[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Heart, Dagny wants to meet us at her office in the gym.  We're headed there now to meet her and return the Metagross.

No need to say any more than that.  Back to Ventus he goes then...he makes sure to deliver the same message to Shiva on the way past, though.  Same brevity and simple detail.

Shiva was still lurking around in the Lobby of the GPC, now closer to all the PCs used for communication. She was pretty suprised about an incoming message on cell, but since she was checking the news of Stair City and the region in general on cell just when it came in, she was able to read it right away. Oh hey, it's the first of May!

Ah, right, Nathan insisted on contacting Dagny right away as soon as they're arrived in the city... Well, fine, but she has some business to finish first before she'll head to the Gym. Letting out an impercible sigh, she typed up a quick reply to Nathan, before  packing cell away and refocusing on what she was doing before.

Message to Nathan reads the following.

'Thanks for informing me about this, Nathan. I'm not quite sure who you mean by 'we' when you said 'we are headed there now', but I'll make sure to get to the Gym to meet up once I have finished something here in the Center.
Besides, many rooms are available here! There seems no need to share one with with someone else for now.'

She still looks forward to share dorm with Ventus though, but that is nothing she'd say in a message to Nathan.

Phew, now with that done, back to the keyvoard of the PC she was busy at. An E-Mail service was visible on screen, and she has been slamming on the keys quite much so far. In fact, it was a mail that'll be sent to her father in Castelia City.

It reads the following.

Subject: Hi! I need your help, please! ><;


Daaaad! Ehm, well, I'm sorry that I haven't been writting soon as I said I would, but several things got me occupied. To make it short, I had no access to the internet as we were traveling to some small village in the swamp, then through the mountains 'till the very Western end, but now we're back in Stair City. I've included you a screenshot where I marked our way on a map. I'm doing alright for the most part, and the city is now...save and cleared thanks to us as the group. It's somewhat amazing to feel like you contributed to save a city. ^^

That's not the main thing why I am writing now. The thing is, my Espurr (I named him 'Kyuu' and he has his Hidden Ability! Wheeee! Have I told you about him?) has not been...doing well during traveling back to the city. He suffered a headache and avoided contact with me although before he was always up for pets and proposed them by himself even. He doen't want to eat, not even Gourmet Food. I know the species of Espurr is known for amazingly strong psychic powers they aren't capable to control, but I feel by now he should have at least learned to prevent it from leaking out. He used Confusion quite often (not really lately though) and I desire to work on Light Screen with him. Do you...think such headaches are normal? I am WORRIED, but I'm not quite sure what to do... I'm leaving him alone for the most part as this is what he seems to prefer. He's not hating me or something, I can feel the pain he seems to go through when I held him in my arms. (Yes, I've developed some weird senses towards Pokemon, I'll tell you about it later). Is that okay? Or should I rather have a Nurse Joy check on him? He's very important for Little Cup to me, which is a specialiced event here in the city where Pokemon Battles under special restrictions are held. I never heard of this happening in Unova, but I'm somewhat curious to see how I'll get along there.

No, nothing new about Pancham. The Professor I am told to contact concerning that panda isn't here in the city, but in the main building of University in a different city. But, happy news, my Azurill has evolved! She's now a sweet Marill. <3 She says hi to you. The two Mystery Eggs I'm taking care of are making good progress too, and work at the Shelter for Pokemon here in the city will start tomorrow for me. You and Mum were right that coming to Chreshire would do well to me concerning practical eyperience with Pokemon.

Well, that's be all for now, let Mum know I'm well and give Spectral my pets and greetings. Love, looking forward to hearing (or reading) from you.

Shiva

Once she hit 'Sent', logged off and packed all her things together, she'll head to the Gym to reunite with the others of the group. She's giving out a mixed expression.

[Iron]

A reply from Dad comes immediately.

"Oh, that does sound like Kyuu is getting close to evolving! Ehm, if you want to use him in the Little Cup, perhaps you should get yourself a Pokedex. Alternately, you could just not practice with him, and he probably won't gain the full handle on his powers required to evolve. But I'd keep him away from anything fragile, like glass. Psychic powers leaking out are a lot like a powerful high frequency sound."

