Draw Of Luck
Active Quest [Complete!]
Mission: You're A Prodigy Act Like It
Description: Reach a specific view count on your latest song and craft five outstanding tracks within a week to showcase your prodigious talent.
Create 5: +50 rated songs (Completed)
Achieve Three Million Listeners (Completed)
Rewards:
Music Inspiration Package
60-85 Rated Song Structure
"Its Time To Go Viral" <Limited Status> (Current Fame and Buzz Reaches that of a mainstream Artist for a limited time period)
Five days had passed, and Arell found himself reflecting on the events that had occurred over those five days.
He'd spent most of his time writing songs and reading into books on poetry, which gave him a slow, yet steady increase on his stats. The process was grueling but rewarding, most times he'd find himself frustrated and at loss on how to even begin new songs.
His main motivation being that he could feel his skills sharpening, his songwriting and lyricism slowly catching up to his production and flow.
He also had repeated conversations with Geoffrey and Aisha. Who both, since hearing of the shooting, he had been overly insistent of Arell remaining at home until they could ensure his safety, something Arell opposed, yet still, they agreed that staying low-key was essential, but so was continuing to build his presence.
Fortunately, Geoffrey managed to organize a performance at a local bar where there was a low risk of danger.
It was relatively small venue but perfect enough to allow him to hone his live performance skills without pressure.
The night of the performance, he was filled with a mix of nerves and excitement. The crowd was modest, but their energy was palpable and despite a few minor mistakes, by the end of the night, he walked away with $200—not a huge sum, but the experience was invaluable given that his performance stat had risen to 55, a significant improvement.
Meanwhile, on the business end, the clothing line was starting to take shape.
Geoffrey had been working tirelessly to ensure everything was in place before the launch. They secured a loan from a bank, which provided the necessary funds to cover production costs and initial marketing efforts, however, they still needed additional funds which is why they were applying for a loan at another bank.
Now, it was just a matter of finalizing a few details before they could increase their production and start releasing the merchandise.
Despite all these developments, there was one thing Arell had been eagerly awaiting: the completion of his quest. He glanced at the system notification, the words "Quest Complete" standing out boldly.
Active Quest [Complete!]
Mission: You're A Prodigy Act Like It
Description: Reach a specific view count on your latest song and craft five outstanding tracks within a week to showcase your prodigious talent.
Create 5: +50 rated songs (Completed)
Achieve Three Million Listeners (Completed)
Rewards:
Music Inspiration Package
60-85 Rated Song Structure
"Its Time To Go Viral" <Limited Status> (Current Fame and Buzz Reaches that of a mainstream Artist for a limited time period)
"Current Fame and Buzz Reaches that of a mainstream Artist for a limited time period," he read aloud, a grin spreading across his face. "I finally got it," he said, feeling a surge of satisfaction.
With anticipation, he willed the first reward forward, the Music Inspiration Package.
[Ding! Reward Unlocked: Music Inspiration Package]
["Slime Life" Atlanta Influence: Trap Innovators (Rare)]
[Kid Cudi Vibes: Emotional Depth and Atmospheric Production (Epic)]
[Conscious Rap: Narrative Mastery and Lyrical Depth (Rare)]
"Interesting," Arell muttered. "So, they're like the Chicago one I got. This will help a lot."
He willed each one forward to see if there were descriptions, and indeed, they popped up with detailed explanations.
"Oh, there are descriptions," Arell said, impressed. "This is going to be incredibly helpful."
Slime Life: Atlanta Influence: Trap Innovators (Rare)
Trap Beats: Master the iconic Atlanta trap sound with heavy 808s, hi-hats, and snappy snares. Perfect for creating club bangers and street anthems.
Melodic Flows: Incorporate melodic rapping and singing to make your tracks catchier and more versatile.
Lyrical Themes: Focus on themes of hustle, street life, loyalty, and betrayal. Capture the essence of Atlanta's street culture in your lyrics.
Collaboration Style: Emulate the collaborative nature of Atlanta's rap scene, blending your style with others to create dynamic tracks.
"Solid, definitely going to be useful, it's practically a better version of the Chicago one." Arell noted.
He moved to the next one.
Kid Cudi Vibes: Emotional Depth and Atmospheric Production (Epic) (+5 Production) (+5 Voice)
Atmospheric Beats: Use dreamy and atmospheric beats to create a unique, ethereal soundscape. Perfect for introspective and moody tracks.
