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Story/06 - Challenges/Zahir.txt

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+YELLOW  
+  
+Upon returning to the YELLOW demense, you see everything is pretty much the same. The beach is still golden yellow, the waves are still rolling, and the boardwalk is still standing.
+
+But, there are far fewer people out and about in the sand and water, and the few that ARE there are all heading in the same direction: To the far end of the boardwalk, toward Zahir's warehouse building.  
+  
+The stores and shops are still open, but there are signs in the windows declaring they are closing early today.
+
+*IF THEY GO TO THE STORE OR FOOD SHACK*
+(Horace the pelican / Janice the flamingo) is in the middle of putting some of their merchandise in cardboard boxes, but stops to see you coming and immediately hops behind the register. "Oh hey, it's the Kings of Kings! How can I help ya?"
+
+*WHERE IS EVERYONE*
+"DJ Zahir's having another party, and everyone's invited. I'm heading there too, I wanna sell some goodies sooner rather than later."
+
+-----
+
+*IF THEY FOLLOW*  
+The people are definitely going inside that same building, but the lights are much less blinding this time around.
+
+(NOTICE roll)
+- The music is also much less rave-like, and much more electro-pop-style.
+- You could almost swear you hear the song "Sweet Little Bumblebee"  
+  
+*IF THEY ENTER*  
+The overhead spotlights are focused in the center of the massive floorspace, surrounding a huge group of people cheering excitedly in a massive circle around that illuminated spot, chanting ZA HIR! ZA HIR! ZA HIR!  
+  
+As you wade through the crowd one person at a time, you eventually see Zahir, panting and dancing rhythmically as he waves all four arms in the air. There is also a second person flopped on the ground beside him in exhaustion. 
+
+Six of the hexagonal floor tiles are lit up bright yellow in a circle with arrows pointing out in six directions. The DJ station has a VERY old and VERY large wood-frame TV sitting atop the table with a Dance Dance Revolution display on the screen. 
+  
+The song finally ends, and the TV declares Player 1 Zahir as the winner. He turns around as the audience cheers in excitement, cheering alongside them for a moment. He then leans down and offers his opponent a hand up, the same butterfly man that ran the station during Zahir's prior show.
+
+Zahir pulls him straight into a four armed hug, thanking him for the fun. He hands his opponent off to a nearby group of people, before he is rushed by the crowd in excitement. He gives high fives & fist bumps to everyone, until he spots your group in the crowd, waving at you all excitedly. "HEY HEY! It's the Kings of Kings!"
+  
+He launches himself straight up into the air and lands behind your group, giving (highest NOTICE roller) a massive four armed bear hug. "Didja come back to visit li'l ol' me?" He giggles a bit excitedly.  
+  
+*IF REGALIA*  
+"Ohhh, you're here for the THMACKDOWN, are ya?"
+
+*YES*
+"Well fine by me, I'm all warmed up!" 
+ 
+He launches into the open air overhead with a line of yellow light trailing him Tron style, spinning in circles around the station where the TV is. In a matter of moments, the TV setup is gone AND the station is back to how it was during the party before, ready for someone to operate it. 
+  
+He grabs the mic and flutters in the air for a moment before loudly speaking, "ATTENTION PARTYGOERS, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY A RETURN APPEARANCE OF THE KINGS OF KINGS! AND THEY ARE HERE TO TAKE ON DJ ZAHIR ONLARLA IN AN OFFICIAL CHAAAAALLEEEEENGE!!!"  
+  
+Everyone in the audience suddenly explodes in cheer, backing up and giving your group plenty of space. Zahir floats down and pitches the microphone toward the DJ station, and it is caught by the same butterfly man he just won against.
+  
+Zahir clangs his topmost two fists together, and you see he has dawned a pair of metal gauntlets in the shape of large bees with mandibles for knuckle guards. "The stage is set! The lights are just right! It's time to show you how I fight!!!"  
