View source for Threatening Arachnos Message

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== Overview ==
{{Infobox Contact
|name=Threatening Arachnos Message
|image=Salvage TipIcon.png
|img_capt=
|zone=No physical location
|levels=50
|introed=None, Threatening Arachnos Message is an [[Unlockable Contacts|Unlockable Contact]].
|intros=[[Heather Townshend]]<br />[[Maharaj]]
|enemies=
|badge=
}}
{{Contact Overview|Name=Threatening Arachnos Message|City=V|Zone=Grandville|Pronoun=its|HoodYN=N|OriginYN=N|Origin=|LevelYN=Y|Level=50}}

Threatening Arachnos Message offers an arc that is solo only in its latter stages (no teams). This introduces villains to [[Dark Astoria]].

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== Introductions ==
=== Contact Introduced By ===
* None; Threatening Arachnos Message is an [[Unlockable Contacts|Unlockable Contact]]. To receive it as a contact, you must first unlock your [[Alpha Slot]].

=== Contact Introduces ===
*[[Heather Townshend]]

=== Information ===
None. This contact does not have any information other than what is provided by reading it.

=== Contact Unlocked ===
{{Contact Unlocked|Contact=Threatening Arachnos Message|Image=Salvage TipIcon.png|Text='''You receive an odd threat from Arachnos...'''

You're sent a message by an operative in Arachnos, threatening your life. You'll have to read over the message to figure out what exactly to do about yet another threat against yourself. 

'''{{orange|The Arachnos Threat contact has been added to your active contacts.}}'''}}

=== Initial Contact ===
{{darkorange|You look over the message from Arachnos that you received. The letter is stamped with an Arachnos insignia, showing that either it was officially approved by Arachnos, or someone is using Arachnos resources for their own purposes.}}

* {{green|Open the threatening letter}}

''(Opening the letter begins the initial briefing, below)''

== Story Arc==
{{ArcAward|m=no}}

=== {{UL|Eye of Judgement}} ===

'''Souvenir'''

[[Image of Dark Tunnels]]

==== {{UL|Eye of Judgement}} ====
'''Briefing'''

{{darkorange|You read through the letter...}}

{{darkorange|{{Character}}! You have been running through my dreams. I see you and the horrors you've committed. Arachnos has sat by and allowed this to happen. Heroes have tried to stop you, but to no avail. In all my dreams, you end up killing me. I see you appearing out of the corner of my eye during the day, as if you are stalking me.}}

{{darkorange|No more! I know the monsters that you are part of. They are worse than anything Arachnos has. I will destroy you, {{Character}}, and this letter of mine intends to show just how serious I am. I do not care how powerful you are, I will defy what my dreams predict. Once you're destroyed, I will find peace in my dreams, and no longer will I hear the whispers trying to beckon me back to Dark Astoria.}}

{{darkorange|Operative Castrin}}

* {{green|Hrm...}}

:{{darkorange|This Operative Castrin seems like he's trying to act on his own, outside of Arachnos approval. You could always just ignore him; judging by his letter, he isn't a Bane Spider or a Fortunata, perhaps just one of the lower class operatives of Arachnos. However, even the smallest threat could appear at an inconvenient moment to stop you.}}

:{{darkorange|You decide to find out where this operative is by speaking with Arbiter Daos. He should know the location of most Arachnos operatives. If he has any qualms with what you're doing, then he can see what it's like trying to deal with someone fueled with the power of an Incarnate.}}

:* {{green|Leave}}

* {{green|Look into other matters}} ''(Choosing this option brings you back to the initial dialogue)''

===== {{UL|Speak with Arbiter Daos}} =====
'''Unnecessary Solicitation'''

{{darkorange|You set out to speak with Arbiter Daos.}}

{{Mission Objective|Primary=Speak with Arbiter Daos|}}

{{Mission Briefing|Contact=Arbiter Daos|Text=
{{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?

* {{green|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. {{darkorange|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.

:*{{green|Excellent.}}

:*{{green|What is the situation in Dark Astoria?}}

:{{DialogueLoop}}

* {{green|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?

:* {{green|Just tell me what I need to know, Daos.}}

:And why should I tell you his location, {{Character}}?

:*{{green|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.

::*{{green|Excellent.}}

:*{{green|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.

::*{{green|Excellent.}}

*{{green|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.

