The Lady Grey Task Force

Lady Grey Task Force
Contact	The Lady Grey
Zone	Rikti War Zone
Suggested Team Size	8 players
Coordinates	(328, -1184, -2315.5)
Level Range	45-50
Merits	37
Badge	Apocalyptic
Enemy Groups	Devouring Earth Psychic Clockwork Rikti

The Lady Grey Task Force is a co-operative Task Force that allows heroes and villains to team together. The task force was added in Issue 10 with the redesign of the Rikti War Zone.

Merit Rewards: This activity awards 37 Reward Merits.

Incarnate Component: Level 50 characters may choose 1 Hero 1 DNA Sample instead of Reward Merits.

Missions

Agree to form a Task Force

LADY GREY TASKFORCE: 'The Seer'
Part: One

Briefing

Let us begin.

The Rikti, under the command of their War Leader Hro'Dtohz, grow desperate. Valiant efforts by Vanguard forces have destabilized their new gateway to the Rikti Homeworld, but already they look for methods to recover from this set-back.

The Dark Watcher informs us the Rikti Lineage of War believe they can utilize latent human psychic energies to re-stabilize their portals. The Lineage of War forces have captured one of the most potent psychics on earth in order to do so: Miss Penelope Yin.

Mission Acceptance

Those who have worked in the Faultline zone no doubt remember Miss Yin well. The Rikti were attempting to secret her back to their ship when we were able to pin them down en-route, but her rescue will require expert talents. Her safety now rests on your shoulders.

Task Force code-names were one of Our organizational techniques we first used during the Rikti War. It pleases us that they have continued, and it is our honor to grant you the code-name Task Force Name.

Unnecessary Solicitation

You must bring Miss Yin to safety. Her father is over-wrought with worry.

Mission Objective(s)

Vanguard scouts report the Rikti still have Penelope here. They also report that there has been strange, unknown activity.

• Rescue Penelope Yin
  • Lead Penny to safety!
  • Defeat Penny's Guardian

You have rescued Penelope Yin and defeated the Clockwork King. Return to Lady Grey for further instructions.

The new Rikti Portal

Enemies

Rikti

Psychic Clockwork

Notable NPCs

• Rikti Portal Generator x2 (Object)
• War Mesmerist (Boss) (Guarding Penelope Yin)
• Penelope Yin (Psychic Girl, NPC Ally Hero (actually Boss-class), also Ally to Psychic Clockwork)
• The Clockwork King (Psychic Clockwork, Archvillain)

Penelope's protector arrives

The Clockwork King:

Don't worry, Penny! I'm here to protect you!

I'll keep you safe from everything!

Safe from villains, from Rikti, from heroes, from boys...

You'll be my little Clockwork Princess, safe and happy forever!

Penelope Yin dialogue

Before combat:
Penelope Yin: "Can we not do this? My Dad needs me to close the store."
Random Rikti minion: "That Idea: Sounds Great: To Me!"
War Mesmerist: "Mind-Control: My Troops: Immediate Cessation!"
Penelope Yin: "You're no fun anymore."
Combat start:
War Mesmerist: "Destroy: Task Force Name!"
Penelope Yin: "Oh! Hey guys! Uh, help!"
Upon rescue (after Clockwork King cutscene):"
"The, Clockwork King? I sort of, um, called for his help."
"I know, I know, but I panicked, and he's always been nice to me."
"He's just, well, kind of crazy..."
"and obsessive..."
"and blames superheroes for everything that's gone wrong for him,"
"but he's really a nice guy. When he's calm,"
"and he's not calm right now."
"So, I'm like really REALLY sorry, okay?"
If lost: "C'mon, Penny! You're psychic! How can you get lost?"
If refound: "ZOMG! That was way too close!"
If defeated: needs data
Upon reaching exit:
"You guys are so totally awesome!"
"I gotta get home. Dad's probably worried sick!"

