Mission:Tip - Cloud of Odorous Smoke

Cloud of Odorous Smoke
Alignment Mission
Type	Alignment Tip
Place	Paragon City
Available to	Heroes and Vigilantes
Level range	40–50
Choice	Hero or Vigilante

Cloud of Odorous Smoke

A cloud of smoke poofs in front of you. When it clears, there is a letter on the ground. You lean down to read it over...

Dear Character,

Bentley Berkeley here, immortal adventurer and member of the Midnighter's Club. I wish we had time to chat in this letter, but, well, given that I sent you a letter it means we have no time for laughs or brew ha-ha's. Have you heard of something called a Shadow Seed? The Nictus use these things to travel across the universe to invade our dimension. The Council have been stopped time and time again from planting them...but something went wrong.

A group of them are about to plant the seed beneath Paragon City! I'm not sure who is leading this charge from the Council, all I know is someone has to stop this!

I've hired the woman known as Silent Blade to investigate, but I don't think she'll have the power to see it through. I've left the coordinates for the location in this letter. Please, you have to stop the Council from releasing the Nictus into the streets of our city!

You've heard whispers of these 'shadow seeds' from time to time. The result of one being planted upon Earth can be extremely dangerous. You know exactly where to go to stop the Council from planting these seeds, though it will mean having to trust the assassin known as Silent Blade.

On the other hand, the heroes of Paragon can surely handle whatever these shadow seeds can spread. You could always let the Council do this in order to lure out whoever is behind this. It might mean some casualties, but you'll stop whatever the source of this is.

Hero Acceptance

Briefing

The Nictus have been one of the larger looming threats over Paragon City and the world for quite some time, with the Council being one of the groups that seem to have an uneasy working relationship with them.

One thing is for certain - the Nictus cannot gain a foothold in this world, or else all is lost. If these seeds are planted, it could spell the beginning of the end for all of Paragon City! And you're the only person who can stop this from happening. There is the assassin Silent Blade, though just exactly how much she'll be able to do against this plot is unknown - or if she'll even uphold her end of Berkeley's deal.

Stop the Council from spreading the Nictus!

You've set your mind to the task - stopping the Council's made schemes and helping Silent Blade. You make your way to the cavern, where you'll do battle to help stop yet another threat to the entire world.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Time is of the essence! The seeds may be planted at any moment by the Council!

Mission Objective(s)

You travel deep underground, following traces left by the Council soldiers. Time to end this mad plot of theirs.

• Save Paragon from the Council!
  • Rendezvous with Silent Blade!
  • Stop the Shadow Seed from being planted!
  • Investigate the disturbance at the front of the cavern!

That was an...interesting conversation with an old man.

Dead Man's Tale

You found this journal off of a dead Council soldier. From his wounds, it would appear that he was attacked by his fellow comrades. You read over the journal, the last entry catching your eye...

I don't understand why we're being ordered to do this. The Center surely is not aware of what is happening - he cannot approve of this! I am certain that this has to do with the mad schemes of Requiem and Arakhn - they are surely using the Council to their own ends. If it comes down to it, I shall make my stand against these traitors. If I should die, at least the Center shall know that I stood for him and his rule!

- Archon Miller

Loud Noise

You've defeated the Council agent who was trying to plant the shadow seed and managed to reclaim the small object for yourself. As you do so, you hear the sound of something turning on towards the front of the cavern...

Enemies

Council

Nictus

Notable NPCs

• Silent Blade
• Shadow Seed Carrier
• Dark Nova
• The Center?

Silent Blade dialogue

Before Combat:

Zenith Hoverbot: The Nictus cannot be stopped. Perhaps you shall make a good host for our 'friends'!

Silent Blade: This is but a pause. Your confidence shall be your downfall.

Combat start:

Zenith Hoverbot: Constant interruptions! Destroy Character!

Silent Blade: Character?

Combat Finish:

Silent Blade: I am in your debt, Character.

Silent Blade: I am here to deal with the threat of the Nictus.

Silent Blade: If you are as well, then we have no reason to fight each other. Lead on.

When lost:

Silent Blade: A moment, if you will.

When found again:

Silent Blade: My apologies.

Council dialogue

Before combat:

Galaxy: We all have, trust me. Just ignore them and do your job.

Vortex Cor Leonis Fire: I've heard some rumors about Arakhn and Requiem...

---

Equinox Mesmerist: Don't be ridiculous. Arakhn will keep Requiem in his place.

Galaxy: Doesn't this make us no better than those sleeper agents from the 5th?

---

Vortex Cor Leonis Fire: The caverns have been breached!

---

Vortex Cor Leonis Marksman: Fire on Character! The Nictus WILL be spread!

Shadow Seed Carrier dialogue

Before combat:

Shadow Seed Carrier: Soon... all of our plans will come to life! No one will be able to stop the Nictus!

Combat start:

Shadow Seed Carrier: So, Character, is it? You will be an excellent host for the Nictus!

At 50% Life:

Shadow Seed Carrier: I... will NOT be stopped! Nictus! TO ME!

Ambush! A Dark Nova will attack when the Shadow Seed Carrier's health reaches 50%.

Dark Nova dialogue

Dark Nova: The seed must be planted!

The Center? conversation

The Center

Speaking with The Center?

You see a radio on the ground. As you near it, you hear the sound of an old man beginning to speak coming from the speakers.

Ah, hello, Character; it is a pleasure to meet you, face to face... in a manner of speaking. I've requested this personal... radio to be delivered to congratulate you on a job well done.

