[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

*blink blink* *smile*

"*Chuckles* Glad you like it too, Oninari."

Terra expression then firms up a bit, and gives the fast fox a measuring look.

"Today, you have two more lesson to learn. Then, we can have fun for rest of day. So listen. First lesson: What I say is right is right, and what I say wrong is wrong. My beliefs are yours, and do not believe in anyone else's. Do that, and you will never be unsure of what to do. For me, or for yourself. Understand?"

"Second lesson: Do not be too prideful. Too much blinds you. Makes you stupid, and easy to trick and exploit. It is okay to be proud of what you have done, but temper those feelings and keep control. Understand?"

Hopefully she does, but if not, he'll make sure she does eventually!

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Terra momentarily appeared confused/concerned at his friend's first comment - how did his story make their hearts heat up, and is that a bad thing.....? - but their second distracted him enough to just shrug back, as if what he did for Big Blue was not big deal.

"Do not think Legends would be proud of my mistake, but if they are, they are. Just did what I could to fix thing, that is all. *Smiles*"

Yet again, the sagely monk's is either being humble, or his low self esteem is making him underplay his accomplishments. Hard to tell in this case.

With story time and introduction over (at this point in time), he looks down at Nathan with a small smile, before he motioned to the door.

"Glad you enjoyed my story, though. Have more, but will tell them another time. Now, have to prepare for my battle against Tanuki. Take care, Nathan. Hope you make a big catch with Super Rod, but not too big of one."

That said, the mountain of a man leaves, and does exactly what he says: get ready for his Gym Battle against Tanuki! Nathan himself claimed it was the toughest Gym in all of Cheshire, and he knew from experience that a well trained Normal type was a powerful and unpredicatable foe, so he best get to planning his strategy for victory against the abnormal lass!

(Guess that wraps up that segment! I'll post what Terra does for preparations after we get done with introducing ourselves to our Zorua!)

"It's that simplicity and kindness that really shine through in situations like that. It may not seem like anything special, but trust me, it is."

"Oh, you're going to challenge Tanuki? Did someone lend you a Teleporter already to get back to Cress with?"

Nathan's Zorua is more mature, and starting to develop a bit of pride already. It's still rather small. It gives everyone a staredown before slowly stalking over for sniffs. Nathan's Zorua looks at Calam with awe in her eyes.

For now, whenever the two get startled, they both take the identical form of Howl's youngest apprentice, a little girl of only three years old whose job it is to groom and feed the young Dark types who are safe. Zorua isn't really one of those safe babies, but they still recognize her.

Calam stares back at the young Zorua, his gaze analytical.

"Hello there, Zorua.  Interested in my friend, are you?  Well, let me introduce him.  This is Calam.  My name's Nathan.  And the two of us are going to be training you from now on."

Any particular immediate reactions from Zorua after that?

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

For now, whenever the two get startled, they both take the identical form of Howl's youngest apprentice, a little girl of only three years old whose job it is to groom and feed the young Dark types who are safe. Zorua isn't really one of those safe babies, but they still recognize her.

(*gasps a bit* Is that his daughter??)

"I let trainers pick their own rules, as long as they don't get too complicated. I don't hold back, either. (fainting only). Your pal, the young man, requested 1 Potion, Held Items allowed, standard rules otherwise. I prefer to use just 3 Pokemon because I've usually got somewhere to be. What do you think?"

Oh... Shiva's both rather suprised and faintly confused about who dear Angela meant by 'her pal, the young man'. as an initiate reaction. One second later, she understands. "...Ah! You probably mean Nathan, so he has already beaten you? Cool." Her will to earn the fellow fae enthusiast's Gym Badge increases by another 50%.

"Yes, these rules are just fine to me! Let's go and find a proper place to battle, maybe... maybe not THAT close to these fainted Golbat..." She nudges one with her shoe just to see whether it still moves. (The battle takes place outside, does it? Please let it do so, that's much prefered.)


