Fortunata Gossamer

Overview

Fortunata Gossamer
Rogue Arachnos Fortunata
Zone	St. Martial
Coordinates	(-245, 32, 1103.5)
Level Range	30-40
Introduced By	None
Introduces	None
Enemy Groups	Longbow Shining Stars

Signature Story Arc Who Will Die, Episode 3.

Fortunata Gossamer is a villain contact in the Black Mariah neighborhood of St. Martial at coordinates (-245, 32, 1103.5) . Her level range is 30-40. She is standing southeast of the Abandoned Labs. Fortunata Gossamer is the third contact in the villain-side Who Will Die Signature Story Arc available on the Paragon Market or free with subscription.

Introductions

Contact Introduced By

None; Fortunata Gossamer should be approached in-game.

Contact Introduces

None

Description

Rogue Arachnos Fortunata

Fortunata Gossamer was one of the first women assigned to help Marshal Blitz in Warburg. Originally, she was merely there to ensure that no heroes attempted to psychically control Bltiz or the governor. However, Gossamer believed in Marshal Blitz's goals and helped him take over Warburg.

Gossamer's faith in Marshal Blitz is rock solid; some members of the Rogue Arachnos say that Gossamer thinks she is the next 'Red Widow', the woman who originally helped Lord Recluse get into power.

Prior to Introduction

Missing Prior to Introduction Dialogue

Initial Contact

Good to meet you, Character. I am Fortunata Gossamer. You can just call me Gossamer, as I'm technically not apart of Arachnos. You see, I serve under Marshal Blitz, the leader of the Rogue Arachnos in Warburg. To make a long story short, Blitz is leading his own group of Rogue Arachnos to glory and towards the destruction of Paragon City.

We've heard a lot about your abilities, Character, and we would like your help in our next big plan. If all goes according to plan, you will become infamous, feared throughout Paragon City, and the Rogue Arachnos shall show that they are a new world super power. Are you interested?

Content Not Purchased

You need to purchase the third episode of the first signature story arc, Who Will Die, or be a VIP in order to play this story arc.

Story Arc

Bear Any Burden

Souvenir

Paragon's Most Wanted Poster

You found an image with your face on it floating around the internet. It belongs to a poster with the words, 'PARAGON'S MOST WANTED' on it. The poster goes into details about why exactly you ended up on it, going over the story that you call...

Bear Any Burden

The story goes that you worked together with the Rogue Arachnos faction to attack the Warburg peace treaty conference. Manticore reported that you played a pivotal role in fighting him and kidnapping Alexis Duncan-Cole, diplomat and daughter of Statesman.

Next, you defeated a team of heroes who were sent in to disarm the missiles in Warburg, helping the insane Marshal Blitz re-arm his weapons.

Finally, you played a major role in the actual death of Alexis Cole-Duncan. Whoever wrote the article notes that there's no hard evidence that says you were the one who killed Alexis, but everything puts you there at the scene, along with Malaise and Marshal Blitz.

To add insult to injury, to the heroes, that is, you are the only one out of the three villains that was not arrested after the events. Marshal Blitz currently is sitting on a cargo ship somewhere, most likely being interrogated by Longbow. Malaise in somewhere in Paragon, also being interrogated.

No one knows, however, of the secret deal that you and Darrin Wade have, that this is all going according to plan. Most believe that if you were captured, this plot would be over. However, you know that at this point, no one can stop you and Darrin Wade from cracking and destroying the Freedom Phalanx!

Part One: Step Into My Parlour

Briefing

Good to meet you, Character. I am Fortunata Gossamer. You can just call me Gossamer, as I'm technically not apart of Arachnos. You see, I serve under Marshal Blitz, the leader of the Rogue Arachnos in Warburg. To make a long story short, Blitz is leading his own group of Rogue Arachnos to glory and towards the destruction of Paragon City.

We've heard a lot about your abilities, Character, and we would like your help in our next big plan. If all goes according to plan, you will become infamous, feared throughout Paragon City, and the Rogue Arachnos shall show that they are a new world super power. Are you interested?

Mission Acceptance

Excellent. Here are some dossiers that will bring you up to speed. Our grand plan will be to make Warburg into a new super powered nation to be feared throughout the world. You and Marshal Blitz will be at the head of it, Blitz being the leader of the Rogue Arachnos, while you are seen as the super-powered villain who played 'king maker', as it were.

Our target is Alexis Cole-Duncan. Marshal Blitz has set up a fake cease-fire and has convinced the US government to send Alexis in as a negotiator. Blitz, in all of his cunning, has also managed to create an even sweeter deal.

