Mission:Brass Tuesday (Villain) - Part One: Alliance of Necessity

Part One: Alliance of Necessity

Briefing

This automaton appears to be either badly damaged or suffering a serious malfunction, if not both. It jerkily turns towards you as you approach it, smiling broadly at you.

ERROR - CORRUPTED FILE: YEAR.2012.TXT; INCREMENTING FILE TO YEAR.2013.TXT

Hello, citizen! I am a loyal servant to our great leader, Lord Nemesis! Now that all of the 'heroes' in Eisenhauptstadt have been eradicated, and the United States government has finally ceded official control to Lord Nemesis, he has turned his attention to the Rogue Isles.

So, congratulations! In a few short months, you will be a citizen of the New Empire. If you have any questions about your new life under the rule of Lord Nemesis, please direct them to me now.

• Agree to form a strike force

Remember to tell your friends! Nemesis is coming, and any resistance you provide will merely prolong undue suffering. It is recommended that you begin preparing for your life under Lord Nemesis today!

Consult with Lastri

Unnecessary Solicitation

Hello! Did you have a question about life in the New Empire? Be advised - asking too many questions is generally frowned upon in the New Empire.

Lastri Kayumanis

Briefing

Sir / Ma'am, good timing. I was just about to request your presence aboard the Mitscher. I've arranged for a full staff meeting... I believe we need to address this Nemesis problem.

• He dies, Lastri. Preferably sooner rather than later.

Of course, sir / ma'am. That's certainly within the scope of this project. However, I believe some preliminary work is going to be necessary before we can achieve this goal. Thus why I've taken the liberty of calling a meeting.

• Fine. This had better be good.

I'll meet you on board, sir / ma'am.

• Leave

• Agreed, I'll head there now.

I'll meet you on board, sir / ma'am.

• Leave

Meet with Your Allies

Unnecessary Solicitation

Hello! Did you have a question about life in the New Empire? Be advised - asking too many questions is generally frowned upon in the New Empire.

Mission Objective(s)

Map: GRANDVILLE_ASSAULT

Everyone's been assembled. It's time to find out what Lastri has planned.

• Attend the Meeting
  • Speak with Lastri
  • Proceed toward Spider City
  • Confront the Patron

You've negotiated a truce with Lord Recluse.

Enemies

Arachnos

Notable NPCs

• Lastri Kayumanis
• Odysseus (Warriors Elite Boss Ally)
• Socrates (Warriors Boss Ally)
• Captain Castillo (Sky Raiders Elite Boss Ally)
• Lieutenant Harriman (Sky Raiders Boss Ally)
• Ghost Widow (Arachnos Elite Boss)
• Black Scorpion (Arachnos Elite Boss)
• Scirocco (Arachnos Elite Boss)
• Lord Recluse (Arachnos Elite Boss)
• Red Widow (Arachnos Boss)

The Meeting

Lastri Kayumanis: Thank you all for coming.
Lastri Kayumanis: As you all know, our efforts to contain and utilize the power of Pandora's Box to our own ends have been frustrated, primarily by one person: Gerhardt Eisenstadt, otherwise known as Lord Nemesis.
Lastri Kayumanis: In assessing the threat potential that Nemesis represents, including his newfound control over the power of Pandora, I have come to a single conclusion:
Lastri Kayumanis: Alone, our organization has a near-zero chance of defeating the Nemesis army in combat.
Socrates: Unthinkable!
Captain Castillo: Preposterous!
Lieutenant Harriman: Now hold on a second...
Odysseus: Not known for your optimism, are you?
Lastri Kayumanis: I can understand your sentiments, but I assure you. I have examined every possible scenario, and direct confrontation is simply not an option.
Lastri Kayumanis: However...
Lastri Kayumanis: I believe that if we were to temporarily join our cause with another like-minded organization, our chances would improve considerably.
Odysseus: Ah. Of course. I see where this is going.
Lastri Kayumanis: For the time being, we will need to parley a truce... with Arachnos.
Lastri Kayumanis: To do so, we will need to present a unified front. Among other things, that means that this organization can remain nameless no longer.
Odysseus: A name, huh...
Odysseus: A group that has ties to both Paragon and the Isles. A finger in every pie.
Lieutenant Harriman: Let's not forget, we've got a double agent in Arachnos, too.
Lieutenant Harriman: The way things are going, Character's going to be a bona fide puppetmaster by year end.
Captain Castillo: Ah... I am getting the inspiration, I think!
Captain Castillo: Control from the shadows, a network of spies and cartels...
Captain Castillo: There is a name for this, yes? A legend of history.
Odysseus: Oh ho ho... my dear captain, isn't that a bit ambitious?
Captain Castillo: Not at all! I believe it describes us to perfection!
Captain Castillo: Character, with your permission, I believe that our alliance should henceforth be called... the Illuminati!

