[Game Thread] Pokerole Mystery Dungeon: Primal Shadows

[Spiritmon]

"Well, human I am not for certain. And I dont know if Kee is really human but I dont think now it is the time to point fingers. We still have some Pokemon to rescue." Kogeki grab of the Gravelrock and put in his bag.

"And yes. Let us go. But I have a name Hoopa. Its Kogeki. Call me "strange doggy friend" again, and I will shake your bottle for the rest of today night. And I will even draw a mustache in your bottle while you sleep. Capiché?"

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Ah... Kee can't help but to massively facepalm over himself for having unwillingly blown the secret of them being human. But once it's clear that Hoopa WON'T use that against them, he gently pats the djin on their shoulder and likewise gives them a wink. "Good t'know. Thank ya. Hehehehe..." There's more semi-embarassed laugther before the crittercoon eventually takes a bold and brave stance with him facing further down the corridor ahead. "Ya're all right, let'sa get goiiiiin'!!1~ Am seeing some precious pr'cious loot nat far from here~~"

Path to go:
   

Along the way, Kee beckons Hoopa to come a little closer to him, asking in a more quiet voice: "What was that ya briefly mention'd, 'before everyone was turned to stone'...? Will ya tell more 'bout that when we can settle down and are undisturbed? I'd like to, if ya're willin' t'tell. 'Fter all, sounds like quite an event."

[no one]

Daxter follows the group in silence, nursing his jaw in mild agony while the others start another argument (albeit a shortlived one). He doesn't trust himself to speak for fear of snapping st someone again, and speaking would most likely bring about a fresh wave of dental pain, so he keeps his mouth shut. Kogeki's promise to refrain from deadly force does cause Daxter to raise an eyebrow. A surprising outcome, yet not unwelcome. Kee's slipup causes him to flinch, however. Hoopa's gleeful demeanour at that causes him groan softly.

"So much for keeping it a bloody secret... Oh, well. One of us was bound to slip up eventually. Just relieved it wasn't me." Daxter says with a shrug before looking at Hoopa. "Yeah we're human. I figured that that might be a reason for us being able to see you. Just do us a favour, mate, and keep it to yourself. I have no idea how everyone in the town might react, but I doubt it'd be good for us. Let's get moving. Let's see if we can figure out whatever the hell is going on with Machamp."

[Dragonstrike]

"Oh, you don't know about that whole almost end of the world thing yet?  Guess you must have shown up rather recently then.  Oh yeah, I've got noooo problems with telling you aaaaaalllll about that when we've got some time.  It's quite a story.  Hehehehe!~"

Team OS (plus Hoopa) continue down the corridor, and find themselves in a large cavern, dimly lit by torchlight.  The ground continues to slope downwards, deeper into the earth, and two exits further into the cavern are revealed by torches hanging on the walls next to them.  Even taller wooden pillars support the upper layer of this cavern, and wooden beams crisscross the ceiling.

   

Marcus walks into the room, looking around at the surroundings and whistling in amazement.  


  Starry Eyed Cubone.JPG (Size: 8.93 KB / Downloads: 119)

"This doesn't look natural.  The wooden pillars supporting the ceiling in those tunnels, all the torches on the walls...it makes me wonder who built all this..."

He steps on something, and the loud sound of old, creaking wood is suddenly heard.  Everyone (except Hoopa) freezes in place as the silence of the mine is broken.

...but nothing appears in response to the loud noise.  Marcus looks down to see what he stepped on...

Two long lengths of metal snake out of one of the exit corridors and to the other, planks of wood connecting the two at regular intervals. (OOC: it's a minecart track, but nobody recognizes it IC)


  Neutral Cubone.JPG (Size: 8.77 KB / Downloads: 120)

"...okay, if I had to take a guess, this wasn't built by Pokémon.  This...path doesn't look like anything I've ever seen a pokémon build."

"Oh, so you think humans constructed this mine?"


  Questioning Cubone.JPG (Size: 8.75 KB / Downloads: 119)

"Do you have a better explanation?"

"Nope!  Hehehehe!"

Marcus sighs in exasperation.  "...then why did you even speak up?"

Karen's looking around the room as well, also very curious about it.  So much so that she seems to be ignoring the ongoing conversation between Hoopa and Marcus.

