Moonfire Task Force
Moonfire: I have been watching this little island for some time, heroes, and I am greatly troubled. I fear that the heinous crimes of the Council (and of those they have allied themselves with) may spell the destruction of this entire planet, its people, and all its glorious mysteries. I must beg you to help me. Perhaps together, we can stand between this Earth and the coming disaster.
(Agree to form a task force)
Moonfire: Before we begin, know that I am not of this world. Or, not entirely. This body was born here, yes, but there is much more to me now. You see, my body was fused with the life force of a Kheldian, a wise but short-lived alien race. In a very real sense, there is more to me than just a single soul. If we continue, you will learn things that are secret to most humans. I must be able to trust you.
You will earn my trust if you can journey into Vampyr Mountain and take down a clutch of vampyri. Only true heroes would risk such a feat.
A code name seems in order. I like the sound of Task Force Astral.
1)Defeat all vampyri in cave - Striga Isle
Moonfire: Thank you, my friends. I suppose I can trust you now. Remember, what you learn from me is not for other ears. I will tell you of the villainies of the Council, and most particularly, those of the wicked Arakhn.
---
Moonfire: You have earned my trust, and it is only fitting that I reward you by disclosing one of my secrets. Like me, Arakhn is only partly of this world. Her body is human, but the life force that guides her is that of a Nictus. The Nictus are ghastly creatures, the dark and twisted cousins of my race. Yes, the Kheldian legacy is fraught with misery and war. A war that has, most regrettably, come at last to Earth.
(Learn about the Kheldian War)
Moonfire: I have sensed a vast build up of Nictus energy in a nearby cave complex. Go there. I believe we will gain a clue to Arakhn's most recent plans.
2)Defeat all villains in cave – Striga Isle
Moonfire: The cave was full of war wolves? Strange. I have observed them for some time, but I have not yet determined their origin. They are like the beasts of this world's legends, and yet they are also strangely familiar to the part of me that is Kheldian. Perhaps this flask you found can help us solve that mystery?
Clue: Flask – This flask contains an inky coil of vapor that seems to writhe with a life of its own.
---
Moonfire: I have the greatest fears about the contents of that flask you found, Task Force Astral. Before we proceed, my theory must be confirmed. There is one on this island who is wise in the ways of all things. Take the flask to her, my friends. Perhaps she will be able to confirm my dread suspicions.
(Confirm Moonfire's suspicions)
Moonfire: I can only hope the contents are not what I fear them to be.
3)Take flask to Stephanie Peebles
Stephanie Peebles: All right, let's see that flask. Oh. Oh my. The darkness within this bottle is a life form of some kind. No. It is a fragment of a life form. A scrap of living energy, full of malice and hunger. I can only guess at the power of a full specimen of the species. I'm glad this is merely a piece of one!
If you are willing, I will craft a simple spell to put this energy under your control.
[You received Nictus Fragment.]
Moonfire: So. My worse fears have been confirmed. Within that flask, heroes, is a fragment of a Nictus! The cruelest race my galaxy has ever known, the sworn enemy of every right-thinking Kheldian! Be thankful that it is not a full-bodied Nictus Stephanie Peebles has bound to you. Be thankful, Task Force Astral, but also be afraid.
---
Moonfire: Listen, heroes, and you will hear a terrible tale: the history of the Kheldian race. You see, the Nictus and the Kheldians were once one people. Our lives were brief – ten years by this world's reckoning – but we were content. Or so we imagined. There were those among us who wanted more.
They became the Nictus. They learned to envelop other Kheldians, drain their life force, and thus become immortal. Inevitably, war followed. It is a war that has brought us halfway across the universe, to this unspoiled and beautiful planet. Perhaps it is foolish of me, but I hope to bring it to an end.
(Help Moonfire end the Kheldian War)
Moonfire: There are Kheldians still living on this planet in their natural form, though most of us have chosen to fuse with a human, like myself. I can only assume there are Nictus still living here as well. That flask you found contained a fragment of such a creature. Perhaps in another of Arakhn's strongholds, you can learn more.
4)Defeat Archon Fontain & his men – Striga Isle (6 hostages to rescue)
Moonfire: So, Arakhn and the Council are using Nictus fragments to fashion their Galaxy troops. And when something goes wrong, however slight, the merger results not in a powerful solider, but in a bestial war wolf! How disgusting! Listen, heroes. When I became fused with a Kheldian, it was with my full knowledge and consent. Indeed, that is the only way that such a permanent merger is possible, either for Kheldians or for Nictus. But it seems that the Council is able to force these mere fragments on their recruits. I cannot imagine anything more diabolical! Nor can I doubt that Arakhn is behind it all.
Task Force Astral, I believe Arakhn has met her match!
---
Moonfire: If those men you saved are correct, there is still another perisoner in the Council's clutches. This Dr. Todd they spoke of must be rescued. I don't know whether Arakhn plans to infuse him with a Nictus fragment, as she tried to do to those recruits, or whether she has some darker purpose in mind. But I am certain her plot must be stopped. Go and interrogate Arakhn's soldiers, Task Force Astral. Perhaps one of them can tell us where Dr. Todd is imprisoned.
