Master Midnight
Overview
| Master Midnight | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Zone | First Ward |
| Coordinates | (206, 943, -243) |
| Level Range | 20-29 |
| Introduced By | Cerulean |
| Introduces | Vanessa DeVore |
Master Midnight is a Praetorian contact in the Sunken City neighborhood of First Ward at coordinates (206, 943, -243) . His level range is 20-29.
Description
The Midnight Master himself, Master Midnight wrestled control over the Midnight Squad and their Midnight Mansion many moons ago. Those who he has defeated have become slaves to his power, serving him even beyond death as the undead Midnight Masters. Though despite all his power, Master Midnight lacks true knowledge of magic, a gap he is working feverishly to close in the hopes of obtaining the affections of Diabolique.
Background
Percy Winkley never had respect until he took it for himself. Unappreciated and openly mocked by the members of the Midnight Squad, treated by the preening Montague Castanella like a dim-witted pet, Percy struggled for years to gain their acceptance. Time and again, he failed. All of that began to change, however, when he first laid eyes on Tammy Arcanus. A Dream
She was the daughter of Tommy Arcanus, one of the Midnight Squad's most influential members, and the apprentice of the great wizard Cerulean. As far as young Percy could tell, Tammy Arcanus didn't know he existed. What chance did he have with a girl of that power and pedigree?
But as different as they were, Tammy had something in common with Percy Winkley: ambition. Despite Cerulean's warnings and her father's prohibitions, she delved into magic she was unprepared for. Percy mustered up the courage to warn her of the dangers of astral travel, but she dismissed him like a piece of pocket lint. The tragic loss of her material body and the murder of her father by her own hands sparked a crisis that echoed throughout the Midnight Squad. Tammy fled with her father's soul, a villain to be hunted down and destroyed. Percy was shaken to the core. The woman he loved was evil, and he found himself more attracted to her than ever.
A plan began to form in Percy's mind. He would follow in Tammy's footsteps, learn the same magic she had used to kill her father and enslave his soul, and then use it on the entire Midnight Squad. He would become someone that Tammy Arcanus would be incapable of resisting. She would have no choice but to acknowledge him, respect him, and ultimately love him. He would rule the Midnight Squad, with Tammy by his side. An Opportunity
But one thing stood in Percy's way. He was not entrusted with the secrets of magic. As fate would have it, however, Emperor Cole began to neutralize the many schools of magical practitioners throughout Praetoria. The Midnight Squad was forced to hide inside the Midnight Mansion, a magically constructed fortress nestled neatly between realities and beyond Cole's reach. It was this period of isolation that gave Percy his opportunity. The Midnighters needed every wizard in their struggle against Cole, even one as unproven as Percy.
Although his magical study had been from observation of others, never from his own experience, Percy's hours of theory had given him a unique insight on magic. The realization struck him: Magic wasn't the enigma he had originally believed. It had a system and a set of rules. But most amazing of all, it also had a universal rule that made it possible for all the other rules to be broken. It was this rule that Percy intended to make full use of. To test his discovery, he scoured the Midnighter library for spells and rituals that were beyond either his comprehension or his ability to counter. He could find none.
Percy hid this discovery from everyone, using the disdain of those around him to his advantage. He found the spells that Tammy had used to bind her father's soul, and committed them to memory. He studied wizard dueling strategies and then set about inventing his own; mixing spells so dissimilar, breaking rules so traditional, that no magical defense could possibly withstand him. A Master
Between his studies, Percy worked on assembling a suit of armor to strike fear into the hearts of his enemies. The amount of fear induced by its appearance was questionable, but the eldritch wards he laid upon it more than made up for that. He had even come up with a name for himself, one that would strike awe into those who witnessed his fearsome visage.
Then, one night, while the Midnighters slept in their beds, read in their studies, or enjoyed tea with their tightly knit little groups (into which he was never invited), Percy revealed his new persona. "I am Master Midnight, your new lord and master!" They laughed at first, but this gross underestimation of Percy would be their last.
