Question: Will any of the canon be taken from current story arcs that players have implemented, if no back story had been thought of previously? Or is all the canon just coming from 'in-house'?
Answer: Here at Paragon, were always fond of saying that a good idea can come from anywhere. Having said that, we reserve the right to take or leave anything from the MA arcs as we see fit. If it doesnt work its way back into our releases then it should not be taken as canon. Also, dont be surprised to see a serendipitous event of two very similar stories coming out, one from MA and the other from the developers. So many stories have already been created in Architect, odds are pretty good that were going to develop similar ones here.
Question: Did Statesman and Maiden Justice have more than just the one child?
Answer: Statesman and Maiden Justice only had one child, Alexis Cole aka Miss Liberty.
Question: Is there a given reason for the Rikti's vulnerability/aversion to magic?
Answer: In their world the Rikti allowed their gods to die out and have always had an aversion to worshipping supernatural and/or mystical beings. Their lack of faith and interest in such things created a vulnerability over time. More recently, members of the Restructionist faction within the Rikti are reconsidering this position. In fact some of them even have magical powers from their Primal Earth Mu blood. The Rikti have also begun questioning their stance on this with the resurgence of the Midnight Squad. The recent attacks from a purely magical source have cut the Rikti more deeply than theyd like to admit.
Question: Besides the information given in the offical game history on the website, is there any more information in regards to civilians and military forces living situations during the Rikti War?
Answer: Everyone had a difficult time during the Rikti War. Super-powered individuals were on the front lines and even actively hunted by the Rikti. Military personnel were often asked to oppose far superior forces, trying to fight desperate holding actions until help could arrive. Civilians werent spared from the destruction either, often their homes and shelters were attacked or destroyed like so much collateral damage. No one lived without fear at that time, whether it was fear for their own life or the lives of their families and friends.
Question: Rick Davies, the technology contact in Atlas Park, was once the hero called Horatio. His battlesuit was used to upgrade Citadel after the latter was injured during the first Rikti War.
Did Rick CREATE Citadel in the first place? If not, who did?
Answer: Crey Industries did the original work on Citadel but Positron removed their security controls to allow the android hero access to his free will.
Question: Most hospitals in the Rogue Isles is named Black Heart Memorial Hospital. Who or what is Black Heart?
Answer: Black Heart is an homage to Sacred Heart Hospital. If there is a Black Heart in the Rogue Isles, he or she has yet to make a move.
Question: Is the Dream Doctor really dead? If yes, how did he die? If not, where is he?
Answer: Can you ever really kill a dream? The Dream Doctor will always be alive and well in the hearts and minds of the Midnight Squad. At last report however, he was still in dreamspace seeking ways to prevent the Circle of Thorns from ascending to ultimate power.
Question: Oh and Gamester!! Was that just a one-shot plot device to explain the presents and such for the Holiday events or is there more to be known about that character?
I thought he/she/it was a neat idea.
Answer: The Gamester is still capering somewhere behind the scenes and is always ready for a good old-fashioned game of Global Thermonuclear War
or maybe Chess
whichever. Anything that will pit people against each other in an interesting competition for his entertainment will flush him back out into the limelight.
Question: When Kheldians join with a human, do they produce a new singular personality or do the two still exist separately in the same mind?
Answer: The two personalities merge together into a new single entity. In the case of Peacebringers and Warshades the personalities influence the whole. Nictus, on the other hand, do their best to dominate the host and take complete control. It is possible for the Kheldian to depart the host and the host can actually force a Kheldian out with enough focused willpower.
Question: A question on Lord Recluse.
Are the eight legs on his back actually spider legs covered in proto-steel or are they just mechanical proto-steel legs?
Answer: Lord Recluses legs are powerful flesh and bone covered in man-made prot-steel.
Question: A question on the 5th Column.
Are they from our world? When did Reichsman declare himself their new leader? Why did Mueller suddenly decide to follow him?
Answer: The 5th Column has its origins firmly planted in Primal Earth. For more information about the return of Reichsman and the 5th Column check out this Developer Diary:
http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/gam...r_diary_2.html
Question: Do the Furies still run the Three Sisters Restaurant?
Answer: Theyre silent partners.
Question: what is the lore of COX actually?
there is no line of story anywhere and we're always left with lose ends.
Answer: Well this seems to be a pretty deep and philosophical question, but Im gonna take a swing at it. Ive always viewed the lore for CoH as a HUGE tapestry. It has many character and story threads that are being woven together to form a (hopefully) cohesive whole. In fact, I wrote an article about it.
http://www.gamasutra.com/resource_gu.../fish_01.shtml
Obviously our storytelling tools have increased since then. More varied missions, cut scenes, and Flashback just to name a few. Weve also learned some lessons about what works better when trying to tell stories in our game. CoH is immense, there are bound to be loose ends for any individual player. We hope you all will discover some of the things you missed on your way up the food chain through other players. We think we have the best MMO community out there and you should all take advantage of that!
We also designed the background of the game to keep the world growing. We knew we had to cover more than a few months of gameplay. Here we are 5 years later and were building on stories that were written back in 2003 or even earlier. Let me give a couple examples. The 5th Column, which was one of the first enemy groups designed, is coming back courtesy of our Issue 15 Strike and Task Forces. The Praetorians were a villain group created to help flesh out our high level content. Now Praetorian Earth is going to be one of the primary content features in our upcoming Going Rogue expansion. If we tie every loose end off then we dont leave ourselves anywhere to go.
Of course we want our players to have triumphs too! Thats why some of the less powerful groups stories end as you work your way up in level. After defeating someone like Frostfire, the Outcasts dont hold a lot of challenge for a hero and its time to move up to greater threats.
So
where is the lore? Its all around you in contact and NPC dialogue, missions and story arcs, world and holiday events, Strike and Task Forces, our Dev Diaries and web fiction, comics and novels, and more. There are also great fan resources for lore and although I cant vouch that they are 100% accurate or canon, I can give a shout out to places like Paragon Wiki and Red Tomaxs Guide. So start digging
the lore is out there!
Question: The Lost are the Rikti right? It is HEAVILY implied, but is never confirmed. When I say The Lost, I mean the mutated homeless refer to their leaders as The Lost, rather than themselves, and these leaders are the Rikti, so-called because they are lost in this world with no way to return?
Answer: The Lost are humans that are being artificially mutated into Rikti.
Question: Are we gonna see anything of the guy who started Arachnos? By this I mean, THE WEAVER!!!
Answer: At last report the Weaver is dead, assassinated by the Red Widow at Lord Recluses request. You know how it is though
its hard to keep a good villain down.
Question: What is the connection between Romulus of Cimerora and Romulus the warshade?
Answer: Romulus the Warshade and Romulus Augustus of Cimerora have no connection. If some trick of time travel were to bring them together, they would surely be enemies.
Question: Does Manticore have a British accent? I know he was raised by his English nanny, and his background states that his father was a hero in England, so there's a possibility he retained some semblance of an accent.
Answer: No. He received his archery training from Virginia Bowman but did not pick up her British accent.
Question: I'd like some backstory on Steven Sheridan. Is Dr. Science just his character on the kids show he hosts? Does he do any actual heroing? (you know, aside from figuring out how to end the Rikti War!) What are his powers? Just an eidetic memory?
