Talk:Vincent Ross

This arc has several objectives that change depending on which subcontact you select, if any. Until we decide how to incorporate them into the article, I am compiling the information here. --Flamemaiden 21:06, 6 January 2011 (UTC)

I've added the intro text for Vince Dubrowski, and started adding text for Diviner Maros' path. I've also removed periods from headers, but feel free to add them back; I'm new here. -- Dr. Heuschrecke 01:17, 31 May 2011 (UTC)

After selecting any contact, you get:

	Working Together
	You've chosen a contact to work together with in Sharkhead Isle.

Vince Dubrowski

When you first speak to Vince Dubrowski

Hey Character, how's it going? We got those Circle off of our backs ever since that deal you helped make happen. The Cage Consortium is real thankful for your help, we aren't the kind to be forgetting when someone helped us out.

Editor's Note: Presumably the above paragraph is different if you have not completed the Any Body Will Do arc.

Funny you're talking to me now, 'cause we got some more problems that we can use your help with, for the right price. See, we've got a problem with the Legacy Chain, Coralax, and, well, mostly everyone else looking to put a damper on the Cage Consortium. Now, that isn't good for Mr. Cage, and if it isn't good for Mr. Cage, it's not gonna be good for Vince Dubrowski, but you know that already. Situation we got ourselves is that the Legacy Chain are crawling all over, trying to do something with the Scrapyarders and the Red Coral operation we got going on here. None of that stuff is good for our business. You help us out and Mr. Cage'll make it worth your while. What do you say?

If you choose to work with Vince Dubrowski, you will be locked in to work with him for the remainder of the story arc.

• You've got a deal.

Missing info

• I need a moment to consider this.

Lorenz Ansaldo

When you first speak to Ansaldo

Ay yo, Character, how's it goin'? Things 'round here have been pretty smooth sailin' for the Family ever since you took care of that Sea Witch for us. Well, 'least as far as them Scrapyarders go. We've been havin' us some problems with them Legacy Chain goons for the past few days now.

Editor's Note: Presumably the above paragraph is different if you do not have the Seaweed Badge.

Lotta our shipments goin' back and forth from Paragon have been filled with them magic boys instead of our cargo. Nerve of these guys, eh? I dunno what these boys are after, but they're makin' a lotta folks in the Family pretty angry. Well, all 'cept one. We're thinkin' that we got ourselves a rat who is tryin' to be all righteous and help out these magic boys.

Say, you happen to be goin' up against 'em? 'Cause if you are, we in the Family could be usin' your expert help again in takin' down these righteous magic freaks. We'll be makin' sure the price is right too.

If you choose to work with Lorenz Ansaldo, you will be locked in to work with him for the remainder of the story arc.

• As long as the price is right, you've got my help.

Alright, we got ourselves a deal! Now we got a lead on where we can start lookin' for this chump of ours.

Word is that one of our boys was messin' around in the caves near the Pit, which ain't what he was supposed to be doin'. I was gonna go check it out myself, 'till I heard them fish creatures started an attack on that place, 'long with the Legacy Chain. Makes me pretty suspicious, if you're askin' me, almost like the Legacy Chain knew 'bout that place from our man.

Guy's name is Joey Malone. You'll wanna find him and make him squeal what's goin' on. When ya get in there, find somethin' to contact me with and I'll give ya the details on what Joey might be up to.

• Alright, I'll handle it.

• I need a moment to consider this.

	Finding Joey Malone
	Lorenz Ansaldo asked you to find Joey Malone within the caverns of the Pit, believing that he may be part of the 'rats' working together with the Legacy Chain.

In the first mission

Radio dialogue

You tune the communication radio to get in touch with Lorenz Ansaldo.

Ay, Character! I got confirmation from the boys that Joey should be somewhere within that place. Hopefully them Coralax ain't killed him off yet, huh? Find him and get whatever ya can outta him. I'll talk to ya when we got some more things handled on our end here.

• Alright.