The Clockwork King dialogue

Before combat: needs data
Combat start:
"I see! You're all trying to kidnap my little Penny!"
"No one will ever hurt my Clockwork Princess!"
At 75% Life: "I hereby declare you enemies of the Clockwork Kingdom!"
At 50% Life: "The Clockwork King shall not fail!"
At 25% Life: "Come to me, my minions! We shall prevail!"
Defeated:
"Are you safe, Penny?"
"That's good..."
"That's good..."
After defeating a player: "So falls all enemies of the Clockwork Kingdom!"

Debriefing

We must commend your excellent work! Through your most magnificent skill in battle the Invader's plans have been disrupted, and Miss Yin is safe once more, but let us not grow complacent. This was only the opening play of the Rikti's plan. The struggle has only begun, but We feel confident that with your aid, we shall prevail!

Your performance has been beyond admirable. However, there is still much that must be accomplished.

Repulse the Rikti Riders

LADY GREY TASKFORCE: 'The Horsemen Four'
Part: Two

We have learned that despite the loss of Miss Yin, the Rikti Lineage of War is using the power of other captured psychics to stabilize gateways to their homeworld. While our agents search for the installation responsible, we cannot sit idly by.

For we have learned that four of the Rikti's most fearsome warriors ride across the dimensional barrier.

They must be repulsed, and We must ask you to do it!

Mission Acceptance

The four warriors are known as The Riders. Fortunately, Vanguard forces have pinpointed the location of the dimensional portals.

Your objective shall be to destroy these portals, and defeat any of these Riders that have made it into our world.

Unnecessary Solicitation

The Riders are feared even by their fellows within the Rikti Lineage of War. Truly, they must be abominable individuals.

Mission Objective(s)

Without Penelope's power, the Rikti have had to open their portals where ever they can get a stable pathway

• Stop the Riders
  • 4 Rider attacks

You have held the Riders back! Return to Lady Grey for further instructions.

The Riders

Enemies

Rikti

Notable NPCs

Note: currently, Pestilence: Rider and Death: Rider have the same description.

• War: Rider (Rikti, Elite Boss) x4
• Famine: Rider (Rikti, Elite Boss) x3
• Pestilence: Rider (Rikti, Elite Boss) x2
• Death: Rider (Rikti, Elite Boss)

Wave 1 - War: Rider dialogue

Before combat:
"I: Live"
"Destruction Arrives: With Me"
Combat start: "Bleed: Human!"
75% Health: "Victory: Assured"
50% Health: "Battle: Just Begun"
25% Health: "Personal Identity: War! War: Undefeatable!"
Defeated: "War: Rider: Opposition: Strong!"

Wave 2 - Famine: Rider dialogue

Before combat:
War: Rider: "I: Live!"
Famine: Rider: "I: Hunger"
Combat start:
War: Rider: "To: Battle!"
Famine: Rider: "Defenders (Earth) Future: Desolate"
75% Health:
"Your World: No Future"
"Your Fate: Bleak"
50% Health: "Why Persist: Foolish Hope?"
25% Health: "Your Fighting: In Vain"
Defeated: "We Will: Regroup"

Wave 3 - Pestilence: Rider dialogue

Before combat:
War: Rider: "I: Live!"
Famine: Rider: "I: Hunger"
Pestilence: Rider: "Run: Cowards!"
Combat start:
War: Rider: "To: Battle!"
Famine: Rider: "To: Desolation"
Pestilence: Rider: "Poison Toxin Contamination: My Joys"
75% Health: "Eat: Toxic Destruction!"
50% Health: "Suffocate on: Vile Miasma"
25% Health: "Will Create: World of Poisons!!
Defeated: "We Will: Regroup!"
Defeats player: Nothing Resists: My Poisons!

Wave 4 - Death: Rider dialogue

Before combat:
War: Rider: "I: Live!"
Famine: Rider: "I: Hunger"
Pestilence: Rider: "Run: Cowards!"
Death: Rider: "Ha: Ha: Ha: Ha!"
Combat start:
War: Rider: "To: Battle!"
Famine: Rider: "To: Desolation"
Pestilence: Rider: "To: Pain"
Death: Rider: "To: Death"
75% Health: "I Only: Bring Death"
50% Health: "Why Resist: Death, Oblivion?"
75% Health: "Struggles: Cease. Death Easier: By Far"
Defeated: "Resist Riders: Impossible for: Anyone!"

