[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Shiva gets 2 character XP from catching Bergmite, and yes, $50 from research. This won't arrive until you reach the surface, technically, but don't worry about that part. Just note the money as normal.

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Nice job, with that dealt with Shiva now lets her gaze wander over the frozen lake once more, then turns around to make her way back to the others. She found them all close to Rose and Swiftfire, and from the look of it nothing has gone amiss in the meanwhile - how pleasantly to realize!~ She speeds up her pace a little now that she doesn't have fear slipping on the ice anymore, and waves to them all in shy eager as soon as she was within their range.

However, she stops a step before the others and tilts her head in wonder to accompany her crossed arms. "Well... Hi again! Good to see that you're all doing relatively fine, thanks for waiting on me... Now though, it's not THAT cold once you gotten used to it!~ I've added warm-enough clothes to the list of things we should bring along down Mount Sentry, but it seems only me put this thought into action?" She avertes her gaze a little to stare at something undefinied further down the path, and absent-mindedly dusts off her black-outside and darkgreen-inside cloak with one hand protected by darkbrown half-gloves to free it from some snowflakes the Bergmite headbutted down from a wall, the Ninetales-scarf is closely wrapped around her neck. The weaved-in Furret-hair in the cloak nicely blocks off any outer coldness. If she'd be to carry a quiver + a longbow styilized after a Virizion and know how to use it, the image of a female half-elf-ranger with a close touch to nature would be even better.

"None was probably up to get close to the frozen lake? I've taken a careful walk on it, it didn't break under my feet. A Bergmite I met there - or rather, it met me, it didn't behave wary or shy at all." With a slight and sly smile, Shiva pats a sidepocket of her cloak, to show that she caught it and it's even with her now. She missed the exchange/loan of the Never-Melt-Ice.

Still, Shiva is not untouchable, and she'd do a lot to sleep over in a comfy and warm bed standing in a Pokemon Center's dorm again, where she can cuddle up to the pillows and to Ventus to all of her heart's content... Awww, Good and warm thoughts.

When Ven offered her the black mud covered in ice crystals, she stared at it in amazement for a moment before she carefully takes it into her hands. She turns it a few times in her hands to examinate it from all sides, and rather quickly she was sure what she was currently holding in her hands: Precious HURTLOAM, despite the tangible coldness was chilling her half-gloved hands she could definitely feel the roaming Earthpower inside of it. It felt...'passive' however, yes, as if it was dormant.

Shiva looks back at Ventus, faces him in a mixed and unreadable expression. A lot of different thoughts ran through her mind, one swiftly chased the other, and she was rather undisclosed what to even say: She knows of the healing capabilities of Hurtloam, but she just as knows that her beloved wasn't fond of Earthpower and the assoziated eremit.

Eventually, she decided to to tell him the following in a voice that was almost forcefully kept neutral and soft: "Dear, what you found here is a special kind of black mud. Can you see these golden flecks in it, feel some dormant power in it when holding it? ...I-I can. It'll restore some health (1hp) to a Pokemon no matter what if spread over it's body, will even awake a fainted one, all while also curing poisoning, paralyzis and other nasty conditions like Forests' Curse or such. Something prevents the power from being used more than once per day." ... "This one here seems dormant however. Carrying it around and exposing it to warmth and life, or in short handling it quite like a Pokemon Egg, for some days should do the job of awakin' it."

A small break followed. It seems like there's more than what Shiva is telling him, but she's trying hard to not let him notice it for good, for sure it'd allure a not-so-please reaction from him, she doesn't desire to put him on edge unecessarily... (I don't know if Ventus can pick this up.) "Ven, shall I...place it into a pocket of my cloak so that it'll be subconsciously and permanently warmed by my body warmth, or maybe place it into the Fast Incubator to accompany the Delibird-Egg you gave me to carry?" She offers the Hurtloam back to him nevertheless in her cupped hands.

