[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Heart sight when hear about the possibility connection between Scimitars and Almanacs. "Man, why there people who want to make that kind of connection to cause pain and destruction. There is something a wise man once say: "Power always corrupt. And absolute power is absolutely corruptor." Or something like that. Crime organizations always exist: Team Rocket, Team Magma and Aqua, Team Plasma. Some of them begin with noble cause, but when they get a great power, they became corrupt and twisted. A shadow of a old self."

"Humanity have many flaws. They born with darkness and light inside. Good and evil. A white shadow and a black shadow. And everyday that two sides fight against each other." Heart stop a little and see his own image in some water. "Some more than others." Then he made such different face. Almost regret and... sadness. But he decided to stop that.

"But inside of each one there is the power to change. And to have hope. As much there might have a swamp filled with doubts, there might have a garden with something better: A better future. At least this is what my soul says." And Heart finish his monologue with mantra phrase.

True, Shiva would agree that great power can easily corrupt: Team Plasma could be so noble on their beliefs and attitude of leaving Pokemon to live in freedom, when here wasn't Ghetsis and his eager to rule the region as the only remaining one owning Pokemon...

Not feeling like sharing thoughts anymore does not collide with listening what was shared furthermore, so she continued soaking up the words the PUNisher spoke. That means she does catch up his sudden change in mood from normal and jolly to....if she wasn't mistaken....sadness. Regret. Pain. Something's simply not okay, was this an inner conflict that he was struggling with? What was the issue, what may be wrong? ...Slightly frowning, she realized she actually doesn't know that much about this guy with the Axew that Professor Mallorn once brought to them.

The power to change...dormant within each of us. It reminded Shiva on that Earthpower, on the things the Tusk's eremit said, on that 'natural strength' that was present within everyone, connecting every living being. That meant...present within her as well, as fragile she sometimes was - this caused her to silently agree to Heart's words about even within the swamp of doubt, there may be garden of hope. A nice metaphor. It gave her hope to not fall succumb to her own shadows.

"Such nice words, Heart... H-however... How can a shadow be white?" She doesn't comment on his decrease in mood as he stopped it himself already as she'd find it disrespectful, but she playfully hits him on the shoulder again.


----------------------------


Shiva also remains silent as Nathan was audibly wondering about the cave paintings, and opted to continue her investigation of the Candelabra. Though she knew cave or paintings rarely provide direct answers.

[Dragonstrike]

"Such nice words, Heart... H-however... How can a shadow be white?"

Nathan doesn't comment, but he does start absentmindedly fingering his Mutios Necklace and is...momentarily distracted by thoughts relating to Aotius and Mutios when Shiva asks this.

Though unless someone was next to him (like Valder), they probably wouldn't notice that physical movement.

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

"Sarimanok wasn't an alchemist himself.  Being a king with access to the region's wealth has its perks.  And the respect Legendaries had for him gave him access to all manner of things no other could even dream about.  Sarimanok had the ideas, and the resources to make those ideas a reality.  For example: our modern day healing machines in the Pokemon Centers were his invention."

Nathan remains silent as Heart monologues.  He turns back to looking at the arches and drawings instead of responding.

"...hmmm...so this cleanse tage keystone...it doesn't look as old as the stones of the arch...it was probably put here after the collapse...which means it was probably put here specifically to ward off the Ghosts that started showing up in the Ruins Path after the palace was destroyed...seems to be doing its job well, even after all this time...the only questions left are who put it here and how they made it so powerful..."

--------------------------------------------------------

The pictures are outright fascinating for Nathan, but lack the same clear answers as the keystone and the arches.

"...the First Technical Society...why are they being referenced here of all places?  Did they find this rock formation interesting for some reason?  Questions upon questions, and very few answers..."

Heart sight when hear about the possibility connection between Scimitars and Almanacs. "Man, why there people who want to make that kind of connection to cause pain and destruction. There is something a wise man once say: "Power always corrupt. And absolute power is absolutely corruptor." Or something like that. Crime organizations always exist: Team Rocket, Team Magma and Aqua, Team Plasma. Some of them begin with noble cause, but when they get a great power, they became corrupt and twisted. A shadow of a old self."

"Humanity have many flaws. They born with darkness and light inside. Good and evil. A white shadow and a black shadow. And everyday that two sides fight against each other." Heart stop a little and see his own image in some water. "Some more than others." Then he made such different face. Almost regret and... sadness. But he decided to stop that.

