Montague Castanella (Praetorian)
Overview
| Montague Castanella | |
|---|---|
 Leader of the Midnight Squad | |
| Zone | Night Ward |
| Coordinates | (1688, -577, -2038) |
| Level Range | 30-35 |
| Introduced By | Mistress Maria |
| Enemy Groups | |
Montague Castanella is a Praetorian contact in Night Ward at coordinates (1688, -577, -2038) . His level range is 30-35. He is standing in the lower lobby of the Praetorian version of the Midnighter Club mansion.
Introductions
Contact Introduced By
Contact Introduces
Information
When he was alive, Montague Castanella had inherited the role of the leader of the Midnight Squad, a role that he accepted grudgingly if only because circumstances forced him into it. Under his leadership the Midnighters survived Cole's witch hunts and stole themselves away into the shadowy psuedo-dimension between the worlds of the living and the dead. Here they had taken the Midnight Mansion, an arcane fortress that was beyond the reach of Emperor Cole. But it was from within their own ranks that the Midnighters would ultimately fall. Killed by their former friend and ally, Percy Winkley, the Midnighters became, for a time, the Midnight Masters, undead servants of Percy Winkley as he adopted the new monicker, Master Midnight. But with Percy's demise his spell over the Midnighters has faded and their will is once more their own. Now these poor souls are trapped between worlds and linger between life and death, unable to find true peace. Luckily, for a wizard, an eternity spent in study is not a punishment, and Montague Castanella is looking forward to delving ever deeper into the realm of the arcane.
Prior to Introduction
Missing Prior to Introduction Dialogue
Initial Contact
Character, I'm looking forward to working together.
Greeting
Splendid as always.
Too Busy
Missing Too Busy Dialogue
No More Missions
Missing No More Missions Dialogue
Too High Level
I must focus, Character, please come back later.
Story Arc
Where Even Death May Die (30-35)
Merit Rewards: This activity awards x Reward Merits.
Souvenir
Part One: Death: A Novel Idea
Briefing
As with any problem, we need to first identify exactly what we are dealing with before we can proceed with any confidence. There is a tome that may contain the answer to that question. It is called Tremaine's Manual of the Dead.
While the manual lies within the hidden vault of this very mansion it is also protected by many and varied magical wards which are now, as you can imagine, Animus Arcana and quite uncontrollable.
- I know this drill. I retrieve the manual, you read it.
Retrieving the Manual will not be so simple. Tremaine's Manual is itself warded and protected by many spells. Even if you can find it you will need to circumvent these mystical protections before the book can be safely recovered.
Unnecessary Solicitation
Find the Manual of the Dead so we can learn what ill has befallen the spirit world.
Mission Objective(s)
You become keenly aware that the magical defenses of the Midnight Mansion's mystical vault are aware of you, and they want to kill you.
- Recover the Manual of the Dead
- Retrieve Tremaine's Manual of the Dead
- Defeat the Guardian Spells
You've recovered Tremaine's Manual of the Dead!
Enemies
"The spells placed upon the book appear to be missing..."
- Snatch up the Manual
- "You snatch up Tremaine's Manual of the Dead only to discover that the guardian spells were simply hiding from you and they attack!"
- Defend yourself!
- Proceed with Caution
- "You look over the book and realize that the magical spells in place to defend it are hiding, waiting for you to try and pick up the book!"
- Pick up the Manual and prepare for battle
- "You pick up Tremaine's Manual of the Dead and ready yourself for battle. As you expected the guardian spells emerge from between the pages and attack!"
- Attack!
Ambush! Three waves of Animus Arcana spells will attack.
"You have defeated the guardians and can now claim Tremaine's Manual of the Dead."
- Take the Manual
"You have claimed the Manual of the Dead."
- Leave
Debriefing
You've recovered the Manual!?
Excellent!
Within its pages we can determine what wickedness is at hand here. I'll have some answers for you in a few hours, and more than likely, need of your help once again.
In the meantime, I've discovered something of interest that I think might solve our problems with these Animus Arcana...
We're making great progress, but we cannot let up now. I knew this would be a wildly successful venture together, and I am grateful to be a part of it.
Part Two: Take A Number
Briefing
I've been studying the magical wards around the Midnight Mansion, specifically the points where the magic shattered and gave intelligence to the Animus Arcana, and what I found was interesting.
There is a definite pattern at work here. Every point where the spells broke free and gained a spark of life was a spell lain down by Percy Winkley. From what I gather, when he died the spells he wove into the Mansion's main Ward reacted in a way I don't fully understand. Ultimately, Percy's death gave them life.
If we could return Percy Winkley to life, then perhaps the Animus Arcana would revert back to their previous state, or at the very least, perhaps Percy could instruct us in how to get them under control.
- And how are we supposed to do that?
