(05-10-2024, 11:19 PM)Iron Wrote: "Confused about me? Take all the time you need. I've got all the time in the world." Vernon sits down and pulls Munchlax onto his lap, to make himself less of a threat. He also sweeps his straw hat off his head, so his features become more visible. Finally, he readies the camera in case this turns out to be a rare Pokemon.

"I won't hurtcha, unless you're here to fight. Whenever you're ready, come on out and let's get to know each other!"

Is the crystal now behind the Pokemon, or is it part of it?

(05-11-2024, 09:46 AM)PhantomUnderYourDesk Wrote:

Spoiler

Original post link
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Bernhard's tension was peaking as he stood there before the door to Saph's room with his client and fae steed, especially so upon noticing how the door was plastered with Anti-Spiritual Wards. And speaking of anything spiritual, Myra's vivid and unusual reaction to being summoned is very carefully noted - it also reinforced the first estimated guess of Bern on what in the world was WRONG with Mr.Gleam's precious daughter, very much so. That's not making it any less bad or such though, no... Once again, in a very short moment of weakness, the Sky-Scim was wondering (and mentally sighing) about what he has gotten himself into this time. But his determination and resolution to see things to the end (any end) are firm and rock-hard, no turning back or faltering allowed now.

Aforementioned tension was sky-rocketing into new heights upon finally and eventually on getting a first-person glance on Saph - it also caused Bernhard to almost cough on a puff of the smoked Sage incense stick (just 'almost' though). If it wasn't 100% clear by now that the situation was dire and serious, it was definitely so now, double so even. Clearly now Bernhard could indeed keenly understand and comprehend how riled up and desperate Mr.Gleam was over the state of his precious daughter... He managed to remain calm regardless though on the outside, even if the sheer sight of Saph's state caused him to pale and wanting to look away, swallowing a light curse of distress. Yeah indeed, Bernhard'd self-control, ability to keep cool in dire situations and stoic facade surely is something to behold.

For a bit, he just remained there and looking down at Saph. Observing her, all silently. Throwing glances over to Nirix, noting his vivid reaction, taking his anger as an important clue. Taking note of any detail and hint he managed to pick up so far. An avidly  concentrated expression on his face. Pondering, thinking, putting received puzzle pieces together one by one... If that faint tingling race up his gauntleted arm was of any hint... 

Yeah, THAT much be it, THAT must be what likely and probably was the issue, and that also explained why Mr.Gleam's effort put into curing Saph were in vain so far...

"Well there...", Bern broke the tense silence after what felt like hours (but not breaking his glance on Saph) "I do have good and perhaps not-so-good news for you, Mr. Gleam. It is up to you which one  you would like to hear first."

Good news

"If all what you have told me so far, dear Mr.Gleam, and if all what I have observed, seen and picked up by now is leading me and my train of thought into the right direction, I do have quite the good idea of what is wrong with your precious daughter. Of what is causing her current state, and what is causing you so much distress over her, yes... It does explain why you and any doctors you consulted having failed to cure her so far, for their take and route in this case is in vain and doomed to not help, as it doesn't take on the root of the problem. No, we need to take on a...different approach here."

Bernhard will spare Mr.Gleam the details however, unless he very directly and outright asks to know. For he fears Mr.Gleam won't take the news of there being powerful Dark Magic in Saph's system all too well...

Bad news

Bernhard hesitates at first to tell, needs a moment to ready himself to bring out the words. "Saph's state is serious. And I do mean 'serious' as in there is something vile and powerful pestering her, yes. Something I have not encountered or witnessed before, not yet - not in all my takes of alchemistic creations or client's requests so far I have been asked to find a remedy for something as DARK and POWERFUL as what I am detecting in your daughter's system..." 'Granted, I have also not ever yet had a need of Nirix's horn for tonics and medicine', Bernhard adds just in his mind.

"I dare to say that I am not certain whether I will be able to fully cure her, fully free her of her ailments. Neither are immediate positive results to be expected. *increase of strength in words, and a firm + certain glance directly into Mr.Gleam's face/eyes* HOWEVER, mark my words, I shall do ANYTHING I can to help her. I shall try ANYTHING that is possible in my books."

No faltering or turining back now. Bernhard will try and do whatever he can, even if it may take multiple attempts - if he's allowed another guess, he fears that the skill of being able to cure something as dark, vile and powerful is dully needed in the journey ahead. Just in case.

