[Game Thread] Pokerole: Mount Coronet Mystery

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

(Sweet! I was wondering about that, and I'm glad everyone got a great big chuck of it! With it, I'll be spending 20 XP now to increase Diam's Special to 3, as a surprising amount of her Moves rely on that Attribute as it's Root Accuracy!)

The young champion surprise with his remark does manage to knock  a bit of sense back into Ran, as he blinks a bit at their tone and question before answering back.

"Yeap, she did. I needed to use my girl Diam's Foresight to constantly see it, but it seemed like the lass could view that dark aura all the time. Huh....maybe she has an Ability similar to Sally's about this? Speaking of which, what did she think of....that. *Grimaces* We know it was wrong, but we don't need an aura expert to tell us that."

All this talk about the pitch black aura that previously consumed the Gyarados is enough to dispel his overwhelming joy of his miraculous victory, causing him to remember himself and look down at the two girls in his arms before quickly placing them back on the ground, looking somewhat chagrined by his previous attitude.

"Err....sorry about that, Diam, and little siren. *Looks at Diam* I know you  probably don't care it *Mumbles* except how much it embarrassed me..."

The wee anklebitter's rejoinding cackle all but confirmed that, earning her a sour look from him before he resumed speaking, turning to the sea sprite this time and now looking apologetic.

"...But my behavior was likely a tad to much for ya. Sorry about that. Won't be happening too much if I control myself like the grown adult that I am *Huffs* ...so ya don't have to worry about constantly getting treated like stuffed Teddiursa."

The dwarven craftsman then gave the darling singer an appraising look, rubbing his beard thoughtfully and smiling a bit too.

"Been thinking about what your name should be, and I think I got it: Paula. Typically the name means "small', but it can also be consider feminine take of Apollo's name, God of Light, Poetry, Song, and The Arts. What do you think about it?"

Given that Ran isn't an expert on Pokemon like Lucas would be, he'd be slightly confused about why they're making such a big deal about the Gyarados knowing A.J. and Screech.

"Those Move not commonly known to their species? Don't see why what you're so worked up about that. Pokemon can learn all sorts of unusual Moves outside their normal repitiore, given the right circumstance. *Look becomes grave* Or wrong, as I'd bet a $1000 Poke that  black aura is somehow responsible for that. If I had to take an educated guess, maybe Aqua Jet and Screech ended up replacing whatever those....Shadow Moves were when we beat that darkness out of them. Least, that's my take on it...."

He doesn't have much to say during the boy hero's polite questioning until after they finish speaking (Nodding when his name was brought up and he was properly introduced) and he notices how familiar the O.H.W. was with the Espeon, turning towards the pink 'n purple kitty cat and giving them a questioning look.

"You know the lass' name, Espeon?If ya do, can ya tell it to us somehow?"

If they do know but can't communicate it, he'd give Lucas a meaningful look that they would hopefully interpret as 'Looks like a job for Sally.' 

If Espeon doesn't know it (or refuses to share it for reasons), Ran has another idea that might potentially work in jogging her memory, and shares it with everyone in his mini-group.

"Got a Mawile that knows Baton Pass - as ya already know, Lucas - but he also knows Snatch, which ultimately means he pass along almost any buff imaginable if you give him the chance. With that in mind, does any of your Pokemon know any Buffing Moves that improve or Strength the mind in some way? I got a Diam's Calm Mind and my Chatot's Nasty Plot that could potentially help jog her memory, but what about your Pokemon Lucas and your Moves, Scizors and Espeon?"

Later on (and regardless of anything else happening), the bristly blacksmith has a rather important question for the mysterious woman

"Lass....do you have any other Pokemon on ya besides that Espeon of yours? Or what I assume to be, anyway, judging by how friendly and protective it is towards ya. If ya don't, we'll have to sort that out. That kitty is damn clever and powerful, but one partner doesn't make a whole team, and the kind of insane quest we're on, everyone needs all the help they can get to just survive"

Aura Stuff: "Sally didn't like it.  At all.  I had to recall her before she got into a fight she wasn't properly equipped to handle."

Move stuff: "In my experience, pokemon with moves they can't normally learn, such as Screech and Aqua Jet in this case, will tend to use them.  That's why I'm so confused about all of this.  Maybe they're linked to those...shadow moves...but I still can't say for certain..."

-------------------------

The smol siren seems to like the sound of the nickname!  She starts singing a beautiful sounding tune, likely involving the name in some way even though Randolph can't really understand the lyrics.

-------------------------

"A Calm Mind would probably help a little, yeah.  Ya know that move and Baton Pass, Espeon?"  Espeon shakes its head.  That's a negative.  It would have tried that already if it did.  "Well, I guess we gotta try using Snatch after all if we're gonna do that."

After a little bit of buff shuffling and passing, the redhead is trying her best to remember something, anything, again.  It's a slow process.

When Espeon is asked if they now their charge's name, they immediately nod.  However, they can't speak, so Lucas does indeed have to summon Sally.  The Lucario and Espeon go off to the side to talk while Randolph continues asking questions.

"...pokemon?  Ummm...let me check..."  The stranger rummages around in her pockets for a bit before eventually frowning.  "...I...guess I don't...oh, but I do remember something!"  She smiles at that thought, but then it quickly turns into a frown again once she realizes what that thought means.  "Espeon...they aren't my pokemon.  So...I guess that means that I don't have any..."

It's at this point that Sally and Espeon finish their conversation.  Espeon sits by the woman, while Sally goes and stands next to Lucas with crossed arms.  She keeps it brief.  Espeon says the woman's name is Rui.  His trainer goes by the name Wes, and they hunt what they call Shadow Pokemon.  Apparently, Rui has some minor psychic abilities, and that's how she can see those auras.