Dr. Francois

Overview

Dr. Francois
Robotics Engineer
Zone	Striga Island
Coordinates	(104.5, -0.0, -1209.6)
Level Range	20-24
Introduced By	Oberst Straxt
Introduces	== Level 20 == Night Widow Ragana == Level 26 == Orpheus
Enemy Groups	Sky Raiders Warriors The Family 5th Column

Dr. Francois is a villain contact in the Port Noble neighborhood of Striga Isle at coordinates (104.5, -0.0, -1209.6) . His level range is 20-24.

Introductions

Contact Introduced By

• Oberst Straxt

Contact Introduces

Single contact option

I have noticed some individuals wearing Arachnos uniforms nearby. Would you talk to them and let them know that I am not a mad scientist, not even a little bit unhinged? I would not make for a good candidate for their scientific program and would prefer to not get kidnapped again.

Level 20-24

• Night Widow Ragana

Those who thought Striga was out of reach of Arachnos's web are sorely mistaken.

Night Widow Ragana is on Striga Isle to look out for Arachnos's interests. She must rely entirely on mental deception and mind control to maintain her cover, because her disguise leaves a whole lot to be desired.

Level 25-29

• Orpheus

Orpheus is devoted to hunting down the undead that plague this island. A worthy, yet hopeless, cause.

Orpheus, the Warrior bard, has expressed a desire to work with you. The way you handle the Banished Pantheon followers must have impressed him.

Information

Robotics Engineer

Dr. Francois is a renowned robotics engineer, famous enough that the Council once held him captive in order for him to improve their robot army. Now he's laying low in Striga, hiding from his many enemies.

Prior to Introduction

This man doesn't seem worthy of your attention... for now.

Initial Contact

This man is biting his fingernails and constantly looking over his shoulder.

Character! I was beginning to think you wouldn't show up. Hoping. Never mind, you're here now. I suppose you want to know all about the Sky Raiders' plan to steal the giant mech man out of the Council volcano lair?

Greeting

• What can I do for you today, boss?
• Do you have any robots you need improved?
• You'll let me go once this is all over, right? Right?
• Dr. Francois fidgets nervously.

Too Busy

I'm terribly sorry but the things I have to tell you will demand all of your attention. Please clear your mind, and to-do list, and we'll talk.

No More Missions

Before introducing a higher-level contact

I don't know anything else that could possibly be useful to someone of your stature. Please, just let me go.

After introducing a higher-level contact

It's finally over...

Store

• Inspirations

You're entrusting me with a phone? Thank you so much! Not that I don't appreciate meeting you face-to-face but my nerves don't react well to intimidation.

• Enhancements (all TOs, DOs, and SOs)

It feels good to get back at the Sky Raiders after what they put me through. I managed to swipe a few items while I was their prisoner. Take a look, if you want.

Urgent Mission

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

Get the Sky Raiders to back off (20-26)

Briefing

Pardon my nervousness but I thought you might have been one of the Sky Raiders looking for me. They are still trying to get me back in their custody, I'm afraid. Could you get them off my back before we begin? I really don't work well under pressure!

Mission Acceptance

The Sky Raiders can be found in great numbers around the Maw, but feel free to attack them anywhere you see them.

Unnecessary Solicitation

The Sky Raiders are closing in on my position, sir / madam! I really can't work under these conditions!

Mission Objective(s)

• Defeat Sky Raiders in Striga
  • Defeat 10 Sky Raiders

The Sky Raiders have called off their search for Dr. Francois - for now.

Enemies

Sky Raiders

Debriefing

Thank you, sir / madam! I feel much safer already. Erm. Yes. Much safer. Now... what can I do for you?

Story Arc

Merit Rewards: This activity awards 20 Reward Merits.