Nathan shoots Shiva a silent, deadpan stare before going back to huddling close to Swiftfire.  It is totally that cold (Iron did say Swiftfire's light and warmth were entirely necessary now, after all).  He'd probably be an ice cube right about now if it weren't for Swiftfire.  No amount of cold weather preparation could have readied him for tundra-like temperatures!  He'd rather not risk getting dunked in freezing cold waters on top of that.

If it's not clear enough, Nathan's definitely feeling pretty dang miserable right now.  Mostly physically, but it is slightly affecting his emotional state too.

Nathan doesn't comment on the Hurtloam thing...mostly because even if he could form a response, he still wouldn't quite know what to say...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

That silent deadpan stare from Nathan is returned in light and soft smile, while her posture of 'I don't mind the weather' combined with a mildly tilted head and crossed arms remains. She definitely picks up that miserable state and assoziates it with the environment, but with two Fire Types in their Final Form and even a smol 'n cute Growlithe in Mr. Finder's possession she doesn't feel like she could add something of a smiliar helpfulness. Enduring and tackling things is it, there's sadly no other choice...

In short, Shiva doesn't blame anyone in the slightest who's struggling with the temperatures. She herself does feel the coldness rather strongly, but her special clothing and the thought of cuddling up closely to an army of warm and fluffy Flareon keeps her relatively warm; if she's freezing, she doesn't show it. Her main issue remains the lack of sunlight, messed up biorythm due to a missing night-and-day-circle, constant sense of being in danger and the spare fresh food, which all neatly combine to a recipe to throw her into a silently depressed state again.

[Spiritmon]

Heart then decided to warm the things a little. "Well, since four are here I would like to ask you guys something: Is anyone know where is Valder? He disappeared when were separated." Heart don't mind much the cold.

[Dragonstrike]

Heart then decided to warm the things a little. "Well, since four are here I would like to ask you guys something: Is anyone know where is Valder? He disappeared when were separated." Heart don't mind much the cold.

"...h-he's k-keeping an eye on Mr. F-finder, p-protecting h-him.  S-same as earlier."

(I think that's a reasonable enough assumption, given the current circumstances and recent events)

[Nylon]

Valder will train, especially Haunter.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Nice job, with that dealt with Shiva now lets her gaze wander over the frozen lake once more, then turns around to make her way back to the others. She found them all close to Rose and Swiftfire, and from the look of it nothing has gone amiss in the meanwhile - how pleasantly to realize!~ She speeds up her pace a little now that she doesn't have fear slipping on the ice anymore, and waves to them all in shy eager as soon as she was within their range.

However, she stops a step before the others and tilts her head in wonder to accompany her crossed arms. "Well... Hi again! Good to see that you're all doing relatively fine, thanks for waiting on me... Now though, it's not THAT cold once you gotten used to it!~ I've added warm-enough clothes to the list of things we should bring along down Mount Sentry, but it seems only me put this thought into action?"

She avertes her gaze a little to stare at something undefinied further down the path, and absent-mindedly dusts off her black-outside and darkgreen-inside cloak with one hand protected by darkbrown half-gloves to free it from some snowflakes the Bergmite headbutted down from a wall, the Ninetales-scarf is closely wrapped around her neck. The weaved-in Furret-hair in the cloak nicely blocks off any outer coldness. If she'd be to carry a quiver + a longbow styilized after a Virizion and know how to use it, the image of a female half-elf-ranger with a close touch to nature would be even better.

"None was probably up to get close to the frozen lake? I've taken a careful walk on it, it didn't break under my feet. A Bergmite I met there - or rather, it met me, it didn't behave wary or shy at all." With a slight and sly smile, Shiva pats a sidepocket of her cloak, to show that she caught it and it's even with her now. She missed the exchange/loan of the Never-Melt-Ice.

Still, Shiva is not untouchable, and she'd do a lot to sleep over in a comfy and warm bed standing in a Pokemon Center's dorm again, where she can cuddle up to the pillows and to Ventus to all of her heart's content... Awww, Good and warm thoughts.


(...)

