Lord Recluse

Lord Recluse
Ruler of the Rogue Isles
Zone	Grandville
Coordinates	(2726.5, -55, 934)
Level Range	45-50
Introduced By	None, Lord Recluse is a Strike Force contact.
Introduces	None
Enemy Groups	Freedom Phalanx Longbow Malta Operatives Vindicators
Badges	Annihilator Archvillain Master of Olympus Servant of Recluse Master of Lord Recluse's Strike Force

Lord Recluse is an Archvillain, and is the villainous leader of Arachnos and of the entire Rogue Isles in City of Villains.

Villains face him in:

• Recluse's Victory as a Neutral signature Archvillain enemy
• Defeat Lord Recluse mission from Ghost Widow if chosen as a Patron, as an Archvillain enemy (Levels 46-50).
• Defeat Recluse in the future mission from Black Scorpion if chosen as a Patron, as an Archvillain enemy (Levels 46-50).
• Take down Lord Recluse mission from Captain Mako if chosen as a Patron, as an Archvillain enemy (Levels 46-50).
• Defeat Recluse in the future mission from Scirocco if chosen as a Patron, as an Archvillain enemy (Levels 46-50).

Heroes face him in:

• Recluse's Victory as a signature Archvillain enemy.
• Stop Lord Recluse! from the Statesman's Task Force as an Archvillain enemy. (Levels 45-50)
• Agree to Mender Silos' mission from the Mender Silos Task Force as an Archvillain enemy (Levels 46-50).

Strike Force

See Lord Recluse Strike Force.

Background

Lord Recluse
Leader of Arachnos
Details
Real Name	Stefan Richter
Gender	Male
Archetype	Unknown
Affiliation	Arachnos
Age	Unknown
Romantic Associations	Unknown
Known Family	Monica Richter (sister, deceased) Marcus Cole (brother-in-law) Alexis Cole (niece) Jessica Megan Duncan (grand-niece)
Primary Powers	Crab Spider Soldier
Secondary Powers	Unknown
Zone Locations	Grandville

Description

The Master of Evil, the Count of Cruel, the Archvillain of Anarchy. Lord Recluse has been called many things. But the people of the Rogue Isles know him as their lord and ruler. Lord Recluse has a mysterious tie with Paragon City's own Statesman - some even claim they were once close companions. Their hatred for one another certainly belies a secret perhaps best left buried.

History

Lord Recluse began his life as the technocrat named Stefan Richter, an American of Austrian descent. His father, an Austrian immigrant named Rudolf Richter, took it upon himself to care for Marcus Cole, whose mother had died in childbirth while his father drank himself to death. Stefan and Marcus soon became best friends, and served together during the Great War.

During the war, Marcus was exposed to the deadly German mustard gas, and his lungs became chronically ill. In hopes of finding a cure, Marcus and Stefan became mercenaries in search of the fabled Fountain of Zeus. After stealing an ancient Greek scroll, an early version of the Herodotus' "Histories", from a London museum, the two set out to locate a long-lost Greek island called Praxidae, which was said to house the mythical Well of the Furies, beneath which the Fountain of Zeus resided. After locating the island and drinking from the fountain, both Marcus and Stefan were endowed with god-like powers that rivaled those of the demigods from myth and legend, curing Marcus' deadly ailment. Before leaving the island, however, the two uncovered an artifact thought to be Pandora's Box. Upon opening the box, which stored all of the creativity of humankind for the last millennium, its power was released unto the world, effectively starting another Golden Age of super-powered heroes.

After the collapse of the cave in which the fountain and the box were housed, Stefan was washed into the open ocean. By then, Stefan came upon a revelation in which he would use his newfound power to pave the way to a new age of science for mankind, officially marking his descent to evil. After the events that took place on the island of Praxidae, Stefan joined a shady Italian-based organization named Arachnos, then led by the mysterious figure only known as The Weaver, and was put in charge of the group's American branch based in Paragon City, Rhode Island. During his time within Arachnos, Stefan quickly climbed ranks and became known as the man called Recluse.

Physical changes also started appearing, with Stefan's eyes progressively beginning to have almost allergic reactions to bright light, and steadily growing red and burning with malevolence, a sign of his status as the evil demigod, Tartarus; his back, through Stefan's focused manipulation of his dark power, began developing a hump which later was used to house eight massive arachnid-like arms. Upon further enhancement, the arms were outfitted with super-strong steel claws covering the flesh and bone "arms" that protruded from this hump, made from an alloy called proto-steel. Completing his transformation, he became known as Lord Recluse, and Stefan Richter was no more.

