Mission:Gone in a Flash - Finale: A Flashy Thief
Finale: A Flashy Thief
Players receive this mission regardless of which path was taken after Part Three.
The only way to get the Bracers of Astrape temp power is to offer to trade the Diamond for Arc Flash's bracers in this mission, and only after sparing (or never having met) Amphitryon. No other choices grant any temp powers.
Briefing
Alright, Character, I think we're finally getting to the end of this. I did a little digging on this Arc Flash lady. Seems like she's a magic hero, uses some bracers to give herself lightning powers. Kinda makes sense; Bronte's a Greek goddess of thunder, one of Zeus's handmaidens.
Bobby looks at you as if waiting for you to make a comment.
Hey, even a meathead like me has some smart type hobbies. Anyway, seems like she's been working with the Legacy Chain here in the Isles. Maybe the diamond is magic, but I doubt it. The Chain wouldn't be good with trying to sell the thing to criminals if it had any magic in it and they ain't the type to be running scams either. I'm betting Arc Flash has been pulling this off behind their backs.
Even so, they got a place called the Dark Gallery nearby that they operate out of. Small place, but fancy. If she ain't there, they'll know where to find her at least.
- It's time to get what's mine.
Still gotta wonder why a hero like Arc Flash is doing this? All the dirt I got on her says she's a goody two-shoes, never even a whiff of something bad about her.
Bobby shrugs his broad shoulders.
Ah, who knows? They say power corrupts and all that. Maybe she just got tired of doing all the work but not getting the reward, huh?
Unnecessary Solicitation
The Legacy Chain are a weird bunch. Look more like a group hanging out at a Renn Faire than proper magic guys. Seriously, what's up with the swords and helmets and stuff?
Mission Objective(s)
The spark of magic hangs over the Dark Gallery like a fog. It's clear the Legacy Chain is prepared for any intrusions.
- Track down Arc Flash
- Defeat all Legacy Chain
- Find Arc Flash
- Talk to Arc Flash
- Defeat Arc Flash
- Talk to Arc Flash
- Find Arc Flash
- Defeat all Legacy Chain
You step out of the Dark Gallery into the light of Nerva... your decision made.
Enemies
Notable NPCs
- Arcanist Maranus (Legacy Chain Tellus of Earth)
- Arc Flash (Elite Boss)
Arc Flash:
- Sorry I'm late! I was...
- Well... it's been a long day.
- Where is everyone?
Arc Flash looks up at you from the ground, breathing heavy. She slowly wipes a trickle of blood from her lip.
Why are you here? What do you want from me?
- I'm here for the Florentine Diamond.
- She flinches.
- I... I don't have it.
- She seems to realize that her lie is transparent even as it leaves her lips. She sighs.
- Please... Don't take it from me. I need it.
- I know you're trying to sell it.
- That's why I need it! I need the money.
- My... my mother, she's sick. Very sick. But we can't afford her treatment! She was an EMT during the Rikti War. She helped people, hundreds of people! She saved lives, Character, and now she needs someone to save her.
- I'm the only one who can. I need to sell the diamond to get money for her medical bills. Do you understand?
- I have some questions.
- What do you want to know?
- How did you learn about the diamond?
- It was a coincidence. There was a smuggling ring I brought down. They were trading in rare artifacts, many of them magic. I overheard one of the smugglers talking about the diamond they unloaded in the Isles, so I did some digging and found out about it.
Arc Flash's LuckYou learned that Arc Flash learned about the Florentine Diamond by pure coincidence. Lucky her.
- How did you blackmail the auctioneer?
- Arc Flash looks away from you, eyes cast toward the ground.
- Does it matter? I swore I wouldn't tell anyone and I won't go back on my word, no matter what. It wasn't even that bad... I think he was just worried about what his parents would think.
- She cringes.
- But I think I've said too much.
The Auctioneer's SecretArc Flash wouldn't tell you how she blackmailed the auctioneer, only that the truth would have upset his parents.
- Does the Legacy Chain know you're a thief?
- Her face goes slightly red.
- No. They would never have approved of it. If they'd learned, they would have taken me in themselves and given me nothing for the diamond.
Legacy Chain's InvolvementThe Legacy Chain doesn't know anything about Arc Flash's actions.
- Couldn't another hero help your mother? With magic or other powers?
- I tried, trust me. It's not that easy. There's no universal cure, not known to science anyway. And magic is finnicky on this sort of thing. There are spells that might have cured her, but would have taken her soul, or stolen so many years from her life that it wouldn't even matter. If it could have traded my own soul for it, I would have. But I couldn't even find that.
Private Health CareArc Flash tried to seek a mystical or superscience cure for her mother's illness, but wasn't able to find anything.
- Why weren't you able to sell the diamond?
- I... I didn't know how. Once I had the diamond, I couldn't figure out what to do with it! I couldn't exactly walk into a pawn shop. I tried to sell it to a few people who might have wanted it, but they all recognized me as a hero and got spooked.
- If I keep up with it, I'll be able to sell it eventually. I just need to keep trying.