New Mission Objective: Find Joey Malone for Lorenz Ansaldo (optional)

Remains of Joey Malone

You found the remains of Joey Malone within the cavern. It looks like he was killed by the Coralax. You search his body and find a few items that could sell well on the market, along with a crystal given to him by the Legacy Chain. You tap the crystal a few times until a voice speaks from it, as if it was a recorded message... We promise you immunity in Paragon City if you aid us in scouting the area of Sharkhead Isle. Our operations there are of the upmost importance. One of your other fellows, a man we will not name, is already in the process of aiding us. We mention this so that you know you have an ally, but we refuse his name as we are unsure if we can trust you. Once you let us know where the Blood Coral is located, we shall arrive to retrieve you and bring you to Paragon.

After getting the third mission from Ross

What's up, Character? Been a while since you and me talked, was beginning to wonder if you were backin' off of what we agreed on. So you found Joey was dead huh? Can't say I'm too upset about that, rat was tryin' to turn on us, he deserves to get himself dead.

Anyway, this whole thing gives me an idea, and I'm a man who thrives on gettin' ideas. We had a number of cargo shipment that went missin' recently. Only problem is, we're usually the ones that makes things go missin'. Lucky for us, we had ourselves a little trackin' beacon on the cargo, 'cept we don't know what the cargo is. If we can find the cargo and see what it is, we're gonna catch the other mook who's been workin' with the Legacy Chain red handed.

• How is the cargo going to prove anything?

Easy, Character, here's the thing. We got some generic kinda beacons on the cargo, yeah? Cheaper to make that way. Lotta the cargo we lost recently was 'cause of the Legacy Chain. But this one piece of cargo, it looks like it washed up into some sorta underwater cavern, like someone took it there or somethin'.

Weird, huh? Anyway, we know who is usually set to guard our shipments and what they're guardin' specifically. I figure, we find out what was in that cargo, we can pin the guy who was guardin' it as our man. I got the rough location of where the cargo is. Gimme a ring when you got yourself in a cavern nearby and I'll letcha know if you're near the cargo.

• Will do.

	Tracking the Missing Cargo
	Lorenz Ansaldo requested you find the contents of cargo that went missing some time ago. He believes that the contents of the boxes will point to the member of the Family who has been betraying them. It's a bit of a stretch, but at least it'll lead to some money.

In the third mission

Radio dialogue

You're in the right area, Character. The cargo should be somewhere nearby. All you gotta do is check out what's in it and we'll have the answers we're looking for.

• I'm on it.

New Mission Objective: Find missing Family cargo (optional)

	The Family's Missing Cargo
	You found the Family's missing cargo within the underwater cavern. There are various vials of Superadyne in here, along with weapons and armor. You notice there are two beacons in here; one for the Family and another that seems to belong to Longbow. This may have been how the Legacy Chain knew the location of this cavern!

After getting the fourth mission from Ross

What's up, Character? You find that shipment?

Yeah? Buncha guns and ammo and Superadyne? Along with two tracking devices, one from Longbow!

Lorenz lets out a string of curses in Italian for a good minute before calming down.

That idiot! Man, Character, this here is bad. The guy guarding the crates? The one who looks like he's in cahoots with the Legacy Chain and Longbow? It's my own brother, Alexander Ansaldo! All the luck, huh? I always knew that kid was gonna lead to somethin' bad, I just didn't think he was that stupid to try to backstab me.

He thinks he's doin' what's right, huh? Well, that's where he's wrong. Kids got it all wrong, tryin' to betray family like that. Now, I gotta handle this before the big wigs back in Paragon hear about this, namely Sebastian Frost, guy who is the head of the Family.

• By mean you handle this, I assume you mean me.

Heh heh... well, yeah. Now, I ain't gonna go bemoan the fact that you gotta kill my kid brother. Fact of the matter is that I told him, warned him not to even think about betrayin' us, but now he went and ignored what I said and is tryin' to get me killed. I figure for that, he ain't my brother anymore. He's just another pig that's gotta be gutted, and I'm givin' you the knife to do it.

