Mission:Glory and Dark Tidings - Finale: Ride of the Valkyrie

Finale: Ride of the Valkyrie

Briefing

Dorjan and these outlanders are a pox on the very soul of Cimerora. I will not abide or endure this treachery and subterfuge any longer!

Go, Character, with the blessing of Bellona upon you, and the wisdom of Phoebas guiding your path. The Gods smile upon you today, and you will be bestowed with glory and fortune for your ordeals.

I will join you on this task. I cannot stand aside and let you do this alone. May the minstrels sing of this day for eternity. Come now, friend. WE RIDE!

• To hell and beyond, if need be!

Sister Valeria is settling her affairs before meeting you at Dorjan's cavern.

Unnecessary Solicitation

There is nothing left to say. Let us find and destroy the Cyst!

Mission Objective(s)

This place is fairly well lit for a cave of 'Dark Ones'. Sister Valeria greets you when you enter.

• Destroy the Shadow Cyst
  • Shatter all growing crystals
    • Dive deeper into the cavern
      • Eliminate the hot spring Nictus overseer
        • Breach the cavern depths
          • Defeat Dorjan, Livia, and the First Cyst

At the end of your journey, you feel supremely unsure that you've done anything but stall the inevitable - but at least the 'inevitable' isn't happening two thousand years ahead of schedule.

Enemies

Cimeroran Traitors

Nictus

Ravenna Conclave

Notable NPCs

• Sister Valeria (Hero, Ally)
• Path of the Dark Cultist (Cimeroran Traitors Legatus Legionis)
• Shadow Crystal x4 (Object)
• Dark Cimeroran Outlander (Ravenna Conclave Hoplite of Umbra)
• Conclave Advisor (Ravenna Conclave Priestess of the Path)
• Liliana (Ravenna Conclave Sybil)
• Warrior of Ravenna (Ravenna Conclave Hoplite of Umbra)
• Conclave Priestess (Ravenna Conclave Priestess of the Path)
• Midea (Ravenna Conclave Sybil)
• Garrison Legatus (Cimeroran Traitors Legatus Legionis)
• Blessed Potnia (Ravenna Conclave Priestess of the Path)
• Path of the Dark Cultist (Ravenna Conclave Priestess of the Path)
• Nictus Predator (many) (Nictus Unbound Nictus)
• Emergent Shadow x6 (Nictus Dark Dwarf)
• Shattered View (Nictus Dark Nova Alpha)
• Overseeing Whisper of Silence (Nictus Dark Nova Alpha)
• Recovering Star-Crosser (Nictus Dark Nova)
• Time-Dilated Nictus (Nictus Dark Dwarf)
• Dorjan, Counsel to Romulus (Archvillain)
• Livia, Priestess of Ravenna (Archvillain)
• The First Cyst (Nictus Shadow Cyst)

Editor's Note:

Though Valeria is presented as a Hero, she is more like a Boss.

Sister Valeria Dialogue

On Approach:
Sister Valeria: I have no patience for these monsters.
Joins Player:
Sister Valeria: Come now, Character. To arms!
Sister Valeria: For Cimerora!

Ambush! Joining up with Sister Valeria triggers an ambush by one wave of Nictus.

Cimeroran Traitors Dialogue

Combat Start:
Path of the Dark Cultist: You will live to regret this.

---

Combat Start:
Garrison Legatus: Slay them where they stand!
Cimeroran Traitor 1: By your command!

Ambush! Reducing the first Shadow Crystal to each of 75%, 50%, and 25% health triggers an ambush by Nictus, Nictus, and Ravenna Conclave respectively, as well as the Dark Cimeroran Outlander, the Conclave Advisor, and Liliana, respectively.

Dark Cimeroran Outlander: You cannot stop us! We are already here!

Dark Cimeroran Outlander: This cycle is doomed to repeat forever... and we have far more patience!

Conclave Advisor: The Nictus are eternal! You cannot win!

Conclave Advisor: Kill these insects!

Liliana: Alert the homeland! The time is now!

Liliana: You are not welcome here!

Ambush! Reducing the second Shadow Crystal to each of 75%, 50%, and 25% health triggers an ambush by Nictus, Nictus, and Ravenna Conclave respectively, as well as the Warrior of Ravenna, the Conclave Priestess, and Midea, respectively.

Warrior of Ravenna: Hah! After years of hiding... we fight again!

Warrior of Ravenna: Come, young one, join the Empire!

Conclave Priestess: We have taken root. You're as good as dead!

Conclave Priestess: You'll never be rid of us!

Midea: We are... inescapable. The hour of victory is inevitable.

Midea: I will shred your essence to cosmic dust!

A Wall of Force

At the onset of your task to obliterate the Shadow Cyst, you were met with heavily entrenched Nictus, Ravennans, and Cimeroran traitors. The Midnight Squad certainly ascertained the right place, to be met with this kind of resistance. Undaunted, you pressed on.

Ravennans Dialogue

Before Combat:
Ravennan 1: What about the Dirge?
Ravennan 2: Their plan will be foiled by Valeria's actions. We need only to do nothing to succeed at stopping them.
Combat Start:
Ravennan 1: Stop them at all costs!
Ravennan 2: High alert! They're here!

