic, Yuki inquires, "Does your walking stick have hidden powers?"

"If I told you, they would be hidden no longer! To be honest, yes, it contains some sort of magical capacity, or so people have told me. I'm collecting magical texts and tomes and studying them in my very scarce free time. I hope to learn about this capacity, and perhaps wield it to give myself an edge in my endeavors."

Finally, Yuki wonders, "For what reason did you have the hots for Mary Malone other than her juicy apples?" A moment of odd silence passes.

"Well, if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to go find a nice dark corner to curl up in and weep until my eyes melt out of their sockets. Farewell!"