Now that everything's discussed and prepared, Shiva will toss the Ball containing her first Pokemon of choice in sync with Angela:
The first thing that manifests from the white light is a bushy fluff at the base of each canine-ears, then it elongates to create a robe with a furry tail poking out, and last it forms two human-like arms with oversized sleeves. The creature stretches them widely. It's her magical firefox, he immediately lights up his wand and gracefully turns around his own axis before confidently facing his foe as glittering embers like stars slowly fall to the ground. (Pretty much like in this relatively simple yet still great artwork.)

It's easy (for Angela at least) to realize that it's one of Shiva's most trusted companions.


---------------
Mechanics:
Battle start! That's Shiva's last Encounter for the current Day. Also Music cue.

[Iron]

Spoiler

Terra momentarily appeared confused/concerned at his friend's first comment - how did his story make their hearts heat up, and is that a bad thing.....? - but their second distracted him enough to just shrug back, as if what he did for Big Blue was not big deal.

"Do not think Legends would be proud of my mistake, but if they are, they are. Just did what I could to fix thing, that is all. *Smiles*"

Yet again, the sagely monk's is either being humble, or his low self esteem is making him underplay his accomplishments. Hard to tell in this case.

With story time and introduction over (at this point in time), he looks down at Nathan with a small smile, before he motioned to the door.

"Glad you enjoyed my story, though. Have more, but will tell them another time. Now, have to prepare for my battle against Tanuki. Take care, Nathan. Hope you make a big catch with Super Rod, but not too big of one."

That said, the mountain of a man leaves, and does exactly what he says: get ready for his Gym Battle against Tanuki! Nathan himself claimed it was the toughest Gym in all of Cheshire, and he knew from experience that a well trained Normal type was a powerful and unpredicatable foe, so he best get to planning his strategy for victory against the abnormal lass!

(Guess that wraps up that segment! I'll post what Terra does for preparations after we get done with introducing ourselves to our Zorua!)

"It's that simplicity and kindness that really shine through in situations like that.  It may not seem like anything special, but trust me, it is."

"Oh, you're going to challenge Tanuki?  Did someone lend you a Teleporter already to get back to Cress with?"

Nathan's Zorua is more mature, and starting to develop a bit of pride already. It's still rather small. It gives everyone a staredown before slowly stalking over for sniffs. Nathan's Zorua looks at Calam with awe in her eyes.

For now, whenever the two get startled, they both take the identical form of Howl's youngest apprentice, a little girl of only three years old whose job it is to groom and feed the young Dark types who are safe. Zorua isn't really one of those safe babies, but they still recognize her.

Calam stares back at the young Zorua, his gaze analytical.

"Hello there, Zorua.  Interested in my friend, are you?  Well, let me introduce him.  This is Calam.  My name's Nathan.  And the two of us are going to be training you from now on."

Any particular immediate reactions from Zorua after that?

Not really. The Zorua are ready to hear more about training.

[Iron]

Angela will be starting things off with a disadvantage - her first Pokemon is Alolan Ninetales!

Ninetales: (2)
Delphox: (1)

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

OOOOOHHHH! (⁄ ⁄•⁄o⁄•⁄ ⁄) Shiva can't help but to ADMIRE this precious white fox Angela has sent out as her first choice; she has never seen one in real but now she thinks she understands why it is considered a deity incarnate. "Such a beautiful Pokemon! Angela, do you mind... do you mind telling me where you got her or an Ice Stone? Please??"

She needs a split moment to gather her thoughts and concentrate on the battle again. It's an icy faefox vs. a mystical firefox, she can almost feel the snow crystals clashing with the pieces of ember in mid-air, it only serves to flare up her will and passion even MORE! Everything that lately has occured adds to this, from having reached Elanor, over her new special hatchlings and the evolution of her most-beloved companion, to the omen of the Comet in the sky and the needed visit of the Skull Ruins - and as her inner fire takes a bluish-white color, a burst of so-far-dormant energy is set loose that results in Shiva gaining a very unplanned 4th point in Strength. ( -30XP)

Her Strength Attribute is NOT actual physical strength as suggested by the corebook, she's still rather delicate. It's much more akin to the books' Special and the games' Special Attack because I like that more.



