Difference between revisions of "Threatening Arachnos Message"

Briefing

Character. You wish to know the location of Operative Castrin?

He is one of our newer operatives. Why would you wish to know his location?

• He threatened to kill me.

Hrm, most disturbing. I can assure you, Character, that this was not approved by Arachnos. Firstly, we would not be so... direct. Secondly, we are quite aware of your new level of power.

We are busy enough here trying to deal with the apparent situation in Dark Astoria. We've got enough problems dealing with this 'Midnighter Club' and the portal they've set up in Grandville to enter that city. I shall give you the honor of dealing with Castrin.

He should be near one of the platforms overlooking the slums. If he survives the ordeal with you, then he shall be promoted right away. If he is destroyed, then it will send a message to others in Arachnos not to work outside of our protocols.

Excellent.

What is the situation in Dark Astoria?

(see below)

• He may be a Longbow spy.

He is not a Longbow spy, Character. We've had enough of those in the past that we are quite strict in examining our operatives.

What is it that you want with Operative Castrin?

• Just tell me what I need to know, Daos.

And why should I tell you his location, Character?

• I took down the Freedom Phalanx, Daos. I think that earns me information.

And Arachnos is still thankful for your work against the Phalanx.

...Very well, Character, I'll give you the information. I don't have time to argue, not with the situation in Dark Astoria. We've got enough problems dealing with this 'Midnighter Club' and the portal they've set up in Grandville to enter that city.

Castrin should be near one of the platforms overlooking the slums. If he survives the ordeal with you, then he shall be promoted right away. If he is destroyed, then it will send a message to others in Arachnos not to work outside of our protocols.

• Excellent.

• I'm an Incarnate, Daos. Do you want to say no to me?

"...Very well, Character, I'll give you the information. I don't have time to argue, not with the situation in Dark Astoria, and I wouldn't wish to cause a scene here with someone at your power. We've got enough problems dealing with this 'Midnighter Club' and the portal they've set up in Grandville to enter that city.

Castrin should be near one of the platforms overlooking the slums. If he survives the ordeal with you, then he shall be promoted right away. If he is destroyed, then it will send a message to others in Arachnos not to work outside of our protocols.

• Excellent.

• What is the situation in Dark Astoria?

If you must know, we have received word that some sort of massive power just spiked in the area. Whatever was sleeping beneath that city is now very awake.

We are preparing a team to go and investigate what exactly is happening there.

• I understand. I'll be off to deal with Operative Castrin

Briefing

The man in the forest speaks to you, though he does not look at you.

It begins again. The ebb and flow, back and forth. More march to the slaughter which we all hoped to stop. But we were cast out, called insane, after our work was done.

No one would try to remember the past, how hard we fought to save the future.

• Where is Operative Castrin?

Castrin. I saw the man, he fell into here too. He went mad and was destroyed. He kept muttering a name, over and over again.

He is like all the others who had been chosen. He could not bear it, the nightmares took him over. It chose something he despised and used it to devour his essence.

If you were after Castrin, you will only find him in the next life.

• Who are you?

No one. I was someone, once, but now, I am no one. I was cast out for what I did, for what we all did. They called us crazy, they couldn't believe what we said.

We tried to save the world, and we were destroyed for it. Now, the world is paying for the sins of the past, for the sin of forgetting the past.

• What do you mean?

The man remains silent, refusing to answer your question. You notice that he is somewhat ethereal, a ghost.

• (Leave)

• Where am I?

The border of life and death. Its world, or rather, part of it. I've been here before, when we first fought.

If you're here, it means it wants you, just like it wanted me so long ago. There's no turning back now. If it wants you, it will find a way to get you closer and closer. That's what happened with me, but it wasn't expecting what I did, not that it mattered, in the end.

• What is this 'it'?

The man remains silent, refusing to answer your question. You notice that he is somewhat ethereal, a ghost.

• (Leave)

Briefing

This member of the Circle of Thorns seems to be terrified, either of you or someone else. He stutters when you approach him.

It's... it's Character! Stay back! The others are gone, inside of it now, but I won't be taken!

• Calm down, I'm just here for information.

You don't understand, there's no calming here! The beast has awakened, the end of the world is upon us!

No one is safe, not the Circle, not you, no one!

What are you talking about?

We failed, that is all I know. Some were trying to stop this, but they failed, and now, it has spilled over!

The power here... it can consume us all! There's nothing like it in this world...!

Can this power be harnessed somehow?

I... I suppose any power can be used, if you knew how to bind it. But it would take an incredible amount to just do it! Whatever is awakened is too powerful now, you'd need to weaken it, somehow, but I wouldn't even know how to begin to do that!

There has to be someone here trying to stop this.

There is another mage nearby, named Maharaj. I think he's here to stop this, but it's hopeless! He'll never stop the lumbering beast! Even if you wanted to take its power for yourself, you would have to weaken it, which is impossible!

If what this mage is saying is true, then the power of whatever has awakened can be harnessed if it's weakened. You'll just need to acquire an item to actually use its power, which is something you can look for along the way. In the meantime, you'll have to see what you can do about getting the creature in a state where you can take its power.