Failed Her Barter CheckArc Flash doesn't have any criminal connections, so she kept making missteps when trying to sell the Florentine Diamond. You won't have that problem.
- How did you get your powers?
- She glances at her wrists and the rune-etched bracers there.
- The Bracers of Astrape. She was a Greek goddess of lightning, one of the handmaidens of Zeus. My grandfather was an archaeologist and found them on a dig in Greece. He used them as a hero for a while, the first Arc Flash back in the 60s. But the magic in the bracers suddenly stopped working one day.
- Until I picked them up when I was a teenager, at least. They attuned to me and the magic came back. I think as long as I wear them, the magic won't run out again.
The Bracers of AstrapeArc Flash's powers come from her magical bracers, which carry the power of a Greek goddess. The bracers are attuned to her and lose their power over time if she's not using them.
- After meeting Amphitryon in Part Four: Jack of Diamonds:
- You were working with the Warriors too?
- Arc Flash looks down at the ground and takes a deep breath.
- So that's how you found out about me... Amphitryon is my brother. He's really named Ambrose, by the way.
- She lets out a sigh.
- He was always jealous of me, I think. After I got my magic bracers, he wanted to be a hero too. He felt like my parents and grandfather treated me special because of them. He kept trying to get magic for himself, but he didn't have any talent for it.
- So he joined the Warriors, thinking he could find an artifact with them that would give him powers.
Sibling RivalryAmphitryon is Arc Flash's brother. He joined the Warriors because he was jealous of his sister's powers and wanted to find an artifact for himself.
- That's enough. I need to think.
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- (Think about it)
- You've gone through a lot of hard work to track down the Florentine Diamond and you've finally got the thief at your mercy. She's given you a sob story, but do you believe her? Do you even care?
- You could just take the diamond from her. It's likely that she'll try to resist, but you've already proven that you can handle her.
- You could let her go. You wouldn't get anything out of the deal, except for maybe the good karma of doing a "good" deed.
- Then again, she hasn't had much luck selling the diamond so far. Maybe you could offer to help. You can use your connections with the Miller to sell the diamond, then split the money with her. Still a nice haul and no one else would have to die.
- But what's money compared to power? Her magical bracers are obviously very powerful. You could offer a trade, bracers for diamond. It would leave her powerless, but she clearly values her mother's life more than being a hero.
- That diamond is mine! (Attack)
- Fine... Go on, get out of here before I change my mind.
- Her eyes go wide.
- You... you're serious?
- She scrambles to her feet.
- Thank you! I heard you were a villain, but maybe... You must have a kind heart in there.
- She turns away and runs for the door.
- (Leave)
- Let me sell the diamond. We'll split the money.
- Arc Flash looks down at the ground.
- A bargain? I haven't been able to sell it yet and my mother needs the money...
- She looks up at you and sighs.
- I don't have a choice. I can't sell this thing... You can probably sell it tomorrow. Fine. Take it. I'm trusting that you'll do the right thing.
- Arc Flash takes the diamond out of a pocket and holds it out to you. You take it and hold it up to the light, watching as it casts sparkling yellow motes across the room.
- (Leave)
- Let's trade. Your bracers for the diamond.
- Arc Flash's eyes go wide in disbelief. She starts to rub the bracer on her right arm.
- My bracers? But... Without them, I won't be a hero any more. I'll be powerless.
- She looks down at her feet, silent for a moment. Then she sighs and unlatches her right bracer.
- Fine. It's worth it. My mother needs this money more than I need to be a hero. I can't be selfish.
- She unlatches the second bracer, then holds them out to you. As you take them, you can feel a brief crackle of electricity race through your body, but it is just a jolt, no worse than static.
- You received Bracers of Astrape.
Melee (Cone), High DMG(Energy), -End
These rune-etched bracers channel the power of the Greek goddess of lightning, allowing you to generate a strong current between your arms and snap a powerful bolt of electricity in an arc in front of you. This melee attack can electrocute all foes within the arc dealing High energy damage and draining some Endurance from your target. Damage: High, Recharge: Moderate
30 uses left
- (Leave)
- I don't care. Give it to me.
- No, please! Just listen to me!
- Do you have a mother, Character? Or at least someone you consider a mother?
- I don't.
- Well, maybe you won't understand this then... But when your mother gets sick, you just want to do anything to help her get better. My mom is very sick. She was an EMT who worked throughout the Rikti War. We don't know what it was... The radiation, the dust from destroyed buildings she breathed in, or something else, but she got sick from it.
- She got too sick to work and lost her health insurance. She can't afford to pay her medical bills. Please, I need to sell the diamond so I can get her treatment! Please, let me go!
- I have questions first.
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- (Think about it)
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- Of course I do.
- Then you know how hard it is when your mom gets sick. Just like mine is. She was an EMT who worked throughout the Rikti War. We don't know what it was... The radiation, the dust from destroyed buildings she breathed in, or something else, but she got sick from it.
- She got too sick to work and lost her health insurance. She can't afford to pay her medical bills. Please, I need to sell the diamond so I can get her treatment! Please, let me go!
- I have questions first.