Just Prototypical (20-24)

Souvenir

Miniaturized Giant Mech Parts

These tiny mech parts are probably highly valuable if you can find a way to restore them to full size. You acquired them in a daring heist you have dubbed Just Prototypical. It started when you met a Dr. Francois, possibly the unluckiest robotics engineer in the world. He has been in the habit of getting captured and exploited by several different villainous factions to improve on their robots, like the Council and lately the Sky Raiders. During his imprisonment the Sky Raiders had him working on giant mech parts stolen from the Council's volcano lair on Striga Isle. Fortunately you got to him first, and he revealed all he knew about the giant mech parts, including that they would be vulnerable during transport to their final destination on board the Sky Raider floating fortress. You quickly concocted a plan to steal them for yourself. Together with a professional thief called Pincher, who has the ability to change the size of objects, you boarded the transport ship en route to the floating fortress. Pincher miniaturized the cargo containers and you easily collected them all. The plan worked perfectly, but Pincher disappeared to lay low after the heist, and left you holding the priceless but currently useless miniaturized giant mech parts.

Find a talented thief

Briefing

It's true. The Sky Raiders have stolen the giant mech man the Council were working on and are planning to take it all away for further study and development. They've talked about the Crimson Prototype, or a project by that name, in hushed tones. They didn't trust me enough to inform me what they were planning exactly, but they ordered me to check out the pieces of the giant mech man and prepare them for transport.

They are sending a floating fortress to pick up the pieces, whatever that means. Until then the parts are stored in their most secure facilities and heavily guarded. There's no way to get to them, trust me.

On the other hand, once they are being transported, it will be easier to reach them. Not that it matters. These mech man parts are enormous and weigh tens or hundreds of tonnes each. Even if you are super-strong you couldn't possibly carry them all at once. Are you super-strong? No, no, I don't need to find out! I'll take your word for it.

What you need is a way to make the pieces easier to handle, am I right?

I happen to know of a woman with just the right abilities for the job. Her name is... well, she's called Pincher. She has the ability to shrink and enlarge objects. I've worked with her a couple of times, when I could afford her services, to enlarge some fiddly little gadgets so I could have a closer look at them. Pincher could shrink down the robot parts for you, if you can convince her to help you out. Don't worry about the legality of it all - she's known to be a bit of a thief. In fact, I think that's how she makes most of her money.

Mission Acceptance

Pincher can often be found at the Mermaid tavern between jobs. Go ask around, but don't cause any trouble. The owner, Ms. Peebles, is dear to all of Striga's citizens and you would be in a world of trouble if you did her any harm.

Unnecessary Solicitation

The Mermaid tavern is almost always open. Just go there and ask around for Pincher.

Mission Objective(s)

The music stops as soon as you enter the tavern, and every face turns to look at you.

• Visit the Mermaid
  • Get rid of the competition

You have made contact with Pincher and recruited her to join in your heist.

Enemies

Warriors

The Family

Notable NPCs

• Pincher

Warriors and Family Dialogue

Before Combat:
Warrior 1: Pincher is going to work for us!
Family 1: Hand over the thief!
Combat Start:
Warrior 1: We'll settle this once we've dealt with Character!
Family 1: Agreed!

Pincher Dialogue

Upon Rescue: They put something in my drink to prevent me from using my powers. Thanks for the help.

Pincher

After the fight in the Mermaid tavern you found Pincher outside. She was grateful for the help, and once you told her that Dr. Francois had recommended her she agreed to join you in your heist.

Debriefing

You've got a knack for finding people when they need you the most. Are you sure you're not a hero in disguise?

Pincher says she'll help out with your plans once she's cleared her head. You must have made a good first impression.

Locate an old 5th Column base

Briefing

You've got your thief, but I can't help you much from here without a proper workshop and command center. I don't suppose you have a local lair of some sort?

Mission Acceptance

An old 5th Column base? I suppose it can work as a temporary solution. Very well, if you can clear out all resistance and make it safe for my arrival, I shall await your call.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Is everything going according to plan, sir / madam? Please let me know when it's safe for me to enter the base.

