[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

"Please do so, Nathan. While I rarely comment or judge other trainers on their method of raising their Pokémon, I believe that to properly tend to any Pokémon, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to optimally care for them. As long as you keep that in mind when it evolves into a Galvantula, I will have no reason to quarrel with you," Ventus replied, appearing calm and collect as he usually is. After all, Joltik's eating habits are not a pressing concern right now, but in the future...

Tilting his head at the young trainer filling in the missing letters of the phrase he record, he shrugged his shoulder as they inquired about where he found both statue and text. "Truth be told, I happened to find an odd pot that had the Dragonair Statue and a plague with said scripture on it. I didn't do a detail investigation of said vessel, since it was the home of a Bonsly and I didn't want to start any unnecessary drama with it, but it looked like it was transported to that spot fairly recently. With the mimic's permission, I took the statue and recorded this down, before I made way back to camp. That is all I know on the matter, honestly. I'm a Pokémon Researcher, not an archeologist, and I certainly wouldn't know anything about this regions past beyond what you already informed me of."

[Dragonstrike]

Tilting his head at the young trainer filling in the missing letters of the phrase he record, he shrugged his shoulder as they inquired about where he found both statue and text. "Truth be told, I happened to find an odd pot that had the Dragonair Statue and a plague with said scripture on it. I didn't do a detail investigation of said vessel, since it was the home of a Bonsly and I didn't want to start any unnecessary drama with it, but it looked like it was transported to that spot fairly recently. With the mimic's permission, I took the statue and recorded this down, before I made way back to camp. That is all I know on the matter, honestly. I'm a Pokémon Researcher, not an archeologist, and I certainly wouldn't know anything about this regions past beyond what you already informed me of."

"How old did that pot look?  As ancient as this statue?  From the sound of things, it might be a relic from the Age of Kings.  That's a really odd thing to leave lying around in a forest, too...would you mind showing me where it is, real quick?"

[Lord Windos]

Tilting his head at the young trainer filling in the missing letters of the phrase he record, he shrugged his shoulder as they inquired about where he found both statue and text. "Truth be told, I happened to find an odd pot that had the Dragonair Statue and a plague with said scripture on it. I didn't do a detail investigation of said vessel, since it was the home of a Bonsly and I didn't want to start any unnecessary drama with it, but it looked like it was transported to that spot fairly recently. With the mimic's permission, I took the statue and recorded this down, before I made way back to camp. That is all I know on the matter, honestly. I'm a Pokémon Researcher, not an archeologist, and I certainly wouldn't know anything about this regions past beyond what you already informed me of."

"How old did that pot look?  As ancient as this statue?  From the sound of things, it might be a relic from the Age of Kings.  That's a really odd thing to leave lying around in a forest, too...would you mind showing me where it is, real quick?"

"Certainly, my friend! I have good recall with location, so it should be relatively easy for me to track down fairly quick. Remember, though, that a Bonsly calls that pot its home, so try not to be too intrusive with you investigation about it," Ventus says, waving Nathan over to follow his lead. Before he left, however, he turned to Shiva and told her : "It appears our conversation will have to be delayed for longer than I expected. Though, this give us time to contempolate our thoughts and feelings, so all is not bad with this occurrence. We'll be back soon enough, so don't fret about us."

With that said, he face the forest once more, and marched right in, glancing behind him to make sure that the young trainer had not lost sight of him yet. He doubted that they would get separated so soon, but it was approaching night time, the time all sorts of nasty creature came out and hunted...

(I'll let you decided what you are going to do about the pot, and when we get their @Dragonstrike. I'm heading to bed soon, so don't feel the need to rush on my behalf!)

[Dragonstrike]

All Nathan really does when they eventually reach the pot is ask Bonsly for permission to examine it. Without touching it, of course. As Nathan figured, it was old. Really old. He's got no idea who would set down anything like this in the middle of a dense a forest, and do it in such a careless way that it would chip it. He also uses his pokedex to snap a few pictures of it for his notes. "Yup, this could very well be from the Age of Kings...that settles it. I think I have a basic idea of what that plaque might be talking about. Ven, I think it's talking about the Skull Ruins. That's interesting...very interesting...I'll tell you more when we return to camp. Thank you for letting me examine your pot, Bonsly. We'll leave you to your own devices, now." And with that, Nathan and Ventus head back to camp. He has a thought on the way back that's not at all related to the current situation.
'Hmmm....I should probably have my pokemon introduce themselves to Joltik...I'll set that up when we get back to camp so they can do that while I'm talking with Ven...'

(Didn't really have any big plans for the short trip to the pot, @Lord Windos. Just wanted to get this simple thing out of the way before launching into what's known of the Skull Ruins back at camp. Nathan did also notice Ventus's comment to Shiva as they left camp, but he's not going to press matters right now. He's more interested in that pot, currently.)

