[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

'Well, that was lopsided. He certainly hits hard, but he seems to struggle with landing hits at all...'

After the battle concludes, Nathan offers Valder a little advice. "Nice job winning that fight, but you need to work on landing more hits if you hope to keep up with foes like that in the future. You would have still been in an incredibly tight spot if your opponent had used a potion as well. Items and moves that never miss are great and all, but you'll quickly fall behind your opponents if they can consistently land chip damage over and over while you struggle to land heavy hits. But that's just my opinion on the matter, I guess."

Nathan then addresses all 3 of them. "Well, we all ready to go? We're not going to reach Corsage by doing odd jobs and training around Wineberry, after all."

[Lord Windos]

"Yes, I am quite ready to continue our journey! Shiva, since you said you wanted to do some herb hunting, how about we get moving together and try to find some while on the path out of Fireweed Forest!" Ventus said, looking at the young lass in question, before giving Nathan a thumb's up.

[Iron]

Last I heard, Sage was planning to tag along with the party.

So you all set off along Route 03, in the part where it goes along the Fireweed Forest. The folk art has mostly disappeared, replaced by well-trimmed trees next to the path. You can see more ancient, untamed monarch trees farther back, full of hollows and twisted limbs and Pokemon.

Berries!
Shiva is searching for herbs instead.
(1) No luck.

But Ventus is assisting her, and he has done this kind of thing before.
(3)(5)(5) Ventus finds enough Spindleweed to complete the Incense item.

Nathan (3)

Valder (6)(2)(2)
Valder finds a Sitrus berry! Lucky.

Sage (6)(2)(6)
Sage finds 2 Chesto berries.

[Iron]

Route 3 West Encounters

1. Name: Bold Spearow*
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 2
Challenge: easy
Notes: holding at least one item

2. Name: Bulbasaur
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 2
Challenge: pretty easy
Notes: Holding at least one item

3. Name: Riff and Raff
Cap: 2
Bid start: 1
Challenge: moderate
Notes: Mallorn's nephews!
"Uncle just gave us our birthday money. We'll give you $600 if you can beat us in a battle. If we win, you have to buy us an awesome birthday present each."

4. Name: Trainer item(s)
Cap: 1
Bid start: 1

5. Name: Valuable item
Cap: 1
Bid start: 1

6. Name: Comite
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 2
Challenge: pretty easy
Notes: Not found in the Pokedex!

[Iron]

As you walk through the forest, a pile of leaves shakes and a Rattata pops out. Geodude immediately moves to intercept, and the two get into a little scuffle.

A few miles down the road, and the two have become fast friends. Rattata is following your group as well, eating all the discarded food items. His favorite is to crawl inside a mostly empty can or bag of dry food and lick off all the remainder.

Another unlikely friendship is growing: Apsis and the giant lazy Poliwhirl. Whenever you stop for a break and let the Pokemon out, these two Pokemon hang out. Poliwhirl shows no fear of the big snake at all.

[Dragonstrike]

Fireweed Forest (aka Route 03): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUBIEHQ7atc (same track from when we first entered the forest)

Recap: Nathan and the group enter the forest once again, though this time with more purpose than before.  Larry might have left and sped on to Corsage without them, but they now have another reason to go to the port town besides the gym there: Ventus's court appointment.  If they hope to infiltrate the secret base underneath the Genesect Statue, they'll also need the valuable time to train and resupply.  And there's a new overall goal as well: to save Genesect from captivity if it has indeed been captured.  New friends and enemies abound, and their journey is yet still far from over...

It didn't take long to find more trainers and wild pokemon.  The forest was teeming with bugs, and the early routes are still fairly easy to traverse for trainers just starting their journeys.  Nathan has Swiftfire out instead of Kirlia, opting to let his friend rest for a change.  Too much emotional tension all at once could easily exhaust a Psychic or Fairy type as sensitive to the changes as the Ralts line.  

Swiftfire picks up on the voices in the forest first.

"Hey, Raff, look!  Trainers!"

"I see them, Riff!  Come on, let's battle one of them!  Maybe we can get even more sweet loot!"

Swiftfire nervously prods Nathan.  "Huh, what is it, girl?"

Riff and Raff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9vnSpJcH5A

Riff and Raff emerge from the foliage, hollering battle challenges, claiming they're unbeatable because they're Mallorn's nephews!

"Oh no...not these two...they caused all sorts of trouble whenever Mallorn brought them with him to Trillium...I'll handle this, guys.  Don't worry about them too much."

Swiftfire is not happy to see the twins.  She still remembers the day they tried to ride her!  Needless to say, nobody went unscathed, nor unpunished.

Nathan's gonna battle Riff and Raff, keeping them occupied and away from everyone else.  Swiftfire is his first pokemon, Porygon is his second should nobody jump in to help him.

Initiative: 1 D6 + 3 Dexterity + 1 Survival (gotta work on leveling this eventually...)
Download activates if Porygon is sent in.

