[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Zamboni leaves a Delibird with the two trainers, who agree to watch Drowzee from the shadows.

"Whatever you do, don't fall asleep!" He hands them a thermos of hot cocoa. Drowzee just puts her hands on her stony crown and hums to herself, taking no notice.

Everyone else goes back to the other chamber, where Princess soon becomes increasingly excited. This must be the right way to Vespiquen, if she's still around.

Here, the Combee have made careful changes to the tunnels they've found, or built. Everything is nicer, smoother, with no jutting protrusions or sharp corners or misaligned Combee. The walls are more alert, buzzing warningly as you pass. Princess and the undersized Combee speed up.

You turn a corner, the mirror image of the one where Drowzee rules. The walls are lined with interesting stones - smooth ones, crystalline ones, rocks with unusual shapes. None match what Drowzee held, however. Ventus theorizes that these unusual stones symbolize Vespiquen's Power Gem, the mark of her discipline on the flying, crawling hive of her inferiors. Or at least an interest in collecting such perceived talismans.

The Queen Bee herself is busy piling up her "artifacts" up on a rock shelf, assisted by 18 Combee. They bring her honey to sustain her in her purpose. You spot several stones you recognize as semiprecious gems that were for sale at the festival.

Ralts senses the powerful emotions of absolute royalty and blanches a bit. This Queen has not lost any of her majesty or sovereignty to Drowzee, that's for sure. Somehow, their purposes align.

She is instantly alert to your presence. The Princess goes up to her while the undersized Combee hides in terror. The attendants are ready for anything. Vespiquen turns to you regally and waits for you to make the first move.