[S] Lavira&Johnny: Dynamic Duo Dungeoneering

\-==START==-/
So what were you guys doing again?
@Lavira_Dyenus
Lavira was following the rhinos to the golden temple, beckoning for johnny to follow
* Johnny follows trying to calm himself down
Sorodin
!roll 1d20+5
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=3 ] | {8}
Sorodin
vs REFLEX
Huh I wonder if that hits.
Johnny
nope
@Lavira_Dyenus
in your dreams
Sorodin
A cannon fires from the top of the temple, going wide and sending up a plume of billowing dirt beside you guys.
Johnny
"ugh! seriously!"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Just keep going. Security measures are the least of what I was expecting"
Johnny
"better than fighting someone at Ven's level again for sure"
@Lavira_Dyenus
I press onward, preparing to dodge any more traps (readied action)
Sorodin
Alright then. To absolutely everyone's surprise, there are more traps! Who woulda known?
!roll 1d20+6
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=18 ] | {24}
Sorodin
!roll 1d20+6
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=4 ] | {10}
Sorodin
And they all miss horribly, killing a few rhinos while they're at it.
Rhino murder is fun kids.
Johnny
"fuck! they were stupid but didn't deserve that!" you avert your eyes, gore's still not good on your stomach
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Maybe, maybe not, but there's no stopping them now"
Sorodin
Anyway, after a few more minutes of running and realizing that the storm spirits have shit for aim, you guys arrive at the temple doors.
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Just keep going"
Sorodin
There's a doorbell if you want to ring it.
@Lavira_Dyenus
I check the entrance first
* Johnny is about to ring before Lavira checks
Johnny
"uh... sorry"
Sorodin
It's literally just a door made of gold.
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Go ahead, johnny"
* Johnny rings doorbell
Sorodin
You ring the doorbell, and someone on the other side starts to say "one second" before the rhinos ram a battering ram through the door.
@Lavira_Dyenus
Shit, I forgot some of them survived
Johnny
"oh yeah they got here too"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"We need to stop them before they start an all-out conflict."
I look for the rhino at the head of whatever group they've formed
Sorodin
It doesn't look like they have a group.
They're just kamikazeing everything
@Lavira_Dyenus
damn. Then I raise my voice to try and get their attention
"Listen up!"
Sorodin
Performance
@Lavira_Dyenus
!roll 1d20+2
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=3 ] | {5}
* Johnny uses help on Lavira
Sorodin
Yeah do the advantage thing.
@Lavira_Dyenus
!roll 1d20+2 advantage
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=19 ] | {21}
Sorodin
Okay they hear you.
* Johnny thumbs up Lavira
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Stop what you're doing immediately! My friend and I will be the ones to enter this temple. You will remain outside and be our back-up!"
Sorodin
Now Diplomacy.
Johnny
help
Sorodin
rip
@Lavira_Dyenus
!roll 2#1d20+2
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 2#1d20+2 -->  | [ 1d20=8 ]{10}, [ 1d20=6 ]{8}
Sorodin
Yeah no.
They laugh a little bit and then continue charging into the temple.
@Lavira_Dyenus
"shit, we need to follow"
Johnny
"wanna fly over them?"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"We may as well avoid the risk of being trampled by them"
"So yes"
* Johnny lifts Lavira bridal style "not that strong so sorry if i drop you"
Sorodin
Roll Strength
@Lavira_Dyenus
I try helping in whatever way I can by shifting my weight
Sorodin
alright johnny take a +1 modifier
Johnny
!roll 1d20+2
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=17 ] | {19}
Sorodin
You pick Lavira up no problem.
* Johnny flies over the rhino stampede looking for where they should go next
Johnny
he also thinks Lavira's lighter than he thought
Sorodin
You enter the main hall of the temple, a large room with high columns. Doors to towers are on the left and right, and the rhinos are trying to break open a massive door at the other end of the hall, trampling over dead storm spirit bodies every time. There's also a small opening on the mural on the ceiling.
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Let's investigate that opening on the mural, first."
* Johnny flies them towards the mural "hope this isn't uncomfortable"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"I'm fine"
Johnny
"that's good"
Sorodin
You guys go up through the mural, and enter a small room with a chest and three levers.
Over the levers are a water droplet, lightning bolt, and snowflake respectively
@Lavira_Dyenus
I get down and smack the chest with my sword to see if it reacts
Johnny
"mimic?"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Who knows?"
"Caution is never a bad idea"
Sorodin
Roll Strength
Johnny
"now you're learning"
@Lavira_Dyenus
!roll 1d20
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20 --> [ 1d20=11 ] | {11}
Johnny
!roll 1d20+4
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=6 ] | {10}
Sorodin
Yeah the chest is fine, doesn't react.
