[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Nathan takes a moment to process it all.


"So...let me get this straight...you met this 'Sage' on the way to the hut, everything was going fine, and then the stranger decided it was a good idea to knock that trainer into the pond, and everyone then followed suit except Valder, who was napping?"  Nathan puts a hand to his temples.

A pause.

It's a reeeeeaaaalllly long pause.

"Good...grief...Ventus, do you even know how BAD that looks?!  For all you had known, that was just a random guy!  That anonymous call?  That was probably the doctor who lives in that hut, seeing as he was the only other person around, and you weren't exactly discreet about what you were doing!  The trainer calling the Rangers?  He probably did that while you were investigating that underwater door, and the Rangers were already on the way there because of that anonymous call!   There is NOTHING wrong about what Lumin and the rangers thought of the situation based on what they had heard!  Of course the Pinsir would try and stop Aspis!  Its trainer had just been attacked at random and sent flying into the pond!  Even if it was the same trainer that I encountered, he'd given you ZERO reasons to attack him like that as far as anyone knows, so he's not the one at fault.  If you'd stopped attacking the trainer and had instead tried to stop that stranger, maybe you could have avoided this whole mess!

"Ventus, you've landed yourself in an INCREDIBLY sticky situation.  Everything you did then looks malicious to an outside observer.  Unless you can give a VERY good reason for why the battle started.  Which you can't.  You have no footholds.  Nobody will care if the trainer had done wrong before, because he was the one who was wronged in this situation!

"His Pinsir?  There's scorch marks, bite marks, wrap marks, bruises, wet patches...and what reason did you have to do that to the bug?  It certainly wasn't because of the message I'd left you if you didn't hear it until after the battle was over!  And it certainly wasn't because you knew he had a Mega-Pinsir if it wasn't even out of its pokeball until the trainer had been knocked into the pond!"

Nathan stops, catching his breath.  He's not used to going on such long rants.  He hopes he's gotten the point across though.  Ventus and the others have set themselves up for getting in trouble with the League, and they don't have any reasonable way to escape the coming punishment.

As much as Nathan wants to help Ventus, he can't help but agree with the Rangers.  He puts his head in his hands.  "Ventus...you've screwed up.  You've really, REALLY screwed up."  Kirlia comes over and puts a hand on Nathan's shoulder (Nathan's sitting down and leaning forward slightly, so Kirlia is BARELY tall enough to be able to reach up to his shoulder).

(Side Note: Nathan still has more to say.  He's just...shocked at what actually happened.)

Ventus looked tired and resigned from Nathan's outburst, and let out a long suffering sigh. "Nathan, I very well know how dire my situation appears to be. I had to put quite the effort to painting a pretty picture of the events that transpired at the pond, though on reflection I should have stopped Sage from pushing the bastard into the water, however much I hate to utter those words. Hindsight is 20/20, though, or so they say. My standing with Cheshire is none of your concern, however. I have...dealt with the law before on similar matters, and I have connections that I exploit to better my case against that monster. As long as I maintain my defense and think things through in court, I should come out relatively unscathed for the most part."

"As for my treatment of the Pinsir, you are aware that Apsis was not the only one inflicting damage on the creature. She didn't even do the most damage to it, just kept it pinned so that the other Pokemon could land their hits better. As for the severity of the damage...it was doing its level best to try and kill my Pokémon, Nathan. What was I supposed to do, keep holding back and risk the safety of not only Apsis, but of Shiva, her Pokemon, and myself? I admit that permitting Lethal Damage was a bit excessive based on what I knew at the time, but I made the best decision that would be most effective in safeguarding the group. Hate what I did if you have to, but don't begrudge me for protecting my friends," he said, trying his best to assuage his friend worry on the matter and attempt to make an argument for himself. If he made a terrible mistake at the pond (Legally speaking, of course; he felt completely justified morally), he is more than capable of handling it himself without dragging in the others into his mess.