*rolls*

Kee, with both the X-Ray Specs and his keen sense of smell, is able to pinpoint where the item on this tile is without much issue.  He finds an unlocked chest sitting in a dark corner of the room, and inside it is an Apple (it's not Fresh, though).

And on that note, everyone's tummies are also starting to rumble (except for Kee and Marcus because they had breakfast at Café Conenction before setting out, Kogeki because he ate an apple earlier, and Hoopa's doesn't either).

"Oh, uh...I guess now's probably a good time for a snack?  Does everyone have an Apple?  I've got one for myself already, and one of the ones we picked up earlier in the Secret Quarry as well if someone needs it."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"Oh, you don't know about that whole almost end of the world thing yet?  Guess you must have shown up rather recently then.  Oh yeah, I've got noooo problems with telling you aaaaaalllll about that when we've got some time.  It's quite a story.  Hehehehe!~" (...)

Kee respons to Hoopa's rhetorical question with a quick headshake and their joy and laughter with some sly snickering of his own. "Ahahaha~, boy am I lookin' f'rward t' listen that quite-as-story! ( TωT)و☆"

Two long lengths of metal snake out of one of the exit corridors and to the other, planks of wood connecting the two at regular intervals. (OOC: it's a minecart track, but nobody recognizes it IC)

(Then I'll refer to them as minecart track in the posts/meta-wise, but not act like recognizing them as such.)

When that loud sound of old, creaking wood(!!!) breaks the silence and the instinctive freezing passes after a moment, Kee is quick to bare his teeth, bristle his fur and frantically move his deep-red eyes from one spot to the other; his desire to protect the others from any harm AT ANY COST being triggered by that potential threat.

...But that feeling passes too as it was a mere false alarm. Though if there's one thing that the furry crittercoon definitely prefers, then it's calming himself down from a false alarm than thinking himself and those he cared for safe!

And so he starts to scratch, sniff, lick and follow that curiosity (the minecart track) they've stumbled upon in the current room, finding joy in zigzag-jumping from one wooden plank to the other as he does so. He comes to a sudden halt as his nose picks up the faint whiff of A SIGNIFICANT SMELL not far away from his position - it's faint, but IT'S THERE!! (╯✧▽✧)╯ "D'tected some FOOD 'round here!" he squeals out as he almost rams his nose into the ground to trail and track that smell, eventually leading him to that unlocked chest in a dark corner of the room. With an unecessary amount of grace and triumph he pulls the Apple out of the chest - and without a second thought hands it to the others/to whoever is the closest to him. "Here. For ya!~ I... I'm full 'n alright, had some d'cent breakfast b'fore we went off. C'mon, enjoy yar food an' strengthen yarself. Please! Heck knows when we'll 'ave tha time or more food available shall hunger come up to cross our plans." He smiles genuinely as he speaks and appears determined about this action of his.


While the others eat, Ziggy Kee will nudge Marcus to catch his attention, him being not busy with filling his stomach right now. Something the craftsman of a Cubone mentioned sparked his natural curiosity. "Sooo, if all of this place doesn't 'ppear built by Pokemon - does that, maybeh, p'tentionally, mean that HYUMANS in this world were once a thing? Like, real people ?" Kee staaaares at Marcus, being both confused and fascinated by that idea. "That sounds kinda, hmm, far-fetched and hard to b'lieve for me. How an' why could some skilled group of Pokemon nat build such a place??"

[Spiritmon]

Kogeki just simple walk in the path, along with everyone else, looking everything in the path. He get close to Marcus and ask him something. "Do you think when we defeat Machamp, we might find a substitute material to made a new weapon? I like my kunai, but I might want a sword a bit more easier to wield it."

Kogeki wave his hand toward Kee. "I do not need it. I also eat a bit earlier in our journey. Someone else should eat.''

"I also dont think we should delay any longer our journey. Trying to think who built this place is unecessary for now. We still have a enemy to beat."

[Lord Windos]

Pyra wouldn't have paid any mind to the dungeon's décor, as she had WAY too much on her mind at the moment to feel or indulge in her usual curiosity, but Marcus' comment does get her to notice and *hum* appreciatingly at it all. If her former species could do something like this at such a scale, what else were they capable of? Similarly the whole 'Stone Pokemon' thingy that Hoopa teased at didn't earn the demoness' attention, as she was content to let Kee and the other hit up that particular inquiry themselves while she sorted out her own thoughts and feelings.