@Lavira_Dyenus
Good. I open it
Johnny
"um the levers?"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"We don't know what they do just yet. Save them for after the chest"
Sorodin
You open the chest, and get 1000 boonies each along with 5 T3 each
Johnny
"i'll shut my mouth"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Not bad, not bad"
"Now the levers"
I pull each lever one at a time and try and observe any noticeable effects in the room or outside in between pulling a new lever
Johnny
"can you discuss before pulling stuff?"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"We don't really have much to discuss without experimenting and observing"
Johnny
"tru but i don't wanna get killed from a random lighting bolt from a lever"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Also true"
Johnny
"things have consequences that's what i learnt when i died"
@Lavira_Dyenus
I pull the levers more slowly so Johnny has time to prepare and react if anything happens
Johnny
"thanks?"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"My apologies, but pulling these levers is our main course of action if we wish to see anything of importance or the purpose behind them"
Johnny
"yeah and they're storm types"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"True. My main hunch is that these levers are either a piece to a puzzle or controlling weather simulations in one of the rooms in this temple."
Johnny
"fill with water then freeze, water then electrocute it... yeah that wouldn't be fun"
@Lavira_Dyenus
I get back to pulling the levers, starting with the water droplet
* Johnny starts humming praise the rains down in africa
*quietly
Sorodin
You pull the water droplet, and you start to hear rain from outside.
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Johnny, go check out the room below us"
"Actually, I'll check it out, too"
I go to the opening we entered from and examine what's happening in the room below
* Johnny does that too
@Lavira_Dyenus
I feel the ringing of my phone and I take it out, seeing Plutia's new message
"Johnny, I've gotten a message from Plutia"
"it says"
Johnny
"i see it"
"she's an absolute mad lass ain't she"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"This could only mean one thing"
"She's found the crypt beds"
* Johnny has an odd smile on his face"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Once we complete our trek through this temple, I must sleep and find my own bed"
"To become a god..."
Johnny
"wait... i have a message from... me?"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Tis truly a wondrous opportun- huh?"
* Johnny reads the message and tears start running down his face
@Lavira_Dyenus
"What was the message?"
Johnny
"G's alive" you laugh through the tears and grab Lavira's shoulders "HE'S ALIVE!"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"That sounds great, but who's G?"
Johnny
"ME!"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Please explain"
"But before that, I've realized the rain sounds came from outside and not below. I think these levers may control the storm"
"We should take note of this, but nevertheless, please continue and explain how G is you"
Johnny
"ME!" you take a deep breath "i had a split personality that was more a confident gamer but through this game we split!"
"i took the dreamself and he took the awakeself"
"we were still connected and could talk"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"I can't say I'm surprised by that. This game is truly bizarre in every way."
Johnny
"I KNOW RIGHT!"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"But I'm glad to know your other self survived"
Johnny
"well he's dead"
"but he's ghosting around somewhere"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"I stand corrected"
Johnny
"his death was..." looks far less joyous now "not fun to see second hand"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"But it must be better than being disconnected entirely"
"You've at least not lost him entirely"
* Johnny hugs Lavira smiling "THANK YOU!"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"All anyone can do is look upon their past mistakes and try to learn from them, and this seems like a good opportunity to plan ahead and ensure your future success"
* Johnny is literally floating off the ground giggling
* Lavira_Dyenus smiles a little at this boy's antics
@Lavira_Dyenus
He's a rather endearing fellow, I think
* Johnny takes several deep breaths then touches back down to the ground running his hands through his hair "it's just, i thought i'd have to figure out which of us was Johnny but now we don't"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"That sounds like quite the existential crisis"
"If it ever happens, I think it's fair to say that you're both as much 'Johnny' as the other. You can't escape or deny your nature, and that makes you equally as whole as your counterpart"
* Johnny hugs Lavira again and gives a light squeeze "that means a lot, honest"
* Lavira_Dyenus hugs back
@Lavira_Dyenus
This boy, he's not too bad
Sorodin
shipped
Johnny
"SHIT" you back out from the hug checking the message again "he says i'll be ambushed in 5 minutes which might be more like two or three now"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Stay on guard, then"
"We both need to"
Johnny
"yeah, good to know ahead of time tho"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Hopefully. Premonitions of any kind usually carry an omen"
Johnny
"..."
@Lavira_Dyenus
"For the time being, let's stay aware of our surroundings"
"Starting with these levers"
"Presuming that they control the weather outside the temple, based on the rain sounds coming from outside and not below"
"It's best to keep them inactive so the storm itself is inactive"
* Lavira_Dyenus pulls up and/or deactivates all the levers
* Johnny looks off to the outside "...how do you save a god?"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"I don't know. Hopefully we'll find out"
Johnny
"I didn't mean Zeus tho he's still important"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Who were you referring to?"