Too bad he ain't knowin' that I placed a little trackin' device on him too; always figured I'd use it to spring him outta prison instead of tryin' to see where he is to kill him. Now, let's see... huh. Weird. Looks like he's in some sorta unmarked office buildin' nearby. Here's the address.

The address that Lorenz gives you is the same one as the Midnighter Office.

Now, I don't care why he's there. All I care about is that he gets killed, yeah? You do that, you get your payday and my eternal gratitude, or somethin'. Gimme a call when you get in there and I'll tell you where this pig is located.

• Alright.

	Alexander's Betrayal
	Lorenz has asked that you end his brother, Alexander, who was revealed to be the member of the Family working with the Legacy Chain.

In the fourth mission

Radio dialogue

Alexander's in that place for sure, Character. Gut him like the pig he is and end this thing once and for all.

• Alright.

New Mission Objective: Put down Alexander Ansaldo (optional)

Notable NPCs

• Alexander Ansaldo (Boss)

Alexander Ansaldo dialogue

Before Combat

Huh, interestin' scroll. Never figured I'd get somethin' like this outta helpin' the Chainers and the Midnighters.

Combat Start

Who're you? Wait... you're the one workin' with Lorenz! I ain't getting killed, not today!

	Alexander's Last Words
	Alexander grabbed your leg and gasped these finals words. 'I... only wanted to... live a better life... than Lorenz... he was never... never...'

After getting the fifth mission from Ross

So, you got Alexander, huh? Good riddance. He got his head too far up in the clouds. You say he was tryin' to say somethin' about me? Whatever, I ain't got time to be bothered with whatever idealistic thing he was thinkin'.

You done good for the Family, Character. This ain't something that we're gonna forget, not for a long time. The payment for all ya help is on the way now. You got anythin' else?

• I could actually use the Family's help with an operation.

Eh?

Huh. Well. That's gonna be a tough one, Character. Lotta our boys are out and about right now, so it's gonna be tough for me to get 'em to come help.

Lorenz looks around, then grins.

Tell ya what, Character. You let me know the place to be, and I'll show up there myself to give ya hand. I figure you and me are close now seein' as how you killed my brother and all. Speakin' of close, I've been thinkin'. You and me, we should work together when this whole thing is over. Gimme a call and we'll work something out.

Lorenz Ansaldo has been added as a contact!

• Er... right. We're real close.

In the fifth mission

Radio dialogue

You contact Lorenz Ansaldo to let him know where you are.

• (Leave)

Lorenz Ansaldo dialogue

On Arrival

Let's kick some Arachnos butt.

When the Ambushes Begin

You might wanna stand back, 'cause I'm gonna let loose some aggression on these magic freaks.

After Entering the Blood Coral

I ain't sayin' this much, but this thing is the weirdest thing I've seen in my entire life.

After the Chamber First Speaks

You got yourself into somethin' real serious, you coulda warned me we'd be dealin' with mytholigically inclined creatures here!

Diviner Maros

Editor's Note: The text from Vincent Ross suggests that Diviner Maros cannot be chosen unless some of his content is completed (his story arc?). This needs to be confirmed.

When you first speak to Diviner Maros

Hello, Character. I know why you are here. I have seen the paths that you have taken that have led you to this point. Your involvement with the Leviathan would not be at an end after our encounter with it. I wondered, if out of the many paths you could have taken, if this would be one you would choose. It is interesting to see how this will all end, for you at least. Do you know the role of Merulina? What part she will play in all of this? Perhaps you do, and perhaps you do not, the branching of time is interesting in that method. Have you come here today to ask for my help with the Midnighters?

No?

Ah, yes, you're still at the start. With the Blood Coral. I know that the man Vincent Ross has told you speak of no one out of fear or perhaps greed. However, I am not one who concerns himself with such things anymore. There is much to do with this Blood Coral, and if you wish it, I shall help you in discovering more about this substance and its background.

If you choose to work with Diviner Maros, you will be locked in to work with him for the remainder of the story arc.

• I'd appreciate the help.