When Percy died, like any other living being, his soul journeyed to the Netherworld. Whispering Coyote will know how to track him down. If we are to return Percy to even a semblance of life, we cannot do it without his soul.
Talk to Whispering Coyote
Unnecessary Solicitation
Whispering Coyote is mentioned in the Manual of the Dead as a wise and tricky spirit guide, but also an expert on the spirits of the dead. Perhaps he can shed some light on how to locate Percy's soul.
Mission Objective(s)
- Talk to Whispering Coyote
Ki-ki-yi!
There is good news and bad news, I'm afraid. The good news is that Percy Winkley's soul is not lost. With the spirit realm merging with the realm of the living, the spirits of the recently dead cannot go to the next world. However, the bad news is that he is most certainly under the watchful eye of the Drudges.
Ki-yi-yi-yi!
The Drudges are creatures native to the Netherworld that are tasked with making sure the realm of the dead serves its function.
Ki-ki-ki!
With all the recent deaths in the world of the living, the Drudges have started to move away from the spirituality of their duty and have instead adopted a rigid new system. It is terribly efficient, ensuring that souls get to where they are going much more quickly. The trouble is, the journey to the afterlife with a Spirit Guide was the whole point.
Ki-ki-yi-yi!
Instead, the Spirit Guides who used to escort an individual soul on its spiritual journey to the afterlife, now work tirelessly gathering up souls and bringing them to processing centers at the behest of the Taskmaster's Office. In return for delivering souls, the Taskmaster's Office is paid in wax. Wax keeps a Drudge's spiritual flame burning. Without the spirits of the dead, the Drudges get no wax, and without wax, the Drudges fade away.
Ki-yi-ki-yi!
With Night Ward apparently cut off from the rest of the Netherworld, the Drudges are a bit... concerned. The Taskmaster's Office has set up a temporary central office to deal with the back up of souls they've been receiving. If Percy's soul is still in Night Ward, we can find out where they're keeping him there. I'll show you where it is.
Ki-ki-yi!
Whispering Coyote told you of a location where the Drudges keep death records for the spirits of the dead, you can find Percy's whereabouts there.
Determine Percy Winkley's Whereabouts
Unnecessary Solicitation
So the Drudges most likely have Percy's soul? That is both fortunate, and unfortunate. If they have it, we know where to find it, but you'll also have to deal with the Drudges, and they loathe outsiders.
Mission Objective(s)
The Drudges are definitely in here; the place smells like ten thousand birthday candles
- Determine Percy Winkley's Whereabouts
- Find Percy's records
You found Percy's Record!
Enemies
You open the records and find it filled with wooden tubes studded with holes. As you pick one up it emits a verbal record of the individual it is about.
You found this small wooden recorder in the Drudge office. Blowing into it you hear an audio recording regarding the soul of Percy Winkley and his fate. He was sent to the transit center to await travel orders to the afterlife.
Find Percy's Soul
Unnecessary Solicitation
These records indicate that Percy's soul is awaiting processing and transit to the next world at the Drudge processing center in Lamplighter Junction.
Mission Objective(s)
The souls of the dead are countless, how are you going to find Percy Winkley in this haunted haystack?
- Find Percy's Soul
- Confront the Taskmaster in charge here
- Get Percy Winkley's Soul
- Escort Percy's Soul Out
You rescued Percy Winkley's soul
Enemies
Notable NPCs
- Taskmaster Carlyle (Enemy, Drudge Taskmaster Boss)
- Soul of Percy Winkley (Hostage)
Grrr... Outsiders! Always double dealing. Guess I haven't much choice with how you're knockin' wax left and right here. What is it you want? Maybe we can come to a mutually beneficial deal here.
- Percy Winkley, I need his soul.
I should have guessed. Such a fume to that one. What do you have to exchange? He's worth quite a bit to me.
- Give me Percy and he can help you get back on schedule.
- Back on schedule? Then, you know what has happened? Well... One soul is a small price to pay to ship off the lot of these to their destination.
- Why, I'm losing wax every minute this station remains inoperative.
- Alright... I'll give you Percy... But after that you hold up your end of the bargain and fix things, no more, no less.
- It's a deal!
- How about I don't destroy you? Fair trade?
- You... Arrogant...
- Kill him / her!
- (Fight!)
- I'll be seeing you soon...
The bumbling and confused soul of Percy Winkley accompanies you now, taken from the Drudges before he could be shipped off to the afterlife.
Debriefing
You found Percy's Soul...
...
I must admit, I was not sure how I would react upon seeing him once more, but despite all the evil he unleashed upon us that fateful day... and since, I choose to believe that there is still some good left in him.
Montague's decrepit face twists into one of deep thought.
If Percy was able to find the courage to sacrifice himself for another, then I too can find it in my heart to forgive his evil. Besides, there is a lot of work yet to be done and we need his help.
If ever you are in need, I will be there, Character.