Johnny
"N, the one who killed G"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"What does N stand for? Their name clearly isn't a single letter"
Johnny
"Nemesis"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Quite the friendly name"
"What kind of god are they?"
Johnny
"heh i know right"
"a pretty shit one. one of the horrorterrors and a lesser one but he's all vengeance possessed my sprite right in front of me and i didn't notice it. then he appears and kills G"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Sprite possession? That seems rather dangerous and awful. I probably couldn't bear it if Farron was possessed and turned against me"
Johnny
"...is your sprite only single prototyped?"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"For reference, I prototyped a sculpture of my lusus, Farron, and now my sprite is in his likeness and personality"
"I believe it's single prototyped"
Johnny
"...you could throw a body in for an extra life i believe so keep the option open"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"That's a surprisingly useful and sound ability"
Johnny
"i'll fight him again soon"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"I'd like to be there and help you. You deserve to have the favor you've done so far returned"
* Johnny looks Lavira in the eyes as he says "how many have you killed?"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"I've killed many throughout my years fighting in tourneys. I've always done it under Alternian regulations or in self-defense"
Johnny
"then you can't come"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Why not?"
Johnny
"Sans is why, ever heard of Undertale?"
Sorodin
You guys talk for long enough the ambush is sprung.
We are all surprised.
@Lavira_Dyenus
"no, I haven't. If this is a game, then I've never played any games in my life."
Sorodin
Nobody saw this coming.
Johnny
"i feel sorry for you on a deep level"
"also ambush"
Sorodin
The walls grind downwards, and three of the storm dudes in business suits come out to fight.
Roll Initiative.
@Lavira_Dyenus
"well, shit"
!roll 1d20+6
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=3 ] | {9}
Johnny
!roll 1d20+3
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=20 ] | {23}
Sorodin
Alright so .
Turn order is
haha fuck
!roll 3#1d20+5
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 3#1d20+5 -->  | [ 1d20=16 ]{21}, [ 1d20=19 ]{24}, [ 1d20=20 ]{25}
Sorodin
Holy shit then okay.
Turn order is
Johnny > Employee 1 > E2 > E3 > Lavira with the shitty rolls
Johnny
"Stop we don't wanna fight. we're here to help Zeus"
Sorodin
"You came in with *them.*"
"Of course you're here to fight."
@Lavira_Dyenus
"they came in of their own accord"
"we wanted to negotiate"
Sorodin
Roll Diplomacy
Johnny
"Hey! do we look like idiotic rhinos who can't listen to the logic of a stray arrow isn't a lightning bolt?"
!roll 1d20+5
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=12 ] | {17}
@Lavira_Dyenus
!roll 1d20+2
Sorodin
!roll 3#1d20+4
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 3#1d20+4 -->  | [ 1d20=7 ]{11}, [ 1d20=9 ]{13}, [ 1d20=19 ]{23}
rolled 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=9 ] | {11}
Sorodin
Two of them look uncertain, while the last one is still completely convinced.
That you're lying.
Johnny
"dude listen to your friends"
Sorodin
Minor/Move?
or Major/Move?
I forget
Johnny
"we know how their leader died but they won't believe us now since the evidence went up in that nuke"
Johnny
Major: help Lavira
"tell them about Ventus when you can"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"understood"
Johnny
end turn
Sorodin
E1 attacks!
!roll 1d2
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d2 --> [ 1d2=1 ] | {1}
Sorodin
!roll 1d20+6
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+6 --> [ 1d20=1 ] | {7}
Sorodin
And uh.
Stabs E2.
Johnny
"..."
Sorodin
!roll 2d6+3
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=11 ] | {14}
Johnny
"Lavira no fighting"
Sorodin
E2 takes 14 damage.
E2 is like
fuck you man
and decides to skip his turn.
E3 apprehensively goes in for a punch on Johnny.
!roll 1d20+4
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=4 ] | {8}
Sorodin
But misses, and seems almost relieved.
end turn
Johnny
"thanks"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Listen to us, we encountered Ventus before the nuke was launched. He told us about the arrow that killed Lucretia, about the Outer Clans, and about Zeus putting up this cloud to defend himself from the rhinos' endless onslaught"
!roll 2#1d20+2 advantage with johnny's help
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 2#1d20+2 -->  | [ 1d20=15 ]{17}, [ 1d20=18 ]{20}
Sorodin
!roll 2#1d20+4
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 2#1d20+4 -->  | [ 1d20=17 ]{21}, [ 1d20=16 ]{20}
Sorodin
O_O
Okay you fully convince E3, but E1 is like
haha fuck you
Johnny
"next time Lavira"
@Lavira_Dyenus
I use Help to assist Johnny's next attempt at reasoning with these people
end turn
Sorodin
johnny's turn
* Johnny inhale
Johnny
"Boi"
Sorodin
!roll 1d20+4
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=9 ] | {13}
Johnny
!roll 2#1d20+5
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 2#1d20+5 -->  | [ 1d20=19 ]{24}, [ 1d20=16 ]{21}
Sorodin
okay you win
The final employee gives in.