Answer: Steven Sheridan is, above all things, a hero. Dr. Science is more than just the name of his television character; its also how he is known throughout the hero community. He is extremely well respected by the defenders of Paragon City and they often look to him for advice and direction. He rarely sees the heat of combat but has certainly been known to head out into the field when a precise measurement or assessment is necessary. In addition to his eidetic memory, Dr. Science is a PHD level expert in virtually every scientific field known to man and is the worlds leading authority in many of them.
Question: I just pretty much want to know anything and everything there is about Blue Steel, such as how did he come by his powers, why is he not a registered super hero (instead of working for the police)?
Answer:
Blue Steel grinds his coffee with his teeth and boils the water with his rage over Tub Cis release.
Blue Steel didnt come by his powers; he sprang full grown from the forehead of Zeus ready for battle.
Blue Steel doesnt sleep. He waits
for another crack at the Clockwork King.
Castle and BABs put Shield Defense in the game because Blue Steel told them to
or else.
Blue Steel has no Secondary powers. All his powers are Primary.
If you can see Blue Steel, he can see you. If you can't see Blue Steel, you may be only seconds away from defeat.
Blue Steel doesnt register as a hero. The city registers heroes so Blue Steel doesnt have to take them down.
Blue Steel told Statesman that PPD trumps FP and Statesman shut up.
Blue Steel destroyed the periodic table, because the only element he understands is the element of surprise.
(I consulted with Ray Snyder, the dev who plays Blue Steel, and he informed me that Blue Steel is a Martial Arts, Shield Defense Scrapper but
Blue Steel doesnt need an Archetype. Blue Steel *is* an Archetype)
Question: What exactly are the Igneous and what is their connection to the Devouring Earth?
Answer: Im going to use this question to reveal a *tiny* chunk of the story bible, just to help squelch the doubters. This is a sample of the initial concept for a piece of content in the game. The info in the story bible is written for flavor and so it doesnt list full crunchy information. From here a group like this was detailed out by the art team and powers designers. You can compare the Magmites and Pumicites in this raw form to what actually made it into game.
The CoH story bible really does exist. Between heroes and villains its well over 600 pages and growing. We started it to help keep things in our massive game straight. We try to keep everything consistent between the game, the web, and our ancillary products but over a hundred different people have worked on CoH at this point and it isnt always easy. One of the points of this thread is to try and find the wrinkles and tears and smooth them out as best we can. Thanks to everyone for all the great questions and well keep plugging away at answers!
The partial entry below is an ancient one, dusted off for your entertainment and edification. Positron, Hero 1, War Witch, Castle, BABs and the rest of the team have much more sophisticated methods these days.
1.1 Igneous the Magma Master
1.1.1 Background
1.1.1.1 The Golden Time
Before everything in his life melted away, Ingelbert Maahs was well on his way to becoming the most famous explorer of his time. His advanced degrees in Geology and Archeology combined with a thirst for adventure to create an adventurer without peer. After leaving school, Maahs used his skill and influence to put together expeditions that uncovered lost treasures; brought to light scientific facts and benefited all those involved. His partner throughout this early success was his best friend, Marcus Janssen. Maahs had a keen eye for his craft but there was one thing that he overlooked...jealousy. Janssen was frustrated by all the credit that Maahs was receiving for their efforts. He began to plan a way to take his colleague out of the picture.
1.1.1.2 A Dark Turn
Since he first dreamt of being an explorer, Ingelbert Maahs had a Holy Grail. When he was a young boy he found his first reference to the Cavern of Transcendence. It was vaguely mentioned in a book that Ingelbert found while prowling the library. He searched for information about it his whole life, but few details were available. Over the years he was able to determine that the Cavern was underground and part of a network of tunnels. He also discovered that there would be trials to face when seeking it but there would also be some sort of reward. Of course, Janssen new of his friends obsession and found a way to capitalize on it. He lured Maahs under Paragon City using rumors of a mystic cavern. There, he treacherously pushed his comrade into a floe of Magma and fled the tunnels to report the terrible tragedy. Somehow Ingelbert did not die, however. He was barely able to crawl free after being horribly burned. He was found by the Magmites, part of an underground society of rock people. They managed to heal Maahs but in the process permanently infused his flesh with molten rock. Maahs mind was warped by the betrayal of his partner and the shock of his new appearance. He left behind his humanity and became Igneous the Magma Master.
1.1.1.3 Boiling Point
Since his transformation Igneous has led the Magmites in a slow advance toward the surface world. They have altered and enhanced natural tunnels to suit their purposes and are preparing for a strike on Paragon City. Igneous has come to believe that his new state is the transcendence he dreamed of his whole life. He and his new people guard the Cavern fiercely. Anyone venturing beneath the surface of Paragon City will find a powerful group facing them.
1.1.2 The servants of Igneous
1.1.2.1 Magmites
Rank: Minion, Lt.
Levels: 5-15
Powers: Lava blast (Area denial), Lava Burst (AOE), Lava Hold (Single target DOT/Hold), Magma Punch, Resist Fire, Vulnerable to Cold
Description: These creatures are made of molten rock. They are composed of blackened slabs of rock with lava flowing through the cracks. Small chunks of magma fall off them when they attack or move. The Magmites can travel freely through lava and can ambush a player by popping up out of a pool
or river.
Magmites are usually measured, relentless enemies. They will normally defend an area until they are defeated. They use their own bodies to summon forth flows of magma to trap and then burn their opponents. If their underground areas are disturbed by explosions or earth tremors the Magmites can become frenzied. If this happens they will move toward the surface and attack anything in their path.
1.1.2.2 Pumicites
Rank: Minion, Lt.
Levels: 5-15
Powers: Swipe (Lethal Melee+ Debuff Endurance), Fast Attacks, Fast Movement, Superleap, Resist Fire, Vulnerable to Smashing
Description: Light and fast attack creatures that shred anything they come in contact with. They are made of light gray porous stone that is abrasive like the skin of a shark. Their flesh resembles a sponge because of the gas bubbles frozen with it. These bubbles burst and release the gas within making it more difficult to breathe near them. Since they are light the Pumicites move quickly and are more agile than they appear.
Hollows Pools
Hollows_Julius_StoryArc.xls, Mission1 Clear out Magmite cave
Hollows_Talshak_StoryArc.xls, Errand2 Defeat Magmites in the Ravines
Hollows_Talshak_StoryArc.xls, Mission5 Battle through Magmites to save Sam Wincott and become master of the Mystical gateway at the heart of the Cavern of Transcendence
Question: I just pretty much want to know anything and everything there is about Blue Steel, such as how did he come by his powers, why is he not a registered super hero (instead of working for the police)? I would like to know how Blue Steel came to work with the police and whether such an option is open for other heroes who do not want to operate under the Citizens Crime Fighting Act but who would rather be true Police Officers.
Is Blue Steel both a registered superhero and a member of the PPD, and in what capacity?
Answer: For those not completely satisfied with last weeks answers
here are some more details. 