I am the Center, leader of the Council.

• You'll have to forgive me if I'm a bit suspicious of a fascist.

Of course, Character. You would not have gotten this far without suspicions. I wished merely to let you and Paragon know that this act was not of my doing.

I have been having some... issues with the men in the Council, stemming from Requiem. A powerful man... but a foolish one. There have been whispers that he plans to go back in time as well - something regarding the paths of power and a place called Cimerora.

But I am an old man and I ramble. I merely wished to thank you for putting down this problematic group from the Council.

• I'll take your thanks for what it's worth.

The Center laughs slightly, letting out a long sigh.

If only everyone in Paragon were as cordial as you, Character. I will bid you a farewell, and hope that perhaps when we meet, you will not try to punch this old man in the face.

The radio shuts off.

• We'll see about that, Center.

• I don't need your thanks.

The Center lets out a dark laugh - the laugh of a man who has plans within plans for the future - before the radio shuts off.

• Time to get out of this cavern.

• Congratulate me for now - you're next on my list.

You're a very focused individual, aren't you?

Tell me, Character, is it so wrong to allow me to continue to exist? I am the man who stands between Paragon and Requiem. You do not know of his schemes - what you stopped just now is only the beginning.

I bravely risk my life to ensure that he is kept beneath my thumb. As much as you may hate to admit it, you and your city need me to protect it from monsters like Requiem.

• Maybe you have a point. We'll see what the future holds.

Indeed we will see, Character. Who knows what the future holds? Who knows, I wonder...

The Center gives you a simple laugh - the laugh of a man who has plans within plans for the future - before the radio shuts off.

• Time to get out of this cavern.

• I'll make a promise to you. Once Requiem is taken are of, I'm going after you next.

The Center laughs softly.

I'll hold you to that promise, Character. I'll be interested in seeing how exactly you plan on taking me down. Until then... take care.

The radio abruptly shuts off.}]

• I'll see you soon, old man.

• The city doesn't need monsters like you to defend it.

A monster, am I? If I am the monster... then what does that make men like Requiem and Recluse?

The radio shuts off.

• (Leave the cavern)

• Turn off the radio

Now, you're probably wond-

Before the Center can deliver his speech, you shut off the radio. You don't have time to listen to fascists like him.

• Time to leave this place.

• Step away from the radio

Debriefing

The Council have been stopped, though there still is the threat of Requiem and the Center, looming over Paragon. For now, however, the city can rest easy - thanks to you.

Vigilante Acceptance

Briefing

Letting the Council get away with this summoning is the only way to lure out whoever is truly behind this - what would be the point of stopping it now to only have it happen again? Sure, some people will be hurt if the Nictus are allowed to roam free, but it's the price that Paragon will have to pay to stay safe.

You'll bide your time and wait for the Council to make their move - that's when you'll spring into action.

Bide your time to lure out the Council leader!

You wait for some time until you hear news of the Nictus pouring out of a warehouse - this must have been where the Council were setting up, though knowing them, the true lair was in a cavern beneath it.

Rumor has it that a member of the Council was seen going into the warehouse - the exact man you're looking for! Time to go in there and strike at the heart of the Council's schemes!

Unnecessary Solicitation

With the other heroes in Paragon dealing with the Nictus, it'll be up to you to stop this.

Mission Objective(s)

The walls of this warehouse pulse with the energy of the Nictus. And somewhere within here is the man who planned it all.

• Defeat the Council Agent!
  • Defeat the agent who organized the Nictus!

You've put a stop to Archon Vego, the mastermind behind these Nictus plots.

The Dirge of Entropy

As the Shadow Crystal is destroyed, several images flash before you, while the words 'Dirge of Entropy' echo in the area. The first image is of an Italian man being dragged away into the darkness. The second is of a fight on a train car. The last is an image from inside of an ancient cavern, possibly originating in the Roman times from the architecture. The images die down, with a dark voice speaking from somewhere...

'His power must be contained, unless he destroys us all.'

Enemies

Void Hunters

Nictus

Notable NPCs

• Shadow Crystal
• Archon Vego (Council Ascendant Archon)

Nictus dialogue

Before combat:

Lesser Unbound Nictus: The others shall soon arrive...!

Lesser Unbound Nictus: The Dirge has done well, better than expected.

Combat start:

Lesser Unbound Nictus: Interference? Character! Destroy them!

---

Before combat:

Lesser Unbound Nictus: We must decide who to follow when this begins.

Lesser Unbound Nictus: Arakhn... has not shown us the proper results, as of yet...

Combat start:

Lesser Unbound Nictus: You will make an excellent host for the Nictus!

Archon Vego dialogue

Before combat:

Archon Vego: Requiem may believe he can control you Nictus... but I shall show the Center... that we CAN regain control!

Combat start:

Archon Vego: Character! You would stop this new revolution in the Council?! You shall join the others in destruction!

At 75% Life:

Archon Vego: They say I am a traitor to the Center, but it is not true! I serve only him, even in this!

At 50% Life:

Archon Vego: This is all for the greater good, Character! If you would just allow me to continue, you would see!

At 25% Life:

Archon Vego: You're going to doom us all! Their blood will be on YOUR hands!

Defeated:

Archon Vego: I tried... my glorious leader... I tried...

Debriefing

You were able to stop the mastermind behind the organization of the Nictus, though it seems as if the Council was not aware of this man's actions. Regardless, with him put down, it should mean an end to this branch of the Nictus 'invasion'.