'Well, at least not anymore than I already done so,' Ven though, his expression changing to a saddened one as he recalled the boy's support of Lumen. "...Nathan, I have good reason to distrust that Ranger. Disregarding your argument justifying his behavior towards me, informing him in greater detail about what transpire would only put the group in greater jeopardy, not less. Information has a tendency to disseminate very quickly among the untrustworthy, so if we fill him in completely, we very well may end up in a far bleaker situation than the one I am currently in. If you insist on still informing the Ranger of everything...then I'm afraid I have nothing more to tell you. I won't let the group come to harm because of loose lips, Nathan, so if you go speak with him, then you will not have my support in this matter."

[Dragonstrike]

Ventus looked tired and resigned from Nathan's outburst, and let out a long suffering sigh. "Nathan, I very well know how dire my situation appears to be. I had to put quite the effort to painting a pretty picture of the events that transpired at the pond, though on reflection I should have stopped Sage from pushing the bastard into the water, however much I hate to utter those words. Hindsight is 20/20, though, or so they say. My standing with Cheshire is none of your concern, however. I have...dealt with the law before on similar matters, and I have connections that I exploit to better my case against that monster. As long as I maintain my defense and think things through in court, I should come out relatively unscathed for the most part."

"As for my treatment of the Pinsir, you are aware that Apsis was not the only one inflicting damage on the creature. She didn't even do the most damage to it, just kept it pinned so that the other Pokemon could land their hits better. As for the severity of the damage...it was doing its level best to try and kill my Pokémon, Nathan. What was I supposed to do, keep holding back and risk the safety of not only Apsis, but of Shiva, her Pokemon, and myself? I admit that permitting Lethal Damage was a bit excessive based on what I knew at the time, but I made the best decision that would be most effective in safeguarding the group. Hate what I did if you have to, but don't begrudge me for protecting my friends," he said, trying his best to assuage his friend worry on the matter and attempt to make an argument for himself. If he made a terrible mistake at the pond (Legally speaking, of course; he felt completely justified morally), he is more than capable of handling it himself without dragging in the others into his mess.

'Well, at least not anymore than I already done so,' Ven though, his expression changing to a saddened one as he recalled the boy's support of Lumen. "...Nathan, I have good reason to distrust that Ranger. Disregarding your argument justifying his behavior towards me, informing him in greater detail about what transpire would only put the group in greater jeopardy, not less. Information has a tendency to disseminate very quickly among the untrustworthy, so if we fill him in completely, we very well may end up in a far bleaker situation than the one I am currently in. If you insist on still informing the Ranger of everything...then I'm afraid I have nothing more to tell you. I won't let the group come to harm because of loose lips, Nathan, so if you go speak with him, then you will not have my support in this matter."

"What 'good reason?'  Everything he said to you was completely reasonable considering the situation...you're not wrong about telling him everything putting everyone in even more danger, but it would be from the law, not from...whatever that trainer is associated with..."

Nathan's not sure what else he can say on the matter...except..."The Creshire League is ruthless when it comes to law enforcement, Ventus.  There's almost no chance there's corruption, particularly since this is the Rangers we're talking about.  I talked with Lumin earlier today about why there was a statue of Genesect in the middle of town, and it was very easy for Kirlia to tell that he genuinely had no idea where the missing wedges for the statue were.  And where do you find one?  On an underwater door that our mysterious and probably dangerous Pinsir user disappeared into.  I'd say that's reason enough to trust he has no ties to whatever group that trainer is a part of by itself.  On top of that, there's the whole reason the statue is even there in the first place..."

(Maybe that will pique Ventus's curiosity)

[Lord Windos]

"What 'good reason?'  Everything he said to you was completely reasonable considering the situation...you're not wrong about telling him everything putting everyone in even more danger, but it would be from the law, not from...whatever that trainer is associated with..."

