[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Going back to the topic of Charring Cross...Nathan starts reading from his journal.

"Charring Cross is called such for two reasons: the large number of Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard that live in the area, and its position as a crossroads of sort.  From the city, you can head in three directions: into the desert in the west, towards the volcano in the east, or through the mountains to the south.  Earthstar Forest is nearby, too, and the roads through it are well traveled.  'Charring' wasn't originally in the city's name, even.  It used to only be famous for being a popular crossroads in Northwestern Creshire.  It wasn't until after the League's establishment that it came to be known for the large concentration of fiery lizards and noble blooded folks alike.  It's a common theory that Sarimanok hails from this city.  

"Creshirean nobility tends to get along well with dragons and draconic pokemon, which is why it's traditional for young men and women to search the Divide for a Charmander.  Well, that, and it's usually recommended to leave wild Charmeleon and Charizard alone for obvious reasons.  Those who can't find a Charmander...well, they'll usually head into the desert to try and find a Helioptile next, another pokemon well liked by the populace.  Some lucky few will rarely find Dratini in the Great Divide, though they usually only reside in the purest waters of the mountain tarns at higher (usually highest) elevations.  The residents think one of Sarimanok's pseudo-legendary dragons might even be living in the general area, though there's been little to no concrete proof of that so far...oh, and there's no rules on who can and can't train the Charmander line and other dragons.  Those with noble blood just tend to have the easiest time training them.

"Ironically, despite bordering the Great Divide and the Camas Desert, Charring Cross sits at the lowest elevation in the entirety of Creshire.  And unfortunately, despite being a crossroads at one point, it's more of a dead end presently.  After the League was established, many of the HMs in Sarimanok's posession were either lost or scattered.  The League did have a single Rock Smash HM...but they broke it while trying to replicate it.  That eventually lead to Captain Bridge starving in Mt. Sentry's tunnels while fleeing from ghosts from the Ruins and the passage from Liverwort to Charring Cross being unable to be cleared when it caved in...if someone were to find another Rock Smash HM or pokemon that knows the move, though, the path could be reopened rather easily..."

*Looks fascinated by the entire account, silent as he absorbs all the details, before replying in an almost nostalgic tone*

"So the city's name is dual meaning, as it was once a mecca for travel like Stair City is today before tragedy and unfortunate circumstances rendered it. Home to nobility and Dragons alike, both living harmony and thriving one another's influence, prestige, and power, its people respecting the tradition of yore......it reminds me so very much of Opelucid, almost uncannily so. Once the matter of the Anthenum is settled, I have to make a pilgrimage to Charring Cross. Not only in my capacity as a Pokémon Researcher and Sociologist, but also because I must see for myself what it and its people are like, and fully explore their culture and the bonds they share with their Dragons. Thank you for filling me, Nathan....."

[Spiritmon]

Ven wordlessly accepts the notes with a nod of his head and look of utmost thankfulness and curiosity, before he begans to scan the pages with rapt attention, trying to quickly yet studiously divine all the information contained within those pages. With Delta Pokémon species being extremely rare to the point of almost considered a myth by some, useful facts or intel about them was just as equally scarce, so the documents that Heart gave him were practically worth its weight in Nuggets (At least to him!). He's going to learn from them all he can effective immediately, starting with..... (What knowledge do these notes contain, Spiritom? Can't have Ven learn anything if I don't know anything, after all!)

Heart Journal

Well, its been a while since I have write in the these pages. Its been years since the events of my life change me forever. Since them, I travel in the world, meeting many kinds of Pokemon and trainers. Some of them is Deltamons, a variant of the typing of others pokemons. If you reader is reading in these pages, I tell ya some of the pokemons I have meet in my travels and some pictures I have made myself.



Delta Metagross: Grass/Rock
Notes: A Variant Species from the tradicional pseudo Legendary Metagross. I have meet this big buy back in Hoen. To be more precisely in the mysteryous Mirage Tower. I didnt tell my companions but when I have explored that temple, I see that pokemon sleeping in that place in some sort of room. At first though I was thinking this was only a simple statue in honrour to Metagross, but when I got close the supose statue was clearly alive! I try to capture it using my Monferno and Gustav, but with no success even with Monferno typing. With to much luck I have escaped with the fossil I found in that temple, but not before the anger stone guardian begin to hunt me though the temple, and creating huge earthquakes! Thanks Arceus I was able to escape alive from there and trap inside the guardian in the right moment the Mirage Tower fall again to the sands of Hoen once more. I wonder: What other secrets lies inside that place?