With an almost bold smile she calls out to her fox. "Alright, Delphox, you remember what I asked you to start with? Please continue with the fire magic after that and make it a BLAST if pain fuels your inner flames."

Delphox obeys - he displays another graceful pirouette as he begins to sing to the moon and stars.

Accuracy Roll Lucky Chant 1: 4 Dext + 3 Fight + 3 Perform - 5 Actions = 5d6
Effect: No more crit bonuses for Angela and no more (1)(1) in my dice rolls for the WHOLE battle.
Secondary Effect: Good things also happen at GM's discretion.


Then he starts to mercilessly fire flames at Ninetailes, for the first time Shiva orders to do so 4 times even!

Accuracy Roll Mystical Fire 2: 4 Dext + 3 Fight + 6 Channel - 6 Actions = 7d6
Accuracy Roll Mystical Fire 3: 4 Dext + 3 Fight + 6 Channel - 7 Actions = 6d6
Accuracy Roll Mystical Fire 4: 4 Dext + 3 Fight + 6 Channel - 8 Actions = 5d6
Accuracy Roll Mystical Fire 5: 4 Dext + 3 Fight + 6 Channel - 9 Actions = 4d6
Damage Roll: Now 4 Strength + 2 power of the move + STAB + held Charcoal makes it 8d6 + 1 autodamage due to SE on Alola Ninetails. Blaze may add more.
Additional notes: Auto-lowers Strength by 1 at the first hit.


Conditional
Shall Lucky Chant fail the first time, repeat until it succeeds, I need this advantage in this battle.
As soon as Delphox suffers -2 Pain and Alola Ninetails has more than half of their HP by then, switch to Blast Burn which has 1 reduced Accuracy and a base power of 6. Lethality is of course held back.

[Lord Windos]

Not really. The Zorua are ready to hear more about training.

(Guess I'll assume that Inari understood Terra loud and clear, if she didn't have any notable reactions)

Seeing his dark darling's excitement about Training was quite gratifying and delightful for the steely brawler, as the desire to get stronger and improve were qualities he approved of whole heartily!

"*Chuckles* Yes....like your attitude. Training will begin very soon. Will have lots of exercise, but will also have games to.....test your smarts. Your Illusion and Performing skills will also get much practice. All that, and more. Sound good?"

Hopefully so, but if not, Terra will just have to adjust future Training accordingly, or get the ventablack vixen enthused for it!

With that said, I believe introduction between the sagely monk and Oinari is over, so he sets her down and give the girl one last fond head rub and comment before returning her, his voice calm and kind.

"Rest now, Onari. When you are summoned, your training will begin."

*Transition to Post Whale of a Story*

To Nathan: "*Nods* Yes. Ran into Shiva earlier, and she let me borrow Helios after finding out what I wanted to challenge Tanuki. It is taken care of."

As for Terra's pre-Gym Battle preparations:

- Go to Howl's Apprentice and teach Tomoe Foul Play for $1500 Poke, and Ember from the Firebreather (If Possible). Having a Move that bypasses her 'low' STR and can deal a LOT of Damage to buff Pokemon is always nice, and what kitsune is complete without a little foxfire ?
- Goes to the PC and configures his party to the following line up before Teleporting to Cress: Shiranui, Lapis Lazuli, Basteele, Melly, Onari, and Helios. If its possible to switch Helios into the PC and get him back easily for the Teletrip back to Elanor, he'll be switches out in Cress for Anubi.
- Shiranui and Onirani will be holding a Sitrus Berry, Lapis will continue to hold her Life Orb, Melly and Basteele will be holding Chesto Berries, and Anubi (If he is in the party) will be holding Shiranui's Black Belt. Additionally, Shiranui will also be Paraylzed prior to the battle to trigger his Guts, and he'll give Oinari a heads up that she might be used in the Gym Battle, and if so she should appear as Shiranui if she is sent out before them or Anubi is sent out after (If her Illusion can't replicate any Damage Shiranui may/may not have taken)