Then you have my aid. I believe you are about to go inside of a cavern to find that -

Ah, but no, I should wait for you to see what happens for yourself. What I can do is aid you if you retrieve for me a large piece of Red Coral. There is a Slag Golem within those caverns. The Scrapyarders, in their infinite wisdom, have called it 'Slaggie' and torture it for fun. Now that its captors are gone, it roams the caverns within, powered by the hum of the Red Coral. Destroy this golem and with its 'heart' I shall aid you in your quest for power. When you are inside, contact me and I shall let you know if this Slaggie is still within the caverns.

• I'll get on it.

• I need a moment to consider this.

	Retrieving the Red Coral
	Diviner Maros asked you to bring the Red Coral that is embedded within a slag golem nicknamed 'Slaggie'.

In the first mission

Radio dialogue

Good to hear from you, Character. I have used my magics to see that this Slaggie is still presently within these caverns. You will want to destroy it and retrieve the Red Coral if we are to move forward with my research.

• Will do.

New Mission Objective: Destroy Slaggie (optional)

Notable NPCs

• Slaggie (Slag Golem, Boss)

Slaggie dialogue

Before combat: "Feel the calling... feel it calling..."
Combat start: "You! We reject you!"

	Slaggie's Red Coral Shard
	You destroyed the beast known as Slaggie and retrieved the Red Coral that was within its body.

After getting the second mission from Ross

Ah, so we have reached the point when you return with the shard. I'm not surprised to see you, as I saw this event happen. Rather, I am relieved to see it has occurred, as it narrows down the number of branches of what could possibly happen next. I do apologize that I could not tell you that your efforts in that cavern would lead you to a dead end, but such is the nature of my work.

I have grasped and examined many of these shards, Character. If I am correct, we have past the time when your contact informed you about how Blood Coral is created. But he does not fully grasp the true nature of it. Such is what happens when the Legacy Chain delves into such things. The blood of a powerful being of good or evil is simply an offering, it is not what makes the coral powerful. The only thing that could make it more powerful is something from its source. The blood is merely a sacrifice, a way to prove your worth. Doing the ritual properly was the next step before more of the Leviathan's power was poured into the coral, creating the red glow within it. That is as much as I can gleam from this red coral.

There is more, however, that we can discover.

• What else is there?

There is a traitor within Arachnos. A man named Webmaster Harvin has been working with the Legacy Chain, feeding the woman named Barracuda false information on where to find this Blood Coral. She knows all too well about it, as you can well imagine, given your past experience with her.

Barracuda has entrusted much of her research into the Red and Blood Coral to this man, and he is fully aware that his death is a reality if she discovers it. You will find more answers from this man, who is within the warehouse you will soon be attacking. I shall give you more information when you arrive at the warehouse, but he is the man you must track down for us to move to our next step.

• Very well.

	The Traitorous Webmaster
	Diviner Maros told you of a Webmaster named Harvin who was one of Barracuda's most trusted sources in the matter of the Blood Coral. Maros said that if you can capture him, you will be able to find out the research that Barracuda has done towards the true nature of this substance.

In the second mission

Radio dialogue

This is Maros, Character. The Webmaster is somewhere within the warehouse. When you defeat him, you will find the research he has stolen hidden away within his Crab Spider pack. Be wary of the large amount of Blood Coral in the area, as it may influence your behavior.

• Will do.

New Mission Objective: Bring in the Arachnos traitor (Optional)

Notable NPCs

• Webmaster Harvin (Crab Spider Webmaster, Boss)

Webmaster Harvin dialogue

Before combat: "As long as I can stay away from Barracuda, everything should be fine..."
Combat start: "Character? What are you doing here? Are you working for Barracuda?"

Barracuda's Research

You retrieved Barracuda's research regarding the Blood Coral from Webmaster Harvin. Looking it over, it appears to be less like research and more like a diary of some sorts. You read one of the passages... Character has stopped my investigation into the Shaper Cult. I'll have to look elsewhere for my answers. Perhaps this Blood Coral that the Legacy Chain have been speaking about can give me the answers I want. Perhaps this is the substance they used to make me into what I am today, back when I was taken from my comrades. Part of me wonders, though, if there's any point to this. I barely care anymore about finding the answers to my condition, but there's still a part of me that needs to know why I was chosen, why my life became like this.

