(03-22-2021, 07:10 AM)Dragonstrike Wrote:

Original Post

(03-22-2021, 05:02 AM)PhantomUnderYourDesk Wrote: Once it becomes clear that there's no attacker or anything that'll jump at them like it did on poor Salandit, Ziggy Kee comes out of his hiding spot. His expression is one of utter confusion mixed with just as much interest, given how his claws twitch he's EAGER to find out what happened.

But for how there are more important issues in his view, so he huff-sighs into the ravine. "Humm, fine. Nat goin' t'show yarself? Well well then..." While Pyra and Kogeki opt to investigate the ravine, the smol crittercoon zigzags over to the OHKO'd Salandit. He carefully nudges them with his nose. "Hey there. Ya're able t'hear me? Please show if ya do. Am nat goin' t'harm ya, am here t'help ya...." Given how they're fainted (appearantly), there's likely no response - Kee looks over to Karen and quickly beckons her to come over to him. "Karen-dearest, could ya pwease patch them up a little with yar healthy life dews? I wish t'ask that poisonous lizard what's the matter."

No response from the Salandit because they're very much unconscious, but they're breathing.

*rolls*

Now that Kee's closer, he can also tell the lizard is also very wet, like they were just hit with a powerful Water move.
Karen wants to help if she can, but she's uncertain about the Zigzagoon's request.  "Uh...I mean, yeah, I could, but...I don't think that'll revive them by itself."
Marcus has a suggestion, though.  "Why not just send them to the guild with the badge?  They'll be safe there.  We can worry about them later."

(03-23-2021, 04:22 PM)Dragonstrike Wrote:

Spoiler

Kee leads Team OS further down the corridor, past the path that leads to the area where they fought Conkeldurr.  The path eventually leads to an opening in the side of the ravine, becoming a small cave.  As they go deeper into the cave, it gets darker and darker as the sunlight leaking through the entrance gets farther away.

Eventually, it becomes pitch black, and the dim light from Pyra's fire barely illuminates the area around the party just enough for them to see their immediate surroundings.

Marcus keeps pushing everyone onwards despite this.



"Don't worry, this is normal.  You'll see why soon."

After an indeterminate amount of time walking forward, a light appears at the end of the tunnel, getting brighter as the group gets closer to it.  The familiar crackle of fire and warm light of torches on the walls illuminate a small room with few features beside the stone walls and floor, as well as some wooden support beams.  Pyra starts to feel lighter on her feet and less sluggish as the group gets closer to it, though she still feels like she's Paralyzed.

In the middle of the room is a single large rock in the shape of a Kangaskhan, a welcome sight for Marcus as he sighs in relief.





"Good, a Kangaskhan Rock.  We can rest here.  And it looks like my earlier guess was right, too.  The Hidden Mine is another Mystery Dungeon."

Hidden Mine: Drilbur Coal Mine - Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon

"If you all need to deposit or withdraw any items, you can do so at that rock as if you were to talking to Kangaskhan herself.  Only works with items, though.  Don't ask me how it works, it just...does.  Another puzzle you'll only find in these mysterious dungeons...or rather, only when you find two Mystery Dungeons really close together like this."

"That's kinda weird.  Oh yeah, Marcus, didn't you say you had a story for us as well?"



"I did.  Let me know when you're all ready to hear what I have to say.  We can move on to the Hidden Mine proper by continuing down the tunnel behind the Kangaskhan Rock, but I think you all should hear this first before we continue.  It's not exactly short, but time works weirdly in these transitionary rooms in my experience.  Being around these Kangaskhan Rocks speeds up healing enough for everyone to recover from most damage and statuses, but not a whole lot of actual time seems to pass either, so there should be plenty of time for me to say my piece."

(03-23-2021, 04:22 PM)Dragonstrike Wrote:

Spoiler

Kee leads Team OS further down the corridor, past the path that leads to the area where they fought Conkeldurr.  The path eventually leads to an opening in the side of the ravine, becoming a small cave.  As they go deeper into the cave, it gets darker and darker as the sunlight leaking through the entrance gets farther away.

Eventually, it becomes pitch black, and the dim light from Pyra's fire barely illuminates the area around the party just enough for them to see their immediate surroundings.

Marcus keeps pushing everyone onwards despite this.



"Don't worry, this is normal.  You'll see why soon."

After an indeterminate amount of time walking forward, a light appears at the end of the tunnel, getting brighter as the group gets closer to it.  The familiar crackle of fire and warm light of torches on the walls illuminate a small room with few features beside the stone walls and floor, as well as some wooden support beams.  Pyra starts to feel lighter on her feet and less sluggish as the group gets closer to it, though she still feels like she's Paralyzed.

In the middle of the room is a single large rock in the shape of a Kangaskhan, a welcome sight for Marcus as he sighs in relief.