Alexis will only be accompanied by Manticore in the actual meeting room; a squad of Longbow will be monitoring the proceedings in another part of the building. That is where you come in for the first part of our plan.

You will attack the Longbow security squad to eliminate their back up and also disrupt their monitors on the conference. Manticore and Alexis will attempt to escape when we spring our trap on them. You will have to defeat Manticore and take Alexis to a drop off point.

Be very careful, Character, Longbow will do everything they can to keep Alexis in safe hands.

POI: Alexis Cole-Duncan

NAME: Alexis Cole-Duncan. Daughter of Marcus 'Statesman' Cole

OCCUPATION: Former heroine, Miss Liberty. Current occupation is working together with General Howard Aarons as an international consulate for super-powered threats.

BACKGROUND: Miss Liberty, the daughter of Statesman and mother of Ms. Liberty, is better known these days by her proper name: Alexis Cole-Duncan. Alexis left behind her life in super-heroics some time ago. Today, she enjoys an active role in superhuman politics. Her old identity as 'Miss Liberty' is used more by her PR team or the media at large than by Alexis herself, who would rather just relegate that part of her past to fond memories and silver-framed newspaper clippings placed along the mantle-- while also understanding the clout and prestige it can bring to bear on certain important functions and international relations. She is nearly 77 years old, but she maintains some form of youth, thanks to the blood of Statesman that runs through her veins.

POI: Marshal Blitz

NAME: Marshal Jason Blitz

OCCUPATION: Formal Marshal for Isle of Warburg. Current leader of the 'Rogue Arachnos'

BACKGROUND: Marshal Blitz was once the marshal of Warburg, an island in the Rogue Isles that was infamous for its WEB system, which developed extremely powerful missile weapons. Blitz was charismatic and ambitious, thwarting every attempt by heroes, sanctioned by the US government, to oust the control Arachnos had over the island.

Blitz demanded several times that Lord Recluse give the orders to launch the horde of missiles at Warburg's disposal towards Paragon. Recluse denied him each time.

When Blitz learned he was dying of cancer, he murdered the governor of the island and took control of it for himself. He attempted to fire warheads into Paragon City, but each was destroyed by several super groups of Paragon City. Lord Recluse has sent in Arachnos troops to deal with the situation, but it has only ended in a stalemate. Blitz has occasionally launched attacks on Paragon and even the Rogue Isles, keeping the people of both in a state of unease.

We have Rogue performed several extremely risky procedures on Blitz to keep his cancer maintained.

Unnecessary Solicitation

The meeting is underway. You had better hurry.

Mission Objective(s)

Longbow security is out in force within this Arachnos base.

• Kidnap Alexis Cole-Duncan
  • Disable the communications array
  • Intercept Miss Liberty!
  • Take Miss Liberty to the hand-off point!

You've successfully kidnapped Miss Liberty!

Longbow Dialogue

Group 1

Before combat:

Longbow Spec-Ops: This your first guard duty assignment?

Longbow Minigun: It's the first one for Mrs. Cole-Duncan.

Combat start:

Longbow Minigun: Perimeter breach!

Group 2

Before combat:

Longbow Flamethrower: Check the feed again.

Longbow Flamethrower: What, you're actually listening to the negotiations upstairs?

Combat start:

Longbow Flamethrower: We've got hostiles!

Group 3

Before combat:

Longbow Flamethrower: Did you hear Manticore called in another backup team?

Longbow Minigun: 'Course he did.

Combat start:

Longbow Minigun: Check your firelines!

Group 4

Before combat:

Longbow Eagle: What'd you say?

Longbow Rifleman: Huh? Nothing. You're just jumpy.

Communications Room Dialogue

Before combat:

Dillo: *hoorb*

Combat start:

Dillo: By the Sanctified Cud!

Upon interaction with Communications Array

You prepare the scramble codes to shut down the communication array.

• (Shut Down Communication Array)

Miss Liberty Dialogue

Before combat:

Alexis Cole-Duncan: Here they come!

Manticore: Just stay behind me, Alexis.

Combat start:

Longbow Flamethrower: Backup requested.

Upon capture:

Alexis Cole-Duncan: You're going to pay for this dearly.

Longbow Interceptor: Hold your positions if you can! Backup is on the way!

Upon exit:

Alexis Cole-Duncan: I hope you've realized the enemies you made this day.

Enemies

Longbow

Notable NPCs

• Manticore (Freedom Phalanx Hero)

Debriefing

Marshal Blitz was right about you, Character. You made that last operation look positively effortless. And you made our enemies look like fools. As Marshal Blitz predicted, Manticore and his team are trying to keep this quiet. If it were to get out that Manticore failed and we had Alexis, the US government and their heroes would stop at nothing to get her back.