After getting the third mission from Ross

You have found the journal of Barracuda and have seen that her heart still has some warmth in it. The others around her are unaware of this and she has tried to deny this as much as possible. It is a sad fate and one that she will not uncover the answer for, at least not during this time. But there is a note in there that could cause some issue to you. Does the Blood Coral cause you to turn into a Coralax?

Surely, if it did, you would be one already, considering your exposure. There must be more to it and more to the Blood Coral. I say this because I have seen that there is more to it, but I could not simply tell you what it is. However, I am not so cruel as to say this without having a method for you to move forward to your new place in time.

• Well...?

You are going into an underwater cavern, full of Coralax. Somehow, a spirit of the Banished Pantheon roams the caverns. The Coralax leave it be, but it has observed much of their actions and their behaviors, more than most mortals. This spirit is able to see the connections that these Coralax have to the Red Coral. If you were to shatter this spirit's connection to this world, you would gain the knowledge it has and see what it sees. Do this, and you shall also see what I see.

I should warn you, however. I have seen the futures of Barracuda, and one of them involves her also discovering the location of this cavern. If you wish to avoid your future coming to an abrupt end, I would prepare for a fight against her if you enter those caverns.

• Alright.

	The Banished Pantheon
	Diviner Maros told you that there is a Banished Pantheon spirit roaming the underwater caverns of the Coralax. If you destroy it, you will gain the knowledge it has regarding the Coralax.

In the third mission

Radio dialogue

The mask of the Banished Pantheon wanders those halls, Character. But beware, the potential paths in Barracuda's future have all narrowed to one; her arriving to try to kill you when you gain the knowledge within that mask.

• I'll keep that in mind.

New Mission Objective: Destroy Pantheon Mask (optional)

Notable NPCs

• Pantheon Spirit (Spirit of Death, Boss)
• Barracuda (Archvillain)

Pantheon Spirit dialogue

Before combat: "I see much within these halls... ancient powers dwelling... waiting to be... devoured..."
Combat start: "The presence of another power. A dark power. You will fuel Lughebu!"

Ambush! After defeating the Pantheon Spirit, you will be ambushed by Barracuda.

Barracuda dialogue

Before combat: "Character! You will NOT get in my way again from finding the truth!"
Combat start: "You made a mistake trying to find this for yourself! I'll tear you apart to find out why this happened to me!"

Barracuda and the Banished Pantheon

You defeated the Banished Pantheon spirit and had a flood of images enter your mind. Before you could process them, Barracuda appeared and attacked you! You defended yourself and managed to defeat her, hopefully for the final time. She was teleported away by her Arachnos medi-porter, but you could see a look in her eyes, as if her hope in finding the truth behind her fate had been crushed, once and for all. You gathered yourself and recalled the images that entered your mind from the spirit. You see the Coralax worshipping the Shapers within this cavern, the same Shapers holding up the pieces of Blood Coral. You overhear them shouting the name 'Merulina' as they all turn and bow to the three pieces of Blood Coral. The spirit must have been watching in the distance, and you can feel a perverse hunger from the spirit's memory, as if a large part of it sought to devour the energy of this Merulina.

After getting the fourth mission from Ross

The paths come closing in now. You've seen what the spirit has seen, what I have seen, and crushed Barracuda's hope beneath your heel. The Coralax believe this Blood Coral is their true link to Merulina, though you also know by now that the Blood Coral is a direct link to the Leviathan. It seems they believe this Leviathan to be a reincarnation of Merulina, that she awaits to take control of the beast. This is utter nonsense.

The Leviathan is a beast of destruction and chaos, while Merulina was known to be a goddess of peace and harmony. It is unfortunate that time has made her creations, the Coralax, into the monstrous beasts that they are today. However, let us go over the facts. Perhaps not so much for yourself, but so that I may grasp which time we are in.