Nathan's not sure what else he can say on the matter...except..."The Creshire League is ruthless when it comes to law enforcement, Ventus.  There's almost no chance there's corruption, particularly since this is the Rangers we're talking about.  I talked with Lumin earlier today about why there was a statue of Genesect in the middle of town, and it was very easy for Kirlia to tell that he genuinely had no idea where the missing wedges for the statue were.  And where do you find one?  On an underwater door that our mysterious and probably dangerous Pinsir user disappeared into.  I'd say that's reason enough to trust he has no ties to whatever group that trainer is a part of by itself.  On top of that, there's the whole reason the statue is even there in the first place..."

(Maybe that will pique Ventus's curiosity)

Somewhat taken aback by Nathan's comeback, Ventus couldn't' help but be curious about what he said. He wasn't lying to him, and the feelings that colored his word was not hostile. Slowly, a feeling of dread crept in as he realized what a fool he had been. "Truly? I admit fully that I am biased against law enforcement, due to my...experience with them, but if Kirlia verified that he had no ill intensions, I believe I owe the man an apology for putting him through the ringer. My understanding of the geopolitical scene of Cheshire, how the League conducts itself, and the degree of criminal activity that is involved with both is quite lacking, as I don't have any informants here besides Dr. Mallorn, and he's more focused on business than he is with politics. *Sigh* It appears I have more to make up for than I first thought..." Ventus said, suddenly looking a lot less confident than before. If Kirlia readings were right, and the Cheshire League was know to be relatively uncorrupt, he most likely made an enemy of someone that didn't deserve his animosity.

Letting out another sigh, he looked down at his feet, appearing chastised, embarrassed, and very very ashamed of himself. "...Forgive me, Nathan, for my baseless slander of Lumen. Had I know of your prior encounter with him, I doubt I would have been so difficult with him. All I can do now is deal with the consequences of my actions, and pray to Reshirim that things work out in my favor," Ven said, now staring at him apologetically. Shaking his head, he motioned for Nathan to follow him to the statue. "For now, though, let us focus on unraveling the mystery of the Genesect statue. If you wish, you can stay with me and see what happen when I insert the Burn Drive in this statue..."

Order: Apologize to Ranger Lumen later, and fiddle around the statue with the Drive (I assume that the conversation with Nathan took long enough for night to fully settle in, and that everyone retrieved their Pokémon after they have been healed).

[Dragonstrike]

"What 'good reason?'  Everything he said to you was completely reasonable considering the situation...you're not wrong about telling him everything putting everyone in even more danger, but it would be from the law, not from...whatever that trainer is associated with..."

Nathan's not sure what else he can say on the matter...except..."The Creshire League is ruthless when it comes to law enforcement, Ventus.  There's almost no chance there's corruption, particularly since this is the Rangers we're talking about.  I talked with Lumin earlier today about why there was a statue of Genesect in the middle of town, and it was very easy for Kirlia to tell that he genuinely had no idea where the missing wedges for the statue were.  And where do you find one?  On an underwater door that our mysterious and probably dangerous Pinsir user disappeared into.  I'd say that's reason enough to trust he has no ties to whatever group that trainer is a part of by itself.  On top of that, there's the whole reason the statue is even there in the first place..."

(Maybe that will pique Ventus's curiosity)

Somewhat taken aback by Nathan's comeback, Ventus couldn't' help but be curious about what he said. He wasn't lying to him, and the feelings that colored his word was not hostile. Slowly, a feeling of dread crept in as he realized what a fool he had been. "Truly? I admit fully that I am biased against law enforcement, due to my...experience with them, but if Kirlia verified that he had no ill intensions, I believe I owe the man an apology for putting him through the ringer. My understanding of the geopolitical scene of Cheshire, how the League conducts itself, and the degree of criminal activity that is involved with both is quite lacking, as I don't have any informants here besides Dr. Mallorn, and he's more focused on business than he is with politics. *Sigh* It appears I have more to make up for than I first thought..." Ventus said, suddenly looking a lot less confident than before. If Kirlia readings were right, and the Cheshire League was know to be relatively uncorrupt, he most likely made an enemy of someone that didn't deserve his animosity.