"Now then...", Bernhard motions Mr.Gleam to be calm once more (much much easier said that done, he fears!) "Please do give me a moment, for I need and desire to find out MORE about the vile and dark stuff within precious Saph in order to create a customized remedy... I will do so with utmost care and caution, no worries on that, Mr.Gleam. And if anything a does happen, I am right here to immediately intervene."


Course of Action:

Take Saph's hand into his once more, into his Gauntlet hand to be specific. Bernhard expects and awaits that faint tingling run up his arm once more, and this time he'll concentrate on it and keep her hand in his regardless of it. The goal is to find out more about it, pick up further details of the powerful dark magic pestering Saph - say, where does it come from/where is the root of it, is it a curse or is it something different, how does it react to being near/being connected to Scimitar Magic. 
To aid with that, Bernhard will also make use of Myra's own spiritual and psychic might, aka create a careful direct connection between her and the dark magic within Saph - if no rebound or resistance is encountered and if it anything done so far hasn't visibly worsened Saph's state, Bernhard will even go so far as to direct a careful non-damaging Extrasensory towards the Dark Magic to see how it reacts and to tickle it to the surface.

We'll also spend a Willpoint here to increase the chances of success. (If Fortune Rolls occur, these are revealed as I've spent a Willpoint already to do so at the beginning of Day 2. At the end of this 2nd Encounter of the Day Bern and Zephy wil also receive 1 Willpoint thanks to Zephy's Ever Spirited plotdevice)

Furthermore, in response to Nirix being riled up: Quietly talk to him, cradle his head with his natural hand while the Gauntlet hand remains a hold of Saph's hand. trying to find out more about what it is about Saph's condition that is incensing him that much. "You are able to feel it to, now aren't you...? It is...dark, and powerful too, is it not...? But...is it indeed and truely a curse, or is it something different? How far has it progressed within the poor girl's system? ...And is it not cowardly and wrongful to inflict an innocent young girl with something as evil as this...?" There's not a little bit of anger within Bernhard's voice on the last phrase, as he indeed wonders how someone/something can be as mean to target something like Mr.Gleam's precious daughter aka an innocent young girl. Perhaps whoever inflicted it aims to give as much harm and distress to him as possible, knowing that his daughter is his everything...?

(05-12-2024, 07:12 AM)Lord Windos Wrote:

Spoiler

A full on pivot to shock and awe scare tactics, after Ecclesia got caught out and in light of previous info? *Smiles* Well, that's careful and cunning! Let's see how that pans out, shall we?

Also, here's the Current Count for Downed BBs: 1/20 (Not counting the Head Goon and the Harassing Goons)!

===

Your urchin amigo wastes zero time scuttling up onto your scalp, though your light chiding causing them to wiggle about bashfully (or so you feel). They'll try their best to limit the Burning power of their Move, no matter how difficult it can be.

Lani hops out of your backpack and takes your left side, a positively frenetically savage grin on her face as she flexed her sharp claws in anticipation of a good 'Scare and Tear' . Group Battles were a common enough test of mettle for some of the stronger Alola Mons, considering their commonality, and Fighting villainous and nasty Dark types is an especially favorite past time for her lineage. Combine them together and you get one heck of a pumped up Pseudo! Pseudo Status will be Enhanced for this Encounter.

Kayla simply nods and lets you get on without complaint, calmly chewing some cud as they eyed the goons they were about to finish riling up even more, for better and worse. She didn't like such vigorous activity even on the best of days, but if it was for a good cause she'd put in a bit more effort in than usual. Kayla gains + 2 Athletics for this Encounter, and + 1 Accuracy Dice to her Moves.

You let out a sharp, high pitch whistle that reverbs ominously throughout the Gloomy woods, causing Ecclesia to perk up and begin to head back towards the reunion point, doing her best to take care of any goons in her path. She'll meet with you within *Rolls 1D4*  2 Rounds, and she'll Encounter *Rolls 1D4*  only 1 of the Goon heading and their Mon heading towards her hiding spot on the way back; this battle will be handled off screen!

All that done you send any prayers you have to your Patron, Steel yourself, and ride out to meet the the goons, going full speed and yelling at the top of your lungs! The BBs as a whole immediately turn towards the direction you are charging from, looking at your sudden appearance with gapped jaws and wide eyes for a moment...!

