Fodder for the Canon: Ask your lore questions here
By
Abraxxus,
Posted on: 2009-05-29 10:25 in Developers' Corner
Sovereign country is a dicey term. The rules for countries being recognized as sovereign are much like the rules for who "belongs" in high society. You may have money, fame, respect in your field, etc., but that doesn't necessarily mean that you will be invited to the social functions where the elite in a society gather. By the same token, you may wield power over an area of land and all of the people who live there, collect taxes, defend it from any threats, etc., but that doesn't mean that anyone will recognize you as a nation.
An example given in my Political Science textbook from college was that the government of Libya once stated that they recognized the Black Panther Party, I think it was, as the legitimate sovereigns of the United States. It didn't catch on.
Is there any information that the United Nations, or any number of other governments of the world, even recognize the Rogue Isles as sovereign?
"I wish my life was a non-stop Hollywood movie show,
A fantasy world of celluloid villains and heroes."
[ QUOTE ]
Are there any notable physical differences between male and female Rikti?
[/ QUOTE ]
Not if you're drunk enough. 
"OK, first of all... Shut Up." - My 13-Year-Old Daughter
29973 "The Running of the Bulls" [SFMA] - WINNER of the Mighty Big Story Arc Contest !
- The Stellar Wind Orbital Space Platform
[ QUOTE ]
Is there any information that the United Nations, or any number of other governments of the world, even recognize the Rogue Isles as sovereign?
[/ QUOTE ]
According to the history on the official CoH site, it is heavily implied that the Rogue Isles were an officially recognized country, at least in the early 20th century.
Whether Recluse's administration is officially recognized, or if it's considered a "rogue state"...I don't know.
Eva Destruction AR/Fire/Munitions Blaster
Darkfire Avenger DM/SD/Body Scrapper
Arc ID#161629 Freaks, Geeks, and Men in Black
Arc ID#431270 Until the End of the World
[ QUOTE ]
Shadow Shard. Let's go there.
It was once Paragon City, judging from some of the dialogue in Sara Moore's TF. They have legends about Nemesis...was the dimension much like ours before Rularuu broke it?
If that dimension was like ours, where do the Soldiers of Rularuu come from? Are they modified natives, or imports from some other dimension?
What about the Reflections? Are they corporeal, or basically "ghosts"?
[/ QUOTE ]
Reflections:
[ QUOTE ]
Uuralur the Mirror presides over The Garden of Memories. The beings that reside there are reflections of the worlds that Rularuu has consumed, though it is unclear whether he created them out of remorse or amusement. Uuralur has organized many of these reflections into a guard force that patrols the area and keeps the remaining reflections in check.
[/ QUOTE ]
Soldiers of Rularuu: Each type of soldier seems to be directed by one of the aspects.
[ QUOTE ]
Ruladak the Strong: The leader of the Brutes is a most fearsome tyrant. Ruladak's robe is decorated with gems torn from the Brutes that have displeased him. The removal of the gem results in the Brute's immediate death and eternal dishonor, a fact that troubles Ruladak not in the slightest. Can be found in the Task Force The Legend of Ruladak.
Chularn the Slave Lord: Chularn is an extremely cruel and twisted soul. The slaves that run his Factory Cubes look upon him with great awe and terror, and his barbarism has become legendary throughout the Shadow Shard. The Wisps he commands fare little better than these human slaves, and they have learned to obey Chularn without question. They watch over the Natterling scavengers and select the choicest items to improve the operation of the Factory Cubes.
Kuularth the Scavenger: Kuularth makes his nest in The Repository that feeds parts to the Factory Cubes. His Natterlings roam the Shadow Shard collecting anything and everything that could be useful. They are always accompanied by a Wisp, who Kuularth refers to as 'consultants.' The Wisps' master, Chularn, prefers to call them 'supervisors.'
Aloore the Watcher: Aloore is Rularuu's most trusted Field General. He guards The Palace and uses his Sentries to keep watch over the entire Shadow Shard. Of all Rularuu's fragments, Aloore is most similar to Rularuu himself. This makes him skilled and useful, but also dangerous, because Rularuu is not built for servitude.
