[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Gym Leader Howl vs Nathan Round 3

While the combatants are getting ready, Terra challenges himself to meet Keenglaive's eyes willingly. Immediately, your will is not your own. (not enough Insight to resist)


You feel commanded to leap over the barrier and interpose yourself between attacks targeting Keenglaive.

Rock Smash 1
(5)(1)(4)(2)(1)(5) (6)(1)(5)(1) Just short of a critical.
(6)(4)(2)(1)  Keenglaive takes 4 dmg 2/6hp -1 pain.

"Keenglaive, the only option is to use the power of your hypnotic gaze! "


Obedience: (3)(3)(4)(4) v (3)(6)(4)(4)(4)

Keenglaive refuses to use Hypnosis, and instead reaches out toward Terra. Terra instinctively raises his own hand to mirror the gesture, but Keenglaive doesn't move.

"NATHAN, STAND DOWN!" orders Howl. "KEENGLAIVE-"

Calam skids to a halt inches away from Keenglaive... who has swapped places with Terra. Gallade also enters the battlefield, prepared to haul Terra out of the way, and three Mightyena have also leapt over the barrier to assist as needed. 

Parting Shot/Ally Switch 1
(1)(1)(5)(2)(1)(5) (2)(4)

Howl recalls Keenglaive into a Dusk Ball that wriggles alarmingly. He rounds on Terra. "What manner of fool are you? Did I not warn it was dangerous to look into Keenglaive's eyes? Do you think Pokemon are toys? A Gym Battle is an extremely serious event. If Nathan hadn't already proven himself the victor, I'd have you thrown out. You won't be observing any more battles in my Gym, and if you want to challenge me you'll need to prove you've learned your lesson first."

He collects himself a little.

"Now. Let's make of this a learning experience. Keenglaive is the lord of the chessboard. His dark mind works on a level of strategy surpassing most humans, and he doesn't hesitate to think outside the box when attempting to win a battle in which he's outmatched. That's why my apprentices and I always keep a lot of Pokemon on hand to deal with any fallout where Keenglaive is involved. Like a Vespiquen or the dreaded Seikamater, he has a measure of control over those he considers underlings. What you experienced, Terra, was called Castling, where the king decides to swap positions with a defender to increase his own defense, or ruin the offense of the foe. These abilities make Keenglaive very dangerous, and so I don't blame you for falling victim to his gaze. I do, however, blame you for not heeding my warning. I hope this teaches you that brawn is not always enough to meet a challenge, and I hope you forgive me for my stern words."

"Nathan, in the Skull Ruins you will find many kingly traps. Tanuki, Dagny, and myself are the only gym leaders who dare venture there, and we always come prepared and wary no matter how confident we may feel. Rock Smash will help you.
Here is your badge and winnings. I'm sorry our battle was cut short, but I was going to need to forfeit soon anyway. I try not to let Keenglaive get cornered. He's not too dangerous until he obtains allies..."

The battle is worth 20XP, $1500, and a Brandy! (Lemonade). And you earn the Hornblende badge! Congratulations!



Observing a gym battle does not count as an Encounter. I'm going to give Terra 2XP for learning something, though.

(Out of curiosity, how much Insight did Terra have to possess to avoid getting Castled? Also, could he tell what B.K. thought of him during being mindcontrolled? Or perhaps the other way around...?)

The moment his locked eyes with the menacing leader, his mind went blank, without only one thought remaining, bold and imposing:

SERVE AND OBEY.

So he shall.

In an instant the steely brawler headed his liege's command to replace him out on the field, and he squared off against Calam with dull brown eyes, a hand reaching into his pants to unsethed his cold Steel sword to flay the impudent fae feline for daring to oppose his -

Then B.K. is recalled, and Terra snaps out of it instantly, light returning to his eyes as he blinked, dazed, before suddenly closing his eyes and jerking his head as his full cogitative faculties returned to him, visibly shuddering as he crossed his arms defensively. What.....what. That.....they......they took control of him. Just like Deoxys, but far less alien yet somehow so much colder than it....

Before he could fully process what happened to him, Howl's vitriolic tongue lashing caused him to real from them, his sense of vulnerability and being so unbalanced preventing him from responding back ASAP (Though he does look offended at their comment concerning treating Pokemon as toys - he'd NEVER did that in his life, EVER.). By the end of it, the poor man is shrinking away from the Gym Leader looking supremely disquieted - dire straights, for the normally intimidating and stoic wilderness expert trainer.

Thankfully, the bipolar Gym Leader calmed down long enough for Terra to at least regain a semblance of his regular calm.....while also now appearing deeply ashamed and totally foolish for what happened, head bowed to the ground and his expression downcast and shadowed. Because of his Delcatty curiosity running amok yet again, he became a thrall of his lieg- B.K., interrupted his friend Gym Battle and nearly caused them to inadvertently break the LAW, and managed to earn the Gym Leader's ire and scorn and blacklist status by ignoring their explicit orders and causing this mess in the first place. By the Hoen stock exchanges, what a complete and utter idiot he was. Their weren't many moments he could recall that he acted this boneheaded, but this one has definitely called top spot among them from the time being. 

What was he thinking?

When the literally shady man started to lecture him again in a much calmer voice, the sagely monk lifted his head and paid avid attention, his expression heavily shaded rueful and chagrined as he nodded and took mental note. 

Briefly, he was tempted to point out that they made no mention as to why everyone should avoid Keensglaive's dominating gaze, but he was too sufficiently cowed, humiliated, and full of self admonishment to actually say it. That, and he really didn't want to piss them off again by acting like the fool he was.

By the end, the mountain of the man had recovered enough to muster up the Will to look into Howl's eyes and slowly nod his head, the gesture and his whole posture bellowing his remorse and shame about what happen and nearly came to pass.

"......The biggest. Not very smart, or wise. Know how to battle, Survive in wild, put on good show, and cook, but...that is all. Sometime get too curious for own good. Gets me into trouble. A lot. Flaw of mine that I worked on, but.....still fail controlling myself...."

He gets bows his head once more and gets down one knee.

"Wise Darkness Master Howl, I am sorry. Deeply, deeply regret my choice. You are right. Words are harsh, but very true. No need to for you to ask forgiveness. I do. Tell me what I can do to repay you for the trouble caused by my foolishness, Darkness Master. Will do anything in my power...."

If Howl's Insightful as I think he is, he should be able to tell just how bad Terra feels about everything, and that his remorse/words are completely genuine. If not, then him pulling out his only Torchic Tooth, explaining what it does, and offering it to them on top of his current plea should make it pretty clear regardless. The Gym Leader pretty much has a blank check for this incident, so its up to them as to how they'll cash it in....