Take 150 EXP each
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Good to see we're on equal footing now"
"What is this temple? is Zeus or Ventus here?"
Sorodin
"Yeah, Ventus arrived on the missile a few minutes ago. And Zeus? Who the fuck is that?"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"I was led to believe he was the denizen or your leader"
Sorodin
They look at eachother, confused.
"We have no idea who Zeus is."
Johnny
"... you don't know the guy these people have been fighting?"
"storm god?"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Then who is the one who created the storm cloud? Who's yours Ventus' boss?"
Sorodin
"Ventus is the boss.
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Does he have a boss?"
Johnny
"he said he was one of Zeus' people?"
Sorodin
"Not that we know of?"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Where's ventus?"
"We need to speak with him"
Johnny
"Yeah is he hurt?"
"i didn't get to patch him up before"
Sorodin
"He's in his office. We'd get you to him, but the rhinos."
"He's fine, a bit scratched up from the impact, but that's it."
@Lavira_Dyenus
"I'm guessing his office is behind the large golden doors?"
Sorodin
"That's his block, yeah."
Johnny
"Boss key required?
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Is there any other way to access it?"
Sorodin
"Yeah, Ventus calls it his boss key. Not entirely sure why."
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Does this boss key open a secondary door?"
* Johnny does a small fist pound in the air "Reference achieved"
Sorodin
"It's something of a masterkey."
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Where can we find it?"
Johnny
"in a giant chest"
Sorodin
"It really depends if the rhinos checked under the rug."
"That's where the spare copy usually is."
@Lavira_Dyenus
"The key has a copy?"
"Under a rug?"
"Where?"
Johnny
i look out the hole at where the rug would be "it's an earth thing"
Sorodin
"The welcome matt in the main room."
Johnny
"rug's at front door"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Alright"
Sorodin
Sure enough, a welcome mat is in front of the giant door.
A giant key-sized lump is under it.
Wonder what that is.
Johnny
"found it or it's air pocket"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"well, at least the rhinos' incompetence is preventing them from getting it"
Johnny
"yup"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"Johnny, you and I will need to get their attention and move them away from the door"
"Let's go down there and see what we can do."
Johnny
i check if they're near the door at all
Sorodin
yeah, they're slamming it with a battering ram
Johnny
"oh Ven's door not the front door"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"They've already broken through the front entrance. Ven's office is all that remains"
"Johnny, let's go down there and see if we can get these rhinos to stop"
Johnny
"i think i could distract them with a performance then you grab the key"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"That could work, but as soon as we open the door, they'll come charging through"
"we need to get them outside the temple or far enough away from the door to lock it again and ensure they won't mindlessly trample over Ventus"
Johnny
"hey Employees any other entrance to it?"
Sorodin
"No."
@Lavira_Dyenus
"No choice, then."
Johnny
"damn, but yeah i could mobal perform it?"
"go out then zip back in before you and the workers close it"
@Lavira_Dyenus
"That could work."
"Tell the rhinos about a backdoor or something else related to killing Ventus"
"That's seemingly the only thing they'll listen to"
Johnny
"...was thinking maybe dancing but yeah lying's probably easier..."
Sorodin
no, dance
i want to see this
Johnny
"well you need to be down there first so let's get you down there"
* Johnny carries her bridal style again and floats down
@Lavira_Dyenus
I use Help to make Johnny's lie more convincing once we reach the ground
@Lavira_Dyenus
===PAUSE===
===RESUME===
Sorodin
You guys head down to the rhinos, who are still attacking the door.
Lavira_Dyenus
I use Help to assist Johnny's performance
Sorodin
Method.
Lavira_Dyenus
by calling the rhinos' attention to him so their eyes are fully on him
* Johnny takes a deep breath and walks between the rhinos and the door, during his performance if the rhinos are captivated he backs up out of the main door
* Johnny Johnny: Dance
Johnny
!roll 2#1d20+4
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 2#1d20+4 -->  | [ 1d20=12 ]{16}, [ 1d20=10 ]{14}
Johnny
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg6-SnUl0A0
Sorodin
!roll 1d20-2
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20-2 --> [ 1d20=2 ] | {0}
Sorodin
All of the rhinos stop doing what they were doing to watch Johnny dance.
They are captivated by the amazing dance.
LaviraDyenus
While the rhinos are distracted, I take the key from under the welcome matt
Sorodin
Roll Stealth
LaviraDyenus
!roll 1d20+10
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=18 ] | {28}
Johnny
advanta- not needed
Sorodin
!roll 1d20+3
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=18 ] | {21}
Sorodin
The rhinos do not notice as you lift up the giant welcome mat and are met with a giant-ass silver key.