[Lord Windos]

Time passed quickly as Ventus relocated the ancient pot and listen to Nathan's analysis, looking faintly curious at Nathan's words. "That's the second time you mentioned that period of time, so I assume it must be either the origin of this pot and figure I posses, or is certainly within that frame of time. Hmm...." he said, mulling over that piece of information in his head as they headed back to camp once more. Age of Kings? He assumes that was during the time that Cheshire's monarchy still existed, but beyond that he had not the fainted inkling of what went on in that age. It was times like these that made him wish he took a minor in history, instead of just focusing on Sociology and Research...

[Dragonstrike]

When they arrive back at camp, the first thing Nathan does is let all his pokemon out of their pokeballs.  "Everyone, I'd like you to meet our newest friend, Grid.  Kirlia and Porygon are already acquainted with him from when we met him earlier.  I'd like you four to take some time to introduce yourselves to him.  Relax, have a little fun, whatever you like.  Just don't get into any trouble.  If there is trouble, Kirlia will notify me immediately.  I'm going to be talking with Ven for a bit, so you've got plenty of time to just hang out.  You all have been doing an excellent job lately.  Have some well deserved rest.  Oh, and if you're wondering where Porygon is, I had to send him to the PC to make room for Grid.  He needed the rest anyways.  We'll regroup with Porygon when we reach Corsage."

All that said and done, Nathan leaves his pokemon to their own devices to just relax and have a little fun under Kirlia's watchful eye, and goes inside the newly set up tent to talk with Ven about the Skull Ruins.

Nathan pulls out his journal once again, pen in hand, and takes some notes concerning his observations of the pot, statue, and the writing.  After he's done with that, he puts the pen down and begins explaining the history of the Skull Ruins.  

More reused music! Ominous tune, go! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2lACcKfJw0

"Alright, let's just start with a brief refresher on the Age of Kings.  As I said before, it's the time when Creshire was ruled by kings chosen by the legendaries themselves.  Sarimanok was the Last King.  He supposedly abused his power and ended the golden age Creshire had been in for hundreds of years, and constructed a throne made of Charizard skulls to rule from during that period.  That was hundreds of years ago.  If that pot is as old as it looks, it dates either from the very end of or just after Sarimanok's reign.  The text is equally curious for a particular reason...

"You see, The Skull Ruins are what's left of the castle the kings ruled from.  The First League left it in quite a state after their siege on it, and time has not treated it any better.  The Skull Ruins are home to a whole host of different Ghost type pokemon, and the upper levels are filled with the graves of Sarimanok's servants and various innocents who were caught in the crossfire.  It's a terrifying place for multiple reasons.  And that's just the ground floor.

"Everyone has heard of the legendary Throne of Skulls.  It's a historian's dream to discover an object of such historical significance.  It's not on the ground floor though, if it exists at all.  All that's left there is graves and the ruins of what was once a magnificent throne room with a very normal throne made of wood, stone, and valuable metals and gems that have long since been looted.  No thrones made of Charizard skulls to speak of.

"It's been discovered recently that there's basement floors, though, beneath all the barrow downs that can be found alongside the individual graves. Maybe they're even all directly connected by those underground tunnels, and it's all just one massive grave as opposed to many small ones.  How many floors there are is unknown, but there are a few brave souls who dare adventure down there to look for the mythical Throne of Skulls.

"Few ever return from that trip.  And when they do, they can't seem to recall anything that happened down there.  Or have gone completely insane from what can only be assumed to be sheer horror.

"If that pot's plaque is talking about the Skull Ruins...my best guess is that the throne, or at least the path leading to it, is on the bottom fourth floor.  And based on that fortune you got at the festival earlier and the vision Kirlia showed me...that's worrying.  If someone finally found it, and if they have enough strength to call on and/or subdue legendaries....Creshire might have a problem.  Riled up Ghosts are rare, but if they are riled up, something is typically really wrong..."

There's an ominous ring to that last part...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Time for a little Interlude! @Dragonstrike, that one mostly goes to you.



Oh, Shiva did absolutely nothing to stop them from heading into the woods to investigate the place where Ventus found that Dragonair Statue. On purpose. If there's one thing that doesn't count to her interest, then it's definitely history... Simple reason: She only has this one life, to put it simple. Only Arceus really knew what may come afterwards... Why 'waste' this life by dwelling and digging in the past? Learn from mistakes you did in the past, value precious memories and experiences, and then move on. The past cannot be changed. The future, surely can. It's an open path.

... Wait... What did Ven meant by 'their conversation will have to be delayed?' 'Contemplate thoughts and feelings'...? What was there to be talked about? He meant that Spearow here in her arms -still knocked out - didn't he...?


