[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Mikaruge108]

When Spira sees the sword he chuckles, "Of course it had to be embedded in a stone, because why not?" he carefully traces a finger on the pommel of the hilt.
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Concerning the Nidoran: "Who knows how that eye is affecting them, the main thing I'm worried about is how many, if any Nidoqueen and Nidoking there are..." He shrugs, "Don't really know much about Nidoran, but I'm fairly certain they are normally rather docile."

[Iron]

Does that mean you are entering the mossy plain where the Nido are?

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Can you wait a moment before proceeding? I've got something to add concerning that before possible entering.
EDIT: It's up, see below.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Concerning Big Sneasel's words along the way, Shiva felt an urge to throw a sharp counter-reply at Sneasel about how she's not 'always fighting', seeing as it hit a sensitive nerve within her. However, she opts to say nothing instead as she started to feel guilty: Down here in the caverns it's indeed always about fighting and battling, and this was just what she did as she's too weak to resist the Eye's will, she's always that susceptible towards any silents calls or forces that want her to do something, a noticed side effect of her developed honed empathy. It's something she wishes to work on with Ventus' help at some point.

She still waves him a kind goodbye, regardless his morbid comment of 'if you live'. "I for sure will, Sneasel, thank you for...leading the way! Please remember to keep that Apricorn for me, alright? Horde lots of additional treasures meanwhile, I look forward to see what you managed to dig up!~"


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The first thing Shiva notices upon having arrived is not the Sword, it's more so that massive pack of Nidoran. Or, that must be at least a dozen packs, all nestled and following their business here like they are an item: 'Nidoran City', how Sneasel himself called it, pretty much nails it. The shock over seeing THAT MANY as well as HUGE poisonous Pokemon causes her to hold back a startled screech and wrap herself around Spira's arm (not the one with the birthmark) out of instinct. It also auto-summons Primal Espeon and Yena, who both take a bold stance between their Master and all these Nidos, they bristle their fur and everything, all ready and willing to protect her if needed.

Now, after that initial schock, she manages to lay her gaze at that Sword - what catches her attention more than it though, are these silver lines decorating the boulder it is stabbed into - THAT must be the same silverly stuff that's running through the caverns, this boulder with the Sword must be the source of all that. This means, here, close to that boulder, that urge to fight, proof oneself and dominate must be strongest, right? If it is, Shiva will notice it.

She's startled over Terra and Nathan wanting to investigate right away, intercepts carefully by adding that if they like to do that, she'd like to join, for the sole reason of preventing any harm these Nidos would do upon entering with the help of the Shield.

[Lord Windos]

Quote Dragonstrike:

Spoiler

Concerning Dratini hatching:

Nathan can't help but chuckle at how eager the little one is to find a home. "Well now, I suppose this would be a good spot to grow quickly, wouldn't it? Don't think this would be very good in the long term, though, particularly for one so young. Come along, little one. We'll find a good home for you, together, and we'll make sure you grow big and strong enough to take care of yourself along the way."




For the time being, Nathan does not register the newly hatched (male) Dratini to a pokeball, instead opting to let the serpentine dragon curl around his arm for transport purposes. Even though the young dragon has only just hatched, it's quite clear that Nathan has a rock solid bond with and command of this pokemon (4 Loyalty after that ancestry bonus, yo). Nathan will think of a nickname for them later.

(...)

Terra's idea to explore around and request then derails that train of thought. Nathan is at least quick to respond, though. "...after what you pulled earlier, Terra, there is no way Gallade and I want you walking around unattended down here. Never know when trouble is gonna strike. So yeah, we're coming with you, no question."

Terra would be startled by Nathan's Dratini Egg from hatching - he'd honestly forgotten about it, after all the drama and excitement he and the group had been through, but it would quickly dispel and be replaced with a becalmed happiness as he smiles and silently watches his friend bond with his newly hatched Dragon. Such a scene reminded him of his own 'little' girl's hatching and how 'big' she was back, something that happened/was relatively recently but seemed like eons ago, and it filled him with a warm sense of nostalgia and pride for them.

Speaking of her, Angie's reaction to Dratini was much more vivid and animated than her papa's, jolting back + upwards and letting out the most astonished *SZ!* the moment their Egg started cracking wide open, and for a moment after that was over she couldn't help but stare at it in childlike and befuddled awe. It didn't last long, however, for not a couple seconds later the angelic dragon was right back and up in Nathan's personal space, this time winding as much of her colossal form as she could manage around them and the young drake and looking at both of them in sequence (Dratini first, then Nathan) with naked and intense curiosity, tilting her head this way and that. Right now, she couldn't exactly determine how she felt about this and the aquatic wyrm, but it was abundently clear she was very interested at the very least.