Emotional Lyrics: Write lyrics that delve into personal struggles, mental health, and emotional experiences. Connect with listeners on a deeper level.
Melodic Elements: Incorporate melodic hooks and choruses to make your tracks memorable and impactful.
Innovative Production: Experiment with unconventional sounds and production techniques to create a distinctive sound that stands out.
"Wow, this is going to add a whole new dimension to my music, and you could never go wrong with a stat boost." Arell said.
Finally, he looked at the last one.
Conscious Rap: Narrative Mastery and Lyrical Depth (Rare)
Intricate Narratives: Develop complex, multi-layered stories in your lyrics.
Vivid Imagery: Paint vivid pictures with your words. Use descriptive language and metaphors to create strong visual imagery that enhances your storytelling.
Emotional Depth: Tap into a range of emotions, from joy and triumph to pain and despair.
Complex Flows: Experiment with varied and complex flows to keep listeners engaged.
Reflective Themes: Write lyrics that are introspective and reflective. Share personal experiences and insights that reveal your growth and perspective as an individual.
Thought-Provoking Lyrics: Aim for lyrics that challenge listeners to think and reflect. Pose questions, offer new perspectives, and encourage deeper understanding through your music.
"Okay, so the rare ones didn't come with a stat boost like the Kid Cudi Vibes did." Arell noted. "But these are all extremely good."
Satisfied with the Music Inspiration Package rewards, Arell turned his attention to the next reward, the 60-85 Rated Song Structure.
[Ding! Reward Unlocked: 60-85 Rated Song Structure]
Juice Wrld: "Let Me Know" Song Structure
"Juice WRLD again," he mused, recognizing that this was the second time he encountered a reward related to the artist. "Maybe I should check out his music. If he's good enough to be in these rewards, he must be doing something right."
Arell's attention then shifted to the final reward, the "It's Time To Go Viral".
Excited to unlock the final reward, Arell focused his thoughts on it and willed it forward. With a satisfying ding, the "It's Time To Go Viral" reward unlocked, revealing its contents.
[Ding! Reward Unlocked: "It's Time To Go Viral"]
The system promptly displayed a message:
[Fame and Buzz of mainstream artist achieved. Set fame level: 65, set buzz level: 60. Time limit: 20 days]
"Good, really good," he muttered, pleased with the reward. "This is going to help a lot."
As he contemplated further, a thought occurred to him. "I wonder if the limit is 100? Or maybe it can go further, like how the regular stats can." he mused, considering the possibilities.
Arell made a mental note to inform Geoffrey. "I should let Geoffrey know about this," he said to himself. "We'll want to maybe change our release plans for the clothing line."
But then, another realization struck him. "It's only for 20 days though," he remarked, the brief time frame dawning on him.
"Speaking of 20 days..." Arell trailed off, his eyes shifting to another section of the system.
Roulette [Spin]
Arell shook his head, having forgotten about the Roulette feature. "I forgot about this," he muttered to himself. "Might as well spin now."
With a focused intention, he willed the Roulette to spin, watching intently as it whirled before finally coming to a stop. To his surprise, it landed on something called "Random Draw of Luck."
"Hmm, interesting," Arell pondered. "I wonder what this entails."
Well, if something unexpected happens today, I'll know what to attribute it to," he mused, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Picking up his phone, he navigated to his contacts, intending to call Geoffrey. But as he hovered over the call button, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Maybe that draw of luck will work out here." he thought to himself, intrigued by the prospect of the unexpected.
With a tap of his finger, he initiated the call.
"Hey, Geoffrey," Arell greeted enthusiastically as soon as the call connected.
"Hey, Arell. How's it going?" Geoffrey's voice came through the phone, filled with curiosity.
"I've got some good news to share," Arell replied. "I completed it the quest for the fame and buzz, though, its limited to only the next 20 days."
"Well, that's good either way, there's a lot we can do with that." Geoffrey said. "It'll definitely give us a major boost in visibility for the clothing line launch."
"Yeah, I thought you'd be happy to hear that," Arell said, pleased with Geoffrey's positive reaction. "But remember, it's only for 20 days, so we'll need to make the most of it."
"Absolutely," Geoffrey agreed. "We'll have to adjust our strategy accordingly, and guess what? I've got even better news." Geoffrey said, his tone turning pleasant.
"Well? What is it?" Arell asked, his curiosity evident.
