[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

"...honestly, I don't know how Dagny might react.  I'd like to believe there's enough mutual trust, and that seems to have been the case so far..."

He closes his eyes, thinking.

"...I think I have a decent spot to put it for a short time.  Technically, the safest place for it is on our persons now that we've removed it from its original hiding spot, but putting it away for a day or two might not be totally unwarranted...I'm hoping it's unnecessary, though..."

...

"...these are powerful moves, Ventus.  My dad left the Fly HM in the Nature Preserve with good reason.  I have no problems with keeping this as quiet as possible.  The less unnecessary noise we make, the better."

Nathan turns back to his journal and starts talking about what he's drawing.

"I'm drawing some of the Tandorian pokemon that have been imported to the region for various reasons.  This little bug pokemon is a Cubbug.  Stowed away on a fruit shipment.  This rat pokemon is a Ratsy.  Venesi considers them pests since they not only do many of the same things as Rattata and other rat pokemon, but also leave graffiti everywhere with those tails of theirs.  Ironically, they're somewhat similar to Smeargle because of those tails, though, and are valuable to trainers who properly tame them, so Venesi can never be totally rid of them.  The black sheep is a Baashaun.  They're easily the most common Tandorian pokemon in Creshire because they're valued for their wool.  It's a little bit rougher than a Mareep's, but it's used in a lot of different things, from clothing to Destiny Knots.  The red parrot pokemon is a Pahar.  Very popular with bucaneers as a companion, and the feathers make great hats, apparently.  The Secular Cathedral in Cress actually has a few that go around lighting all the candles.  The spooky skeleton pokemon is a Swabone.  Very popular with pirates in Tandor, and popular shipworkers in general.  Means they travel a lot, and sometimes end up settling down in some of the regions they travel to, though that wasn't ever the main purpose of bringing them aboard the ships in the first place.  This one..."

Nathan points at the picture labeled 'Electruxo'.

"...is easily my favorite water type.  Electruxo.  One of Tandor's starter pokemon, and I've heard it has an affinity for Mega Evolution.  Was brought over on ships much like Swabone, though the sailors mainly used it for its ability to use electromagnetic waves as a radar system of sorts.  Heh...that'd certainly be helpful, thinking about it...and then there's this little gal here."

He points at the picture labeled 'Masking'.

"...don't really know a whole lot about this one.  No solid ideas how it made it's way over to the region, don't really know much about it beyond the basic moveset, ability, and type information...I'm still learning about it."  

Nathan has a small smile on his face as he's talking about Masking.  He doesn't seem to be frustrated at the lack of concrete information on the rare species.

Ven's not anymore mollified or pleased by those initial statements of Nathan's, but he's too vexed with his own issues to get too work up over it all (yet), and so nods his head few times while rubbing his temples in response. 'Things are NEVER easy or uncomplicated now in days, no matter what the task may be, grah…..'

He remarkably perks up in record time as the young scholar reveals that he was drawing TANDORAIN Pokémon, leaning right back in and up close to better hear and absorb all the details ( so as to later record in his own notes) they had available on these ever rare and elusive Pokémon. In particular, Ratsy line had him most excited and interest piqued, as he though Sketching was exclusive to the Smergle and their was a certain appeal to the ideal of a 'Street Rat Artist Pokemon' to him, but all the creatures mentioned managed to capture his attention and fascination to varying degree (ESPECIALLY the Pahar, since their are apparently some residing in Cress' Cathedral!)!

Nathan's own interest in Electruxo and Masking was intriguing in its own right to Ventus, though, and for different reason to boot! Concerning the formor, hearing them give such high praise to the species when they OWNED both a Starmie AND Slaking, both Pokémon thought to be formidable in their own rights, was initially perplexing.....until they realized that its general body design/appearance was basically 'Water/Electric Equine Pokemon' . Then Ven had to resist facepalming at both the obviousness of the species appeal to the boy, and just how predictable his tastes in Pokémon lay.

'He'd be estatic if he ever managed to get his hands on ANY horse Pokémon, I imagine. Not that is a unfavorable preference, but its surprising how easily pegged his interests were, given how well read and....opinionated he is,' he though wryly, while simultaneously saying in a kind and reminding (and somewhat teasing) tone: "Solomon and Starmie might get jealous if you give such high praise to a Water type you've never even meet, so you may want to watch when you state that. Don't worry, I won't mummer a whisper about this to them....."

Masking's description.....it caused him to raise an eyebrow,  as the gears in the sociologist's mind started churning and scanning the odd details the boy put in his brief run down on it, and came to a logical but still surprising conclusion in short order. 

'Using a gendered description to initially refer to the species, when he's been gender neutral with the other Tandorian Pokemon....implied he's done and is still doing research on it before searching for intel on other Tandorian Pokémon, which means he was aware of at least the appearance of the species - if not its name too - before searching Antheneum…..his lassie fare attitude and happy attitude toward being mostly oblivious about it, a sharp contrast to his usual behavior in his given topic of interest.....oh my. Could it be....?'

As his formed his conclusion about this, a thoughtful  frown tugged at the corners of his lips as he stared at the boy in question, not knowing whether or not he should share it with the boy out of the probable chance he's overthinking things, before he eventually shrugged to himself and went ahead and told them. If he's wrong, then he'll deal with the egg on his face, but if not....

"Nathan......have you Encountered a Masking or something looking like it on your journey through Mt. Sentry thus far, and maybe.... perhaps.....caught or interacted with one? This is just speculation on my part, but it sounds and feels to me like you were and/or still are intimately involved with the species in some way and seek to learn more because of that, rather than stumbling upon Knowledge of it while searching Antheneum for other records, text, etc.. …."