[/ QUOTE ]
Best place to browse for more shard info:
Paragon Wiki's Shadow Shard Lore Category
@Cannonfodder
Victory: The Hall of Justice Virtue: The Hall of Doom
Slash Commands, Binds and Macros, Oh My!, CoV Stat Booster Accolade Cheat-Sheet, Don't Let Me Make Money Off Your Ignorance!!!, Day Job Acquisition Guide, "Tricky" TA
[ QUOTE ]
I've got a buncha questions about Shivans. They're apparently human skeletons from graveyards that have been animated by alien goo. They're affected by the Ghost Slaying Axe, which points to them being undead. But are they really undead, or is the goo itself necromantic in nature? When you talk about a Shivan, are you talking about the goo or the skeleton? If you remove the goo from a Shivan leaving only the skeleton, would the skeleton still be animated or would it be just a normal skeleton? And those spikes and claws the Shivans display, are those new growths on the skeleton, it having been actually reanimated, or are they other environmental debris that's been incorporated into the Shivan form? Are the skeletons, in fact, only used to give the Shivan goo structure so that it can walk and move? I guess my real question is, does the goo actually cause the skeletons to take on some sort of unlife, or is it the goo itself the undead lifeform and the skeleton merely an actual endoskeleton for its "body"?
Also, if you put Shivan goo on a cow skeleton, would it make a cow-shaped Shivan?
[/ QUOTE ]
Go and read this entry at Paragon Wiki if you haven't already: Link
I have no insight or idea why Shivans would be affected as true undead with the Ghost Slaying Axe. The skeletons just seem to be the most readily available framework for the Shivan energy-turned-protoplasm to attach to, but that's my opinion, not canon.
@Cannonfodder
Victory: The Hall of Justice Virtue: The Hall of Doom
Slash Commands, Binds and Macros, Oh My!, CoV Stat Booster Accolade Cheat-Sheet, Don't Let Me Make Money Off Your Ignorance!!!, Day Job Acquisition Guide, "Tricky" TA
Well this old IGN video mentions that the Rogue Isle has a seat on the UN council: City of Villains Video
[ QUOTE ]
Paragon City's been in an economic slump since the end of the Rikti war. It's cost the city a lot of money to rebuild and those expenses are eaten by the taxpayers. Every deduction a citizen of Paragon City can take on those taxes counts, even if it doesn't work out to very much in the end. So, naturally, it makes sense that "Penny" would be a popular name for your newborn little deduction.
Just my two cents worth.
*rimshot*
OK, I'm done now.
[/ QUOTE ]
This made me laugh very hard.
And your questions all make me wonder what arcs I've been playing, because names are getting tossed out and plotlines that I don't remember one lick of, despite having "done it all." o.o
Erm... Continue
Arc ID: 475246, "Bringing a Lord to Power"
"I'm only a simple man trying to cling to my tomorrow. Every day. By any means necessary."
-Caldwell B. Cladwell
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
After defeating someone like Frostfire, the Hellions dont hold a lot of challenge for a hero and its time to move up to greater threats.
[/ QUOTE ]
You meant to say Outcasts instead of Hellions, correct? Also, any chance of the Hellions actually getting their own AV/EB at any point in the future? And the Skulls too? It seems like just about every other group has some big-wig calling the shots except them (I'm not remembering every group right now, there's probably others without AV/EBs too, and I wouldn't be against them getting their own as well). Vahzilok have Dr. Vahzilok, Clockwork have the Clockwork King, CoT have quite a few, Outcasts have Frostfire, all of the higher level groups have at least one AV. Even if the Hellions and Skulls are just rival gangs in a never-ending turf war, it seems that there should be more than just a few named bosses running the show.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hellions have 3K Kelvin, and Supposedly have a leader, and the Skulls have Brothers that lead it, The Hellion Leader is likely just a Fire/Fire Insert AT here, and the Skull leaders are probably a Dark/Dark corr and a Dark/Dark Brute.
