[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Encounters - Mt. Sentry

1. Name: Mystical/historical item
Cap: 1
Bid start: 2

2. Name: Chandelure
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 1
Challenge: moderate
Notes: This Pokemon arrives as you leave the Candelabra!

3. Woobat
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 1
Challenge: Pretty Easy
Notes: Two of 'em

4. Evolutionary item
Cap: 1
Bid start: 2

5. Elekid*
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 3
Challenge: Easy

6. Whismur*
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 2
Challenge: Extremely easy, no XP

7. Valuable Item
Cap: 1
Bid start: 2

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

(...)

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.

"Yes. Saminarok may have done bad things, but we can't denied all the good things he done."

(...)

Heart is quite curious. "Yeah. We should be careful. I have the feeling we might encounter conflict when we meet them. Both the Almanac and the Scimitars. But we a strong as us, I believe we can make with no problem. I believe I can Water Pulse any one of them and Flare Blitz to cinders! Watcha!" Heart them make a fight position and try to kick a rock. Only to find a pain. "OUCH! That hurt!" Then he begin to jump with one leg to dismiss the pain.

(...)

Heart recover from the pain Heart begin again. "Even so I think a little investigation would not hurt...but I can see your point Ven."

(...)

Heart feel Ventus don't want to continue the subject so he decided to make other move. "Err well should we get going them. I would like to explore a bit...huh?" Heart noticed a strange glimpse of something bury in the ground. "Hold one guys I will back in a minute."

Action: See the valuable item as a encounter @Iron.

[Dragonstrike]

Well, I don't think anyone is going to mind if Nathan gets that mystical/historical item.

I think it'd be fun if Solomon was the one who ended up spotting it instead of Nathan/Ralts.

[Lord Windos]

Encounters - Mt. Sentry


2. Name: Chandelure
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 1
Challenge: moderate
Notes: This Pokemon arrives as you leave the Candelabra!

After that somber, philisophical speech he gave to Heart and anybody who choose to listen and the group departed for the tunnel leading to Cress, Ventus lagged behind the rest of his companions. The ex Plasma member desired some time to himself in order to further contempulate the collector words and clear his mind of the slight melancholic haze lingering from those bittersweet memories of Team Plasma, Ghetsis, and his role to them. Fortunately or not, though, he was soon distracted from such gloomy musing when he barely spotted a flaming Chandelure creeping up behind him and the group, and judging by the wicked/mischevious aura that flared in his empathy it didn't want to just say hi and light their way! With that worrisome thought in mind, Ventus promptly spun around and warely marched forward to confront the phantom, summoning Ao Guang to his side with a flick of his wrist as he did so!

Order: Fighting the Chandelure with Ao Guang as my first Pokémon! Time to put out that candle stick spirit!

[Nylon]

3. Woobat
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 1
Challenge: Pretty Easy
Notes: Two of 'em

 Valder likes knocking out Woobats. If possible I'd like Theo to get one and Mamo to get the other. To make it swift, Theo will just spam Night slash and Mamo will spam Powder Snow, thx.

(were TM's one time-use or infinite?)

[Iron]

Ao Guang: (4) +6 = 10
Chandelure: (4) + 4 Dex + 1 Survival = 9

[Iron]

Mamo: (5) + 7 = 12
Woobat A: (6) + 6 = 12
Theo: (4) + 7 = 11
Woobat B: (4) + 3 Dex + 3 Survival = 10

I'll roll this out later, as my lunch break is nearly up.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Seeing how her magical fox was enjoying the flames and even splashed a bit in them, totally unafraid to touch them, caused a wave of warm emotions rolling over her, one that hadn't much to do with the flames themselves. It was just sweet to see Braixen so innocently! <3

Eventually though, the natural specacle ended after these thrity seconds that felt like much less, signpost concerning the Candelabra was read ('Golden flames'... whoahw! Looks very cool in Shiva's imagination), the cave paintings were given a look too, so it was about time to return to the others and continue the way. Braixen was taken by the paw by Shiva again, (aww, it felt a little more warm!), Lilith was asked to follow her (which she did, hooray) and Silverbolt joined her without being asked to all while spinning his subcompounds around for the small group's amusement and Shiva could already see the others, waiting to move on... when she felt a presence emerging not too far from behind her. An eerie presence... Giving out a warmth that somewhat gave her a shiver and caused her magical fox to snarl...

It was a Chandelure. Must have...creept around at the Candelabra... Could have...burnt her soul alive.... The trip to Mount Sentry would have been her last one...

Shiva turned around, way too slowly. The sight of that spectral candelabra frightened her. It gave her chills. Yet it was such a majestic and elusive Pokemon that she could barely take her gaze from it... Only when footsteps and a flash of white light came from nearby she found her way back to the current planet, and to her luck it was Ventus and his new Seedraking who arrived, probably to send this Candelure back into the Ghost World...or into a Pokeball.

She ran. She made haste to get away, let him handle this Chandelure, she wanted to stay away from this Pokemon... along the way, she hasn't gone far yet, she stumbled and almost fell over something. (It's the Evolutionary Item!~)

[Lord Windos]

Ao Guang: (4) +6 = 10
Chandelure: (4) + 4 Dex + 1 Survival = 9

Ventus stared down the most likely malicious candle stick spirit with utmost severity and calmness, for as a Pokémon Researcher that specialized in Disobedient Pokémon and had more than a passing interest in Ghost types, he was well aware this particular species was capable of. One wrong move or lapse of attention on their part, and the both of them could find themselves baking away in an Inferno, all the while the ghostly being tried to leech away their souls, one bit at a time....