In brief, she her focus was split between personal matters and navigating/defending against the M.D. proper, and had not a lot left to spare for things that typically WOULD thrill and/or bemuse her. Ugh....hopefully she'll manage to brighten up again after they were done with this tumulchtous job the bone craftsmon debt slaved them into, and had the time the PROPERLY access EVERYTHING she's learned and plot a path from there.

Her tummy's sudden growling suddenly (and perhaps thankfully) startled her out of her moody introspection, causing her to look down at it and frown in consideration. Dear oh me, yet another 'quirk' of her body demanding some sort of response on her part, least it cause her problems or make her unwittingly unnerve her friends with a lack thereof. Fortunately she quickly remember this as a sign of 'Hunger' , and so promptly pulled out her Apple from the Trapped Loot Pile and scarfed it down in less than 10 seconds, no doubt making quite the mess and sending juices flying everywhere. Watch out, everyone!

Kee's offer of the recently found Apple was therefore declined by the brimstone imp with a small shake of her head, giving him a smile as she rolled it back/gestured it to him. "Keep it, store and cash it away for another time, Ziggy Kee. We hunger no longer now, yes, but lean times and empty Bellies can-could await us in future-then, so save it until when."

Pyra nods at Kogeki's suggestion, before looking at Kee and awaiting there decision on which way to proceed. To more Loot and Treasure, perhaps, towards danger and peril, or searching for the allegedly nefarious Machamp? Everyone will find out soon enough!

[Dragonstrike]

Karen sits down with Daxter and gives him an Apple to snack on while she pulls out one to eat herself.

While the others eat, Ziggy Kee will nudge Marcus to catch his attention, him being not busy with filling his stomach right now. Something the craftsman of a Cubone mentioned sparked his natural curiosity. "Sooo, if all of this place doesn't 'ppear built by Pokemon - does that, maybeh, p'tentionally, mean that HYUMANS in this world were once a thing? Like, real people ?" Kee staaaares at Marcus, being both confused and fascinated by that idea. "That sounds kinda, hmm, far-fetched and hard to b'lieve for me. How an' why could some skilled group of Pokemon nat build such a place??"

  Neutral Cubone.JPG (Size: 8.77 KB / Downloads: 70)

"Well, there's not really any other explanation for more than a few things pokemon have found while adventuring.  And if I remember correctly, there were also claims that a human from the future had appeared on the Grass Continent at one point.  Was apparently a pretty big deal, though I have no idea how true that might be.  One thing's for certain, though: nobody has any idea what happened to the humans or where they might be now.  It's one of the few mysteries of this world that I'm not sure is ever going to be solved."

"But yeah, take these metal beams and wooden planks, for example.  I've got no clue what a pokemon would even use that for, if I'm being honest.  It looks entirely foreign to usual pokemon craftsmonship.  I can only reasonably conclude humans built this place."

"Do you think when we defeat Machamp, we might find a substitute material to made a new weapon? I like my kunai, but I might want a sword a bit more easier to wield it."

  Neutral Cubone.JPG (Size: 8.77 KB / Downloads: 70)

"Maybe we could find something here.  I get a lot of quality stone for crafting from here, so I could possibly use something like that to create a weapon for you."

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

And with that, I think we're just about ready to finally get moving again.  Where to next, Kee?

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Hmm... All these drops and hints from Marcus cause Ziggy Kee to staaaaaare at the craftsman of a Cubone in AMAZEMENT, the gaze of his deep-red eyes almost drilling through Marcus' skull mask. "Built by hyumans....!!!1", he whispers to himself, his urge to smell, scratch and lick at everything around and explore every single corner of this area now being increased by 200%.

"Let's see, where to now... Uh..." Kee throws his fuzzy head from one side to the other, sniffing the air and trying to spot something of interest via the stylish Specs. Then he suddenly gasps: "Up there we gohooo!~"

(That means, is there a way to get up this little ridge to reach the Item on the tile next to us? Prefarably without a roll, if not possible without one, please specify what Stats will be used.)
   

[Spiritmon]

"Leaf the way Kee. Can you detect any Pokemon or item ahead?"