All that done, Terra warps over to Tanuki's Gym, and boldly strides on in, panning his gaze around the reception area until he spots either the abnormal lass herself or one of her aides and just says this with arms cross and piercing, Intimidating eyes: 

"I wish to challenge this Gym. Know the rules already (4 Pokemon, Switching Allow, Held Items Allowed, Items can't be used by Trainers), so ready to begin now."

[Iron]

Invisible pellets of ice begin falling from the night sky as Angela explains.

"In Creshire, you can only get them right after the winter snow melts atop the Great Divide. The erosion occcccasionally reveals pure white stones, fresh from the frost - those are Ice Stones capable of evolving Alolan Vulpix."

Ninetales sends a wave of black energy at Delphox.

Dark Pulse 1
Angela has 14 base dice.
(4)(1)(1)(5)(5)(6) (2)(5)(5) Critical hit.
3 Str + 3 power +2 crit -4 vit = 4d6+1
(3)(1)(5)(6) Delphox takes 3 dmg 6/9hp -1 pain
CD: (2)(2)
"I like to keep my Pokemon well-rounded, with lots of surprising moves. Hopefully you weren't expecting that when you thought every advantage was going your way! Type disadvantages don't bother me at all."


Lucky Chant 1
(3)(6)(3)(4)
Delphox raised a Lucky Chant!

Dark Pulse 2
(2)(1)(1)(4)(6)(6) (5)(3)
(2)(5) Delphox takes 2 dmg 4/9hp -2 pain
CD: (1)(2)

Delphox gets ready to press that type and setup advantage.
Mystical Fire 2
(6)(1)(4)(2)(5)
10d6 with Blaze -6* vit in the hail = 4d6+1
(6)(2)(2)(4) Ninetales takes 3 dmg 5/8hp -1 pain
-1 Str for Ninetales, since it's harder for her to attack through the fire!

Dark Pulse 3
(5)(5)(3)(6)(5)(5) Delphox is shielded from crits!
(5)(1) Delphox takes 2 dmg 2/9hp -2 pain
CD: (5)(1)

Mystical Fire 3
(2)(1)(3)(5)
(5)(5)(2)(1) Ninetales takes 3 dmg 2/8hp -2 pain

It's a close battle, but Ninetales is just way faster, having trained Survival in the Safari Zone and the Swamp. She has a decent chance to end this right now.

Dark Pulse 4
(4)(4)(1)(3)
(2)(5) Delphox takes 2 dmg and faints.

Delphox faints, but continues to glow her eerie glow in the darkness outside.

Hail continues.

[Iron]

Zorua definitely has a proper jaw.

You can't put someone else's Pokemon into your PC. It would just send Helios back to Shiva.


"I'm glad you came prepared. I don't have anything else going on today, so I'm game to start now! :v"

She leads you into the room full of tubes, which I believe Terra has already seen. She places a Pokeball at the top of one of the tubes. "Who is first for you?"

[Iron]

Spira vs Heart Round 4

Toya begins with a Shadow Sneak, fading into Golett's own shadow and reaching out to claw at him while he's charging up for a Shadow Punch. It's a quick, decisive, tactical way to end this battle, since only 1 damage is needed!

Shadow Sneak 1
(6)(3)(5)(1)(3)(1)
(3) + 1 Golett takes 1 dmg and is out of the battle.
Spira is the winner!

This battle was worth 20XP for both participants. It was really kind of a tie since Spira got to use that Potion.