+   
+AFTER THE FIGHT   
+  
+*IF THEY LOSE*  
+Zahir is panting up a storm, but is also laughing heartily, very much enjoying this whole encounter. He cups all four hands around his mouth and shouts "EVERYONE GIVE IT UP FOR THE KINGS OF KINGS!"  
+  
+Everyone cheers with excitement, and once the gold circle dissipates, the audience helps you get back onto your feet slowly and carefully. Zahir continues, "LET IT BE KNOWN THEY HAVE A VIP PASS TO EVERY PARTY FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF TIME!!!"  
+  
+Everyone cheers their heads off and suddenly goes full mosh pit, lifting your group into the air and parading you around the entire facility as the music picks back up. They dance around d with you all in their arms for a song or two, before letting you down near the building entrance.  
+  
+"You guys did amazing, and you put on a great show! Feel free to come back for a rematch, and next time, I know you'll do even better!"  
+  
+*IF THEY WIN*  
+Zahir flops onto his knees, legs splaying wide anime schoolgirl style, and throws his head back, flinging beads of sweat back at the audience.   
+  
+"THAT.. WAS.. AMAZING!" He throws his hands in the air. "I HAVENT HAD A FIGHT THAT GOOD IN AGES!"  
+  
+He slowly stands up, pulling off his gauntlets with slow pained difficulty, and offers them to your group. "You've earned my Nova Knuckles, AND my respect!"  
+  
+He turns to the people before announcing, "GIVE IT UP FOR THE KINGS OF KIIIIINGS!!!"
+
+Applause erupts from the audience for several seconds, before Zahir flops back onto the ground in exhaustion. "I think for the first time in a long time, I need a break..."  
+  
+He closes his eyes, smiling wide as he rests. The other partygoers fall silent, looking toward each other in conformation, before slowly gathering around Zahir to pick him up as a group and carry him off outside the facility, mosh pit style.  
+  
+*IF THEY ASK*  
+One of the partygoers, a human woman with a black ponytail in neon green and black clothing, tells you they're taking him home.  
+  
+*IF THEY FOLLOW*  
+You see in the distance what looks like a normal wooden beach house, the walls painted an amber yellow and the roof is a brick red. The home is fenced in with a small front yard & much larger backyard, and you see what looks like man-made beehives in that yard.
+  
+The people carrying him coordinate opening the front door for him and carry him inside. 
+  
+-----  
+  
+*LIVING ROOM*  
+The building itself is surprisingly normal. Basic yellow walls and brown furniture, some bee and honeycomb shaped knickknacks all around, nothing too out of the ordinary.  
+  
+(INVESTIGATE Roll) You see an entire shelf of framed photographs, each one showing a different party he has thrown with different guests of honor. You all find the one he took with your group last time you visited the Demense, but the one beside it catches your eye.
+
+- You find a group photo of Zahir with the three commanders of the Thunder Force and King Akarui  
+- The photo couldn't be more than a year old
+- The scar under Harken's eye is missing  
+  
+-----  
+  
+*BEDROOM*  
+  
+The light is low, but you can see a king size bed in the far corner, a few encouraging posters on the walls making various bee puns, and a desk covered in tools, scraps of metal, various wires, and other pieces of electronics.  
+  
+(INVESTIGATE roll)  
+- There are hexagonal plates on the table 
+- They are connected to light fixtures 
+- LIGHT magic is glowing from the power units 
+  
+-----  
+  
+*BACKYARD*  
+  
+The entire yard is full of fresh produce, bright flowers, and SO MANY GODDAMN BEES SWARMING AROUND A MASSIVE WOODEN HIVE. There is also a sign that says WARNING: Melipona beecheii  
+  
+(ACADEMICS Roll)  
+- You recall this as a type of bee without stingers but they bite STUPID hard  
+- Their honey is smooth and a little sour, but has medicinal AND psychedelic proerties  
+- The Mayans had a male god associated with this species of bee called AH-MUZEN-CAB  
+