Room by room he moved, effortlessly performing the sequence of carefully prepared spells designed to completely disable each of the Midnighters he had grown to hate over the years. The Midnighters responded exactly as Percy had expected, overly confident one moment only to have their spells dashed in the next. Each opponent had a different combination of arcane wards, offensive spells, and contingencies designed to defend against any adversary, but these spells were useless against him. Percy had studied them all. The Midnighters watched in terror as their magic was dismantled and their bodies slain and then reanimated to serve Percy's will. Only Cerulean regarded him as a true threat; their duel ended when Cerulean fled. The Beginning
When he had finally defeated Montague, a duel that left Percy strangely unsatisfied, Montague had the gall to ask what Percy had done. Percy answered, his voice distorted by his helmet to carry a dreadful weight altogether unlike the voice of the young man he had been.
"Percy Winkley is dead, Montague. You killed him. I am Master Midnight now." He crouched down and gripped Montague by the throat with a gauntleted hand and looked him in the eye. "And what I've done is something even the Emperor could not do."
Montague could feel his soul being ripped from his body, and the last thing he heard was Master Midnight: "I destroyed the Midnight Squad."
Introductions
Contact Introduced By
Contact Introduces
Information
Prior to Introduction
Missing Prior to Introduction Dialogue
Initial Contact
I'm here not to do battle, but to offer you a proposition. What say you?
I'm listening
Sweeping cape motion, 'whoosh!' Cue lightning flash and a clap of thunder, 'Crash-boom!' Then the choir, 'Ah Ah Ah! Ah! Ah Ah Ah! Ah! Ahhhhhh! Ahhhhh! AAAAAAH!'
I am the Magnificent Master Midnight... ...and I am Master of the Midnight Mast... er... s...
Wow, that sounded way better in my head.
Irrelevent! I have come to save the world and the delicate wallflower of love that is my Diabolique. My beautiful, delightful, sensitive, caring Diabolique, who has been taken by, by... by that equally striking, seductive, cunning, and enchanting vixen, Sorceress Serene!
Greeting
- Don't worry, you don't need to bow in my presence.
- All I want is to be both feared and loved. Is that so much to ask?
Too Busy
Missing Too Busy Dialogue
Too Low Level
Missing Too Low Level Dialogue
No More Missions
Missing No More Missions Dialogue
Store
Missing Store Unlock Dialogue
Story Arc
Revenge: Serve Chilled
Merit Rewards: This activity awards 2 Reward Merits.
Souvenir: Cerulean's Chilling Gaze
Whenever you think of Cerulean you can't help but remember his chilling blue eyes. They spoke volumes of the man and his sordid and tragic past reminding you of the old adage about a certain dish and how it is best served...
Revenge: Serve Chilled
In reality, this all began years ago, when Master Midnight betrayed the Midnighters and set Cerulean off on his quest for revenge. With the events unfolding as they were in First Ward, however, it seemed prudent to put aside differences and form an alliance against the Talons of Vengeance. But Cerulean would have none of that. He opted to show you just how powerful the Carnival of War really was, and that Midnight's offer for assistance was really a plea for help, but when you arrived the Talons of Vengeance had already struck and had the Carnival of War against the ropes. Though you managed to rescue some of the Carnival, casualties were high. Cerulean, however, remained adamant about refusing to work with Master Midnight and so you went to Vanessa DeVore to secure an alliance between her Carnival of Light and Master Midnight. She agreed, citing that Cerulean's thirst for revenge was dangerous, especially now with the Talons of Vengeance on the loose.
Master Midnight was pleased to find willing allies in Vanessa's Carnival, but that demeanor was soon shattered when, upon returning to his Midnight Mansion, you found Cerulean and his Carnival of War ransacking the place. Though the Carnival of War retreated in earnest, the damage was already done. Cerulean had stolen the Chronicles of Doom; the one source of information about the Talons of Vengeance and now the alliance was strained.
Midnight demanded that Cerulean be brought under control as his pettiness was risking everything and then resigned himself to trying to unlock the secrets of Cerulean's transportation spell. As a gesture of good faith, Midnight gifted you with an old witch's spell book that spoke of an ancient series of caves that the witches used in their rituals, in addition it contained a spell that might be the secret to restoring Blind Makwa's spirit sight. Visiting the old medicine man and informing him of Serene's return prompted him to have you warn Nadia of her old coven-sister's return and that she was likely in grave danger. As Blind Makwa predicted, the Talons attempted to kill Nadia, but your warning saved her life.