Delta Bulbasaur: Fairy/Psychic and Delta Munchax/Delta Snorlax: Both Grass

Notes: I pretty sure that Delta Bulbasaur Shiva would pretty much fall in love because of the typing, heh. Anyway, that two I have see traveling together in my first travel in the Johto Region. I make a camp in the night them I heard a strange noise. When I see it was a odd Munchax eating the food I have prepare to the next day! I of course was piss of and run against that Grassy Munchax. When I have see, I have discover the food Munchax was stealing was not only for him, but to another Deltamon, a Delta Bulbasaur! He was pretty starve and could have die in his state. I feel pity from the little guy and take care of him for a while giving him food and taking care of a few wounds he somehow have suffer. After some time, I hear a group of pokemon hunters was doing a mess in the forest, hurting pokemons, and trying to find something. I discover that two Deltamons was flee from that hunters who was trying to sell them in the black market. Long story short: We escaped, they find us, big battle. I barely alive. But them Munchax have evolve and became a big and strong Delta Snorlax. With his strengh we have able to beat them and tell the police. After that, we became friends, and travel for a little time. One curiosity it is the leafs in Snorlax back change patterns depending from the stage of the year: They became orange like the trees in summer; in springtime they became pink and go on. Also we are able to fully recover Delta Bulbasaur! Yey! We follow separate paths after that.



Delta Ralts: Ice/Eletric
Delta Gallade: Ice/Eletric

Notes: Welp thats recently notes about Delta Gallade. I meet this two guys during my travel in the Region of Kalos, a little after I capture my Clauncher, Gustav. It was a complicated battle since in that time my only pokemon was Rose but a close combat and a ember was enough to weak him then capture it with a Great Ball. Then when I finish the battle, I have meet a odd Ralts, trying to playing with other pokemon, and a intimidate (not with the ability) looking upon him like some sort of brother. I try to observe them as taking notes when unkowing I break a stick drawing the attention of Ralts and Gallade who use a Discharge in myself. Thankfull that was not the first time I receive a eletric attack and was manage to survive. But now before be almost turn into a flambé. I apology to him for stare them and I was not doing to cause any trouble. Since Ralts is sensible to emotions, the Ralts simple come a little closer to me and after a minute he smile and give me a fruit. He feel my emotions was noble and that somehow calm the overprotective Gallade. We stay for a while together resting in the woods. I did not try to capture them, since they look very happy without a trainer, and I feel it would might be wrong to capture them. After that our path got separate ways and I did not see them again. I sometimes think if how they are, and if they are okay....

[i]Welp, I think thats enough for now. Perhaps it should be better end for now. There other adventures I would like to register, but I think I stop for now.[/i]

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"But... Ven, dear, Charring Cross is over the Great Divide, it can't be reached by some tunnels from Liverport anymore as seemingly earlier. To reach it, we'd have to get back to Trillium, then through Earthstar Forest..." The mentioning of that forest caused some joyful anticipitation with in Shiva - true, her Guidebook describes it as not the most comfortable place, but there's so much about this forest that interests her that she's willing to travel through this place anyway. All the loot and cool Pokemon!

[Lord Windos]

"But... Ven, dear, Charring Cross is over the Great Divide, it can't be reached by some tunnels from Liverport anymore as seemingly earlier. To reach it, we'd have to get back to Trillium, then through Earthstar Forest..." The mentioning of that forest caused some joyful anticipitation with in Shiva - true, her Guidebook describes it as not the most comfortable place, but there's so much about this forest that interests her that she's willing to travel through this place anyway. All the loot and cool Pokemon!

"They we'll just have to make a detour then, won't we dear? If I must, I'll undergo the journey on my own, but I rather not abandon or break up the group if at all possible, even if only temporarily."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

.......That............
................................
...................................caused a reaction from Shiva that she really could not have seen coming, not tonight, not infront of the others.

