Orpheus

Overview

Orpheus
Bard and Hunter of the Undead
Zone	Striga Island
Coordinates	(-2376.0, 0.8, -1957.3)
Level Range	25-29
Introduced By	Night Widow Ragana
Introduces	Mage-Killer Tatiana
Enemy Groups	Banished Pantheon Ghosts 5th Column Council

Orpheus is a villain contact in the Bonny Morass neighborhood of Striga Isle at coordinates (-2376.0, 0.8, -1957.3) . His level range is 25-29.

Introductions

Contact Introduced By

• Night Widow Ragana

Contact Introduces

Single contact option

The spirits no longer cry your name in terror. Now it's another name they fear.

• Mage-Killer Tatiana

The Mage-Killer is hunting something particularly nasty here on the island. I wish you luck.

Mage-Killer Tatiana's technomagical augmentations and training which render her nearly immune to magic reek of Arachnos's designs and methodologies, revealing who is the sponsor of her recent induction into the order of mage-killers.

Information

Bard and Hunter of the Undead

Orpheus is an old-school Warrior with a penchant for hunting the undead. He seems more interested in indulging in his own personal vendetta against the zombie hordes than caring about what the other Warriors are doing. There are rumors about him having died and come back from the underworld, but he refuses to talk about it with anyone but Odysseus himself.

Prior to Introduction

Orpheus is playing a lyre. He doesn't stop playing while talking to you.

You look weary, my friend. Perhaps you should rest and come back to see me another day. There won't be a lack of undead flesh to destroy any time soon.

Initial Contact

As you approach him, Orpheus is playing an honest-to-Apollo genuine lyre, straight out of some Greek myth. He bows theatrically and lets the music accentuate his words.

Greetings, traveler. Stay a while, and listen. Do you know the story of Striga, this insignificant little island? A speck of dirt in the ocean, hardly noticeable, yet fought over fiercely by warriors new and old, and even older still. If you care to indulge me, we may explore this island and its secrets together, while we do what we do best - destroy the undead!

Greeting

• Greetings, Character.
• Let me teach you, entertain you and maybe even waste your time.
• So, the high and mighty Character comes to me, Orpheus the Bard, and for what, I wonder? Do you seek knowledge? Thrills? Or merely a way to pass the time before we all shuffle off this mortal coil?

Too Busy

Orpheus strums his lyre lazily.

I demand a captive audience, my dear fellow. See some of the stories you've already started to their conclusion before you return.

No More Missions

Before introducing a higher-level contact

Orpheus is no longer playing the lyre.
The song has ended, Character. It's time for you to move. Remember, never look back.

After introducing a higher-level contact

Orpheus is tuning his lyre.
There's nothing left for us to do, my dear fellow. We have to move on now, and never look back. Never look back...

Store

• Inspirations

Orpheus' fingers fly across the strings of his lyre.
I've started working on a special theme for you, dear friend. I might want to play some for you, to get your input. Here's my number.

• Enhancements (all TOs, DOs, and SOs)

Orpheus starts to play a theme that seems composed especially for you.
Our song is proving to turn into quite an epic tale, Character! You inspire me!

Urgent Mission

When this contact has an urgent mission available, this contact only offers urgent missions, and not any other missions.

Hunt the servants of the Banished Pantheon (20-31)

Briefing

Orpheus plinks the strings of his lyre tentatively.

I have heard the lamentations of dead souls on the dark night wind, and they sing your name in a register most dire. I believe your recent activities here on Striga may have put a target on your back. But worry not - I have not earned the reputation as a slayer of zombies without learning a thing or two about curses. I can help you, but first I need you to hunt down the servants of the Banished Pantheon and destroy them!

Mission Acceptance

While you are drawing their attention, I shall seek out the lair where the cultists of the Banished Pantheon are performing their rites. Then you can pay them a visit and find out who is behind all of this. Only by digging deeper will you be able to break this curse.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Give me some more time to find the lair of the cultists. Continue to collect those trophies.

Mission Objective(s)

• Distract the Banished Pantheon
  • Defeat 10 Banished Pantheon

The last of the Banished Pantheon devotees falls and you wonder if Orpheus has discovered anything useful.