Which would, of course, force our hand into launching every missile we have at Paragon. Now, wouldn't that be a shame?

Wait... hold on.

... Hmph. Looks like we have a catch in our plan.

Part Two: Scare Tactics

Briefing

It seems Manticore has earned his reputation as someone who has all his bases covered. He sent in a squad of heroes to disarm the warheads we had prepared in our WEB facility.

We already have one armed and ready to launch, but having our entire arsenal disarmed is... irritating.

We need them to buy us some time. Marshal Blitz has told me that he is still preparing everything to have his national reveal that you and he have kidnapped Alexis Cole-Duncan. Oh, you should prepare your demands, by the way. Blitz has said as long as they aren't too extreme, they should be met.

Anyway, before we get ahead of ourselves, we need to get the WEB re-armed and those heroes out of there.

• And I suppose that I'm to do that?

Mission Acceptance

You're the only one who can, Character. One of our WEB technicians betrayed us and helped the heroes. You'll need to get her back and force her to re-arm all our devices.

You'll have to fight through a number of heroes, but that shouldn't be too hard for someone of your talents. It's funny, that they're still trying to keep the world in the dark about this. Do you want to know, Character, one of our further plans with this? It's rather beautiful, a true showing of Marshal Blitz's intelligence.

We knew that Manticore would try to keep this covered up, to handle it on his own. But what do you think will happen when it's revealed that this was his fault, that Statesman's little daughter was put in such peril because of him?

It will weaken the Freedom Phalanx, put a tear in their group that cannot be repaired, not easily. Then, you and Blitz can strike the group down, destroying them once and for all!

Unnecessary Solicitation

The heroes are starting to get cocky, Character. We need to get those missiles re-armed.

Mission Objective(s)

To your surprise, you're met by two Rogue Arachnos operatives, sent here by Gossamer to assist in the situation.

• Re-arm the WEB missiles
  • Kidnap the WEB technician
  • Fend off incoming heroes
  • Stop the heroes from disrupting the system
  • Return to the Technician

You've just started what could possibly result in global thermonuclear war. Warburg has been re-armed, and now have Alexis Cole-Duncan has their bargaining chip.

Rogue Arachnos Dialogue

Introduced:

Rogue Crab Spider Splicer: Here to help, Character.

Rogue Fire Tarantula: Blitz has ordered us to help. You take the lead.

First Blood:

Rogue Fire Tarantula: Under attack!

Rogue Crab Spider Splicer: Urgh!

50% Life:

Rogue Crab Spider Splicer: I'm in bad shape...!

25% Life:

Rogue Crab Spider Splicer: Can't last much longer...!

Rogue Fire Tarantula: Major malfunctions detected!

WEB Tunnel Dialogues

Before combat:

WEB Technician: How come more heroes aren't here? They have Alexis!

Overdrive: We have to keep this quiet, miss. Don't worry, we'll get you out of here..

Combat start:

WEB Technician: No! It's Character, they're after me!

Overdrive: Stay back! Character, you won't get this woman!

Upon capture:

WEB Technician: F-fine! Just don't hurt me, I'll get the missiles re-armed!

Upon arrival at terminal:

WEB Technician: O-okay, just... why don't you stand somewhere else while I do this?

I've got a reading on some incoming heroes!

Shockstorm: You're going down, Character!

Blast Furnace Dialogue:

Before combat: Get this thing destroyed!

Combat start: Character! You chose the wrong hero to mess with!

Dr. Advance: I won't let you arm those missiles, Character!

Enemies

Longbow

Notable NPCs

• Overdrive (Paragon Heroes Hero)
• Shockstorm (Longbow Hero)
• Blast Furnace (Paragon Heroes Hero)
• Dr. Advance (Longbow Hero)

Debriefing

Great work, Character! The WEB is armed and ready to go at a moment's notice. Do you know what this means?

We have a fully stocked arsenal of missiles and nuclear weapons at our disposal. The heroes can try to stop us, but their cities will be wiped off the face of the earth if they don't give us what we want!

Not even that dolt Recluse has come this close. Well, that isn't true. He had Warburg at one point, and he willingly chose to let it go. He couldn't realize the brilliance of Marshal Blitz. Speaking of, I believe it's time you and he finally met, face to face.

Finale: One More Life

Briefing

Manticore and his squad of Longbow are scrambling to find where we're keeping Alexis. If only they knew, hrm?

With all of this said and done, I believe it's time you and Marshal Blitz meet, face to face. He's quite excited to meet you know. He is currently with Alexis now, along with a few other cohorts who have helped set these events in motion.