Returning to Midnight he informed you that he had succeeded in discovering how Cerulean's gateway worked. You went through to pursue Cerulean in the secret underground tunnels he and the Carnival of War were using as a base of operations, but when you arrived it was already too late. Cerulean and his followers had succumb to the siren song of the Talons of Vengeance and given in to their thirst for revenge. The Carnival of Vengeance, as they called themselves, had lost all sense of identity and fought to the bitter end. Ultimately you faced Cerulean, who had vowed to serve Sorceress Serene in exchange for vengeance being called down upon Master Midnight and had to defeat him. In his final moments, his eyes, burning red with hate had faded back to blue. But in them you no longer saw cold vengeance, but rather the still serenity that only death can bring.
Burying Hatchets
Briefing
Character... I appreciate what you did to try and stop that evil sorceress, Serene and her minions. Regretfully I discovered too late the trap that was laid for the delightfully devilish Diabolique, but it is not too late to save her!
Sorceress Serene is far too powerful and seductive for any one of us to go up against her alone and not become her slave, a fate that is not entirely dire... But no, we will have to join forces if I am to capture Serene and rescue an eternally grateful and potentially scantily clad Diabolique... it will be the stuff of legends!
Help me to convince the Carnival of Light to put aside our petty differences so we can join forces and become an alliance of unequaled awesomeness!
Serene does seem powerful, I'll see what I can do.
Mission Acceptance
Excellent!
Let them know that Serene has unleashed the Talons of Vengeance and they will understand the need for us to join forces.
As they well know, I have a plethora of magical knowledge in my possession, and I am willing to share in order to rescue my Diabolique from the infernal clutches of an equally beautiful and unattainable magical super vixen!
Horrible blood thirsty monster women to fight, a beautiful ghost princess to rescue, and a sinister and psychotic sorceress to overthrow. This is going to be the best adventure ever!
Unnecessary Solicitation
I know that some of my old compatriots in the Midnighters have joined forces with those sultry Carnival ladies. I'm sure they will see reason to join forces.
Part 1
Mission Objective(s)
- Talk to Cerulean about an alliance
Part 2
Mission Objective(s)
Cerulean transports you deep beneath First Ward to meet with the Carnival, but something seems... off.
- Talk to Cerulean about an alliance
- Rescue the Carnival Survivors
Stop the Talons of Vengeance!
- Rescue the Carnival Survivors
Enemies
Notable NPCs
- Cerulean (Boss Ally)
- Acolyte of War (Minion Ally)
- Anchorite of War (Lieutenant Ally) x2
- Eremite of War (Lieutenant Ally)
- Attendant of War (Minion Ally)
- Armor of War (Lieutenant Ally)
- Gorgon (Elite Boss)
Ambush! After defeating the guards around each hostage you will be ambushed by three groups of Talons of Vengeance
Slay them!
Slay them all!
or
Leave none alive!
or
Death and Vengeance!
or
Death comes for you!
or
The world must be cleansed!
or
Stain the earth with their blood!
Part 3
Mission Objective(s)
- Speak to Cerulean
Part 4
Mission Objective(s)
- Talk to Vanessa DeVore about the Alliance
Part 5
Mission Objective(s)
- Work with Master Midnight
Part 6
Mission Objective(s)
You appear inside of the Midnight Mansion and are immediately aware that the place is under attack... by the Carnival of War.
- Work with Master Midnight
- Stop the Carnival of War!
You drove off the Carnival of War from the Midnight Mansion, but Cerulean managed to steal the Chronicles of Doom, a tome detailing the wrath of the Furies throughout history.
Enemies
Notable NPCs
- Master Midnight (Boss Ally)
Loose Ends
Briefing
The Chronicles of Doom had all the information about the Talons of Vengeance. The only other information I have on them is in this old witch's tome describing an ancient and mysterious cavern where they found a source of great and terrible magical power.
There are a number of spells in it which I have been trying to learn... I mean, as like, a pastime thing, just for fun, not really seriously, you know?