---

Before Combat:
Ravennan 1: The work is done, is it not?
Ravennan 2: You fail to see the larger picture, friend. The -research- is done.
Combat Start:
Ravennan 1: The godlings! To arms!
Ravennan 2: Hah, time to see how these bodies fare against this dull rock's 'best'!

---

Before Combat:
Ravennan 1: We're just going to let them take it?
Ravennan 2: We hear your concerns. Not without a fight. This is about research, friend.
Combat Start:
Ravennan 1: The hounds are here!
Ravennan 2: Put them down!

---

Combat Start:
Blessed Potnia: Evaporate these fools!
Ravennan 1: It shall be done!

Ravennans Dialogue

Combat Start:
Path of the Dark Cultist: Like a lamb to the slaughter.

Editor's Note:

The Nictus Predators are hovering high above the hot springs chamber. There are at least 10, and many more on higher difficulties. It may be wise to clear them out before proceeding down.

Hot Spring Nictus Dialogue

Combat Start:
Overseeing Whisper of Silence: Siblings! They are here! Attack!
Shattered View: Heh. Look at you marching in here to your death.
Shattered View: It's adorable.

A Tide of Darkness

The forces of darkness were relentless in your descent down to the Shadow Cyst. You were taunted nearly incessantly, challenging your resolve to continue and painting your efforts as futile. Regardless, you breached the inner sanctum and continued your mission.

The Hot Spring

It would appear the first waves of Nictus were looking to all manner of science to preserve their lives, including what looked like a hot spring, reeking with sulfur and rich in rare minerals. The Nictus were able to merge their shadowy forms with these waters, to preserve energy and bolster their strength.

Cyst Chamber Dialogue

Before Combat:
Cimeroran Traitor 1: How long will it take?
Cimeroran Traitor 2: Unknown. We will know when it's time.
Combat Start:
Cimeroran Traitor 1: Erase these meddlesome godlings!
Cimeroran Traitor 2: I will consume you!

---

Before Combat:
Ravennan 1: No time. They're coming.
Ravennan 2: I am having doubts about this, now.
Combat Start:
Ravennan 1: Leave none alive to tell the tale!
Ravennan 2: Defend the pathway!

---

Combat Start:
Nictus 1: Stop them at all costs!
Nictus 2: Crush them underfoot!

---

Combat Start:
Nictus/Ravennan 1: Defend the pathway!

Dorjan and Livia Dialogue

Before Combat:
Livia, High Priestess of Ravenna: The research is complete. When we are ready, we will start again.
Dorjan, Counsel to Romulus: Please treat this miracle with the honor it deserves.
Combat Start:
Livia, High Priestess of Ravenna: Time to die, warriors!
Dorjan, Counsel to Romulus: No! I will not let you erase his legacy!
75% Health:
Livia, High Priestess of Ravenna: How does it feel, to be fighting for your life at the brink of your world's extinction?
Dorjan, Counsel to Romulus: The Essences were a gift, godling. A gift! And you crushed them and threw Romulus aside.
50% Health:
Livia, High Priestess of Ravenna: I must thank Requiem, if he survives my wrath. Bringing a Shadow Seed back in time was the perfect foolhardy plot.
Dorjan, Counsel to Romulus: In their death, they gave us this Cyst. In a way, I must thank you.
25% Health:
Livia, High Priestess of Ravenna: We'd never have known a Cyst was possible if not for Romulus' loss to Imperious.
Dorjan, Counsel to Romulus: Even now, should you succeed, the damage is done. We can make more seeds. Ha ha ha haaa!
On Defeat:
Livia, High Priestess of Ravenna: You are strong... but I am immortal. Don't mourn my body, I will be back.
Livia, High Priestess of Ravenna: This isn't the last time we'll cross paths, Character!
Dorjan, Counsel to Romulus: Though I hate to do it, finding a new host will be irksome.
Dorjan, Counsel to Romulus: I will have my revenge, in this life or the next.

The Shadow Cyst

It was revealed to you, at the end of your journey, that the Nictus did not arrive with the knowledge of Cysts. The Shadow Cyst you obliterated, along with the entire crystal network connected to it - was an acceptable loss because the Nictus now understood how it came into existence. The Nictus Essences that empowered Romulus in his ascent to dark godhood dispersed with his defeat, but found each other later in the caverns below, congealing into a shadow seed thanks to the rare earth minerals nearby. It grew into the Cyst, and the Nictus of Ravenna, native to this timeline, were drawn to it and studied it. With no cysts or crystals left and their numbers too few to try and make a new cyst, the Nictus seem to be placed back on track to be a dormant threat until the rise of Paragon City.

Badge

Completing this mission awards the The Shadow Out Of Time badge.

The Shadow Out Of Time

This small trinket was fashioned for you in gratitude by a Cimeroran blacksmith. Within it spins a fragment of the First Cyst, purged of its evil by the Midnighters and purified by the waters of Phoebas Point. It serves as a reminder that Ouroboros are not the only ones who can fix a timeline, and you bet on that knowledge being important someday.

Debriefing

This is a glorious day for you, Cimerora, and the entire world, Character!

Dorjan has been routed, the Path of the Dark has been exposed in Ravenna, and the Cyst has been destroyed, along with the entire network connected to it!

No sage, soothsayer or prophet could have predicted today's events. This will be remembered for all time as the most significant time the light prevailed over darkness. I cannot bring myself to find the words to express my gratitude, as I was not born a poet - but know that my soul sings your praises for eternity even though I cannot.