Johnny Sonata

Overview

Johnny Sonata

Johnny Sonata is a villain contact in the Babylon neighborhood of St. Martial. Johnny Sonata is a Natural origin contact. His level range is 35-39. He is located inside the Golden Giza Casino.

Introductions

Contact Introduced By

• None, Johnny Sonata is unlocked as a contact by obtaining the Obsessed Badge.

New Contact(s)

• None

Information

Smooth-singing owner of the Golden Giza

He's the top of the heap, the big cheese, the man himself: Johnny Sonata. Everyone knows who Johnny Sonata is. He ung his way up in the world with his golden voice and charming smile. While he still releases platinum-selling albums every year, he spends much of his time running his casino, the Golden Giza. Johnny is an extremely powerful man, and there are many rumors that say he's tied both to the Family and to Arachnos.

Initial Contact

Basse tells me you're a good kid, and I trust his judgement. So, if he says you're all right, you're all right by me. And there's a couple of things I need someone I can trust to do for me.

Story Arc

A signed glossy of Johnny Sonata

This signed glossy photo of Johnny Sonata holds memories of the time you worked for Johnny himself. It was an escapade you remember as

Devil May Care
-or-
I left My Soul in St. Martial

Basse had set you up with a meeting with the big man himself, Johnny Sonata. As it turns out, Johnny had a big job for you, something important he needed done. The first part was to steal a strange document from Arachnos. Johnny claimed it was his, and it did have his signature on it. It was also written in bizarre legalese that glowed faintly and was warm to the touch.

Johnny was having trouble deciphering the contract you gave him, saying it was 'all written in mumbo-jumbo.' So he sent you to grab an expert in mumbo-jumbo, a Circle of Thorns librarian. Unfortunately, the Librarian didn't know much about it, but did mention a specialist he knew of, a traitor to the Circle called Akarist.

Apparently, Akarist had betrayed the Circle, and was now working with the vigilantes of Paragon City as a consultant on the strange and the supernatural. Johnny found out that Akarist was in a strange other-dimensional world the heroes were exploring, but that wasn't enough to discourage him. A bribe to an Arachnos portal technician later, you were in another world, and brought Akarist back. Akarist got right to work, but had some very disturbing things to say about the nature of the document Johnny was so interested in.

Before Akarist escaped back to Paragon City, he told Johnny what he wanted to learn. Acting on this, Johnny sent you to capture the Wailer Lord, the ruler of all the Wailer demons. Hardcase pointed you in the right direction, and you delivered the wailing beast to Johnny and a group of Fortunata interrogators he had on loan for the week.

With the end in sight, and the location of the mysterious thing Johnny was looking for known, all that was left was to find a way to get to it. Johnny had some Mu Mystics start a ritual to find the last bit of information he needed, but a wave of Wailers overcame them. You recovered all of the Mystics and let the ritual complete.

Johnny finally told you what this was all about. Years ago, he had sold his soul to a demon for his singing career, and now the time was up. The wailers were the agents of the demon, and had been trying to get him for years, but he'd had St. Martial constructed to divert them or hold them back. Now, he wanted his soul back, and with your help had located it. Johnny's soul was inside a personal hell where he could not go himself, so you went in his place. But when you found Johnny's soul, it didn't want to go back, and fought until you had to destroy it.

Curiously, Johnny seemed to be happy with the outcome. Without a soul, he'd never face the bad end of his deal, and any remaining moral qualms were washed away. He thanked you, but then dismissed you like you were a common thug. One of his secretaries gave you a signed glossy of Johnny Sonata on the way out. The funny thing is, the image of Johnny in the photo seems to have aged dramatically. Johnny may be too well connected to take on now, but you can be pretty sure that when it all catches up to him, it won't be pretty.

Store

Johnny sells the following items:

• Inspirations
• Level 35 Natural/Magic Dual-Origin Enhancements
• Level 35 Magic Single-Origin Enhancements
• Level 40 Magic Single-Origin Enhancements

Missions

Steal something of Johnny's from Arachnos

Briefing

Okay, kid, here's the deal. I'm Johnny Sonata, and I need something done. If you really are as good as Basse says you are, then you should be able to do it. There's gonna be a couple steps to this, so if you're in, you're in for the long haul. Before you say yes, I'll tell you how it's gonna start to see if you got the mettle. First thing I need is I need you to steal something of mine Arachnos got a hold of, and cover it up. Can you handle that?

