[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(Well, if waterly reptile knows that Grass Types are trouble, he can be lucky that I hadn't Electric rodents with me! ^^ )

Totodile spends an action to get out of the ropes and turns to flee into the bowels of the ship. Keep attacking?

Azu never fails to suprise her owner by displaying to know what seemed to be...magic tricks? Seeing that the foe decided to flee in their pain - which came indeed unexpected - Shiva decided it'd be better not to follow the original plan for now. Better follow, maybe Totodile leads her to more items...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Receiving that voice message gaver her a nice scate, since Shiva actually did not expected it. If it wouldn't be some sort of urgent matter that needed immediate clearing for some reason, she might have awaited to contact him, but she was overjoyed to not be rejected this time. Only Arceus know what could have happened otherwise.

... ... ...

So, eh, which dorm was his again? Luckily Nurse Joy was able to help her out on this after explaining to her that they belong togeth- know each other. 

Her hand was still somewhat shaky and she hesitated to knock on the door at first, but no way she'd shy away now. It was just a misunderstanding. He wouldn't ho mad at her if she'd explain that, right? He wouldn't dare break bridges with her after he called her 'his best friend' and - for whatever reason - 'adorably beautiful', right?! Hehe... Let's hope not. :C

Ven would find her in an to her unusual state: Empty. He'd pick up no emotions, as if they're numbed, which is rather weird for the type of person Shiva is as well as new to herself as well. She keeps silent though, and it'd be Ven who'd have to carefully open conversation.

[Iron]

Good idea, Shiva - you follow the Totodile to see if it has stashed any more items away.

You follow Totodile across more beams and old forgotten junk, to a big old tarp stretched across several ribs and spars. It's full of (murky) water. Totodile dives right in and retreats to the bottom. Floating in the tarp are two Pokeballs and a Great Ball. And also a Pink Apricorn nut, like the one earlier at the festival. You're pretty sure the sailor didn't mention that item.

Shiva has to make another Survival check to get at these items.

(6)(1)(1*)

Shiva slips and almost falls into the opaque water, but the Lucky Chant saves her! She successfully obtains any or all of these items she wants to collect, scooping them up with a plank, one by one.

This way looks like a dead end, although Shiva could climb the ropes and get back to the start that way. Or she could retreat along the central beam and take the wooden path. Or something else altogether.

[Lord Windos]

It was ten minutes later that Ventus heard faint knocking on the door , causing him to raise his eyebrow a bit . Walking over to door , he was thinking to himself 'She must have been awaiting nearby if she was this quick to respond . What could posses them too - '

His train of thought aburtly crashed to a screeching halt as he felt a buzzing nothingness comming from the behind the door. Along with it was a faint , but extremely potent case of despair , and a almost crippling amount of self loathing . Ventus was very familiar with his particular batch of emotions : depression . A severe case of it , if he could pick it from behind s physical barrier .

"This feeling...from here...Comming from behind the door... Shiva ?! " Ven muttered , almost repeled by what he was receiving , before realizing who was emitting these emotions. With speeds that defied imagination , the normally gentle researcher torn the door open and found his friend standing there , looking deathly morose.

Just as quickly as before , he wrapped her in a tight , fierce hug , head over her shoulder as he guided her into his room . Lucifer , who had been perched on the room 's table striking poses , focused his attention on his master and the fairy lady , and let out a concerned , warbling croon. The draconic bat jumped up and glide over to the couple , lnding over on the bed as Ventus guided her there and sat down with her .

Detach himself from her , Ventus placed his hands on his shoulder and looked extremely worried , trying to figure out What could have caused THIS? "By Reshirim Shiva , what is wrong ! Your depressed , something I never expected Comming from such a joyous , magical person as you ! Please , tell me who did this to , so that I can make them pay for such a heinous crime! "

[Nylon]

@Nylon There is one more night of the $475 job available, and then they'll be finished. In a shipyard, there's always work to be done - he could also get a job actually fixing ships for a reliable $400 a night, +$150 per point he has in the Craft specialty.

Mr. Marshall, who battled Ventus earlier, wishes he could battle Valder, but his Pokemon were just tired out in a battle. He offers to simply spar with your Pokemon - Croagunk trying to land Fighting hits on the ethereal Gastly, Theo stabbing against unbreakable Aron, and Froakie using Water moves on Croagunk's Dry Skin. It's a perfect way to practice offensive moves without needing to hold back!

And it works!! All three of your Pokemon get a Training Roll - this is their second training roll (you had another one on Day 13 according to my notes), it's realistic practice, and I also want to catch you up with the group's XP.

