[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

We fast-forward a little. You get a video call at the Pokemon Center from Officer Jenny and Corporal Furrow.

"Nathan? Heart? Hello. We raided a warehouse in the west of town, executed a no-knock warrant. Broke down the door, and right away your gem stopped blinking. A woman matching Juni's description was seen leaping from the second-story window and Teleporting away. But we've taken three men and two women into custody, who all claim they were employed by an anonymous employer. They may be able to give evidence toward a Pokemon trafficking conviction once we follow the money and figure out who owns this warehouse. This, of course, may be able to bring us more clues as to who attacked you and the eight missing trainers. Well, I should say the three missing trainers. In the upper stories of the warehouse, in what may be Juni's offices, we found an Elminster, a Flora, a Freddi, a Bobbi, and a Taylor. If possible, it'd be great if you could come to the station and confirm these are the people you saw."

"One more thing - do you know anything about this? - a tall man in denim and flannel was seen skulking around the construction site on Cress Cliff, in the company of an Absol. With a Dark type like that and such a furtive attitude, we are worried he may be up to no good. They said he wore thick gloves and a hat lowered over his eyes. Had no other Pokemon with him, apparently."

"Anyway, we've got the gem stored away here in the Western Station lockers. Present that receipt and we can get it back to you anytime that's convenient."

(I think I will wait Dragonstrike return and make his post about that)

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

We fast-forward a little. You get a video call at the Pokemon Center from Officer Jenny and Corporal Furrow.

"Nathan? Heart? Hello. We raided a warehouse in the west of town, executed a no-knock warrant. Broke down the door, and right away your gem stopped blinking. A woman matching Juni's description was seen leaping from the second-story window and Teleporting away. But we've taken three men and two women into custody, who all claim they were employed by an anonymous employer. They may be able to give evidence toward a Pokemon trafficking conviction once we follow the money and figure out who owns this warehouse. This, of course, may be able to bring us more clues as to who attacked you and the eight missing trainers. Well, I should say the three missing trainers. In the upper stories of the warehouse, in what may be Juni's offices, we found an Elminster, a Flora, a Freddi, a Bobbi, and a Taylor. If possible, it'd be great if you could come to the station and confirm these are the people you saw."

"One more thing - do you know anything about this? - a tall man in denim and flannel was seen skulking around the construction site on Cress Cliff, in the company of an Absol. With a Dark type like that and such a furtive attitude, we are worried he may be up to no good. They said he wore thick gloves and a hat lowered over his eyes. Had no other Pokemon with him, apparently."

"Anyway, we've got the gem stored away here in the Western Station lockers. Present that receipt and we can get it back to you anytime that's convenient."

Nathan unintelligibly mumbles, "...damn it..."  Now he's probably gonna have to worry about Juni in 2017, too...unless they run into her again somehow, but Nathan's not sure how likely that is...

When asked about the Absol and the strange man accompanying them: "...as an Abol trainer myself, I can confidently say that they were probably scoping out the area in case any kind of disaster was about to occur there.  Don't recognize the man from that description, though.  If they think something is going to happen there, though, caution would almost certainly be warranted."

"I'll probably visit the station soon to get the gem and double check those trainers.  If you didn't find Thrawn and the campers, though...I guess they might have been taken elsewhere because they might have known more about the situation at the Ruins than those robed people liked or something...that worries me a little, to be honest..."

Nathan looks at Heart.  "Heart, any word from the others yet?"  (As long as you let Heart's cell phone 'update', @Spiritmon, he can send and receive texts from Terra)

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Spoiler

"Almanac needs testers! And of course we have followers of our philosophy in there. We work together. Um, we don't have any one goal. We have a philosophy. The gauntlets are much more versatile than Pokemon, when you adapt a move for your own purposes. Not all of us use Psychic types, but that's what we're trained for. Um, it takes about three months to cast your first spell, but we're not supposed to recruit...."


"Thrawn? The investigator? I don't know where he'll end up. There's a warehouse in Cress City that's the closest thing we have to a base, but we're building a new one in the cliff. Those...those might be the most likely places!" He gives you the address of the warehouse.

"The weapons are in the Skull Ruins, that's all anyone knows."

"We're just trying to make a change. The League doesn't listen to us about mystical stuff. Never have. There's no way to prove it, you see! It doesn't help that we don't know the exact nature of the threat, only that it has a chance to appear every thousand years. The weapons are the only way to counter its strengths. The League is the one you should be badgering, not a poor little mage like me."
"Ha! Look at any story about heroes. You'll see raiders of temples, tricksters, liars, and dirty fighters. ANY story. Goodness is defined by the victors. You're doing the same thing right now, telling yourself you're good because you're hurting me, someone you've decided is a bad guy. If you want to use what I've told you today to stop the threat, go ahead. Bring the weapons to someone who knows how to use them, whatever. Pokemon get hurt because people like you use them as bodyguards, so don't act like you have the moral high ground. You probably don't even believe me about the threat, just like the League. Whatever."