After Recluse's battle with Statesman (aka Marcus Cole) on Brass Monday, the evil mastermind went into hiding. During this unspecified time period, through an assassination of the current leader, Lord Recluse usurped power. The assassination was carried out by the Red Widow, one of Lord Recluse's Night Widows. She was subsequently killed but lives on in a soul crystal, obtained by Ghost Widow, in Recluse's possession. Lord Recluse established his base of operations on the Etoile Islands, nicknamed the Rogue Isles, an archipelago off of the American east coast.

Character Stats

Secret Identity: Stefan Richter
Origin: Incarnate
Archetype: Crab Spider Soldier/Mastermind
Primary Powers: Crab Spider Soldier
Secondary Powers: ???
Other Powers: Leaping
Signature Powers: Summon Army, Summon Bane Spiders, Suppression, Energy Punch, Energy Smash, Spider Strike

Summon Army and Summon Bane Spiders allows Lord Recluse to summon anywhere from 1-4 (or possibly more) Bane Spider Executioners of Boss class, along with other Bane Spiders of Lieutenant and Minion class who will rappel down from above. Both powers have a short timer which will allow Lord Recluse to literally flood his opponents with Bane Spiders if he is not defeated quickly. His Suppression uses a unique animation which is high damage all at once instead of being DoT like player and NPC Crab Spiders.

Badges

Defeating Lord Recluse in Recluse's Victory awards the Arachnophobic Badge for heroes.

Arachnophobic (requires hero/vigilante)

You have helped defeat Lord Recluse in Recluse's Victory.

Defeating Lord Recluse in Statesman's Task Force awards the Peerless Badge for heroes.

Peerless

You have taken down Lord Recluse himself, something few others have been able to accomplish. One only hopes there is a prison strong enough to contain him.

Defeating Lord Recluse in a Patron's final mission awards the Usurper Badge for villains.

Usurper

You have claimed victory over the master of villainy himself, Lord Recluse!

Introductions

Prior to Introduction

You have not proven yourself worthy! Work with your patron and we will see what the future will bring!

Initial Contact

Missing Initial Contact Dialogue

Quotes

Heroes confront Lord Recluse at the end of the Statesman Task Force; once his inner circle of villains has fallen, he will activate the Web:

Lord Recluse:

I see that my minions have fallen.

Unfortunate, but meaningless.

They have served their purpose and delayed you long enough.

For the Web to become fully active!

Now even the mighty Statesman will bow down before me!

Bow down before my POWER!

You heroes will not save the world this day.

You shall merely be the first sacrifices on this, the altar of my victory!

During the fight, he will say the following:

Lord Recluse dialogue during Statesman Task Force

At 75% Life: "You're almost a challenge. Almost"
At 50% Life: "Stand still and DIE!"
At 25% Life: "I will not be defeated in my hour of triumph!"
Defeated: "This... Is... Impossible..."
After defeating a hero: "You'll save nothing, hero."

During the last mission of all Patron contacts's final story arcs:

Lord Recluse dialogue (Black Scorpion)

Before combat: "I stand now at my moment of TRIUMPH!"
Combat start: "Haven't I already killed you, Character?"
75% Health: "I will crush you!"
50% Health: "Kneel before my power!"
25% Health: "Face the full power of Arachnos!"
Defeated: "This is impossible..."
"I killed you..."
"Why won't you die?"
Defeats player: "This is your true destiny: To be ground beneath my feet forever."

Lord Recluse dialogue (Ghost Widow)

Before combat: "I stand now in my Triumph! Destroyer of Statesman! Ruler of the world!"
Combat start: "10 years ago you disappeared, and at that moment I knew this day would come."
75% Health: "Your powers are nothing compared to my own!"
50% Health: "You have angered me, Character! You will suffer for it!"
25% Health: "I will not fall! Not against you!"
Defeated: "I am Lord Recluse!"
"It is impossible!"
"I cannot be defeated like this..."
Defeats player: "You were nothing to be afraid of. NOTHING!"

Lord Recluse dialogue (Scirocco)

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Lord Recluse dialogue (Captain Mako)

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See Also

• Lord Recluse's Arachnos Archvillains profile for a list of his powers

Notes

Lord Recluse's powers are derived from the titan Tartarus. (p. 101, The Freedom Phalanx)

External Links

• Boomtown.net preview of City of Villains from May 23, 2005 (photo source)