One of them is a spell that can steal the power to see or commune with spirits, the sort of ability a medium possesses.
Let me see that book
Mission Acceptance
We need to find that cavern, I'm sure it has something to do with the Talons of Vengeance and Sorceress Serene. It seemed like Diabolique knew Serene from her past, perhaps they were witches in the same coven together.
While you talk to the Carnival, I am going to be studying Cerulean's little magical doorway. Maybe I can figure out how it works so we can follow him to wherever he went.
Unnecessary Solicitation
I don't know what good having a blind medicine man will do, but I suppose any allies are good allies.
Part 1
Mission Objective(s)
- Visit Blind Makwa
Part 2
Mission Objective(s)
- Warn Nadia
Part 3
Mission Objective(s)
The Talons have already breached the building. You'll need to clear them out if you are to keep Nadia safe.
- Warn Nadia
- Clear the building of the Talons of Vengeance
Protect Nadia
Defeat the Talon ambushes!
- Clear the building of the Talons of Vengeance
Enemies
Notable NPCs
- Nadia (Lieutenant)
Nadia: Oh, these women have been touched by the power of the Furies. The Talons of Vengeance are coming! Nadia: Be careful, chil', they are not to be dealt with lightly.
Ambush! Find her!
and/or
Take the Carnival witch and any who stand with her!
and/or
Huntress: Bleed them out and make them suffer!
But take them alive if you can!
and/or
Take the witch, kill the others!Find her!
and/or
We are your death!
and/or
Only in death is peace truly obtained!
Upon Entering you will be ambushed by multiple groups of Talons of Vengeance
Ambush! After defeating all the other ambushes you will be ambushed by one last group of Talons of Vengeance
Part 4
Mission Objective(s)
- Talk to Nadia
You stopped the Talons of Vengeance from killing Nadia.
Thank you chil', you have saved my life from a fate most terrible
I will head to the Capel to see what can be done about Blind Makwa's spirit sight.
As for Serene and the Talons, I think they will choose to consolidate their power before they try something like this again.
Debriefing
So, the blind old man is going to get his sight back, and the creepy witch doctor lady is safe and sound. Sounds like you were successful in your quest!
Well, I'll have you know that I too accomplished a great feat of magical mastery, so today we are both heroes and deserving of a fine reward.
Character. Fate, it seems, has brought us together. If EVER you are in need, know this; there will always be a place for you in my party.
My Enemy's Enemy
Briefing
After discovering Cerulean's secret magical portal into my mansion I realized that it was he who had been sneaking about stealing off with things all these years.
Well, he won't get away with it any longer! I've woven a ward into my mansion's hallowed walls so insidious that if Cerulean ever tries his little parlor trick again, he'll be reduced to his base elements!
But, that isn't the true testament to my triumphant translation of his transmutation trickery! I have learned how his doors work!
And what more, I have learned how to reopen them after his passing.
Character, I want you to go after Cerulean and either talk some sense into him so that he gives me back the Chronicles of Doom, or take them from him by force!
Hopefully the latter, the man has truly tested my patience this day and just a trifling bit more of his impudence is all I need to take me over the edge and send me into a berserker rage!
I'm going after him.
Mission Acceptance
You truly are without fear! I suspect that there will be an army of seductively clad Carnival ladies backed up by wizards of only moderate level. They will likely have standing orders to kill you on sight, so seize the initiative and sneak attack them before they can react!
Click on Master Midnight to Start Mission
Now that I have Cerulean's magical doors figured out we can put an end to his insanity!
Surely Vanessa DeVore will be thankful for us stopping Cerulean from taking half the Carnival to their deaths...
What do you mean to their deaths?
Yeah, to their deaths. Definitely.
You know, because of the Talons of Vengeance?
And how they turn people against each other? It's all in the Chronicles of...
Doom...
Which are currently in Ceruelan's hands...
Right...
Tell me what you know.
So, it works like this...
The Talons of Vengeance are, you know, all about vengeance and stuff. Well, the way they swell their ranks is by recruiting angry and vengeful people. Except, well, they don't so much recruit as cause your thirst for revenge to be all-consuming and then you turn into a monster and join in the slaughter...