"They have a saying about Meowstic's psychic abilities: it has to get worse before it gets better."

"Congratulations on Marill! That is the power of a breeder in action!! I can't think of any evolution that would make me prouder, not even if you evolved a Hydreigon!"

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

"I believe 'em. Lots of shady things happen in this city."

Heart was quiet for some minutes, digesting all that information. About the Almanacs hiring scientists and everything. This would be might a chance to discover what they hiding. Perhaps the others would help him. He look again to the worker and say something. "You need to get out of this city, very soon. Looking the state of things calm, they would might eventually go crazy again. If possible take your family or any friends you know and go to other city, or even another region if possible. Thank you again for the information my friend." Then Heart walks for another direction. Thinking about all he discover. The gang have a lot of work to do.

Heart looks to Nathan Drake message

Nathan quickly types a response back.

Dagny's been trying to get ahold of me for the better part of a week, Heart.  Nothing to do with my social tendencies, thank you very much.  Meet us at the gym, or don't.  I personally don't care much either way.

Nathan shuts his pokedex off completely after sending that text.  He's rather irritated that Heart was poking his buttons on purpose.  He cuddles Castform a bit more to calm himself.  Kirlia smiles a little.  Ah, it feels good to see Nathan's finally found something that brings him even a little bit of happiness...

"Well, everyone ready for the debriefing?"

Heart again take quick responde to Nathan.

Hey Nathan Drake, I finish things here. Heading to the gym now. Got some interesting info to you guys. Dont bring Calam there because it would be a...CALAMity if that happen

Hear chuckle a bit after that and head in the direction to the gym.

[Dragonstrike]

(I'll say Nathan saw Shiva's message, but he definitely hasn't seen the last one from Heart.  He doesn't respond to either, though.  Well, about time we got to the gym, I guess?)

[Iron]

The secretary at the gym immediately sends you through to Dagny's office you have seen before.

She is sitting in her wheelchair, looking extremely tired and hunched, with her hood drawn over her face. That strange humming is still coming from it.

"I'm glad to see you all. Am I to assume that your mission was somehow successful? That you found the Ends of the Earth and found something there that was able to help you?"

She turns to Ventus. "Haneal is quite the hero now. Very popular among the resistance. Here is the Pokeball you left in my care."
She releases Haneal into the room and hands over the ball. Haneal is chewing contentedly on a woody vine the length of Apsis. Haneal has gained 3XP.

"Nathan, Stable Z lost only one member, a Rapidash named Forthright, and saved countless lives. When you speak to your mother, be sure to express my thanks. We couldn't have done it without her, even if you had completed your mission."

[Spiritmon]

"Tell me about it." Say Heart. "Sorry the late. Just seeing the situation in the City. And collecting some info." Then Heart join with the others.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

The secretary at the gym immediately sends you through to Dagny's office you have seen before.

She is sitting in her wheelchair, looking extremely tired and hunched, with her hood drawn over her face. That strange humming is still coming from it.

"I'm glad to see you all. Am I to assume that your mission was somehow successful? That you found the Ends of the Earth and found something there that was able to help you?"

She turns to Ventus. "Haneal is quite the hero now. Very popular among the resistance. Here is the Pokeball you left in my care."
She releases Haneal into the room and hands over the ball. Haneal is chewing contentedly on a woody vine the length of Apsis. Haneal has gained 3XP.

"Nathan, Stable Z lost only one member, a Rapidash named Forthright, and saved countless lives. When you speak to your mother, be sure to express my thanks. We couldn't have done it without her, even if you had completed your mission."

Ever the gentleman when he's capable of being so, Ventus gives a polite and proper bow to the visabily exhausted in response to her greeting, a worried smile accompanying the formal gesture. "We are certainly delighted to see that you are relatively well too, and I for one am glad that  the forces of natural were unable to fully overcome your Steel might and defenses! Even so, though, its apparent that those wicked Vines have taken a severe toll on your health, so are you certain you wish to hold this meeting this day, rather than take a day or two's respite and converse with your vigor fully restored?"

