[Game Thread] Pokerole: Mount Coronet Mystery

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(...) Nothing happens on either of these tiles.  A bit boring, yes, but there is a (small) chance of that occurring when exploring Mystery Dungeons.  Can't be exciting adventures and treasure finding all the time, after all.
Given the situation, this is also a good time to try and make preparations for what might be ahead.  No pre-fight buffing still please, but swapping pokemon, attempting to stealth to the next tile, healing pokemon, etc. is all fair game. (...)

Nah, Kee's party is fine after he swapped out beforehand already (See charasheet). It hurts a little having to bring dear Stella into the virtual reality a PC Box is... But it's either that or going with the danger to set the coal veins aflame and die through suffocation, easy to guess which is the lesser of the two evils.

(...) Karen just looks confused at some of the things that were said.  "...what the heck is a v-card?  Huh?  Hey, where'deveryone go?  Wait for me, guys!!!" (...)

Oh dear Heaven. Kee DOES wait for Karen to catch up a little, but he will NOT explain that to her. He... he just WON'T, aargh! If she's curious and persistant though, he'll opt to tell her that he prefers to keep his V-Card for reasons and casually joke that he'll become a wizard if he still has it when he turns 30. Octavia's all jolly and can't seem to stop chuckling and humming - But Kee's actually appearing nervous.

He eventually facepalms over himself and gives Karen an apologizing look, there are still traces of a blush on his face. "I'm sorreh... It's 'n uncomfortable topic for me. Just...try not to overthink it 'n know that I lack a certain male drive, 'kay? 'Kay."

(...) Kee, Karen, and Rui, traveling in the direction the weird Steelix came from, find a series of tunnels that it seems to have dug.  The diamond dust that Randolph found traces of on prior floors lines the edges of the tunnels (though I don't think he informed anyone except Lucas about what exactly it is).  The three travelers hear the steady dripping of water echoing through the passages.  It's getting louder.
The tunnels look odd, though, and it's not just because of the diamond dust lining them.  Where the ground slopes downwards slightly and the tunnels all meet, the darker stone and coal veins of the mine seem to intermingle with and transition into a much lighter colored stone, and the coal veins all but disappear entirely after wandering far enough from the darker stone.  It actually looks a lot like a cave that would belong in Mt. Coronet.
Karen's looking around, partially nervous, partially awestruck.  "...whoa...look at all that sparkly dust...do you think that Steelix left that trail?"
Rui's taking deep breaths, trying to calm herself.  "...okay, this isn't so bad so far.  This cave is really weird, though...it's quiet...a little too quiet, honestly..." (...)

True, Kee wouldn't know that the sparkly stuff is diamond dust, unless you want to roll for it? Not exactly necessary actually though.

Regardless though, he's FASCINATED by this stuff and its beauty, and Octavia's own shiny sparkles and scattered fairy dust nicely competes with it. She paws it with eager and interest. Towards Karen's question whether that odd Steelix has left it behind, Kee's kinda lost. "No idea... Maybeh? Ah, wouldn't it be cool if we could take some time 'n gather a bit of that nice sparkly stuff? Just a handful... Unfortunately we don't have that time, damn it...."

When Rui's giving herself nervous, she involuntarily triggered Kee: He VERY carefully and gently pat her shoulder, giver a reassuring look and reminds her that "We'll be fine. I'll make sure of that, like I told ya. 'N look, ya still got that dear Espeon with ya, right? He'll do so JUST AS WELL."

(...) Eventually, though, the sound of dripping water is briefly interrupted by a splash!  And then everything goes quiet again...try as everyone might, however, they can't quite determine which direction the splash came from.  Did it come from the path straight ahead, or the turn into another passage?  The sound echoes through the caves in such a way that it's impossible to tell which path would lead to the water...
Karen looks at Kee, asking the ever relevant question:  "So...which way are we going?"

Ah damn it, the echos even make it to fool that hones sense of hearing Kee as professional musician has... BUT he still has an ace up his sleeve, and this ace was....

... Aya, his sea lion full of grace and virtuosity.

She bows towards Kare and Rui once being summoned, then turns towards Kee with a look that obviously asks :'Now why did you summon me, what the heck happened?' Kee attempts to calm/soft-bribe her with one of her beloved honey-and-sage-drops, then answers her concern: "Well, yar help is needed, that happened. Ya see..." He waves towards the surrounding "...There's WATER nearby. Unmistakably so, 'cause there's tha sound of drippin' water ' some sort of splash just reached us. So, my dear... Can ya and your instincts as a natural 'n precious Water Type tell us in which direction said water source is, North or East from here?"