 Ao Guang, meanwhile , gave the Chandelure a flintly eyed look of noble dispassion and contempt as he balanced and pivoted to face it, completely unphased by the flaming spector. He was the Dragon Lord,  a being that possessed the full might of his brutal Dragon heritage and had the omnipresent power of his Water at his command , one that commanded the admiration and respect of its allies and instill fear and dread in his foes. The Chandelure's pyroclastic, arcane nature and their penant for eating souls were naught but an weak emphemeral candle compared his own power. He will not be intimidated by this Pokémon. No, it is he who will be the intimidating one, the one who will douse their flames in an instant.

Sensing that his Azure Dragon was fully primed and ready for this fight, the empath wasted no time issuing orders to them, still holding the same deferential and respectful tone he usually address them, but this time with hints of seriousness making it sound all the more urgent. "My Lord, I humbly request your aid in subduing this soul sucking fiend, and ensure the safety of ourselves and the group we travel in. To that end, all I ask is that you do not kill the Chandelure, and dispatch it as you see fit, so that I may capture with the help of my Arbok sister Apsis and remove them from this area. I'll be ready to support you by healing any Burns or restoring you HP if it drops to a perilous point, so you can count on me! Now, let loose your draconic and torrential power upon in, my liege, and show them the folly of hunting us down!"

Order: Since Ao Guang has 4 Disobedience to my 1 Loyalty, I'm not going to even try to issue it orders with Ventus. Instead, Ven will just give it the general blanket order of 'Faint that Chandelure however you like' , and let it choose to use whatever moves it wants or do nothing if choose to. Mechanically speaking, they'll be using 4 Actions per Round against the fiery specter, with Ventus fully prepared to use a Burn Heal if they happen to have Inferno/Flamethrower and proc Burn 3/2 it on Ao Guang at the end of the Round before the Burn damage can go off (And therefore prevent the Ghost from trying to re-lite them on fire again in the same Round and preserve supplies), and a Super Potion if they fall below 4 HP. If he's Burn 3 and brought to 4 HP in the same round, prioritize healing the  Burn first, then use a Super Potion at the start of the round after that. Hopefully by trusting his Dragon Lord and giving it full responsibiliy/power in deciding his moves will endear him a little more to him.......

Once Chandelure is Fainted, Apsis will be sent out to Paralyze it with Glare, Freeze, and Poison it with a Held Back Ice Fang and Poison Sting in that Status Procing ordering (which shouldn't deal damage but should eventually proc the Status on it, since Ghost/Fire Resist Ice AND Poison type moves! Since Orthros got Frozen, I presume Chandlelure can too!), and then a Steel Ball will be used to Capture it. If it fails to capture it to the point that it breaks (Don't really know how durable these things are, so have to be vague here!), then his Dusk Ball (Which should have its effectiveness boosted in the Cave) will be used on it next. If THAT doesn't work, then the Great Ball. If the thing isn't capture by the Great Ball, Ven will be rather.....creative in his methods of dispatching it, as it made him waste roughly $2000 Poke and put his/his compainons and Pokémon's life in peril with hardly anything to show for it. That's all for now! If its captured at some point, it will be sent to the PC automatically for treatment of its Status Ailments.

[Iron]

Fire Pokemon can be frozen, but if they're conscious they can use a Fire Move to get out.



Ventus reacts the instant he spots the Chandelure, electing to shoot first and ask questions later.

He summons Ao Guang as the Chandelure floats around and around them - this is still pretty near the Candelabra, inside its chamber. The blue flames rise up behind Chandelure as the battle is joined.

Chandelure Round 1

I will give Ao a bonus Obedience dice since his command is simply "Destroy." This does not apply to holding back and so on, of course. He's in no mood to understand such a complex order.

(3)(3) vs (5)(1)(4)(2)

It's often true that an undirected Pokemon will use just 1 or 2 actions, though if they feel threatened they will use more in a rush of adrenaline. Trainer battles are a good example of a time they may elect to use just 1 or 2 actions. Some Pokemon's personalities mean they'll always use just 1 unless ordered otherwise by someone they respect (Slowking).

Ego stroked by Ventus' manner, Ao Guang begins to get a swelled head and psych himself up.
Dragon Dance 1
3 Dex + 3 Fight + 1 Perform -3 actions = 4d6
(2)(3)(5)(5)
+1 Str +1 Dex

Chandelure, once spotted, shrinks down to much smaller size.

Minimize 1
4 Dex + 4 Fight + 2 Canalize -3 actions = 7d6
(5)(4)(1)(3)(4)(4)(4) +1 Evasion

(4)(5) vs (2)(3)(4)

Ao Guang lets out a lazy burst of water, magnified by his lordly power!

Bubble 2
9 dice -4 actions =5d6
(2)(2)(6)(1)(1) The attack misses, evaporating in the heat of the Candelabra and avoiding the shrunken Chandelure's locations.

As the bubble beam roars past, Chandelure releases a quick jolt of fire.
Flame Burst 2
(3)(1)(2)(4)(2)(2)
4 Str +3 power + 1 STAB + 1 "Sunny Day" -5 vit = 4d6-2
(2)(2)(4)(3)

The fireball impacts Ao, then goes on to heat up the wall beyond, on the side where Ventus is not standing.
The dragon ignores it.

(2)(1) vs (1)(6)(5)(6)

Ao Guang narrows his eyes at Chandelure. He decides it's too hot in here and starts popping Bubbles on his location and on Ventus standing nearby.

These aren't really designed to deal damage, but they do hurt and Kingdra has to be recalled.

When Kingdra is recalled, Chandelure retreats back toward the Candelabra.

Chandelure Round 2