Template:StoryArc The Freakshow War

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The Freakshow War (30-34)

Souvenir

Page from Schwartzwald's notebook

You've kept this page from Mike Schwartzwald's notebook, as a reminder of the time you put a stop to:

The Freakshow War

You were a bit too late to save Mike Schwartzwald when the Freakshow attacked his magazine's office. You found his files before the Freaks could destroy them, and realized that he was investigating Freakshow activities.

You went to meet one of Schwartzwald's informants, a Crey employee, and arrived in time to save him from the Freakshow. He told you that Crey Industries had a solid relationship with Dreck, the Freakshow leader. Through Dreck, Crey had been hiring the Freakshow to sabotage their competitors.

With that information, you were able to save the offices of UniMaxComm from a Freakshow attack. You next discovered that Dreck had been cutting deals with other groups for drugs and technology that the Freaks couldn't acquire through theft. You broke up a meeting between the Freaks and the Council, preventing one such deal from occurring.

Freak on Freak violence began to escalate, and you realized that some of Schwartzwald's informants had been Freaks themselves. Your investigation led you to a Freak called the ZikZak Man, one of these informants. He and his cronies were under attack by Freaks loyal to Dreck. By the time you arrived, ZikZak had already published Schwartzwald's discoveries about the Freakshow on the Internet.

With this knowledge in the public eye, the Freakshow began to splinter. Rebellious factions began to assert themselves. You had to act quickly to stop Clamor's faction from freeing both their leader and Upstart from the Brick House.

Dreck also moved quickly, to reassert control over the Freakshow and prove his street cred with a wave of raids against Crey labs. You stopped one of these attacks, and this defeat set the Freakshow to squabbling again.

In short order, the fighting had escalated to a full-scale war between the Freakshow factions. You brought the fighting to an end before it boiled out onto the street.

Dreck has regained control over the Freakshow for the time being. You know now that it's only a matter of time before you have to bring him to justice.

Go to the office and save the reporters from the Freakshow

Briefing

I just got word that the Freakshow are tearing up the office of a webzine called Hypertypes that follows Paragon City's super-powered scene. Can you go to that office and save those reporters from the Freakshow?

Mission Acceptance

Hypertypes reports on the activities of all super-powered individuals, both heroes and villains alike. Perhaps they found out something the Freakshow doesn't want in the public eye.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Hypertypes' office is still under siege by the Freakshow!

Mission Objective(s)

The sounds of terror fill the Hypertypes office.

• Defeat all Freaks in office
  • 3 reporters left, Seek clues

You've saved the Hypertypes office and found some information.

Enemies

Freakshow

Notable NPCs

• 2x Reporter (Non-Escort Hostage)

Freakshow Patrol

Before Combat

Freakshow Minion 1: Put all these jerks in body bags!

Freakshow Minion 2: Yeah! Tear 'em apart!

Combat Start

Freakshow Minion 1: You're history!

Freakshow Minion 2: I'm going to enjoy beating your face in.

Reporter

Upon Rescue: They took Mike Schwartzwald away. You need to find him!

You found the body of Mike Schwartzwald.

Body of Mike Schwartzwald

You arrived too late to save Mike Schwartzwald, the investigative reporter, from the Freakshow. In his hand was a crumpled piece of paper bearing the name 'Joe Baker.'

You found some files on the Freakshow.

Schwartzwald's files

These computer files contain hundreds of pages of research, suppositions, clippings, and interviews. They all seem centered around the Freakshow, but aren't in any kind of organized pattern that you can see. After flipping through a calendar, you notice several recent meetings with a man named Joe Baker.

Debriefing

It's a shame you weren't able to save that Schwartzwald fellow; it sounds like he was the Freakshow's primary target. At least you were able to recover his files. Most of these notes do seem to be about the Freakshow, though I'm afraid they'd only make sense to Schwartzwald himself. Maybe he got to close to something. There are several references to meetings with a man named Joe Baker; maybe he can tell us more about the Freakshow's attack.

Meet with Joe Baker

Briefing

I'm determined that the Freakshow will go down for the murder of that reporter, Mike Schwartzwald. I've located the Joe Baker mentioned in Schwartzwald's files. Turns out Mr. Baker is a mid-level manager at Crey Industries. I managed to contact him, and he agreed to meet with you. He sounded really nervous. I'd recommend that you be read for just about anything.