We have understood that the Blood Coral channels more of the Leviathan's power. This is done through a ritual to earn the respect of the Leviathan to allow more of its power to go inside of the coral. The coral itself is seen by the Coralax as a direct connection to Merulina. And yet... it is possible that the Coralax have used this Blood Coral to infect the woman we now call Barracuda. There is only one dangling issue, it seems. How is it possible to earn the respect of a being that has been sleeping all of this time?

• ... Do you have an answer to that question?

I see the possible answer, but it is one you must discover. The demon you will meet, the one within the Midnighter's office. I am... quite familiar with it. You see, Character, I was the one who summoned Botis into this world, and it was through that ritual that my spirit was split across the time streams. This demon is even older than I and has knowledge of a millenia.

You seek its knowledge as to how to protect yourself from being absorbed. I suggest you inquire as to what exactly is behind the Leviathan. Do this, and you shall come one step closer to possessing the secrets behind this Blood Coral. There is no need for you to use the radio device to contact me, simply speak with the demon and look for a chance to find more information.

• We'll see what happens.

	Botis and Maros
	Diviner Maros informed you that he was the one who summoned the demon Botis to this world many, many years ago, and that summoning is what caused his spirit to split across time. Maros believes that Botis has the answers you're looking for regarding the secrets behind what is really granting the power behind the Blood Coral.

In the fourth mission

Botis dialogue and decision

Editor's Note: The following is offered as a third option alongside the choices to free or bind Botis.

• Before that, I want to know more about what is behind the Leviathan's power.

Botis sneers at you.

You reek of Maros. Does the fool still remain split amongst time?

I shall share more of what I know of this power. The entity behind the Leviathan is ever present, always looking to give power to those who earn it. It may have even given the Leviathan its own power when Calystix summoned it.

It is not an evil entity, nor is it good. It is simply a being that respects power and grants it to those who have earned its notice.

If there is more to this entity, I do not know it, as it is a being that is older than even myself.

• Hrm... Interesting...

	The Power Behind the Curtain
	You spoke with Botis more about the entity behind the Leviathan's power. Botis informed you that the being is neither good nor evil, it simply respects power and seeks to give it to those who have earned it, and that it is older than even Botis.

After getting the fifth mission from Ross

So, Character. You have uncovered the beginning of an entity more ancient than anyone could dream of.

Impressive, is it not? There are many paths for you to go from now. Many of them revolve around you and this entity. Well, there are other paths, but those involve your untimely demise. Hopefully those paths are not the ones you will go down, but one will never know.

I see you plan on meeting the entity of this Leviathan face to... somewhat face soon. However, as you know, there are other forces out there that would seek to thwart your efforts. I believe it is time for me to make a move I have not made in many years.

• What is that?

To intervene directly in events. I shall personally move to help you strike against these forces. Perhaps I am also interested in seeing, for myself, which path this entity will take.

Contact me within the warehouse and I shall appear to aid you in the events to come.

• Alright.

	The Aid of Diviner Maros
	Diviner Maros has promised to directly aid you in defending the Red Coral from the Legacy Chain and entering the mind of the Leviathan.

In the fifth mission

Radio dialogue

You contact Diviner Maros to let him know where you are.

• (Leave.)

Diviner Maros dialogue

On Arrival

I have arrived. Let us proceed, Commander Samea, so that you shall see the events that will transpire.

When the Ambushes Begin

Let us see if these Legacy Chain will follow what I have seen.

After Entering the Blood Coral

The inside of the Leviathan... it is more wonderous than my visions could have prepared me for...

After the Chamber First Speaks

This is the test for knowledge. We have seen this is common. Let us prove to this entity that we can obtain this forbidden knowledge.

After All Stems are Defeated

The branches collapse, and you arrive to the point where I originally saw you. You know now, the destiny of Merulina and her destruction. As do I.

After the Chamber Speaks Again

The slumbering beast begins to awaken. The entirety of the Isles is at stake, with your very life at the center. This path is the one that I thought would never happen...

After the Ritual is Completed

The beast has been tamed. It is time for us to go, while there is still a moment to spare.