Originally Posted by
Aielyn
2. A few of the key NPCs should react, perhaps even with extra results along the way. This goes with point 1, since if you're quick in climbing the CoC, you should have time to stop in Dwarftown, where most of the lesser NPCs are gone, a few have turned into various creatures, and then all you have left still normal are, I'm thinking, Bart, Thrundarr, Ruun, and Waldenbrook. Each could make some interesting response. Reach Ruun in time (with 50 levels, you have 425 turns to reach Ruun before the gods themselves are destroyed and you are "forsaken" - I'd like, a few turns prior to being forsaken, a message from the gods as they react to it coming), and he may be praying to his god... too late, and you hear him wailing about being forsaken and the end of the world. Bart takes it mostly in stride (but is clearly very drunk), Thrundarr makes some comment about being insane to allow you to pass beyond the portal before starting to babble like an idiot, and Waldendorf is paralysed with horror.
Other NPCs that you might be able to see and talk to on your way out include the Eternal Guardian, the Cat Lord (if still alive), Kherab (found where the shortcut was, if still alive), Dak (the ratlings are all gone), and Yrruir and Riurry (next to each other in the Big Room if both still alive - end of the world takes precedence over their mutual hatred).
3. On reaching the surface, the one NPC that you should find there, if you saved him, is Khelavaster. Having felt the shockwaves coming from the CoC, he travelled rapidly to the entrance, just in time to see you emerging, even as the world fell apart around him. This could then add a few extra lines to the finish, as in this case you have a companion for your final moments.