Enemies

Banished Pantheon

Debriefing

The spirits of the dead are out for blood... your blood, specifically.

Story Arc

Merit Rewards: This activity awards 20 Reward Merits.

The Most Dangerous Prey (25-29)

Souvenir

A Broken Tiki Mask

You took this tiki mask from the death spirit Velho in an episode you've chosen to call The Most Dangerous Prey. It started when the Warrior, bard, and hunter of the undead called Orpheus informed you that the ghosts of the dead were cursing your name. Soon you found yourself haunted by all manner of spirits from the underworld. With the aid of Orpheus you found the rift where the Banished Pantheon summoned the ghosts and bound them into servitude to hunt you down. After closing the rift, the torrent of spirits abated somewhat and you were able to track down the one responsible for the curse upon you: Velho, a spirit of death in service of the banished gods. After you managed to defeat him, his essence was devoured by his masters, and he was gone forever, along with the curse he put upon you. After that entire episode Orpheus asked you to seek out the graves of his forefathers who died on Striga defending the island against the Nazis during the second world war. You went to a cave full of zombies and collected the dogtags he needed as proof that his grandfather and granduncles weren't zombies, and that he didn't risk to run into them while hunting zombies by himself. Finally, Orpheus wanted to look into the mysterious vicar of Striga Isle, old Toby. Orpheus was convinced that Tobias Hansen was a vampire, since old Toby had given away that he knew Orpheus' grandfather back before he died, and Toby still has the looks of a teenager. So you went searching for an old 5th Column laboratory that had remained hidden and sealed since around the time of the war, and you learned that Toby and Lars Hansen were not vampires but merely immortal freaks of science created by Nosferatu himself back before the Council took over Striga Isle. Satisfied with this discovery, since he didn't really want to have to kill Toby, Orpheus wished you good hunting in the future.

Investigate haunted warehouse

Briefing

Orpheus strums his lyre moodily.

The spirits of the dead are gathering in a warehouse down by the docks. I am sure it must be connected to your predicament. It also happens to be a warehouse we Warriors use to store goods before we move it off the island sometimes, so you would be doing me a favor if you could clear it out. Investigate that warehouse and look for any clues as to why the spirits gathered there.

Mission Acceptance

It is strange that the ghosts are lingering in this warehouse instead of seeking for you, the accursed one. Something in there must exert an even greater influence than the curse. Perhaps it can help you, perhaps not - but what do you have to lose?

Unnecessary Solicitation

Have you exorcised the ghosts in the warehouse yet? The longer you delay, the greater the number of spirits who howl for your death.

Mission Objective(s)

The dust on the floor swirls in ominous patterns as you enter the warehouse.

• Investigate haunted warehouse
  • Find cause for haunting
    • Exorcise remaining ghosts

With the disappearance of the last spirit the warehouse seems brighter and less oppressive. The haunting is over.

Enemies

Ghosts

Notable NPCs

• Mysterious Tablet (Object)

Ghosts Dialogue

No way out...

---

... must find Character.

---

No escape...

---

Trapped in here...

---

Before Combat:
Why does it call to us?
It won't let us leave.
Combat Start:
If we kill Character we will find peace!

A Mysterious Tablet

You found a mysterious tablet in a haunted warehouse. The object seemed to exert a strange influence on the ghosts, drawing them into the building and trapping them there. In the end you had to destroy the tablet to put a stop to the spirit infestation.

Debriefing

You found a strange tablet in the warehouse? It must be something left behind by my Warrior brothers. Don't worry about destroying it - I will smooth things over with Odysseus.

Close the rift to the underworld

Briefing

Orpheus's lyre sounds unusually muted and somber, and his voice deepens as he starts to speak.

The accursed shamans of the Banished Pantheon have put a curse upon your name. There's a nest of cultists congregating in a cave, where they summon the dead and bind them to their service. I suggest you enter that cave and close the rift to the underworld before Striga is overrun with bloodthirsty ghosts.

Mission Acceptance

To break the curse you will have to find out whoever put the target on your back, forcing the ghosts to attack you. Trust me, I will do all I can from my end to find out who is responsible. But if you close the rift the number of ghosts hunting you down will at least not grow greater.

