Mission:The Graveyard Shift - Chapter One: Anger Management

Chapter One: Anger Management

Briefing

So, this is the situation: Because of the Intervention of heroes at the Overbrook Dam, Dr. Vahzilok is in jail, and his followers are fighting to control the horde. We've got ambitious deep web forumites attacking each other over the Doctor's research, and two passionate butchers are about to rumble somewhere here in Steel Canyon. The forum gave us an address - '612 Wharf Avenue', but that address doesn't exist, as should be expected. I ran some searches and I think there's a pidgin language within the 'Lok, and the real address is 6+1+2 North Avenue. Check out 9 North Ave here in Steel Canyon and see if my hunch is right.

The 'Lok prefer to be just cryptic enough to stave off the attention of the passerby forumite, but this is a good lead based on my digging,

This arc takes place after the events of Positron's Task Force, Part Two.

• I'm on it!

Mission Acceptance

Let me know about anything you might deem to be unusual. I'll have the cleanup crew catalog anything you make it a point to mention.

You're given a phone number and email address to transfer evidence to Agent Watkins while still in the field.

The Real Life Ban-Hammer

Agent Watkins has tasked you with investigating the Vahzilok infighting. First and foremost, make sure you document anything unusual for the Agency.

Unnecessary Solicitation

I'd head over to North Ave as soon as possible - we want to catch any aspiring players before they do anything significant.

Mission Objective(s)

There's a great deal of shouting in here. Good hunch, Agent Watkins.

• Investigate the Forum Brawl
  • Look for clues
  • Determine what the fight is about

You broke up a fight between two rival factions of Vahzilok, and were introduced to a possible third faction in the process.

Enemies

Vahzilok

Notable NPCs

• Malady (Vahzilok Named Enemies)
• Newt (Vahzilok Named Enemies)

Rotting Mire Eidolon dialogue

Rotting Mire Eidolon: Anyone... end this...

Rotting Mire Eidolon: Can't... breathe...

Rotting Mire Eidolon: Need... the Doctor...

Rotting Mire Eidolon: Send... help...

Rotting Mire Eidolon: Hero... stop...

---

Rotting Mire Eidolon: Why... are they fighting?

Rotting Mire Eidolon: Character? Come to finish...

Rotting Mire Eidolon: Hygeians.. Planarians... it's all pointless... we're all dead...

Rotting Mire Eidolon: No will to fight... want to live...

Vahzilok dialogue

Before combat:

Mortificator: Planarians, Hygeians... someone better decide soon or we're all dead!

Mortificator: Who do you think will be the one that saves us?

Combat start:

Mortificator: All this over a notebook!

Mortificator: Who's going to save us now?!

---

Before combat:

Mortificator: Yeah, too bad he didn't have the brains to ask for more.

Mortificator: ...I just can't believe he walked into the lab looking to sell them...

Combat start:

Mortificator: Salvation comes at a price!

Mortificator: We're under assault from the capes!

---

Before combat:

Mortificator: Without his brilliance, death stalks us mercilessly.

Mortificator: I wonder if all this fighting is worth it. The Eidolons look... rough.

Combat start:

Mortificator: Death comes for us again!

Mortificator: Protect the fallen!

Warring Factions 1 dialogue

Before combat:

Planarian Zealot: I can't wait for the looks on your faces when your severed limbs don't grow back!

Hygeian Evangelist: When the Wasting Disease ravages you, I'll be there to rub it in!

Ambush! Upon defeating the first Warring Faction mob, you will be ambushed by one wave of 'Zoombie' Bomb Cadavers.

'Zoombie' Bomb Cadaver: ...kill...

'Zoombie' Bomb Cadaver: ...chaos...

Warring Factions 2 dialogue

Before combat:

Planarian Zealot: Immune systems. Really. We could grow back anything a disease could destroy. Idiots.

Hygeian Evangelist: You have no idea the potential that regeneration has, you ignoramus.

Ambush! Upon defeating the second Warring Faction mob, you will be ambushed by one wave of 'Zoombie' Bomb Cadavers.

'Zoombie' Bomb Cadaver: ...kill...

'Zoombie' Bomb Cadaver: ...chaos...

'Zoombie' Bomb Cadaver: ...violence...

'Zoombie' Bomb Cadaver: ...death...

Malady and Newt dialogue

Before combat:

Newt: How many times must we fight? Regeneration is better than immunity!

Malady: Immunity costs less on the body's resources and improves more functions, you idiot!

Combat start:

Newt: No! We've been punked! Someone ratted us out!

Malady: It wasn't me, Newt, I just wanted you dead!

Newt: Okay, time to test the theory.

75% Health:

50% Health:

25% Health:

Malady On Defeat:

Newt On Defeat:

Malady: Did you hear that? I think this is sabotage.

Newt: I can feel the damage reversing!

Malady: Can you? Because it looks like you're still bleeding, buddy.

Malady: It hurts, but I feel fantastic. What a weird sensation.

Newt: I think I know this handiwork.

Newt: We have a troll on the forums!

Newt: It's... not enough.

Malady: No, it probably isn't enough. As for me, my circulation and blood flow... it feels so pure!

Newt: Someone else is here...!

Malady: Someone besides the cape? Color me shocked.

Newt: No... the research...!

Malady: Hah, regenerate that, you mouth-breather.

Ambush! When Malady is reduced to 25% health, she will summon one wave of 'Zoombie' Bomb Cadavers.

'Zoombie' Bomb Cadaver: ...Dubby says...

'Zoombie' Bomb Cadaver: ...show them a freaky good time...

'Zoombie' Bomb Cadaver: ...get them dancing...

'Zoombie' Bomb Cadaver: ...music and joints are popping...

Ambush! When Newt is reduced to 25% health, he will summon one wave of 'Zoombie' Bomb Cadavers.

'Zoombie' Bomb Cadaver: ...wheeeee...

'Zoombie' Bomb Cadaver: ...over here...

'Zoombie' Bomb Cadaver: ...surprise...

'Zoombie' Bomb Cadaver: ...wahoo...

Debriefing

I'm glad to see you are in one piece. I read your notes and got your photos and video, and the truth is obvious: the Vahzilok are splintering, and they are factioning around research. While you were sending in evidence, I was looking into the zealots' philosophies some more.

Rallying under a banner name of 'Hygelans' are Vahzilok playing with the immune system, while the 'Planarians' are unlocking the secrets of the ability to regenerate lost limbs. These names are the kind of highly intellectual nomenclature I'd expect from them. It's unfortunate we couldn't save any of the dying ones you found, though. Those Eidolons were too foreign and complex in physiology, and too far gone as it was to be able to do anything but mercifully euthanize them.

Agent Watkins pauses for a second.

That could be the catalyst for all this... we rarely see dying Eidolons like the ones you found... maybe without the Doctor the maintenance line is disrupted?

Keep that theory in the back of your mind. Given what we know right now, anything is possible. My biggest concern right now is that nobody fits the profile of 'kamikaze enthusiasts' so I'm diving into inactive and lurker accounts to see if anything pops up.

Not to toot my own horn, but I'm glad I thought to solicit help from a higher tier of security clearance. An SL15 might have become a statistic in there. Thank you for your diligent documentation on what you encountered. I'm going to need a little time to put this new information into the database. Come back to me in a bit and I'll have our next plan of attack.

You're good. I'm going to bump up your clearance.