*{{green|I understand. I'll be off to deal with Operative Castrin}}}}

===== {{UL|Find Castrin in Grandville}} =====
'''Unnecessary Solicitation'''

{{darkorange|You set out to find Castrin in Grandville.}}

{{Mission Objective|Primary=Find Castrin in Grandville|Completion=You spot Castrin going into one of the buildings in the slums.}}

{{Mission Clue|Name=Castrin Fleeing|Text=There was no operative at the platform when you arrived. You looked around and spotted an operative watching you from the slums. He stumbled into one of the buildings after seeing you.<br />This must be the operative that's seeking to destroy you!}}

===== {{UL|Capture Operative Castrin}} =====
'''Unnecessary Solicitation'''

{{darkorange|Operative Castrin won't be able to get away from you!}}

{{Mission Objective|Entrance=You step into the old apartments in the slums to see Castrin fleeing down the hall. You hear a door open and shut.<br />You'll have to be careful, as it's possible this could all be some sort of trap.|Primary=Capture Operative Castrin |Secondary=Track down Castrin|Additional=** Investigate the apartment
** ???|Completion=You've somehow ended up in Dark Astoria!|Map=OLD_APARTMENTS}}

{{Mission Briefing|Contact=???|ContactLink=David Hazen|Image=Contact Small David Hazen.jpg|Text=
{{darkorange|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.

*{{green|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.

* {{green|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.

:* {{green|What do you mean?}}

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

:* {{green|(Leave)}}

* {{green|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.

:*{{green|What is this 'it'?}}

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

:*{{green|(Leave)}}}}

===== {{UL|Look around for clues}} =====
'''Unnecessary Solicitation'''

{{Mission Objective|Primary=Look around for clues|Secondary=Look for any clues nearby|Additional=|Completion=You found some documents in the car and spotted a figure in the distance!}}

{{Mission Clue|Name=Astoria Documents|Text= You searched an abandoned car and discovered documents that detail what city you're in. It seems you've somehow ended up in Dark Astoria, a part of Paragon City that was abandoned some time ago when a group called the Banished Pantheon took it over. 

You look around and spot a member of the Circle of Thorns nearby. He seems to be cowering in fear at something. Perhaps you can get information out of him regarding ''what'' exactly is going on here.}}

===== {{UL|Get information from the Circle of Thorns}} =====
{{Mission Objective|Entrance=|Primary=Get information from the Circle of Thorns|Secondary=|Additional=|Completion= }}

{{Mission Briefing|Contact=Lost Ruin Mage|Image=Contact Small Maharaj.jpg|Text=
{{darkorange|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!

*{{green|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!

:*{{green|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...!

:*{{green|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!

::*{{green|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! 

::{{darkorange|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.}}

::{{darkorange|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!}}

::*{{green|I'll find Maharaj, then.}}

:*{{green|How can this power be stopped?}}

::There is another mage...

::{{DialogueLoop}}

*{{green|(Rough up the mage)}}

:{{darkorange|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!

:*{{green|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!

:*{{green|Can this power be harnessed somehow?}}

::{{DialogueLoop}}

:*{{green|There must be someone out here trying to stop this.}}

::{{DialogueLoop}}}}

===== {{UL|Speak with Maharaj}} =====
{{Mission Objective|Entrance=|Primary=Speak with Maharaj|Secondary=|Additional=|Completion=}}

{{Mission Briefing|Contact=Maharaj|Text=
{{darkorange|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... 

{{darkorange|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.'''

*{{green|Leave}}}}

===== {{UL|Speak with Heather Townshend}} =====
{{Mission Objective|Entrance=|Primary=Speak with Heather Townshend|Secondary=|Additional=|Completion=}}

{{Mission Briefing|Contact=Heather Townshend|Text=
{{darkorange|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?

*{{green|I wish I could take credit, but it was not my doing.}}

:''or''

*{{green|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}}!

*{{green|I'm here to save the day.}}

''You?'' Save the day? Are you kidding me?

*{{green|I need this world together just as much as you do.}}

:{{darkorange|Heather Townshend grumbles.}}

:{{DialogueLoop}}

*{{green|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.

:*{{green|You need me here to fight this.}}

:{{darkorange|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.

:*{{green|What are you doing here? And what are these runes?}}

: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.

:*{{green|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 asked 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? They did say ''anyone'', after all.

:*{{green|I'll do what I can to stop this.}}

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

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