Debriefing

Your magnificent triumph this day has granted a great reprieve for all.

Our agents have found the location of the captured psychics. The Rikti Lineage of War holds them against their will. We must strike now, Task Force Name!

Save Captured Psychics

LADY GREY TASKFORCE: 'The Dragon'
Part: Three

Briefing

The Rikti have been kidnapping latent human psychics in order to utilize their energies to re-stabilize the portal between our world and their own.

They must be prevented in this, for if they should succeed they will be able to muster the full force of their military might against us. Now is the time to stop this plan before it may grow bitter fruit by recovering the captured psychics!

Mission Acceptance

Our scouts have located the lair where the foes makes these infernal studies. Your objective shall be to infiltrate this location, recover the captured psychics, and terminate the studies of the Lineage of War's Chief Researcher in this field, a former human now known as Dra'Gon.

Be vigilant, do not allow harm to come to your charges, and know that Our hopes go with you!

Unnecessary Solicitation

You are to recover all of those you can, and undo the work of this 'Dragon' fellow. If 2 or more of your charges fall, it shall be a dark day indeed.

Omega Team survivors: Glacia and Infernia

Mission Objective(s)

You can feel the alien energies of unnatural science at work

• 6 captive psychics to rescue
  • Defeat Dra'Gon
  • 2 captives to rescue

You have defeated Dra'Gon and rescued the captives! Return to Lady Grey for further instructions.

Enemies

Rikti

Notable NPCs

• Infernia (Omega Team, NPC Ally)
• Glacia (Omega Team, NPC Ally)
• War Chief Soldier (Boss) x2 (One guarding each Omega survivor)
• Dra'Gon (Rikti, Archvillain)

Infernia dialogue

Before combat: Random Rikti minion: "Box1149 Contents: 1 Superheroine?"
Infernia: "That's right, boys! It's called an infiltration!"
War Chief Soldier: "Identification: Omega: Infernia! Classification: Omega: Terrorist!"
Combat start:
Infernia: "Oh, wow! People!"
War Chief Soldier: "Situation Containment: Vital!"
Infernia: "Sort of..."
Infernia: "I really AM back on Earth!"
Once free:
"I'm Infernia. I'm with the Omega Team".
"Glacia, my sister, is here, too."
"We snuck in with a supply shipment, but I didn't think it was taking us home."
"There's a lot I need to tell your commanders."
"Is Lady Grey still in command?"
"Or Statesman?"
"Or Blue Steel? Nothing could have killed that guy."
"I know we have a mission, but I've got so many questions!"
"Like, did anyone ever figure out what was up with the Clockwork King?"
"Or what about all that build-up on Striga Island?"
"Oooh, I wonder if my apartment in Overbrook's still there?"
"It probably got rented, but I'm sure dad kept the family place in Downtown Astoria."
"Hey, did Manticore and Sister Psyche ever get together?"
"I always wondered about that."
"Aw, now I can't stop thinking about eating an Up-and-Away burger!"
"Most Rikti food tastes like algae unless you can get its psychic 'flavor transmission'."
"This one time, Glacia and I found a wild apple tree while we were escaping a patrol. It was like heaven!"
"All these years. I can't believe I'm back home." Upon reaching exit "Thanks for the escort!"

Glacia dialogue

Before combat:
Random Rikti minion: "2nd Infiltrator: Apprehended"
Glacia: "Let me put it a way you can understand... Up: Yours!"
War Chief Soldier: Reveal: Accomplices! Reveal: Plans!"
Combat start:
Glacia: "Well... This is unexpected."
War Chief Soldier: "Attacker Identity: Confirmed Task Force Name!"
Once free:
"I'm sure my sister Infernia has talked your ear off."
"So I'll keep it simple:"
"We're with the Omega Team."
"We've been on the Rikti world ever since the gateway was sealed."
"We snuck back into a shipment meant for this place."
"We were hunting Dra'Gon, the twisted War Lineage scientist."
"So let's get him." Upon reaching exit: "We have many things to report."