[/ QUOTE ]
3K Kelvin is a long way from the Hellions' main turf.
[/ QUOTE ]
It's stated through some in-game info that the Hellions are lead by 3 bosses, all of which I believe are locked in the Zig. There's also a mission that contradicts this, early villain mission I think in Port Oakes. (Or perhaps that one leads the Rogue Isles branch...?)
Arc ID: 475246, "Bringing a Lord to Power"
"I'm only a simple man trying to cling to my tomorrow. Every day. By any means necessary."
-Caldwell B. Cladwell
[ QUOTE ]
Well this old IGN video mentions that the Rogue Isle has a seat on the UN council: City of Villains Video
[/ QUOTE ]
Good find! That means that other nations do recognize the Isles as sovereign. Without some kind of UN mandate, no armies (or weird paramilitary forces, or whatever Longbow is considered) should be attacking them.
"I wish my life was a non-stop Hollywood movie show,
A fantasy world of celluloid villains and heroes."
From Background:
[ QUOTE ]
Set to annihilate Shiva with a nuclear strike, Operation Vishnu launched late in the summer of 1989.
[/ QUOTE ]
From the Info for a minion Shivan:
[ QUOTE ]
Some claim a mysterious interplanetary intelligence thought destroyed in the 1950s is the source of the Shivans, but if such a creature existed, "Shiva", the Hindu name for the "Destroyer of Worlds" was kept secret by the governments of Earth.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hmmm...
Formerly known as Stormy_D
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Since Reichsman is the Axis Earth version of Statesman, is there an Axis Earth version of Ms. Liberty? and if so, what is her name?
[/ QUOTE ]
Reichbeitch?
[/ QUOTE ]
I nominate this for post of the year.
[/ QUOTE ]
Indeed XD
Arc ID: 475246, "Bringing a Lord to Power"
"I'm only a simple man trying to cling to my tomorrow. Every day. By any means necessary."
-Caldwell B. Cladwell
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I think Serafina must be relater to Azuria. Either that, or magic makes people dumb in CoHworld.
[/ QUOTE ]
You know, come to think of it, there's a Newspaper mission where a villain has to retrieve a horror novelist from a magically-powered group that thinks his works of fiction are based on fact. And then there's a Police Radio mission where a hero goes to rescue the owner of a shop that carries old tomes and other weird things from a magically-oriented villain group, only to find that he's been freaking out his captors by babbling vague things about unseen horrors and cosmic geometry(which is particularly odd if it's the Circle of Thorns who kidnapped him).
[/ QUOTE ]
That first one I think is supposed to be an homage to Stephen King, and that second one to H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos.
[/ QUOTE ]
To me they both sound Lovecraft, especially the first. There are some people who are pretty keen on the idea of Lovecraft having a little more to his stuff than just what came off the top of his head. O.o
Arc ID: 475246, "Bringing a Lord to Power"
"I'm only a simple man trying to cling to my tomorrow. Every day. By any means necessary."
-Caldwell B. Cladwell
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I think Serafina must be relater to Azuria. Either that, or magic makes people dumb in CoHworld.
[/ QUOTE ]
pointing out other examples of magic-users being stupid
[/ QUOTE ]talking about what they're references to
[/ QUOTE ]
expanding on references
[/ QUOTE ]
I don't mean to be rude, but why are you talking about the references themselves instead of the possibility that arcane powers can drastically lower one's intelligence?
Formerly known as Stormy_D
I have a few questions I would like to throw in:
1) 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? Should there be some contacts who have some fear or apprehention when it comes to mutants or even the general public?
2)I maybe channeling Kratos here but, what happened to the Greek gods? 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 til they just faded away? And if that be the case does that mean Statesman's power is temporary as well?
3)Who was the dude talking to Imperious in the last mission and when will he reveal himself?
4) How does the government feel about the multiple Statesman who show up more eviler than the last? I remember the Justice Lords(cartoon) and certain officials did what they could to protect themselves should a the League go renegade. Do they have the same as well?