• If this is a trap, Gossamer, I -will- survive it.

Mission Acceptance

Oh no, it isn't a trap at all, Character! We've seen enough times how those get botched. No, this is a meeting to discuss what to do next.

We have the girl, we have the missiles, now all we need to do is issue our demands to the government and watch the fallout. It'll be brilliant!

Unnecessary Solicitation

Marshal Blitz is waiting for you as we speak.

Mission Objective(s)

You enter the meeting area to see... a site set up for a ritual?

• Meet with Marshal Blitz
  • Speak with Darrin Wade
  • 3 embers of the Shining Stars to defeat
  • Activate the Warburg Computer
  • Enjoy the rocket launch
  • Fend off Manticore
  • Get back inside to witness Manticore's downfall
  • Defeat Manticore

Alexis Cole-Duncan is dead. Malaise has been arrested, and Manticore has been humiliated. All thanks to you.

Initial Dialogue

Darrin Wade: Ah, our good friend Character is here.
'Jean': Pleasure to have you here, Character.
Darrin Wade: Yes, it is a pleasure. Do you enjoy how we've set up our nice little ritualistic sacrifice, Character?
'Jean': Can we get this over with? I'm looking forward to meeting that special someone...
Marshal Blitz: Hold on, what are you two talking about? Killing her wasn't part of the plan, Wade!
Darrin Wade: It was always part of the plan, Blitz. You just weren't told about it.
Marshal Blitz: You think you can keep me in the dark like this?!
Darrin Wade: I'm not keeping you in the dark, Blitz. This is all part of the grand plan.
Darrin Wade: And, after all, once this is finished, I -am- curing you of your cancer. Or did you forget that?
Marshal Blitz: ...Fine.
Darrin Wade: Good. Now, Character, let's have a chat about this whole little ritual.

Darrin Wade Dialogue

Character. Doing well, I hope? I'm sure you have some questions. You're probably quite surprised to see me here.

Marshal Blitz is, or rather, was a charismatic and cunning man, before his cancer and his treatments began to dull the edge of his mind.

But, that would be why I am here.

Darrin Wade holds up a small vial of blood belonging to Alexis.

Or, rather, this is why I'm here.

• You did all of this just for her blood, Wade?

Oh, there's more to come, but yes, that was one of the things I'm here for. You see, Alexis has very special blood, given how close it is to our dear Statesman.

I'm sure that Gossamer told you several things about Rogue Arachnos rising to power and what not. Really, it's amazing what an idiotic follower that woman is. This is... much bigger, Character. And, Character, this is your chance to become a legend.

• Go on.

Darrin Wade holds up a pistol.

You can be given the honors of killing Alexis Cole, the daughter of Statesman. I've taken everything I needed from her.

Her death, Character, will change the face of the Freedom Phalanx forever. Manticore will be shunned by his own wife and Statesman. Our dear incarnate-powered hero will put on a brave face and vanish for a while. I know this, because I've done the research, I know how he reacted the last time someone close to him, his wife, Monica Richter, died.

I've spent the past five years putting this plan into motion. And now, I'm offering you the honor of being a hero-killer. What do you say?

• Hold on. Why do you want the Phalanx torn so badly?

It's simple, Character. With Statesman MIA, the Phalanx loses one of its most powerful members. Manticore will be shunned for knowingly keeping information from them.

It will be a time when someone could, oh, I don't know, do whatever they wished. Perhaps even go after Statesman himself, as he would be alone, without his little pals to help him. It wouldn't just be an opportunity for me, it would be an opportunity for you as well.

Now, Character, will you do the honors?

• (Kill Alexis) Nothing would make me happier.

You take the pistol and shoot Alexis in the head. You watch her body slump onto the slab that for Wade's ritual.

You've ascended to a new place today, Character. I'm happy to have been here to see it, and our friends Blitz and Jean, oh, you might know Jean as Malaise, are also glad to have seen this.

Of course, now we have the issue of Longbow and actually revealing that Alexis is dead.

• (Refuse) This is your show, Wade. You do it.

Wade shrugs his shoulders and shoots Alexis in the head.

Don't worry, Character, I still think quite highly of you. Not all of us are born killers; in fact, I only kill when I have to, if you can believe that.

Now, however, we must think ahead, towards Longbow and Manticore. We have the aid of Jean here, oh, wait, you might know him as Malaise, to assist us in creating any sort of illusion.

• We could lure Longbow in here with some sort of illusion.

Darrin Wade flashes a grin at your proposal.

I like the way you think, Character! I was going to just have Manticore walk in here and see Alexis dead, but oh, this is a much better plan.