Mission Objective(s)

The 5th Column have recently moved back into this base. Time to send them packing.

• Clear out 5th Column base

You have taken over a supposedly abandoned 5th Column base and also set back the 5th Column plans to retake Striga.

Enemies

5th Column

5th Column Dialogue

Before Combat:
5th Column 1: Can you believe we're finally going back to Striga?
5th Column 2: I heard Oberst Straxt got some stooge working for us.
Combat Start:
5th Column 1: Some stooge? That's Character!
5th Column 2: We've been caught!

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Before Combat:
Nebel Ubermenschen Oberst: This base is just the first step on the road to taking back Striga!
Combat Start:
Nebel Ubermenschen Oberst: Character? What's the meaning of this?

Debriefing

The base is ready, and I can modify the equipment here into a makeshift command center for your upcoming heist. With some luck, the Sky Raiders and everyone else will even believe that this was all a 5th Column operation—if they ever trace back our signals to this base. Your deviousness knows no bounds, my lord / lady! We are ready to continue, at your command.

Find information about cargo ship

Briefing

I know that the Sky Raiders are storing the giant mech parts on a ship but I don't know which one. You need to access their secure network to find the identity of the ship.

Mission Acceptance

Pincher is sleeping off the effects of whatever they spiked her drink with, but she'll be ready to go after you have found the identity of the ship.

Unnecessary Solicitation

We probably shouldn't be talking right now - your opportunity for a safe approach to the Sky Raider air field is shrinking rapidly.

Mission Objective(s)

You've avoided the guards and made it this far unnoticed. While you're here you could look into what the Sky Raiders are planning with these robot parts.

• Infiltrate the air field
  • Defeat the base leader
    • Find cargo ship manifesto
  • 3 plots to investigate (optional)

You have learned the identity of the cargo ship holding the giant mech parts.

Enemies

Sky Raiders

Patrol Dialogue

Sky Raider 1: Do you know what's going on?

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Sky Raider 1: Perimeter patrol reporting in.

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Sky Raider 1: Security detail checking in.

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Sky Raider 1: Nothing ever happens around here.

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Sky Raider 1: This increased security is ridiculous.

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Sky Raider 2: Maybe it's another drill.

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Sky Raider 2: Can't be too careful, I guess.

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Sky Raider 2: A whole lot of nothing.

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Sky Raider 2: All clear.

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Sky Raider 2: Nobody's gonna try to break in here.

Editor's Note:

The actual patrol dialogue seems to be chosen randomly. There are three patrols in each run of the mission, and for each patrol, the first mob says one of the Sky Raider 1 lines and the second one says one of the Sky Raider 2 lines. Other lines may also occur.

The Giant Mech Parts

The Sky Raiders managed to salvage the pieces of Burkholder's giant mech from the Council's volcano lair by airlifting them out while the Council forces were in complete disarray. Captain Roberts, the officer responsible for the daring raid on the volcano lair, was also behind the kidnapping of Dr. Francois, in order to determine the compatibility of the giant mech parts with the 'Crimson Prototype'.

The Crimson Prototype

In recent communication logs with Colonel Duray, the leader of the Sky Raiders, Captain Roberts put forth the idea that the giant mech parts could be used to improve on the 'Crimson Prototype'. Colonel Duray seems convinced enough that he has ordered the 'floating fortress' to perform a risky detour to Striga Isle in order to pick up the parts.

The Floating Fortress

You found some notes on the construction of the floating fortress, indicating that construction started shortly after the Rikti Invasion. More recent notes mention the addition of extremely powerful generators and materials misappropriated from Portal Corp and other companies working with dimensional science.

Leader Dialogue

Before Combat:
Sky Skiff: Patrols, report. Report! What's going on out there?
Combat Start:
Sky Skiff: Character? How did you get past our patrols?

