Ghost Widow

Ghost Widow

Overview

Ghost Widow is an arch-villain who serves under Lord Recluse in the Arachnos faction.

Information

Description

Beautiful, mysterious, and deadly. Ghost Widow appears to be an actual spirit from beyond the grave rather than a super with some sort of incorporeal power. Some have said she was once a rising star in the Night Widows when she was slain. Her thirst for vengeance must have been great, for she returned from the void and now serves at Recluse's side. There are rumors that her service isn't entirely voluntary, however.

History

Formerly an Arachnos Night Widow, Belladonna Vetrano was killed on a strike mission in 1989. She was leading a team against a troublesome member of The Family on Mercy Island. It is unknown what exactly happened except that the mission was a complete failure. Not only did the team fail to meet the objective, but almost everyone on the strike team lost their life, including Belladonna. The only person to survive was Paolo Marino, the leader of the Wolf Spider squad, who in an altered form called Wretch, now serves as Ghost Widow's loyal guardian and protector.

Ghost Widow is but one of several ghosts who continue to interact with the living world. Other examples include Archmage Tarixus, War Witch, and Woodsman. Ghost Widow tends to be far more active, however. It is believed that ghosts only exist in the lving world when something anchors their spirits here, be it unfinished business, loved ones or vengence. A ghost can only be permanently destroyed once it's anchor is eliminated. Ghost Widow's anchor appears to be Arachnos itself. As long as the organization exists, so shall she.

Character Stats

Secret Identity: Belladonna Vetrano
Origin: ?
Archetype: Dominator
Primary Powers: Mind Control
Secondary Powers: Psionic Assault
Other Powers: Flight, Phase Shift, Soul Storm

Store

Ghost Widow sells the following items:

• Inspirations
• Level 40 Magic Single-Origin Enhancements

Badge

Poltergeist You have helped defeat Ghost Widow in Recluse's Victory.

Missions (at work)

Stop the attack

Briefing

I have agreed to work with you, Villain's Name, but know this: I do not trust you. Ok it's not that I have anything in particular against you, it's just that I was very short on trust when I died, and the dead cannot change. Though that also means I have little to worry about physical harm, you could hurt my political standing within Arachnos, or worse, you could harm my Lord Recluse. So you must excuse me if I regard our relathionship with some trepidation. Still, you can be useful to me, particulary for more dangerous things. For example, Longbow has attacked a secret Arachnos facility I had constructed on Mercy Island, a facility where I've stored some important things. It would not do to see the items within that base fall into heroic hands.You must go at once and stop the attack.

Mission Acceptance

This base was a closely guarded secret, Villain's Name. I must know how that secret got out. Then, I may have something else for you to do.

Unecessary Solicitation

Why are you here? Longbow is even now rifling through my valued possessions, and I need you to stop them.

Mission Objective(s)

The air in here has the heady, powerful feel of magic recently cast. Someone has been doing spells here.

• Defeat all Longbow in base

Mission Complete

You have stopped the Longbow raid.

	Mystic research
	You found a great deal of mystic research in Ghost Widow's base. It seems to be mostly about mathods to make a spirit physically manifest, even against it's will. Some of the papers even speculate that it could be possible to give that manifested spirit actual life.

Notable NPCs

• Rescue/Ally: Mu Guardian: You work for the Widow? Yes. Tell her Scirocco send us to her aid.

• Rescue/Ally: Night Widow: Our lady sent you? Good! We've been over run!

Debriefing

There were Mu present? Sent by Scirocco? Interesting. How did he know of my base, or that it was under attack? I will need to speak with him at some length. I do not like this kind of interference in my affairs. Remember that, Villain's Name. Still, what truly upsets me is that Longbow found that base at all.

Free the mystic

Briefing

I have spoken with Scirocco. He says that he had learned of the longbow attack from one of his Mu Mystics, who had been working on a special project. Unfortunately, that mystic's role in that project come to light, and the heroes have captured him. Scirocco tells me that if I have you recover that man, he'll share how he learned what he knows. I need you to free that mystic, Villain's Name.

Mission Acceptance

Try to bring this man out alive, Villain's name. He is the key to learning what Scirocco knows.

Mission Objective(s)

Longbow has managed to dot little hidden bases even near the Grandville coast.

• Rescue the mystic
  • Lead mystic out

Mission Complete

You have freed Scirocco's mystic

Notable NPCs

• Rescue/Ally: Mu Guardian: So the Ghost Widow sent someone after all. Let us proceed.

Debriefing

Excellent Scirocco and I have been talking. It's provided some interesting insights. it seems that he learned of the discovery of my base because he has been trying to keep the discoverer out of his own affairs. That person is no less than Numina, the spirit mystic of the hated Freedom Phalanx! And we have drawn up a plan against her.

Secure the spell components

Briefing

Numina and I are alike, in a way. We are neither of us alive. But whereas I am a ghost, she's an astral form. It makes it difficult for the two of us to hurt each other. But Scirocco's research has uncovered an interesting spell that might be able to effect her. Regrettably, a few of the components are quite rare. However, the Circle of Thorns often keeps what I'll need around for similar spells of their own. And I will need you to get those components from a Circle encampment beneath Thorn Isle in the Nerva Archipelago.

Mission Acceptance

There should be three components you'll need to find. Once we have those, Numina will soon come to regret her interference in Arachnos business.

Unecessary Solicitation

Until we have those spell components,Numina will remain a threat.

Mission Objective(s)

The air is sharp with mystical energy.

• Steal spell components
  • 3 ingredients to steal

You have found a mystic sigil.

You have found the Oracular Octavo.

You have found a pouch of herbs.