Josh Youngs father was a stalwart member of the Paragon Police Department. Josh spent his youth on the streets of Kings Row, feeling safe and proud because his dad was a cop. Joshs world turned upside down when his father was shot and killed in the line the week before Joshs High School graduation. That day Josh put aside his plans for college and enrolled in the Police Academy. His fathers sterling reputation and untimely death assured Josh of a spot with no questions asked. He excelled in his courses and completed his studies in record time. He was a man possessed, studying and preparing every day practically round the clock. With what little spare time he had, he built a dream. Forging himself a shield with his fathers badge melted into it, Josh crafted the identity of Blue Steel.
Josh went to his Captain with the idea of patrolling the Row in his Blue Steel Identity. His notion was met with skepticism at first but after he went straight to the PPD Commissioner (who was a friend of his fathers) and told him that Blue Steel would be patrolling the streets of Paragon with or without sanction, a compromise was made. Josh registered himself as a super-powered individual but was made a special deputy in the PPD. This solution received some resistance but enough high ranking officers spoke on Joshs behalf it was implemented despite any objections.
Blue Steel adopted Kings Row as his primary beat, after asking the Back Alley Brawler to set up shop in Galaxy City as a personal favor. He is known to let his still simmering anger over his fathers death boil over on occasion (such as his encounter with the Clockwork King) but so far no disciplinary action has been leveled against him.
Blue Steel has a special rank in the PPD and is also registered as a super-powered hero. Any hero in Paragon City is welcome to join the PPD. They must receive training like any other police officer but it does not excuse them from registration.
Question: Does Arachnos exist in Praetorian Earth?
Answer: Im going to use this question to rain check on all Praetorian questions for right now. Im compiling them all into a big Canon Fodder update for posting closer to the release of the Going Rogue expansion.
Question: Are we ever going to learn more about Red Widow?
Answer: Red Widow is one of those characters who people either love or hate. Although there arent immediate plans to explore her background, she is clearly the subject of a great deal of curiosity. Just like all the threads weve dangled over the years, Id like to think shell be woven into the story more completely at some point in the future.
Question: Did Positron use his power armor to fight crime before or after developing the ability to generate anti-matter?
Answer: A lab accident early in his career granted Dr. Raymond Keyes the ability to generate small, insignificant amounts of anti-matter material. So small that if it wasnt for his scientific mind he probably would have lived the rest of his life without realizing he had the ability. Fortunately for us, Dr. Keyes traced a pattern of weirdness occurring around him to this innocuous ability. He and his colleague Dr. Rudolph Bein built the original Positron suit as a way to harness the anti-matter he naturally generated, and could then use that harnessed energy to project his anti-matter beams and power his rocket boots for flight.
During one of the last battles of the first Rikti War, Positron was severely injured, and lost any sort of control he had over his anti-matter generation ability. Since the suit was specifically designed to harness and store anti-matter, he locked himself inside of it for the safety of those around him. Events surrounding the return of Hero-1 to Primal Earth saw him cured of this condition, and he can now enjoy a life outside the armor.
Question: Of all the zones in the Rogue Isles that Longbow could have established in a base in, what the hell possessed them to choose NERVA?! Grandville, I could see... Cap, I could see... but NERVA?!
Answer: Although Nerva might not have been their first choice geographically, it keeps them from going too far over political and legal lines. Nerva is not clearly part of Lord Recluses sovereign territory and so Ms. Liberty can justify the actions of her people there when called out on the carpet by government oversight committees and the like. She definitely thinks that Statesman is too passive when it comes to Arachnos but she generally leaves the black bag stuff to Wyvern.
Question: In Scirocco's patron arc, he may as well have a giant neon sign saying "I have a crush on Ghost Widow." Does she know about it?
Answer: Although Ghost Widow knows that Scirocco is unfailingly polite to her she is not completely certain why. She suspects he has some sort of feelings for her but attributes it to some sort of misplaced chivalry. In the constant jockeying that goes on in Arachnos she is more than willing to exploit his naivety.
The truth is that the mantle of Scirocco, normally bestowed by the Monks of the Four Winds, weighs heavily upon Imad Malak. When he stole Serafinas bottle and the scimitar wielded by the hero Scirocco, he insured himself a difficult path. Serafina cursed him to wield the power of a hero in the name of evil and be hunted for all his days. He fights against the curse and hopes to have it lifted someday. He believes that rescuing Ghost Widow from the clutches of Lord Recluse (for so he perceives the situation) might be his road to redemption.
Question: Whats the deal with Malaise?
Answer: Primal Earth Malaise is a great example of our upcoming Going Rogue game feature. He walks the line between hero and villain and has been both at one time or another. Jean-Pierre Lourdin started out as a villain. His powerful psychic abilities twisted his sense of reality and caused him to perform selfish and evil acts. Sister Psyche was able to heal some of the damage to his mind and monitored him through a mind link during the time he was her sidekick. When Sister P was returned to the body of Shalice Tilman, her link with Jean-Pierre was broken. In the aftermath, Malaise returned to his villainous ways but after Ms. Liberty found him and defeated him in battle she offered him another chance to reform. The Vindicators are all about second chances and although many of Paragons heroes are keeping a close eye on him, Malaise has toed the line so far.
Much more will be revealed about the Praetorian Malaise in the Going Rogue expansion but for now I will say that Mother Mayhem encouraged his twisted tendencies instead of discouraging them. This resulted in a much darker path for Mothers little helper.
Question: How does the Fortunata Mind Link work, from a story perspective? Can they use it to telephatically communicate with each other?
Answer: Fortunatas have a wide range of psychic abilities but they tend to be most powerful in the area of precognition. Their Mind Link is more like a psychic slide show than true telepathy, flashing future images into another mind.
Question: In Arachnos, do the Arbiters (as a position) pre-date Recluse's rise to power? If so, do they consider themselves truly answerable to him (as their duty is to serve Arachnos itself). I mean sure they do as matter of course, but if they felt he was a threat to Arachnos itself...
Answer: Although the position of Arbiter existed before the current regime, the Arbiters were empowered by Lord Recluse to prevent the day to day disputes that are inevitable in an organization like Arachnos from becoming completely counterproductive. Lord Recluse and the Arbiters have a symbiotic relationship. They know that their untouchable status is in large part provided by the threat of Lord Recluse. On the other hand, the Arbiters strengthen Recluses position by mitigating internal threats. No one in Arachnos would casually choose to oppose Lord Recluse, and indeed he has never given them reason, but if the Arbiters united against him it would certainly be a conflict that would shake the Rogue Isles to their foundation.
Question: How successful were the twenty-six* other Rikti invasion fleets compared to the Paragon City Fleet, and could you name a few locations the Rikti invaded besides Paragon City?
Answer: The other Rikti invasion fleets were causing massive damage and loss of life before Dr. Sciences plan (and Omega Teams sacrifice) caused a full scale retreat. The destruction of the U.N. buildings in New York and Geneva were only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the other fleets activities. Rome, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, Moscow, Mumbai, Mexico City, Tokyo, Cairo and Sao Paulo were other Rikti targets.
Question: Do Rikti have "families" in the same sense that humans do?
Answer: Although many Rikti customs are based on their human ancestry, few of them exactly mirror our own due to their radically different path. However the Rikti definitely have concepts of love, friendship, and family even if they arent exactly the same as ours.