She freezes midmovement and remains silent and still in this position, all while facing Ventus in a rather deadpan expression, nothing was viewable of the discomfort she felt from what he said there. A few seconds later, she all calmly handed the plate with the cocolate gateau to Azumarill for the second time this evening, before she just as calmly, gently and subtle touched the hand of the oddball of sociologist that was closest to her, one moment later she held it in her own.

"I don't want you to...leave, Ven.... If you go, I'll try my best to come with you. I....want to see Earthstar Forest, however..... Garlicburg, eventually... That are all places that lay on the way to Charring Cross like in case of the forest, or can be reached if moving further on the way....." From the tone of her voice, she's serious about that, even if it was spoken rather in a not higher volume that a whisper has.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

.......That............
................................
...................................caused a reaction from Shiva that she really could not have seen coming, not tonight, not infront of the others.

She freezes midmovement and remains silent and still in this position, all while facing Ventus in a rather deadpan expression, nothing was viewable of the discomfort she felt from what he said there. A few seconds later, she all calmly handed the plate with the cocolate gateau to Azumarill for the second time this evening, before she just as calmly, gently and subtle touched the hand of the oddball of sociologist that was closest to her, one moment later she held it in her own.

"I don't want you to...leave, Ven.... If you go, I'll try my best to come with you. I....want to see Earthstar Forest, however..... Garlicburg, eventually... That are all places that lay on the way to Charring Cross like in case of the forest, or can be reached if moving further on the way....." From the tone of her voice, she's serious about that, even if it was spoken rather in a not higher volume that a whisper has.

When he casually commented on going to Charring Cross one way or another, he didn't expect Shiva to panic at his choice of words, nearly causing him to snap his head towards her and have a little freak out himself, but he managed to nip such a reaction in the bud before he could cause a scene. A took a small breath to calm his nerves, quietly letting it out as he responded to his most blessed girlfriend at whisper volume.

"My dearest, I will not abandon you. I only said that if no one else wished to accompany me, so we can continue traveling together if that is what you desire. Forgive me for causing you so much grief, dear......"

(That's all I going to say on this discussion, as I'm going to focus on the other one now. Wish me luck...)

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Spoiler

.......That............
................................
...................................caused a reaction from Shiva that she really could not have seen coming, not tonight, not infront of the others.

She freezes midmovement and remains silent and still in this position, all while facing Ventus in a rather deadpan expression, nothing was viewable of the discomfort she felt from what he said there. A few seconds later, she all calmly handed the plate with the cocolate gateau to Azumarill for the second time this evening, before she just as calmly, gently and subtle touched the hand of the oddball of sociologist that was closest to her, one moment later she held it in her own.

"I don't want you to...leave, Ven.... If you go, I'll try my best to come with you. I....want to see Earthstar Forest, however..... Garlicburg, eventually... That are all places that lay on the way to Charring Cross like in case of the forest, or can be reached if moving further on the way....." From the tone of her voice, she's serious about that, even if it was spoken rather in a not higher volume that a whisper has.

When he casually commented on going to Charring Cross one way or another, he didn't expect Shiva to panic at his choice of words, nearly causing him to snap his head towards her and have a little freak out himself, but he managed to nip such a reaction in the bud before he could cause a scene. A took a small breath to calm his nerves, quietly letting it out as he responded to his most blessed girlfriend at whisper volume.

"My dearest, I will not abandon you. I only said that if no one else wished to accompany me, so we can continue traveling together if that is what you desire. Forgive me for causing you so much grief, dear......"

(That's all I going to say on this discussion, as I'm going to focus on the other one now. Wish me luck...)

(Any reaction of Ventus about Heart notes Windos?)

[Dragonstrike]

Ralts is not super comfortable with what he's getting from Shiva and Ventus emotionally.

Nathan tries to get things back on topic and settled down.

"...*ahem*...look, we're probably all headed up that way for one reason or another eventually.  It's not something we need to discuss now.  Let's save that for when we actually plan to go there...let's just...focus on what we're doing right now...I...didn't assemble everyone here to stress anyone out..."

