Zombieluvr

I hadn't thought about this before, but now that the OP has put the thought in my head, I'd think the opposite would/should happen with the Patrons as opposed to the Freedom Phalanx. While Heroes would eclipse the Phalanx, and move on to taking on more "cosmic" style threats, I'd think the Patrons would become envious and antagonistic towards the Villains, and might seek to hinder or remove them as potential threats.

I don't think it will happen, but it would be a nice dichotomy to implement that would- IMO- be very much in keeping with the Good/Evil morality of Blue and Red sides.

I love this new look for Penelope Yin. I think the art team did an amazing job, especially with her face.

Wondering if this means the Penelope contact in Faultline will change, or if this is just for Praetorian Penelope, or if the Faultline arc is just going to be one of those in-game continuity things (you run the arc at x level, and by the time you get around to 50, Penelope has grown into this new character much the way your own character has grown in power and stature.)

I've always wished there were a round head/helmet option in the costume creator. Something that could be colored to represent different things- 8 ball, bowling ball, crystal ball, cue ball, eyeball, etc.

What if she's one of the Furies?

Oooooo!!

Thanks for that, GG. Interesting reading.

The only thing that kind of gives me pause about it is how/where dimensions/multiverses factor into things. From canon lore as it currently exists, the Well of Furies apparently represents humanity collectively across dimensions (thus, why it is working with Praetorian Cole as opposed to a Primal Well having chosen Statesman or someone in opposition).

But do the Rikti have their own version of the Well? Or are they still considered "human" enough to be beholden to the "Humanity Multiversal Well"?

Time Travel is also sticky. If the bit about Twilight's Son is true- him having "appended" himself to Humanity's Well in order to restore his powers because the Kheldian Well is destroyed in his future... then it's kind of strange. Couldn't he just tap into the Kheldian Well of the past, in spite of the future one being destroyed? The implication seems to be that there is no alternative timeline wherein the KW is *not* destroyed; it's an inevitable. Because if the Wells are multiversal, then his powers should persist despite the destruction of it in his future timeline.

Still more questions. But it's enlightening all the same.

(Also, random thought: Could Lady Grey be one of the Furies?)

Oh, and- I'm thinking Infernia might be the Hero and Villainside contact for the final story in the arc. She's in RWZ, and it's looking more and more like the final showdown will be in the Shadow Shard. Since villains can't reach the Shard via Portal Corps, I'm guessing Infernia and Vanguard are going to open a portal from RWZ.

I do wonder what Wade's ultimate plan is, though, and how he thinks he can stop Rularuu from breaking free. Could he be Rularuu's pawn in all of this without knowing it?

(Dang post got swallowed up in auto timeout... grr. Not going to retype the whole thing.)

I liked it.

Okay, that makes sense. When she referred to the world mirroring Praetoria, I was naturally inclined to think of Primal Earth (the mirror universe) rather than the more literal interpretation of her term "spirit world".

I'd still like to learn why the Vortex suddenly appeared (is it something to do with Serene and the Talons of Vengeance?) and what its apparent relationship is with the Apparitions. But your explanation clears things up.

I really hope there's more First Ward stuff coming down the pike, for a lot of reasons (so much to follow up on, and we've still got two sections of the FW that aren't really used currently- the Crags and the Asylum). A lot of loose ends that need tying up (Mother's apparently holding the Palatine's father in her asylum, despite the fact everyone seems to think she's dead and his apparition showed up in the first arc; etc.) Plus, I just love FW myself.

The biggest issue, though- What the heck is the Vortex? No one seems to know. The closest we come to finding out is a line Diabolique lets slip that it connects First Ward/Praetoria to its spirit world mirror (Primal Earth?). Of course, she seems to indicate that the Apparitions came through the Vortex, but almost immediately after that we learn their origins are distinctly Praetorian, so she may be smoking something.

Was hoping rerunning FW's arcs would clarify that for me, but it doesn't appear I missed anything on the first run through.

I'm wondering if it will connect with Dark Astoria and Diabolique's role in that zone's revamp?

Yes, not who, but what is the shiny blue giant calling itself Prometheus in Ouroboros? By his own account, he is the mythical Olympian Titan who gave humanity the flame (and the Flame) which spurred them on to greatness, and was then punished by the god Zeus in return.

Also by his own account, however, we learn that Zeus was not really a god, but an Incarnate empowered by the Well of Furies. We also learn that Prometheus has a very antagonistic attitude towards the Well. He also has a lot of knowledge about both the Well and the Coming Storm/Battalion. So just what is he?

Given how butthurt he seems in his attitude towards the Well of Furies, and how he's rallying the troops against Cole, it seems very possible to me that he might have been the Well's chosen champion in ancient times, and was cast aside by that enigmatic font of power (perhaps in favor of Zeus?)

Could he be a member of the Battalion's alien race? One who turned against them, and now seeks to stop their Coming Storm? Just how old is he, anyway? Does he precede even beings such as Tielekku, Hequat, and Ermeeth?

Or- and here's another idea, playing off the speculation above- what if he is an embittered former Chosen of the Well, seeking revenge. He wants to destroy its current champion, Cole, and finally claim all of its power for himself. Perhaps the Coming Storm is actually coming to stop his multiversal plans of conquest, which is why he's concerned about their arrival?

We still haven't ever quite figured out what that whole destroyed Ouroboros imagery from Mender Ramiel's first mission was about, after all.

Geez- you guys act like this thread is so ancient. It was only 5 months ago; figured it was better to reactivate discussion in a topic where people had already expressed an interest in discussing it than to start a new thread.

In any event, I like the idea Scarlet Shocker alluded to above: some kind of storyline (Signature Arc?) wherein we explore the nature of Crey's involvement with Hero Corps- why they want to back them, what their plans are with them. Possibly the founders wanting to get out of a bad deal they made before doing the research.

Count me in as someone who'd love to see something more developed with Hero Corps (or, at the very least, put the Hero Corps emblem as a costume piece for players.)

I think a "Crey Attacks!" themed issue could be awesome- revamp Crey's Folly and Eden, build up Hero Corps in the associated storyline, have some Crey related costume pieces, etc.

Doing some badge hunting today, and something struck me that I never really paid attention to before. One of the Disciple badge plaques talks about the protest against the Hero Corps building in Baumton:

Kind of doubt it's Brawler at this point, now that we know who the antagonist of the story is. Brawler has very little link to him at all (less so than other members of the Phalanx), and hasn't had any role at all in the story up until the epilogue of the latest arc. For that matter, neither have Positron or Citadel (which, IMO, rules them out as well).

For the death to be at all meaningful and resonate with the story as it has developed thus far, it's got to be one of the main characters in the story, IMO- either Statesman or Manticore. The two of them are the major impetus of the arc as it's developing, and the crux of the antagonist's plans hinges chiefly on the divisions created in the Phalanx as a result of their relationship (and its deterioration).

At this point, I'm guessing Manticore is going to fake his death for some reason.

Getting back on topic (once again), I noticed during Efficiency Expert Pither's "Alone in the Darque" finale that the Shadow Shard is noted as having been created as a prison for Rularuu.

Once again raising the issue of whether it was already extant, or created by the Midnighters (or someone else).

I may have to (argh) run those Shard missions again heroside to figure it out, since I'm too darn curious about it, now. Thanks, OP!

So, like others, I'd like to get back on topic, because this information really interests me (the Shard, not the threadjacking).

Did the Midnighters really create the Shadow Shard as a Prison Dimension, or is that misinformation of some kind?

Anyone offhand recall which story deals with the Dream Doctor (I think that's his name) and whether that tackles the topic?