Question: I've wondered about this for a long while. When Ishmael of the Lost tried to psychically control the city, a hero known as The Grimm Fairy discovered the plot and stopped Ishmael herself. Afterward, she appealed to the Freedom Phalanx for help in rescuing some trapped citizens (and Sister Psyche discovered the amazing scope of the operation). However, she stopped Ishmael herself. This one person stopped a Lost pariah who's power was so vast that the psychic residue he left behind in Perez years ago still fuels the gang wars going on today.
What happened to her?
Answer: The Grimm Fairy has been missing for years. The going theory among the super-powered investigation crowd is that she was taken prisoner by the Rikti who saw her as a serious threat.
Question: What powers is Mynx supposed to have? Early sources suggested she had Regeneration, but when she appeared in City of Villains, she instead had Super Reflexes. I'm guessing the in-game version is probably the official version, but I wanted to ask, since you're offering.
Answer: As Mynx realized the Regeneration abilities granted to her by the volatile Crey serum that had been forcibly administered to her were waning, she focused intensely on improving her feline reflexes. After working with Synapse and some of his Longbow training partners she felt much more powerful and in control.
Question: So what exactly is the current and ancient state of the relationship between the Fifth Column, the Nictus, and the Council?
Answer: The Nictus have been around for a very long time. They have their own agenda regardless of their current allies. Several years ago many Nictus chose to side with the Council as they took over the 5th Column from within but the recent rise of Reichsman has certainly put the Council’s power base at risk. The Center, the leader of the Council, has a long standing alliance with the Nictus but history teaches us that alliances are rarely permanent.
Question: At the end of Janet Kellum's arc "The Evil Countess Crey" (40-44), Countess Crey has been arrested and is in custody. But 45+ villain arcs (e.g. Viridian's) show the Countess at liberty. What happened to her in between? Was she cleared of charges (perhaps through underhanded legal maneuverings), or did she escape? This is an important distinction because it affects her legal standing in Paragon City (if not the Isles).
Answer: Countess Crey has been charged with a number of crimes during her colorful career but as her many personal attorneys are all fond of saying: “An arrest is not the same thing as a conviction.” She was cleared of all charges corruption and conspiracy stemming from this incident.
Question: What’s the deal with Indigo, Crimson, and Viridian?
Answer: These three covert operatives all have the reputation of being among the best in the business. Early in their careers the three went on a number of missions together. They complemented each other perfectly with Indigo’s stealth abilities, Crimson’s tracking and weapon mastery, and Viridian’s interpersonal skills and vast network of contacts. During their last mission together they were betrayed and almost captured. Viridian was seriously wounded in their escape, losing and eye in the process. He never forgave his partners and took his skills to the Rogue Isles to find the highest bidder which not surprisingly turned out to be Arachnos. Recently Crimson and Indigo have been working for Longbow but the true allegiance of covert operatives is always in question. Many experts in intelligence circles theorize that Viridian is also working undercover for Longbow. What that means regarding his relationship with his previous partners is anyone’s guess.
Question: Question: When a Kheldian "moves in"/merges/bonds with a host, does that act permanently alter their host in tangible ways, such as their DNA, and if so are physical changes from merging with a Kheldian permanent?
Answer: Joining with a Kheldian causes significant and permanent neurological changes. Altered Brainwave patterns, telepathic links, and psychic residue such as false memories are all among the many possible consequences of a merge. Although it is theoretically possible that DNA alteration or other physical changes could also occur there is no current evidence to support such a theory.
Question: Galaxy and Quantum units (especially Void Hunters) are made from N-Fragments which are either broken-down fragments of weak Nictus or fragments made through other means. Is this solely a Nictus thing or are the Peacebringer Kheldians capable of the same "fragmentation"?
Answer: It is theoretically possible to break down and implant a chunk from a Peacebringer into a human but it would take some sort of extreme circumstance for such an occurrence come to pass. The ramifications for the Peacebringer and the subject would be unknown and of grave concern to any ethical scientist in Paragon City or beyond.
Question: The Knives of Artemis: Is there any data about their internal organization or command structure?
Answer: When first encountered in the global conflict arena, the Knives of Artemis had less than 100 members. In the intervening years, covert information sources indicate that their numbers have increased by as much as ten times that number. Regardless of the accuracy of those reports their structure seems to have remained the same with very few layers between the lowest Mercenary recruit and the Hands of Artemis, the battlefield leaders of the group. The secretive Sisterhood of the Huntress, which is rumored to be the oldest cadre within the organization, has never been seen in battle so their role in the command scheme is unknown at this time but they clearly wield power behind the scenes.
Question: What exactly is his Diviner Maros’ relationship with the rest of the Circle of Thorns and what is he up to?
Answer: Diviner Maros is a member of the Circle of Thorns but his ability to see through time creates a great deal of fear and respect for him within the organization. This simultaneously makes him somewhat of an outcast and provides him much more independence than the average Circle Mystic. The scope of Maros’ perspective also makes him all but immune to retribution for it is seemingly impossible to ever surprise him…provided he can keep it all straight in his head. This fact makes it quite likely that Diviner Maros will indeed survive to witness a future where he sees, and lives, only in the present.
Question: In 2010 there will be a national census in the United States, home of Paragon City. Will US citizens who have merged with Kheldians count as one "person" in this census, or two?
Answer: Since it has been established that merging with a Kheldian creates one new combined entity the answer is one.
Question: What's up with Valkyrie’s spear? It seems odd to have an advanced technological spear just sitting around. Are there more artifacts like this around? Where did they come from?
Answer: The spear that started Valerie Kellum’s career as a hero is an artifact from the violent alternate world of War Earth, which also happens to be the homeworld of the Praetorian known as Battle Maiden. It’s very possible that there are more such weapons hidden on Primal Earth waiting to be uncovered.
Question What happens to Apex after War Witchs death? The last image we get of him in the comics is him looking for a team.
Answer: Apex joined the legions of heroes trying to reclaim Paragon City from the dark forces that inhabit her streets. Like all characters from our canon, its possible hell return to the limelight someday.
Question How did War Witch manage to come back as a ghost? There is a big gap between her death and when she comes back to give Positron an item.
Answer: Remember that War Witch has ties to powerful mystical forces. Her supernatural connections helped bring her back to continue fighting the good fight. Besides, anyone who has met War Witch knows that a little thing like death couldnt stop her from helping those around her.
Question In the first CoH Comics, the whole Freedom Phalanx team loses their powers but then Synapse manages to get his back to catch Manticores arrow. How did that happen?
Answer: Synapse states in the comic that his catch was made out of desperation not because his super-speed was back. Clearly his catch was a part luck and part adrenaline. There is a great deal of debate in the real world (see Ripleys Believe it or Not, Nova, and Mythbusters) about whether arrow catching is possible by a normal human but clearly Synapse settled that question in the City of Heroes universe.
Question In the story lore, what happens after Honoree is defeated? Is there a public or private funeral for him? Does the public know that he was really Hero 1?
And do the Rikti have any other "hostages" heroes like Honoree?
Answer: After the defeat of Omega Team, Hero 1s memory was honored by Statesman when he asked all heroes in Paragon City to avoid using capes for a time. There has been no further ceremony since Hero 1s final fate is undetermined. Many heroes are still holding out hope that Hero 1 can be restored. For that same reason it has not been officially announced that Honoree is Hero 1, although many of Paragon Citys defenders are aware of the truth.
