Laola Axehand
elminster
Member, Developer Posts: 16,315
This discussion was created from comments split from: I hate that.....
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That said my next one is...
The Laola Axehand encounter.
Its the definition of a minor encounter and yet its always bugged me. For those who don't know she confronts you after you've gone through the Seven Suns quest. Basically she just tells you to be wary of doing unlawful things (like what you've just done) and go see Scar. For me its really just kind of an odd encounter given that Scar is basically steps away (both the Seven Suns and the Flaming Fist headquarters are in the south-west part of the city). Even in the contest of BG1 (no map markers) its always seemed like an unnecessary addition.
This is most odd. Is it possible that she's caused by some mod? Alternatively, I note that you mention that but I'm not sure what "unlawful things" I'm supposed to have done in the Seven Suns. Usually (even when playing Evil) I've just done as Scar asked, which isn't unlawful. Maybe there is some specific unlawful action which you're taking but I'm not, which triggers her appearance?
Tangentially ... "Laola Axehand"? Any relation to Corgeig Axehand (in BG2), I wonder?
She starts out with "You there! Before you go causing any more trouble I must insist that you seek an audience with Scar if you haven't already!"
Depending on the dialogue choice you go with ("Why should I? Are you going to try to make me?" in this case) one of the things she then says is "It is not my intent to fight with you, but if you continue to cause commotion within the city of Baldur's Gate without sanction from the Flaming Fist, we are sure to come into conflict. For your health and that of the city, please seek him out. He awaits at the Flaming Fist headquarters in the southwest quadrant of the city." (emphasis added by me)
And no its not a mod and she appears even if you've already gotten the quest from Scar before entering.
Edit: Turns out that she will only appear if you've already gotten the quest from scar. Which makes her existence even more of a head scratcher.
I can only guess that there must be some trigger condition for her cameo, which is affected by something you always do and I never do (or vice versa).
Summary: there are two ways to complete the Seven Suns quest, and Laola Axehand appears in only one of them.
"Chaotic" method: if you complete the Seven Suns quest all in one visit to the Seven Suns building, immediately exposing and destroying the doppelgangers after the first merchant (who approaches you on entry) has explained the problem, without first reporting back to Scar for further instructions, then Laola Axehand will appear when you leave. In effect, she warns you that you ought to have consulted Scar.
"Lawful" method: if instead you report back to Scar for further instructions after the first merchant has explained the problem (leaving the Seven Suns building to do so without yet exposing the doppelgangers and completing the quest), then Scar will explicitly direct you to return and destroy the doppelgangers. When you do so, because this way the mayhem in the building was explicitly authorised by Scar, Laola Axehand will not appear.
The rewards are greater if you do it the "Lawful" way: Scar gives you a reward both when you report back for further instructions and again when you complete the quest, which together are greater than the single reward he gives you for completing the quest the "Chaotic" way. This makes sense, because Scar enforces Law in the city, so he rewards you extra for doing his quest the Lawful way. A very interesting detail!
Its also a bit odd they would push a lawful approach on you, and then immediately afterward have you break into and act as spies in order to "find proof" (aka steal documents) about the Iron Throne.
Either way I view it as being an entirely unnecessary encounter. I mean it doesn't even give you a journal entry! (and Bioware gave journal entries for even the most mundane encounters)