Lastri Kayumanis

Briefing

So, there we have it, sir / ma'am. I believe it's time for us to call on Lord Recluse.

I've called in the mainstay of our ground forces, and I've sent word to Captain Mako of our intent. Arachnos will not react well to our presence in Grandville, but I believe that if we can get you inside their headquarters in Spider City, we will be able to parley on even grounds.

• Excellent. Let's get started.

• A bold plan. Will it work?

Honestly, sir / ma'am, I'm not 100% sure. Unfortunately, this appears to be our most favorable option at the moment.

Nemesis threatens the survival of both Arachnos and our orga- *ahem* and the Illuminati. Without this alliance, I don't forsee much of a future for us.

• Very well. Let's begin.

• The Illuminati... I'm not sure.

I think it's quite appropriate, personally. It fits with most of the work you've done thus far.

Arachnos has the monopoly on soldiers and weapons in the Isles, but we've proven that brute force isn't the only form of control. The more agents you gather to your cause, the more you can manipulate events to your own advantage... something that Lord Recluse and his unwieldy army will never be able to claim.

Lastri gives you a playfully reproachful look.

Besides which, sir / ma'am... what's in a name? Clearly it's inspiring to your lieutenants. I would advise discretion in this case. You're about to send your allies on an all-out assault on Arachnos HQ. In these cases, morale is a significant concern.

• Very well. Let's begin.

Patron Dialogue

Before Combat:

Ghost Widow: Where IS he? The call went out twenty minutes ago!

Black Scorpion: No idea. I ain't his keeper.

Scirocco: His unreliability does not surprise me in the least.

Ghost Widow: No matter. We can deal with him later.

Ghost Widow: For this rabble, our power will suffice!

Patrons defeated

Lord Recluse Dialogue

Lord Recluse: Ah, Character. Your infamy grows with each passing day.
Lord Recluse: And now, here you are. But I'm afraid you've made a bit of a miscalculation.
Lord Recluse: As you can see, I still hold a... numerical advantage.
Lord Recluse: Captain Mako!
Captain Mako: Yes, sir. I'm here.
Lord Recluse: See that Character learns what it means to confront Arachnos so brazenly.
Captain Mako: ...
Captain Mako: Sir... I...
Lord Recluse: Captain? That was an order...
Captain Mako: My... Lord Recluse...
Lord Recluse: HOLD! I have reconsidered.
Captain Mako: ...
Lord Recluse: Character, I believe that we share a common foe, at present. Let us... talk.

Lord Recluse

Briefing

Lord Recluse glares at you venomously. You get the distinct impression that talking with you is just about the last the he wants to be doing right now.

So. Character.

I can only assume that Nemesis's recent acquisition of Statesman's power - a power that was rightfully mine - and the timing of this attack are not mere coincidence. Am I correct?

• You are.

And I take it that your presence here is not merely the result of a poorly-planned attack on my headquarters. Rather, you have motives somewhat less ambitious - and less suicidal - than an attempt to usurp Arachnos.

Am I speaking truth here, Character?

• So far.

Thus, the only conclusion I can come to is that you desire an alliance. You are in over your head, and you believe that only with the help of Arachnos can you possibly survive.

Have I grasped this situation correctly, Character?

• Not quite. An 'alliance' goes too far. This is merely a 'truce'.

Recluse nods slowly.

Very well. As much as I would enjoy crushing you, Character, the hubris of this 'Lord Nemesis' goes far above and beyond your transgressions.

Our conflict shall remain on hold, for now. I shall devote a portion of my forces to coordinate with yours until Nemesis is neutralized.

Now, if you don't mind, please get out of my sight.

• (Leave)

• I'll let that 'suicidal' comment slide, Recluse. Are you done?

Recluse nods slowly.

Very well. As much as I would enjoy crushing you, Character, the hubris of this 'Lord Nemesis' goes far above and beyond your transgressions.

Our conflict shall remain on hold, for now. I shall devote a portion of my forces to coordinate with yours until Nemesis is neutralized.

Now, if you don't mind, please get out of my sight.

• (Leave)

• Let's cut to the chase, Recluse. You hate Nemesis. I hate Nemesis.

Recluse nods slowly.

Very well. As much as I would enjoy crushing you, Character, the hubris of this 'Lord Nemesis' goes far above and beyond your transgressions.

Our conflict shall remain on hold, for now. I shall devote a portion of my forces to coordinate with yours until Nemesis is neutralized.

Now, if you don't mind, please get out of my sight.

• (Leave)

Debriefing

Welcome back! Have you adjusted psychologically to the idea of being ruled by an all-powerful dictator?

It can be quite the pill to swallow, but if you need them, I've got some helpful tips for you! Once you've acclimated to your new way of life, you'll be able to survive relatively pain-free in the New Empire!