Sari (if she's out) probably doesn't care too much about Dratini, save for possibly viewing it as another potential meal like the Huntail she ate earlier. So long as it didn't bother her, though, she'd leave it well enough alone.....probably.

(...)

The Lore Master's admonishing comment earns them a light frown from the sagely monk - He could very well tend to himself/his chosen tasks after he's rested up and recovered - but didn't say anything as he nodded back to them. Concerning Shiva's request to join them, Terra doesn't mind one bit - in fact, he's glad she's coming with him, as he could keep better watch over her this way and act as a anchor of comfort to alievate herself of the dread/fear she felt for the Nidoran (Which he's been aware of by Ven, or as much of it as they knew/figured out). Plus, more people meant better searching and greater safety (they increase with number, after all), something he could get behind 100% !

[Iron]

The boulder is no greater a source of the Eye's influence than anywhere else you've been, but you are deeper and so the influence is stronger. You can sense a large amount of Earthpower in the boulder, though. So can Heart.



You move forward as a pack, and Spira caresses the Sword. It's fiery hot to the touch. The Nidoran nearby all swivel to watch what you'll do next.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

'Watch what you'll do next' can interpreted in different ways that call for different ways to approach and/or adress them, but one thing that's certain is that Shiva's wincing as the Nidos are shifting all their attention on them. Just in case, she holds the Shield protectively in front of herself, it's looking like she's desperately trying to hide behind it.

Still she adresses them with a clear voice. "We... We mean no harm, we're just a mere group of travelers from the surface, guests in your place. Won't attack unless you give us reason to." What impression does she receive from the Nidos though, are they protective over the Sword, seeing it as the center of their city or similar, do they look like they'd attack if they handle the Sword furthermore? Shiva would want to avoid fighting them all AT ALL COSTS.

[Spiritmon]

<p></p><p>

Spoiler

</p><p>

The boulder is no greater a source of the Eye's influence than anywhere else you've been, but you are deeper and so the influence is stronger. You can sense a large amount of Earthpower in the boulder, though. So can Heart.



You move forward as a pack, and Spira caresses the Sword. It's fiery hot to the touch. The Nidoran nearby all swivel to watch what you'll do next.

</p><p><br></p><p></p><p>

</p><p><br></p><p>Heart could feel the power flowing coursing the boulder. "Hmm. We need to find a way to break this somehow. Maybe I..." Heart then proceed to put both his hands in the boulder, trying to focus in all his Earthpower energy.</p>

[Iron]

The Nidos are watching curiously. They don't seem the least bit protective right now.

Nathan and Terra do a quick patrol of the edge of the "city." There are warrens leading off in all directions, most inhabited. It's hard to see what's down that way, but it seems most of the more mature Nidos are down thataway. Including Nidorino/Nidorina. You see some signs of intelligence, such as storing dried moss for later consumption, but no tool usage like the Slowbro. A Nido in its burrow will immediately snarl at you if you try to enter, but they don't chase you beyond it. There are also signs of a hierarchy, some Nidoran/Nidorina/Nidorino being more important than others.

Heart, when you focus on the boulder, you sense it resisting you. It's definitely beyond mortal levels of Earthpower, and beyond most Pokemon's levels too. The Moltres Egg won't help in this situation.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

The Nidos are watching curiously. They don't seem the least bit protective right now.

That's good and quite relieving for Shiva to know, and causes her to carefully unhide from her spot behind the Shield. She keeps eyeing these Nido though, doesn't dare to become careless even once as long as so many and so large poisonous Pokemon are around.

Seeing that touching the Sword and the boulder it is stabbed into has harmed neither Spira nor Heart, she follows their example and slowly places only the tip of her finger onto the hilt of this noble Artifact. Then, given she does not suffer a massive burn from that touch, she closes her hand around the hilt and tries to jiggle it - she DOES NOT attempt to pull the Sword out, BUT she carefully tests whether she'd be able to do so at all, aka whether she can move it within the boulder or not. She doesn't think she can, that Prophecy, that leadership-role and stuff - but this does not prevent her from trying to do so anyway, it's now or never. Why shouldn't she take this chance when it's feeling safe to do so? (This is something I'm extremely curious about, @Iron. I don't expect Shiva being able to pull that Sword loose, not in the slightest, but the GM may know better after all.)

While the others handle the Sword then, can she actually collect some crafting materials here also? In such a manner that it does not take an Encounter please. Things like shed scales or horns from the Nidos, or portions of this moss, anything that'd be nice to take along. Maybe she can create something customized for that poinous evolution of her Spritzee.