Unnecessary Solicitation

The longer the rift to the underworld remains open, the more ghosts will be coming for you. It's in your own best interest to close it as soon as possible.

Mission Objective(s)

The shadows in this cave flow and drip like wax.

• Close Rift to the Underworld

The Banished Pantheon had opened a rift to the underworld to summon spirits of the dead to hunt you down. You closed the rift and gained a slight reprieve.

Enemies

Ghosts

Banished Pantheon

Notable NPCs

• Rift (Object)

Ghosts Dialogue

Ghost 1: We linger...

---

Ghost 1: We float...

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Ghost 1: No rest...

---

Ghost 1: No peace...

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Ghost 2: ...accursed are we.

---

Ghost 2: ... in the land of the dead.

---

Ghost 2: ... dead souls.

---

Ghost 2: ... for an eternity.

Editor's Note:

The actual dialogue seems to be chosen randomly. For each group of Ghost patrols, one mob says one of the Ghost 1 lines and another says one of the Ghost 2 lines. Other lines may also occur.

Totem Dialogue

Before Combat: The spirits of the dead make good fodder. Keep them coming!
Combat Start: The accursed one? Here? Inform Velho!

A Rift to the Underworld

To reduce the number of ghosts out for your blood, Orpheus suggested that you visited a cave where the Banished Pantheon had opened a rift to the underworld which spewed out an ever increasing number of dead souls and bound them into service to hunt you down. You found the rift and proceeded to close it but the curse the death spirit Velho had placed on you remained.

Debriefing

That rift was big trouble, not just for you but for all of Striga Isle. If it had not been sealed, ghosts could have swarmed all over the island and beyond. As if zombies weren't bad enough!

Third time's the charm?

Briefing

A suspenseful tune emanates from Orpheus's lyre.

I have questioned some of the ghosts that were chasing you, and I have learned of the creature responsible for the curse upon your name. Does the name Velho mean anything to you? He seems to be holding a grudge and if I understand the moans of the dead correctly, he has been sent beyond the veil twice before.

Mission Acceptance

Look for the fetters binding Velho's spirit to this world and destroy them. Then send him to the great beyond for the final time. Once he's no longer in this realm the curse upon you shall also be broken.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Velho's spirit still haunts this plane. Destroy whatever keeps him here, then send him away. It's for your own good.

Mission Objective(s)

The shadows seem to cling to your feet like mud.

• Break the curse on your name
  • Confront Velho to break the curse
    • Destroy Velho's fetters

Velho thought he was invincible but you proved him wrong, and the dark gods he served seemed to devour his spirit.

Enemies

Banished Pantheon

Notable NPCs

• Velho (Banished Pantheon Spirit of Death) Velho has somehow cheated death again and returned from beyond the veil. The Banished Pantheon must be powerful.
• Shadow Crystal (Object) This shadowy crystal looks similar to certain objects associated with the dread Nictus.

Editor's Note:

Velho appears early in the mission, but heals to full and becomes invulnerable to all attacks after being reduced to 75% health. To defeat him, a player should evade him and destroy the Shadow Crystal deeper inside the mission (marked with a waypoint), which will make it possible to damage and defeat Velho.

A good strategy is to run back out of the mission, then reenter and stealth or teleport past Velho to the Shadow Crystal. Note that the Crystal does not appear on the map until Velho becomes invulnerable, so it is not possible to stealth past him and destroy it without ever attacking him.

Velho Dialogue

Combat Start:
Velho: Ah, Character! Your body will soon supply me with new flesh!
Becomes Invulnerable:
Velho: You cannot kill me! I have the power of the spirit realm!
Velho: Lughebu protect me!
On Defeat:
Velho: Masters? No! I'm your loyal servant! Aieeee!

Banished Pantheon Dialogue

Before Combat:
Shaman 1: The dark crystal weakens the barrier.
Shaman 2: I can feel their presence.
Combat Start:
Shaman 1: Don't let Character reach the crystal!
Shaman 2: Your suffering shall nourish our masters!