I knew you had it. What I'm looking for is really simple. A piece of paper, an old contract with my signature on it. That rag's been worth a lot to me over the years, and I haven't minded it in Mr. Recluse's hands. But now, I need it back, and I don't want to bother him by asking, if you catch my drift. So I want you to get it for me, kid. Oh, and blow up some of their other files while you're at it, and take out any guards around them. You always want to leave 'em guessing.

Mission Objective(s)

According to Mr. Sonata, the contract he's looking for should be somewhere in here.

• Steal contract from Arachnos
• Steal Johnny's Contract
• Three files to destroy

Clue: Johnny's Contract

This thick contract is written in strange reddish letters that glow faintly and feel warm to the touch. It's dozens of pages long, and written in a bizarre kind of legalese. The signature on the bottom is Johnny's world-famous autograph.

Debriefing

Hey, kid, you got just what I wanted just the way I wanted it. See, Mr. Recluse, part of our deal was that he'd keep hold on this little piece of paper for me. Keep it safe, you know? Well, I'm tired of playing it safe. That's part of why I like you. You're dangerous. You're a risk-taker. I like it. Well, now it's time for Johnny Sonata to stop acting so safe all the time. It's time for Johnny Sonata to take back what's his! And kid, I'm gonna need a lot of help to get it.

Interrogate a Circle Sorcerer

Briefing

Those Circle of Thorns guys, they're jerks, the lot of them. Some kinda ghost-guys stealing people's bodies and driving 'em around like cars. It ain't right, I tell ya. Jerks, I says, the lot of 'em. But they're jerks who sometimes know something, and that's why I need your help on this. See, you got me that contract, and I'm thankful to you for it. But the whole thing, it's all in mumbo-jumbo. Those circle guys, they got mumbo-jumbo down pat. So, what I want you to do is get hold of one of those guys, and make him look at this thing.

This one should be easy. There's this Circle guy who's a bookworm, 'Librarian Engrat' or something. Well, I want you to take him by the scruff of his neck, and have him tell you what I need to decipher this contract. Knock him around some first, so he knows we mean business.

Clue: A copy of the contract

This thick sheaf of photocopies is a duplicate of the contract Johnny Sonata had you steal from Arachnos. Johnny's name has been blacked out on this copy. However, you notice that it's still warm to the touch.

Mission Objective(s)

People don't like to talk about Mr ruins under St. Martial, out of concern that it might scare away tourists. But like all of the Rogue Isles, St. Martial is riddled with them.

• Defeat Librarian Engrat

Clue: 'I can tell you it's demonic'

After you smacked him around a bit, Librarian Engrat was ready to tell you what he could about the copy of Johnny's contract you showed him:

'I'll tell you what you want to know, just cease! This may not be my body, but I've grown quite attached to it. Little bit of humor there.

• Ahem*

Well, I can tell you it's demonic. Most likely a soul-exchange contract. You konw, wealth and power and fame in exchange for one's soul. As a Librarian, I've seen a great number of them. I note that the contractee has been blacked out, so it's most likely someone powerful. You, perhaps? Well, whoever it is, if they're looking for a way out of it, I'm afraid I won't be much help to you. You'd probably need a specialist in demonic negotiations like the traitor Akarist to find a loophole.'

Debriefing

That's all he had? Go talk to some other guy 'cause I ain't got nothing? What did I tell ya? Jerks, the lot of them! Still, that name, Akarist. I've heard it before. That could be something.

Capture Akarist in another dimension

Briefing

So I looked into this guy Akarist. Turns out he's some kind of Circle guy who turned on 'em and went over to the heroes. Now, the vigilantes over in Paragon City use him as a consultant on all kinds of weird things 'cause he knows about it all. Sounds like just the kind of guy I want looking at this contract of mine. So here's the deal: Right now the heroes have this guy in some kind of weird other dimension or somethin' like that. I want him back here. So I gotta send someone to get him. And I want that someone to be you.

