Mission:Means And Ends - Part One: Past Debts Due

Part One: Past Debts Due

Briefing

Character, it is time to do the things left undone in Sorceress Serene's wake. I think we can both agree that the first thing we should do is release poor Katie Douglas from the Seer Network.

She will need a familiar face to regain her bearings and I think you would do well to be the one to release her.

• Agreed.

Good, I only hope that once released she is willing to help me study some strange psychic disturbances I've been sensing. First Ward has always had strange psychic activity, especially with the arrival of the Vortex, but this is both familiar and strange at the same time. That these disturbances started following Serene's death cannot be a coincidence.

I will continue looking for a pattern in these disturbances, but I could certainly use Katie's help.

Release Katie Douglas from the Seer Network

Unnecessary Solicitation

The longer Katie stays in the Network, the more apprehensive she will become. She may have the body of an adult, but she still has the mind of a teenage girl. She will not easily forgive what had to be done, even if she knows it was for the best.

Mission Objective(s)

Map: FW_SEERNETWORK_TO_NIGHTWARD

The air in here is absolutely freezing!

• Release Katie douglas from the Seer Network
  • Access the Network
  • Discover what happened

Enemies

Apparitions
Drudges

Notable NPCs

• Whispering Coyote (Ally)

• Investigate the Source of the Dead Memories

You have defeated Tear in Reality.

• Close the other Tears in Reality

You have defeated Tear in Reality.

• Access the Network

Seer Network Interface

Briefing

You access the controls for the Seer Network. The display blinks the number '0.00%' under the word 'Capacity'.

Katie and the rest of Seers appear to have simply disappeared, and in their place, it seems, Apparitions and these tears in reality formed.

• Query: Location of Seer 1381, Katie Douglas

The Network displays a spinning five-pointed praetorian star for approximately 2 seconds before returning an error message.

Query complete, Seer 1381 is no longer linked to the network.

• Query: Time of departure from Network for Seer 1381

The Network displays a spinning five-pointed praetorian star for approximately 5 seconds before returning the following message.

Subject: Seer 1381
Name: Katie Douglas
Status: Unknown
Departure: Unknown
Notes: Diagnostic required, unable to receive signal from subject - Seer 1381. Possible maintenance failure. All links to Networked Seers as of this time stamp have failed.

The time stamp appears to be only several minutes old.

• Query: Current Network Capacity

The Network displays a spinning five-pointed praetorian star for a split-second before returning the following message.

Query complete, Network is currently at 0.00% capacity. Awaiting integration of Seers to network.

• Access Network Logs

The Network displays a spinning five-pointed praetorian star for about 12 seconds before giving out more information. As you read it over, you hear an odd voice in the distance.

Kiy-yi! You won't find Katie Douglas that way!

• Who's there?

Whispering Coyote

Briefing

Ki-yi-yi! I am Whispering Coyote, Blind Makwa's spirit companion. Ki-yi-yi!

Ki-yi! The barrier between worlds has grown weak. The Netherworld is merging with First Ward to create the Night Ward! If it continues, then disaster will befall everyone, ki-yi-yi!

First, you must rescue Katie Douglas, she is the key to it all! I will guide you through the Night Ward to her. A tear is opening now! You must go through it and trust me, ki-yi-yi! Just be careful, the Drudges are here!

• I suppose I don't have much of a choice...!

Seer Network Logs

The Seer Network Logs indicate that at some point the Network experienced unauthorized psychic activity. Three minutes later every seer in the network, Katie Douglas included, had disappeared! The logs are as follows: Log Entry 2.011.178.1100 - Network at 19% Capacity: No Change Log Entry 2.011.178.1200 - Network at 19% Capacity: No Change Log Entry 2.011.178.1300 - Network at 19% Capacity: No Change Log Entry 2.011.178.1357 - Warning, Unauthorized Psychic Activity Detected. Log Entry 2.011.178.1400 - Network at 0% Capacity: Error. Diagnostic Underway. Log Entry 2.011.178.1405 - Diagnostic Complete. Network at 0% Capacity: Seers Disconnected From Network. Authorization For Disconnect Unknown. Whereabouts Unknown. Log Submitted To Praetor Tilman. Network Entering Standyby Mode.

