Dr. Graves

Overview

Dr. Graves
The Eternal Surgeon
Zone	Mercy Island
Coordinates	(-1066, 239, -9)
Level Range	5-19
Introduced By	None
Enemy Groups	Skulls Rogue Island Police Longbow Gold Brickers Arachnos Luddites Snakes Shining Stars Hearts of Darkness
Badges	Dark Heart Blackened Soul Face Of Evil

Dr. Graves is a villain contact in the Mercy neighborhood of Mercy Island at coordinates (-1066, 239, -9). His level range is 5-19. He is one of the Ongoing Training Missions contacts. Dr. Graves is the leader of The Hearts of Darkness supergroup.

Introductions

Contact Introduced By

• None, you automatically receive him as a contact when you train to level 5.

Contact Introduces

None

Information

The Eternal Surgeon

Somewhere between man and monster, Dr. Graves no longer practices 'formal' medicine. Practically impossible to kill, since he's technically already dead, Dr. Graves realizes that his name has become the butt of numerous jokes. However, when he needs a new kidney, spleen, heart, or other 'disposable organs', not too many people take time to appreciate the irony of his career path.

Prior to Introduction

I do not know why you have deigned to stop and strike up conversation with me, fellow citizen. To be fair, I don't care either. Now scurry along lest I feel the need to inform these fine peacekeepers about how you wish to recruit me into the ranks of Longbow.

Do you believe they'll stop long enough to ask questions?

Contact Unlocked

Dr. Graves has been skulking around Mercy Island...

A message appeared on the wall in front of you.

'You, Character, have been chosen to partake in an offering of power unimaginable. Seek out Dr. Graves in Mercy Island and he shall guide you to this prize.'

The message vanishes, making you wonder if it was ever even there.

This contact has now been added to the active tab of your Contact window.

Initial Contact

You are as described, Character. And you took long enough replying to my missive, as well.

I will make this introduction brief. I am Dr. Graves, I already know who you are, and we will now get to the point of this meeting. I have been tasked with offering you the chance at obtaining a great deal of power.

Usually, that word alone - power - is enough to cause most here in the Rogue Isles to wriggle and squirm in delight. I'm interested in seeing your reaction.

Greeting

Well, well... Character. Have you come by to engage in witty banter, possibly involving a smattering of underlying threats towards my physical well being? Or perhaps you're simply here to discuss the weather on this bright and sunny day?

I'll let you guess which of the two that I believe.

Too Busy

Missing Too Busy Dialogue

No More Missions

Do not pester me, Character. My freedom exists due in part to your efforts, but surely you are intelligent enough to not expect gratitude.

Where do you think you are? Paragon City?

Outlevelled Contact

Character. I regret to inform you that you have arrived too late. Your window of opportunity has passed, I'm afraid.

Unless you have some method of time travel I am not yet aware of, I suggest that you leave me in peace. I would prefer that you not remind me of your existence.

You have become too high level to continue the Hearts of Darkness storyline. If you wish to go back and play these missions, visit Ouroboros (available at level 15) to complete each arc in order.

Story Arc

The Hearts of Darkness - Rogues' Contest (Level 5-9)

Merit Rewards: This activity awards 2 Reward Merits.

Souvenir

Remote Detonator

This leftover detonator reminds you of your initial victories in Dr. Graves's game...

The Hearts of Darkness - Rogues' Contest

It began with a summons from Dr. Graves, a grim surgeon with a short temper. He gathered you and four other Villains together and proposed a contest. The prize: unimaginable power and resources at the winner's disposal, courtesy of your unnamed benefactor.

You started by making sure that Arachnos took little notice of you. You played dumb for the Arbiters and got them fighting amongst themselves, and returned to Graves.

During the first round of the contest, you managed to trick Dollface out of finishing a race to the finish, and stole the win yourself. Graves, though displeased, was forced to concede the first victory to you.

For the second round, each contestant was required to formulate a plan of their own design, to display their villainous prowess. After investigating the others' plots, you came upon inspiration: you would destroy a Longbow base, lighting it up for all of Mercy to see!

As you engaged in your plan, a mysterious voice began to assist you. It directed you on the specifics of when and how to destroy the base.