Mission Acceptance

Maybe Mr. Baker knows what Schwartzwald was investigating. That information could tell us why the Freakshow killed him.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Have you spoken to Baker yet? I need to know what he has to say about the Freakshow.

Mission Objective(s)

This is the place Joe Baker asked to see you, but you can't shake the feeling that he isn't the only one waiting for you.

• Meet Joe Baker

You've spoken with Joe Baker, and learned some interesting information.

Enemies

Freakshow

Crey

Notable NPCs

• Joe Baker (Hostage)

Crey Patrols

Before Combat

Crey Minion 1: These Freaks make me nervous.

Crey Minion 2: All we have to do is confirm whether Mr. Baker is on the premises.

Joe Baker

Upon Rescue: I am not a brave man. Please, let me tell you what I know.

Joe's story

After you rescued him from the Freakshow, Joe Baker told you:

'Look, I'm never going to say any of this in court, I know Crey too well for that. But I will tell you what I can.

I work for Crey Industries. We were losing sales to a competitor, and they were family owned and wouldn't sell their business to us. So I was ordered to go to a meeting for 'Radical Acquisitions Strategies'. Imagine what I thought when I walked into a room full of Freakshow! They were asking those maniacs to attack our competitor, like it was something they did all the time.

The Freak's leader, this huge maniac called Dreck, he was barely listening. Looked like he was gonna start tearing the place up and see how fast we could run. And then I recognized him. This Dreck, he'd changed, but it was Daniel Watson. We'd worked together. At Crey.

Debriefing

Mr. Baker owes you his life, but he still won't testify to what he knows. Crey using the Freakshow as hired thugs? There have been rumors, but still. You know, that sheds some new light on that murdered reporter's notes. I'm going to read over them again. Check back with me soon.

Protect UniMaxComm from a potential attack

Briefing

Based on our new information that the Freakshow are working with Crey, I've uncovered a pattern in their attacks. They make a lot of random hits, true, but they also consistently attack business owned by Crey rivals. Those attacks are usually timed to ruin the competitor's ability to compete with Crey. Of course, the Freaks also raid Crey from time to time, so I can't be sure of anything. According to Schwartzwald's notes, the next Crey-sponsored Freakshow attack should be against a company called UniMaxComm. Would you protect them from this potential attack?

Mission Acceptance

Thanks, Character. I'll call UniMaxComm and let them know they're in good hands.

Unnecessary Solicitation

I need you over at UniMaxComm, Character. We have to protect them from the Freakshow.

Mission Objective(s)

Before you even open the door, you hear the sound of malicious laughter. The Freakshow is here!

• Defeat all Freaks in lab
  • 3 technicians to rescue

You protected the UniMaxComm offices from the Freakshow.

Enemies

Freakshow

Notable NPCs

• 3x Technician (Non-Escort Hostage)

Technician

Upon Rescue: Thank goodness you came to help us!

Debriefing

Looks like we were right. Dreck, the Freakshow leader, is hiring his men out as mercenaries to Crey. I'll go back to Schwartzwald's notes on their activities; maybe I can find some more connections.

Break up the meeting

Briefing

It certainly seems clear that Dreck has been hiring the Freakshow out to Crey as mercenaries. I dug deeper into the notes Schwartzwald made before he died, and I found a mention of an upcoming meeting between the Freakshow and the Council. I don't know what they're up to, but the Freakshow are maniacs; working with the Council, they'll be twice as bad. I need you to break up that meeting between the Freaks and the Council.

Mission Acceptance

The meet is going down in a war-torn coastal area that I've isolated with an emergency force field. I'd like to see the lead negotiators in jail, Character. I hope they can tell us more about these strange alliances.

Unnecessary Solicitation

The meeting between the Freakshow and the Council could tell us a lot. I need you to get over there.

Mission Objective(s)

Heavy metal music echoes across the waters.

• Bust lead negotiators & their guards

You defeated the negotiators and prevented an alliance between the Freakshow and the Council.

Enemies

Council

Freakshow

Notable NPCs

• Council negotiator (Council Vortex Cor Leonis Adjutant)
• Freakshow negotiator (Freakshow Champion Swiper)

Negotiators

Before Combat

Council negotiator: You won't get the parts you want unless the senator dies.

