[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Original Post

10 dice, +2 Helping Hand, -2 since it's a specific question, 5 successes needed for full information. An even shot.

(6)(3)(3)(5)(3)(2) (5)(4)(4)(4)

Introduction to The Art of War
"Whimsicott, the Ram Pokemon, represents April and Springtime. But it also represents war and warlords. None on Creshire was so great as Sarimanok. After his defeat, League propaganda sometimes symbolized the King and the Skull Ruins (his former palace) with a crumbling Whimsicott or a dead Charizard. Thus, his own Throne of Skulls became the symbol of his own defeat."

The four bright stars, as best you can figure, are points of interest related to the other visions. Ventus believes they represent some kind of goal or event within the Skull Ruins.

The Library contains many, many works on the Six and the Four: the Pokemon and Trainers who, alone, stormed Sarimanok's inner sanctum and led to his defeat. From these brave souls, the worldwide tradition began of carrying no more than six Pokemon and using no more than four moves in a single battles. A sort of homage. The symbology crops up in a lot of other places too, including the oath "By the Six and the Four!" Comes up in post-Sarimanok architecture, too.

Sarimanok, of course, never followed any such rule, and would gladly send wave after wave of Pokemon at his foes. Pokemon battles for sport were normally just 1-on-1 gladiator style battles.

With a grim face Shiva remembers what a Nurse Joy once has told her concerning how battling worked way back then under the ruling of Sarimanok. The thought alone of sending Pokemon into galdiator style battles until death filled her with unease, and it's easy to spot that she's relieved over not having experienced that times.

She's also uncomfortable about how closely connected to war that King was upon reading through these findings, something Shiva doesn't even hide when being among Ven here. Eventually, she just frowns, sighs rather tiredly and puts her head in her hands to support it, bangs of hair falling forward to partly obscure the fear in her soft features. "...I knew it....", she mumbles. "It's indeed all connected to these Ruins, Ven. Something's definitely going on there, something unfortunate, dear. And from the look of it we are practically the only ones in the position to try stopping things. It's so clear: One day, we'll have to descend down there. Oh Ven...... That's...not exactly what I've expected when I came here to the region to gather experience with own Pokemon to care for, to journey in order to become a braver and less unstable person. But...it's necessary in order to follow a peaceful life later on together, now is it...? Haahhh... *deep breath* So be it then. At least it's not instant and we can prepare, so... Let us make the best of it, shall we?" Slowly, she withdraws her hands from supporting her head again, and gifts Ventus a soft, yet somehow sad smile. "Let me just quick-note things in my stuff, then we can make our way to...your hammock to just spend a bit of time together. It's been a while since we...did, so much has happened, so I'd love to..." (she can still easily guess that he's not totally alright, but doesn't say something about that) ...I'll also try to find out more about these six brave Trainers and Pokemon who defeated Sarimanok, but maybe not here in Atheneum. It's enough now."

It may border to history, but it's actually something that interests her and seems important. Maybe from these four brave Trainers she can learn how to be brave herself, and gather valuable hints on how to behave and survive in the Skull Ruins. Simultaneously she'll look out for more information on these four events/goals within the Ruins represented by the four dim stars.