LaviraDyenus
I gesture to Johnny to move further outside and quietly unlock the office door
* Johnny backs up while dancing out the front door "the party continues out here!"
Sorodin
Roll Strength to pick up the key.
LaviraDyenus
!roll 1d20
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20 --> [ 1d20=19 ] | {19}
Sorodin
Johnny roll Performance to sustain.
Johnny
!roll 1d20+4
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=10 ] | {14}
Sorodin
The rhinos follow you out the door.
Lavira, you pick up the key, and insert it into the giant keyhole.
LaviraDyenus
I unlock the door and slip inside
Once inside, I call out to Johnny
* Johnny once Lavira slips through he bows to the rhinos "HEY LOOK IT'S ZEUS!" and points up into the sky
Sorodin
Okay. Johnny, do you want to use your previous roll or a new one for having the rhinos not notice the giant doors opening loudly behind them
Johnny
did i not mention Johnny put on music?
i know that won't drown out the noise but still
Sorodin
I don't think you did.
Johnny
also i'll roll deception since i'm lying to them?
Sorodin
Nah.
Rhinos are fucking idiots.
Johnny
okay? what's that mean for this situation?
Sorodin
Basially.
It means that they'll believe you unless they like crit.
!roll 1d20-5
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20-5 --> [ 1d20=3 ] | {-2}
Sorodin
And they don't.
Johnny
i'll take the roll again...
performance?
!roll 1d20+4
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=14 ] | {18}
Sorodin
You dance so well that the rhinos don't even notice the giant chorus of "aaaaaaaaahhhhhs" as the door swings open.
LaviraDyenus
I gesture for Johnny to get inside with me
Sorodin
Well, they do, but they assume it's part of your routine, and start dancing themselves.
Johnny
"okay once they're looking up i speedily go to Lavira on the other side of the door "
Sorodin
Lavira slips inside, followed by Johnny, leaving a very confused audience of rhinos looking at the sky and shooting things.
* Johnny closes the door with Lavira and himself on the inside
* LaviraDyenus locks the door using whatever mechanism available
Johnny
"lock it please"
LaviraDyenus
"On it"
Sorodin
You close the door.
Roll Strength to get the key out of the lock and over to the other side of the door
Johnny
help by actually helping lift it
LaviraDyenus
!roll 2#1d20
Kaiserbot[Dice]
rolled 2#1d20 -->  | [ 1d20=11 ]{11}, [ 1d20=13 ]{13}
Sorodin
You guys manage to carry it over with some difficulty, enough time for the rhinos to get tired of taking potshots at "Zeus" and come running back in to loot and plunder. About two make it through the door before you close it.
LaviraDyenus
I lock the door as fast as I can with Johnny's help
Sorodin
Yeah I assumed the locking part.
It's locked
Johnny
"You two, at attention!"
Sorodin
They jump to attention.
LaviraDyenus
"You two will be on guard duty at this door until further notice!"
Sorodin
You assume these are the most reasonable of the unreasonable due to them being the first two, so you might actually be able to do something.
"But the door's locked?"
Johnny
"then guard it from this side!"
Sorodin
They consider it for a second.
LaviraDyenus
"You're going to guard the door and make sure none of Zeus' servants unlock it and massacre the rhinos on the other side"
Sorodin
"If the door's locked, can't nobody come in?"
Johnny
"Lavira wait"
"these two can think"
"what is this madness"
LaviraDyenus
"Listen here, Johnny and I are heading towards whoever is in charge here. You two can actually think for yourselves, so you two should come along with us and see for yourself."
"We're here to negotiate, not murder, and you need to learn that"
Johnny
"maybe explain to the rest after that Zeus didn't kill your leader"
Sorodin
"Huh? He didn't?"
LaviraDyenus
"No, it was an arrow"
Johnny
"from the boar people on the darkside"
"the flame was a torch she was carrying"
Sorodin
"Well, I mean, we didn't actually SEE it ourselves..."
LaviraDyenus
"Keep your weapons at your side and follow us so we can negotiate and show you that Zeus didn't kill Lucretia"
Sorodin
"It did happen millennia ago, so I guess."
"Okay."
Johnny
"...you two are the best Rhinos, be proud"
"like, the best"
Sorodin
They are visibly happy.
LaviraDyenus
"I must agree. Now follow us"
I examine the new room we're in
Sorodin
It's a rather large room, filled mostly of cubicles, storm spirits working at them.
Johnny
"...is this a business?"
LaviraDyenus
I go to the nearest storm spirit
"Where can I find Ventus?"
Johnny
"i was expecting Zeus to own a brothel actually, knowing his legends"
LaviraDyenus
"My friends and I have business to discuss with him"
Johnny
"kinda owe him for saving our lives"
Sorodin
They give you a blank stare, before realizing who you are.
