[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

(Oh.... Well, now that you mention it: )
As her glance scolled over a DITTO on the list of Pokemon Nathan thinks would be useful, Shiva at first thinks like she accidently misread something - but rereading the list doesn't change anything, there's still an elusive Ditto on the last spot of the list after she read over it a third time after she adjusted her glasses just in case they were playing tricks on her. Once she's sure that everything's right and before she adds her own Pokemon, she gives a subtle glance of wondering and curious frowning over to Nathan, but it's rather brief yet telling if he picks it up. However, now is by far not the point where asking questions about where he got a Ditto from seem wise, plus her curiosity isn't much more than what it was: Wondering curiosity. At home, they avoid breeding with a Ditto whenever possible, in case they lack a matching partner for a Pokemon, Shiva's father has contacts to other Professional Breeder that loan Pokemon between themselves when asked, he also specialized in gendered breeding = offers no genderess Pokemon where a Ditto is much more valueable.


"Hmm? Oh, ehm.... Nope, I'm actually happy with this particular team of six Pokemon. Each has a task and is useful in a specific way, and they're all companions I like and know."

Remembering the climbing to reach that cave up at the Tusk's tip, Shiva ends up holding her head in her arms and doesn't reply to Nathan's words as she becomes absent-minded and even fearful over the thought of having to climb up a stone wall. She loooooaaaaathes to repeat the sensation of climbing and even battling in that position and would rather quietly hike a few miles than climb up a mountain, Cottonee in her lap gives a worried expression and then a comforting chirp+intended hug to her, showing that she's there.

Eventually, she returns to the current planet at the mentioning the the words 'Tanuki' and 'advice', at some point she withdraws her hands from her head and wrapps them around the cozy fluff of her vivid fluffball, listening to what Nathan had to share in attention. She paused a little before she replied to mull over the words, that... Black Stone he put onto the table earned a rather stunned and fascinated expression. "Nathan.... Please please PLEASE show that stone to Mr. Finder. At best today, but I fear it's too late already.  I need to see him anyway tomorrow before departure, then bring back the book I brought to him to the Department Store's bookstore - it won't take longer than 10 minutes. He told me that if he could have something from the library or assoziated with it, he can work more efficient and faster, too. If he'd to pick up the scent of this stone... " Somewhere deep within this Fae-Enthusiast, a light incinerated itself to give out a warm and pleasant gleam despite how small it was - it was the flame of hope.

"May I... take a closer look at that stone, please?" If Nathan allows, Shiva does take the stone into her hand to turn it a bit in it in order to carefully examinate it from all sides. She probably won't get any sensation as it's mentioned that the stone bears no powers, @Iron - but does this Black Stone match with the description of the concealed Relic Stone that Dr. Hypericac described to her?


(after he replied and everyonelse has given their thoughts, Shiva will share what Dagny has told her.)
"Now that you mentioned Relic Stones, Nathan - Dagny has managed to find out something more with the help of her Porygon. When I called her today, she informed me about a 'barrier' that is mentioned in relation with the Secret Library or Atheneum, as well as a reference to a table or stone that was once marked and will likely be marked again. Above the mentioned 'barrier' - which I, ehm.... DO believe is the origin of this Black Stone - tablets are wipped clean, but below they are normal." ...."Weird... but with that and the knowledge to look out for Slopoke and Slakoths, I guess we'll notice when we're getting closer to what we're searching for." *small and inner, but hopefull and carefully positive smile*

Nathan doesn't comment on Shiva's curious frowning. If he noticed it, it's not immediately obvious.

No need to wait for Iron to answer if it fits the description of a Relic Stone, because Nathan already did.  Nathan couldn't tell if the stone had any kind of power, and there's no runes on the pebble, but it's the same black color as known Relic Stones and it has a slight curve on one edge.

"...he can check it while we're down there.  Tanuki loaned it to us for this trip specifically because I mentioned him.  She wants it back afterwards since her Zigzagoon likes holding it, but we're free to use it however we need to until then.  He'll have plenty of time to smell the rock as much as he likes.  I'm going to be keeping a careful eye on it, though."

Nathan thinks for a moment about what Dagny found.

"...if that's the case...maybe that's a result of a Relic Stone's power...this library is old...thinking about it, paper books probably wouldn't last for an unspecified, long period of time...stone tablets might be better to keep records...and if they're wiped clean above a certain elevation, then that would keep information from leaking out of the library...but then that leaves the question of who took the effort to seal that information away in the first place...hmmm...which Legendary pokemon could do something like that, I wonder..."