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| - Those heavy volumes chronicle the history of the Sicilian Stone, its uses, and its dangers.
- The party-goer you rescued from the Carnival of Shadows told you:
'I guess I feel kind of out of it. You say people died here? Well, maybe I should be upset. But right now I just feel like going to sleep.'
- One of the Carnival minions you defeated told you:
'You idiot! We could have stopped the Rikti! The Rikti have developed some sort of mutagenic serum. They're going to sneak it into the fertility drugs in storage over at Harvey Medical Center. Thousands of women will give birth to Rikti scum!'
- These bulky files comprise the whole of the late Nathan Crane's research into the Carnival of Shadows. His notes cover many subjects: the Carnival's penchant for parties, their psychic skills, and the mysterious deaths they can cause. From the last few pages, it seems that Crane had become increasingly interested in the porcelain masks worn by the Carnival's henchmen. He believed they might be linked to the Carnival's powers.
- You found this note on one of the Carnival minions you defeated. It reads:
'The researcher's files will be stored in our large Brickstown warehouse. As for the other plan, it is proceeding swiftly.'
- This well-crafted porcelain mask feels light as an eggshell. The painted face upon it wears a sneer that is both repellent and captivating. After you defeated the carnie who wore it, you felt a strange pull toward the mask. It was almost as though it was begging you to pick it up.
- There are fragments of a dozen souls imprisoned within this mask! Most are mere shadows of souls, too small to have much substance. Come closer, and I'll let you speak to those souls that are more assertive. There's one in particular who wishes to help you with your quest.
- From its prison inside the Carnival mask, the soul of Nathan Crane told you:
'The Carnival minions all use the power of the Carnival mistress, and it weakens her. In order to fuel her power, she must drink the souls of other humans. Usually the carnies merely tug at the shadows of souls: the hidden fears, the guilty pleasures, all the subconscious emotions that rarely come to light.
'Occasionally, though, they drain the entire soul from the body. That's what happened to me. I have been stored in this mask along with these scraps of others' souls, until I can be delivered to the Carnival Mistress' psychic table. I thank you for rescuing me from that fate. In return, I will give you a clue to the Carnival's plan.
'Just before I died, I learned that the Carnival was researching an ancient artifact called the Sicilian Stone. If you like, I will guide you to a secret Midnight Squad library where we can find some tomes on the Stone. Perhaps together, we can learn the Carnival's plan.'
- When Sister Psyche allowed you to contact the souls within the mask, you felt the soul of the Carnival's leader probe your mind with deadly psychic fingers. The mask contains only the merest scrap of the Carnival Mistress' soul, but you sense that it is enough to do great harm to an unguarded mind.
- I must admit that I am deeply shaken. This mask you found contains fragments of human souls! I believe that is the key to the Carnival's strange power. They have mastered the ability to transfer souls, in whole or in part, to physical objects. I believe this mask contains a fragment of the soul of the Carnival's leader. By transferring portions of her soul to the mask, she is able to share her powers with all of her followers.
I would tell you more if I could, but it is beyond my power to communicate with the scraps of soul trapped within the mask. For that, you must see someone wiser than I.
- One of the Carnival's slaves you rescued told you:
'Almost all of the Carnival's minions are under some degree of mind control. I don't know who the great and powerful Carnival Mistress is, but she lives in all our minds. It is her awesome psychic power that the Ring Mistresses wield. If you can find her and stop her, the whole Carnival will fall apart!'
- This large ruby pendant was handed down to Madeleine Casey from her late grandmother. The unusual setting is shaped like a long-fingered golden hand. The fingertips seem to caress the deep crimson stone, in a gesture that is at once haunting and evocative.
- Thank you, my friend. You know, the Sicilian Stone was once used to imprison the soul of a duke who wore the stone upon his breast. The stone gradually sucked in the man's soul, until there was nothing left of him. It's been lost for years, of course, but perhaps the Carnival knows where to find it.
- Though most of the symbols on this map make no sense to you, you can make out the familiar terrain of Independence Port. A large black symbol seems to be a likely base location.
- I have grave news for you, my friend. When you battled the Carnival at that library, they weren't researching the Sicilian Stone. They were simply trying to keep you from learning about it. You see, they already knew where the stone was!
Do you remember that pendant the Carnival stole from Madeleine Casey? It was the Sicilian Stone! By the time you recovered it, the Carnival had already empowered the stone. When Madeleine Casey put it on, she began to gain access to the Carnival's memories. But none of us realized that the exchange was not one-way. Every time Madeleine Casey remembers something else, a portion of her soul is sucked into the stone. Then it is the Carnival's to command.
If we don't restore her soul quickly, it will forever belong to the Carnival. I know a ritual that may help, but I'll need some rare herbs.
- Thank you. As Madeleine Casey's soul is drawn into the Sicilian Stone, it comes more and more under the Carnival's command. The Madame of Mystery you have faced three times? She is none other than the psychic projection of Madeleine Casey's soul. In order to restore the soul to its proper owner, you must rip apart the psychic projection. No, not just physically. You must rip it apart on a psychic level. With this herb you have brought me, I will mix a draught that will give you the power to do so. Come back and see me shortly.
- One of the citizens you rescued from the Carnival of Shadows told you:
'I don't remember much, but I know I had a great time! I hear these guys are doing another performance over in the Cassidy Industrial Park. Maybe you should check it out.'
- So, this is the mask Madeleine Casey spoke of. Yes. There definitely is some sort of strange energy within. I will require some time to plumb its depths. While you are waiting, would you please go to Peregrine Island and deal with a problem that has been troubling me? As usual, the Carnival is fighting the Rikti tooth and nail, and their battle in Peregrine Island has become far too dangerous. I need you to put some space between them, so we all can breathe more easily.
- This strange herb, found only on the bones of the unburied dead, is a bright purple in color. Cadao Kestrel hopes to use it to help you recover Madeleine's soul from the Sicilian Stone.
- This letter arrived this morning along with Madeleine's fan mail. It reads:
'I don't know how long I've served the Carnival, or what my life was like before. I only know I was content, until they made me kill another man. Please help me! I must get away before I lose myself entirely!'
- Drink this draught. It will grant you the power you need to defeat the Madame of Mystery, Madeleine Casey's psychic self, once and for all. When you have done so, the Carnival's hold on her soul will be broken. I must warn you, by now Madeleine's soul is nearly consumed. That means the Madame will be far, far stronger than during your earlier encounters.
- From these files, it is apparent that the late Nathan Crane was secretly a Midnight Squad researcher. His last notes seem to have something to do with the Carnival of Shadows; however, the Carnival minions have made off with the most important pages.
- The sick grin of a clown on this brightly-colored playbill startles you. You could swear you've seen a similar smile on the faces of your many enemies. The text within promises the reader a night of unparalleled pleasure and wonderment. It's obviously designed to appeal to Paragon City's edgier crowd: those who equate terror with excitement.
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