"Oh yeah, he'll just be in the back room."
LaviraDyenus
"thank you very much."
Johnny
"thanks man"
Sorodin
"Being all high and mighty and whatever he does back there."
Johnny
"his royal throne, the toilet"
LaviraDyenus
I head to the back room, beckoning for Johnny and the rhinos to follow peacefully
Johnny
"you lead the way chief"
Sorodin
You go to the back of the room, where a single unmarked door is.
There's a knocker, but it doesn't have a handle.
* Johnny knocks on the door with his hand
LaviraDyenus
I knock on the door, just to be sure nothing will be abruptly interrupted
Sorodin
You knock.
"Name and business please."
LaviraDyenus
"Lavira Dyenus and Johnny Goldstein, previously encountered Ventus and have business to discuss"
"Accompanying us are two peaceful rhinos"
Johnny
"here to patch him up too after a bad fight"
LaviraDyenus
"Surprising as it may sound"
Johnny
"he did maybe take a nuke"
Sorodin
The door opens.
LaviraDyenus
I enter, beckoning for everyone else to do the same
Johnny
"thanks for the open invite"
Sorodin
You guys all enter a large imposing room with one-way windows on three walls and the ceiling. A desk is in the center of it, and Ventus sits behind the desk, furiously filling out paperwork.
LaviraDyenus
"Hello again, Ventus"
Johnny
"sup Ven, you're looking better"
Sorodin
"Hello."
Johnny
"you okay?"
Sorodin
"I am, thank you."
LaviraDyenus
"We've come to further discuss some what we left off on"
Sorodin
"Fire away."
Johnny
"some of your employees don't know zeus"
"how is that?"
Sorodin
"I did say Zeus was a thing, didn't I?"
"My bad. It's the story I'm accustomed to telling."
Johnny
"so he was a figurehead the whole time"
LaviraDyenus
"Who exactly is your employer, then?"
Sorodin
"I am."
Johnny
"meet the boss"
Sorodin
"I'm pretty much the boss of the storm spirits."
Johnny
"so who's the denizen of this land?"
Sorodin
"Denizen? I suppose we are. As well as the rhinos and the outer clans."
Johnny
"no no"
"those are consorts, Denizen is the big guy in a castle or dungeon i think"
LaviraDyenus
"I think Johnny means some kind of primordial beast or creature at the center of all this"
"Although I'm not too certain myself"
Sorodin
"A primordial beast or creature?"
"I'm afraid I'm not familiar with any of those."
Johnny
"wait... if you're not the boss and the Rhinos have been fighting a guy that doesn't exist..."
"then what's Lavira's quest?"
LaviraDyenus
"That's... actually a very relevant question"
Sorodin
"Quest?" He looks up from his paperwork. "You're treating this war like some kind of game?"
Johnny
"no no"
"Lavira is the hero of this land"
"war is serious"
"but what is she meant to do to help it come to a conclusion?"
LaviraDyenus
"I'm certainly not treating this as a game, but I think I understand that Johnny means an overall quest for me to accomplish in order to solve this land's problem"
"To fulfill my role as the hero, in other words"
Sorodin
"So who's the one deciding that you're the Hero?"
"It sounds like you're getting a little presumptuous here, unless I don't have the full details of the situation yet."
LaviraDyenus
"I certainly don't know, but I've been back and forth between the dreamworld of Derse and a land of kyanite and frogs, and on both I was in prophecy as a hero"
Johnny
"wait... lands can be unaware of the session around them?"
LaviraDyenus
"Maybe. Ventus, I believe both of us are somewhat lacking in information on the other, even now"
Johnny
"Ven... we don't know why we're heroes but we want to help"
Sorodin
"Well, my first suggestion would be to recover the body from the missile."
Johnny
"that'd work if it's not gone kaput"
LaviraDyenus
"Do you know if the body is even salvageable? It went up with the nuke, if I'm not mistaken"
Sorodin
"We disarmed the nuke before it made impact, though it did hit our stabilizers."
LaviraDyenus
"That does explain the lack of a crater in the temple"
"Where's the nuke right now, and is the body still in it?"
Johnny
"also why the shockwave and radiation didn't kill us thank god"
Sorodin
"Last I heard our rhinos were taking it down to the sanctuary to reverse engineer it's components."
LaviraDyenus
"What sanctuary?"
Johnny
"your rhinos?"
LaviraDyenus
"And in which direction is it?"
Sorodin
"Not all rhinos are idiots. We've talked to a few of them, set up base underground."
"It's due north from here."
Johnny
"you do good work"
LaviraDyenus
"What does the entrance to the base look like?"
"And thank you for the info"
Johnny
"also Ven, got anything to help us along the way? like weapons?"
Sorodin
"Doesn't really look like anything. I'll give them the go-ahead to open it up for you when you arrive."