The only scheduled public ceremony related to Hero 1 is the opening of the time capsule that was created by Omega Team. This event will occur November 27th 2009 and will be reported on by the Paragon Times.
Although there is no hard evidence, it is theoretically possible that the Rikti transformed other members of Omega Team as they did to Hero 1.
Question Where is Pocket D located?
Answer: Technically Pocket D is located everywhere and nowhere. Everywhere because DJ Zero can punch a dimensional door through to any location from Pocket D. Nowhere because Pocket D is a self-contained pocket dimension created from nothing by DJ Zero using his ability to manipulate the space-time continuum. Contrary to opinion, Pocket D is not part of the Shadow Shard.
Question Every franchise has its rules of canon and I'm assuming that City of Heroes is no exception. While I'm very interested in the lore of the City, I'd first like to know what sources are considered canon. The game itself is a given but are both volumes of the comic canon? The novel(s)? Heroclix info? Trading cards? Are any licensed products so far off the mark that they have to be ignored?
Also, if a player asks a question that has no real definitive answer but you decide to speculate, is that speculation canon? Will you be deciding certain details of the lore on the spot or are you limiting yourself solely to sourced material, even if it is unpublished developer's notes?
Answer: These types of questions come up a lot and although weve answered them in various incarnations it seems to bear repeating. The game itself is always the primary source of canon. Official posts on our website such as the timeline of the game are also canon. Our ancillary products (books, comics, games) can be considered canon but due to the fact that they are oft times created by people outside our studio and need to bend to accommodate their own needs they are a secondary source. We do our best to make certain everything meshes but if contradictions come up, this thread is the perfect place for you to point it out and get clarification.
Finally, it is important to note that if there is speculation in one of these answers it comes out of a discussion between many of the devs but is not necessarily instant canon. Its safer to treat a comment like no one is certain or it is theoretically possible as a teaser rather than canon. We will definitely define and add to the canon in these answers, just not every time.
Question Do any of the Freedom Phalanx drive cars?
Answer: Synapse and Positron both have cars and enjoy driving them for the different experience. Manticore has an extensive collection of fine automobiles that he has been known to drive on occasion, when he can let his mane down. Statesman was given a Shelby 427 Cobra in 1965 as a gift for saving the life of Carroll Shelby. He has rarely driven the car (painted in a manner to match his crime-fighting outfit), and it currently resides in Justin Sinclairs garage.
Question In the CoV disc case it depicts a battle between heros and villians, and it has all the major vills fighting too. In the very back it shows someone who looks to be in a leader position, and it ISNT Recluse. He stands on two thin mechanical legs, most of his body is covered in armor, his pale bald head barely protrudes out of the armor, and he has 6 mechanical spider legs above his head. Who is this?
Answer: That image shows Weaver-1 circa 2005 during a Freedom Phalanx attack on an Arachnos base. Weaver-1 is very rarely seen even by his own people and is known to be constantly improving and upgrading his shell. Despite intelligence gathering efforts by Indigo and other covert operatives, what he looks like at the present time is unknown.
Question When Lady Grey stole some of Honeree's essence during that last big battle in the comic, she said something like "May I have some of your years."
That made me wonder, is that what Council vamps and dark melee characters do?
Answer: In that instance, Lady Grey was using her signature power called Aging Touch. It allows her to siphon some of the life energy from her opponent, quite literally shortening their life. This specific power is theoretically unique to her. However, drawing upon the power of Shadow Earth for Dark Melee and other shadow powers can have various effects and it is possible that some other heroes and villains might have similar effects. We leave it to the fertile imagination of our players to describe exactly how *their* characters powers work within the framework we provide in our descriptions.
Question If you kill a CoT member, presumably only the body dies and the Oranbegan spirit is once again rendered incorporeal until it can find a new body, correct?
Answer: In general that is correct unless other precautions are taken or special equipment is used.
Question Can the Oranbegan spirits actually be killed off permanently? If you kill a spectral, does it actually die? Or are you just weakening it so it needs to recover its strength before it can manifest again?
Answer: They can definitely be killed permanently. Again it would require a ritual or mystic weapon of some kind but as the Midnight Squad has been proving for generations, no magic is so powerful it cant be bound with enough preparation and perspiration
and perhaps a little exsanguination.
Question According to CoX lore, the Freedom Phalanx carried on their normal duties during the events of the Might For Right Act. Does this mean the Freedom Phalanx agreed with the mandatory service required (or "draft") on this or did they just not know about the abuses going on?
Answer: The Freedom Phalanx initially supported the Might for Right Act but when it became apparent that abuses were occurring they joined many other heroes in taking a stand to support those being victimized and lobby for the Act to be overturned by the Supreme Court.
Question Whats the story behind Lord Recluses' sidearm?
Answer: The pistol that Lord Recluse carries was a gift to him from Statesman back in the days when they were adventuring together. Marcus gave the weapon to Stefan right before leaving to walk the earth and unlock the power of his inner will, without giving his friend any clue where he was going or why. Stefan keeps the gun to remind himself that although Marcus was always quick to give him gifts, his old friend was also always self-absorbed and looked at Stefan as an inferior
or so Stefan believes.
Question Psionics seem to hurt Recluse according to the comic book version of "Trading Places", why hasn't Recluse covered such a massive hole in his defense? Is Statesman just as susceptible?
Answer: Recluse does have items that reduce his vulnerabilities but no object, no matter how powerful is completely unassailable. Both Statesman and Lord Recluse are incredibly powerful beings, among the toughest on the planet, but neither of them is unbeatable.
Question There were impurities inside the samples that Stephan brought back from the Well of the Furies according to "Web of Arachnos", these obviously had some part of Project Fury, but where did that wonderful pot of water in MAGI come from?
Answer: The most concerning thought raised by this question is that the Well of the Furies is still out there. Granted it was completely sealed off at last report, but in a world of phasing, teleportation, and so many other amazing abilities one has to wonder if anyone else has found access.
To answer your specific question, MAGIs sample was a personal gift from the Furies to Azuria in return for a favor she did for them. It seems even incredibly powerful mythical beings sometimes need multiple references when applying for a business license.
Question We know that it's the origin of both Scirocco's and Ice Mistral's powers. It's also the origin of Borea's and Levantera's powers.
Are these the only four mantles? If not, is there a mantle for each of the significant Mediterranean winds? Or is just for the winds for the 4 Cardinal and 4 Ordinal directions? And if this is the case how did Borea end up in there? The Bora wind, while significant isn't a Cardinal or Ordinal wind.
Answer: These are not the only four Mantles. The Monks of the Four Winds are constantly searching for candidates to represent all the winds of the world. The Four Winds refers to the Cardinal Winds. There are definitely Mantles associated with the Ordinal Winds as well. Borea has the Mantle of Boreas, the wind of the North, making her a powerful force in the Order. Why she was chosen for such an important role is a constant source of frustration for her sister. Borea herself is quite worried that her namesake was known as the Bringer of Winter and has sworn that she will die before using her power to any ill purpose.
Question What are Ghost Falcons' powers and back story?
Answer: Ghost Falcon is the Analog of Invisible Falcon from Praetorian Earth. At one point in his past he attacked the Crey facilities of that world, and was captured. Crey scientists there severed the mental link he had to the rest of his team and deprogrammed him as part of their 'Project: Redemption'. Ghost Falcon has come to Primal Earth after a portal was recently opened between the two universes. His motives here are still unknown.
