[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

You meet up at the entrance to the Safari Zone, FLYING on your Pokemon!! For the first time, you see these Earth Scimitars release some of their Pokemon (one each) to learn FLY. Then back into the Pokeballs they go. Cosh has a dozen new faces with him, in addition to himself and Kelda. Arachnautilus, you're told, has headed elsewhere in preparation to assume a leadership role.


Cosh: "Steel yourselves. Let's go!"
Marco: "I'll be working with my Pokemon to take down any clones that threaten the Artifact wielders. Lunapup is in the PC for now."
Cosh: "I'll be flying overhead, using the Hauberk. It takes most of my concentration, so don't expect too many spells from me. Kelda will be repositioning those who need it, and fighting with Helm-empowered spells in the meantime. She'll be drawing as much attention as possible, because the Helm protects against the true danger of Deoxys - its thoughts. Shiva, if you find a moment available to you, you may wish to extend Shield protection to Kelda. But sometimes Nathan's Pokemon will need it more. Kelda knows what she signed up for."

Kelda looks a little shocked at this blunt statement, but after a moment's thought she recognizes the validity of it.

"Nathan, did you find out which Artifacts are best against which Forme?"

One look at the forces Cosh has brought, and Nathan's glad that Mesprit agreed to help.  A dozen Scimitars plus Cosh could easily be a problem for them if they were weakened from the fight with Deoxys.

Nathan looks Kelda straight in the eyes and silently nods.  Everyone here knows what they signed up for.  And most of them, both pokemon and human, know what they're fighting for.  This is the moment of truth, the final trial.  After this, it will all be over, one way or another...

Nathan looks at Shiva to tell her, "Definitely prioritize Kelda over my pokemon if you have to.  We can't afford to let any Artifact Wielders be rendered unconscious, and our pokemon know what's at stake and what they have to do."  Of course, he's partially also saying this for Kelda's benefit as well...

He has to think about the question Cosh posed to him for a moment.  Then he shakes his head and frowns.  "Not exactly.  All I have right now is hypotheses.  As far as I can figure, each Artifact and Forme focuses on a specific Attribute, and I think that's the key to this puzzle.  The issue lies in the complexity of checks and counters to certain strategies focused on enhancing individual Attributes.  Strength, Vitality, and Dexterity can all theoretically trump each other, but I'm not sure exactly how an increase to one's Insightfulness fits into all of this...I'm reasonably certain the Shield trumps the Attack Forme, though.  If anyone has any additional thoughts on the topic, I'd like to hear them."