As you were about to evacuate the base and let the explosives run their course, the voice revealed itself: Scirocco of Arachnos had assisted you! He directed you to continue participation in Graves's illicit contest, in the hopes of tracking down and capturing your unnamed benefactor. Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Rogues' Contest: Healthy Competition Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Rogues' Contest: Undisciplined Disciple Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Rogues' Contest: Skeletons in Your Warehouse Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Rogues' Contest: Villain Without a Plan Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Rogues' Contest: Longbow Goes Boom

The Hearts of Darkness - Heroic Measures (Level 10-14)

Merit Rewards: This activity awards 2 Reward Merits.

Souvenir

Broken Shades

You picked these shades off of a Hero you smashed into the dirt as part of your final victory. They remind you of how you won... and who helped you get as far as you did.

The Hearts of Darkness - Heroic Measures

Having won the first two rounds of the contest, Graves set you up as the 'hero' in a series of villainous games planned by your opponents. Your first task was to survive Zephyr's plan, which amounted to little more than hiring some goons to beat you up. Needless to say, you defeated them, and Zephyr, fairly easily.

Next, Dollface claimed to implant a 'mental time bomb' in your brain. You're not sure if she was serious, but to be on the safe side you went through the motions of disarming it, emerging victorious once again.

Crosscut's test wasn't one of survival, but of cruelty; he seemed to enjoy watching you kill the Snake Matriarch in front of her own daughter. You suppose it would have been a more jarring experience, had you been an actual hero.

Finally, Omnicore attempted to kill you with her automatons, but Scirocco managed to turn her strongest creations against her.

After completing all of the trials placed before you, Graves informed you that the final test was at hand. You and the other contestants were to participate in the Killing Game.

With Scirocco's help, you managed to take out a whole squad of heroes and win the game. Now all that's left is to collect your prize... Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Heroic Measures: Zephyr's Gust Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Heroic Measures: Dollface's Devices Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Heroic Measures: Crosscut's Test Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Heroic Measures: Omnicore's Toys Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Heroic Measures: The Killing Game

The Hearts of Darkness - Price of Victory (Level 15-19)

Merit Rewards: This activity awards 2 Reward Merits.

Souvenir

This innocent-looking plush toy reminds you of the horrors that can lie beneath an innocent façade...

The Hearts of Darkness - Price of Victory

Having won the Killing Game, you were prepared to finally collect your prize. However, Graves informed you that you must first hunt down and kill your fellow contestants.

You first tracked down Zephyr, and after learning to summon his corporeal form, managed to corner him in his lair. Right as you were about to deliver the killing blow, Scirocco asked that you stay your hand, and began recruiting for a campaign against Graves.

After recruiting Zephyr, you next sought out Omnicore, who had left a conspicuous trail throughout Cap au Diable. You finally tracked her to her lab, where she unveiled shield generators that made her invulnerable. After destroying the generators and defeating Omnicore, you convinced her to join you against Graves.

You then tracked Crosscut to an abandoned warehouse, where he was toying with a hapless member of the Skulls gang. You managed to defeat Crosscut, but he would only join you if you allowed him to finish 'playing' with his prey. You easily agreed, and gained a new... friend.

After recruiting Zephyr, Omnicore, and Crosscut to your cause, Scirocco directed you to follow and assault Graves before he could escape. You planned an ambush, but were betrayed by Zephyr and Omnicore! You and Crosscut managed to defeat all three of your adversaries, at which point Graves informed you of your dire situation: Dollface had been running the entire contest from the start!

You managed to corral Graves and the other contestants into a full-on assault on Dollface's mansion. The five of you eventually confronted Dollface in the basement of her mansion, where she revealed her true self. After a grueling fight, Dollface disabled your allies and prepared to possess your body! Thankfully, Scirocco and his Mu were prepared for this event, and captured Dollface.

You were never granted the immense power you were promised, but you managed to escape alive. You also seem to have earned some degree of respect from Scirocco, which few in the Rogue Isles can claim. Perhaps, one day, you will be able to use this to your advantage... Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Price of Victory: Striking the Wind Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Price of Victory: Core Values Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Price of Victory: Cross Purposes Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Price of Victory: Grave Consequences Template:Mission:The Hearts of Darkness - Price of Victory: Skin Deep