Shock and Awe: First Contact!
Roll: STR (3 + *2 from Lani) + Fight (*4, from Kayla) + Intimidate (*2 [Lani] + *1 [You, Temp Bonus] X 2 = 6) + Oh $h!t, a Pseudo! (+ (6)(6) Successes) = 15 + 2 Dice
(2)(4)(4)(2)(3) (2)(4)(3)(3)(3) (3)(6)(5)(4)(6) + 2 = 9 Successes!

BB's Resolve: First Contact!
Remaining BBs: 19 - 3 (Heading towards Ecclesia's Old Hiding Spot) = 16 
STR and Fight Bonus: 16/4, 16/8 = + 4, + 2
Base [Averaged] STR, Fight, and Brawl = 3, 2, 2
Counter Roll: STR (*7) + Fight *4 + 2 - *2 (Spooked!) - 1 (Off Guard Small Time Punks) = 10D6 Dice
(2)(1)(6)(6)(1) (4)(4)(5)(3)(5) 6 Successes


9 - 6 = 3 Successes Total, Win!

Terrified!
3 + 1D4  (4!) = 7 BB Goons Affected!

7 BBs completely rout, either fleeing from you, immediately dropping to the ground and Surrendering, or just plain Fainting in FEAR!

Scared!
3 + 1D4 (3) = 6 BB Goons Affected!
Will Penalty: 5D6 + 1 (Spooked!)
(5)(1)(5)(3)(3) 3 Success

6 BBs lose 3 Will, and become Scared: - 1 Dice to Combat, X2 Against Lani!

Current Count: 19 - 3 - 7 = 9 BBs Remaining; 6 Scared!

Only a scant few don't look like they're ready to piss their pants or are shaking in their gaudy boots, who are quick to yell at their comrades to  "Stop being fucking Fairy Pansies!" and arm up. 3 BBs Summon Two Pokemon each, a mixture of Dark and Poison Types, and are quick to arm themselves with Spiked Bats. The others only summon 1 Pokemon, too Unnerved and Scared to do much else beyond mustering a weak resistance!

[Normally, I'd give back control for you to plan against this, but....well, you'll se shortly ; ) ]

5 BBs charge back towards you (1 of them the 'Brave' ones), hollering at the top of their lungs and waving about their weapons, their Pokemon partners joining in with gritty defiance! 

*Woosh*

Lani, who was keeping pace by your side, bolts forward, a literal blur of violence as she *Howls* at the top of her lungs, both her fists primed and - !!! 

Pseudo Bonus Enhanced - Lani enters a Draconic Fighting Battle Frenzy! +2 to ALL Stats! No Action Cost for her First Action! She can Spam/Re-use 1 Move Per Combatant , and she chooses Bullet Punch EX! Due to this choice she engages each Combatant in a One Sided Lighting 1v1 Round!

Total Number of Combatants: BBs (5) + Brave's Mons (2) + Other Mons (5) = 12 Combatants Total

Total Rolls Required: 3D4
(3)(1)(5) 8

Base Accuracy of BBEX: DEX (*8) + Fight (*8) + Brawl (*5) - 8 -  0/2/4/6/8/10/12/14 = 21 - 8/10/12/14/16/18/20/22 Dice
Lani is using Conditional Will Points for All her Rolls

*Rolls* 6 Successes; Crit  *Rolls*  2 Successes
*Rolls* 6 Successes; Crit  *Rolls*  1 Successes
*Rolls* 6 Successes; Crit  *Rolls*  Will Point Spent; 1 Success
*Rolls* 2 Successes

No Dice Left for Last Hit; Luck Dice Rolled
(2)+ *(4)(6) (Pseudo Mod) Lucky Hit
*Rolls*

*Zip* *Zip* *Zoom* Three Combatants are Instantly KOed, all of them BBs; their Pokemon Partners Rout, Surrendering or abandoning the Fight to protect their fallen Masters.

