[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

I have one more note concerning Honedge and its evolutions, but only Shiva and Gallade are able to really sense this:

Nathan is terrified.  He's admitted the statues and the soldiers are giving him the creeps, but it's a bit more than that.  The Skull Ruins and the Ghosts that live there and what Sarimanok is said to be capable of doing...but he's trying to put on as brave a face as he can and not show that on the outside.  Reading about the dangers is one thing.  Actually experiencing the dangers...that's something else entirely.

Even though Shiva's scared by Honedge, Nathan is more intimidated by them than she is.  As a symbol of authority, they cut a rather imposing image, and they have a reputation for being merciless as wide as the oceans themselves.

Nathan might be literally in his element...but he feels a little like he's out of his depth.

Maybe knowing she's not alone in feeling scared about the current situation will help Shiva feel a little better. Or maybe not. I'm not really sure which it might be, tbh. *shrug*

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As Nathan nods to Terra to explain a little more about Charmeleon and Herolune (though he comments, "A little bit later, but sure."), Ditto looks a little offended at being compared to a no-good Skuntank.  He's not sure what IBS is, but...he's fairly certain that's not a very flattering comparison...

"...it's not quite like that, Spira.  There's...some kind of pattern to Ditto's Transformations...I think?  And it can still detransform and turn into other pokemon most of the time, but...not always.  Seems to be a rare occurrence, though."

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Terra's comments about their being a peasant camp somewhere in that mess gets a curious look from Nathan.  "...huh.  Must be stragglers or something...if they were soldiers as well, there'd probably be a more noticeable number of them, in that case..."

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Heart's...eagerness to challenge the soldiers is met with a...questioning gaze from Nathan.  "...Heart, there's something else we all need to keep in mind:  There aren't nearly as many healing machines in this time as there are in the modern era.  In 500 AD, they were only a recent invention and hadn't been popularized and reverse engineered for public use.  If your pokemon take serious damage, it's going to be hard to heal them without expending some items on doing so.  We should probably avoid unnecessary battles."

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Gallade considers Terra's earnest request carefully, then nods back.  Provided they can find time to do so, that is.

"...maybe the artowork increase the value?  I don't really know, to be honest.  Just...try not to give off the impression we're associated with the King's Army.  I really would prefer to avoid them if possible..."

"...Child of Garlic?  Kazesidhe?"  Nathan takes a closer look at both pictures...starting with the one on the helmet.

"...you have got to be kidding me...Garlikid is a pokemon that exists after all?  *sigh*...gosh darn it..."

He doesn't elaborate further on that comment, and examines the shield next.  "...wait a sec...this looks...familiar..."

He has to think for a moment about it, but then he remembers where he saw something like that.  "Oh!  That's the pokemon I saw depicted as the East Wind!  There's no mistaking it!  It looks more...mechanical than that picture did, though...hmmm...it's definitely a member of the Legendary Beasts, though...maybe that picture was just worn down because of age..."

Wait a second...Kezesidhe?  Wheels for feet?  East Wind?  That all sounds familiar, too, but for an entirely different reason...

When Terra also mentions Xerneas, Landorus, and Cobalion are members of the Royal Trio and which values they each represent, Nathan almost immediately writes that down.  He doesn't say anything about it, but given how quickly he whipped out his pen and journal...

And finally, the bag of ash.  "...actually, yeah, I do know of something I could do with it.  I'll have to check if there's enough ash in there first, though...but yeah, I'll take it."  *yoink*

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And now, the cherry on top: what we're doing next.

"...I'd honestly prefer to just...keep going towards the valley at the soonest opportunity.  I agree that we're probably here for some specific reason, but...honestly, nothing in this area is jumping out at me and saying that's what we're here for.  Let's just...keep going.  Something will probably happen eventually, whether it's trouble or we return to where we came from."

And he thinks to himself, '...and I'd much prefer to be farther away from this army and the castle if at all possible...'