Gastly: Dex 3 + Survival 3 + 1 Evasion = 7 dice (1)(3)(3)(4)(4)(2)(5) Gastly gains 4 total XP
Theo: Str 3 + Fight 1 + 0 Brawl = 4 dice (5)(3)(5)(2) Theo gains 3 total XP
Froakie: Dex 3 + Fight 1 + Canalize1 = 5 dice (5)(6)(4)(4)(1) Froakie gains 5 total XP

Valder also gains 4 XP. Gastly gains 1 point in Happiness - he loves the trick of making Croagunk pass through him and crash into things.

(Do you need me to add these to your char sheet, or do you want to?)

(no, I always do that myself. thanks.)

 "Thanks" Valder nodded to the man who had let him train. Now his pokemon where content and seemed refreshed, it was honestly a shame that they had to stop.
 He walked away. He jogged to the docs and asked around to find the best possible job. He found one that gave you money based on skill, which he liked, because he wasn't too bad at that.
 
He takes the one for 550$ per night (1 Craft).

 After a long night, but while there's still darkness looming, He sends out Ghastly. "Ghastly, do you see that lamp over there? Do you see how the shadows are trying to break into the circle of light? Try helping the shadows by using your power, I know you can, I know it probably annoys you to see how they can't break in".

 (I'm spending 29xp on Shadow Ball for Ghastly. if he can't do it in the prescence of the night... they'll just have to try again. Valder believes in Ghastly though)

[Iron]

Gastly gives a ghastly grin and stretches out his ephemeral power. He urges the shadows along until the light is extinguished. Valder thinks he sees a large form skittering away as the light dies, and reforming near another lamppost before fading.

(Great description of how Shadow Ball might be tested!)

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

This way looks like a dead end, although Shiva could climb the ropes and get back to the start that way. Or she could retreat along the central beam and take the wooden path. Or something else altogether.

It looks like that Totodile has made itself a home down here... That's somewhat heartwarming to see. Althought it itself probably doesn't depart far from what looks like the remains of a tarp strectched across ribs and spars, it still travels around the half world since its home is on a luxurious ship. What a nice thought - it was a good idea not to faint and dragg waterly reptile to the surface and hand it over. Wonder if the sailors even knew of that lodger?

Eh, enough dwelling in comfy thoughts - they're so warm though! - there were items to gather. Two regurlar Pokeballs alongside one Great Ball and...what seemed to be something Shiva remembers that Berry Vendour in Ginger Town sold. How did such a rare nut come here? Fellman did NOT mention such a valuabe item... We'll surely take it with us.

...

Luckily THIS time nothing bad happened and she was able retrive all items. Oh happy day! Must be the aftermaths of her fox's chant... How lucky! Or the fact that she learned from before and took better care of her movements now. (How about leveling-up Dexterity to 3 here? Feels like a suitable moment!)


The way ended here at Totodile's home however, and she didn't feel like touching any ropes again, although they looked like they could be a shortcut. Meh... Let's go back and see what the path of wooden beams holds, right?

Alongside the way... "Fennekin, can you make out any Rattata on our path with your sensitive ears? If not, try to pick up their scent, it's the same that the place where we found the berries has. Maybe if we follow the trace, we'll find another nest of them." Her other Pokemon were withdrawn for safety after the Totodile-Battle, only Fennekin and Kyuu remained. The latter has been picked up to be close in the arms of his new Master, only if he doesn't mind though. It was still a little scary down here, but holding Espurr close shoothed Shiva somewhat.

[Iron]

Shiva follows the wooden beam east. It's very easy to slide along the smooth plank and catch yourself at a moment of your choosing. It looks like this path leads to a dizzying helix of descending planks, each coming off from the masts where they sink beneath the deck. They're almost like steps, but from up here they look like a tenuous kaleidoscope pattern of different woods from different exotic lands. Fennekin doesn't sense any Rattata, but Shiva can see a pale, blinking, greenish light down there.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Detach himself from her, Ventus placed his hands on his shoulder and looked extremely worried, trying to figure out What could have caused THIS? "By Reshiram Shiva , what is wrong! Your depressed, something I never expected Comming from such a joyous, magical person as you ! Please, tell me who did this to, so that I can make them pay for such a heinous crime! "

What.... 'depressed'? No...! She wanted to grow stronger and develop more confidence, not make her insecurity worse!

It was weird though. First, Ven all joyfully pays her a visit to check on her and even brings breakfast with him, then he abandons her over a damned misunderstanding, then he pulled her into a tight and fiece hug that would make her heart skip a beat otherwise, and now he was what seemed to be rather worried over her. What an interesting day, so many different emotions and sides within the same daylight.

Hehe, he wants to make the person pay who seemingly caused this? Then he'd have to cut his own flesh, to put it out bluntly... Those issues with Nathan were cleared up, and now to think about it they were a big cause as well... She cared for him and her lies to him pained her, but now that she knows what he had to know and expressed that things between them are fine and any remaining wounds will heal over time, what was left were the...abandonment issues...