5) What ever happened to the old villains from World War Two? Are they still alive? Have they grown old? Are they still young?
6)How come we never see the Army or any other branch fighting in the RWZ? I get it's Vanguards show, but I am sure other nations should have vested interest in seeing the Ritki either surrender or neutralized.
7) Why haven't we seen a single superpowered alien who wants to bore us with his speech about conquest and gloat over how powerful and superior he is to us?
I have more but I just drew a blank
I remembered another:
8)Does Atlantis exist?
9) Will Ralaruu ever return to Earth Prime to consume it?
10) Speaking of Earth Prime, is P. Earth the center of all the multiverses the reason it is called prime? Meaning it is the source that fed power energy that allowed mutation and such to different realities like Earth 616 or Earth 1 and 2(DC)?
I have some insight.
[ QUOTE ]
1) 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? Should there be some contacts who have some fear or apprehention when it comes to mutants or even the general public?
[/ QUOTE ]
Captain Mako is a scary shark monster who runs around NAKED ALL THE TIME(why does he get away with that?). Most mutants are not that freaky. Also, Mutation is an Origin, not an Archetype.
[ QUOTE ]
7) Why haven't we seen a single superpowered alien who wants to bore us with his speech about conquest and gloat over how powerful and superior he is to us?
[/ QUOTE ]
Don't have an answer for this, but I believe we can NEVER have enough supervillains who insist on long self-aggrandising speeches.
[ QUOTE ]
10) Speaking of Earth Prime, is P. Earth the center of all the multiverses the reason it is called prime? Meaning it is the source that fed power energy that allowed mutation and such to different realities like Earth 616 or Earth 1 and 2(DC)?
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm thinking Primal Earth is just what WE call it. Also, I somehow doubt there's any multiversal connection between CoH, Marvel and/or DC Comics(MARVEL VS. DC NEVER HAPPENED).
Formerly known as Stormy_D
When the Kheldians appeared on the earth it was the first peaceful contact with a true alien race of creatures from a distant galaxy. Intelligent energy based life no less! In this world such an event would be the most important and influential occurrence in history.
It would redefine what people know about life, religion, culture, the biggest questions of science and mankind's place in the universe. It would open up whole new areas of study and ask dozens of new questions which have potential to rip civilisations appart or lead them lightyears ahead.
It was covered in the COH unverse by a humdrum news article that was available only on the website and the introduction of the Kheldians contacts in the actual game...cof*
can you elaborate on first contact with the Kehldian race?
For contrast, When the hostile Rikti invaded: we got forcefealds, teleporters, plasma rifles and all that stuff had to be stolen and reverse engineered. We also got new branches of government, new areas of study and change on a global scale and these were not even true aliens but humans from an alternate dimension when we already knew alternate dimensions existed.
[ QUOTE ]
For contrast, When the hostile Rikti invaded: we got forcefealds, teleporters, plasma rifles and all that stuff had to be stolen and reverse engineered. We also got new branches of government, new areas of study and change on a global scale and these were not even true aliens but humans from an alternate dimension when we already knew alternate dimensions existed.
[/ QUOTE ]
You don't know they're alternate humans until you get your Omega level clearance, talk to Timmy Raymond or join the Vanguard. So most people don't know, and those that do have already seen their fair share of weirdness before they find out.
Eva Destruction AR/Fire/Munitions Blaster
Darkfire Avenger DM/SD/Body Scrapper
Arc ID#161629 Freaks, Geeks, and Men in Black
Arc ID#431270 Until the End of the World
While we're on the subject of Longbow's place in the Isles and Liberty's interesting gray-slant that seems to be developing...
I was doing a Newspaper mission that involved pulling a heist in a Longbow "Officer's Club." After pilfering the safe, one of the ambushes said, "In the name of Ms. Liberty!" (I'm guessing "Stop in the!" was said before the minion entered). I wonder if they're trained to call on her name for authority, since Rogue Isles law isn't exactly in line with Lib's vision. >.>
Arc ID: 475246, "Bringing a Lord to Power"
"I'm only a simple man trying to cling to my tomorrow. Every day. By any means necessary."