	Strange herbs
	These herbs smell quite foul, but they are a necessary component of Ghost Widow's spell.

Mission Complete

You have the spell components.

Debriefing

Excellent, I feel Numina's time growing short. But so is ours. We must hurry to prevent further interference.

Set a trap for Numina

Briefing

We have the incantation. We have the components. The only thing we're missing for this ritual is Numina. But don't think you can just go busting into Paragon City to find her. No, she's clever, and will have to be lured into our territory, then trapped long enough to hold her to the fight. And while I have an idea of how to trap her, I need to know more about how to lure her in. And that's where my spies have come in handy. It turns out that the Crey Corporation recently did a study of Numina. I wan't you to get it for me. Their more scientific perspective may give me the clue I need to drow Numina into the trap.

Mission Acceptance

Get to the Crey facility on Grandville. There, find out everything they've learned about Numina.

Unecessary Solicitation

We must learn everything before we strike.

Mission Objective(s)

Crey collects data on all heroes, large and small. No doubt they'll have files on Numina

• Find info on Numina
  • 2 pieces of information

You found files on Ghost Widow!

You found files on Numina.

	Files on Ghost Widow
	You weren't expecting to find this. These are Crey's file on Ghost Widow. They posit that the reason all previous attempts to exorcise Ghost Widow have failed is because her spirit is somehow bound to Arachnos itself. If she was somehow find herself in conflict with Arachnos, it could create enough dissonance within her to force her into a fight she would otherwise escape from.

	Files on Numina
	These Crey files indicate that Numina is greatly sensitive to psychic emanations. This allows her to locate many supernatural and paranormal dangers before they can become a threat. Many of the files talk about how to protect a project from her discovery.

Mission Complete

You have the spell components. this seems to be an mistake in the mission text

Notable NPCs

• Boss Security Officer.The Malta group is willing to pay for those files, and for Dr. Nelson.
• Boss Headhubter-725.We'll talk about this later

Debriefing

So. Numina is sensitive to psychic emanations, I see. I will need to find a way to take advantage of that. I think I'll also report to Lord Recluse about [[Crey]'s study of me. I doubt he'll be pleased, and that will bring bad business to Crey. That does leave the matter of those Malta group people, ut I don't think that's going to concern us for a while.

Speak to Scirocco

Briefing

Numina is drawn to psychic emanations, but even once she's been drawn in, she'll need to be kept in place to keep her from escaping. I have spoken with Scirocco, and he's been very willing to help me. He's almost... nice... to me, actually. It's strange. But then, neither of us wants Numina poking her astral nose into our affairs. Scirocco thinks he may have a way to draw her in,I want you to speak with him about it. At the same time, ask him if he's found a suitable group of Carnival folk. I have a plan to hold her in place, but I'll need some of the Carnival of Shadows' face-masks for it. I asked for help finding a Carnival of Shadows group, se he'll be able to tell you where to go.

Mission Acceptance

A word before you go. Scirocco has been very helpful to me, but then, so have you. I greeted you with such distrust, and I tell myself that the dead do not change, so that is just my nature. But though death is the strange stasis, one can find that there are parts of one's self that are not gone, but merely disused and forgotten. I mean, I was a whole personne before I died, even though I concentrate mostly on who I was at the moment of my death. What I'm trying tp say is, thank you. You have been a great help.

Unecessary Solicitation

Go. Hurry. Scirocco awaits you.

Mission Objective(s)

• Speak to Scirocco

Mission Complete

Scirocco: Ah, yes. Villain's Name. The rising Star among our legions of darkness. I have heard that Ghost Widow herself has come to depend on you, and I see evidence of this in your presence. As she prepares her trap for Numina, she sends you to speak with me. Yes, I can create a spell that will act as a beacon for Numina's psychic sight. And while I am préparing it, no doubt the Widow seeks a group of Carnival revelers for their masks. I know just the place, out on St. Martial. You'll need to gather about six of the lesser masks that have not been bond ed to a wearer. You should also take the mask of the revelry's leader, a woman named Riallia.

Debriefing

Good! I somehow felt Scirocco would come through. Get those masks from the Carnival revelers I'll need them for the final step.

Crash Carnival revel to steal masks

Mission Objective(s)

Looks like you're just in time to crash the party.

• Crash Carnival evel to steal masks
  • 6 masks
  • Get Rialla's mask

You found a carnival mask.

You pull Riallia's mask off her face.

	Riallia Mask
	This mask was worn by Riallia, the leader of the revelry at the Carnival of Shadows party you attacked. Her mask is stronger then the others, and just the thing Ghost Widow will need.

Mission Complete

You have stolen the masks you need.

Notable NPCs

• Boss Riallia.Now, who would be fool enough to stop our good time?

Debriefing

Scirocco awaits you.

Speak to Scirocco

Mission Objective(s)

• Speak to Scirocco

Mission Complete

Scirocco: You arrive at just the proper moment. I have created this self-sustaining beacon, I call it the sand riddle. Once set in motion, it will produce a great deal of psychic noise, all of wich will look very ominous indeed to Numina. Take it to Ghost Widow as a token of my good will to her.

But I should warn you. Drawing Numina in, and even holding her in place are but a start. Those actions alone will not guarentee you victory. I seem to recall a story about bells and cats that might be appropriate, but I'll leave it up to you to handle.

	The Sand Riddle
	Created by Scirocco, this self-perpetuating puzzle will act as a psychic beacon, drawing Numina like a moth to a flame.

Debriefing

Excellent My trust in you has been rewarded. I will take those masks, and the spell. Soon, Numina's Interference will be at an end. And it will all be thanks to you.

See Also

• Ghost Widow's Arachnos profile for a list of her powers