[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

After what seemed to be untold ages to his senses (and releasing Ariel to wash off the snake spit off Nathan's face after they all had their laughs), Ventus entered what looked to be the battle arena, and finally got to see the so called ghoul of the town, Mr. Chuckles. What alarmed the researcher the most, though, was not his grim cloathing or his impressive demeanor, but just by how downright awful he looked, despite his alertness. Clearing his throat first, the empath tentatively called out to the man, saying: "Forgive me for saying this, but you look like you got into a battle with a Duskinior, and have left poorer for it. Are you SURE that you desire to face us in combat at this stage of your recovery? Time may always be ticking down, but I'm certainly patient enough to wait until your humors have been fully restored."

"I am ready. There is only one way to test my recovery. A Gym Challenge must be answered - quickly, passionately, and without the slightest hint of holding back."

[Iron]

Even with the gloom and darkness somewhat dimished, Corsage was still lacking a 'warm' and busy feeling that Shiva knew from her hometown. Mist was was blurring the vision occasionally. Somehow, she was glad to have Raphael by her side, not only due to the archangel serving as a guidance through mentioned mist, but also as a protector and mental connection to the others who probably arrived at the Gym by now...

Strange. It felt like Raphael was indeed guiding her. He led her to what looked like a pharmacy... What a coincidence. She disliked the thought of asking for meds, but if there was something she disliked more, it was that state that Ven called depression... Things will be better if she would manage to achieve some successes. She just needed immediate support, something to bridge the time to that sucesses...

That blue light here had a somewhat soothing effect. Her voice was a little low as she stepped to the counter, and clearly coy about the request. But also eager to not leave without having something on hands... "Uhm... Someone's there? I'd just need some temporal medication for a... developing depressed episode..."

"Do you have a prescription? If not, I can sell you some herbal supplements - Vitamin D and St. John's Wort. If you just need some sunshine, there's a cruise ship in Murkrow Cove with a bevy of Bellossom - all able to use Sunny Day. And I really must recommend that you see a doctor if your depression persists for more than a couple weeks, or if you simply find yourself unable to cope. I have a directory here with all the physicians in Corsage Port. Feel free to peruse it."

The cost for the herbal supplements is negligible. Raphael seems willing to carry them for you.

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan perks up a little at that.  "Then let's finish these preparations.  Ventus, you want me to place the Awakening, or the Potion?"

[Lord Windos]

The researcher just lets out a sigh as he shakes his head at the Gym Leader, but none of the less reluctantly withdraws a Potion from his bag and places it on the specified candelabra. "Testing your limits is fine in theory, but you will find more often than not it falls precariously short in practical applications. I'm no doctor, however, and even if I was, I imagine that ordering you to get more bed rest would be a rather futile effort. Health is no laughing matter, sir, so I do hope you keep that in mind..." Ventus said, before motioning to Apsis to come forward into the battle arena. The regal snake complies with their command immediantly, rather eager to start the battle and, perhaps more important, get that treat she was denied by Nathan afterwards! Unless he was another kiss from her for being coy, hmpt! Who does he think he is, denying her hungry pleas like that?! *Hiiiissss...*

[Dragonstrike]

"Alright, one Awakening from me then.  And for my first pokemon...Grid, you're front and center! Show me that all our hard work has paid off!"

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"Do you have a prescription? If not, I can sell you some herbal supplements - Vitamin D and St. John's Wort. If you just need some sunshine, there's a cruise ship in Murkrow Cove with a bevy of Bellossom - all able to use Sunny Day. And I really must recommend that you see a doctor if your depression persists for more than a couple weeks, or if you simply find yourself unable to cope. I have a directory here with all the physicians in Corsage Port. Feel free to peruse it."

"Eh... No, no prescription. Plant extracts are good for now. But thanks for the offering of visiting a physician, I'll keep that advice in mind... Mind if I take a copy of the directory with me? I'll be leaving Corsage soon with the rest of the group I'm traveling with, but I have an Abra with me that I'm trying to evolve further, so teleporting to town here...shouldn't be such a problem." Meh, why did she said that? The 'trying' was somewhat painful currently. Formerly, she was overall encouraged to do whatever was needed to help Helios in developing some control over his powers... But currently, she was about to run out of ideas about further progress in this case. Dealing with Psychic powers when the mind is unstable didn't seem like a good idea, either.

St. John's Wort... Oh, Shiva knew that plant very well. Beautiful flowers and praised for their calming effect in herbology. As for Vitamin D... Should have known. Still, she accepted them thankfully as well. "Thanks... One pill a day? Is it possible to accidently overdose on them? As for that cruise ship, I'll likely visit it later this day." The thought of meeting some Bellossom was somewhat exciting as well. They're Sun-Stone evolutions on top of that!


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Next up - after handing all purchases to Raphael and asking him to take good care of them - was a stop-by at the normal Pokemart. Fennekin jumped on the counter and sniffed on whatever was displayed there as promotional offer.

"So, eh... I'd need more treats for my Pokemon beside the usual dry food, please. Something containing dried berries sounds good, or just solely some dried berries... You have something like that? Some sticks from a cinnamon tree or other unusual tree for my Fennekin would also be welcome."

Silently, Shiva doubted they'd have such sticks in stock... But maybe they imported some. If not, she'll likely just look out for something to pluck a few sticks from along the way.

[Iron]

An Awakening and a Potion appear on the black chandeliers.

Chuckles waves a hand, and the shadows flutter before resolving into a Banette, zippered mouth grinning widely! It grins even wider as it sees Joltik enter the battlefield. Its hands flutter and claw at the air like drapes in a demon wind.

Ventus' own shadow suddenly grins a broad toothy grin and steps aside, cackling inside Nathan's head and inside Ventus' head. On its own, spikes form and glowing red eyes fade into view - a Gengar!

Banette: (4) +4 Dex + 2 Survival = 10
Gengar : (3) + 6 = 9
Grid: (4) + 3 Dex + 2 survival = 9
Apsis: (4) + 2 Dex + 3 survival = 9

Becomes:
Banette: (4) +4 Dex + 2 Survival = 9
Grid: (4) + 3 Dex + 2 survival = 9
Apsis: (4) + 2 Dex + 3 survival = 9
Gengar : = 8

[Iron]

Shiva obtains the directory, and even the cinnamon sticks. "It's possible to overdose on Vitamin D, but only if you take more than four pills a day. One is sufficient. Two on a bad day. Someone of your size should never take 3."

[Dragonstrike]

An All Out Gym Battle: 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MtPeOdFlsPw

"Alright, Ventus, you know the plan.  Follow my lead! Grid! Stay behind Aspis as if you were glued to her, and fire off as many Electrowebs as you can manage (4 at no pain, 3 after -1 pain) from the relative safety!"

(Pause if Grid hits -2 pain or more, or if at least one of the enemy pokemon is withdrawn)

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Shiva obtains the directory, and even the cinnamon sticks. "It's possible to overdose on Vitamin D, but only if you take more than four pills a day. One is sufficient. Two on a bad day. Someone of your size should never take 3."

Oh my, the indeed had some of the requested sticks! How nice to see. Aww, the benefits of a vivid port city... She packed away the purchases with delight. (Fprgot to mention, among purchases is another package of pirsif-berry-cookies.)

Next up was to find that mentioned cruise ship... Was the vendor in the pharmacy speaking of the HMS? Doubtful, since Shiva already was there and never spotted a single Bellossom. If HMS and mentioned cruise ship are the same, it'd be quite a nice suprise to her.