The researcher was shifted to retrieve his sister's Pokeball, sending Lilith to the PC so that the both of them could spend some much needed quality time, and bent down to (carefully) give his fire camel a hug. "Oh Haneal, I'm grateful your in perfect health, and have managed to become venerated for your defensive efforts against the Vines! I'm sorry that I sent you on this task without gaining your consent first, but I couldn't in good conscious deny Dagney's request for Fire type aid if it would greatly benefit Stair's resistance against those insidious plants.....which you seem to have acquired a taste for. Forgive me for this, my sister......I promise to make this up to you any way you wish, alright?" he said, staring in his Numel's eyes before reluctantly letting her go, waiting on a response from thehm (if any).

As for the other bit of news.....Ven's expression became more downcast, and silently placed a hand on Nathan shoulder in. Words....wouldn't comfort him much, but the knowledge that someone else cares for their lose and wishes to support him might....

[Iron]

"Oh no. I am as rested as I will ever be. There's no time to be ill."

Haneal's simple life doesn't encourage grudges. They seem happy to be back with Ventus.

[Lord Windos]

"Oh no. I am as rested as I will ever be. There's no time to be ill."

Haneal's simple life doesn't encourage grudges. They seem happy to be back with Ventus.

(FUCK. YOU. INTERNET. GREMLINS. FOR. EATING. MOST. OF. MY. POST!)

".....Even Steel will buckle under intense stress and pressure, Dagney, but its hardly my place to lecture you on this. I'm no doctor - well, not that sort of one, at any rate- and you are aware of your own limits better than I, so if you say you are fine, so be it," Ventus replied, clearly still concerned with the Gym Leader's health, but willing to let the matter drop if they declared they were 'alright' . It would do not them anygood to treat her as an invalid if she claims otherwise, even if they had the best intensions in doing so!

After he said this, the researcher decided to give a cliff notes version of events of their journey, and would let Nathan fill in/elaborate on any details he missed or left out. "Getting back on the topic at hand, yes, the mission was successful.....to a degree. After journeying to Arrowroot, we found additional information to pinpoint the location of the Ends of the Earth, and was able to entreat the aid of The Southern Wind Incarnate - its what the localized called a particularly ancient and powerful Alteria to swiftly get their. There, we meet with.....what appeared to be an old man, who claimed and demonstrated his power over the earth itself. In the end, Nathan, Shiva, Heart, and Valder were able to convince and bargin with them to cut off the source of the Vine's vitality, but they claimed the being that coordinate the assault on Stair, some sort of ancient and powerful Golem that helped build the foundations of the city in the distant past, and the King's Claydols are still active in the Ruins. In order to completely quash any and all forms of their continued resistance, we believe its necessary to entreat Mespirit's aid, and to that end we have to work towards continue opening Kirlia's heart."

"That is my summarized account of the our journey and the pertinent events there in. If you have any questions or wish for additional details, don't hesitate to ask either me or Nathan, my friend...."

[Dragonstrike]

"Nathan, Stable Z lost only one member, a Rapidash named Forthright, and saved countless lives. When you speak to your mother, be sure to express my thanks. We couldn't have done it without her, even if you had completed your mission."

Forthright, the Rapidash from Stable Z known for her straightforward strategy of Sunny Day followed by Fire Blast...gone...Nathan has to take a moment to process that...

"...she'll be dearly missed...I...I hope she's watching, wherever she is now..."

Nathan fiddles with his necklace again, taking a moment of silence to pay his respects to Forthright...he hugs Castform closer...

"...Forthright.  That'll be your name, my little cloud...in honor of the one who gave her life so we could continue ours...may your Sunny Days shine as bright as hers once did..."

The cloud pokemon probably doesn't fully understand right now, but whether she does or not, her presence here has helped to keep Nathan from breaking down.  The support of both Kirlia and Ventus helps too...

After another minute or so of silent respect and wishes, Nathan's calmed down enough to continue the conversation if Dagny has any further questions or needs some clarification. He's definitely holding on to Forthright and the Primal Altaria Down she's wrapped in a little more tightly, though. Not too tight, but definitely still noticeable.