Eh, anyway, luckily he and Nathan returned soon enough from their quick trip into the woods. Shiva got up from her place. Before she could say a single word though, he freed all of his Pokemon from their balls and...will appearantly leave them alone while he's got business to do with Ven.

Feels like a déjà vu...
Oh no, dear, don't get angry now. You may not agree with his way to handle his companion Pokemon, but it's entirerly his call.
Yeah, true... Leaving a full team of Pokemon roam free without their OWNER - not a Pokemon itself - in sight feels very wrong.
He grew up on a farm. You grew up in a busy city. That's worlds in between. Trust him, he knows what he does.
I think so...

Not giving any hint of these thoughts, neither to Ven or Kirlia, she motioned Nathan to stop before he went inside the tent. "Nathan... Listen, would you mind lending me your Pokedex for the time you and Ven discuss things inside? I won't interfere you two, no way, only wish of mine would be to be updated in case anything very important emerges. ... I caught something very weird inside the forest that's currently in a box in PC and would like to check on it using the Pokdex meanwhile. "

[Dragonstrike]

Not giving any hint of these thoughts, neither to Ven or Kirlia, she motioned Nathan to stop before he went inside the tent. "Nathan... Listen, would you mind lending me your Pokedex for the time you and Ven discuss things inside? I won't interfere you two, no way, only wish of mine would be to be updated in case anything very important emerges. ... I caught something very weird inside the forest that's currently in a box in PC and would like to check on it using the Pokdex meanwhile. "

"Uh...sure, I guess.  You might be hearing a little about this discussion later though, if my hunches are correct...I can just give you an abridged version afterwards, I guess..."

Nathan lends her his pokedex, then heads inside.  'Strange.  I would have thought she wouldn't need a reference like that...Must be something really unique that she found...'

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(Thank you!~)


Shiva gladly accepted the Pokedex from him. Feels good to keep the version from Chresire in hands... Even if it was temporarly and it was definitelly not 'her own'. It surely looked different from the version in Unova, which was the only one she knew and ever operated occassionally, given her father has kept a hold of his one from youth. Having a full Unova Dex is surely an interesting thing to browse through. (NOTE, it's the regional dex from Black/White 2 he has completed in 'Seen'. not every Pokemon is registered as 'caught', though.)

"Thank you lots! I'll take good care of it. Don't mind me~" With that words and a slight smile, she waved at them until both were out of sight and inside the tent.

Next, Shiva placed herself back where she formerly was - at the fireplace. No fire was ablaze at the moment, but that was alright - it was not cold nor dark yet, and with two Fire-Types in the party setting up a fire was a matter of barely a minute. A few meters away, Kirlia was giving Shiva an overly curious look. Then waved in delight and chuckled...? Eh, alright? She waved back, and gave the Psychic-Fairy a look that clealy said 'Feel free to approach me. But please don't overdo it. I have things to do.'

So... Nathan got himself a lil' Joltik, no? How splendid! Another Electric-Type. Plulse and Minun might be interested in meeting the small spider - but not now. There will be plenty of time an opportinities later. As long as the Bug-Type does not come too close to her, Shiva was actually fine around it.

Cottonee settled herself close to his Master, same with Fennekin. The latter lazily placed his head in her lap and promptly received a few strokes over his ears. Keeping the fainted Spearow and Azurill in her top hat close to herself, Shiva turned the Pokedex on, being left alone only with her mind and her beloved companion Pokemon currently. From time to time, such a thing was overly refreshing and energizing.

Nothing special about Chreshire's Pokedex, the base mechanics were the same in every Dex. First of all, she turned the display of the Dex towards her fox, making it possible to register Fennekin. Shiva just wanted to have one thing confirmed, a thing she caught up in on of her books lately... Double-click on 'Fennekin', then selecting 'Show learnable moveset' confirmed the matters. Fennekin does indeed learn what Shiva would loosely call a spell - the move called Lucky Chant. How great to hear~

Next up, selecting 'Bill's PC' from the main menu. After typing in her Trainer ID and a choosen password, she had access to the Pokemon she stored there. Of course, the Pokedex won't let her withdraw something from the boxes, but that was not her intention right now. There they were... The Pokemon that had no room in her team right now. There was Fletchling... Helios - Oh, how she wished to have him back on-hand - and... that weird rocklike Pokemon she refered as 'modified Roggenrola' (Comite). Ventus was right though, a little more investigation into this weird thing would surely be interesting.

Double-click on it, then selecting 'Show entry'

ERROR. NO DATA AVAILABLE.
Excuse me...? A sudden glitch? Let's try again.

ERROR. NO DATA AVAILABLE.
Huh...

ERROR. NO DATA AVAILABLE.
... σ(￣、￣〃) Okay, no random glitch.