".....Why does Almanac need testers? What are they trying to.....achieve? .......What is this philosophy, and why have you not.....recruited more?"

He doesn't say anything regarding the Water Scimitar's base of operations, nor the Ancient Weapons, but makes a mental note to send a text message (if possible) to Nathan about these facts. Best to keep everyone in the loop about that, you know!

...

"......Change is not always.......justifiable, or right. Not when it harms so many innocents. The League is not wrong for......not knowing or believing in threat. And you Scimitars are not entitled just because you......assume responsibility to deal with threat. Bad is still bad, even if you do it for 'good' reasons."

Contrary to the wretched wizard's, Terra did not get further incensed or lash out at him again - though Angie certainly looked like she was about to for them bad mouthing her papa and friends! All he did was simply shake his head, and calmly refuted them.

"Know those stories. Understand point you are trying to use against me. But you are wrong. Those people of legend, myth are heroes not because they did bad things. No, they are heroes in spite of them. They did wrong, fought dirty, cause great harm to others, and more. But they only did those things because they had to. To do good, they had no choice but to do bad too. You Scimitars.....you did not have to do bad to.......follow your philosophy. To prepare yourselves to fight Threat. Could have chosen to help others, or find others ways to.....fulfill your plans. Instead, you choose to do bad first. To scare and bully others, to cause great harm to people and Pokemon, to work in shadows, keeping secrets and everyone in the dark because you do not trust them. You Scimitars had chance to do good, be only good....but you did not take it."

"Goodness.....is not just defined by others. Good is good. Everyone knows what good is, and can do it.  ....But so many people choose to do bad instead. Or do good in ways that are bad, when they do not have to. Like you, and the Scimitars. Can't understand why you do things you do. You probably do understand why people want to stop you, or do not want to. But we both know what goodness is. Did not make myself good, and you Scimitars bad, because we hurt you all. No, you are bad because you choose to do harm to everyone. Because you kidnapped people, and....take free Will away from their Pokemon to make them do bad. Because  you drove a man deep into the Skull Ruins. All for no good reason. My group.....we only defended ourselves, and choose to do the right and good thing to stop you, so that you couldn't do those things to others anymore. Or worse."

...

".....Pokemon get hurt for many reasons. Not just because us Trainers. Our partners defend us because they to want to. Because they care for us, and because we care for them too. Right, Angie?"

The draconic seraph smiled and let out an affirmative *Hmmm!* , before she resume glaring at the misaligned mage. She'd do ANYTHING for her papa because she wanted too, not because she had too, Scimitar.

".....I do believe you. About the threat. That you are only doing what you have done because you believe it's the right thing to do. I just don't agree with how you Scimitars are dealing with it, or believe you are justified in what you do. That is all."

That last part probably brings the poor spell caster up short, as the last thing he was expecting was not only that the mountain of a man believed his claims, but for him to more or less completely undermine whatever ground he and his kin had left to stand on. Terra may not be the smartest guy, but he is perhaps one of the wisest, and no one (Save Gallade, perhaps) has a firmer grasp on what's good and bad. 

As for that Text to Nathan (If he can send one to them): Nathan, learned that Scimitars have a Warehouse base in Cress , and they are building on into the cliffs outside of city. Thrawn and others might be there, along with Scimitars. Got more information on Scimitars too, but will wait to share when you come back. Unless you need it now?

Spoiler

We fast-forward a little. You get a video call at the Pokemon Center from Officer Jenny and Corporal Furrow.

"Nathan? Heart? Hello. We raided a warehouse in the west of town, executed a no-knock warrant. Broke down the door, and right away your gem stopped blinking. A woman matching Juni's description was seen leaping from the second-story window and Teleporting away. But we've taken three men and two women into custody, who all claim they were employed by an anonymous employer. They may be able to give evidence toward a Pokemon trafficking conviction once we follow the money and figure out who owns this warehouse. This, of course, may be able to bring us more clues as to who attacked you and the eight missing trainers. Well, I should say the three missing trainers. In the upper stories of the warehouse, in what may be Juni's offices, we found an Elminster, a Flora, a Freddi, a Bobbi, and a Taylor. If possible, it'd be great if you could come to the station and confirm these are the people you saw."

"One more thing - do you know anything about this? - a tall man in denim and flannel was seen skulking around the construction site on Cress Cliff, in the company of an Absol. With a Dark type like that and such a furtive attitude, we are worried he may be up to no good. They said he wore thick gloves and a hat lowered over his eyes. Had no other Pokemon with him, apparently."

