Guys, just started playing.
Got to the village, met some interesting guys in the Inn and in the other house with unique names. All that. But when I try to interact I always get an option to read the story of their souls, and no option to actually talk to them!
It seems like a bug. I read the cool story about a bro, but I can't start a conversation.
WTF?

Same for me with several NPCs. I don't think it's a bug though, just the way it is. Cool little background stories!

I believe those are the NPC designs supplied by higher-tier backers. It's unusual in an RPG and not quite what people might have expected, but yes, it seems they exist to give you a sense of being a Watcher.

Maybe they are hireable later, once you get the keep.

Hmm, seems most probable.
I must admit it looks a bit unnatural in the game. Really unusual and sophisticated stories and looks of an NPC, but no chance of interacting :)
Well, whatever) Stories are good though.

Thank you for the answer.

I think of them as villagers and my guy is just looking into past lives of their souls. I think that is their intention, but the fact they’re decked out in nice looking clothes/gear does lead one to believe there should be more to them interaction wise. As mentioned above, perhaps later in the game, but there are quite a few of them so that would mean dozens of potential NPC’s.

The woman on the hanging tree mentioned watchers doing favors for people’s souls, and some of the soul stories talk about true love etc., so perhaps watcher quests will unlock later in the storyline and you’ll be re-uniting past lovers and righting past wrongs etc.

Yeah I agree about those stories. :-)