At this point, the hand Shiva was holding the Pokedex began to shiver. Heavily, but luckily not enough to drop the Dex. What WAS this thing she caught there... Either it must be a weird new mutation or a veeeeery rare Pokemon. ... Especially the latter excited her. Quite a lot, to be honest. Jackpot...


(To be continued.)

[Lord Windos]

Ventus was completely silent as Nathan told him of The Age of Kings, and how the action that wretched Sarimanok lead to its brutal end. When the boy told him that the ruins where now a hotspot of Ghost type activity, the researcher frowned as a scowel crossed his face. "I knew that their was paranormal activity around the Skull Ruins, but for the location to be THAT drenched in the curses of those buried there....now I can see why everyone regards the crumbling castle as Dead Zone. But for all that bloodshed to form such a phenommina...let me explain what I know of about these spectral Pokémon, as my anaylsis of the Skull Ruins requires a bit of context first to be completely comprehensible. Ghost types have 2 known sources outside of breeding: enough residual spirit energy/essense coming together to form and/or summon individual instances, such as the Ghastly line, Medreviious line, Yanmask line etc. , or for said necrotic power reacting to certain species of Pokémon/objects and forming hybrids, as in the case of Froslass, Litwick line, Decidueye etc.."

"Due to this, its hard to locate this Type, as they are typically only found in places where either dead are entombed or where massive widespread bloodshed occurred, and I refer to such locations are referred to as Dead Zones. Their pseudo deceased status is also what makes Ghost types extremely hard to train and study, as the spiritual energy that makes up there body causes results in them acting...erratically. Their personalities can range from mischievous to outright malicious to more living beings, haunting people and possibly becoming a dangerous entity if people provoke them, or if it suits their fancy. The more malevolent minded spirits hunting humans down as either a source of food or sport, or trying to posses those that are subseptcial to their influence to do their bidding. Severe cases of possession can result in the victim becoming soulless shells if the Ghost completely 'hollowing' them out, creating 'Living Dead' entities that are completely bound to the Pokémon that made such horrific mockeries of life. Fortunately, its very rare that possession ever gets to that point, and its possible to reverse it if the spirit is return to the body if it was expelled/imprisioned via using a medium, so don't worry about it happening to you!" the researcher said, taking a short break to catch his breat and make sure he was not freaking the young trainer out with his explanation. Sometimes when he talks about Ghost types, the details he reveals causes people to freakout or panic, but fortunately Nathan appears to have a much sterner constitution.

"The worst part is such behavior is not entirely consistent within a Ghost type's species lines, as the location they are found, as well as a Ghost's type origin of creation and personal experience, cause each instance of spectral entity to have semi-unique personalities. In Graveyards or places of mourning, Ghosts types found there are the most likely to be sedate or peaceful, but in places that suffered great tragedy or massive death tolls, the spirits are...less than friendly to outsiders. Its no surprise to me, then, that the Skull Ruins is such a treacherous place. Death, destruction, and the complete desolation of it has almost certainly caused the creation of powerful and malevolent Ghost types that have drenched the place in a variety of nasty curses, warping the area into a true nightmare for anyone that dares trespass upon those grounds. If we end up venturing into those depths, then we truelly are going to be tested in everyway imaginable, and I have good reason to suspect that such trails will not be gentle in the slightest. And we are most certainly going there, if the fortune teller's omens are entirely accurate, so we absolutely need to get a hold of either a Medium or a large supply of Spell Tags if we want to get through such a place completely unmolested, and plently of supplies to make it through on our treck in that ominous  place," Ven said, looking fairly disturbed at the though of even getting near those blightened place. Thinking about the wise woman's visions caused him to shiver a bit, realizing that part of what she fortold has already come true.

"Nathan...I believe that the fortune I recieved is already playing out. Sage's Poliwhirl, the one that has recently somehow endeared my Apsis to it, bared my path while I was going to the medicine man's hut in Fireweed forest. 'A large blue Pokémon shall block my way'....that giant frog certainly matches that description, doesn't it. Which means that we will all end up in those ruins eventually, despite my extreme reluctance to even think about approach such a place. I'm sure that I can endure the horrors of such a dominion -nothing can quite compared to the experiences I have already withstood-, but what about you and Shiva? I have no desire to see both of you go insane because of vengeful spectors seeking to spread their misery to others, and that not considering the presence of those blasted wizards muking around the place and inciting the resident Ghost type's wrath to positively inciderary levels! Then there are 'Those Eyes' from the vision to consider, and the fact the scimitars most likely have Sliverfish in their possession....Kuyrem damn it all. Why can't I just conduct my research in peace and explore the region without some form of malady plaguing me and my friends...."

As he finished his own speech on the matter, the researcher cupped his face with both hands, and bowed his head to the ground. Again and again unfortunate circumstance and information keep piling onto him and his group of friends. Just how long will any of them last if things keep escalating at the current rate? Reshirim save them all...