Letting out another sigh, he looked down at his feet, appearing chastised, embarrassed, and very very ashamed of himself. "...Forgive me, Nathan, for my baseless slander of Lumen. Had I know of your prior encounter with him, I doubt I would have been so difficult with him. All I can do now is deal with the consequences of my actions, and pray to Reshirim that things work out in my favor," Ven said, now staring at him apologetically. Shaking his head, he motioned for Nathan to follow him to the statue. "For now, though, let us focus on unraveling the mystery of the Genesect statue. If you wish, you can stay with me and see what happen when I insert the Burn Drive in this statue..."

Order: Apologize to Ranger Lumen later, and fiddle around the statue with the Drive (I assume that the conversation with Nathan took long enough for night to fully settle in, and that everyone retrieved their Pokémon after they have been healed).

Nathan's somewhat relieved now, but he's still rather...anxious.  Ventus was in a lot of trouble now.  In fact, they ALL might be in trouble...

"Before you do anything about that, you should hear what Lumin told me about it.  Apparently, that statue was constructed in the town three years ago.  By who?  Strangers in robes who claimed to be from beyond the 'mystic veil,' whatever that means...said strangers, for some odd reason, knew about Genesect's existence, and made fast friends with the town by informing them about the Mythical legendary bug pokemon.  The town decided to make Genesect their mascot, and the strangers were generous enough to build a statue of it for them.

"It took them a long time to build it.  They tore up half the town, and brought the materials over in pokeballs all the way from the villages around Chicory Lake, which is past the mountains and to the east of Stair City.  As you saw, the statue is rather...advanced.  All the wedges for it went missing aside from the orange one, though, and the strangers also claimed that was the 'best' of them all.

"I didn't think much of it at first, but after you described the Pinsir trainer as wearing robes, and noted the red wedge was embedded in that underwater door...something's not right here.  That's all way too convenient."

[Lord Windos]

Nathan's somewhat relieved now, but he's still rather...anxious.  Ventus was in a lot of trouble now.  In fact, they ALL might be in trouble...

"Before you do anything about that, you should hear what Lumin told me about it.  Apparently, that statue was constructed in the town three years ago.  By who?  Strangers in robes who claimed to be from beyond the 'mystic veil,' whatever that means...said strangers, for some odd reason, knew about Genesect's existence, and made fast friends with the town by informing them about the Mythical legendary bug pokemon.  The town decided to make Genesect their mascot, and the strangers were generous enough to build a statue of it for them.

"It took them a long time to build it.  They tore up half the town, and brought the materials over in pokeballs all the way from the villages around Chicory Lake, which is past the mountains and to the east of Stair City.  As you saw, the statue is rather...advanced.  All the wedges for it went missing aside from the orange one, though, and the strangers also claimed that was the 'best' of them all.

"I didn't think much of it at first, but after you described the Pinsir trainer as wearing robes, and noted the red wedge was embedded in that underwater door...something's not right here.  That's all way too convenient."

Ventus was surprised by origin of the statue, but his face start to grow more and more grim as he thought about what Nathan had told him. 'Robed Men...the Pinsir Trainer...mysterious stranger knowing about Genesect....the odd generosity and resourcefulness said strangers possessed...Reshirim Damn it all!' Its those Kuyrem frosted Wizards again! May they be freeze in the depth of its domain! How did they come to find such knowledge to not only build and accurate representation of Genesect, but also replicate its Drive system. WHY DO THEY KNOW SO MUCH CLASSIFIED INFO!?' the researcher though, his anger intensify to the point where he let out an impressively vulgar statement in front of the young trainer.