Dra'Gon:

Self Declaration: Dra'Gon.

Subject Escape: Unallowable!

None Escape: Alive!

Dra'Gon dialogue

Before combat: "Human Hatred Origin: Former Personal Humanity"
Combat start: "Intention Declaration: Burn Humanity Away!"
At 75% Health: "Your Attacks: Willful: Disobedient!"
At 50% Health: "Enemy Actions: Initiate Emotional State-Change. New State: Mad!"
At 25% Health: "Personal Status: Rikti! Type: All-Powerful! Superiority: Pathetic Humans!"
Upon defeat:
"Can't End..:"
"Like..: This..."
Defeats player: "Death Deserved: All Weaklings"

Debriefing

You have performed more than just a great victory today, but indeed, you have brought forth a triumph! The return of members of the Omega Team, and the information they carry is being analyzed already. We are, of course, using all resources at our disposal to ensure that this is no deception.

However, despite your victories, the Rikti have not ceased their machinations and we have learned from Miss Yin's precognitions that the Invaders will soon begin an even more desperate and nefarious operation!

Your courage and daring have carried the day time and again, yet the great work is not over. Indeed, the most difficult tasks may yet be to come.

Stop Rikti Hamidon Raid

LADY GREY TASKFORCE: 'The Beast and the Sea'
Part: Four

Miss Yin, whom you may remember, has foreseen that the Rikti plan one last desperate gamble to stabilize the gateway between our world, that they might flood the full power of their armed forces through once more.

Miss Yin's precognitions have shown us that they will attempt to harness the power of the Hamidon, as it occurs in the Rogue Isles. They must be stopped, and doubly so! For the power of the Hamidon may also be the key to defeating a great and insurmountable foe, should that foe successfully take the field.

Mission Acceptance

Your goal shall be two-fold. Firstly, you are to defeat the Rikti, and destroy the Power Spires they are using to transmit the Hamidon's energy back to their ship.

Secondly, once the spires are down you must defeat the Hamidon in its weakened state. The power you harvest from it could be needed to tip a crucial balance should the worst come to pass...

Unnecessary Solicitation

Once the Rikti are dealt with, the Hamidon should still be weakened. You should stand a decent chance at defeating it.

Mission Objective(s)

You exit the chopper on the edge of the Abyss, the hole in the sea where the Hamidon rips through into our reality.

• Defeat the Hamidon
  • Defeat the Weakened Hamidon
  • 6 Pylons to destroy

You stopped the Rikti and took the power of the Hamidon. You can only hope it was in time. Return to Lady Grey for further instructions.

Enemies

Rikti

Devouring Earth

Notable NPCs

• Rikti Pylon x 6 (Object)
• Mitochondria Antibodies
• Mitochondria Electrolytes
• Mending Mitochondria
• Weakened Hamidon (Elite Boss)

Temporary Power

Upon completing this mission, the team leader will be granted the Hamidon Essence temporary power.

Hamidon Essence

Special

You have tapped into the power of the Hamidon. Channeling this force enables your powers to affect transdimensional entities. It will last for up to two weeks or until completing the task force.

Debriefing

You have succeeded, yet we are on the brink of absolute failure.

The Rikti Lineage of War will not be able to stabilize the portal long enough to bring through the mass of their forces, yet their alternate plan could devastate us all even more thoroughly than a fleet of their mother-ships.

The Omega Team risked everything to warn us of it and now we are on the verge of facing... The Honoree.

Stop the Rikti

LADY GREY TASKFORCE: 'Apocalypse'
Part: Finale

The Rikti are preparing to open a single gateway long enough to bring forth The Honoree. If they should succeed, they will bring the most powerful warrior they have at their disposal directly into our dimension.

This cannot be allowed! Thus, I charge you, Task Force Name, in the name of the Vanguard and all the peoples of Earth, to stop the Rikti!

Mission Acceptance

You will have three tasks ahead of you:

Firstly, you must defeat Hro'Dtohz, the Lord of the Rikti Lineage of War. He will be on-site overseeing the portal's activation.