It took a while before Shiva found the strength to speak out any words. Her voice was still low, but ever words was clearly audible. "First of all... Thanks for accepting at all... I feared you wouldn't answer and plainly ignore messages, but it's good to see I was wrong on this assumption. I wished to clear matters between us as soon as possible, that's why were here now..."

She couldn't look Ventus in the eye after taking a glimpse. His worried expression was way too painful to see, Noibat sitting there was way more interesting to face. Somehow, the draconic bat was...cute. Wonder how he'd stand against her fairies...

"You may wonder how I came here relatively fast, do you? ...That's because I sent that message to you from the Pokemon Center. I just came back from where Nathan resided, we cleared the matters between us... I told him the details concerning the secret mission and why his dear Ralts evolved. On free will. Seeing that he abandoned us because of it all...guilt is a horrible feeling. But it led to me take the step to open up towards him, he showed himself compassionate and understanding, and any remaining wounds between us will surely heal if given a little time. Things will become...way better soon enough. So, please rest assured on this and keep anything concerning the mission for yurself, will you? I made Nathan give me his words. It's safe. I'll keep my mission, while none of you mention it towards me if possible... None will ever know you two knew, if all works out well. Fine?"

Speaking of Nathan... Oh well... "Ven... You know how it feels to wake up from unconsciusness in a gloomy city all of a sudden? Maybe you do. If not, imagine waking up wit absolutely none around and not really knowing what has happened. That's how I felt when I regained consciousness again there in my dorm. None was there. Back there as you collapsed In Trillium, I was with you in the room all the time to await your awakening. I had none when I awoke... Add in the feeling that I somewhat lured the dream demon to me. Don't ask why, I don't wish to discuss this now... Luckily, I had my Pokemon there. You found me interacting with them because otherwise I'd fell into a feeling of loneliness. I could have gone downstairs for breakfast and stuff, but I didn't feel like doing so, neither physical nor emotional."

"Your visit filled me with so much joy and delight. Someone cares for me! Enough to worry for me and check on me! How wonderful, you deserve thanks. But...your visit quickly elevated into something bad. You know, I didn't mean to drive you away... You came to me, enlightened my day, but then left me alone coldhearted because of a dumb misunderstanding? I NEVER EVER meant to badmouth Nathan! I do care for him, equally to you, I wouldn't go to clear matters with him and wish him good luck on the Gym Battle if I wouldn't! That comment you must have gotten wrong wasn't for him, it really wasn't, I meant all those who leave their safe home in the young age of 10, gather a Pokemon and jump headfirst into trouble and arrogance because although without an inkling of knowledge about the Type Balances and different kinds of Pokemon, they succeed magically! They don't see they may have won a battle out of pure luck. No, it was their non-existent skill that brought victory! Such fools... When they fall, their fall is high and devasting and it's their fault. But Nathan is never such kind of person. He has knowledge, he has skill, he is an outright good person. When he wins, he won due to his cunning and skill, not thanks to fortuna entirely. And still, he doesn't get arrogant... That is a valuable trait that should not be forgotten."

"You see what this misunderstanding nad your following abandoment caused in me, alongside the issue with him - but these at least have been cleared. I love that secret mission, I don't get why you people have to bother me about it, why it is causing so much dicomfort when it's actually my chance to shine! You know that old spat between a tough hero in the spotlight and the quiet one in the background? Although the latter's performance may be better, it's more likely that the first will be recognized and titled 'true hero'. I...have enough of being overshadowed and not taken for full, is it just because I am no natural battler? WHY? Why is it that way? Am I not allowed to taste spotlight when given the chance?"

"Your abandonment over a foolish bad phrasing has hurt me greatly, you know how the mind is a powerful thing? What if it begins to tell you are worth nothing, your mistakes and actions have driven away those you care for, it's your fault, you don't deserve to live on top of that! Never, NEVER leave me like this again, I don't want to go through such a trail of thoughts... Don't hate me when you called me 'your best friend' and 'adorably beautiful' formerly, you could have stayed at last to tell you I didn't mean it instead of destroying the joy I had from your visit when I was in need for support... You said my support to you eases you and lightens your quest, why am I not allowed to ask for a little support in return? I don't...understand it... I don't want to... just stay with me when I need it, is that too much to ask for?"

Next, she leant onto his shoulder and begab to cry. All silently, but the tears she tried hard to hold back refused to stay hidden. She didn't even cared if she was moisting his green tweed, only now she realsed how cozy it actually is...

Looks like she only wished for Ventus to stay with her this time and protect her over the night, as well as leaving Corsage soon enough to be distracted from any issues.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Fennekin doesn't sense any Rattata, but Shiva can see a pale, blinking, greenish light down there.

(This must look awesome! Can I follow that greenish light, please?)