Mission:Tip - You Can't Keep Your Balance!

You Can't Keep Your Balance!
Alignment Mission
Type	Alignment Tip
Place	Paragon City
Available to	Heroes and Vigilantes
Level range	40–50
Choice	Hero or Vigilante

You Can't Keep Your Balance!

You've been having trouble keeping your balance today, and so have some other citizens. What's going on underground?

Local seismologists are already tracking the tremors, but have no explanation. Rumors are circulating that the Devouring Earth and Circle of Thorns have gotten embroiled in an underground turf war. The Devouring Earth is planning on collapsing some of the Oranbegan ruins which house precious Circle artifacts in escalation. Their tunneling is causing the small tremors. Unfortunately, the final detonation might destabilize a small section of the city above ground, causing utility outages and other accidents.

The Circle will be rushing to move their buried artifacts to safety before the Devouring Earth finish their plans.

The safety of the city demands that you confront the Devouring Earth and put a stop to the demolition of the tunnels before anyone gets hurt.

On the other hand, it couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch of folks than the Circle of Thorns. In the confusion, you might be able to sneak into the endangered tunnels and secure their artifacts while the Circle tries to evacuate.

Hero Acceptance

Briefing

The interactions of all the various groups that make their homes in the caves and lairs beneath the city has always baffled you. But the threat is clear: if the Devouring Earth are allowed to attack the Circle of Thorns through their plan of underground demolition, it could have ripple effects on the surface. The damage could start earthquakes, power outages, maybe even unleash a few demons.

It'd be better off for everyone involved (unfortunately, also for the Circle) if you put a stop to the plot by cleaning out those tunnels before they are detonated.

Prevent the Devouring Earth from detonating any underground tunnels.

The Devouring Earth will most likely resort to conventional explosives to finish the job once the tunnel is dug.

Mission Objective(s)

This tunnel wasn't here a few days ago. The Devouring Earth move quickly.

• Prevent the Underground Detonation!
  • 3 demolition bombs to disarm, Defeat the demolition leader

You've stopped the Devouring Earth from taking out any underground caverns.

Enemies

Devouring Earth

Notable NPCs

• The Demolisher

Debriefing

You prevented the Devouring Earth from destabilizing the city, even protecting a Circle of Thorns base in the process. However, someone could have easily stole into the Circle's lair and stolen their artifacts. You hope that the collapse of tunnels buried them under tons of debris.

Vigilante Acceptance

Briefing

There's no point in sticking your nose into the squabbles of two villain groups. If they destroy each other, great. You realize that you can take advantage of the confusion to gain access to the Circle of Thorns' protected artifacts.

The Circle is already evacuating the affected section of their lair, and the artifacts in that section are mighty vulnerable. Getting them out of the hands of the Circle would compound the damage done when they lose a section of their ruins to the Devouring Earth. This is a plan you like.

The tunnels are so far below the surface that the repercussions topside are likely to be minimal at best, and passing up the opportunity to cripple the Circle is hardly worth it.

Secure the Circle's dangerous artifacts while they evacuate.

The Circle of Thorns is probably in the midst of a full blown panic right now.

Mangle

Mission Objective(s)

These sections would normally be overwhelmingly guarded. You've picked a perfect moment to strike.

• Capture the Circle Artifacts!
  • 3 artifacts to secure
  • Defeat Artifact Thief!

You've secured a set of well-guarded Circle of Thorns artifacts and prevented Mangle from stealing them.

Enemies

Circle of Thorns

Notable NPCs

• Mangle (Rogues Gallery Boss)

Circle of Thorns Minion Dialogue

Before Combat:

Circle of Thorns Minion 1: I don't like bringing the Runes into the open like this.

Circle of Thorns Minion 2: Would your rather they were lost for all eternity?

Combat Start:

Circle of Thorns Minion 1: As if those elementals weren't enough to deal with.

Circle of Thorns Minion 2: Protect the Runes!

Before Combat:

Circle of Thorns Minion 3: Find that hero before they find the runes!

Circle of Thorns Minion 4: Curse these infernal cave-ins!

Runes of Isteron

These mystic tokens are ordinarily kept buried deep in the walls of Oranbega. They've only been recently extracted to preserve them from the tunnel's collapse. The arcane energies that pulse around these artifacts are incredibly unstable and dangerous. Should these fall into the wrong hands, the results could be catastophic.

Ambush! After clicking the last artifact, you will be ambushed by Mangle!

Mangle Dialogue

Before Combat:

Mangle: So predictable Character!

Mangle: Before I tear you apart, I must thank you.

Combat Start:
At 75% Life: You dealt with the Circle of Thorns guarding this lair quite handily.
At 50% Life: ...And I don't have to track the artifacts down, now that you have them all!?
At 25% Life: This is proving to be more problematic than I had anticipated.
Defeated:

Mangle: ...No way. How could this plan fail?

If Mangle Defeats You:

Mangle: Greedy.

Debriefing

You've taken some dangerous artifacts out of the hands of the Circle of Thorns, but allowed the Devouring Earth to demolish some underground tunnels.