[Lord Windos]

Foraging for herbs was a simultaneously fun and bittersweat for the researcher. It brought back good memories of his mother Delilah taking him to her flower shop and teaching him what each and everyone of them, but at the same time it brought back memories of Morgan. 'For every good thing, there must be a darker side to balance it out to give it meaning. I may still mourn the fate of my mother, but I will always cherish the moments I shared with her. May her memory rest in peace within me,' Ventus solemnly though, his slight sadness hidden behind his affable façade while chatting with Shiva about the medicinal properties of herbs. He believe after this enlighten experience, he remember just a little of the folk medicine his mom used on him (Raising Medicine Specialty by 1!)

Once everyone stopped for a short rest in the woods, he let out his all his Pokémon to limber up, and notices Apsis slither off to Sage's Poliwhirl's side. He was at first wary of her wanting a bigger Polisnack, but when it turns out the two where actually enjoying each other presence, Ventus smiled joyously at the sight. "I'm glad that Apsis, such a regal, dominating Pokémon, is capable of making friend with others without me moderating her! Perhaps she feels some sort of kinship with the fellow giant Well, I'll leave her to socialize with Poliwhirl, while I explore my surrounding for anything interesting," Ventus said to himself, before announcing to the group that he was going of to roam the wood for a bit.

Eventually, he found something of note- or rather, something of note found him. A Spearow swoop down right over him, flying by extremely close to head, before pulling out and letting out a challenging *Caaaaaw!* Bolled over by the wind currents generated by the bird, Ventus land flat on him bum, jostling his sleeves and causing Ariel's Pokeball to shoot right out, smacking into the ground with a *Twaack!*. Summoned to the battle field, she took one look at her fallen master, then at the Sparrow, before giving it a glare. Only she was allow to harass her master, no one else!

Meanwhile, Lucifer, startled by the bird as well, bolted out of Ven's sweater, flapping mid air while and looking down worriedly at his master. The researcher noticed his worry right away, and waved him over to consul him. "There there, my devil, I am alright. Spearow just caused me minor scuffing and embarrassment, so there is no need to be concerned for my wellbeing. Since Ariel was accidently brought out in the battle field, and seems eager to take on the Spearow, why don't try to see if you can't hunt for anything valuable? I promise an apple if you find something interesting, Lucifer!" Ventus said, doing his best to make his pratfall useful.

The fruit bat's eyes lite up at the promise of yet another deliciously sinful treats, so it gave a screech of affirmation, before shooting off into the forest, eager to find some loot!

Order: Fighting that Spearow with Ariel to see what's so special about it, and have Lucifer try to find something useful in exchange for an apple. Let's hope I roll sixes instead of snake eyes!

[Iron]

Apsis gains 1 point of loyalty, realizing that if she'd eaten Poliwhirl like SHE wanted to do (even though it would have taken weeks to digest), she'd have lost this friend.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Ah... That part of the forest contained no folkart. Instead, the trees and bushes were nicely trimmed as if someone takes good care of them. There even was a real path to follow. The chittering of Bug Types was less present due to this as well, much to Shiva's taste. The ancient trees way there in the horizone gave a nice contrast as well...  Fennekin, walking beside his new Master, was all delighted to pay the forest another visit! Whenever he discovered what looked like a twig in the size perfect to be taken along and eaten, he stopped and picked them up before returning of his Master's side. Mid-way, they also encountered Sage! For some reason, Shiva was rejoicing internally for that and the fact that he'll tag along. He didn't talked much, even less than she does, but still she somewhat had the feeling that he can be trusted. This was an interesting contrast to his willingness of killing the opponent there at the pond... What were his reasons, his attitude towards this? Was he still carrying the Pinsirnite? There's alos the fact that she displayed two Unovian Pokemon the first time they even saw his Pokemon, one of those a Starter, the other known for its strenght and bravery although being just a young eagle. Hmm... Maybe she'll get the chance to talk to him later.

There also was that curious Rattata! I mean... it was alittle more curious than exemplars Shiva knew. Those were eager to gather as much food as they could carry in their mouth and tiny hands, but were a little shy to actually crawl into bags of food. unless they are really hungry. Fennkin hissed at the rat whenever it was getting too close for his taste, and therefore prevented Shiva from handing a half Pirsif-Berry-Cookie to it. Oh well... (She still has a half package of those cookies remaining from Ginger Town's Festival!)

First thing in her mid was gathering the herbs. If she clearly remembers, those were called ''Spindleweed"... Yeah, that was it. Got noted in a journal. However... Either she was foolish or not yet used to search for thing efficently in an area she wasn't familar with, but there were none of these elusive plants. Nowhere. Not a single twig. Fennekin was no help here, the little fox was way more concentrated to sniff in the grass and bask in the rays of sunlight that shined through the foliage. Damn... She had the glassware with the twigs gathered at the Healer's shack already outside...

