[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Ventus glances at Malphena and Lucifer. Lucifer is trembling, but you can also see his fingers are twitching, twitching, twitching!! Something excites him as much as it scares him.

Malphena has that overjoyed expression you saw earlier. She flies above the Captain's head and swivels dramatically to face you, just as a dimly-glowing Shedinja appears beside her!

When you speak, the captain answers. His accent is strange; it's of another time. "Ventus Zackariah. I am Captain Bridge. This ghostly insect spoke of your act of kindness. Too many of those who seek Atheneum are always willing and prepared to be brutal. Mark my words! It will make a difference in the end.  The way you treat Pokemon and people - Atheneum knows. Through its power, the impossible is made possible." He gestures to himself at this. "And those who enter - mark my words! those who enter Atheneum are forever changed. All who enter...they become something a little more than human, for better or for worse. Actions make a difference - here in reality where you stand, in the Distortion World where the mages meddle, and also in the Atheneum where sprites and knowledge dwell. Mark my words, adventurers!"

"Centuries ago, my soldiers and I were lost in Mt. Sentry. Perhaps I led us in search of too many secrets. My intent - to defeat my horrid enemy! - led us too deep into these labyrinths. Atheneum is only a lodestone for those who seek it if it also seeks them! Here in these tunnels, too many good men starved to death. Water we had, food we lacked...but much knowledge we could have gained, had we but acted differently. Be warned! Atheneum has guardians. Protectors. The Sentry Fern spreads its power throughout the mountain, watching, determining which guardians need be awakened. How you treat them will determine how you are treated in return. The mages bear no sympathy for those who get in their way. Mark my words! This is the way to distinguish you most keenly... from them."

Despite how bone-chillingly scared Nathan is, he's listening very closely to what's being said.

...he's still too scared to speak at the moment, though.  In fact, he can't help but think back to the encounter with Carbink again...