[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Well, problem solved, apparently.  That grinding noise might be an obstacle of some kind they'll have to tackle tomorrow.

"Thanks Heart.  You can go get some more sleep now.  I'll continue keeping watch until it's Ventus's turn."

(@Lord Windos)

When Ventus arrives to take his turn, he'll find Nathan poring over some notes in his journal by Swiftfire's light, looking up every so often to make sure Ralts and Calam haven't sensed anything else approaching.  It's kinda hard to tell what exactly Nathan's reviewing and taking further notes on in the dim light, but there's a few illustrations that are primarily red in color (though they blend in a little with the red glow of Swiftfire's flames).  There's other illustrations as well, but they're only rough sketches right now, and it's almost impossible to tell what they are without taking a closer look.  Nathan also has a smaller book out that a references every so often, sitting on the ground next to his journal.

Once he notices Ventus, he starts packing up his stuff.  It's been a long couple of hours, so he's ready to get some rest.

"There was a Machoke here earlier, just so you know.  Looked like it was a little overweight.  It came up the cliff over there, demanded some food, and then climbed back down after we filled a frying pan and a satchel it was carrying with food.  After it left, we heard stone grinding on stone from where it went, so there might be a stone door of some kind down there that we'll have to pass.  Maybe another one of those puzzles.  Kinda glad I was here to catch that Machoke before it went through our stuff.  It didn't hesitate to try and pry open my bag without my permission as soon as it got up here, despite the bag still being on my back.  It would have probably ransacked the place if given the chance."

Nathan stretches.  Yawns.  Ralts mirrors both perfectly.  "Anyways...*yaaawwwnnn*...we're going to go...get some sleep now.  Night."

As the alarm he set on his phone helpfully began to chime at the ordained time his shift starts, the empath almost instantly snapped to awareness crawled out of his sleeping bag, pulling out a bottle of Scottish Morn Tea he'd brewed prior to the trip (never know when you need a quick source of caffine) to take a dram of it to fully perk him up, before he existed the tent. At this point he quietly flicked both his wrist down towards the ground, causing both Apsis' and Malphena's Pokeball to call shooting out and summoning them a dual flash, both of them swift to fall in line behind their master as they made their way towards Nathan to relieve him of his watch, him taking out a flashlight but not flicking it on, as Swiftfire's flames were enough light to go on for now.

While his venomous viper was a tad bit grumpy of being woken up in the middle of 'night' (a beautiful snake such as herself needed her beauty rest, *Hiisss.....*), the mischevious banshee seemed especially chipper in the clasterphobic, near pitch black cavern, drinking in the spooky vibe of the place as she was right in her element, te he~!

Being the naturally curious and nosey sort of person he was, Ventus almost immediately started to pry into what Nathan was currently trying to write/sketch down as he approached and saw what they were up to,  a innocently puzzled look adorning the researcher face as he both leaned forward to get a better glimpse into the boy's journal. "Hmm? What's that you are drawing and recording in your journal, if you forgive me of my curiosity?"

If that failed, then his 'horrifying little sister would certainly make up for it by doing her own little investigations! She was also sure to give Ralts a playful giggle and wink as she floated on by, dragging out the action as she knew her presense riled him up to NO END, much to her amusement. Calam, on the other hand, she made she that their was a yawning gulf of distance between them as she eyed the Disaster Pokémon. Not only a cruddy Dark type, but the one that brings ill omens to its trainer at that? Bah! It had better respect her personal space, or she'll show it how much misfortunate she can REALLY bring down on its head, *Screee......*

Meanwhile, Apsis paid absolutely no mind to either the Dark or the annoying pint sized Fairy squirt (other than shoot both a superior and haughty look), and focused her attention squarely on the boy, slithering up right in front of them and craning down to give them an inquisitive stare and *Hisss?* as she scented/examined them. It had be quite awhile since she last say the boy, and she felt that a little check up was in order to make sure he's fine as he llooks/smells, as weakness in young was a sure sign was something amiss that needed to be corrected ASSSSAP! How else would the grow up to be a strong adult and survive in the wilds, *Hiiiiss?*

Seemingly paying no mind to his family members, Ven's gave his a somewhat disbelieving look at the young scholar as he described a fat food loving Machoke of all creatures intruding on their campsite, clearing not expecting that to be reported to him. "......What? That's.....highly abnormal behavior for a Machoke and Fighting types in general, as they typically like to keep themselves and their bodies in shape, so why.....? *Sighs* Its not important, I suppose, other than the fact that it ended up making off with some of our supplies in an attempt to pacify it. I would have summoned Raphael or Malphena to drive them of myself if they did to me what they did to you, but your method did avoid inciting a panic, so I guess that was the preferable outcome. Get some rest, and we'll deal with whatever it fiddled with up ahead tomorrow."

After they had finished up speaking with him, he waved Nathan off as they went to bed and he took up their spot on the stairs, Apsis coiling around them protectively and peering into the darkness with her heat vision to scope out any threats, while Malphena lurked in the blackness, alert and ready to scare the bejebers out of any foolish Pokémon that tried to barge in unannounced! Currently the empaths flashlight was on but set to low, just enough to illuminate their immediate surrounding without drawing undo attention towards themselves/the campsite. 

Order: Have Ventus be overly investigative, chat with them a bit, have Malphena and Apsis 'socialize with Nathan and co, before Ven takes up his watch. Apsis is coiled around him and using her sense of smell/heat vision to keep an eye out for threats, while Malphena is hiding in the darkness and keeping her own watch, and will promptly Ambush anything with a menacing Growl to scare them off/alert her master. Blackwatch, engage!