"But inside of each one there is the power to change. And to have hope. As much there might have a swamp filled with doubts, there might have a garden with something better: A better future. At least this is what my soul says." And Heart finish his monologue with mantra phrase.

True, Shiva would agree that great power can easily corrupt: Team Plasma could be so noble on their beliefs and attitude of leaving Pokemon to live in freedom, when here wasn't Ghetsis and his eager to rule the region as the only remaining one owning Pokemon...

Not feeling like sharing thoughts anymore does not collide with listening what was shared furthermore, so she continued soaking up the words the PUNisher spoke. That means she does catch up his sudden change in mood from normal and jolly to....if she wasn't mistaken....sadness. Regret. Pain. Something's simply not okay, was this an inner conflict that he was struggling with? What was the issue, what may be wrong? ...Slightly frowning, she realized she actually doesn't know that much about this guy with the Axew that Professor Mallorn once brought to them.

The power to change...dormant within each of us. It reminded Shiva on that Earthpower, on the things the Tusk's eremit said, on that 'natural strength' that was present within everyone, connecting every living being. That meant...present within her as well, as fragile she sometimes was - this caused her to silently agree to Heart's words about even within the swamp of doubt, there may be garden of hope. A nice metaphor. It gave her hope to not fall succumb to her own shadows.

"Such nice words, Heart... H-however... How can a shadow be white?" She doesn't comment on his decrease in mood as he stopped it himself already as she'd find it disrespectful, but she playfully hits him on the shoulder again.


----------------------------


Shiva also remains silent as Nathan was audibly wondering about the cave paintings, and opted to continue her investigation of the Candelabra. Though she knew cave or paintings rarely provide direct answers.

"I think I can imagine that. With wealth and the bless of Divine beings as the Legendary Pokemon, Saminarok would be a king and someone with power almost unlimited. But as they say: The higher you are, the bigger is the fall."

Heart than notices Shiva words and decided to hide his negative emotions behind a smile. She must stay positive. "Huh thanks Shiva! Hmm that's a good question: "A shadow be white?" Well that's come from a more... psychology explanation." Then Heart begin to tell his theory. "Imagine each trait of human emotions be represent in different colors. Green as hope, red as rage, pink as love, blue as sadness. Ever heard about someone say green is the color of hope, or like: You look blue today. But what happens when you mix all the colors? The white color is created, complete with other good traits. A "shadow" is more than just something who created by the light. Is like...part of you. Part of your essence and your soul. Something who inerith your traits somehow. The black color is would be the lack of empathy or the combination of all the bad and evil traits of a person: Greedy, malice, violence, sadness, suffering, wrath, pride and others."

"The therm white shadow and black shadow is a metaphor to represent the eternal battle between the good and evil sides of every living being: The light shadow to represent the "good" traits and the  black shadow is the combination of all "evil" traits. Of course sometimes the definition about good and evil can be very much relative. Sometimes if you want something you must have a little greedy. And to protect something or someone you sometimes have to use violence when everything don't work. But that's only my point of view."

[Iron]

Shiva also sees evidence of Patrat/Watchog burrowing. Furret dig tunnels to get from one place to another or to chase down prey like Rattata. Patrat build tunnels like underground cities! Each must lead eventually, somehow, to the light, where the clan Watchog can keep both eyes open for intruders.

When Shiva approaches the Candelabra with her Pokemon, something happens! A burst of pale [color=mediumorchid] lavender flames shoot up from each branch of the formation, licking the roof of the cave! Indeed, now you can see that the roof is twisted and shattered in that spot from repeated subjugation to intense heat. After thirty seconds of roaring heat, the flames disappear as suddenly as they arrived.

[Dragonstrike]

Ah, so it's called the Candelabra for more than one reason...interesting...

As cool as that is, though, there's not much more that's caught Nathan's eye, so he's ready to continue on to Cress City!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

From all the time she has spent with a particular oddball of researcher and all the smiles he gifted her, Shiva can tell to a decent amount whether a smile of a familiar person is honest or whether it's facade to hide something away - she's slightly worried for Heart packing the negativity away for now, but if he opts to do that, it's a clear sign of dropping this now and preferably not asking questions now of all cost.

"O-oh, yes, I'm familiar and quite enjoy the mental attitude of emotions being colors and how they can affect your mood and state in a subtle way! The heart and soul's actually depicted white, containing every possible feeling, while the...shadows always there. "


------------------


A Watchog is actually a rather useful Pokemon, so Shiva's delighted to know that these are enjoying their life within this mountain as well! Though she very very rarely ever saw this species involved in an broadcasted official League Battle, it's probably more useful for non-battling purpose as a pet for gardeners and farmers to help plants grow with Rototiller and keeping watch over the field.