Secondly, you must destroy the portal generators that keep the portal stable. Doing so will ruin all of their work and destabilize the conduit between worlds once more.

Finally, if the worst should happen, and The Honoree should reach our world, you must defeat him. I can tell you no more, for it is our hope that it shall not come to pass. If it does not, you need know no more. If it does, you will understand my recalcitrance. Should the need arise, we have prepared the power of the Hamidon into a form that should help against him. Pray you need not use it.

Unnecessary Solicitation

You know your objectives. There is little use left in discussion when action must be taken. Good luck upon you all. Your bravery has been truly inspirational.

Mission Objective(s)

The Rikti have spent a great deal of effort building this portal chamber beneath their ship. Time to make sure it doesn't pay off!

• Stop the Honoree
  • Defeat Hro'Dtohz
  • Defeat the Honoree
  • 4 generators to destroy

You have stopped the Rikti's plans for now. Return to Lady Grey for further instructions.

Editor's Note:

Upon completing this mission, a Rikti Invasion will be triggered in a random city zone.

Enemies

Rikti

Notable NPCs

• Wounded Vanguard Soldier (NPC)
• Lord of War: Hro'Dtohz (Rikti, Archvillain)
• The Honoree (Rikti, Archvillain)
• Gateway Portal Generator x 4 (object)

Wounded Vanguard Soldiers dialogue

This is it... Rikti invasion. It's all over.
Heh... if you think I look bad...
We tried to hold them... we tried.
Do me a favor, Hero. Tell Lady Grey... we made her proud.
Why'd I have to die here...a hallway...heh.
Watch yourself... It's the apocalypse down there.
Hro'Dtohz is too strong... Too many of them.

Gateway Portal Generator guards

Before combat:
Random Rikti 2: "Hro'Dtohz Orders: More Power!"
Random Rikti 1: "Hro'Dtohz Orders: Crazy! Portal: Unstable! Conduit: Unstable!"

Combat start:
Random Rikti 1: "Defend: Portal!"

The Lord of War

Lord of War: Hro'Dtohz:

Troops: Attention!

Long War: Soon Over. Victory: Assured. Imminent Arrival: Honoree!

Earth Future: Ashes; Nothing. Earth Lies: Wiped Away.

Our Return: As Heroes!

Lord of War: Hro'Dtohz dialogue

Before combat: needs data
Combat start: needs data
At 75% Life:
"Your Efforts: In Vain."
"Your power: Meaningless."
At 50% Life: "The Honoree: Unstoppable!"
At 25% Life:
"Fight Status: Just Begun!"
"Doom Certainty Maximum: Engaging Military Genius (Self)"
Defeated: "Failure Impossible: Must Retreat!"
After defeating a player: needs data

A hero returns home

The Honoree:

Arrival: Successful. Troop Survival: 10%.

Initiating: Battle-State Behavior Over-ride.

Target Acquired: Designation Task Force Name.

Annihilation: Commences

Destroy: Opposition

The Honoree dialogue

Before combat: "Destroy: Opposition"
Combat start: "Protocol Over-Rides: No Mercy: No Remorse"
At 75% Life:
"Memories: Triggered! Memories: Surging!"
"What's Happening: To me? Why Am: I Fighting?"
At 50% Life:
"Can't Stop: Fighting!"
"What Am: I Doing? Can't: Fight it!"
At 25% Life: "You've got: To stop me! Somebody: Stop me!"
Defeated: "Consciousness: Dimmed. Over-Rides: Restored."
After defeating a player: "Exhalation: Victory! Victory? Realization: What Have: I Done?"

Debriefing

So, it was true. The Rikti's Honoree was our own Hero 1, taken from us, transformed, and mind-controller by the Invader.

Let us not mourn for his fall, for even with all the alien science bent to break his will, he fought to retain some of his humanity. Perhaps one day, he can be restored. If that day comes, it will be because of your bravery and valor.

Though tinged with sorrow, this is indeed a moment of triumph, your moment of triumph. For you have fought against all odds and saved all of us, and may now stand with your heads held high amongst your peers, here in this City of Heroes.