[Lord Windos]

The confusion silently increased, and so did some worry as what was troubling him to make such a show out of it.... Facing Ven for a few silent and thoughtful moments that felt like minutes, she then opted to lean a litte over to be right at the side of this oddball of a troubled researcher, facing him again from there with an expression of....yes, subtle fear. But at the same time, she slently askshim to speak up and not bottle things up now - it's way too late already to retreat.

"I'll try not to begrudge you, but I can't promise that 100% unless you let me know what's wrong. But.... I don't want to leave your side now after all we have shared and built up together.... I hope you don't either. Ven, you don't want to break up, do you? Does your sexual and romantic orientation prevent us from being together?"

A great big *Sigh* was issued from Ventus' lips as he hear her response and the undercurrent of fresh fear that now enlived her, feeling worse and worse about what he's going to say to her, but his own thoughts mirrored her own at the moment: it was too late to retreat.

".....That is more than enough, my love. I hope we can remain together for an epoch, but if what I say drives a wedge between us......then all I can say I can live with that regret, if it means that what I say is not in vain. (...) *Shots them a confused look, before lightly shaking his head( Perish the though Shiva. My....orientation nor our relationship is the topic of this discussion......."

Deep breath.

Now is the time to speak now.

Or Forever hold your peace.

Ventus turned to face her, and looked directly in the eyes, expression furious.

"No, what I want to discuss is how you have unbelievably, idiotically, and recklessly endangered you life multiple times, when it could have been easily avoided."

His voice came out like an crack of a whip, its tone completely altered. Before, it was tired, resigned, and hesitant. Now, it was charged with an anger born of worry and unrest. A certain kind of fury that both chilled and heat a person right up.

"Think back to the Tusk, Shiva. When we all overcame the Guardians of the location, and entered in the sanctuary, knowing something was in there that had sent them out to oppose us, but not what it was. Shortly discovered it was a......thing that had taken the shape of an old hermit, seemingly absorbed in working their magics on the clay before them. We didn't know what it was capable of, other than it could summon a small squad of Pokémon to ward off or possibly kill anything that dares trespass on his domain. It could be friendly, and only was trying to test us, as it turned out to be the case. Or they could be malicious, and was waiting for us to lower our guard before striking us all down in one feel swoop. Either way, we did not and could not know whether it would treat us with kindness, hate, dispassion, or otherwise for what we did to seek audience. They were unknown.  They were inscrutable. They were dangerous. A n d  w h a t  d i d  y o u  d o  ?"

He hissed out those last words in an seething tone, before he pressed right on in, coming closer to the woman until his presence loomed over her.

" Y o u  w e n t  r i g h t  u p  a n d  s a t  b e s i d e  i t ,  a n d  i n t e r u p p t e d  t h e m  i n  t h e  m i d d l e  o f  w h a t  t h e y  w e r e  i n t e n s e l y  f o c u s e d  o n.  A l l  w i t h o u t  k n o w i n g  h o w  i t  w o u l d  r e a c t ,  o r  t h i n k i n g  o f  t h e  p o s s i b l e  c o n s e q u e n c e s  o f  y o u r  a c t i o n s. "

The voice was deep, monotone, and guttural, such a stark departure from the normally sweet and dulcet tones of the sociologist that it was like something else was speaking in his place. Someone unkind and unyielding.

"Do you know what could have happened, instead of it humoring us all and help save Stair and by extension Cheshire? It could have killed you. It could have killed ALL of us. He could have done WORSE. It could have done ANY NUMBER OF HORRIBLE THINGS. And there would be NOTHING we could have done to prevent it! All we done could have been for naught, or a terrible fate could have befallen you because Y O U  A C T E D  L I K E  A  F O O L.  A .  F O O L !!!"

Word were ground out like wood being ejected from a chipper, blasting with full force. Vens backs away at this moment and takes a deep breath to force himself to wind down from that stressed, panicked induced anger peak. This took only a few seconds, though, as his iron clad grip over himself was in especially fine form for this STERN lecture, giving her no chance to recover when he launched into the next part.

