Jericho the Bard A VRMMORPG Story - 43 You said that way too casually

“Finally you two logged in!” Ken exclaimed. “What held you up?”

“I had a meeting with the Vice CEO of Free Corp; the woman in charge of the game. Princess was there to ensure my safety.” Jericho casually replied. “But it is a good thing you are here so we can practice figuring out what is needed for the dancing.”

Ken looked shocked. “You said that way too casually. Do you know her in real life then?”

Jericho chuckled. “I sold her a violin once and played her some of my music. That is how the two of us got the game. Ironically, it was music she came to talk to me about again.” Jericho focused on his fake satyr morph. “I can only keep this up for a short time. Princess, show me what you need.”

“Wow, that is so cool!” Princess smiled. “Alright, follow my movements.” She started to slowly dance.

Jericho did his best not to fall over as he copied them. Before they could get very far, Jericho’s body returned to normal. “Sorry.” He panted. “I’m out of stamina and MP again.”

Ken watched. “Um… you just need to make sure it will work with someone who has backwards knees right?” He asked.

Princess sighed. “I’m hoping to take advantage of their whole body type. But making sure the dance is doable with backwards knees is on the list.”

Ken sighed. “Let me help you with that instead.” He assumed his ‘monster’ form. (I can only use this for three hour a day. But I am much more stable on my feet than Jericho.)

“Alright, brother, you take a rest. I’ll let Ken and Lux help me out with the dancing.”

“Are you sure?” Jericho confirmed.

“Yep. I know you worked hard to be able to help out but it is more productive this way.” The girl replied.

{Sorry, Jericho. I didn’t mean to waste your hard work.} Ken said apologetically in what Lux kindly referred to as whoosh speak.

Jericho smiled. {Don’t stress it. My hard work paid off in other ways.}

He took a breath. {That’s good. You still have a song to finish writing, yeah?}

{Yeah.} Jericho replied as he split himself into four. “We are off!” Three of the four Jerichos said as they walked away. The remaining Jericho smiled. “When you are ready for the music let me know. I can at least play the main portion while the other three of me work out the details of the piece.”

The girl smiled. “Now you can make four of you? That is awesome!” She turned to the standing animals Ken and Lux. “Alright follow along.” She started stepping and moving in fancy ways. “Alright now for this move you have to crouch down. Put your hands on the ground and kick out with both legs like this.” She ended in a backwards pushup position.

The lynxes copied her movements. (Ouch!) Ken roared as he scraped up his knees. Lux who had hesitated remained crouched.

Princess took a hissing breath in through her teeth thinking that her friend’s scrape looked painful. “Are you alright?”

Ken rolled over. (I’ll be fine. In game wounds heal quickly. Though it looks like unless I can straighten my legs perfectly, I’ll scrape my knees every time with that move.)

Moira nodded. “Then what about trying it this direction?” She did a similar move but face forward.

Ken and Lux copied the movement without too much difficulty.

“Alright, now copy these moves with me.” She instructed as she lifted herself to one sided, clacked her shoes together, returned to the push up position, and mirrored the movement.

They copied. (I am guessing this is supposed to make a clacking sound with their hooves?)

“That is the intent.” She replied.

Ken gave a nod. (Well, as long as they have some balance, they should be able to pull of these moves. But seeing you go into that pushup position didn’t really look too cool.)

The girl nodded. “I know. But the satyrs should be able to make it look cooler.” Princess smiled and turned to her brother’s clone.

He smiled back. “Is it time to face the music?” He teased as he pulled out the fiddle.

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***

The other three Jericho were practicing the composition and singing the lyrics he had made previously to see if things fit together.

Jericho 1 sighed. “This would be much better if we included the guitar. The strumming of two guitars shouldn’t be that much of a problem to add and harmonize. But the satyrs don’t have them and I only have the one.”

Jericho 2 laughed. “I agree. Well, even though we are all thinking the same thing at least we can have fun talking to ourselves in a non-crazy manner.”

Jericho 3 shook his head. “The fact that we are this bored to pretend we are all separate people talking out loud… I think it kind of is crazy considering we don’t actually have to talk.”

The first Jericho nodded. “You know, wanting to add the guitar is a good thing, we just need to confirm it with the satyr leader, Carn. I am confident since they have fiddles that making a guitar or three won’t be terribly difficult for them. However finding a way to teach it is the other challenge. That is something that should be brought up with him.” He left the other two clones so he could go find the old goat.

“Carn,” he called out once he found him.

“Baa, Jericho what can I do for you?” The old goat inquired.

Jericho sighed. “I would like to add an instrument that you currently aren’t using to the ritual. However I do not know if that would be considered a problem or not.”

The old goat baa-laughed in response. “You and that elf are the champions sent by our god. If he has given you the inspiration to expand our cultural knowledge then so be it. Might I inquire as to what instrument you are referring to?”

Jericho pulled out the instrument. “This is called a guitar.”

“It seems similar to our fiddle.” The old goat observed.

Jericho nodded. “It looks similar but it is played differently. Instead of using a bow, you use this.” He pulled out a plectrum. “That is, unless you have got really good fingers for it.”

The old goat swished his long tail and tilted his head. “Oh? Can you show me?”

Jericho started strumming the guitar. “This is the most common way to play, using the pick to strum multiple strings at the same time.” Jericho started plucking notes individually. “You can also play it like this. Of course there are always inventive ways to play a guitar but those are the more commonly accepted methods.”

The old goat frowned. “I see.”

Jericho sighed. “You appear to be having the same dilemma I have been having. How do we teach some satyrs how to play this instrument well enough and quick enough to implement it?”

