[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Garlicburg: Greenpath - Hollow Knight

Nathan salutes to the soldiers, keeping his greeting mostly professional and relatively brief.  "Glad to have the assistance of those familiar with the island.  I do expect that we'll be venturing into at least partially unknown territory on this venture, however, as our primary mission is to find an item that's been hidden here for an unspecified amount of time.  I have a Kingdra that's presumably located it already, and they've agreed to assist us with reaching it.  We're likely going to have to do some DIVING in the submerged tunnels, so I hope you're ready for a swim."

Nathan's all for following his Kingdra's lead and going straight for the tunnels in the reefs!

[Lord Windos]

Terra inclines his head respectfully at the soldiers but says nothing, letting Nathan handle talking with them and nodding along with their course of action. Being somewhat socially inept at the best of times, he thinks that remaining mostly silent and following along with whatever his friends or the military says would be the smart decision.

Ventus elects to do much the same as the sagely monk, saying and doing nothing but giving the soldiers a polite and kind smile. Internally the eccentric researcher was not pleased or comfortable being around so many of the government's attack dogs or in the midst of one of their most secluded, secretive, and fortified outposts, but he'd grin and bear it if it was necessary to have the 'holiday experience' he most wished for. He too will go with Nathan , but he also wants to explore the labs and island proper later on, if that is possible.

He does have something to say after his friend finishes speaking themselves, though.

"Unfortunately, not all of us have Pokemon capable of properly DIVING like my friend does, so if you have some scuba equipment or rebreathers on hand for those that don't, I humbly request you lend it to us for the duration of our mission. I rather not drown or try to spontaneously learn how to filter oxygen from sea water trying to find this Item, or suffer any other easily preventable aquatic based demise really."

[Spiritmon]

Since @Iron did not even say something, and I suppose it's doesn't matter in this diceless campaign, Heart just follow everyone in his Delta Steelix, not wasting time in be leave behind (again). Is Heart the same thing as everyone Iron?

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

As they sail over into the island of Garlicburg, Shiva stays on deck and watches the transit, and so do all of her Pokemon with her. She's especially cuddly towards Whimsicott and Raphael as she keeps them the closest to herself. And whenever possible, she stays near Ventus for reassurance, since even though having expected heavy military presence, it's still somewhat unnerving and uncomfortable for sensitive her.

A man and a woman, both in the neat military uniform of Creshire, approach. "I'm Sergeant Eduardo, and this is Lieutenant Rita. We have been assigned to your group, to help you achieve everything you need during your visit here. Would you like suggestions as to where to go, or do you already have your orders?"

She greets them with a formal but still kind and honest bow, introduces herself by full name, and so do her fluffball and archangel. They're making sure to stay close to Shiva and keep her as well as themselves safe, sound and calm.

When she speaks up, her voice hasn't lost any of its usual softness, but she's adding a professional and no-nonsense tone on purpose. "Uhm, will it be fine if we adress you with your first names then? E-either way, me too am glad to have...your aid and guidance.... " Then she coughs. "Listen please, in contrary to the other here I'm having... more personal reasons and objectives for having come here, yet the fact that I'm looking and full-heartedly hoping for finding something is the same. Shall we possibly or maybe split up at some appropriate point, is that possible and okay?"

"First up, do you know anything further about that kelp that grows around the shore? They're growing to an immense size... Is there some sort of gathering point or forest where the most kelp grows? How safe is it for me to dive down there, given you'd be able to provide the tools to do so?"
Source

"Furthermore, you're saying that....there are labs and tunnels beneath, are there? I know for a FACT that Almanac had their labs here as well, secret ones actually. What happened with them, can you lead me to them?"

Source

Depending on Eduardo's and Rita's responses, Shiva will decide what she'll do first.

[Iron]

Since @Iron did not even say something, and I suppose it's doesn't matter in this diceless campaign, Heart just follow everyone in his Delta Steelix, not wasting time in be leave behind (again). Is Heart the same thing as everyone Iron?

As far as I know you are with the party and experiencing the same things as them.

[Iron]

"We can summon more personnel if you need to split up. There is enough scuba gear for everyone." Bear in mind that scuba gear is not as good as the legendary DIVE, of course. You can disembark from a submarine once you get close.