It shouldn't be too difficult to accomplish; after all, when it comes to world-shattering events around here, people seem to be incredibly willing to work together with villains for the 'greater good'. You'll just go along until the time is right and then make your move!

I'll find Maharaj, then.

How can this power be stopped?

There is another mage nearby, named Maharaj. I think he's here to stop this, but it's hopeless! He'll never stop the lumbering beast! Even if you wanted to take its power for yourself, you would have to weaken it, which is impossible!

If what this mage is saying is true, then the power of whatever has awakened can be harnessed if it's weakened. You'll just need to acquire an item to actually use its power, which is something you can look for along the way. In the meantime, you'll have to see what you can do about getting the creature in a state where you can take its power.

It shouldn't be too difficult to accomplish; after all, when it comes to world-shattering events around here, people seem to be incredibly willing to work together with villains for the 'greater good'. You'll just go along until the time is right and then make your move!

I'll find Maharaj, then.

• (Rough up the mage)

You use your abilities to rough up the Circle mage. He staggers backwards, pleading.

Please, no more, I'll tell you whatever it is you want to know!

I want to know what's going on here.

Something dark has awakened, something that the Circle has been trying to keep contained for a long time.

I was not privy into what exactly it was; all I know is that we failed to keep it sealed several years ago, and we've failed to keep it from growing out of control.

It's the end of the world as we know it, Character. This is not some threat that can be stopped, not even by an Incarnate like yourself!

Can this power be harnessed somehow?

(See above)

Briefing

The Circle mage claps his hands together when he sees you.

Yes, yes! You will do nicely. My name is Maharaj, and I would like to make an offer to you, Character.

You shouldn't be surprised that I know you, my friend. I make it my business to know everything that goes on in this morbid little corner of the world. I have information that you would find beneficial, I think, as well. No no, there is no price, no catch. I merely wish to impart my wisdom to you. And if the Circle should happen to benefit from your subsequent rampages...

Maharaj raises his hands before you, and shrugs.

I am merely here to look for a benefit in this place. If that cowardly mage told you otherwise, then he is wrong. You would be best to seek out a woman named Heather Townshend if you're looking to solve this mystery of Dark Astoria. Maharaj is a repeatable mission giver in Dark Astoria.

You can always get various missions from him. Enemies in these missions will reward incarnate experience and have a chance to drop incarnate threads. Completing a repeatable mission will give you a choice of either two incarnate threads, five reward merits, or a single super inspiration.

Briefing

The woman before you seems to look worn out, the circles around her eyes indicating that she has either not slept for days, or has barely slept at all. She takes a few steps back as you step past the runes.

Stay back, Character! I don't know why the runes aren't stopping you... but I'll do what I can to fight you!

Was this all your doing? Dark Astoria coming back to life? The monsters roaming the streets?

• I wish I could take credit, but it was not my doing.

Then what are you here for? There's nothing for you to gain in this cursed place, Character!

• No, I have nothing to do with this.

Then what are you here for? There's nothing for you to gain in this cursed place, Character!

• I'm here to save the day.

You? Save the day? Are you kidding me?

• I need this world together just as much as you do.

Heather Townshend grumbles.

I suppose you're right. Very well. My name is Heather Townshend. This situation must be really bad if it's up to someone like you to fight this, but... well, most villains are usually arrested at this point. Someone as smart and powerful as yourself could be our best shot at fighting this thing. I'll tell you what you need to know.

• I'll be playing the role of the hero today.

And then what about tomorrow? This place is full of sin, Character, we don't need more of it from you here.

you need me here to fight this.

Heather Townshend grumbles.

I suppose you're right. Very well. My name is Heather Townshend. This situation must be really bad if it's up to someone like you to fight this, but... well, most villains are usually arrested at this point. Someone as smart and powerful as yourself could be our best shot at fighting this thing. I'll tell you what you need to know.

I can't really answer either of those very well, but I'll do my best. A while back, I began to feel a... pull to Dark Astoria. Something was calling me to return. I used to live here, before the city was taken over by these monsters.

When I entered the city, something felt wrong, more than usual. It felt like something was on the brink of bursting forth. There were these strange winged creatures flying towards the cemetery. Some of them were attacking some women who were armed to the teeth, they looked like assassins.

I hid in the shadows as I watched these winged women fight the assassins. The monsters called them traitors to the cause. Their fight was interrupted by this... this horrible moaning in the distance, followed by a violent earthquake. Something must have burst out of the cemetery. The monsters killed the assassins and departed. I felt an incredible force overcome me, and I blacked out.

And then?

I woke up where we're standing right now, surrounded by these protective runes. There were two people with me, a man named Kadabra Kill and his wife, Sigil. I asked them where the runes came from, but they said they did not know. All they knew was that they were enough to hold back the darkness and the monsters, but they would not last for long.

They both told me to leave, that they would help get me out, but I refused. I... came here to finish something, Character, something that had been bothering me for a long time, and I intend to do just that.

They requested that if I saw anyone else that I ask them to help their investigation. They said they were part of some secret organization that was seeking to find out what was happening in Dark Astoria and put a stop to it. I guess that you would count as someone who could help their investigation, right?

I will do anything I can to stop this.

I'm trusting you in this, even if this normally isn't what you do.