Question Whats up with Ms. Liberty?
Answer: There have been many questions about Ms. Libertys methods and practices. In general she strongly believes in fighting fire with fire (quite literally in the case of the controversial flamethrowers). When villains, even thugs, gain access to super-powers she believes that the methods used to fight them require some amping up. As far as shes concerned, her people are not breaking the Geneva Convention. Of course anyone in power is subject to question, as it should be. There are definitely politicians and law enforcement officials, even other heroes, who question if she has gone over the edge. Some say she is more like her grandfather than she would ever like to admit in terms of her absolute belief that she is doing the right thing. The same headstrong approach that causes her to accept anyone in need of a second chance into the Vindicators, even former criminals, sometimes drives her to overly aggressive response to villainous activity. Her teammate Swan seems to be the only one who can make any headway with Ms. Liberty on these topics and even she is concerned that her friend may be headed down a dark path that will require intervention.
Greetings players,
Welcome to the clarification and confirmation issue of Canon Fodder. A lot of the answers this time are an attempt to compile outstanding questions that were either answered on the question thread unofficially or required additional information. I will circle back and do this from time to time in order to keep things as clear and centralized as possible.
The goal of this thread is to provide official stances on lore for the game and to clear up any confusing continuity where possible. Feel free to PM me if you find something amiss in one of the Canon Fodder posts and I will correct it.
Cheers,
~Manticore
Question: Where and how are these questions being answered?
Answer: I compile questions, research answers in the game, the story bible, and our ancillary products and then write up first drafts. Those are passed by experts on the development team for editing and final approval. The answers are then posted in this thread.
Question: Mutants. One of the most active ATs out there seems to be welcomed by the general public, yet in the Captain Mako bio he was persecuted. How was he targeted and our heroes aren't?
Answer: The fact that, by and large, mutants are accepted by most folks in Paragon City is just another testament to the kindness and generosity of spirit that exists in the City of Heroes. However, not everyone agrees with these sentiments. There are some who fear and distrust mutants greatly. They each have their reasons and they are too numerous to list but certainly Mako’s monstrous features and the fearsome nature of the sharks he resembles would cause great trepidation in some. I’m certain some mutant heroes in Paragon had similar experiences but were fortunate enough to find someone to help them or make their own way out of such a dark place.
Question: Is it proper to think of high-level characters as peers of the Freedom Phalanx and the elite of Arachnos, or are these rare moments of glory flukes and, in fact, player characters are intended to serve more as sidekicks to these figures?
Answer: Although this isn’t exactly a lore question it has come up quite often in posts and PMs. As player characters work their way up the ladder it is expected and even encouraged to think of them as the peers of the signature characters if that fits their story.
Whether it was Statesman’s burning need to protect Paragon city or Lord Recluse’s obsessive need to destroy it, all the signature characters have goals and they recruited hundreds of thousands of heroes and villains so there would be a next generation to carry their torch.
Question: Why is the CoH Earth considered Primal Earth?
Answer: Leading scientists of Primal Earth believe their world is a nexus of power with tendrils that connect it to many alternate Earths such as Shadow Earth and War Earth. They further postulate that it has more such connections than any alternate Earth and so it must be considered the focal point of those worlds.
As with any scientific theorem there are some who disagree, even within the Primal Earth scientific community. Beings who call those other Earths their home also tend to see their world as central. Tyrant, for example, often refers to Primal Earth simply as “Statesman’s World” and any scientist trying to convince him otherwise would most likely find his employment terminated.
Question: What is Lady Grey’s first name?
Answer: Elizabeth
Question: I'm curious about the Ascendant soldiers of the Council. What can you reveal about them?
Answer: The Ascendants are chosen first and foremost for their loyalty. Extensive background checks and multiple mental and physical tests of loyalty are performed on every candidate. Once a member of the Council has been accepted as a potential Ascendant they are put through a rigorous training program that teaches them combat, bodyguarding, and security techniques as well as testing their resolve. After successfully completing the training phase, a final personal interview with the Center is the make or break moment for any aspiring Ascendant. If they pass, they’re accepted into an elite force within the ranks of the Council, if not they are removed from the organization entirely.
Question: Can you tell us more about the leading members of Vanguard including their powers and origins?
Answer: This post from Positron is a great place to start for some information about how Vanguard found their way into the game. http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/gam...lding_the.html
As Posi stated, most of these characters came from the CCG but here are some basics for those that never got their hands on those cards.
Lady Elizabeth Grey is the overall head of Vanguard. She was endorsed for the position by Statesman as well as several other powerful heroes. Her powers as a Dark Melee, Regeneration Scrapper are subtle but extremely powerful. Her origin is lost in the sands of time but it is believed her Aging Touch signature power is the reason she’s been alive longer than even Statesman.
Incandescent is the head of the Herald division of Vanguard and is ultimately responsible for public relations as well as liaising with the United Nations. She’s a Fire Blast, Energy Manipulation Blaster. Her signature power is called Lambent Flame and with it she combines the potent forces of fire and energy to knock down her foes in a large area. Kelly Dupuis was an environmental lobbyist charged with protecting the bayou of Louisiana. On a fact finding mission in the swamps she was separated from her group and had a life-changing encounter with a mystically charged Will-o’-the-wisp. It imbued her with the power of a living energy source…and a clean one at that.
The Shield, or security division, of Vanguard is headed by the sisters Borea and Levantera. Their status as champions from the Order of the Four Winds has been discussed in previous Canon Fodder posts. Anne and Sarah Connelly were born to parents who were both martial arts experts. The girls grew up around dojos and both mastered kenjutsu before they hit puberty. They were clearly Scrapper’s from birth.
What the young ladies didn’t know at the time was that their parents studied with the Monks of the Four Winds and they had been destined for something larger from birth. Anne was presented with the mantle of Boreas the North Wind, one of the four cardinal winds the order is named after. At the same time Sarah received the mantle of Levanter, a minor Eastern wind. They were both thrilled initially, but Anne’s “larger destiny” has become a sore point over the years. Still, the sisters balance each other nicely. A little known prophecy of the Order states: “She who walks the earth in Boreas’ name will not succeed without Levanter’s champion at her side.” Borea’s Chill Wind Signature Power comes from the frigid north to rend her opponents, and Levantera’s Cloud Strike is derived from the easily identifiable cloud formations often created by the Levanter.
The Dark Watcher, or as Positron likes to think of him the CoH version of Wedge Antilles, is at the Helm of Vanguard. His extremely powerful mystical abilities make him well suited to gather and act on intelligence. His origin and membership in the original Freedom Phalanx are well documented. (Editor’s note: Web of Arachnos novel) In 1954, the Watcher’s path took a difficult turn and he was lost for decades in nightmarish dimensions full of magic and monsters. (Editor’s note: Top Cow CoH Comic Issue 19) Once the best of friends, it remains to be seen if Statesman and the Dark Watcher will ever have a relationship that goes past an extremely uneasy truce.
The Dark Watcher is an Illusion Control, Force Field Controller. His teleportation and Dimensional traveling abilities are legendary, including his signature Dimensional Twist power that allows him to move his foes through other dimensions, causing them great harm.