Just as she was about to pack it away, call the magical fox to her side and return to the main path, Ventus approached her from the side. Huh... Where were he? Just a few moments ago he was beside her and was fawning over the medical value of Tipton's weed.. However... In his hands was a bundle of the exact herbs she was looking for! Oh my... Words could barely describe how happy she was over this. The smile she gave him refelcted just part of that as well, but she was sure he'll get the idea anyway.

"My... Thank you! No luck on finding any by myself... You, eh, mind to give them to me? I'll surely make good use of those." In fact, that much looked enough to craft at least one incense. One that most likely Fennekin would get to hold then. The fox lived in the forest anyway, so maybe he was used to the scent. He most likely was. She wouldn't enjoy if Ventus would smoke this particular incense away...

Next came slightly hestitant words. But still in the usual soft tone. "Uhm... Listen... I'm sorry that you got yourself in such a mess because of the threath of inflicting lethal damage... But such a threat is not be taken lightly. It should stay the last resort and only been ngaged in if anyone of us is in REAL DANGER, as you said... Alright?" What came now, was another slight blush. Oh hell, what was it this time? ... Eh, nothing, she just felt a liitle regretful for yelling at Ven back there in town.

"Oh... And I missed to ask... But, what is your mother's job then? If she brought the use of herbs to you..."


----------------
Mechanics:
Accidental depression-triggering in Ventus? This takes place before me or him went to take on the Encounters. Just a small conversation before I go for Comite, shouldn't take longer than two or three posts. EDIT: Okay, it did take a little longer.

[Lord Windos]

Ah... That part of the forest contained no folkart. Instead, the trees and bushes were nicely trimmed as if someone takes
"My... Thank you! No luck on finding any by myself... You, eh, mind to give them to me? I'll surely make good use of those." In fact, that much looked enough to craft at least one incense. One that most likely Fennekin wuld get to hold then. The fox lived in the forest anyway, so maybe he was used to the scent. He most likely was. She wouldn't enjoy if Ventus would smoke this particular incense away...

Next came slightly hestitant words. But still in the usual soft tone. "Uhm... Listen... I'm sorry that you got yourself in such a mess because of the threath of inflicting lethal damage... But such a threat is not be taken lightly. It should stay the last resort and only been ngaged in if anyone of us is in REAL DANGER, as you said... Alright?" What came now, was another slight blush. Oh hell, what was it this time? ... Eh, nothing, she just felt a liitle regretful for yelling at Ven back there in town.

"Oh... And I missed to ask... But, what is your mother's job then? If she brought the use of herbs to you..."

-Back to the past... Flashback! *Wapass!*!-

Shiva's heartfelt smile and thanks almost caused him to blush, but he curtailed that reaction. It was unbecoming of him to show such signs of affection, especially to a woman that was far younger than he was! "Oh, it was a trifling matter to collect some of these herbs, so no need to thank me! Take all of the Spindleweed; I came out here to help you forage for herbs in the first place, and I have no need for it anyway," Ventus replied, handing over the springs of the plant to the young lass, secretly glad to be rid of them. When he spotted and obtained them, it gave him a weird, faint feeling of fae magic, and he wanted to stomp on it soon after, if it was not for the fact he remember Shiva's desire for the plant.

'These herbs give me a foreboding vibe, same as those Deyo Flowers, but I'll refrain from destroying them as well. Shiva seems intent on making use of it in some manner, and her fae nature shields her from the worst of its effects. I just hope I'm not wrong in this assumption,' the researcher though, internally worried about the herb while brilliantly smiling to Shiva on the outside. At Shiva mention of the Pinsir Pond Fiasco, Ventus let out a tired sigh, before rubbing the back of his head. "I believed I promised both you and Nathan that I would think carefully before even consider Lethal Damage in a battle scenario, so can we please meander away from that topic? I've suffer enough embarrassment and grief over it already..."

Upon hearing Shiva inquiring about his mother's proffesion, his smile left his face as he frowned, not happy with the way the conversation was going. "....My mother, Delilah, was a Flouriest, cultivating and caring for a variable bounty of flowering plants. She knew everything about her plants, from what time of year they bloomed, how to grow her plants to produce the best results, as well as all the possible uses for them. Mom often treated my families' maladies and health problems with the herbs, berries, and spices she raised herself, only resorting to 'modern medicine', as she scornfully called it, when her natural cures had minimal effect."

"I was fascinated by the myriad uses of her plants, so when I expressed my similar interest in horticulture to her, she was absolutely delighted to hear, and began to tutor in her practice. She often took me to her flower shop whenever there was a chance, showing me all her wondrous plants and teaching me their how to care for them, their uses, and what prices I expect to get for prime specimens. Reflecting back, I believe my mother was grooming me to take over her business when she retired, but then...." Ventus said, before trailing off into uncomfortable silence. His head was tilted down to the ground, in an attempt to hide his downcast expression from his friend, and his eyes had that sad look in them again.

"Things changed. As they are want to do." Silence.....