“I do have a solution but it is risky. It is something I would rather not pull out if needed.”

Jericho shook his head. “If you don’t feel comfortable with the idea, we can always add it in later.”

Carn sighed. “No, it is better to perform the complete version of what you wish to bestow upon us. It seems I must pull out The Memory Crown.”

“The Memory Crown?” Jericho asked.

“It is an artifact belonging to our people. We rarely use it because it is dangerous and harmful to the minds of those who use it, but oh so useful. The crown will pass on the memories of the previous wearer to the new wearer. Many have gone crazy from the effects of the crown so we rarely use it. There are ways to limit the harmful effect but it isn’t perfect. I will go prepare the item. Please take that guitar to our fiddle-makers so they can find a way to create a copy of it. After I have prepared the crown I will come find you and tell you how to use it.”

[You have received the quest: Making a copy. While Carn looks for and prepares The Memory Crown, take your guitar to the fiddle-makers so they can start making some more guitars. Reward: Unknown.]

“I will, thank you.” Jericho replied. “Where can I find them?”

“Turn left at the 5th tree on your right. There is a sign that looks like a hoof print. Go two huts to the right of that place and you will find Cry, Tho, and Rion. Talking to any of them will do.”

“Thank you again.” Jericho nodded and walked off. He made sure to carefully count the trees so he didn’t get lost. “Why does everyone that lives in an area filled with trees always say to turn at the tree? Are they wanting people to lose their way? A tree isn’t a good landmark in a forest.” He voiced quietly.

[Your skills have increased: Drums 0/10 Master, Fiddle 1/10 Master, Panpipes 9/10 Expert.]

Jericho sighed as he received the notifications from his clone’s actions. He arrived at the place.

“Oh, it’s you! I’m Tho, what can we do for you, Champion of Music?” The closest satyr asked respectfully.

Jericho smiled. “Carn asked me to bring you this.” He pulled out his guitar. “He said that since they looked similar, you and the other two should be able to make copies of it.”

Tho picked up the guitar and looked it over. “Baa, Indeed we can make the body of it just fine. However the wires we have for the instruments are too short. What is this instrument called?”

“It is called a guitar and I see; then if I provided the string, could you and the other two make them?” Jericho pulled out the excess piano wire he had made previously from his inventory. “I need three copies and my original back, intact, please.”

“Cry! Rion! We have an exciting endeavor to make a new batch of instruments called guitars!”

Two other satyrs rushed out from the back room. “Let me see!”

Tho passed the instrument back to them and faced Jericho. “We will work on your order. Thank you for providing the instrument strings. We will find you when we are finished.”

“Thank you.” Jericho replied as he left the building. He found a nearby bench and sat in thought. “At least my clones are having fun.” He closed his eyes to reflect on the past few days. A lot had happened.

“Oh right, I wanted to make A Wordless Farewell for my album.” He opened up his inventory and looked at the four wooden flutes within it. “Let’s use the largest and smallest flutes. Two people saying goodbye. A hope to meet again in the future, a hopeful yet sad feeling…” He lifted the heavy flute and started to play a baritone bittersweet melody.

***

“Director Fletcher, the announcement, starting town redistribution assignments and the analysis on future events has been completed.”

“Excellent work; now all we have to do is wait to see what happens.” The man replied.

The worker hesitated. “You mean, it isn’t set in stone?”

Mr. Fletcher laughed happily. “You never know when someone or something will surprise you. No plan is ever truly perfect and can calculate even the most minute problems or surprises that may arise. Besides, according to Mrs. Long, Jericho and his sister are playing there currently. You were part of the team that analyzed their game data. I am sure you know what I am referring to.”

The employee looked enlightened. “You suspect those two abnormal players that can get the AI of our monsters to somehow be friendly towards them will be able to make a significant impact on the current situation?”

The man laughed some more. “While they are indeed abnormal, I would rather use a much more kind term for them. These two geniuses don’t think like gamers and have a very unique perspective on how to do things. I am not expecting a miracle from them, but I do look forward to watching their future performances.” He hit the play button on his watch.

Jericho’s music filled the tech building and Director Fletcher returned to his office.

Mrs. Long walked into the room. “I see his music has captured you too, Owen.”

Owen Fletcher smiled. “How can it not? By the way, how did the contract go? I know the marketing team was pleading with every power known and unknown to man for your success.”

Mrs. Long smiled. “It was perfect. He agreed to our very loose terms.” She narrowed her eyes and glanced around the room. She dropped her voice to a whisper. “How goes the other project?”

Owen smiled. “I told you already, it will take some time to finish. There have been no hiccups as of yet. However, progress remains slow. I have only been working on it for a week now. You can’t expect fast results on something being worked on by a very small team in almost no time at all.”

She nodded. “Sorry, I just hope that it can be done as soon and as quietly as possible.”

Mr. Fletcher laughed. “What are you some cartoon villainess? Keep talking like that and people will think you are up to something shady. But, my team and I will keep working on it.”

“Thank you, Owen. Do you need anything from me?” She asked back.

“A cup of hot chocolate would be nice.” Owen teased.

Jeanette nodded, “Mint, Dark, or Hazelnut?” She asked seriously.

The man laughed. “If you are seriously willing, then let’s go with Hazelnut today.”

The woman nodded and opened the office door. She looked over to the male secretary. “Please get Director Fletcher a Hazelnut hot chocolate.”

The young man chuckled slightly. “Alright!”

Owen Fletcher shook his head with a laugh. “What a boss…”