When Ven offered her the black mud covered in ice crystals, she stared at it in amazement for a moment before she carefully takes it into her hands. She turns it a few times in her hands to examinate it from all sides, and rather quickly she was sure what she was currently holding in her hands: Precious HURTLOAM, despite the tangible coldness was chilling her half-gloved hands she could definitely feel the roaming Earthpower inside of it. It felt...'passive' however, yes, as if it was dormant.

Shiva looks back at Ventus, faces him in a mixed and unreadable expression. A lot of different thoughts ran through her mind, one swiftly chased the other, and she was rather undisclosed what to even say: She knows of the healing capabilities of Hurtloam, but she just as knows that her beloved wasn't fond of Earthpower and the assoziated eremit.

Eventually, she decided to to tell him the following in a voice that was almost forcefully kept neutral and soft: "Dear, what you found here is a special kind of black mud. Can you see these golden flecks in it, feel some dormant power in it when holding it? ...I-I can. It'll restore some health (1hp) to a Pokemon no matter what if spread over it's body, will even awake a fainted one, all while also curing poisoning, paralyzis and other nasty conditions like Forests' Curse or such. Something prevents the power from being used more than once per day." ... "This one here seems dormant however. Carrying it around and exposing it to warmth and life, or in short handling it quite like a Pokemon Egg, for some days should do the job of awakin' it."

A small break followed. It seems like there's more than what Shiva is telling him, but she's trying hard to not let him notice it for good, for sure it'd allure a not-so-please reaction from him, she doesn't desire to put him on edge unecessarily... (I don't know if Ventus can pick this up.) "Ven, shall I...place it into a pocket of my cloak so that it'll be subconsciously and permanently warmed by my body warmth, or maybe place it into the Fast Incubator to accompany the Delibird-Egg you gave me to carry?" She offers the Hurtloam back to him nevertheless in her cupped hands.

Spotting Shiva waving and feeling her joy of accomplishment , Ventus couldn't help but smile and returned the gestures, calling out to her: "Shiva, dear, good to see you're alright! Now come over so you can warm yourself by Swiftfire's and Rose's toasty flames!

When she playfully told them off for hundling around the Fire types, the researcher in extremely rare form gave his girlfriend a long, unimpressed look, then glances at the fluffy tweed sweater and thick, insulated pants he was wearing, before glancing back to her. "I'm well prepared for all climates, Shiva, and I grew up and endured many a frigid Unovian winter, so normally the cold would just be a mild annoyance. After a long day, eventful day through these tunnel and directly handling blisteringly cold Never Melt Ice, however, I felt it necessary to drink in the radiant heat from Swiftfire to revitalize myself enough so that I continue going without collapsing. Forgive me if that seems odd or paints me intolerant of the cold, but if that's the case I rather be either those things than frozen stiffer than a prick..."

Needless to say, Ven wasn't too impressed with ANYONE's sass, even his own girlfriend's. He only cuts himself off at the end to prevent himself from implicating her as a.....well, a unpleasant person herself, as while's he's unhappy with her comments its not to the point of slander and name calling!

(...)

"I actually been on the lake myself, and talked with a Relicanth that was living there. I learned much from it, and even got some.....Hurtloam from it, though its nearly frozen solid from the bottom of the lake they got it from. Here, have a look...."

(...)

Spoiler

Eventually, she decided to just her cards on the table and be blunt and honest with him: "Dear, what you found here is a special kind of black mud. Can you see these golden flecks in it, feel some dormant power in it when holding it? ...I-I can. Do you...remember that eremit at the Tusk's tip? He introduced us to this the first time. This one here seems dormant however. Carrying it around and exposing it to warmth and life, or in short, handling it quite like a Pokemon Egg for some days should do the job of awakin' it."

Mentally, she already prepared for a blow after this opening, so was rather quick to continue. "Ven, shall I...place it into a pocket of my cloak so that it'll be subconsciously and permanently warmed by my body warmth, or maybe place it into the Fast Incubator to accompany the Delibird-Egg you gave me to carry?" She offers the Hurtloam back to him nevertheless in her cupped hands, even out of simply politeness. "Ah! One...more thing... If that Bergmite of me turns out to be...well, disobediant, will you help on handling it properly with me, please? It's with me currently, replaying Furret, and it's a useful and rare Pokemon for me. I'll release it when we've set up camp, maybe we can share the first nightwatch? M-maybe? I'd like to...ask you something then, if there's time and opportunity, preferably undisturbed." She seems sad, empty, when she speaks that out.