Andrew Crenshaw began his career as Gaussian by becoming a Sidekick to Rick Davies aka Horatio, but when his mentor was injured during the Rikti War he had to forge his own path. Using the high-tech assault rifle created for him by Davies, Gaussian waged a one man war against every Rikti he could find for years until he was recruited into Vanguard. He is primarily known for his tactical skills but he’s become a fair hand with tools and tech himself. He’s never forgiven himself for not being there when his mentor was ambushed by the Rikti and that fuels him to this day. He knows he wasn’t the first choice to lead the Sword division, that distinction fell to Manticore (Top Cow CoH comic Issue 19), but he is quietly determined to prove he was the best choice to head up Vanguard’s special operations.
Serpent Drummer is the calm within the storm. He does whatever is needed of him to help secure our world against hostile foes. He was once at the forefront of Vanguard’s offensive against the Rikti but now his role is primarily to help new members of Vanguard acclimate to the organization…and each other. He is the living embodiment of one who embraced the mental aspects of martial arts and merged them in perfect harmony with the physical.
He was once a member of a super-group that boasted another martial arts expert called Spirit Phoenix. Spirit Phoenix had tapped into the spirit plane through meditation and was able to call forth mystical animals to help him fight evil. Sadly, Spirit Phoenix fell in battle, giving his life permanently to close a mystical rift that had been opened by the Circle of Thorns. After saying goodbye, all his animal spirit friends prepared to return permanently to their home, well almost all. One of them had a different idea. The mischievous monkey spirit who had always loved Serpent Drummer, which of course didn’t prevent the rascal from tormenting him, believed that the animals should carry on fighting the good fight using Serpent Drummer as a conduit. The others agreed and now in times of great need, or in the case of the monkey…great fun, these powerful spirit animals will come to his aid.
Trivia note: Serpent Drummer was a table top RPG character created by a good friend of Posi and me. The character Spirit Phoenix was the creation of another friend of ours for that same campaign.
Question: Have the Vanguard been related to actual Xenophobic actions other than their billboards? Have the Vanguard made any public statements to justify their propaganda or to dismiss the word about their racist orientation? Can they really be considered xenophobic after they are even working with the Traditionalists in recent years to stop the war?
Answer: At the time the Vanguard billboards were originally placed, we were in the midst of an extremely bloody war with the Rikti. Humanity was fighting for survival and the enemies were invaders. Although the imminent threat of eradication was halted by the actions of Hero 1 and the rest of Omega Team, the Rikti are a clear and present danger even today.
Just like any such issue, this one has generated a great deal of controversy. There are many who question the ethics of the billboards, but so far the ongoing battles with the Rikti have quelled any reversals.
Just like any organization, Vanguard is made up of individuals. There are those that believe there is a great risk in becoming too soft on the subject of Extraterrestrials. Many of these hawkish members, but certainly not all, are among the “villains” who have been taken into the Vanguard fold. (The issue of Vanguard’s recruiting guidelines is another cause for disagreement among politicos) There are also those who feel it ‘s time for more actions like working with the Traditionalist Rikti and be accepting of Kheldians and other friendly alien races. Vanguard’s public position has consistently been “to remain ever vigilant in the face of an ongoing threat to our world”.
There are powerful supporters on both sides of this topic and it’s difficult to say when this complex issue will come to a complete and satisfactory resolution, but there is hope that a combination of diplomacy and unflagging defense of our world will result in a lasting peace.
Question: Can we have more details about Maria Jenkins aka Madame Danger and her connection to Statesman?
Answer: Madame Danger was not Statesman’s sidekick but she was his closest friend for many years in part *because* she was in no way involved with the Freedom Phalanx and for the most part stayed out of the public eye. Since she was not involved in Statesman’s day to day adventures…and misadventures…she was able to provide a different perspective.
She and Statesman worked several cases together when their investigations crossed paths. Although he always considered her an equal partner in these matters, Statesman often got the lion’s share of the acclaim at her request. Remaining relatively obscure was the primary reason Maria was able to retire Madame Danger so easily. Statesman always respected her desire for privacy and as a side effect it afforded him a place to talk things over with someone he trusted out of the spotlight.
Question: How is the mantle of Hero 1 passed on and how is the wielder of Excalibur decided? Can you tie up the history of the Excalibur wielding Hero X's and how Ms. Liberty got into the mix?
Answer: The key to the mantle of Hero 1 is blood. All those who bear this legacy are descended from the same bloodline and can trace their ancestry to the ancient fae of England. The fae were charged long ago to keep Excalibur safe and who better than one of their greatest champions to be given that responsibility.
In the most recent case, Hero 1 is the son of Hero One although his path to assuming the mantle was a rocky one. The current Hero 1 didn’t initially want the responsibility that comes with being a super-powered hero but events transpired that changed his mind…and his destiny. The death of his father landed the title of Hero 1 and custodianship of Excalibur squarely in his lap. The transition from a rough and tumble bloke living in London to the single most influential hero of the Rikti War was long and difficult, but in the end Hero 1 proved to be one of the greatest heroes to ever live.
Hero 1 knew well it was unlikely he would return from Omega Force’s mission and so he chose Miss Liberty to watch over Excalibur for him. There were many among the fae who strenuously objected to this, but Hero 1 stared them down with his well documented resolve. No one has ever received a straight answer from him why he chose Miss Liberty, but those who fought by her side believe it was her unflagging desire to do the right thing. With Hero 1 tainted by the Rikti and the sword passing to Miss Liberty’s hot-headed daughter, Ms. Liberty…the controversy among the fae has arisen once again but for the moment they seem to be content to let it reside with her. (As was evidenced in Issue 20 of the comic)
Question: What happened to the Greek gods in the CoH lore? Were they real beings of supernatural power or people who were lucky enough to find the well and gain powers and were immortal for a few centuries until they just faded away? And if that be the case does that mean Statesman's power is temporary as well?
Answer: In the CoH universe the gods of the Greek and other pantheons are real beings of great power. In ancient times they took a much more active role in mortal affairs until their actions and conflicts threatened to destroy the world itself. Pacts were made, oaths were given, and accords were reached. Statesman and other Incarnates are one representation of these agreements and serve as the avatars of the gods. Their powers are not temporary and in most cases are no longer even directly dependent on the gods themselves. Although what would happen to something like Statesman’s “Lightning of Zeus” power if Zeus were to somehow be eliminated thankfully remains an unanswered question.
Most of the gods agreed to operate through chosen champions instead of manifesting directly.
Of course some of the gods are unwilling to be bound by any such agreements and threaten this delicate balance. Even some mortals refuse to abide by the ancient covenants as is in evidence with the servants of the Banished Pantheon.
Question: How old is Miss Liberty, Ms. Liberty's mother?
Answer: Miss Liberty aka Alexis Cole was born July 14, 1939. She inherited her father’s slow aging granted by his exposure to the Well of the Furies and because of that appears decades younger than her actual age.
Question: How do the Consiglieres of the Family receive their gravity powers?
Answer: Over the years the Family has done a great deal of experimentation with Superadine. At a great cost they have been able to create small batches of the drug that eliminate unfortunate side effects produced by long term usage. They have also been able to create variations that grant a very specific subset of powers. These successful refinements are not known outside the upper circles of the Family. One such variation has allowed the Family to tailor the abilities of their Consigliere, providing their chief advisors all the power needed to back up their words of wisdom.