Freakshow negotiator: Keep your helmet on. We've done this before.

Combat Start

Council negotiator: A hero! Did you lead this costumed interloper here?

Freakshow negotiator: A fight! I feel better already.

Debriefing

Most of the Freaks you put in jail won't talk, but one of them was willing to cut a deal. It seems the Freakshow steal most of their chemical and cybernetics they need, but sometimes there are things that they just can't get through theft. When that happens, Dreck sells the services of his loyal Freaks to get whatever he needs to keep his never-ending party going.

Investigate the Freakshow strife

Briefing

The Freakshow have started fighting among themselves. It looks like Freaks who are loyal to Dreck are making hits against those loyal to Bile the Technophile. that's not so unusual, but it made me go back to Schwartzwald's notes, and I found something. Turns out that most of Schwartzwald's mystery informants were Freaks in Bile's faction. Could it be that Dreck has identified them as a threat? I need you to investigate this strange Freakshow strife.

Mission Acceptance

Ok, I've identified a Freak called the ZikZak man who runs a group of techno-anarchists. He was one of Schwartzwald's contacts, and he's come under fire from Dreck loyalists. I'd like you to talk to him.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Have you spoken to the ZikZak Man? I want to hear what he has to say about this strange conflict between the Freakshow factions.

Mission Objective(s)

The sound of gunfire rings through the air, the mad rhythm section of an urban nightmare.

• Talk to the ZikZak Man
  • Talk to the ZikZak Man, Seek clues

You've talked to the ZikZak Man.

Enemies

Freakshow

Notable NPCs

• The ZikZak Man (Non-Escort Hostage)

Entrance Battle

Before Combat

Freakshow Minion 1: We're here on Dreck's orders!

Freakshow Minion 2: Dreck's dog!

Combat Start

Freakshow Minion 1: Hero first, then we finish this!

Freakshow Minion 2: Heroes die first!

Minion Battle

Before Combat

Freakshow Minion 1: Fight!

Freakshow Minion 2: I'll rip your bones out!

Combat Start

Freakshow Minion 1: You're goin' down!

Freakshow Minion 2: I'll take you one at a time, or all at once!

Lieutenant Battle

Before Combat

Freakshow Lieutenant 1: I got it all, man!

Freakshow Lieutenant 2: Yo, hero! Let's go!

The ZikZak Man

Upon Rescue: Everything's too late already, man! The information's out there now!

Freakshow Online

This is a copy of the data that's been sent out onto the Internet by the Freakshow faction under Bile the Technophile. Much of it is information you've already seen from Mike Schwartzwald's investigation files, but his suppositions have been backed up by Bile's knowledge. This information confirms that Dreck has been hiring his loyal Freaks out as mercenaries. This could cause a major blow-up in some of the Freaks' more ideological factions.

The ZikZak Man's story

When you rescued the Freak called the ZikZak man, he told you:

'This is gonna be huge. There ain't no hiding it now! It's all on the 'Net! Information's gotta be free, man! Who cares what happens!'

Debriefing

ZikZak put all of the information about the Freakshow's mercenary activities out on the Internet. Character, the Freakshow factions are going to explode! It barely matters if the information's true or not. When the fighting starts, it's going to be tough just to keep the warring Freakshow factions from taking half the city with them. Things have just gotten much worse.

Take Clamor Boi out before he can effect a prison break

Briefing

ZikZak's published all of Schwartzwald's findings to the Internet: the Freakshow's mercenary actions, their ties to Crey, all of it. It's started an intense war among the Freakshow factions. For the most part, they're sticking behind Dreck, but that's probably just pack instinct. The more ideological factions are trying to go out on their own. One of those is Clamor's group of anti-corporate militarist. I have good word that they're uniting behind a Freak named Clamor Boi. They're planning to break Clamor out of jail, along with that young Freak faction leader, Upstart. I need you to take them out before they can effect a prison break.

Mission Acceptance

I'd advise you to get some allies with you on this one. Clamor Boi won't be easily stopped.

Unnecessary Solicitation

If Clamor Boi and his men free those jailed Freakshow leaders, it'll be a disaster!

Mission Objective(s)

The sewers seem like a strange place for a meeting, but the Freakshow are pretty strange people.