Apocalyptic

You have defeated the Riktified Hero 1 and fought back the Rikti invasion for the time being.

Souvenir

Penelope Yin has a way of getting herself into trouble. The Rikti kidnapped her and sought to use her immense psychic abilities like a battery to charge a portal home. You found her, suspended in the air, her 'gift' being drained out of her. But you weren't the only one who came to save her. The Clockwork King came to rescue his little clockwork princess and now YOU were the enemy.

The Rikti did not stop with Miss Yin's capture. Other psychics were taken and used to open a portal to the Rikti Homeworld. Four warriors came through before the portal closed. These Four Riders were ready to bring War, Famine, Pestilence and Death to our world.

Two members of the Omega Team have returned! Glacia and Infernia are once again reunited with friends and family. The reports they bring back from the other world are intriguing, to say the least. The fact that even some of the fifty man team is still alive over there, fighting the good fight, gives you a little more hope. If only they had news of the Omega Team's leader, Hero 1.

The Rikti will stop at nothing to establish a portal home, attempting to harness the hazardous power of the Hamidon as a means to tear a hole into their world. These beings truly are alien to us. However, it was Penelope Yin's vision that guided you there. You needed to not only stop the Rikti but to mirror their intent, harnessing the Hamidon to save the world... or die trying.

Under the Crash Site, two worlds clash. Hro'Dtohz, the Lord of War, rallied his troops for combat. His technicians prepared to bring forth a single individual: The Honoree. You were stunned to discover that the Honoree was in fact, Hero 1, leader of the Omega Team. He'd been corrupted by Rikti genetic manipulation and mental reconstruction on a level no human could resist. As you fought Honoree, you noticed his humanity desperately struggling to escape its Rikti prison. He succeeded, briefly, and in that moment pleaded for your help. He begged you to stop him to save the world. In the end, you granted his wish, but the victory proved a bitter taste in your mouth. Long ago, Hero 1 made the ultimate sacrifice to stop the first Rikti invasion. Thanks to you, his memory won't be tarnished by being a part of the second.

Today, you mourn a Hero.

Trivia

• This Task Force is a reference to the Book of Revelation.

Advanced Mode

Main Article: Advanced Mode

For in-depth information regarding the changes to the Task Force in Advanced Mode, see The Lady Grey Task Force/Advanced Mode

Introduced to The Lady Grey Task Force in Issue 27 Page 7, Advanced Mode is a suite of optional difficulties that add stacking threats and rewards on top of the base Task Force, scaled for players with Incarnate abilities slotted and viable team compositions. In additional to scaling buffs, Advanced Mode adds a myriad of new enemies and mechanics to existing enemies. Most notably, there is an additional boss encounter in all difficulties of Advanced Mode that awards the Zookeeper Omega badge, as well as an additional finale section that awards the Doesn't Look At Explosions Badge.

Zookeeper Omega

You are truly the Omega of all Zookeepers! Having bested K'ong and his horde of deadly Rikti Monkey Vultures.

You'd like to think you've built up a tolerance to poisonous gas... Hopefully!

Doesn't Look At Explosions

Part of the job is knowing how to look cool, and you've mastered the art. While not intentional, when fate threw you aboard a Rikti space station, you sent it nuclear and made it out in one piece.

Advanced Mode Rewards

Completing this task force on Advanced Mode will also award an additional reward choice of either 40 Merits or a random Hamidon Origin enhancement.

You also gain an amount of Prismatic Aether depending on the difficulty completed:

• Tenacious (☆): 2 Prismatic Aether
• Rugged (☆☆): (2+5) 7 Prismatic Aether
• Unyielding (☆☆☆): (2+5+6) 13 Prismatic Aether
• Invincible (☆☆☆☆): (2+5+6+9) 22 Prismatic Aether

Prismatic Aether may only be obtained from any given difficulty on this Task Force's Advanced Mode once per 18 hours, and completing it again will only award the additional aether from the higher difficulties.

History

• This Task Force was available at levels 35-50 on Homecoming, but in 2021 it was reverted to its original level range of 45-50.
• Advanced Mode was added to this Task Force in Issue 27, Page 7.