Question: Is the Lord of Frosts involved with the Winter events in any way?
Answer: The Lord of Frosts was the primary avatar of the ancient being of power known as the Winter Lord. After he finally killed Captain Volcano (who was himself an avatar of the Summer Lord) the Lord of Frosts was recalled to the Winter Lord’s frozen realm. So far during the recent winter assaults on Paragon City only minor avatars of the Winter Lord have appeared but much like any vanished villain, the Lord of Frosts could return someday to carry the Winter Lord’s banner of enmity against humanity.
Question: Are Janet Kellum the contact and Valerie Kellum the woman who became Valkyrie related?
Answer: Janet and Valerie are sisters. Their careers as an FBSA agent and archeologist took them in radically different directions. Since Valerie was injected with nanites when Crey tried to steal her greatest discovery, the two sisters have become reunited in one cause: taking down Crey. Janet’s love of her sister has motivated her to help the heroes of Paragon City in their attempts to finally bring Countess Crey to justice.
Question: What were Atlas Park and Galaxy City called before their names were changed to honor fallen heroes?
Answer: This has been answered elsewhere but one of the goals of this thread is to provide official and definitive answers about obscure or confusing points in the lore. Atlas Park used to be called City Park and Galaxy City was known as Paragon Heights
Greetings lore-hounds,
Manticore here to provide some definitive answers to your lore questions. The dev team receives PMs about lore all the time. With Mission Architect coming online there are more and more lore questions popping up on the forums as well. Instead of trying to answer all these questions privately weve decided to start this thread. Im going to be digging through my memory banks as well as picking the brains of Hero 1, Positron, and the rest of the devs for these answers and compiling them here.
Just to be clear, these answers arent set in stone. Feel free to point out discrepancies. CoH is a huge game and weve had many incredibly talented people contribute to the lore. Were trying to get the record straight here on some of our trickiest plot and character twists. If I missed something let me know. Ill go back to the drawing board and clear it up. So lets dig for answers, clarify confusion, eliminate contradictions, and have some fun!
~M
Question Galaxy Girl's sidekick, Dauntless - Does he have a given name? Any history defined at all?
Answer: The archvillain Protean had learned the secret identity of Galaxy Girl and took her captive at the charity kitchen where she volunteered. Galaxy Girl lay helpless as Protean prepared to murder the trapped civilians. Protean was planning to destroy everyone that Galaxy Girl's life touched. Dauntless, learned of the crisis and rushed headlong into battle. Although he was completely outclassed, he fought until his last breath. His sacrifice gave Galaxy Girl the time to recover and defeat Protean, ensuring so many more survived.
Robbie Prescott first met Kelly Graham while delivering sandwiches to the office where she worked. After accidentally discovering that she was Galaxy Girl, Robbie was inspired to become Dauntless. He helped Kelly in all aspects of her service to Paragon City, never expressing his love for her.
Question Is there a story reason that the Malta Group chose to name their Titans after Greek Mythos (Hercules, Zeus, Kronos)? or were they named as such just because it sounded good at the time? If they were to unleash some new variation of these Titans, or other similar technology, would they again look towards the Greek Mythos for naming inspiration?
Answer: A lot of us are mythology geeks, if that wasnt already obvious, but it also felt fitting for a group like Malta to name their machines of destruction after towering figures of legend. Its very likely that any other Malta Titans would in fact continue that naming scheme.
Question Was the Family world ever given an in game Portal Corp dimensional designation? And if so, what was it?
Answer: As far as I know, there was never a designator given for the Family.
Question I've been questioned for legitimacy for inserting a Longbow ally into a mission for my story arc which takes place in November 2001, 6 months prior to the first Rikti War (#71601). My detractor claims that Longbow was created after the Rikti War, though my own research only says that the group was founded by Ms. Liberty to fight Arachnos (which has been around for a long long time, even before Recluse). I can find no reference to confirm either way. Is there a date or timeframe in continuity when Longbow was founded?
Answer: Longbow is a division of Freedom Corps and was introduced in City of Villains. It was Ms. Libertys solution to her disagreement with Statesmans policies regarding Freedom Corps. Longbow is much more martial and aggressive in its methods. I recommend changing either the time frame of your arc *or* calling the ally a Freedom Corps agent.
Question So, I'm doing a bit of research for a Serafina origin arc (yes, spawned by the fact Posi wants to see it, but actually being implemented because I LOVE the character), and noticed an interesting discrepancy in Scirocco's information.
Here it is stated that Scirocco died early on in the Rikti War, making his last wish to Seraphina that she protect the heroes of Paragon City. Yet Scirocco's own information here states that he (basically) just turned evil and stole something from her.
Answer: The Order of the Four Winds bestows mantles of power upon chosen champions. Scirocco is a title that comes with the package. The original Scirocco was one such champion. The current Scirocco stole the power and Serafina wants it back.
Question Okay, I'm writing a mission chain called "Family Ties" centering around Ms. Liberty, Statesman, and Lord Recluse. According to the canon I have read, Ms. Liberty is related to both by blood; Statesman is her grandfather and Recluse her great-uncle. SO! Here is what I need confirmed...
1) Is Ms. Liberty's real name Megan Duncan, Jessica Cole, Jessica Duncan, or what!?
2) Is she aware of her relation to Recluse?
3) Is Recluse aware of their relation?
Answer: There has been some confusion on this issue due to discrepancies between our website, a web article, the Freedom Phalanx novel, the in-game information, and probably some other places Im not remembering. Heres a definitive answer which has all the facts lined up, as well as some additional information.
1) Monica Richter was Maiden Justice and is sister to Lord Recluse (Stefan Richter). She married Statesman (Marcus Cole) and they had a daughter. Their daughters name is Alexis Cole and she became Miss Liberty. Alexis married a man by the name of Patrick Duncan and the two had a daughter, Jessica Megan Duncan. Jessie, as her mother liked to call her, was always a strong willed child. Jessica Megan Duncan became Ms. Liberty and took on the name Megan (her middle name) It was suggested by others that Megan take her mothers maiden name of Cole, for legacys sake, but Megan specifically held onto her fathers last name, both for her love and respect of him and her desire to move out of her grandfathers shadow, and forge her own path of heroism. Other examples of her independence are the formation of the Vindicators and her release of Dominatrix back to Praetoria.
2) She is aware of her relation to Stefan Richter and although she is fiercely dedicated to taking Arachnos down, she also believes that her great-uncle can be redeemed. This core belief in redemption is what drove her to form the Vindicators and coincidentally ties in thematically with our upcoming Going Rogue expansion.
3) Lord Recluse is well aware of all the nuances of his relationship with Statesman. He knows that Ms. Liberty is related to him and would happily exploit that relationship if given the chance. The core difference between Statesman and Lord Recluse is their feelings about family and friends. The two men received mind blowing power from the same source and were both in danger of becoming detached from their humanity. The catalyst for their radically differing paths was Monica Richter. Statesman felt loved by the woman who would become his wife and Recluse felt betrayed by his sister. It is safe to say that Ms. Liberty hopes to bring her great-uncle back into the light.
Fodder for the Canon: Ask your lore questions here