"Anyway, we've got the gem stored away here in the Western Station lockers. Present that receipt and we can get it back to you anytime that's convenient."

Nathan unintelligibly mumbles, "...damn it..."  Now he's probably gonna have to worry about Juni in 2017, too...unless they run into her again somehow, but Nathan's not sure how likely that is...

When asked about the Absol and the strange man accompanying them: "...as an Abol trainer myself, I can confidently say that they were probably scoping out the area in case any kind of disaster was about to occur there.  Don't recognize the man from that description, though.  If they think something is going to happen there, though, caution would almost certainly be warranted."

"I'll probably visit the station soon to get the gem and double check those trainers.  If you didn't find Thrawn and the campers, though...I guess they might have been taken elsewhere because they might have known more about the situation at the Ruins than those robed people liked or something...that worries me a little, to be honest..."

Nathan looks at Heart.  "Heart, any word from the others yet?"  (As long as you let Heart's cell phone 'update', @Spiritmon, he can send and receive texts from Terra)

Heart updated his cell to receive the message of the others. He then see Terra message. "Terra send me a message saying the Scimitars have a warehouse base in Cress City and they building on into the cliffs outside of the City. He say Thrawn and the others is probably there, along with Scimitars. He also have more information, but he says he prefers talk with you personally about it, unless you the info now."

Heart give the phone to Nathan look better the message.

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Heart updated his cell to receive the message of the others. He then see Terra message. "Terra send me a message saying the Scimitars have a warehouse base in Cress City and they building on into the cliffs outside of the City. He say Thrawn and the others is probably there, along with Scimitars. He also have more information, but he says he prefers talk with you personally about it, unless you the info now."

Heart give the phone to Nathan look better the message.

Nathan does take a closer look...

"...wait a sec.  Terra says that location at the cliffs is also those guys'?   Hang on a second, officers.  Let me double check with our friend on that."

Nathan sends a text to Terra with Heart's phone.

Terra, it's Nathan.  Using Heart's phone.  How'd you get that information?  (@Lord Windos)

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Nathan does take a closer look...

"...wait a sec.  Terra says that location at the cliffs is also those guys'?   Hang on a second, officers.  Let me double check with our friend on that."

Nathan sends a text to Terra with Heart's phone.

Terra, it's Nathan.  Using Heart's phone.  How'd you get that information?  (@Lord Windos)

I figure that Terra is alone/away from the police prying eyes by the time he recieves the text, so he had no qualms about answering back ASAP.

"Scimitar told me it. Told me a lot of other things too. Didn't tell police any, though. Not want to cause any problems."

Short, and straight to the point, his message was.

[Dragonstrike]

I figure that Terra is alone/away from the police prying eyes by the time he recieves the text, so he had no qualms about answering back ASAP.

"Scimitar told me it. Told me a lot of other things too. Didn't tell police any, though. Not want to cause any problems."

Short, and straight to the point, his message was.

Hmmm...now that Terra brings it up...well, Nathan thinks about how he's going to word this carefully...

"...any chance you could look into that cliffside construction site, officers?  I'm not sure if it'll turn up anything, but if our friends have reason to think it has a connection to those robed figures and there's an Absol sniffing around there...well, I have a feeling something might happen there. Maybe Juni is hiding there?"

[Iron]

I figure that Terra is alone/away from the police prying eyes by the time he recieves the text, so he had no qualms about answering back ASAP.

"Scimitar told me it. Told me a lot of other things too. Didn't tell police any, though. Not want to cause any problems."

Short, and straight to the point, his message was.

Hmmm...now that Terra brings it up...well, Nathan thinks about how he's going to word this carefully...

"...any chance you could look into that cliffside construction site, officers?  I'm not sure if it'll turn up anything, but if our friends have reason to think it has a connection to those robed figures and there's an Absol sniffing around there...well, I have a feeling something might happen there.  Maybe Juni is hiding there?"

"Gladly. I think we have officers already nearby."

Jenny makes a call and waits while she finishes taking your statements and such.

"Officers are arriving on site. No one seems to be there, and there's no building yet so they don't need a warrant to look around."

"Officers have explored and documented the construction. They're emailing me a few photos, you can check them out if you like."

"Some footprints in dust have been found, including characteristic Absol spurred footprints. Footprints belonging to one human in boots. They seem to have walked the perimeter, mostly."

"Officers were approached by employees representing the site's owners. They're a big developing company, Pierce and Pearson. Known for boring, mining, and excavating in large quantities. They prep a site and then sell it to the highest bidder."

"Sounds like starting next week, there'll be guards on the property and no trespassers will be permitted. Our officers were politely asked to leave and thanked for the warning. Apparently P&P might ask the guards to start early."

