[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Almost bowled over by Nathan's words, Ventus put his hands in the arm and made calming motions towards the somewhat frantic trainer. "Be calm Nathan! There is no crisis to be had, so let's not make any rash decisions or assumptions now. Now, let me see if I can't answer your questions..." he said, before putting his hand on his chin and stroking it. A few minutes went by in tense silences, before the hand to his side, and he shrugged at Nathan in bafflement.

"Hmm...for your first concern I have no real idea as to why Shiva seems to have played a role in Kirlia's evolution. Even if I were to make any assumption as to why, I don't want to raise any alarms or cause problems for Shiva by coming up with unsubstantiated theories. Perhaps you should go to her later and ask her ideas as to Kirlia's unexpected growth," Ventus said, placing careful emphasis on certain word and broadcasting a feeling of investigation towards Shiva. While he said didn't know why this happened, in actually he had an inkling what was going on, but couldn't come out directly with it.
 
'This phone call from the daycare and Shiva's 'mission' from them are likely the reason for Ralts transformation, but I am unable to say that directly to Nathan, as that would void my promise with Shiva. However, she never bared me from alluding to her secret activities for the daycare at all, so giving the boy a subtle 'push' to investigate her is totally within my power. If I just so happen to ask him about his findings, I can obtain whatever intel he has collect as well, all without breaking my oath. I don't like manipulating people at all, but I hate having secrets dividing the group even more, so its a necessary evil,' Ventus pondered, feeling a bit rueful for setting Nathan on her trail.

Dispelling those emotions before they could get out of hand, he turned his mind to the 'Visions' that Kirlia showed Nathan. Ventus eyes started to darken when he recalled Nathan mentioning this 'king' Sarimanok and his grisly thrown. "As for your vision of the future, I am as baffled by them as you are. I have been around a Garvador many years ago, but never a Ralts, so I don't know when or where that happened. As for your former king... he sounds just like Ghetsis, the bastard. May both of them freeze in Kuryem's world," the researcher spat, as he suddenly started growling in anger. Ariel, who had finally caught up with her master, immedianlty noticed that he was in a foul mood now, and decided to go over to meet Kirlia instead. She hobbled over to him and wobbled one her stumpy arms in greeting!

Nathan narrows his eyes.  Kirlia's stopped dancing momentarily, having caught wind of what Ventus was thinking.  "Uh huh.  Ya know, he might not be a Ralts any more, but he can still sense your emotions and thoughts, and that pearl he has is probably a Clampearl Pearl.  You're not telling the whole truth about that, either.  But fine, if you don't want to tell me either, so be it.  I'll just have to grill Shiva later..."

Ventus's intense hatred for Sarimanok quickly overrides what he'd been feeling prior, and Nathan and Kirlia both feel it, distracting them from the previous topic of conversation.  Nathan sounds...rather annoyed.  And not just because of Ventus blowing off giving a direct answer to his first concern.  "I'm not sure they're all that similar, to be honest.  Ghetsis was power hungry, from what I've read of that crisis.  And he was already pretty crazy.  King Sarimanok...he already had a lot of power.  He was well beloved by the people of the region.  He commanded the respect of even legendaries, at least enough to have an entire team of them.  And then...something apparently changed.  Something snapped according to the history books, and it was the original Pokemon League that dethroned him when the people came to hate him.  He wasn't a tyrant by nature, unlike Ghetsis, and we don't know what caused him to change so drastically.  Careful with comparing the two of them around locals, Ventus.  They might not appreciate the discussion as much as I am currently.  The people here might not care much about other regions, but they'll likely know just enough to know what you're talking about.  This region's history and anything stemming from it is a VERY sensitive topic, I'll have you know.  You can't just go around making statements like that willy nilly."

Kirlia hasn't noticed Ariel due to the small argument.  He's not cowering like he used to as a Ralts, but he is getting a little uncomfortable.