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Before Combat:
Shaman 1: The Council fools left such a treasure unguarded!
Shaman 2: Unthinkable. But now it's ours!
Combat Start:
Shaman 1: An intruder... it's Character!
Shaman 2: Stop them!

---

Before Combat:
Shaman 1: If the Council knew what these crystals could do they would destroy them and never look back.
Shaman 2: They are shortsighted fools. We shall pave the way for our masters' return with these shiny stones!
Combat Start:
Shaman 1: You will never escape with our secrets, Character!

Debriefing

The fetters that brought Velho back from the spirit world have been destroyed, and the evil spirit sent back to the great beyond. I no longer hear the lamentations of the dead on the wind. Your curse has been lifted.

Check the graves of Orpheus' kin

Briefing

Orpheus is tuning his lyre.

I hope that you might do me a favor in return for helping you out with your curse. The graveyards on Striga are filled with soldiers who died defending this rock against the Nazis during the Second World War. My own grandfather and two of his brothers were among them. The Banished Pantheon are robbing those graveyards to bolster their zombie hordes, and the thought of coming face to face with my own undead kin prevents me from hunting zombies like I used to. I need you to check that the graves of my forefathers remain undisturbed.

Mission Acceptance

I have learned from the local priest where the soldiers of my grandfather's regiment were buried. He agreed to help, despite our differences, for he remembered my grandfather and grand-uncles as good men. Should the worst come to pass, I need you to put my forefathers to rest and bring back their dogtags as proof.

The priest gave me some holy shotgun shells. I don't like to put my trust in magic, holy or arcane, so you can have them. Put them to good use.

Temporary Power

You will receive the Holy Shotgun Shells upon accepting the mission.

Holy Shotgun Shells

Ranged (Cone), Moderate Damage (Lethal), Special Damage vs. Banished Pantheon, Foe Knockback

Tobias Hansen gave you these holy shotgun shells to aid you in your efforts against the Banished Pantheon. These blessed shotgun shells do extra damage to Undead villains. Use them wisely, for you have only 75 shells.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Do not return without the dogtags of my ancestors, Character. I'm not in the mood for games.

Mission Objective(s)

The shuffling of countless shambling feet reveals that Orpheus' fears have come to pass.

• Learn the fate of Orpheus' ancestors
  • Put all zombies to rest - or - Just take the dogtags

Orpheus was right - the graves of his forefathers had been disturbed. You took their dogtags to convince him that the job was done.

Enemies

Banished Pantheon

Assorted Dogtags

You found a large number of discarded dogtags in the mausoleum where Orpheus' grandfather was supposed to be buried. You did not have time to sort out which tags belonged to which stumbling corpse so you simply grabbed them all.

Editor's Note:

This clue can be obtained either by defeating all enemies, or by clicking a chest located deep inside the mission. The clue and dialogue are the same either way.

Debriefing

My grandfather's dogtags! And those of his brothers too! Now I may enjoy hunting my favorite game without fear of running into my own dead relatives. Thank you, friend.

Find out the truth about Old Toby

Briefing

Orpheus seems to buildup to a crescendo on his lyre.

The priest tipped me off about the vampyri. He looks like a teenager but talked about my grandfather as if he knew him personally. I bet he's a vampire! That's the most dangerous prey for a hunter such as myself, but I can't just attack him without good cause. I need you to look into something for me, just to make sure.

Mission Acceptance

I'm sending you into an old abandoned laboratory that the 5th Column used when they were running the show here on Striga. It's been sealed up ever since and nobody has seen the inside for decades. I bet an enterprising individual like yourself can find all kinds of valuable stuff down there. All I want is evidence that the vicar is a vampire.

Unnecessary Solicitation

The priest is giving me weird looks. I think he's getting suspicious. If you don't find some evidence of him being a vampire soon I might lose the element of surprise.

Mission Objective(s)

This abandoned laboratory has been hermetically sealed for decades.

• Investigate abandoned laboratory
  • 3 pieces of evidence

You have investigated the rumors about Old Toby, and confirmed that he is not a vampire after all.

Enemies

5th Column

Notable NPCs

• Feral Vampyr (5th Column Vampyr Commandant)

Editor's Note:

5th Column forces will consist entirely of Vampyri for this mission.