"By the Tao Trio, its those blighten wizards! How the fuck do they have so much information regarding Genesect, and why?! All data pertaining to that Legendary, from its origins, schematics, and its Drive System, is HIGHLY CLASSIFIED, enforced under penalty of life emprisonment in Unova! No one but me, the research team, and the highest Unovian official should know so much about Genesect, so HOW?! Rrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!" Ventus looked about ready to strangle someone with what he heard. Originally, he was too distracted by his memories to think much about the statue at the time, but now it was at the center of his attension. Nathan have better find a way to calm him down, before he did something rash again...

[Dragonstrike]

Ventus was surprised by origin of the statue, but his face start to grow more and more grim as he thought about what Nathan had told him. 'Robed Men...the Pinsir Trainer...mysterious stranger knowing about Genesect....the odd generosity and resourcefulness said strangers possessed...Reshirim Damn it all!' Its those Kuyrem frosted Wizards again! May they be freeze in the depth of its domain! How did they come to find such knowledge to not only build and accurate representation of Genesect, but also replicate its Drive system. WHY DO THEY KNOW SO MUCH CLASSIFIED INFO!?' the researcher though, his anger intensify to the point where he let out an impressively vulgar statement in front of the young trainer.

"By the Tao Trio, its those blighten wizards! How the fuck do they have so much information regarding Genesect, and why?! All data pertaining to that Legendary, from its origins, schematics, and its Drive System, is HIGHLY CLASSIFIED, enforced under penalty of life emprisonment in Unova! No one but me, the research team, and the highest Unovian official should know so much about Genesect, so HOW?! Rrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!" Ventus looked about ready to strangle someone with what he heard. Originally, he was too distracted by his memories to think much about the statue at the time, but now it was at the center of his attension. Nathan have better find a way to calm him down, before he did something rash again...

Nathan looks up VERY quickly when Ventus starts raging.  "Whoa, whoa, whoa.  Ventus!  How would we even know it's them?  What connections are there?  We barely know anything about those Scimitars as it is!  And even if it is them, what are we going to do about it?  You're in enough trouble with the Rangers as it is, you know!"

Kirlia looks rather worried now...

[Lord Windos]

Ventus was surprised by origin of the statue, but his face start to grow more and more grim as he thought about what Nathan had told him. 'Robed Men...the Pinsir Trainer...mysterious stranger knowing about Genesect....the odd generosity and resourcefulness said strangers possessed...Reshirim Damn it all!' Its those Kuyrem frosted Wizards again! May they be freeze in the depth of its domain! How did they come to find such knowledge to not only build and accurate representation of Genesect, but also replicate its Drive system. WHY DO THEY KNOW SO MUCH CLASSIFIED INFO!?' the researcher though, his anger intensify to the point where he let out an impressively vulgar statement in front of the young trainer.

"By the Tao Trio, its those blighten wizards! How the fuck do they have so much information regarding Genesect, and why?! All data pertaining to that Legendary, from its origins, schematics, and its Drive System, is HIGHLY CLASSIFIED, enforced under penalty of life emprisonment in Unova! No one but me, the research team, and the highest Unovian official should know so much about Genesect, so HOW?! Rrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!" Ventus looked about ready to strangle someone with what he heard. Originally, he was too distracted by his memories to think much about the statue at the time, but now it was at the center of his attension. Nathan have better find a way to calm him down, before he did something rash again...

Nathan looks up VERY quickly when Ventus starts raging.  "Whoa, whoa, whoa.  Ventus!  How would we even know it's them?  What connections are there?  We barely know anything about those Scimitars as it is!  And even if it is them, what are we going to do about it?  You're in enough trouble with the Rangers as it is, you know!"

Kirlia looks rather worried now...