(Interrogate Arakhn's soldiers)
5)Interrogate agents on Striga – Defeat 20 Council
Moonfire: I know Arakhn's cruelty, Task Force Astral. I know what she is capable of.
[On one of Arakhn's officers, you found a set of orders.]
[The coordinates seem to be accurate. You have stepped right into a Council base.]
6)Rescue Dr. Todd
Moonfire: The device Dr. Todd described is a thing most horrible, Task Force Astral. I have told you that the Nictus once fed upon other Kheldians. What I did not tell you was how. The Nictus scientists developed a powerful energy transfer device that could rip away a Kheldian's life force, even at a distance of light years. This terrible weapon is the reason we Peacebringers have resolved to destroy all Nictus, wherever they may be. If Arakhn plans to recreate this device, she must be stopped! Immediately!
You are remarkable heroes. With your help, I shall triumph over Arakhn at last!
---
Moonfire: If Arakhn truly intends to replicate the machine that allowed the Nictus to feast upon the Kheldians, it will be disastrous. There are hundreds of Kheldians living on this planet, and millions more in our home galaxy. In an eye blink she could murder us all!
Dr. Todd mentioned another facility where he was briefly imprisoned. I want you to go there and see what you can learn. If you find anything of note, please take it to one of this world's wise women. Her name is Dr. Ann-Marie Engles.
(Investigate the other facility)
7) Defeat all villains in base – Striga Isle
Moonfire: It has been a long time since I have been this badly shaken, Task Force Astral. Please, help me end this dreadful plot!
[You hear the hiss of perfectly tuned machinery.]
[You found a schematic] Clue: Schematic – You recovered these plans from one of Arakhn's bases. They seem to describe a machine with vast energy transfer capabilities.
8)Take schematics to Dr. Engles – Skyway City
Dr. Ann Marie Engles: Hmm. I'm afraid your friend, Moonfire, is mistaken. These schematics do not describe any machine that sucks energy. On the contrary. They describe a machine that transmits energy, directly into a human body. I think this machine is what allowed Arakhn to force those Nictus fragments on her recruits. What's worse, these plans describe how to make the machine stronger!
I believe this Arakhn plans to permanently merge living Nictus with hundreds of Paragon citizens. The machine would allow her to do this without the host's participation or consent. We would become creatures like her, twisted by evil, able only to serve as vessels for our Nictus masters.
Moonfire: So, Arakhn plans to plant the remaining Nictus within Paragon City's people? And she has found a way to make the merging permanent without their consent? Her evil can pain me, Task Force Astral but it can surprise me no longer. She must be stopped. For the good of humanity, and that of the entire universe.
---
Moonfire: I have a plan I would like to share with you, Task Force Astral. It is a bold one. I intend to use Arakhn's plot against her, but it will require knowing the names of her intended victims. Do you think you can get that information for me?
(Locate the names of Arakhn's intended victims)
9) Defeat Archon Salvatore & his men – Find list of names
Moonfire: If we can figure out who Arakhn plans to infect with her Nictus invaders, we can get to them first, and lay a pretty trap! While you're there, it would behoove you to take out a few of her men. The more we can weaken her power, the better the next phase of the plan will go.
Moonfire: Look at this list of names, Task Force Astral. Arakhn hopes to force permanent mergers with Nictus upon many of this city's greatest people. This cannot come to pass. Now that we know her intended targets, I will rally the Kheldian Army, know far and wide as the Peacebringers. We will set a trap for Arakhn's Nictus.
---
Moonfire: I want to bring the Kheldian War to a close once and for all, and to do that, I must end the Nictus threat. I intend to use Arakhn's plan against her, and lay a trap for her Nictus brethren. I want you to seek out Arakhn's stronghold. Then you must defeat her, while I gather the forces of the Kheldian Peacebringers. My bodiless brothers will go to her intended victims, and ask permission to protect them from the Nictus. And then they will wait.
When you defeat Arakhn, I have no doubt her loyal minions will put her plan into effect, sending the Nictus into their intended hosts. But each Nictus will be surprised by a Kheldian lying in wait, within the very body they had planned to assume. There we will defeat them, once and for all.
(Track down Arakhn)
10) Interrogate agents on Striga – Defeat 20 Council
Moonfire: I know this sounds dangerous, but it is the only way. If we do not stop the Nictus once and for all, Arakhn may develop an even more twisted plot. And that plot might succeed.
[One of Arakhn's soldiers gasped, 'All right, hero! I'll tell you what you want to know!']
Clue: The soldier's story – One of the Galaxy archons gasped, 'I'll tell you what you want to know. Arakhn is a cruel mistress, anyway. She is concerned not with the needs of her soldiers, but only the survival of her precious Nictus!'
11) Defeat Arakhn – Striga Isle
[You see a shadow flit across the ceiling. A trick of the light? Or something else?]
Moonfire: Wonderful job, Task Force Astral! Wonderful! You delayed Arakhn's plan long enough for my people to lay a trap for the Nictus she intended to force upon human hosts. Some of the people we protected even invited the Kheldians to remain. I have no doubt they will become some of this world's greatest heroes.
As for the Nictus, I believe we have vanquished all of them, or at least weakened them greatly. I suppose it is possible that some of them may have fused with their human hosts, but I do not believe it is likely.
No comments:
Post a Comment