As Ventus was already aware of what Hurtloam is , he only vaguely paid attention to her explaination over the dubious substance. However, when she connected to that thing that ruled over the Tusk and said that in order for it to be used it had to be both warmed by heat and life force and how, he almost immediately gave it over to her to carry, with a disgusted look of distaste on his face as he refused to take it when she offered it back. "Take and keep it then, and keep it away from my Delibird Egg. I rather not have to deal with this mud if its anyway connected to that blasted old thing, even if it has its uses."

When she asked for his aid to help moderate/restrain the behavior of the Bergmite she capture, he raised an unimpressed eyebrow at her that all but said 'You thought it a good idea to replace your Loyal and highly useful Furret that was selected specifically for this trip with an wild Pokémon that may or may not like you in the first place or have useful skills?' , before letting out a small *Sigh* and nodding his head.

"I will, Shiva. I prefer only one person take  a night shift, though, as its more efficient and safer to do it for all of us that way. I'll take second shift if no one objects, and you can take the first. We can talk about whatever matter you wish to discuss in private at some other point in time, preferably when neither of us are stress or exhausted as we are now. Alright?"



Ven normally wasn't so gruff or curt with his girlfriend, but he's tired, the cold is affecting him negatively now, and that sass she gave them all was leaving him a sour mood, so conversatons between them were not exactly going to be cheerful or affectionate. Maybe later, when enough time has passed...

Ready to Move on to the next Encounter/Campsite!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Probably needless to even say in the slightest, Shiva was figuratively frozen solid by that loooong and unimpressed stare from Ventus that she found targeted at her when she met his gaze again.

...It caused her to loose a good amount of the previous joy and innocence that she enjoyed when interacting with that wild, curious Bergmite, and completely avert her gaze from the others in a rather hushed and timid manner. Guess the playfully-mischivous fairy with in her has taken things a tad bit too far now, having flown over a boundary she should definitely have seen on a Crit-Fairy Wind. All she was able to bring out now was a soft and low "Ven... I'm sorry. I, well, didn't mean it ill, in not the slightest way." Still she felt unmistakeably guilty, her conscience began to bit her again in lots and lots of tiny Bug Bites. Fear awoke as well - the fear of feeling so horribly lonely and empty once more just like yesterday night, after Ventus has practically escaped her after that discussion about his search for Shedninja, where the darkness and coldness hit her more intense as she was there on the nightwatch.

Still however, she herself...felt mostly fine in concerns of the coldness, not in the need to huddle up to the Fire Types now, she hasn't handled that mentioned that Never-Melt-Ice neither! She'd rather prefer to keep going, finding a proper campsite soon enough. What exact time may it be by now up on the surface, has the moon risen already?

The swiftly handing-over of the special black mud she accepted then from him without inquirering further. To some degree she's impressed AND sad that he'd set his reservations above the definite healing powers of the Hurtloam, for it shows nicely how strong his phobia and denial of anything arcane is. For now, Shiva does put the Frozen Hurtloam into a side pocket of her cloak, where it'll be kept warm by her natural body temperature and be close to her occupied six Pokeballs.

When she asked for his aid to help moderate/restrain the behavior of the Bergmite she capture, he raised an unimpressed eyebrow at her that all but said 'You thought it a good idea to replace your Loyal and highly useful Furret that was selected specifically for this trip with an wild Pokémon that may or may not like you in the first place or have useful skills?' , before letting out a small *Sigh* and nodding his head.

"I will, Shiva. I prefer only one person take a night shift, though, as its more efficient and safer to do it for all of us that way. I'll take second shift if no one objects, and you can take the first. We can talk about whatever matter you wish to discuss in private at some other point in time, preferably when neither of us are stress or exhausted as we are now. Alright?"