So, if you have a big army of angry and vengeful Carnival ladies all marching behind Cerulean on some sort of quest for revenge...
...then you are handing over new recruits to the Talons.
Yeah. It's pretty OP, huh? I mean, how do you fight something you can't get angry at?
Anyway. Cerulean is more of a liability fighting against the Talons than a benefit to the Carnival by chilling out.
If they aren't stopped then the Carnival is going to be fighting itself in short order.
I need to stop Cerulean before it's too late.
Alright, but after what Cerulean did to my poor Midnight Masters I'm not going to be able to lend you much support.
Don't get me wrong, my omnipotent power could easily best Cerulean and his Carnival of War, but if you are going to have any chance at negotiating with him, then having me around displaying my awesomeness probably wouldn't help.
Just let me know when you're ready and I'll easily open Cerulean's little magic door for you.
Open the portal, now! (Enter Mission)
Mission Objective(s)
You step through the mystical portal and into the tunnels somewhere beneath First Ward. After following the corridors you discover where Cerulean has been gathering the Carnival of War.
- Chase after Cerulean
- Stop Cerulean
Return to Master Midnight
Escape with the Chronicles
- Stop Cerulean
You tracked down Cerulean and retrieved the Chronicles of Doom, but at the cost of his and his Carnival of War's lives.
Enemies
Notable NPCs
- Cerulean (Lieutenant)
- Wrathful Acolyte: I see clearly now.
- Wrathful Acolyte: Only death can free the world!
Combat Begins:
- Vengeful Attendant: Our brothers and sisters were blinded like you, Character.
- Wrathful Acolyte: Join us, or die!
Before Combat:
- Inimical Eremite: Vengeance or death!
Combat Begins:
- Wrathful Acolyte: Join in the carrion feast!
Before Combat:
- Wrathful Acolyte: If they will not join us then slay them all.
Combat Begins:
- Vengeful Attendant: Kill Character!
Before Combat:
- Wrathful Acolyte: There can be only blood and death so long as false gods are allowed to rule.
Combat Begins:
- Wrathful Acolyte: Are you a god?
- Sorceress Serene: Well done, Cerulean.
- Sorceress Serene: Your Carnival of War has proven most anxious to join in the carrion feast!
- Sorceress Serene: I promise you that Master Midnight will soon pay for his treacheries!
- Sorceress Serene: But first, you must deal with your guests!
- Sorceress Serene: When you are finished with them go and finish off the rest of the Carnival of Light!
Combat Begins:
- Cerulean: As you wish, Serene.
- Cerulean: Character's blood will stain this EARTH!
- Cerulean: Prepare to die!
- Cerulean: Ha ha ha.
- Cerulean: Fight all you like, Character.
- Cerulean: Join in the carrion feast!
- Cerulean: Killing you, on the other hand, is one step closer to victory!
- Cerulean: Can't you see? Death has come for us all.
- Cerulean: Killing me solves nothing.
Upon Defeat:
- Cerulean: I... I'm sorry... Character...
- Master Midnight: Quickly! Character!
- Cerulean: I was... blinded...
- Cerulean: enchanted...
- Master Midnight: I've secured the way back to the portal!
- Cerulean: by Serene's... promises...
- Cerulean: of justice...
- Master Midnight: But it might not stay safe for long, you've got to hurry back to me!
- Cerulean: I... am lost... but you...
- Cerulean: you are not...
- Cerulean: here... take the Ch... Chroni...cles...
- Cerulean: you will see...in their pages...
- Cerulean: what Serene... plans...
- Master Midnight: You DARE try to stop me?
Combat Begins:
- Master Midnight: Great timing, Character, let's show them how it's done!
Debriefing
Cerulean was a formidable adversary. His death will be the stuff of legends...
But there is no time to mourn for fallen comrades. The Chronicles of Doom hold some secret to Serene's sinister plans and what she wants with Diabolique. I shall set to work at once studying it's pages and discerning the answers we require to confront our adversary and defeat her once and for all!
Oh, I envy you, Character. What I wouldn't do to be invited to work side by side with such a lovely specimen of the female variety as Vanessa DeVore. Perhaps you could put in a good word with her for me?