Bug! The 5th Column vampyri in this mission do not seem to give credit toward the The Slayer Badge.

Feral Vampyr Dialogue

Before Combat: Can you sense it, brother? A disturbance in the air.
Combat Start: An intruder? The doors are open? We're free!

The Hansen Brothers

The details were sketchy to say the least but according to the data you found on the ancient mainframe in the abandoned 5th Column laboratory underneath Striga, the vicar Tobias and his brother Lars were once held captive and experimented upon by Nosferatu himself, back in the 1940s, when the 5th Column were in charge on Striga. Since then the Council have taken over the island, risen and fallen at the hands of Paragon City's vigilantes and the US Navy, but Tobias and Lars look just as young as they did back then, seemingly immortal. No wonder Orpheus thought old Toby the vicar might have been a vampire.

An Old Rocket Launcher

This type of rocket launcher was mass-produced during the first Rikti invasion by weapons producers all over the world, using similar schematics and components, to make them very easy to salvage and repair. After the war was over, the left-over weapons flooded the black market and they are now seemingly everywhere. Finding them here in this sealed up base must mean that the base was still active at least during the first Rikti war, in the beginning of the century.

5th Column Missile Launcher

Ranged (Targeted AoE), High Damage (Fire/Lethal), Foe Knockback

This devastating weapon has extreme range capabilities. Its slow recharge and high endurance cost is compensated by its massive explosion and Knockback. The launcher is stocked with 50 ordinance.

Clamor's Sonic Weapons

According to an old file you found in the 5th Column base, Eve Van Dorn (no relation to Clarissa Van Dorn, Countess Crey) was working on sonic weapons technology for the organisation, including rifles, bombs and various other dangerous mechanisms. When Ms. Van Dorn learned that her male superiors had been passing off her inventions as their own creations in order to gain promotions and other benefits, she snapped. She defected from the 5th Column and teamed up with the crazy anarchists among the Freakshow, calling herself 'Clamor'. Her special brand of sonic technology has become part and parcel of the Freakshow experience ever since, in a multitude of creative and chaotic ways.

Debriefing

So the vicar isn't really a vampire after all? Just some kind of left-over mad science experiment. Poor guy. Oh well, at least I don't have to kill him now. Good! I was starting to like him.

Thanks for checking out that old laboratory. I hope you found something useful for yourself. As for me, I heard that the volcano here might be an entrance to the underworld. I might look into that. I'll see you around, in this life or the next. Farewell, Character.

Missions (20-31)

Hunt zombies on Striga Isle

Briefing

You've come to hunt zombies, and hunt zombies we shall. Seek out these thralls of the Banished Pantheon and lay them to rest. (This is a repeatable mission.)

Mission Acceptance

The zombie hordes can be found all over the island. You won't lack for prey if you search the bogs, the beaches and the boneyards. Happy hunting!

Unnecessary Solicitation

Bring me those zombie skulls, Character, and I'll praise your name in song and poetry!

Mission Objective(s)

• Hunt zombies on Striga Isle
  • Defeat 20 Banished Pantheon

You have gathered the grisly trophies of a score of the undead. Orpheus ought to be pleased.

Enemies

Banished Pantheon

Debriefing

That's what I like to see! Zombies back in their graves, where they belong. The epic I'm composing about your deeds will be rated R - for depictions of senseless violence!

Hunt down some elder vampyri

Briefing

Do you see that mountain over there in the Bonny Morass? The locals call it Vampyr Mountain because of the Council vampyri who infest its peak. I want you to hunt down a few of the oldest and most powerful ones, the ones they call Equinox Archons. (This is a repeatable mission.)

Mission Acceptance

If I know that they aren't technically undead?

...

...

... like I said, go hunt down some vampyri.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Did you find those vampyri yet? I've got something else for you once you've dealt with them.

Mission Objective(s)

• Hunt vampyri in the Bonny Morass
  • Defeat 3 Equinox Archons

You have defeated some elder Council vampyri for Orpheus, even though they aren't technically undead.

Enemies

Council

Debriefing

Good job! That's a few less bloodsuckers in this world.

See Also

• Homecoming Story Arcs