Jean will create an illusion that Alexis is still alive, that Manticore has come here just in time. You and Jean will be present here to see Manticore spout some speech about how villainy will never win, and then... snap! Alexis is dead, and Manticore is far too late!

• And then we kick Manticore while he's down.

Exactly, my fiendish friend. He will, of course, teleport away to safety, but his pride, oh his pride will be hurt!

There will be... one last thing that needs to be done. Not on your part, of course, but on the part of Malaise. When Manticore is defeated, he will willingly walk out and have himself arrested by Longbow.

You see, this plan of ours is far from done, Character. The next part will require Malaise to be quite close to his old mentor, Sister Psyche.

When he is there, I will, of course, have someone contact you. I consider you to be a major player in this now, Character. We all have something great to gain from all this. You aren't some mere 'lackey'. You are an equal partner with us in all of this.

• Understood. Now, to the matter of Manticore...

Yes. As far as I know, Manticore and his squad of kiddies are right outside. You'll have to knock them around to get Manticore to come out.

Oh, and just for kicks, feel free to launch the Warburg rocket. It'll provide an excellent escape for you once Manticore is defeated. I'll be making my exit as well. Until we meet again, Character.

• Very well.

Marshal Blitz: My troops and I will handle the nearby Longbow cruiser.
'Jean': I'll stay behind to get our grand illusion prepared.

Shining Stars Dialogue

Grim:

Before combat: We have a dire situation. It must be contained.

Combat start: You will not win this day, Character.

You activated one of the Warburg computers.

Twinshot:

Before combat: Man, the things that go on in this place! Wild!

Combat start: Character, right? I've beaten a ton of villain punks like you already!

You activated one of the Warburg computers.

Dillo:

Before combat: I am going to be defending this very well!

Combat start: *hoorb* Character!

You activated one of the Warburg computers.

Manticore: Character! Give us back Alexis!

At Manticore 50% Life:

Manticore: I don't have time to waste on you, not while you have Alexis stolen away.

Final Confrontation Dialogue

Manticore: MALAISE! Put Alexis down, NOW! This insane scheme that you and Character have is over!
'Jean': Come now, Manticore, you're saying you do not enjoy my grand play?
Manticore: You and Character have brought us to the brink of annihilation, Malaise! And for what?!
'Jean': You could never hope to comprehend the true mind of an artist, Manticore.
Manticore: We have Blitz, Malaise. It's over, stop the ritual!
'Jean': Blitz was but a side character. CharacterBlondeshell and I are the protagonists. Shall we reveal the next act?
Manticore: Don't do anything stupid, Malaise!
'Jean': Now... behold, Manticore, the revelation of your lifetime!
Manticore: What... Alexis?! She's...
'Jean': Dead would be the word you're looking for.
Manticore: You... you and Character are going to PAY for this, Malaise!!

You have defeated Manticore.

Manticore: This isn't... over... not by a longshot.
'Jean': Excellent work. Now, if you'll excuse me, Manticore. I need to go get myself properly arrested.

Several hours later, within a prison cell in Paragon City...

Sister Psyche: Why, Jean? Why do all of this? We all -trusted- you!
Jean: You can read minds, Shalice. Why don't you read mine?
Sister Psyche: I'm not here to play games! Were you behind the attack on Synapse? On Numina's father?
Jean: Do you think the story is that simple, Shalice? There are many layers, many pages...
Jean: However... we are about to introduce our next character. One whose downfall will be such a tragedy...
Sister Psyche: Tell me who is next, Jean! This is your chance to redeem yourself, in some tiny way!
Jean: -You- are next, my dear Shalice.

Enemies

Longbow

Shining Stars

Notable NPCs

• Grim (Shining Stars Hero)
• Twinshot (Shining Stars Hero)
• Dillo (Shining Stars Hero)
• Manticore (Freedom Phalanx Hero)

Debriefing

That... that Darrin Wade! He... you allowed Marshal Blitz to be arrested by Longbow! What happened to the glory, Character?! The thing that was supposed to change the world?!

News has gotten back to the mainland that Alexis is dead, and that you had a large role to play in it, along with Malaise and Blitz. Wade, of course, wasn't mentioned at all.

Gossamer takes a calming breath.

... I'm sorry. You were doing your part, as far as I've heard. Marshal Blitz... we can still rescue him. It isn't over yet. Well, at least for us. You've done everything that you needed to do. We'll part ways now, Character, but perhaps soon, once Marshal Blitz is released, we'll finish up what we started today.

See Also

• Signature Story Arc
• Who Will Die
• Agent Kwahu