"That was then, though. For awhile, I thought I would accept it as a woeful lapse of judgement on your part, and not burden you with the possible ramifications of your actions. That you do differently for now on. Regretfully for both of us, I was wrong. Just three days ago, for whatever reason, you decided to engage in battle against a wild and clearly murderous Druddigon. Alone, with no back up. I don't even need to go into detail why that was a very S T U P I D decision, as you are painfully are of what could have happened if IT prevailed instead of you. Even if you didn't know you were going to end up facing that beast in particularly, I know you knew that you were about face off against something very, VERY, DANGEROUS , or otherwise you or your Pokémon wouldn't have been keyed up the way you were. I know the difference between surprise shock and expectant battle shock, and you were experiencing the later to my senses. We (the group) could ALL have delt with the Dragon together with minimized risk, but instead for whatever reason you choose not to. Why did you choose to do something so idiotic, Shiva? Why? WHY?!"

Another deep breath, a *Huff....* being issued this time as closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose while shaking his head in a combination of pure dismay, frustration, anger, and fearful concern. When he re-opened his eyes, his expression was back to being tired once more, but it was now also sullen in addition to holding traces of lingering anger still fresh worry.

"Do you know why I'm lecturing you this so harshly. Bringing these moments in harsh, ugly light, and forcing you to understand how foolish, rash, and idiotic both you actions in them? ...........................*Sighs* I'm not doing this to punish you, Shiva. Nor to voice my greviances with you decisions, at least not maliciously so. Neither those thing. .......I spoke the way I did because I wanted to teach you about these errornous choices, so that you try to act wisely and don't ever do them again....... and show you just how worried and scared I was and still am. ....Shiva, if you had been harmed or....or worse .......it would be like losing my father and brother again. Helpless.....powerless......completely and utterly miserable.  Then.....then I would get angry. Mad. U N F E T T E R E D. And much, much worse. I'd become a monster to avenge your death at any cost......including my own life, if that was put on the chopping block."

Dead silence for a full minute, before Ventus continued in an almost heartbroken voice.

"I.....I....I don't want those things to happen to either of us, my love. I don't want either of us to grieve for each other's lose, all because we acted foolishly or as a consequence of said actions. I want us to be together, to cherish and to love and to support each other through all times good and ill. I don't want you looking before you Bounce, only to land in something fall too dire for you to handle alone. I want you to continue to grow and excel as not only a Pokémon Breeder, but as the wonder, magnificent, and splendid woman that you are, with or without me. So please, even if you now despise me for mercilessly grilling you for what I conceive as failings on your part, I want you to take my words to heart and not to repeat your past mistakes. To act wisely and with great caution, only endangering yourself when you have no other choice, or if its justified to do so. P-P-Please, my love.....please....."

The empath is in near tears by the end of his long, harsh, lecture, jerking his head away from his most blessed of friend, someone MUCH too good for him in almost ANY universe imaginable, and buries it into his hand, trying his best for the last time to calm himself down. Easier said than done in this case, for fae woman was the beginning and end of this emotional mess he's in, making it more difficult to dissaociate himself from his feelings and ruthlessly control them.

If Shiva has anything to say in response, now is the time.

For better, or for worse.....

[Lord Windos]

"...*ahem*...look, we're probably all headed up that way for one reason or another eventually.  It's not something we need to discuss now.  Let's save that for when we actually plan to go there...let's just...focus on what we're doing right now...I...didn't assemble everyone here to stress anyone out..."

Ventus more or less completely agrees with Nathan judgement call in this situation, and urges Shiva and Heart to 'Let the future remain as it is, and enjoy the present now' as he returns to pampering and playing with Azrael, much to Lilith's slight  jealously (Her master should lavishing HER with attention, not some welp.....) and Malphena's pleasure (Seeing her master so lovely interact with a Dark type made her uneasy, but it was SOOO cute and adorable she could help but enjoy it!).

If Nathan/Shiva/Heart wants to talk to Ventus any further, then they could do so at anytime. Otherwise, Ven enjoys the rest of the party with his Pokémon and (hopefully) Shiva, before exiting the room with her to their own so he can begin his discussion with her, much to his dread and GREAT discomfort.

(That should wrap up Ven's 'time' at the Birthday Party! Expect a later REAL Birthday gift down the line, though, Dragonstrike!)