Mission Objective(s)

• Release Katie Douglas from the Seer Network
  • Enter the portal into Night Ward
  • Go with Whispering Coyote to Katie Douglas

Something mysterious is happening and you aren't exactly sure who or what is behind it. Return to Mistress Maria to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Whispering Coyote Dialogue

At Entrance:

Whispering Coyote: Ki-ki-yi-yi!

Whispering Coyote: Drudges!

Whispering Coyote: Character, these guys -hate- outsiders to the spirit realm.

Whispering Coyote: They might have already found Katie!

Whispering Coyote: Oh... This is not good...

Whispering Coyote: Ki-yi!

Further In:

Whispering Coyote: The Drudges must be investigating what is going on as well.

Whispering Coyote: They probably think that Katie and the other Seers are responsible.

Whispering Coyote: They'll want to question them first, I just hope we aren't too late.

Drudge Chatter

Before Combat:

Watcher Thorn: Hup hup, ears to nostrils, lads!

Combat Start:

Watcher Thorn: Wez got ourselves 'nother filthy weezer!

---

Before Combat:

Hooded Lantern: I ain't gotten paid for my last seventeen shifts.

Hooded Lantern: This is rubbish!

Combat Start:

Spirit Guide: Maybe makin' this thrumper sing 'ill earn us a pinch of wax or two, eh?

Hooded Lantern: I think it's worth a scrap.

---

Before Combat:

Spirit Guide: I can smell another.

Combat Start:

Spirit Guide: You come to the world of the dead, then you stay in the world of the dead, weezer!

---

Before Combat:

Patrolman: Need me some more wax or my candle is snuffed, ya know?

Combat Start:

Patrolman: All you outsiders are good for is being dead, so hop to it.

---

Before Combat:

Spirit Guide 1: Listen, all I'm sayin' is that given current workin' conditions, your average Spirit Guide ain't goin' ta be able ta keep 'is candle burnin'.

Spirit Guide 2: Poppycock! The Taskmasters know what they're doing.

Spirit Guide 1: You aren't listenin', mate. There ain't an unlimited number of livin', it takes 'em time to, to, like, grow more of 'em, or whatever, before they go and get dead. What if this spike is a sign of a slow down to come?

Spirit Guide 1: I mean, look, there's a massive influx of dead with no sign of it slowing down, work is plentiful and the job ain't goin' ta do itself, is it?

Spirit Guide 1: What if all this that's happenin', right now, is the start of the collapse of it all?

Spirit Guide 2: Slow down? Rubbish, the living do nothin' better than kill 'emselves off.

Spirit Guide 2: This slowdown is a trend, nothin' more. Whatever -this- is, it ain't due to the livin' stoppin' killin' each other, that's fer sure.

Combat Start:

Spirit Guide 1: Seriously?

Spirit Guide 2: Oh, what do you want?

Spirit Guide 2: Can't you hear that we're in the middle of an intense socio-economic discussion?

---

Before Combat:

Hooded Lantern: Quiet, I 'eard somethin'

Hooded Lantern: I can smell the stink of the living here, can't you?

Combat Start:

Hooded Lantern: There's a 'eartbeat!

Hooded Lantern: Dirty outsider!

---

Before Combat:

Spirit Guide: I 'eard the whole Taskmaster's Office ain't got a clue what's goin' on.

Combat Start:

Spirit Guide: An' now more outsiders? Can't ya be the reasonable sort an' die like everyone else 'fore ya become a bother?

Katie Douglas Dialogue

When Found:

Katie Douglas: Ah... Ahhhh!

Whispering Coyote: Ki-yi-yi-yi!

Whispering Coyote: Katie! Katie Douglas! Wake up! Character is here to rescue you, ki-yi!

Katie Douglas: What...

Katie Douglas: What the hell happened!?

Katie Douglas: Character?

Katie Douglas: I don't even know -where- this place you found me is, but...

Katie Douglas: Ok, the spirit realm? Are you friggin' kidding me?

Katie Douglas: We'll talk about this later, Character.

Katie Douglas: Get me outta here!

Debriefing

You did it! I can sense Katie's mind once more, but the spirit world is merging closer to our own with every heartbeat, Character.

I spoke with Blind Makwa, and according to him, Whispering Coyote believes that the secret to stopping the transition lies within the Midnight Mansion... well now it seems we have recovered our means to return there, assuming Katie is willing to help.