These...unspoken words almost caused her to flinch away massively, eeek! D: She took a protective stance and raised her arms in front of herself like a shield.

But behind it, shemostly returned his unimpressed look, even if in a way more shy and careful manner. Thoughts and unspoken words ran from one corner of her mind to the other: 'Y...yes, I've sent Furret back to Bill's PC, and I'm taking the consquences of this action rightfully! It's...either getting more cold from here or incredibly hot depending how deep we decend into the earth further, and it's not the best terrain for my dear Furret! I... I've already abstained from taking Braixen with me due to your reservations, and left an Eevee Egg in Bill's PC to have one worry less, so this one time I wanted to do what I enjoyed, without feeling restrained by you other people's input. Regardless whether I'll regret it... And, a STAB-Ice Type move! Disagree with it as much as you like, but please don't blame me for following solely my desire in this case, this one time."
(Outta-chara, Furret has fulfilled his purpose and gathered the missing XP to learn Helping Hand alongside the quest, and a Normal Type isn't the best choice in further wild Pokemon Battles against Guardians, even if Keen Eye Ability cleary speaks for him. Instead, I'd like to have Bergmite learn Icy Wind for 10xp as soon as possible, if it's disobediant also start working on it instead of postponing that, so that I can combine him with Alolan-Vulpix in Trainer Battles right away. My other five Pokemon on hand are clearly able to get along themselves, I'm not relying on a definite sixth Team Member. Does that...reason things sufficiently? ._. )

She calmed moderatly during this whole, unspoken assurance of herself and (for her) act of bravery, and lowered her guard to simply cast a tired and concealed unhappy look at the others of the group. Ven 'only' received a nod for his agreed help, she values it a lot despite she currently seems unable to show that. Her voice has become lower as well when she spoke up. "Thanks, dear... And, well, yes, I'd volunteer on taking the first nightwatch in order to properly get to know my new Pokemon-on-hand, if you others are fine with that, too." A little more quiet, she added "Yes, later then is fine as well. But....please not too late, I don't feel like I can...endure this lack of sunlight for much longer without becoming.... falling into... ah, you know. Artificial Vitamin D in pills can only do...so much."

What nice display of how swiftly and drastically Shiva's mood can change this whole regrouping was. Eventually, she turned away, slowly, but threw a look over her shoulder towards the others while readjusting her scarf. "Shall we... move on then? Please? Mr. Finder, which way will lead us further to our hoped destination from here?" She'll keep Yena and Dizzy flanking her sides further down the path again. Precious pure Dark Types...

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Probably needless to even say in the slightest, Shiva was figuratively frozen solid by that loooong and unimpressed stare from Ventus that she found targeted at her when she met his gaze again.

...It caused her to loose a good amount of the previous joy and innocence that she enjoyed when interacting with that wild, curious Bergmite, and completely avert her gaze from the others in a rather hushed and timid manner. Guess the playfully-mischivous fairy with in her has taken things a tad bit too far now, having flown over a boundary she should definitely have seen on a Crit-Fairy Wind. All she was able to bring out now was a soft and low "Ven... I'm sorry. I, well, didn't mean it ill, in not the slightest way." Still she felt unmistakeably guilty, her conscience began to bit her again in lots and lots of tiny Bug Bites. Fear awoke as well - the fear of feeling so horribly lonely and empty yesterday night, after Ventus has practically escaped her after that discussion about his search for Shedninja, where the darkness and coldness hit her more intense as she was there on the nightwatch.

Still however, she herself...felt mostly fine in concerns of the coldness, not in the need to huddle up to the Fire Types now, she hasn't handled that mentioned that Never-Melt-Ice neither! She'd rather prefer to keep going, finding a proper campsite soon enough. What exact time may it be by now up on the surface, has the moon risen already?

The swiftly handing-over of the special black mud she accepted then from him without inquirering further. To some degree she's impressed AND sad that he'd set his reservations above the definite healing powers of the Hurtloam, for it shows nicely how strong his phobia and denial of anything arcane is. For now, Shiva does put the Frozen Hurtloam into a side pocket of her cloak, where it'll be kept warm by her natural body temperature and be close to her occupied six Pokeballs.