Cargo Ship Manifesto

According to the manifesto you found on the base leader's personal terminal, the giant mech parts will be shipped out to the waiting floating fortress on the CS 'Norn'.

Debriefing

So the Sky Raiders have a giant mech too, and they want to use these parts to improve on it. I guess we're really doing a good deed by stealing the parts away from those mercenaries, aren't we? Unless you're planning on unleashing a giant mech of your own to cause even greater death and destruction... Oh no! I mean... yay?

You have the name of the ship? Great, now we just have to wait for the tide.

Board the giant mech transport ship

Briefing

They are using codes but I believe the current chatter over the Sky Raider channels indicate the approach of their floating fortress. Fortunately it can't exactly dock anywhere near Striga, so they have to deliver the mech parts via regular cargo ship. This is your opportunity to strike.

Mission Acceptance

Pincher has arranged for a sub to take you both out to the ship. She's got plenty of connections like that.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Character? What are you still doing here? You have to catch up with that ship before it arrives at the floating fortress!

Mission Objective(s)

This innocent-looking cargo ship is swarming with Sky Raiders below deck.

• Board the cargo ship
  • Collect the 1st mech part
    • Collect the 2nd mech part
      • Collect the 3rd mech part
        • Collect the 4th mech part
          • Collect the 5th mech part
            • Rescue Pincher

You have collected all the miniaturized cargo containers holding the giant mech parts.

Enemies

Sky Raiders

Notable NPCs

• Security Officer (Sky Raiders Assault Jump Bot)
• Pincher (Boss, Ally)

Sky Raiders Dialogue

Before Combat:
Sky Raider 1: This is the riskiest part of the entire operation. Exposed, out at sea.
Sky Raider 2: You worry too much. Nobody knows what we're transporting.
Combat Start:
Sky Raider 1: Nobody? That's Character!

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Before Combat:
Sky Raider 1: What are you gonna do with your bonus?
Sky Raider 2: I'm heading straight for the Golden Giza. You?
Combat Start:
Sky Raider 1: Looks like we're both gonna need it for health care!

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Before Combat:
Sky Raider 1: I was sure there was a huge container here before.
Combat Start:
Sky Raider 2: We've got another huge problem right now!

Pincher and Captors Dialogue

Before Combat:
Sky Raider 1: We've got you now, thief!
Pincher: I can't believe you actually caught me.
Combat Start:
Security Officer: We'll deal with Character first, then you're going to turn our miniaturized giant mech parts back into giant mech parts!
On Rescue:
Pincher: Usually I can stay well hidden. That jump-bot must have been equipped with extra powerful sensors!
Pincher: Thanks for the assistance. I'll teleport us out of here now. Hang on to your hair!

Debriefing

Your plan worked flawlessly, I assume? The Sky Raider comms are buzzing so if you don't mind I think I'll find the first transport off this island before they learn of my involvement. Pincher escaped the ship ahead of you on one of their sky skiffs, and I don't think she'll return to Striga for a while. I can't say that it's been a pleasure to work for you, but finally getting back at some of those villains gave me an unexpected level of satisfaction. Farewell, Character.

Missions (20-26)

Get the Sky Raiders to back off

Briefing

The Sky Raiders won't give up trying to get me back in their custody as long as they still have robots to improve. All this attention is very distracting. I won't be much good to your plans while they are hot on my heels. Could you get them to back off? (This is a repeatable mission.)

Mission Acceptance

The Sky Raiders can be found in great numbers around the Maw, but feel free to attack them anywhere you see them.

Unnecessary Solicitation

The Sky Raiders are closing in on my position, sir / madam! My nerves are killing me.

Mission Objective(s)

• Defeat Sky Raiders in Striga
  • Defeat 20 Sky Raiders

The Sky Raiders have called off their search for Dr. Francois - for now.

Enemies

Sky Raiders

Debriefing

Thank you, sir / madam! I'm ready to continue working towards your ultimate goal now.

See Also

• Homecoming Story Arcs