Now, I got contacts and I got contacts. So I knoew about this guy, name of Grant Naylor. He's a good kid, and they got him out in Nerva working on one of those Circle portals. Trying to make it work for us. He'll send you where you need to go, and bring you back when you're done. Just give him a couple of tickets on the house.

Clue: Front row seats

Johnny Sonata is always the hottest ticket in town, and these two front row seats are probably worth more than most people on the Island make in a month. Just the thing to bribe a low-paid technician.

Mission Objective(s)

• Give tickets to Naylor

Debriefing: Technician Naylor

Awright! Thanks for tha' tickets, pal. Mr. Sonata told me where ya need ta go, an' I got tha portal prepped for yah. We'll be ready ta pull ya back once yer done. Now, this thing's still a bit shakey, so ya might be a bit uncomfortable. Don't mind that. An' if it does go wrong on yeh, well, then ya won't be able ta mind it ever again. Now, I got tha coordinates all set, an' tha portal's powered up. Go on in.

Mission Objective(s)

This place is strange in a way you can feel deep inside. But Akarist is out there, and Johnny wants you to bring him back.

• Kidnap Akarist
• Take Akarist to Portal

Clue: 'These things never end well'

Before you handed him over to Johnny's men, Akarist told you something:

'Ah, so I was correct. This is about Mr. Sonata. How droll. No doubt he's begun to fear his contract is finally up. Oh, you did know that, correct? This is all about the little deal Mr. Sonata made to gain all of his wealth and power and fame. It's a sad case, really, but one repeated any time ambition and ignorance boldly stride into the open arms of the underworld. I was wondering why so many people seem so enthralled by such a mediocre singer. And here I had put it off to changing tastes in music over the eons since I was last alive.

It does make sense, though. My guess would be that the 'Wailer' demons are part of the curse, come to collect Mr. Sonata's soul. Mr. Sonate has been very clever, though. St. Martial itself is nothing more than a way to focus mystic power into a series of words meant to distract, disrupt, or bar the demons' entry. But it won't work forever. I'll provide him advice of course, but it's not going to help. These things never end well. Believe me, I know.

The delightful thing about situations like this is that it works both as history and as metaphor. Johnny Sonata sold his soul for success literally, but the sort of person he is, if there were no demons in this world, he would have sold his soul just the same through more munddane means.

Debriefing

That Akarist guy, what a piece of work. So he gets here and he just sits down and starts going over that contract. No complaints, no nothing! What a professional, huh? Just like you, kid. A real pro, all the way. He said he'd have something for me soon. I shoulda had someone nab him years ago! Hey, when he's done, I'm gonna want you in on this. Johnny Sonata don't forget the people who've helped him, kid.

Talk to Hardcase

Briefing

Those Circle guys are jerks, I tell you, every last one of 'em! Even that Akarist guy. Oh, he went over that contract, and he told me what he found, sure. Then a whole pack of heroes busted him out! People today got no loyalty, kid. Anyway, I know what to do next. It's gotta be about these Wailer guys. Akarist, he said that they would know how to stop all of this. So I need you to find one of their leaders. Talk to Hardcase. He'll know. That's what I pay him for.

Ask him where the biggest bunch of those screaming demons is holed up. Akarist said you'd find some kind of king of the things there. And once Hardcase tells you where to go, then bring that thing back. I pulled some strings and got some Fortunatas comin' in to work their charms on it.

Debriefing: Hardcase

Now he's interested in the Wailers? He leaves me to deal with this for how long, and now he wants you to take care of it? Fine. The biggest group of them right now is down in the seweres. I can tell you where to go and how to get there. If he's interested now, it must be because he's found a way to save his miserable hide. Well, as long as it keeps people from getting hurt, I can handle that.

Mission Objective(s)

The cries of the Wailers echo down the tunnels.

• Defeat Wailer Lord

Debriefing

That Wailer big-shot's gonna have something to cry about when those Fortunatas are done with him. And then I'll know where t ofind what I'm looking for. And it's all thanks to you, kid.