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- (Think about it)
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
Arc Flash glares up at you from the ground. Her eyes are hard, brows pinched together. She slowly wipes a trickle of blood from her lip.
You... you're the one who killed my brother. Are you here to kill me too?
- You'll need to be more specific.
- Amphitryon. He was my brother. You killed him. I talked to some of his gang and they told me that you came in there, wiped them out, and killed my brother.
- She hangs her head and stares at the ground. For a moment, she is silent. When she starts to talk again, her voice is shaking.
- So why? Why did you kill him? Why come for me?
- She looks back up at you, tears in her eyes.
- He was trying to protect me from learning who stole the Florentine Diamond.
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- Who cares why? He was a worthless Warrior and he's dead now.
- I care! He was my brother! It doesn't matter that he lost his way, he didn't deserve to be killed by someone like you!
- She tries to push herself back to her feet, but her legs give out beneath her. She slaps at the ground ineffectually.
- So tell me, what was this all for?
- I want the Florentine Diamond.
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- Kill you? No, I just want the diamond.
- The diamond? You killed Amphitryon over that?
- She lets out a choked laugh.
- That idiot. He should have just told you everything and saved himself.
- She shakes her head and looks at you. Tears trickle down her cheeks.
- But please, don't take the diamond. Do... do you have a mother, Character? Or someone you consider a mother, at least.
- Of course I do.
- Then you must love her, right? I love my mother too, just like I love my brother. But my mom, she's sick. She was an EMT who worked throughout the Rikti War. We don't know what it was... The radiation, the dust from destroyed buildings she breathed in, or something else, but she got sick from it.
- She got too sick to work and lost her health insurance. She can't afford to pay her medical bills. Please, I need to sell the diamond so I can get her treatment! Please, let me go!
- I have questions first.
- What do you want to know?
- How did you learn about the diamond?
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- How did you blackmail the auctioneer?
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- Does the Legacy Chain know you're a thief?
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- Couldn't another hero help your mother? With magic or other powers?
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- Why weren't you able to sell the diamond?
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- How did you get your powers?
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- How come your brother was a Warrior?
- Arc Flash looks down at the ground and takes a deep breath.
- Ambrose was jealous of me, I think. After I got my magic bracers, he wanted to be a hero too. He felt like my parents and grandfather treated me special because of them. He kept trying to get magic for himself, but he didn't have any talent for it.
- So he joined the Warriors, thinking he could find an artifact with them that would give him powers.
- She looks at you with a mix of anger and sadness.
- And look what it got him.
Sibling RivalryAmphitryon is Arc Flash's brother. He joined the Warriors because he was jealous of his sister's powers and wanted to find an artifact for himself.
- That's enough. I need to think.
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- (Think about it)
- You've gone through a lot of hard work to track down the Florentine Diamond and you've finally got the thief at your mercy. She's given you a sob story, but do you believe her? Do you even care?
- You could just take the diamond from her. It's likely that she'll try to resist, but you've already proven that you can handle her.
- You could let her go. You wouldn't get anything out of the deal, except for maybe the good karma of doing a "good" deed.
- Then again, she hasn't had much luck selling the diamond so far. Maybe you could offer to help. You can use your connections with the Miller to sell the diamond, then split the money with her. Still a nice haul and no one else would have to die.
- But what's money compared to power? Her magical bracers are obviously very powerful. You could offer a trade, bracers for diamond. It would leave her powerless, but she clearly values her mother's life more than being a hero.
- That diamond is mine! (Attack)
- Fine... Go on, get out of here before I change my mind.
- Her eyes go wide.
- You... you're serious?
- She scrambles to her feet.
- Thank you! I can't forgive you for killing my brother, but I'll remember that you had a heart at the end.
- She turns away and runs for the door.
- (Leave)
- Let me sell the diamond. We'll split the money.
- Arc Flash looks down at the ground.
- A bargain? I haven't been able to sell it yet and my mother needs the money...
- But... You killed my brother. You're evil. I can't reward you for that, you monster!
- Arc Flash's bracers suddenly crackle with electricity. She pushes herself to her feet as lightning bursts around her.
- (Get ready!)
- Let's trade. Your bracers for the diamond.
- Arc Flash's eyes go wide for a moment, then she narrows them and glowers at you.
- You expect me to believe that, murderer? I give you my bracers and I'll be powerless! You'll just finish me off and take the diamond anyway!
- Arc Flash's bracers suddenly crackle with electricity. She pushes herself to her feet as lightning bursts around her.
- (Get ready!)
- No.
- Well, maybe you won't understand this then... But I love my mother, just like I love my brother. But my mom, she's sick. She was an EMT who worked throughout the Rikti War. We don't know what it was... The radiation, the dust from destroyed buildings she breathed in, or something else, but she got sick from it.
- She got too sick to work and lost her health insurance. She can't afford to pay her medical bills. Please, I need to sell the diamond so I can get her treatment! Please, let me go!
- I have questions first.
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- (Think about it)
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
Badge
Completing this mission (regardless of the choice made) awards the Diamond in the Rough badge.
Finding the Florentine Diamond was not as quick or simple as it first seemed.