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- "I can't be damned for something I can't even remember!"
- — Nick venturing through the basement.
Nick Lightbearer (real name Norbert Pickles) is a character in We Happy Few. He is a famous, if somewhat faded, rock star and celebrity idol in Wellington Wells.
Nick and his band, "The Make Believes", made many popular songs throughout their active career in the 1950's and early 1960's. Some of the songs can be heard playing on radios or speakers throughout Wellington Wells.
He is a reoccurring side character in the main campaign and is the protagonist of the Lightbearer DLC.
Events of We Happy Few[]
Act I[]
Nick Lightbearer is scheduled to lead the "Simon Says" game at St. Genesius Church but never arrives. This forces Arthur Hastings to go retrieve him, and he makes his way to Lightbearer's home.
Once Arthur is able to enter Nick's house, he discovers that Nick has become a washed-up emotional wreck, seemingly suffering from depression. This is evident by the countless Joy Pills, Empty Glass Bottles, and Empty Pill Bottles strewn across the house.
Arthur finds Nick in the living room where he is sitting on the couch holding a Power Cell, and is rather down for the wear. He tries to distract Arthur about a swarm of non-existent animals behind him.
Arthur attempts to sober him up with the idea of a bath and a cup of tea, which the rock star agrees with, but because Nick is still dysfunctional from his substance abuse, he steps into the bath with all of his clothes on, still grasping the Power Cell.
Arthur tries to warn Nick about the Power Cell, but Nick brushes it off by stating "I'm not going to drink it." before accidentally slipping and dropping the Power Cell into the water, causing him to endure a violent electric shock which kills him. In response, Arthur gets the idea to put on Nick's clothes, mask and hair to impersonate Lightbearer and commence the game of Simon Says.
Act II[]
Sally Boyle visits Nick's home in order to get a record for Helen Faraday, where she finds Nick lying in the Bathtub.
Because Sally has history with Nick and knows that he tends to pass out a lot when she arrives at his house, she assumes that Nick is simply passed out and continues with her quest to get the Unicorn Song, not knowing the events that lead to him ending up in the bath.
Act III[]
Nick Lightbearer's Pad doesn't make an appearance, nor does Nick himself.
Lightbearer[]
The Lightbearer DLC is what follows directly after Nick's death in the bathtub from Act I, where he resides in The Avalon Hotel for an upcomming concert. Virgil Dainty, Nick's ex-agent, is there to help guide Nick to remember what had happened to him and avenge his death, it's also with his guidance that helps Nick journey and redeem himself from Hell to Heaven.
Main Game[]
"You got any bennies? No? Bufos? Come on, man, you didn't bring an offering? I AM THE LORD THY GOD. Dizzy."
"The fans forget, man, they forget."
"I used to be bottled power, man."
"I'm not gonna drink it. I learned that lesson!"
"*shouts as he's electrocuted*"
Lightbearer[]
"There has to be a perfectly innocent reason why a man might wake up covered in blood and not remember."
"Everyone's a critic. Especially the critics."
"Not now, lovlies. I'm just on my way out. Control yourselves!"
"You always knew how to make me feel small."
"It's not that I wanted to shag all those birds. Fans expect it. Mustn't disappoint the fans."
"Some birds just won't give a man a second chance. Or a third."
"You promised to be my helpmate! My beacon against the rocky shoals -- shores -- shoals? Things."
"You don't really expect a bottomless pit in a first-class hotel."
"They're watching me! I knew it!"
"I'm still myself on drugs, right? Just a bit more fabulous."
"I'd never do anything..actually heinous? Would I?"
"Why me? Why not his killer? Oh no no, don't think about that."
"No! No! NO! I don't want to remember! I DON'T WANT TO REMEMBER!"
"I knew I hated myself, but..."
"I wanted to be better! I just...wasn't."
"I took all those drugs so- so I wouldn't remember how bad I was! AND I- I TURNED INTO SOMETHING SO MUCH WORSE!"
"That means...I didn't kill anyone! I was a witness!"
"You killed my fans! And Virgil! For what? For bloody NOTORIETY?"
"From now on, things will be different! From now on, it's going to be a whole new Nick Lightbearer!"
Official Arthwork[]
Posters[]
Gameplay[]
Other[]
General[]
- Nick plays his guitar left handed, and throws his golden records with his right hand, suggesting he is ambidextrous.
- Nick never actually wanted to cheat on his wife with his fans, he only did what the fans expected out of him. This is repeatedly shown throughout the DLC.
- The name "Nick Lightbearer" has some very dark connotations, as "Old Nick" is a slang word for Satan (the Devil) and "Lightbearer" refers to Lucifer, the archangel that rebelled against God, was cast out of heaven and became the Devil.
- The Lightbearer DLC that Nick stars in is also based on The Divine Comedy, with further religious references throughout the DLC.
- These connections may be in reference to how the Rock 'n Roll genre was considered to be the "Devil's music" throughout the 1900's.
Other[]
- In his game over death screen, a news article states that Nick went on a world tour.
- It's highly likely that the outfit Nick wears is a reference to Austin Powers' iconic velvet suit, specifically the red variant.
- Nick's pants are striped, unlike Austin's suit, in white, blue and red.
- The jacket also has white buttons and trims, unlike Austin's suit, because it's a re-texture of the Proper Suit.
- There is a compliment machine in Nick Lightbearers house by the front door that the player is only able to get to by using console commands.
- When examining Nick's body in Act I as Arthur, it says that he is "Deceased", implying that he died from the electroshock. In Act II, however, when examining Nick's Body as Sally, it says that he is "Unconscious".
- It's possible that Sally only assumes he is unconscious because she knows Nick is a heavy drug user who tends to be passed out whenever she visits, but because Arthur witnessed the accident happening before his very eyes, he's sure he died.
- Motilene is consistently shown to be dangerous and lethal. The liquid is flammable and is the cause of many fires and explosions, and gaseous vapor from Motilene spills can cause poisoning, unconsciousness, and death. Because of its high electrical energy, it causes lethal electric shocks when it gets into contact with water.
- Claude François, regarded by many as the French equivalent of the Beatles, died by trying to straighten a lightbulb whilst he was in the bathtub. It's possible that Nick's death in Act I is a reference to Claude's death.