Mercy Island, suffice it to say, is anything but merciful. The gothic French architecture of the burned out buildings say it all... this place has seen better days. This port city has been left in complete squalor, with scattered shanties and vagrants wandering the streets. It's been a long time since its heyday, when illicit payoffs and pirates alike kept the political pockets full.

Let's face it, the history of the Rogue Isles doesn't really start until the 1950's, when Lord Recluse staged a violent coup using Arachnos forces and took full control of the area. At least, that's the point where Paragon City schools really start talking about it. You can't have a conversation with a single superhero studies student without Arachnos or the Rogue Isles being mentioned at least once. It was now a safe haven for the super-powers who find themselves running against the law. It is also the place where the truly ambitious can see their hopes realized.

My big ambition? Finding a steakhouse that served real cow instead of whatever they happened to scoop up in the alleys. Getting around Mercy is a hard task. There are a lot of dead-ends, and everyone wants to start with you. It doesn't matter if it's the Arachnos soldiers, local rent-a-cops, or the swarms of snake people slithering about. Nobody here discriminates. They see you, you become a target.

If you can recall the famous line from the book "Catch-22" where the main character exclaims that he is stuck in a foreign nation where hundreds of people he's never even met are trying to kill him, then you've pretty much summed up the experience of walking around the Rogue Isles.

It's a good thing I can go invisible. Normally, it works just as well to find a couple of people who are willing to watch your back for a little while without stabbing it. At least then you'll have a better chance at dealing with obstacles, often removing them before they become a problem.

After leaving the heavily protected landing pad, a powerful realization came over me... I had no idea where to go. Even as one of the smaller cities, it was very easy to get lost in Mercy Island. I couldn't wander around aimlessly, nor could I ask for directions. Nothing paints a "Kill me, I'm an idiot" sign on you faster than acting like a tourist.