"Good, a Kangaskhan Rock.  We can rest here.  And it looks like my earlier guess was right, too.  The Hidden Mine is another Mystery Dungeon."

Hidden Mine: Drilbur Coal Mine - Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon

"If you all need to deposit or withdraw any items, you can do so at that rock as if you were to talking to Kangaskhan herself.  Only works with items, though.  Don't ask me how it works, it just...does.  Another puzzle you'll only find in these mysterious dungeons...or rather, only when you find two Mystery Dungeons really close together like this."

"That's kinda weird.  Oh yeah, Marcus, didn't you say you had a story for us as well?"



"I did.  Let me know when you're all ready to hear what I have to say.  We can move on to the Hidden Mine proper by continuing down the tunnel behind the Kangaskhan Rock, but I think you all should hear this first before we continue.  It's not exactly short, but time works weirdly in these transitionary rooms in my experience.  Being around these Kangaskhan Rocks speeds up healing enough for everyone to recover from most damage and statuses, but not a whole lot of actual time seems to pass either, so there should be plenty of time for me to say my piece."

(03-29-2021, 07:20 PM)Dragonstrike Wrote:

Spoiler

Everyone sits on the floor in a circle as Marcus starts talking.



"Okay, so, I think you've probably figured it out by now, or at least have some kind of idea, but I used to be part of the Adventurer's Guild.  Honestly, I don't remember the exact circumstances that brought me there, other than the fact that I was picked up by Team Artificers.  They seemed nice enough at first, if a bit strange."



"They have this...odd interest in accessories and held items, and they often go on missions that involve gathering materials or knowledge for making them.  I don't really understand why, partially because I never met their actual Leader.  That strange Porygon 2 is the only leadership I ever interacted with, and they seemed to be getting orders from someone else..."



"...but getting back on topic, that was where I learned how to craft items.  Despite their oddities, that team knows their stuff about constructing things.  I was eager to learn more from them, hone my skills.  Crafting isn't just a job or hobby for me, it's a passion.  Made the ol' Marowlens set in my skull helmet myself back in those days.  That was back when I still had the entirety of my Thick Club..."



"Those jerks in Team Artificers!  They were using me!  Broke my Thick Club in two when they didn't need me any more, said it was for 'research that was for the benefit of pokemon kind'!  What a load of malarkey..."



"...but I'd realized they weren't all that honest too late.  They'd only recruited me so that they could lessen the danger that a particularly powerful Electric type pokemon was posing to them, all for the sake of obtaining some kind of...item or something."

"That pokemon we were looking for that had knowledge concerning that item...Team Artificers quickly lost interest in trying to negotiate with them, and it came to blows.  They weren't all that strong at first.  It was a Galvantula with a tendency to use Thunder, but my Lightning Rod soaked those hits up no problem.  But after we beat it...Chimical pushed it.  Pushed it hard to give up the item that the team had been looking for.  Threatened them when that didn't work.  After that...I'll never forget the look in that spider's eyes...that sheer resilience..."

"The next thing I knew, Galvantula was standing again, their entire body sparking with electricity far more intense than before.  They refused to give up, and they flew into a frenzy to protect themselves.  They weren't a reasonable pokemon any more...they'd gone Primal, given in to their base instincts to have one more shot at surviving, at achieving their goals."

"...I was KOed somehow in that fight.  I don't remember what happened, and I never found out what we were looking for exactly.  I only know that Team Artificers got it, and that they wanted part of my Thick Club to compliment it.  And Galvantula...well, they weren't exactly in the best condition, to put it mildly.  The team said it was in self defense, but...I don't think they tried very hard to undo what they caused..."

"I was fed up with Team Artificers after that.  Split off from the Guild to work independently.  I didn't want to be associated with a team like that.  That...that was too much.  I don't know what exactly they're trying to achieve, but...it seems kinda backwards to me to do it 'for the better of pokemon kind' if you're going to hurt other pokemon in the process."

"I see a little of me in all of you.  You woke up here without any memories and nobody to turn to, leaving you a bit vulnerable to the world at large.  I learned my lessons the hard way because of that.  I'd rather that others don't experience the same thing.  If you'd kept attacking Conkeldurr back there...well, he had little else to lose.  Pushed to his limits like that, I'm fairly confident that he would have turned Primal himself."



"And what Conkeldurr said about Machamp...I have a feeling that he's turned Primal somehow as well.  This behavior isn't normal for him...he's a good pokemon, but...if he's turned Primal..."



"...I suppose what I mean to say is be careful with who you trust and what you do.  Everyone's actions have consequences, both good and bad.  That's what I learned too late, and I want to make sure you all learn that far sooner than I did...I pursued knowledge for the sake of it at first, and look where it got me..."