Total Losses: 3 + 2 + 3 = 8 Combatants; 4 Remaining from 1st Wave

Remaining Hits Rolled against 2 Scared BBs and their Mons: 12D6 - 3 VIT + 2 PE = 9D6 + 2 Damage; Double Damage of Lucky Hit (Last)
(2)(5)(1)(2)(1) (5)(1)(2)(1) 2 Damage
(5)(2)(3)(3)(2) (6)(4)(1)(6) 6 Damage
(3)(2)(6)(5)(5) (4)(4)(5)(6) 9 Damage
(1)(3)(3)(3)(6) (4)(6)(4)(6) X 2 = 14 Damage

*Pow* *POW!* *POW!!* POW!!!* Scared BB 1 takes 2 Damage (- 1 Pain), Scared BB 2 takes 6 Damage (-2 Pain), and both their Pokemon are OHKOed.

Will Save - 2 - Pain : (3)(4)(1), (1) 

Scared BB 1 manages to grit their teeth and keep their resolve, but the second one panics and flees, taking his partner with him!

Total Combatants Remaining: 19 - 3 - 7 - 4 = 5 BBs , 1 Currently Engaged in Combat with Lani

In an instant, the first wave of goons were decimated, utterly crushed by the sheer speed and ferocity of your Pseudo Dragon's flurry of punches. Lani stands before the last remaining BB, shimmering brightly in sweat, Shininess, and the steel coating her Move gave her, her eyes contracted into tiny pinpricks as she bared her teeth at her foe, snarling with battle lust and RAGE like the angry Dragon she was!


....Before she retched, turning her head to the side and puking blood as she drops to a knee, totally spent from her blitzkrieg assault. Lani takes 10 Lethal Damage; 10/10 HP, 10 LD, - 2 Pain. She is also Deeply Exhausted: - 2 to all Combat Rolls. Enhanced Pseudo Mod Ended.


The remaining BB before you is Stunned by this, as well as quite overwhelmed in general: he Skips his Reactions against Lani.

Silence. Pure silence as you came to a stop before the BB, the rest of the basic goons staring at you with a mixture of anger (the Brave ones), fear (the Scared ones), and GREAT anxiety and stress (All). The Harassing Goons (not counted in the previous totals, as a reminder) look paler than a poor bastard that had a run in with Tapu Lele, while the Head Goon looked both nervous as hell and deeply upset with this development.

Everyone awaits your response, and what exactly you and your Partners were going to do next...

1 Round's worth of time Passed; 1 Round remaining until Ecclesia Rejoins.

(05-10-2024, 10:35 AM)Lord Windos Wrote: Your avian witness was struck dumb and speechless by the offering, their focus all on it until you politely piped up, their gaze slowly turning towards you with Keen Eyes and amazement

Translation: "....What Magic did you perform to create such wonderous food? *Shakes head* No, no, do not answer, least it spoil and sour the miracle made meadly meal! Yes, I shall tell you all I know for this - and give thee one Boon more! Ask, ask, ask away, and let us all receive our bounties as they may!"

Welp, that went well.

Spoiler

(05-12-2024, 07:26 AM)Lord Windos Wrote:

(05-11-2024, 02:54 PM)Mikaruge108 Wrote:

Spoiler

(05-11-2024, 10:59 AM)Lord Windos Wrote: "....I hate it when the baddies are smart enough to have backup plans. *Sighs* Boy, we'll talk about your battle later. Let's get this crook to the nearest police officer and head back to the Center. Unless you got some idea to interogate them, or what?"

Darren gives Aaron a Mareepish grin. "I know, I know, have contingency plans for every scenario." Darren's tone would probably suggest to the clown in tow that he gets this lecture a lot. "Agreed on getting him (Darren almost Glares at the prisoner) to the authorities." Darren thinks for a moment, handling Beedrill's Net Ball, shakes his head like he decided against doing something else dumb, and starts to drag the citizen's arrest. If Aaron is able to surmise what "interrogation tactics" Darren was briefly considering, he might have a few other choice words to add.

Your mentor gives you an unimpressed look, before sighing and waving you off, summoning one of his Bugs to grab the webbed and masked criminal and carry them to the nearest Police Offices, which so happen to be hanging around the Center you were based in. Aaron doesn't bother with interrogating them - he's not too good at that sort of thing unless he employs some rather unnerving tactics that, outside of Sinnoh and acting as a Elite, could get him in trouble with the law. 