"I will inform you what I'm going to do to those treacherous archmages: wipe them off the face of the Earth, one single mage at time. They will fear me by the time I have culled there coven to their bare dredges, and no one will stop from enacting justice. No one." Ventus venomously spat out, extremely anger at their transactions. Noticing that Nathan was starting to panic from his sudden spike in anger, he Quickly started taking a deep breaths and letting them out. Slowly, he managed to reign in his explosive temper to the point where it was just simmering inside, and he firmly had a grasp on his emotional state once more.

Schooling his expression into one of grim seriousness, he looked Nathan deep in the eyes. "Who else could it be, but those blasts mages? What other shadowy organization do we know that has access to great amount of resource, is highly informed about our and the local movements, and seems to be remarkably well read in secrets that should have damn well stay buried. If it is not them, I'll eat my tweed sweater," he said, anger still clearly present in his tone, but to lesser degree than before. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he just mutter something unpleasant under his breath, before opening his eyes again.

"...I was originally going to wait until Shiva had joined us to share my deeper insight in Genesect, but I believe that you deserve to know the truth now, before I confuse you even more than I already have done so. If you wish to wait for her, that is fine, but regardless I'm going to find up what the frozen hell is this Burn Drive used for..."

[Dragonstrike]

"I will inform you what I'm going to do to those treacherous archmages: wipe them off the face of the Earth, one single mage at time. They will fear me by the time I have culled there coven to their bare dredges, and no one will stop from enacting justice. No one." Ventus venomously spat out, extremely anger at their transactions. Noticing that Nathan was starting to panic from his sudden spike in anger, he Quickly started taking a deep breaths and letting them out. Slowly, he managed to reign in his explosive temper to the point where it was just simmering inside, and he firmly had a grasp on his emotional state once more.

Schooling his expression into one of grim seriousness, he looked Nathan deep in the eyes. "Who else could it be, but those blasts mages? What other shadowy organization do we know that has access to great amount of resource, is highly informed about our and the local movements, and seems to be remarkably well read in secrets that should have damn well stay buried. If it is not them, I'll eat my tweed sweater," he said, anger still clearly present in his tone, but to lesser degree than before. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he just mutter something unpleasant under his breath, before opening his eyes again.

"...I was originally going to wait until Shiva had joined us to share my deeper insight in Genesect, but I believe that you deserve to know the truth now, before I confuse you even more than I already have done so. If you wish to wait for her, that is fine, but regardless I'm going to find up what the frozen hell is this Burn Drive used for..."

"Uh...none?  We barely know anything about the Scimitars, Ventus.  Valder's the only one who might possibly know more right now, and he's not going to tell us a damn thing about them if he can help it.  All we really know is that they have some method of controlling the earth, can boost their own abilities to unnatural levels somehow, seem to be made of metal, and supposedly have strong pokemon that they don't even use half the time.

"And, uh, speaking of Shiva and Valder...where are they?  And where did that stranger you met go?  I have some choice words for him if he didn't turn in that damn Pinsirite to the Rangers..."

Ventus was starting to freak Nathan out again...and Kirlia's looking especially nervous right now too...

[Lord Windos]

"I will inform you what I'm going to do to those treacherous archmages: wipe them off the face of the Earth, one single mage at time. They will fear me by the time I have culled there coven to their bare dredges, and no one will stop from enacting justice. No one." Ventus venomously spat out, extremely anger at their transactions. Noticing that Nathan was starting to panic from his sudden spike in anger, he Quickly started taking a deep breaths and letting them out. Slowly, he managed to reign in his explosive temper to the point where it was just simmering inside, and he firmly had a grasp on his emotional state once more.

Schooling his expression into one of grim seriousness, he looked Nathan deep in the eyes. "Who else could it be, but those blasts mages? What other shadowy organization do we know that has access to great amount of resource, is highly informed about our and the local movements, and seems to be remarkably well read in secrets that should have damn well stay buried. If it is not them, I'll eat my tweed sweater," he said, anger still clearly present in his tone, but to lesser degree than before. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he just mutter something unpleasant under his breath, before opening his eyes again.

