[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

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"Ventus, let me through so I can heal the poisoned and burned Tangrowth.  You saw how that Claydol was directing them.  For all we know, the Tangrowth weren't doing that of their own volition.  And it's not our place to decide what happens to them.  We are right outside Stair City, one of the capitals of Creshire.  The League will have representatives present soon enough, or we can go fetch some very easily.  They can decide what to do with these Tangrowth that were involved in a regional threat.  The Skull Ruins are taken VERY seriously by EVERYONE.  And we need to tell the authorities how they can deal with this.  It won't matter how many pawns are taken out if the kings remain standing.  Catch them instead if you like, but do NOT kill them.  You won't achieve anything useful by doing so."

"....That still does not diminish the threat they represent, Nathan, regardless of whether are not they acted of their own violiton or under the command of that Claydol, and you should be well aware of that fact. I also disagree that the League should be the sole entity deciding the Tangrowth's fate, as we know just as much about these creatures and their nebulous agenda as they do, if not more. We are the trainers on site that saw what these Grass types are truly capable of if they are allowed to operated unchecked, and their attempts to subdue us for their own nebulous purposes shows they threats to not only us, but public safety as a whole, so I believe that in this instance the League would not fault us for taking action ourselves."

"As for not 'taking out the Pawns' , while they might not be the ones in control or the mastermind behind whatever scheme the Vines are involved, they still are a part of its infrastrutue and base of support. The Tangrowth are their foot soldiers, their vine shepards, and part of the means by which they exert influence over the given territory they now control, so if one were to wage war against them, uproot and undermine their operations, and totally dismantling them from the ground up, taking them out would paramount. Unless you know specifically were their 'king' is and have a way to overcome or sidestep the most likely considerable defenses they have in place, then you will have to remove their base of support in order to make them vulnerable enough to be directly targeted. Eliminate enough 'Pawns'  from the board and/or limit the mean they can move across, and their entire chain of command will end up collapsing in on itself from internal and external pressures, rendering their a non-threat that can be easily be disposed of. In the long game, every little advantage you gain and disadvantage you inflict upon your opponents builds on themselves to the point of significance, so I find myself in complete disagreement towards on this point as well."

Ventus says all of the above after a short time of deliberation, his serious expression and disspassioned tone of voice unwavering as he reviewed his friend's arguement and proceeded to tear it into pieces with his own cold, ruthless logic. Tension between the researcher and the young rancher were at that moment at an all time high, and it seemed as if nothing would be resolved between the two without some outside interventions. Then, after moment of uneasy silence, the empath , after everything he just said and the argument he built up in favor of exterminating the fallen Tangrowth, he did the unexpected: he closed his eyes, let out a extreme weary and disappointed sigh, before he motioned for Apsis and Haneal to unbare Nathan's path.

".....However, I'm not going to argue with you over this any longer, Nate, as in this instance its futile for me to do so. Time and time again, not matter what the circumstance, reason, or logic, you refuse acknowledge even the possibility of more punitive actions against those worthy of it. Its frustrating, disappointing, and so unequvicolly exhausting trying to breach through those hide bide and prohibitive ideals of yours and make you see my reason, especially when you have a base to so stubbornly stand upon (The League Reinforcement, basically). So, once again, I will show mercy to those that truly do not deserve it, when other would not fault me for doing otherwise, all for your shake, and your shake alone. My beliefs and reasoning, both currently expressed and distantly mentioned in the past, have not changed in the slightest, and I want you to remember that. I want you to understand them, Nate, in the event that I can no longer be the one to make the hard decisions...."

The researcher uncrosses his arms as he turned around and begins making his way towards the Toxiced Tangrowth. "....That you are able to make them instead. I'll cure the Tangrowth of its Poisoning after I have Paralyzed if my attempt at capturing it fails, as being under the effect of double Status improve my odds of success. I'll leave the burnt one to you."

Order: The Tangrowth get to live after all, so almost everyone (Except Ventus) can stay happy! Now that is resolved, I want Ventus to Paralyze that Toxiced Tangrowth and try to capture it with my only Great Ball. If that fails, then he'll use an Antidote on it, and avoid Nathan and Shiva completely for the time being. He needs some alone time to decompress after this battle and dealing with Nate's stubbornness.....

Also, since we are not betting XP, I'll use the 40 XP I have earned up to this point to raise my Vitality up to 5! Ventus is the first character to reach a cap on his attributes, guys!