"The giant kelp is most plentiful on the eastern side of the island, a bit north of where your Kingdra wants to go. We keep it mowed down on the other sides of the island. There is also a nice sandy sea cave, accessible with scuba gear, where the kelp grows very thickly and very tall, climbing up through a shaft to the top of the island, where water is expelled as if through a Wailmer's blowhole."

"We know the kelp is packed with nutrients, much of the same stuff that goes into a Protein or HP Up. We convert a lot of it to fuel every year."

"We discovered that Almanac had several moles within our organization. After a widespread psychological testing and an updating of all security, we court martialed each one and shut off the lab to all visitors, both civilian and military. Experts are analyzing what exactly is down there and how dangerous it might be. It's not looking good..."

Eduardo prepares a submarine to depart southeast.

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan's rather concerned about what the soldiers have to say about Almanac's secret operations on the island.  "...several moles, huh?  I knew Almanac and the Scims had at least one higher up in the League, but if they'd even infiltrated Garlicburg...yeesh...if you need help with clearing out anything down there in those labs, my Sword is yours.  Know first hand just how nasty some of Almanac's experiments can be, unfortunately, so I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt trying to neutralize any potential threats."

Aside from that, Nathan's ready to search for that DIVE HM once everyone else is!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Eduardo prepares a submarine to depart southeast.

That's very appreciated and thankfully accepted from Shiva's side, she'a going to disembark from this submarine as soon as this giant kelp to the eastern side of the island is close enough that she can safely approach it with scuba gear. Azu's going to swim and dive directly by her side as they get closer and closer to this forest of kelp and the sandy sea cave, keeping all their senses active for anything that might be curious or off (in both good and bad way).

"We discovered that Almanac had several moles within our organization. After a widespread psychological testing and an updating of all security, we court martialed each one and shut off the lab to all visitors, both civilian and military. Experts are analyzing what exactly is down there and how dangerous it might be. It's not looking good..."

Oi, that's actually pretty clever by Almanac. Still, Shiva can't help but to at first frown, then grow somewhat sad and down, and finally she becomes 100% more determined as she crosses her arms and strenthens her posture. Which Whimsicott does too just because. "But.... I am no 'visitor', I kinda need to head down these labs because I have gotten word from a trustworthy source about a few very special Pokemon being held captive down these labs. A species that's safe to handle, a species that deserves a proper home, a home that I WANT. TO. provide."

"However dangerous it might be down there, I've been down the SKULL RUINS with the others here... And I'm, well, confident that the Shield will protect me and my own dear Pokemon-companions from any ill stuff or creatures down there."

[Iron]

"Well.... it's true that you have the Artifacts. I can't risk my soldiers down there, though. We could set up a cordon in the big hallway around that entire area, lock all but one door for you to access at your own risk. That's the best I can offer. And you'll have to report on everything you find there."

Nathan and Kingdra "fly" off in one direction while Shiva scubas in another.

After a lot of searching, Shiva finds a strange trail of bubbles. Each one is full of thick thick mud. The underwater bubbles get bigger and less diffuse as they get farther from their source, so it's easy to follow.

A school of small and curious Qwilfish and Barboach are following the bubbles, but don't seem to be the source of them. Instead, you follow them (I presume) to their origin point in a small sandy cave that seems directly underneath the outer portions of Garlicburg. A chimney of stone leads straight upward, channeling any rogue waves straight upward. A new species of the giant kelp clings to the walls, surviving off the salty moisture. You can see big Shellder up there gnawing on it, and you can see daylight at the top. But all the kelp ceases immediately about a meter from the top.

Meanwhile, down in the sea cavern, Azu silently points toward a glitter of light adorning the top of a large, crude, mudcastle. Half-submerged in the mud is a 10' Kingler, his mouth carefully lowered to the water where he is blowing the big muddy bubbles. One claw is so large that it is almost entirely sunken in the dirt. The other is small, sharp, and more agile-looking.




Nathan, and anyone who chooses to accompany him, finds themselves passing the same rock over and over again. It's identifiable by the spiral pattern on it, visible within a beam of sunlight that pierces the depths. Circling a hundred feet above, darting in and out of the kelp circle, you see the silhouettes of some broad fishlike Pokemon with fins almost like frilled wings. The details are not clear, but Kingdra actually looks unusually nervous.

[Iron]

Heart and Terra, is there anything in particular you want to pursue at this moment? Or to join one of the aformentioned party members?