"...I was originally going to wait until Shiva had joined us to share my deeper insight in Genesect, but I believe that you deserve to know the truth now, before I confuse you even more than I already have done so. If you wish to wait for her, that is fine, but regardless I'm going to find up what the frozen hell is this Burn Drive used for..."

"Uh...none?  We barely know anything about the Scimitars, Ventus.  Valder's the only one who might possibly know more right now, and he's not going to tell us a damn thing about them if he can help it.  All we really know is that they have some method of controlling the earth, can boost their own abilities to unnatural levels somehow, seem to be made of metal, and supposedly have strong pokemon that they don't even use half the time.

"And, uh, speaking of Shiva and Valder...where are they?  And where did that stranger you met go?  I have some choice words for him if he didn't turn in that damn Pinsirite to the Rangers..."

Ventus was starting to freak Nathan out again...and Kirlia's looking especially nervous right now too...

"What we know is enough for me to say that they either had a hand in this matter, or we have another cabal of wizards to worry about, and I quite frankly don't want to believe in the second option. Additionally, there are more than one type of mage, and the appearances of each can wildly vary, depending on the branch of vile magic they study."  

"*Sigh* Shiva went off to hunt for a special Pokémon she read up on earlier in the woods. I wanted to follow after her, but Apsis and Raphael where too battered by their battles for me to do so in good consciousness. She promised to keep me that should would be fine, and that she would meet up with us at the statue later. Valder said he wanted to explore the town a bit for some work to supplement his pay, so I allow him to so long as he reported to me if he had to leave tonw. As for Sage...he disappeared from our group right after we departed from the rangers. I have no idea where he's at, so I can't help you there, I'm afraid," Ventus said, trying to further ease down the intensity of his rage, as his earlier attempts seemed to be ineffective in calming Nathan and Kirlia down.

Even as angry as he was right now, he was still very in tune with both of their feeling, and was beginning to worry about them yet again. "Nathan...do you want me to enlighten you about Genesect right now, or do you need some time for yourself? I can certainly wait, if you desire..."

[Dragonstrike]

"What we know is enough for me to say that they either had a hand in this matter, or we have another cabal of wizards to worry about, and I quite frankly don't want to believe in the second option. Additionally, there are more than one type of mage, and the appearances of each can wildly vary, depending on the branch of vile magic they study."  

"*Sigh* Shiva went off to hunt for a special Pokémon she read up on earlier in the woods. I wanted to follow after her, but Apsis and Raphael where too battered by their battles for me to do so in good consciousness. She promised to keep me that should would be fine, and that she would meet up with us at the statue later. Valder said he wanted to explore the town a bit for some work to supplement his pay, so I allow him to so long as he reported to me if he had to leave tonw. As for Sage...he disappeared from our group right after we departed from the rangers. I have no idea where he's at, so I can't help you there, I'm afraid," Ventus said, trying to further ease down the intensity of his rage, as his earlier attempts seemed to be ineffective in calming Nathan and Kirlia down.

Even as angry as he was right now, he was still very in tune with both of their feeling, and was beginning to worry about them yet again. "Nathan...do you want me to enlighten you about Genesect right now, or do you need some time for yourself? I can certainly wait, if you desire..."

"I think I'll, uh...just wait for Shiva to get here...no need to tell it twice if you intend to tell her too, right?  Hahaha...heh..."

Nervous laughter.  Great sign, right?

"I'll, uh, go check up on how Pinsir is doing in the meantime...as much as I dislike it for what it's trainer ordered it to do, and what it MIGHT have done to you guys, I'm not THAT cold..."

Nathan's rather quick to leave the room, Kirlia following soon after, still looking rather worriedly nervous.

'Damn it for restraining and KOing Princess though...they were SO CLOSE to beating it, too...damn that trainer and his large number of potions...he's going to regret threatening me and my pokemon the next time we meet...'