The Creepy Thespian, despite having no visible way to display it, seemed to have a defeated but amused air about them, remaining silent as they are carted off. Later, as they are handed off to the Police - who facepalm as the two of you explain things and your mentor produces video evidence of the break in attempt via his Pokedex (good thinking on his part!) - they turn their head towards you for a moment to *Stare* .... before giving a singular nod and going limp, like a puppet with its strings cut. You feel something in your hand after that; opening, you find a single note, the writing cursive and festive. It simply reads thus: Walpurgisnacht Beckons - Join The Fun....

You and Aaron receive $1500 Poke each for apprehending one of the Traga-Comedy Duo; you also receive priority on the Healing services at the Center, which is important since they're a bit swamped at the moment due to fairly clear reasons....

[Thus Ends Your Encounter - I think this counts as your 2nd and 3rd one, if we count the aborted Fight against the Dude Bro and the rest. For now I'll pause things for you and catch everyone else up; feel free to RP or message anyone you like in the mean time, however, including spending time with your Mons or Aaron! ]

(05-12-2024, 05:20 PM)Iron Wrote: Step 1: "Are you hurt, buddy? Trapped, or do you like it here?"

If the critter isn't in a bind, Step 2: Company. "I've got another tortoise Pokemon. Maybe you two could be friends?" Turtwig comes out, with strict orders not to use any Grass type moves.

Step 3: Vernon hand-feeds Turtwig some Pokemon food, and offers some to the new tortoise as well. "Or do you like something else? A berry? Pebbles? Metal? I've got a spoon you can try. If you eat sand, you're bound to be full up already."

Turtwig carefully scrapes the food from Vernon's fingers with the metal beak attachment, very gentle, never breaking skin.

(05-12-2024, 12:46 PM)Pokekitty2 Wrote:

(05-10-2024, 10:35 AM)Lord Windos Wrote: Your avian witness was struck dumb and speechless by the offering, their focus all on it until you politely piped up, their gaze slowly turning towards you with Keen Eyes and amazement

Translation: "....What Magic did you perform to create such wonderous food? *Shakes head* No, no, do not answer, least it spoil and sour the miracle made meadly meal! Yes, I shall tell you all I know for this - and give thee one Boon more! Ask, ask, ask away, and let us all receive our bounties as they may!"

Welp, that went well.

Wow! Well indeed!

Sylvia will ask the Murkrow to tell their story (and enjoy their meal) before deciding on the boon.

(05-15-2024, 07:26 AM)Lord Windos Wrote:

Spoiler

In the interest of time, I'll give a brief overview of what Murkrow has to say about the Mass Kidnapping:

- They claim to have seen someone just appear out of thin air off to the side of the building. Strangely so - it did not show the tell tell signs of a traditional Teleportation, but rather they simply blurred into the place they were in with a weird glow around them for a second.
- The person was clad in 'tall flowing cloths, Mummy wrapped, clinkty clank!' from what they described them, and didn't seem to visibly carrying any Pokemon or using their Special Power like a Magi would from their discerning eye. One thing they noted that was REALLY Strange, though, as that their Eyes was completely covered up by dark grey cloth, but they could move around as if they had them wide open.
- The mysterious individual turned and gave them a smile and a bow  before making a *Sssshing* motion, and then entered into the Center. This creeped them out BIG TIME, as is part of the reason why they didn't want to speak about it - they're afraid the 'Conceal Clanky Clothy' would find out and do something about it.
- Last but certainly not least, they describe that almost a minute after they entered a wave of something appeared, flowing outwards from the center and suffocating the area in a blanket of unnatural silence and 'avoidance' , as if some force was 'Keeping the Healing Place quiet and welcoming as Mourning Grave, hrk....' . This seemingly kept the public from the Pokemon Center while whatever nefarious forces were at play ransacking the place and people - the only reason they weren't affected was sheer curiosity and their earlier dread rooting them to the branch as a witness. It eventually cleared up, and it was around that time that people 'returned' to the Center and discovered the horrible crime that took place. The rest, as they say, is history....

By the end the bejeweled raven looked extremely uncomfortable, flexing their talons anxiously around the branch they were hanging looking this way and that, as if they were expecting that very person to jump out to punish them for speaking.

"Mrrrrr....no more speak of this or that, no nay not! Strange, Weird, Bad, all never seen and never should have been sawn and sought! Magic, Earth Power, Starlight I know not, but know this I do: its core is Otherness Stifling All...."