• Defeat Clamor Boi and his men

You have defeated Clamor Boi and put a stop to his plot to free the jailed Freakshow leaders.

Enemies

Freakshow

Notable NPCs

• Clamor Boi (Freakshow Tank Smasher)

Clamor Boi

Before Combat: I can't wait to see Lady Clamor again. She won't take anything from that traitor Dreck.
Combat Start: You won't stop this! Lady Clamor will be free again!

Debriefing

With Clamor Boi in jail, the plan to free Clamor and Upstart will dissolve. That's a big victory for you, Character. If those Freakshow faction leaders had been freed, they would have exacerbated the fighting among the Freakshow groups. And the public would have been the ones to pay the price.

Stop one of the Freakshow raids

Briefing

It looks like Dreck's trying to put a stop to the fighting among the Freakshow, by reestablishing his street cred with all of the factions. He plans to do it by ordering raids against Crey facilities all over the city. That might convince the Freaks that he really is the bold, violent leader they're looking for, but it's also going to result in a lot of civilian injuries. I'm calling in all my hero contacts on this one. Will you stop one of the Freakshow raids?

Mission Acceptance

There may be a lot of dirty work going on behind the scenes at Crey, but there are also a lot of innocent people working for them.

Unnecessary Solicitation

That Freakshow raid could result in a lot of casualties. I'm counting on you to save the day.

Mission Objective(s)

The Crey security forces have been overwhelmed. It looks like it's all up to you.

• Defeat all Freakshow raiders
  • 4 technicians to save

You have saved the Crey facility from the Freakshow.

Editor's Note:

The mission requires the defeat of all enemies in the lab, including the Crey patrol.

Enemies

Freakshow

Crey

Notable NPCs

• 4x Technician (Non-Escort Hostage)

Crey Patrol

Before Combat

Crey Minion 1: Should we try to extract the staff?

Crey Minion 2: Heck, no. Upload the important files to the network, then get out.

Technicians

Upon Rescue: Thank goodness you came to help us!

Debriefing

Thanks for stopping that Freakshow raid, Character. You and the rest of my hero contacts really went to work on this wave of Freakshow violence, but it looks like these defeats have only exacerbated the Freaks' rebellious natures. I'm hearing reports of Freak on Freak violence all over town. Dreck's going to have a tough time keeping that madcap group of misfits together. Of course, if their violence becomes too widespread, the city as a whole could be in trouble.

Stop Freakshow fighting

Briefing

It seems the Freaks' recent defeat at your hands really shook their faith in their leader, Dreck. I thought the Freaks were chaotic before, but now their inner squabbling has descended into an all-out war! Someone's got to stop the Freakshow fighting before it gets really out of hand.

Mission Acceptance

Those Freaks are out for blood, Character, and they'd be happy to spill some of yours.

Unnecessary Solicitation

I need you to contain this Freakshow faction war!

Mission Objective(s)

A techno beat provides a sick accompaniment to the chaotic sounds of battle.

• Defeat Freak leaders, their crews

You have defeated the Freakshow and brought the battle to an end.

Enemies

Freakshow

Entrance Battle

Before Combat

Freakshow Minion 1: Dreck rules, and he's always gonna rule!

Freakshow Minion 2: Dreck is weak!

Combat Start

Freakshow Minion 1: These heroes need to die. Messily.

Freakshow Minion 2: At least we agree about something.

Minion Battle

Before Combat

Freakshow Minion 1: Dreck's the boss, see? And you're gonna act like it.

Freakshow Minion 2: I wouldn't serve Dreck for a lifetime supply of Excelsior!

Combat Start

Freakshow Minion 1: Heroes! Smash 'em up!

Freakshow Minion 2: It's party time!

Freak Leaders

Before Combat

Freakshow Lieutenant 1: For Dreck!

Freakshow Lieutenant 2: For Upstart!

Debriefing

The good news is that this Freakshow faction war seems to be over for now. The bad news is that means that Dreck is once again firmly in control of the Freakshow. At least we've learned a great deal about their activities over the last few days. Their connection to Crey is something we'll have to keep in mind, as well as their willingness to perform mercenary work to keep themselves in cybernetic technology. I guess you've proved that the day will come when the city's defenders will have to eliminate the Freakshow for good.