[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

(...)

Oh, and since everyone is at least still semi-together, and Heart mentioned the Skull Ruins, Almanac, Scimitars, and Dagny...that barely catches just enough of Nathan's attention for him to comment on it.

"Sarimanok was known to make many things, out of many different materials.  Metal included.  Some think he has a massive TM library hidden away down in the Ruins, though that metal could easily be machines of some kind as well.  Nobody whose delved deep enough to look has come back in their right mind.  If at all.  Not even the Champion would carelessly head down into the Ruins, so Dagny's caution is warranted."

"As for Almanac...they're working with the Scimitars, I guarantee it.  The Scimitars insist they aren't an organized crime group, and they're small in number.  Their tech is far too advanced for a group like that, though."

"And I doubt Dagny cares enough about Almanac and their...'research' (notably, theres a brief flash of intense anger from Ralts when Nathan says that word) to do anything about a few missing workers.  Particularly if they disappeared in the Ruins.  Almanac isn't the kind of company that Creshire's best would support."

Originally Ventus was going to give his own opinions on Heart's comments after a little time was spent contemplating them, but Nathan soon beat him to the Bullet Punch and offered his own, all of which succiet, informative, and mirrored his own thoughts on the topics. That didn't mean the researcher couldn't build on the points they made, as he chimed in to do just that!

"The Old King may have gone the way of the tyrant and forever exiled himself into infamy, but there can be no doubt he created a great and many wonderous, almost miraculous thing. The necklace my sister Apsis wears and the pocket watch I gave to you Shiva are fine examples of powerful relics from that time, and the HM Move of this region are legendary in status from what I've been told! A shame and a waste so much of it has been lost since Sarimanok fall and the destruction of the old monarchy, but better to lose the grand technolgical innovations of the past than suffer a reality that tyrant won. We've and Stair already have endured such horrors when blasted Almanac decided to not let sleeping Dragons lay with those Vines they released, so perhaps its best all those secrets remained deeply buried....."

(...)

"Regardless of who or who they don't associate with, Almanac is far from what I deem an morally and ethically reputable corporation. They sell many an odd and fascinating device, service, or Item, but they all either have some form of deleterious side effect attached to them, or the methods they used to make such things highly wanting. If they were upfront about their stance on Pokémon rights and the negative qualities of their products, perhaps I could tolerate them, but as it stands Almanac is an amoral and foolish entity that deserves nothing but our utmost cautions and scorn. As for those hellspawn wizards the Scimitars........may they all rots and roost in the deepest pits of hell. They are treacherous, wretch people that need to be stopped , by any means necessary...."

(...)

"Yes, she has enough business to attend to without involving herself in that disreputable corporation, other than to discipline them should they step out of line. Those fools nearly damned the region due to their unchecked curiousity, so they frankly deserve all the trouble they've received from their actions....."

Raphael sweeps into the room and reports back an eerie feeling around the Candelabra itself. The art on the walls doesn't seem to bother him. Ramiel finds nothing of interest at all.

(...)

Now sensing the very same ominous, foreboding feeling his dear beloved child thanks to them sharing it with them, they gave them a fond smile and a ruffle of their head feathers for a job well done, before return them to their ball and keeping a more than sufficient distance away from the Candelabra. If that thing gave him and Raphael bad vibes and uneasy premenitions, he wanted nothing to do with it at all. It erupting tall liliac flames did nothing to assunge his wariness of the structure, and it was only Shiva's seeming non-chalence and lack of negative reaction to it that prevent him from darting in the room and dragging her away. Be it magical device, natural formation, old technology, or some combination thereof, Ventus treated the Candelabra with distrust and apprehension, and would be a happier man the sooner his group departs from its presence.......

(...)

Heart sight when hear about the possibility connection between Scimitars and Almanacs. "Man, why there people who want to make that kind of connection to cause pain and destruction. There is something a wise man once say: "Power always corrupt. And absolute power is absolutely corruptor." Or something like that. Crime organizations always exist: Team Rocket, Team Magma and Aqua, Team Plasma. Some of them begin with noble cause, but when they get a great power, they became corrupt and twisted. A shadow of a old self."