That sudden spectacle of nature only added to her awe of the Chandelabra, it felt totally worth the visit already! This probably explained why this rockformation felt warm to her touch. While she curiously watches the tongues of fire licking on the roof of the chamber, she lets Braixen touch or (if too dangerous to touch) be near the emittedlavender flames, being asked to feel the warmth and feed his inner-blazing flame with it.

The silent question Shiva was asking herself, whether this stony candelabra can actually shine, has been answered now. Lucky!~ But there was no signpost around that tell the background of this stoneformation, mabye it all was exlf-explaining.


Eventually, she made her way back to he others as well, h taking a look and a few minutes at these ancient paintings a as well* Braixen leading the path again and being recalled as soon as she came near a particular Sociologist.

[Iron]

There actually is a small plaque, that you notice upon further investigation (perhaps while Braixen is splashing in the flames the way a human child might splash in a fountain).

"THE CANDELABRA - the Candelabra is connected by a long extensible tube to underground gas deposits. Some mechanism within the stone ignites the fuel - it's impossible to say for certain what that might be without destroying the structure, but scans reveal a metal device perhaps similar to a flint striker. When it was first discovered, the flames burned a bright gold due to an illuminating gas mixed into the reservoir, now depleted. Some have theorized that this, too, is connected with the First Technical Society."


Where to now? Nathan is ready for Cress City. You're pretty near the gem mines, though actually doing any mining there = an encounter.

[Lord Windos]

(I want to react to some of the comments that have transpired, but that can be done in Flashback! or completely ignored, so Ventus is more or less ready to head out to Cress! Gem Mines don't interest him none!)

[Spiritmon]

(I want to react to some of the comments that have transpired, but that can be done in Flashback! or completely ignored, so Ventus is more or less ready to head out to Cress! Gem Mines don't interest him none!)

(In fact I would like to see Ventus point of view about everything. It would be interesting)

[Lord Windos]

(...)

Oh, and since everyone is at least still semi-together, and Heart mentioned the Skull Ruins, Almanac, Scimitars, and Dagny...that barely catches just enough of Nathan's attention for him to comment on it.

"Sarimanok was known to make many things, out of many different materials.  Metal included.  Some think he has a massive TM library hidden away down in the Ruins, though that metal could easily be machines of some kind as well.  Nobody whose delved deep enough to look has come back in their right mind.  If at all.  Not even the Champion would carelessly head down into the Ruins, so Dagny's caution is warranted."

"As for Almanac...they're working with the Scimitars, I guarantee it.  The Scimitars insist they aren't an organized crime group, and they're small in number.  Their tech is far too advanced for a group like that, though."

"And I doubt Dagny cares enough about Almanac and their...'research' (notably, theres a brief flash of intense anger from Ralts when Nathan says that word) to do anything about a few missing workers.  Particularly if they disappeared in the Ruins.  Almanac isn't the kind of company that Creshire's best would support."

Originally Ventus was going to give his own opinions on Heart's comments after a little time was spent contemplating them, but Nathan soon beat him to the Bullet Punch and offered his own, all of which succiet, informative, and mirrored his own thoughts on the topics. That didn't mean the researcher couldn't build on the points they made, as he chimed in to do just that!

"The Old King may have gone the way of the tyrant and forever exiled himself into infamy, but there can be no doubt he created a great and many wonderous, almost miraculous thing. The necklace my sister Apsis wears and the pocket watch I gave to you Shiva are fine examples of powerful relics from that time, and the HM Move of this region are legendary in status from what I've been told! A shame and a waste so much of it has been lost since Sarimanok fall and the destruction of the old monarchy, but better to lose the grand technolgical innovations of the past than suffer a reality that tyrant won. We've and Stair already have endured such horrors when blasted Almanac decided to not let sleeping Dragons lay with those Vines they released, so perhaps its best all those secrets remained deeply buried....."

(...)

"Regardless of who or who they don't associate with, Almanac is far from what I deem an morally and ethically reputable corporation. They sell many an odd and fascinating device, service, or Item, but they all either have some form of deleterious side effect attached to them, or the methods they used to make such things highly wanting. If they were upfront about their stance on Pokémon rights and the negative qualities of their products, perhaps I could tolerate them, but as it stands Almanac is an amoral and foolish entity that deserves nothing but our utmost cautions and scorn. As for those hellspawn wizards the Scimitars........may they all rots and roost in the deepest pits of hell. They are treacherous, wretch people that need to be stopped , by any means necessary...."