When she asked for his aid to help moderate/restrain the behavior of the Bergmite she capture, he raised an unimpressed eyebrow at her that all but said 'You thought it a good idea to replace your Loyal and highly useful Furret that was selected specifically for this trip with an wild Pokémon that may or may not like you in the first place or have useful skills?' , before letting out a small *Sigh* and nodding his head.

"I will, Shiva. I prefer only one person take a night shift, though, as its more efficient and safer to do it for all of us that way. I'll take second shift if no one objects, and you can take the first. We can talk about whatever matter you wish to discuss in private at some other point in time, preferably when neither of us are stress or exhausted as we are now. Alright?"

These...unspoken words almost caused her to flinch away massively, eeek! D: She took a protective stance and raised arms in front of herself like a shield.

But behind it, shemostly returned his unimpressed look, even if in a way more shy and careful manner. Thoughts and unspoken words ran from one corner of her mind to the other: 'Y...yes, I've sent Furret back to Bill's PC, and I'm taking the consquences of this action rightfully! It's...either getting more cold from here or incredibly hot depending how deep we decend into the earth further, and it's not the best terrain for my dear Furret! I... I've already abstained from taking Braixen with me due to your reservations, and left an Eevee Egg in Bill's PC to have one less worry, so this one time I wanted to do what I enjoyed, without feeling restrained by you other people's input. Regardless whether I'll regret it... And, a STAB-Ice Type move! Disagree with it as much as you like, but please don't blame me for following solely my desire in this case, this one time."
(Outta-chara, Furret has fulfilled his purpose and gathered the missing XP to learn Helping Hand alongside the quest, and a Normal Type isn't the best choice in further wild Pokemon Battles against Guardians, even if Keen Eye Ability cleary speaks for him. Instead, I'd like to have Bergmite learn Icy Wind for 10xp as soon as possible, if it's disobediant also start working on it instead of postponing that, so that I can combine him with Alolan-Vulpix in Trainer Battles right away. My other five Pokemon on hand are clearly able to get along themselves, I'm not relying on a definite sixth Team Member. Does that...reason things sufficiently? ._. )

She calmed moderatly during this whole, unspoken assurance of herself and (for her) act of bravery, and lowered her guard to simply cast a tired and concealed unhappy look at the others of the group. Ven 'only' received a nod for his agreed help, she values it a lot despite she currently seems unable to show that. Her voice has become lower as well when she spoke up. "Thanks, dear... And, well, yes, I'd volunteer on taking the first nightwatch in order to properly get to know my new Pokemon-on-hand, if you others are fine with that, too." A little more quiet, she added "Yes, later then is fine as well. But....please not too late, I don't feel like I can...endure this lack of sunlight for much longer without becoming.... falling into... ah, you know. Artificial Vitamin D in pills can only do...so much."

What nice display of how swiftly Shiva's mood can change this whole regrouping was. Eventually, she turned away, slowly, but threw a look over her shoulder towards the others while readjusting her scarf. "Shall we... move on then? Please? Mr. Finder, which way will lead us further to our hoped destination from here?" She'll keep Yena and Dizzy flanking her sides further down the path again. Precious pure Dark Types...

"I see no problem in you take the Nightwatch Shiva. But at least keep my Patrat and Gustav with you. His heal Pulses and water typing might be useful to you, and Patrat have keen eyes in dark places. Better be prepared then sorry as I always say."

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan doesn't comment on anything that was just said.  He's coughing and sneezing and finding it difficult to speak...

He does mount Swiftfire if the terrain is favorable for it, and looks ready to just move on already.  It's really hard to tell what his stance is on the topics Shiva brought up.  Other than he's clearly a little tired and aggravated from being out of his element, and definitely needs to try and get some good rest later (Iron said this was Encounter 2 iirc).  The sooner they get a move on, the better in his opinion.

...Ralts however, gives Shiva a worried look.