"I've secured that second loan from the other bank, meaning we could give the go ahead on the rest of our production."
As Arell listened to Geoffrey's words, excitement bubbled up within him.
"Yeah, that's definitely going to be good for us with this timing," Arell agreed with enthusiasm. "We'll need to make sure we maximize this opportunity."
Geoffrey's voice took on a tone of anticipation. "Absolutely. And speaking of opportunities, I've got even better news."
Arell's curiosity piqued, his thoughts turning to the roulette reward. "Better news than securing the second loan?"
"Yep," Geoffrey confirmed. "So, Killer Mike was supposed to perform at this Atlanta hip-hop showcase at The Tabernacle. Well, he had to cancel, but they've been scrambling to find a replacement. And guess what? They reached out to me through the email I set up for you because they couldn't find anyone available."
Arell's heart skipped a beat.
"Are you serious?" Arell exclaimed, barely able to contain his excitement.
Geoffrey chuckled on the other end of the line. "Absolutely serious. It's happening in just two days. This is a golden opportunity for you to showcase your talent to a wider audience and rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in Atlanta hip-hop."
Arell's mind raced with excitement as he processed the magnitude of the opportunity Geoffrey had presented.
"Who else is going to be there?" Arell asked eagerly, his anticipation mounting with each word.
Geoffrey chuckled at Arell's enthusiasm. "The lineup is stacked, my friend."
Arell leaned in, hanging onto Geoffrey's every word.
"Headlining the event, we've got Ludacris, the Atlanta rap legend himself," Geoffrey began.
"Then we've got none other than T.I.," Geoffrey continued, knowing Arell would recognize the iconic Atlanta rapper's name.
Arell's considered Geoffrey's words. "Ludacris and T.I.? That's definitely a crowd grabbing duo."
But Geoffrey wasn't done yet. "And as supporting acts, we've got Jeezy, 21 Savage, Rich the Kid, Raheem DeVaughn, and Young Dolph." he added, rattling off the impressive list of performers.
Arell's nodded as he heard the lineup. "Haven't heard of some of them, but if you say it's stacked, I'll believe you. How many people are expected to attend?"
Geoffrey's voice brimmed with confidence. "It's a sold-out event, my friend. The Tabernacle holds around 2,600 people but they've commissioned standing areas so there'll be more people, the tickets prices were also raised and every single one has been snapped up."
Arell's eyes shone as he processed what Geoffrey told him. "And the payment?" he inquired.
Geoffrey's tone turned serious. "For a performance of this caliber, you're looking at a substantial payment. Given the high-profile nature of the event and your limited time frame, I negotiated a decent fee for your performance."
"Tell me." He urged, eager to hear the figure.
Geoffrey paused for dramatic effect before delivering the news. "They've agreed to pay you $10,000 for your performance."
Arell's eyes widened. "$10,000? That's really good." he said.
Geoffrey chuckled at Arell's reaction. "Actually, at an event like this its bare minimum."
"Oh really?" Arell replied, his surprise evident in his tone.
Geoffrey's chuckle softened. "Yeah, really. But don't get too caught up in the excitement just yet."
Arell furrowed his brow, curious about Geoffrey's sudden change in demeanor. "What do you mean?" he asked.
Geoffrey's tone turned serious as he continued, "Look, opportunities like this don't just fall into your lap. Out of all the talented rappers in Atlanta, why do you think you were recommended?"
Arell considered Geoffrey's words carefully. "Well… I can't be completely sure why."
"And that's exactly why you need to be cautious," Geoffrey advised. "You're a young, promising rapper who's already garnered millions of views in the span of barely two months. That kind of success attracts attention, and not all of it may be positive."
Arell's mind raced as he processed Geoffrey's warning. "You think someone might be trying to gain my favor?" he asked, the possibility dawning on him.
Geoffrey spoke again his tone solemnly. "It's a possibility we can't ignore. You've already spoken to Young Thug, right? Did he seem like the type to do something like this?"
Arell paused, recalling his conversation with Young Thug. "He seemed genuine, I don't think he'd do it, but then again, I barely know him."
"Exactly. We can't be too trusting, especially in this industry. Keep your guard up and stay vigilant, I've been looking into a lot of rumors surrounding a lot of these individuals and they seem…disturbing."
Arell nodded in agreement. "You're right. I'll be careful."
Geoffrey's tone softened. "Good."
With that Arell ended the call.