[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

You scale the stairlike cliffs. It takes a bit of work, but you are well equipped for it - rope and pitons, Tropius, Durant, Rose. And Lunatone is able to just float alongside you lighting the way.

The cavern narrows to a nice round tunnel, clearly dug by an Onix, but very very long ago, aged until the walls have become smooth with wear. Any protruding rock is also polished to a sheen; you can even vaguely see your reflection in the black stone.

Just a few minutes along this passage, and you encounter a round boulder on a little track. When Heart moves to inspect it, he sees it has recently been shoved up inside its track and braced with more stone. It looks safe to pass now.

Beyond, the tunnel contains increasingly more of the smooth stones. Most are black, but some are dark red, orange, or aquamarine. None seem to be gemstones, sadly, at least none more valuable than the occasional white quartz crystal.

Then you strike a vein of coal. There are many fossils/imprints of thick ferns, and occasional imprints of ancient rodent Pokemon (no DNA though). The coal, too, has been worn shiny. Your light sources are reflected forward and backward and all around, but the way the darkness eventually consumes the light reminds you just how deep underground you have come.

Mt. Sentry Coal Biome Part 1

3. Name: ???
Bid start: 1
Cap: 1 (2)
Challenge: Moderate
Notes: Whoever is leading the party will get this encounter, whether for good or ill! Two can walk abreast if they are don't mind standing close. Mandatory encounter.

New area name?  Okay then!  New music time!

Mt. Sentry Coal Biome: Deep Dark Crater - Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky

"Well, guess we have Machoke to thank for making getting past this rock easy.  Glad he was kind enough to leave the door open for us.  Well then, let's see what's further ahead..."

Wow, there's a lot of coal.  And a lot of black, shiny stones.  And other colors of those shiny rocks.  Well, at least their immediate area is lit fairly well because of all the shiny rocks...it's making Swiftfire's firelight all the more effective.  Joining her at the front and leading the way is perfect.  Shame none of the stuff he can see immediately seems to be a fossil that can be revived...

However, being at the front also means you're the first one to run into whatever's ahead...and whether that's a good thing or not is highly situational...