(...)

"Yes, she has enough business to attend to without involving herself in that disreputable corporation, other than to discipline them should they step out of line. Those fools nearly damned the region due to their unchecked curiousity, so they frankly deserve all the trouble they've received from their actions....."

Raphael sweeps into the room and reports back an eerie feeling around the Candelabra itself. The art on the walls doesn't seem to bother him. Ramiel finds nothing of interest at all.

(...)

Now sensing the very same ominous, foreboding feeling his dear beloved child thanks to them sharing it with them, they gave them a fond smile and a ruffle of their head feathers for a job well done, before return them to their ball and keeping a more than sufficient distance away from the Candelabra. If that thing gave him and Raphael bad vibes and uneasy premenitions, he wanted nothing to do with it at all. It erupting tall liliac flames did nothing to assunge his wariness of the structure, and it was only Shiva's seeming non-chalence and lack of negative reaction to it that prevent him from darting in the room and dragging her away. Be it magical device, natural formation, old technology, or some combination thereof, Ventus treated the Candelabra with distrust and apprehension, and would be a happier man the sooner his group departs from its presence.......

(...)

Heart sight when hear about the possibility connection between Scimitars and Almanacs. "Man, why there people who want to make that kind of connection to cause pain and destruction. There is something a wise man once say: "Power always corrupt. And absolute power is absolutely corruptor." Or something like that. Crime organizations always exist: Team Rocket, Team Magma and Aqua, Team Plasma. Some of them begin with noble cause, but when they get a great power, they became corrupt and twisted. A shadow of a old self."

"Humanity have many flaws. They born with darkness and light inside. Good and evil. A white shadow and a black shadow. And everyday that two sides fight against each other." Heart stop a little and see his own image in some water. "Some more than others." Then he made such different face. Almost regret and... sadness. But he decided to stop that.

"But inside of each one there is the power to change. And to have hope. As much there might have a swamp filled with doubts, there might have a garden with something better: A better future. At least this is what my soul says." And Heart finish his monologue with mantra phrase.

At Heart's first response to the young scholar's comment towards their own earlier one, Ventus expression became an odd mix of neutrality and solemnity , not speaking nor reacting in anyway as they talked of the criminal groups of old and new. He very well knew the Truth behind the rare collector's words all too well, as it was the reality he once only knew as a good and just, but now could only think back on those times of his life with a tired, heavy heart.....

Their comments of human nature, however, did elicit a comment from the research, one of light and non-argumentative rebuttal. "Our species may be flawed, but that does not mean all of them are ill meaning, or that we are forever defined by our darker elements and their actions. I also believe their is no absolute 'good' or 'evil' , or cardinal sense of 'right' or 'wrong' that is present in humans. Everyone and everything is self motivated and driven by thoughts, emotions, desires, beliefs, truths, ideal, and more that are both uniquely their own and inherited from all, with the perspective they are doing is 'justified' by themselves or by the lessons they learned."

"In some eyes, they are the hero of their story, with all they do right and all that oppose them to be villainous and reviled. In others, they are monsters that have commited a great many sins or have done terrible things, but do so because they were forced into such a role, or they believed what they done was for the greater good. Most see the laws, customs, norms, mores, and teachings handed down to them by family, friends, and society as their guidelines, and forge their own views and paths upon it. All these and more are just different prespectives held by others, only as 'good' or 'bad' as they believe based on their own personal views and morals. Not that this absolve those Teams of the atrocitites they've committed in pursuit of their own selfish and destructive goals, but its important not to outright condemn someone without first looking through their own eyes, and see what they believed was the right thing to do. Especially if they are but a part of the greater whole, rather than being a mover and shaker, as is the case with the Teams or indeed even more reputable and acceptable institutions, such as the Police, League, or the Pokémon Rangers."

"Still, even terrible acts committed for good reasons or personal reasoning are still unacceptable and should be challenged, so its important to do what the collective thinks is right to others, and act in a positive, contributing, and well mannered as you can. Or, at the very least, try to do what you think is the best for others, and not what you think, for those two can be very different things, nor impose your own views and actions on others without their willing permission or extenuating circumstances, as denying others of their agency is not something that should be ever done lightly. Those are my beliefs on this matter, based on what I've learned from others, taught by experiences, and made for myself."

The empath then went silent, and did not speak or pay attention to this subject anymore, making it clear he's dropped the matter and was not about to pick it up. He's said his piece, and does not wish to discuss it anymore, and that is all.