[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Upon receiving news that Chandelure was indeed lurking within the cauldron of the
Order: Ask those questions. Depending on the responses, will tailer actions accordingly.

Chandelure has some aid. Judging by Haunter's expression, not an overwhelming amount.
Chandelure is scared.
It is aware of all those things.
Haunter is not very confident.

Upon hearing/seeing/feeling Haunter's responses, Ventus diabolical grin was replaced with a more thoughtful and charinged frown underneath his mask, before ask a couple of follow up questions: "How many allies does Chandelure exactly have? Are they all of the same species? Are they all equally powerful, or is Chandelure the 'Boss' of its coalition?" In return, he received their were exactly three of them counting Chandelure, yes they were of the same species, but they are not all within the same power, with the allies being much weaker (yet still formidle) than IT. Overall, the candlestick spirit was well defended, and held enough power and threat level between them that it gave even the normally chipper and gung ho Haunter a moment of hesistant pause.

With all pertinent questions answered, the masked marauder went quiet for a moderate period of time, head tilted downwards in thought as he review to gathered intel and how it would affect his plans going forward.

'Most likely those Litwicks I saw that Ruin Maniac interacting earlier, as all the clues strongly points to this conclusion. Their interference could exponentially complicate my plans to exact PUNISHMENT on Chandelure , and will undoubtedly magnify the danger for Haunter should he assault them alone. Especially if one or more of the bunch knows Inferno, and IT decides to use Memento again to render its enemy helpless and feeble... '

'Hmm, I could summon Hanael or ask Valder to bring out Mamo and try to hit them with a focused Magnitude or a dampened Earthquak.......no, that won't work. The force of the moves wouldn't be able to penetrate deep enough, and both are highly liable to irreparably compromise the structural integrity of this chamber. Caving in this entire place in is certainly an option, but not one I want to exercise unless as a final resort...'

'Could Haunter drag Chandelure out here, or dive in and out for Healing as necessary? .....Yes, but they still suffer the same risks as before, only more so because they are putting themselves in situation were more harm could come to it. I could give it a Sitrus Berry or ask Valder if he has any other more defensive Held Items for them to wield, but those wouldn't change the fact that they would still be outnumbered against those wretched Fire Ghosts, and only mitigate the danger they pose....'

As he pondered all these ideas and summarily rejected them for various reasons, the researcher gradually came to the unsavory conclusion that sending in Haunter alone was ill advised at best, and an outride suicide mission at worst. This obviously displeased him to no end, causing he to let out a deep, low, and menacing growl born of pure frustration and tightly clutch his hands over his REVENGE being denied, and the uncomfortable + insidieous feeling that Chandelure would get away with its crimes.

'Damn it and THEM (Chandelure and co) all under Reshirim's, Zekrom's, and Kyurem's watchful gaze! The cowardous wisp, hiding away from the JUSTICE it so avidly deserves, calling upon the aid of others to shield its sorry existence, damning them in the process along with it! I NEED to PUNISH IT, but I can't in good consciousness order Valder send Haunter to confront them all by himself, lest I condemn him in my quest for recompense against my tormentors. I CAN'T let them get away with this; I WON'T let them get away from this. Think Ventus! You have a doctorate in Sociology and Pokémon Behavioral Research for Reshirim's shake, so THINK!!!'

For several minutes he stood partially hunched over brainstormed in brooding silence, angry at his lack of a 'golden solution' , until finally it just came to him, so simple yet so right.

'.....Ah. That would work well. Quite well. Its as they say: if you can't engage an enemy now, fall back and gather reinforcements.'

"......Valder, that will be enough for today, and I thank you for the assistance you and Haunter provided. Without it, I wouldn't be able to accomplish my mission at all, so once all is said and done about it I'll make sure you are well rewarded. Make your way back to Cress City, or head over to Stair to rest or do business their first if you prefer. I will be heading to Corsage myself to conduct a transaction, and then make my own way back. Tomorrow or the day after it we will return here to resume the assault on Chandelure and its cohorts; I'll call you, and then we'll meet up to discuss plans and preparations, before we head out once more. Again, I thank you two for the support. You are dismissed," Ventus said, his tone of voice fairly neutral with a few positive and negative tinges to it at points where he was complimenting Valder/Haunter and IT.

He then left the Candelabra and his mercenary behind, first going to a secluded/well hidden spot to change out of his disguise (taking care to shake off all the undried blood on his Cloak first before packing it away), and then continuing until he was in Stair City, where up he immediately summoned Haziel and politely convey his desire to be Teleport to the port town. Upon arrival he would head towards Pokémon Center and retrieve his Two Haunter and his long boxed Tangrowth (Switching out Haziel, Michael, and Abaddon in the process), and then make his way towards the Trading Hub and (if necessary) the 'less wholesome' markets, looking grimly serious the whole time.

Revenge will be his; its just a matter of time, effort, and expense at this point, which were things he was more than willing to cover the costs for...

Order: Relieve Valder of duty for the day, and then head over to Corsage to trade those two Gengars, his Tangrowth, $1000 Poke, and his Shamisen (I'm sorry my lovely instrument, but his quest for revenge MUST be accomplished by any means) for the aforementioned 'Reinforcements' we agreed upon. He will then go to the Center to retrieve Haziel, and then Teleport back to the East Pokémon Center, where he will be waiting for Shiva to pick him up on the not date. Tomorrow or the day after it will be the time he goes after Chandelure again, this time for real this time. But before that, let's kindle the flames of love between Ven and Shiva at long last!