Stop the Wailer from disrupting the ritual

Briefing

That wailer thing, it talked all right. Now I know where to find what I'm lookin' for, but I still gotta find a way to get there. So, I talked to some people, and came up with a plan. Now, I got me some a' them Mu mystic types on loan from that Mu'Drakhan guy. They may be all about 'denying the mornal' and all that, but you show the right guy a good time, and you can get what ya want. They're working on a ritual now, something to find what belongs to me and what I've wanted back all these years. But more of those wailer things are coming, and they're gonna try to stop my mystic boys. And that's where you come in.

I knew I could count on you, kid. So, here's what you have to do. I got those Mu Mystics using the two obelisks outside the Giza like a pair of rabbit-ear antennae. Now, if those wailers over-run things, that's where I'll need you to swing into action. I want you to be waiting in the truck, so you can jump in if trouble comes up. Get those Mystics back on station so they can finish this thing. This is one step away from the end, kid. We're almost there.

Mission Objective(s)

Johnny Sonata was right. The ritual's been broken up and the wailers have the mystics.

• Rescue endangered mystics
• 4 Mystics to rescue
• Return mystics to obelisk

Debriefing

So, that's where he hid it. That son of a...

Hey, kid, you did great! I was just looking over the report from those Mu-guys. They told me where to find what I've been looking for. It's something I sold a long time ago, something I been wanting back for a long time. And I'm gonna need your help to get back what's mine, kid. I need to get back what's mine.

Get back Johnny's soul

Okay, kid, it's time you learned what this was all about, if you didn't know already. You need to know for this last bit of it.

You see, a long time ago I was just another crooner trying to make a buck. I did okay at first. Then things got bad, and then they got worse, and then I was driving a bus and dating a waitress and I realized I was never gonna be big. Everybody knows the story about how some big-wig hears me singing on that bus, right? Well, that all happened because I made a deal.

Those Circle guys, everyone thought they were just some whack-job hippie thing back then. Well, I went to a meeting. They told me they could change my fortunes. They showed me... things. And I did it. I gave them that cute little waitress and they set me up with some kind of thing. A demon. It offered me all I ever wanted, and I sold my soul for fame and youth and looks, and I never looked back. But now, my time's past up. And I don't want to pay my end of the deal. I want you to get my my soul bac. You're the only one I can trust to do it.

I done everything to keep the demons back. I hired the best mystic mumbo-jumbo men in the world to make this place a fortress against them, but they're getting closer every day. They'll break through soon, and I don't want that to happen. Recluse wanted to keep my contract to keep a hold over me, so I had you get it back. That told me that if I got my soul back through some other means, the contract's null and void. The Wailer Lord, he 'fessed up where my soul is, and that ritual told me how to get someone there. My own personal hell, right inside me. The ritual set it up so that I can send ya there. I just gotta concentrate on a door, and you just gotta walk through it. Get my soul out of there. This is my only chance.

Mission Objective(s)

You step through the door and into another world: Johnny Sonata's personal hell.

• Find Johnny's soul
• Locate Johnny's soul

You found Johnny's soul, but it wanted to die before it would go back to him.

Debriefing

So when ya left, that Wailer Lord started talkin' again. He said that even if I got my soul, the wailers would still come, cause they're after my life. But the joke's on them. 'Cause the moment I felt my soul die, I stopped caring. It's kinda like I'm free. Now that it's gone, I don't miss it. No guilt, no regret, no loyalty, nothin'. I feel kinda hollow, I guess, but pretty soon I don't think I'll even remember what that means. Now, you know a lot about me I really don't care for you to know, but you were useful, so I won't have ya killed. Hey, I should thank ya', I guess, but it looks like gratitude don't mean much to me now, either.

Get out a' here, kid. Ya bother me.

Notes

• In the final mission of Johnny's story arc, you will enter a unique map known as "Johnny's Personal Hell." This map is similar to cave maps, but the walls and some of the features are quite different. A picture is shown below:

Johnny Sonata's Soul in his personal hell

External Links

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