[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

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Shiva mostly spend the journey watching through the book containing the native Music from the swamp folk, especially rereading the 'Skirl of the South Wind' she copied from a book in Department Store. She never been the best to find hidden meanings in folklore, but she got the strong feeling there was more between the lines. (If Ventus next to her shows interest/asks here, she'd show him what she's reading there.)

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Relatively soon, it seemed like there where two paths to choose. Shiva still was not feeling tired of traveling via Metagross. Shiva actually did not consider too long which path she'd prefer and was determined in her opinion. "Hmm... I'd actually be all down to make that beeline to the swamp to reach the village. Something drags me to the swamp... 'Your breath is the Southern Wind', they sang. 'A sleepy hunter watching the sky'. The ends of the earth hosting South Wind, they believe... *These words are more repeated for herself, but audible for others if they'd pay attention* Oh, and these wildflowers are rather pretty!" ... "And we became way...stronger since we had issues with a swamp the last time, didn't we?", she added as Nathan displayed having enough of swamps. "The Metagross probably won't have too much of an issue carrying us through mud. Or would you?", she adressed the one she was moulted on with Ven, giving it a careful stroke over its blue-grey steel-head.

*Minor Flashback?*

While speeding along the Divide ontop of their trusty Metagross stead was an exerlierating experience in many aspects (The speed at which the group traveled, the myriad dangerous Pokémon that they deftly avoided, the sights of the mountain range provided in of itself), Ventus grew a tad bit annured to it all within the first half hour or so. That's why, when Shiva eventually relaxed/got used to riding the living supercomputer and pulled out her book concerning Native Music/Epic Poerty of Swamp Folk, the researcher's natural curiosity got the best of him and he politely asked if he could read along with her. One delighted affirmation later, and the couple OF BEST FRIENDS found themselves engrossed in the culture of the Swamp Folk, enjoying and learning greatly from it until the group had cleared the last of the mountains. Not exactly one would call regular quality time, but then again no one in the group was exactly average in the first place! (What parts did Ven read specifically, @PhantomUnderYourDesk ?)

*End of Minor Flashback?*

Ventus was on the fence about which path the group should take to reach Arrowroot, as the pros and cons of both paths weighed of forging through the swamp directly or taking a longer detour weighed farily equally in his mind, and in the end everyone would still have to tromp through some of the horrid marshlands regardless of choice. 'Bah, its times like this I wish Raphael were Overgrown or Lucifer were evolved, as journeying through through this mugged, hobbling terrain is going to be a most orneous task. At the very least their is no wretch archmage manipulating the area and plotting our demise this time....' he though, the memories of the group's first time in a swamplike environ still sharp and clear in his mind, almost causing him to grimace in anger before he quickly tamped down on it. In the end, Shiva's suggestion to cut straight through and her reassurance that things would be different this time around for the group convinced him of the option. "Hmm......your reasoning is sound, dear, and we have to traverse swampland regardless of whatever route we take, so I agree that the group should forge directly to Arrowroot though the march. The sooner we reach the town, the sooner we are out of adverse terrain and begin our investigations."

Order: Ven wants to forge directly through the swamp, so count that as my vote on the matter! Now, let's see if we are going to have another dead lock on this decision...

[Nylon]

Valder will add his vote to his boss' if not persuaded differently.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(...)and the couple OF BEST FRIENDS found themselves engrossed in the culture of the Swamp Folk, enjoying and learning greatly from it until the group had cleared the last of the mountains. Not exactly one would call regular quality time, but then again no one in the group was exactly average in the first place! (What parts did Ven read specifically?)

(whoops, editing-error as the mentioned song is not 'copied from a book in Department Store!')


With Ventus close/r to read along with her, things got a little more comfy even. Cottonee, 'reading along too', was still nestled in Shiva's lap.

Link to the part Ven would read specifically --> http://pokemonuranium.co/forum/showthrea...l#pid23747

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan actually has his journal out while everyone's discussing what to do next.  He's writing down some information while listening to the ongoing chatter...and then quick to shut the book and put it away a moment later once he's done writing.

