[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

...eventually, Nathan closes his journal and begins talking about Sarimanok.  Orthros comes over to sit in Nathan's lap since everyone's in a quiet, secluded corner of the library in the Cathedral.

A King's Fall: King of Hyrule's Theme - Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

"...Sarimanok used to be a good king from what we know.  To some degree.  Undoubtedly, he was brilliant, and it was that mind of his combined with the treasury, his alchemists, and the Legendaries that allowed him to accomplish so much.  He invented the Healing Machines the Pokemon Centers use to this day, helped create many strange and wonderful hold items for pokemon to use in battle, had made allies of many Legendary pokemon...from what I've read, he used to be loved by the people of Creshire, praised for everything he did for them and the region."

"...but when Landorus left his position as the head of the Royal Trio and abandoned Sarimanok, things grew dark.  Sarimanok had lead Creshire into a golden age of prosperity...but darkness soon shrouded the land when he suddenly became almost the exact opposite of who he was before.  A rebellion ensued, and the resistance called themselves the Pokemon League.  They'd managed to make allies of some of the Legends Sarimanok had not, the ones that hadn't deemed him as being worthy of being king, though not all of them had outright opposed him until he fell from grace, as he would have never become king if they had."

"...it was mid-September that the League finally managed to push back Sarimanok's Legends, his alchemists' mechanical bugs, keep the ones they couldn't defeat distracted and far enough away from the castle that the League could breach the walls.  It was a hard fought victory for the League.  Some say Sarimanok met them with a Charizard by his side and an Aegislash in hand, all while sitting on his legendary Throne of Skulls, made of the bones of many Charizard past.  None can really say for sure what's fact other than he fell by the League's hand, and was executed for the various atrocities he'd committed.  It's not a tale with a happy ending as far as Sarimanok himself is concerned, and it took decades for the region to fully recover.  We owe much to Sarimanok...but just as many despise him for how he nearly brought Creshire to ruin via civil war.  September 27th is the day the First League officially established itself as the government body here, and there's an...interesting celebration each year to commemorate that."

Nathan pauses...and then turns to a different page of his journal.  One towards the back of his journal.

"...I once came across an interesting, happier tale about a king, though.  It's not a tale many recognize, and I only heard it the one time from a strange traveler who visited the ranch one day.  There's usually no reason to tell it.  But it's one I quite like."

Spoiler

A King's Rise: Rebel Army's Theme - Final Fantasy I and II: Dawn of Souls

"There once was a king who had two sons and one daughter.  The king's name was unimportant, but it didn't make him any less loved by his kingdom and family, as he strove to always make sure they were never wanting, were never disappointed in how he ruled.  However, his rule was coming to an end, as he was sickly.  But, he urged his children to not grieve for him, and instead look to the future.  A future he hoped they would guide into a golden era for the region.  He loved all his children equally, and they were all of an age where they could take his position.  He knew they would fight over it if he didn't do something...so it was with his dying breath that he set a task for them.  'Find yourselves companion pokemon and seek the Legends of this region.  Find them, earn their approval...and determine who among you should rule with their aid.  Please don't fight amongst yourselves over their sovereign decision...'  His passing weighed heavy on his childrens' hearts, but they would respect his wishes.  They would not raise conflict over who would become king or queen, and leave it to the Legendaries to decide..."

"They left their father's chancellor in charge until the day one of them would be deemed worthy to claim the throne.  The eldest son journeyed to the forests, seeking a Treeko that might one day become a nimble Sceptile.  The daughter, who was the middle child, journeyed to the lakes and rivers, looking for a Totodile to become her stalwart defense, a Feraligatr with a hide that none could pierce.  The youngest traveled to the mountains, searching for a Charmander who would have no equal in firepower as a Charizard.  Once they had each found their chosen starters, they began their journeys across the region, searching for the Legends that would judge their worth..."

"Years passed, and the potential heirs learned much during their journey.  Grew much.  They met many Legends.  Celebi in the forests, Landorus in the mountains, Tornadus and Thundurus amidst the strongest of storms, the Eon duo in their aimless roaming, the Lake Trio in the far corners of the region, the Legendary Beasts and Birds in their most sacred sanctuaries...and more.  When they had met them all, proved their individual worth to each one they personally met, all the Legendaries and heirs gathered at the castle.  One final decree from the Legends sought to end this competition: These three have been through much to seek our counsel.  To determine who should bear the right to lead.  Let them do battle now before us.  We shall determine who is deserving from how they proceed."

"The battles were fierce, and took two whole weeks to complete since the pokemon needed significant time to heal in between bouts.  But in the end, they all ended the same way: each heir's starter pitted against the other's.  Dexterity, Strength, Vitality...only one could win.  And it was the youngest's Charizard that triumphed, his overwhelming Strength proving to best even the most dexterous and defensive of foes.  Though the Legends weren't just judging the heirs' combat ability, but also the quality of their characters.  The youngest took care to make sure his pokemon were okay, that they weren't hurting for him needlessly.  That was the tipping point, the nail in the coffin that determined who really won the competition."

"The youngest went on to become King, inheriting an egg from his father's Aegislash that had been left behind when the spirit had gone to join his liege in the netherworld.  His sister became his military adviser, and his brother his head alchemist, as the two spectacularly filled gaps in his knowledge of the two subjects.  The siblings never begrudged each other for the outcome of the battle, and the new king would learn much from them in the coming years.

"The new king was said to be just as loved as his father had been, as he took great care to make sure every person and pokemon who sought him out was truly happy.  And he was also said to have only ever called upon Legends in times of great importance and strife, never wielding their power for himself, but always for the region; people; and pokemon he loved."

"I've never been able to figure out exactly how much of that is true, and how much is fabricated.  It sounds to me like a tale about one of the earliest kings in a way.  It's a time that's since been lost to the deepest depths of time for the most part, sadly...but I do find the care the story's young king had for the people and pokemon to be...inspiring, I guess."

Well, that oughta warrant at least a few interesting reactions from some of those listening. (which should be Princess, Zippy, Furret, and Heart.  Forthright probably doesn't count very much in this instance.)