"Weapons, sure. What do you need?"
LaviraDyenus
"A rapier or light sword for me"
Johnny
"Knives"
"thowing kind"
Sorodin
"Alright. That'll be just a second."
And he goes off to get some weapons
Now go ahead and do talking or shit
* Johnny checks his phone again
Johnny
"HOLY SHIT G'S ALIVE!"
LaviraDyenus
"Genuinely this time?"
Johnny
"yeah he's flesh and blood again!"
"this is like BEST NEWS!"
LaviraDyenus
"I guess it is"
LaviraDyenus
"So what are the conditions for his renewed mortality?"
Johnny
"no conditions, he's alive again!"
"...tho his hair is bright blue now..."
LaviraDyenus
"A small price to pay, I guess."
"But hair color isn't the least of anyone's concerns"
Johnny
"hehehe it's just, i thought he'd be gone but now he's ALIVE!"
LaviraDyenus
"I can imagine it must be a wondrous moment"
* Johnny hugs Lavira "was gonna say i could hug you right now but screw it i'm doing it"
* LaviraDyenus makes a surprised little gesture
LaviraDyenus
but I don't resist
"You're quite the hugger"
* Johnny backs up from the hug seeming a little nervous "i... i guess i've been starved of contact? hehe" that laugh comes out strained
LaviraDyenus
"I suppose I can understand. I'd always shower Farron with affection after a long tourney"
"It's nice to be given that kind of affection."
Johnny
"...thanks"
"i'll, i'll ask next time"
LaviraDyenus
"Alright"
"Do you think there are still other beds on Derse? Mine own should be there, too"
"To become a god... It would be the pinnacle of my efforts, I think"
"After all, little can really compare to a god"
Johnny
"it sounded like when Plutia did it she wasn't ready?"
"a better god?"
LaviraDyenus
"I suppose that's true"
"But Plutia has all the time she needs to improve."
Johnny
"yeah it's a starting point"
"what's your title anyway?"
LaviraDyenus
"Even if I'm not ready, I'll have time to adjust and grow into the role, I think."
Johnny
"mind if i help you get there?"
LaviraDyenus
"I'd be glad to accept any help"
"I'd like any advantage I can get to prove the prophecy wrong"
"The prophecy which stated that the Page is destined to lose to the Heir"
* Johnny smiles at that "we'll fucking break anything they say at us"
Johnny
"WAIT WHAT!"
LaviraDyenus
"I believed I was the Heir, but it was after coming here that I came to the painful realization that I must be the Page"
"I refuse to let my fate end in defeat at the hands of someone without any reason to even fight me"
Johnny
"... Lavira..." you think hard on the wording of the prophecy
"was it lose or defeated?"
LaviraDyenus
"Defeated. The Heir is destined to return to the land and defeat the Page and Eris"
Johnny
"well you're... not there anymore"
"so maybe that's you being defeated?"
"consorts get stuff wrong it seems"
LaviraDyenus
"I can see that, but in what way would that be my defeat?"
Johnny
"give me the entire prophecy from the start" you lean against the wall contemplating
LaviraDyenus
"The land of Kyanite and Frogs is unique in that it has two heroes, the Heir and the Page. The Heir is destined to arrive first and push back Eris and her invasion before abruptly disappearing. After a few years, the Page is destined to arrive on the land, triggering Eris' invasion once more, but this time she will be successful in conquering the Core City. The Heir is then destined to return once more and defeat both the Page and Eris."
"The consorts believed I was the heir, since they knew of no other heroes before my arrival."
"But I guess even prophetic wizards are unable to see everything"
Johnny
"...okay if you're the Page then the Heir's already been and gone"
"you arrive and shit happens"
"and the Heir appears and you get sent here. thus the Heir's arrival 'defeats' the page"
"hehe at least that's my idea"
LaviraDyenus
"I still fail to understand that logic, but I can see the reasons behind it."
* Johnny stands from the wall shrugging "well if you end up on the kyanite place again maybe just talk to the Heir"
Johnny
"you aren't gonna get any grist from popping them since they're a player"
LaviraDyenus
"That's what I hope to do. Eris is extremely powerful, and for the heir to defeat her means they must be even more so. Having them as an ally would only be to my benefit"
Johnny
"...i meant more since 'defeat' doesn't mean combat. we 'defeated' those employees earlier by talking to them"
LaviraDyenus
"That... might be true"
Johnny
"and also it never says the Heir did it single handedly so maybe you'll get that second round you seem itching for"
LaviraDyenus
"I'm honestly not too eager to try fighting Eris a second time. She only gained strength from our combat, which means I need a different approach to fighting her"
* Johnny raises his arms up in the air then lowers them to his side widely "Talking~" he says dramatically
LaviraDyenus
"I tried negotiating with her, but she thrives on chaos and conflict. She'd only ignore any attempts at it"
Johnny
"did she have an army? were you ready to fight? did you attack her?"