[Iron]

"Well, I still stick with the Metagross. A big move frotress is something comfortable in my opinion. A Pokémon big as a city....honestly I cant imagined such Pokémon. Perhaps a few legendaries: Kyogre, Groudon, and a few others but they only exist in Hoen so problably no. Lets see If I can find something to help find a better path..." Heart then begin to search any signal to find any clue about a better path, even land in earth and dismount Metagross for a second.

(Roll dice to find clue about better path to avoid swamp?)

2 Insight + 1 Survival +2 Alert

(4)(2)(4)(5)(4)

Heart is very confident that Nathan has accurately assessed the situation. However, Heart does stumble upon an old track that leads due south, straight toward the Lake. That would increase the speed of the Route 10 plan. Which plan is faster depends entirely upon the group's skills in the swamp. 



In response to Shiva's question, Heart's Metagross ambles off to find some mud. It demonstrates how it can walk just fine if the mud doesn't come past its shins, but if its shoulders become covered in mud, the Pokemon slows down exponentially.

[Spiritmon]

"Hey guys! I find Something!" Heart shout to get attention of everyone and show the old path. "I fin this old path towards south. This might go toward to the lake and would might increase the speed though the route 10. This would go faster but and I vote to go there to speed our journey."

Heart was quite worried about Metagross slows down.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"Lake?... Which lake... Oh! Chicory Lake, you mean?" Shiva was indeed a tad bit impressed by the size of this lake compared to the other markings and cities as she looked it uo the selfdrawn-by-the-authors map of the region in Hitmonlee's Guide.

"We need to hit the swamp sooner or later anyway, Heart... The earlier we get used to it, the less problems we'll have with it later. Maybe it we make this beeline directly from here, we'll see the borders of National Preserve. Ven, weren't you allowed by Professor Mallorn to do exactly one catch there? Usually, catching Pokemon is permitted there. Battling and fainting the Pokemon seems...okay, though?"

She was still silently enjoying the wildflowers along the path.

[Dragonstrike]

"Why am I the only one who seems to think trekking through another swamp is a bad idea...?  Alright, fine, we'll take the direct route.  I just hope we don't run into another Weezing while we're mukking around again..."

Nathan summons Swiftfire and Yule!

"I'd recommend you let Sarah and George out of their pokeballs as well, Valder.  They'll enjoy roaming through the plains, I'm sure."

Since Heart and Ventus (and Shiva for now?) are staying on the metagross, Nathan also summons Kirlia...who still looks a little rough from the earlier battle.  Nathan gets on Swiftfire, Kirlia gets to ride on Yule, and Nathan's ready for the Creshirean Plains.

The Creshirean Plains: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xkrf4xfDsZs

[Lord Windos]

"Lake?... Which lake... Oh! Chicory Lake, you mean?" Shiva was indeed a tad bit impressed by the size of this lake compared to the other markings and cities as she looked it uo the selfdrawn-by-the-authors map of the region in Hitmonlee's Guide.

"We need to hit the swamp sooner or later anyway, Heart... The earlier we get used to it, the less problems we'll have with it later. Maybe it we make this beeline directly from here, we'll see the borders of National Preserve. Ven, weren't you allowed by Professor Mallorn to do exactly one catch there? Usually, catching Pokemon is permitted there. Battling and fainting the Pokemon seems...okay, though?"

The researcher gives a nod of his head and smile towards Shiva, rather hearted/touched that she remembered such a detail of his research work in the region without him bringing it up even once. "Yes, I do. Dr. Mallorn authorized it as a part my observational studies of Pokémon behaviors, cultures, and interactions, so if its possible I would like to briefly visit the place to obtain a creature if time permits such a deviation from our main objective," he said, before he readied himself for yet another treck through the potentially hostile and most definitely annoying terrain that is the Swamplands!

(Ready to get moving, mates!)

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"We - or at least I - NEED to vist the Preserve, Ven!~ Remnants of Creshire's indigenous population live exactly there, and I'm...curious to see them learning about me having an insight on their folk music..."