-Caldwell B. Cladwell
Not sure if this has been posted or asked. Concerning the Recluse stike Force.
After assaulting the Vindicator's base, you defeat Ms. Liberty. Upon exiting the mission there is a popup that says Arachnos troops take her away. The Very next (Final) mission has her laying at Statesman's feet. How and when do they get her back, and why would they just leave her laying there under Atlas?
"Sorry bucko, but CoH and CoV are the same game." -BackAlleyBrawler
"Silly villain, CoX is for Heroes!" -Saicho
[ QUOTE ]
5) What ever happened to the old villains from World War Two? Are they still alive? Have they grown old? Are they still young?
[/ QUOTE ]
Most of the old villains are dead or missing.
The Storm Korps was defeated and only 5 members survived. They were found guilty of war crimes and presumably executed or sentenced to life imprisonment.
The same goes for the Imperial Wind. They refused to surrender after the atomic bomb was dropped and presumably had to be beaten into the ground. The leader of the Imperial Wind, The Lord of Frosts, escaped and went into hiding.
...I forgot what experience means.
[ QUOTE ]
Most of the old villains are dead or missing.
The Storm Korps was defeated and only 5 members survived. They were found guilty of war crimes and presumably executed or sentenced to life imprisonment.
The same goes for the Imperial Wind. They refused to surrender after the atomic bomb was dropped and presumably had to be beaten into the ground. The leader of the Imperial Wind, The Lord of Frosts, escaped and went into hiding.
[/ QUOTE ]
Let's not forget our newly resurgent friends, the 5th Column and their leaders.
[ QUOTE ]
Before they were taken over by the Council, The Fifth Column stood as the last remaining threat from World War II, a group of super powered fascists still fighting a war the rest of the world left behind fifty years ago. The Fifth Column has the nefarious distinction of actually triggering the United States' involvement in the war against Nazi Germany. Hitler first sent the covert super team to Paragon City in 1939, tasked with spying on and sabotaging US shipping and naval development.
In 1941, as the navy's Atlantic Fleet mustered in Paragon Harbor with a convoy of supply vessels destined for England, the Fifth Column struck. The attack force destroyed dozens of ships and injured thousands before they withdrew into hiding. The Nazi spies spent the rest of the war wreaking havoc up and down the Eastern seaboard, fighting countless skirmishes with America's own heroes. Under the leadership of the ruthless and deadly Requiem, the Fifth Column killed hundreds and cost the US millions in war materials. In the closing months of the war they became desperate and careless, and heroes like The Statesman brought most of the covert cadre to justice.
[/ QUOTE ]
The Players' Guide to the Cities
I'm actually disappointed that so many of the WW 2 villains are active.
Vandal, Requiem, Nosferatu are all holdovers from WW2. Nemesis goes farther back than that. Requiem has also been retconned into having an origin dating back decades.
I want some NEW villains to arise in game. Idealy, someone we start to meet as a lowbie hero who then appears perodically throughout our careers ...
My COX Fanfiction:
Blue's Assembled Story Links
[ QUOTE ]
I'm actually disappointed that so many of the WW 2 villains are active.
Vandal, Requiem, Nosferatu are all holdovers from WW2. Nemesis goes farther back than that. Requiem has also been retconned into having an origin dating back decades.
I want some NEW villains to arise in game. Idealy, someone we start to meet as a lowbie hero who then appears perodically throughout our careers ...
[/ QUOTE ]
Well to be fair, you named pretty much the only major villains who have been around that long. Nemesis and Vandal have technologically extended their lifespans, Nosferatu has scientifically expanded his lifespan and Requiem merged with a Nictus (which wasn't a retcon).
...I forgot what experience means.
Well, given that Longbow is operating in a sovereign country without sanction from either the government of aforementioned country or the UN, and I have to say that the fact they are using flamethrowers is just par for the course.
My COX Fanfiction:
Blue's Assembled Story Links