"Humanity have many flaws. They born with darkness and light inside. Good and evil. A white shadow and a black shadow. And everyday that two sides fight against each other." Heart stop a little and see his own image in some water. "Some more than others." Then he made such different face. Almost regret and... sadness. But he decided to stop that.

"But inside of each one there is the power to change. And to have hope. As much there might have a swamp filled with doubts, there might have a garden with something better: A better future. At least this is what my soul says." And Heart finish his monologue with mantra phrase.

At Heart's first response to the young scholar's comment towards their own earlier one, Ventus expression became an odd mix of neutrality and solemnity , not speaking nor reacting in anyway as they talked of the criminal groups of old and new. He very well knew the Truth behind the rare collector's words all too well, as it was the reality he once only knew as a good and just, but now could only think back on those times of his life with a tired, heavy heart.....

Their comments of human nature, however, did elicit a comment from the research, one of light and non-argumentative rebuttal. "Our species may be flawed, but that does not mean all of them are ill meaning, or that we are forever defined by our darker elements and their actions. I also believe their is no absolute 'good' or 'evil' , or cardinal sense of 'right' or 'wrong' that is present in humans. Everyone and everything is self motivated and driven by thoughts, emotions, desires, beliefs, truths, ideal, and more that are both uniquely their own and inherited from all, with the perspective they are doing is 'justified' by themselves or by the lessons they learned."

"In some eyes, they are the hero of their story, with all they do right and all that oppose them to be villainous and reviled. In others, they are monsters that have commited a great many sins or have done terrible things, but do so because they were forced into such a role, or they believed what they done was for the greater good. Most see the laws, customs, norms, mores, and teachings handed down to them by family, friends, and society as their guidelines, and forge their own views and paths upon it. All these and more are just different prespectives held by others, only as 'good' or 'bad' as they believe based on their own personal views and morals. Not that this absolve those Teams of the atrocitites they've committed in pursuit of their own selfish and destructive goals, but its important not to outright condemn someone without first looking through their own eyes, and see what they believed was the right thing to do. Especially if they are but a part of the greater whole, rather than being a mover and shaker, as is the case with the Teams or indeed even more reputable and acceptable institutions, such as the Police, League, or the Pokémon Rangers."

"Still, even terrible acts committed for good reasons or personal reasoning are still unacceptable and should be challenged, so its important to do what the collective thinks is right to others, and act in a positive, contributing, and well mannered as you can. Or, at the very least, try to do what you think is the best for others, and not what you think, for those two can be very different things, nor impose your own views and actions on others without their willing permission or extenuating circumstances, as denying others of their agency is not something that should be ever done lightly. Those are my beliefs on this matter, based on what I've learned from others, taught by experiences, and made for myself."

The empath then went silent, and did not speak or pay attention to this subject anymore, making it clear he's dropped the matter and was not about to pick it up. He's said his piece, and does not wish to discuss it anymore, and that is all.

"Yes. Saminarok may have done bad things, but we can't denied all the good things he done."

(...)

Heart is quite curious. "Yeah. We should be careful. I have the feeling we might encounter conflict when we meet them. Both the Almanac and the Scimitars. But we a strong as us, I believe we can make with no problem. I believe I can Water Pulse any one of them and Flare Blitz to cinders! Watcha!" Heart them make a fight position and try to kick a rock. Only to find a pain. "OUCH! That hurt!" Then he begin to jump with one leg to dismiss the pain.

(...)

Heart recover from the pain Heart begin again. "Even so I think a little investigation would not hurt...but I can see your point Ven."

(...)

Heart feel Ventus don't want to continue the subject so he decided to make other move. "Err well should we get going them. I would like to explore a bit...huh?" Heart noticed a strange glimpse of something bury in the ground. "Hold one guys I will back in a minute."

Action: See the valuable item as a encounter @Iron.