[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

"...huh.  Guess whoever was there previously knew about several meteor impacts...the Millennium Comet's passing typically brings new pokemon to the planet each time it does, so that's a rather important historical find from the looks of things...knowing what we do and with that record, we could possibly determine roughly when each of the pictured pokemon first arrived in Creshire...astounding...might, uh...want to be careful with that MSC, though.  If you found it where Deoxys landed 10,000 years ago, then it might not be your everyday MSC..."

Nathan sighs when Terra says Deyo Flowers are bad.  "...you picked that up from Ventus, didn't you?  I'd strongly suggest you form your own opinion on that matter, Terra.  These flowers are all over the place around here and have been the subject of a lot of prior research, just so you know.  If there was anything dangerous about them, I think Creshire would know by now.  My pokemon have interacted with them in a variety of ways, and the flowers don't seem to be toxic or anything.  Fairy types happen to like them a lot, but so do most pokemon that like shiny things in general.  I also know that if you grind the petals into a powder, sticky substance and all, you can make a bitter herbal medicine out of them that slightly strengthen's a pokemon's ability to take hits.  Orthros can back me up on both counts since he's ingested Deyo Powder himself.  It takes about a bushel of Deyo Flowers to make usable Deyo Powder, however.  Which is, to keep it simple, a lot."

Nathan then redirects the topic.  He's said what he's needed to about Deyo Flowers for now.  "...that's rather...scientific sounding for a cooking class...but hey, learning's not so bad when you put your mind to it, right?  It definitely sounds like you've learned a lot.  You can count me among the ones who are proud of ya for achieving that, Terra.  I'm definitely interested in seeing what you do with that knowledge in the future."

Spoiler

The deep quarry is a somber place. A hewn path winds down toward the bottom, passing repeated engravings of a rarely-known Pokemon which is native to Creshire but seldom seen outside of Alola.



The colors have faded, matching the rest of the mine... except for the bright flashes of MSC, which become less common as you go downward.

At the 25' mark, the light is already very dim, but the MSC clusters disappear. Below this, the quarry was just mined out by Pokemon, not by man. There are lots of little tunnels, the stonework is rougher (except for the path), and water has filled the lowest points with scattered ponds.

Then the quarry begins rumbling, and one wall bursts into rubble! A massive stone snake bursts forth - an Onix!

Terra is welcome to participate, or to back off and not split the XP.

The Subterranean Snake: Sunken Hollow Battle - Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Nathan's very interested in those engravings.  "Oh hey!  More Minior pictures!  Did you know that Minior typically only live in the planet's atmosphere, Terra?  They're covered in thick, meteoric rock that protects their soft, squishy bodies which can be a large variety of colors.  Bust their shells open, though, and they become a lot faster, powerful, and reckless despite their relative frailty!  Or at least, that's what I read about them in an article once...I've never actually seen a Minior before...they're kinda like Tandor's Astronite in that they'll often want to head back up to space for one reason or another.  Minior will usually do it to reform their protective shells, apparently, but there's no guarantees they'll return to their trainers..."

Nathan's also interested in the MSC, but he actually would have expected larger quantities to be located deeper down, not the opposite!  He was about to suggest that they turn around to maybe get some more MSC...

...when that wall bursts open and the massive, typically aggressive Onix appears!  "Holy Shinx!!  Dedenne, stay back!  Ditto, in your ball, now!  Looks like we've got a fight on our hands, and it's not one that's favorable for either of you at the moment!!"

Gallade's instantly ready, knowing that he's one of the only pokemon Nathan has on hand right now that even has a chance of fighting this thing.  Nathan also summons Mizu!  She takes a look around to get her bearings...and ends up looking straight up at the massive rock snake that's at least 3 times her size.  Ooooohhhhh dear...does she really have to fight that thing?  That large Poliwrath was one thing, but this...?  She's not confident she can take it on...
"You're not fighting it alone, Mizu!  We need to at least try, or we're gonna be in a lot of trouble real quick!"

(I'll wait on the initiative before giving any orders)

*Flashback!*

"*Nods* Hm, okay. Didn't know what cave pictures meant, but they were interesting and important looking, so made sure to......record them in Dex for everyone to see. *Smiles* Glad you found way to.....get more meaning out of them, Nathan. *Beat* MSC caused me no problems, but will keep eyes on it. If something happens, will let everyone know. Probably throw it far way too. Just to be safe. Okay?"

The young intellectual's response earns them a tilt of the head from the mountain of a man, before he slowly shook it.

"Yes. Can't. Part of contract with Ventus says I must.....'be practice utmost vigilance, due caution, and robust concern for Deyo Flowers and anything like them, and to not let anyone fall afoul to their insidious charm and allure.' Was.....very firm on that. Sorry. Never said I could not experiment with them, though. Or had to stop you and the other from collecting them. Only be wary and prevent any trouble caused by them. So Deyo Flowers should not be issue between us. ....Right?"

Conversation paused as he said that, the man waiting for his friend's response with tentative nervousness, before he pressed on.

"*Smiles* Thank you for info. Will be great help in research. Hm....maybe we can work together on it later? Ven said you had some........background with Medicine, and you know how to make Deyo Medicine. Would be nice to have you help. *Shakes head* Don't have to, though. Can handle experiment alone."

The young intellectual's praise and encouragement brings a small but radiant smile to Terra's as he nods his head, looking very much proud himself of his own acedemic progress.....and just happy that he could make his friend happy.

"Right. Was hard to learn Cooking lessons. To understand them, and put them to use. But it was worth it. *Smiles widens* Wouldn't have done it without you. Thank you, Nathan. For giving me......motivation to learn more than I thought I could. That Knowledge.......once distance, now mine. Will use it, wisely.....and become wiser. Promise."

Well, don't that beat all! Terra's come a long way in such a short time, and its all because of Nathan! The power of friendship is truly magical!

As for the Cave conversations, Terra just affably nods along, taking keen mental note just in case he ever happens upon one of the living bits of the cosmos.

*Flashback End (For now)!*