"Found out the Absol and its new owner, a Hans Smith, were there with the knowledge of these supervisors. No contact information available."

"Officers are back on patrol, but we'll make sure there's a police presence nearby. We don't have enough for a warrant for further search, but hopefully we can avert any disaster in cooperation with P&P. No sign of Scimitars or hooded figures or captive trainers."

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

"Gladly. I think we have officers already nearby."

Jenny makes a call and waits while she finishes taking your statements and such.

"Officers are arriving on site. No one seems to be there, and there's no building yet so they don't need a warrant to look around."

"Officers have explored and documented the construction. They're emailing me a few photos, you can check them out if you like."

"Some footprints in dust have been found, including characteristic Absol spurred footprints. Footprints belonging to one human in boots. They seem to have walked the perimeter, mostly."

"Officers were approached by employees representing the site's owners. They're a big developing company, Pierce and Pearson. Known for boring, mining, and excavating in large quantities. They prep a site and then sell it to the highest bidder."

"Sounds like starting next week, there'll be guards on the property and no trespassers will be permitted. Our officers were politely asked to leave and thanked for the warning. Apparently P&P might ask the guards to start early."

"Found out the Absol and its new owner, a Hans Smith, were there with the knowledge of these supervisors. No contact information available."

"Officers are back on patrol, but we'll make sure there's a police presence nearby. We don't have enough for a warrant for further search, but hopefully we can avert any disaster in cooperation with P&P. No sign of Scimitars or hooded figures or captive trainers."

Hmmm...Hans Smith...

"...alright, I'll come over to the station now, then.  Any of the trainers who'd been kidnapped conscious?  I'd like to speak with them if possible.  And I definitely want to see those photos, too."

[Iron]

Spoiler

"Gladly. I think we have officers already nearby."

Jenny makes a call and waits while she finishes taking your statements and such.

"Officers are arriving on site. No one seems to be there, and there's no building yet so they don't need a warrant to look around."

"Officers have explored and documented the construction. They're emailing me a few photos, you can check them out if you like."

"Some footprints in dust have been found, including characteristic Absol spurred footprints. Footprints belonging to one human in boots. They seem to have walked the perimeter, mostly."

"Officers were approached by employees representing the site's owners. They're a big developing company, Pierce and Pearson. Known for boring, mining, and excavating in large quantities. They prep a site and then sell it to the highest bidder."

"Sounds like starting next week, there'll be guards on the property and no trespassers will be permitted. Our officers were politely asked to leave and thanked for the warning. Apparently P&P might ask the guards to start early."

"Found out the Absol and its new owner, a Hans Smith, were there with the knowledge of these supervisors. No contact information available."

"Officers are back on patrol, but we'll make sure there's a police presence nearby. We don't have enough for a warrant for further search, but hopefully we can avert any disaster in cooperation with P&P. No sign of Scimitars or hooded figures or captive trainers."

Hmmm...Hans Smith...

"...alright, I'll come over to the station now, then.  Any of the trainers who'd been kidnapped conscious?  I'd like to speak with them if possible.  And I definitely want to see those photos, too."

She emails the photos to Heart, giving you a very basic floor plan of the eventual base. It's essentially a footprint at this point.

When you get to the station, they show you to where Freddi, Bobbi, Taylor, and Elminster are conscious. Flora is apparently conscious but refusing all visitors. 

You trade your receipt for the Rainbow Relic, undamaged. 

At this point, your PTC is blinking again, signalling a nearby time jump.

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

She emails the photos to Heart, giving you a very basic floor plan of the eventual base. It's essentially a footprint at this point.

When you get to the station, they show you to where Freddi, Bobbi, Taylor, and Elminster are conscious. Flora is apparently conscious but refusing all visitors. 

You trade your receipt for the Rainbow Relic, undamaged. 

At this point, your PTC is blinking again, signalling a nearby time jump.

Awesome.  That rough floor plan will probably come in handy later...

Good thing he's got that gem back, too.  Next time that lilac side starts blinking...

Nathan's unsurprised the PTC is blinking again.  He makes sure to hide it underneath the sleeve of his jacket.

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

So, some quick questions for Elminster and company.

"...you guys doing okay?  We fought off the guys who jumped us and seem to have captured most of them besides their leader, who got away, in case you haven't been updated on that yet.  I don't think they'll be bothering anyone any time soon.  Their leader is probably going to lay low for awhile, I imagine.  The name's Nathan, by the way.  Just in case you were wondering."

He also asks, "Did you guys happen to see or hear anything that might hint at where they took Detective Thrawn and the two campers?  They're still missing.  Any clues you could provide the police would probably be really helpful."