LaviraDyenus
"Her army literally covers every inch of the ground, and I was ready to fight the entire time I negotiated. Eris initiated the first strike."
* Johnny deflates a bit "really it seemed like a force loss. maybe you were never meant to defeat her?"
LaviraDyenus
"Maybe not. It won't stop me from trying to find a way to do so."
Johnny
"and the Heir beats her in some round about assassination style thing"
"Lavira, i don't want you getting hurt"
LaviraDyenus
"That's a nice sentiment, but getting hurt is only going to be a natural part of our journey through this inconceivably strange, cosmic game"
"I'm a tourney fighter, and getting hurt is almost second nature as a result"
* Johnny clenches his fist "all that stuff may be true but it doesn't mean i shouldn't care about someone important to me"
* LaviraDyenus softly smiles
LaviraDyenus
"Understood"
* Johnny smiles back
Johnny
"thanks"
"also you're a Page of What?"
LaviraDyenus
"I don't know"
"The heir will inherit the frogs and creation"
"But the page was never specified"
Johnny
"well i know you'll have pretty wings when you god tier either way"
LaviraDyenus
"That would be nice, save for the room they would take up"
"I hope there will be a way to fold or conceal the wings in enclosed spaces"
"If I'm so fortunate to acquire them at all"
Johnny
"nah, Plutia said she could fold them away but since she was flying she didn't want to"
LaviraDyenus
"That's good to hear"
Johnny
"i think from the description it was coloured her blood and had design aspects from her horns and LeviathanDad?"
LaviraDyenus
"interesting"
Johnny
"so your's would be... what's your blood colour?"
LaviraDyenus
"Teal"
Johnny
"nice" you count the features on your fingers "Teal colour, shaped like your cute horns and maybe have some wolf aesthetics"
"that's probably correct?"
LaviraDyenus
"Who knows, really. We'd only know if I were to ascend"
"And thank you for calling my horns cute"
* Johnny pauses, stunned
Johnny
"...did i say that?"
LaviraDyenus
"yes"
Johnny
"...well i wasn't lying when i said it i just wasn't thinking i'd say it... you know... aloud" 0///0
LaviraDyenus
"You're a peculiar boy."
"Nothing wrong with that"
Johnny
"...thanks"
"but what did you mean by a tournament fighter?"
LaviraDyenus
"Exactly that. I fought in tournaments across the region."
Johnny
"like, to the death?"
LaviraDyenus
"Yes, I've said this before that I killed numerous trolls within the tourneys"
"Alternian culture revolves around violence like that"
* Johnny sighs
Johnny
"yep come to notice that"
LaviraDyenus
"I realized I've changed since entering this game."
"On Alternia, fame and renown were my motivations for fighting."
Johnny
"most of us have, for the better i feel"
LaviraDyenus
"When fighting, I'd carve my opponents into bloody works of art, but since entering this game, I've stopped both."
"Fame has seemingly lost its allure, maybe due to our doomed situation"
Johnny
"is it odd that i woulda liked to see some of your 'art'?"
"maybe i'm becoming more troll"
LaviraDyenus
"And fighting has no longer become about crafting art from the opponent's body. I can't be one to criticize you for being interested, given my own affiliations and history."
"Have I lost part of who I was as a result of this change?"
"Has this change made me better than before?"
"Or worse?"
Johnny
"i like the Lavira i've met today is all i know"
LaviraDyenus
"Thank you"
Johnny
"just the truth"
"but yeah glad to see you don't have lasting injuries from them like"
* Johnny taps his roboleg on the ground
LaviraDyenus
"True. I'm fortunate to be in the shape I am today"
* Johnny 0///0
Johnny
"you are in good shape that is for sure"
* LaviraDyenus smirks
LaviraDyenus
"Thanks"
* Johnny rubs the back of his head
Johnny
"kinda speaking the obvious"
"you'd have to be blind to know you don't look go- I'M SHUTTING UP NOW!"
* LaviraDyenus stands and smiles at Johnny
* Johnny 0++++++0
Johnny
"okay i'm not keeping up the being quiet bit but i don't know what's up with my tongue today?"
LaviraDyenus
"Nerves, maybe?"
"We're on quite the adventure"
Johnny
"i don't think it's those kinda nerves... maybe hormones"
Sorodin
; )
LaviraDyenus
"Quite the can of dirt-noodles"
"Let's not open it right here"
Johnny
"yeah my think pans been a mess since..." your hands move towards your mouth for a moment before going into your pockets
"yeah let's not... do that now"
LaviraDyenus
"We can maybe discuss this later, when we have some peace to enjoy"
Johnny
"yeah... that'd be nice"
LaviraDyenus
==PAUSE==