[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Mason begins the series of mock battles with Arete.

He starts out with his disobedient Tyranitar, showing Terra how to handle Rock types and fossiloids who aren't listening properly. The key is to allow them to face challenges head-on, addressing their insecurities, and helping them learn for what situations fight-or-flight isn't the best choice. Of course, to most Rock types, "flight" involves withdrawing into a Defense Curl or something. Arete's Watery leanings help him demonstrate this with precision, and Tyranitar lasts a long time against the type disadvantage. He also withdraws Tyranitar before it faints. "Not fair to make a Pokemon lose a battle so drastically, through no fault of its own. Tyranitar trusts that I will only bring him out when it's safe to do so."

He also brings out a vain Archeops. Terra can see that Mason's method of flattering his Archeops isn't likely to work on Arete, but that's good information to have. Arete also gets great practice at trying to blast Archeops out of the air.

Mason makes Arete fight his Onix next. Onix takes up a huge percentage of the battlefield, and spends a lot of time worming down between the blocks and popping up for surprise attacks. The massive pool of hitpoints means Arete can be as vicious as she likes without gaining anything - only clever commands from Terra can make that battle winnable.

Finally, some of the blocks in the Gym swivel aside, revealing four Crustle making up the inner foundation. "These are my only Bug types I have on hand. Want to see how you do against four at once?"


All in all, Arete gains 1 more point of Loyalty. Terra is finding it much easier to increase her Loyalty than to increase her Happiness.

For some context in the following scene, in the mock battle vs Mason Terra had elected to by and large to let Arete fight how she want to fight, only giving her the stern command not to brutally savage (read: kill) the chief architect or his prized Rock collection. Mainly for him to see what her natural/’casual’ fighting style and get a better understanding of her mentality (and learn ways to appeal to both), but also because he was curious to see how strong and capable his mini-Mythic was without his guidance. In sum, the mock battles were comprehensive test of sorts for her, one with more academic meaning to the trainers present and carthesis factor for the smol killing machine herself.

Beyond the battle with Onix (Which forced him to take active command of Arete to prevent things from going disastrously wrong for her or it), she he preform admirably well, earning her a smile and respectful nod from the mountain of a man. Her reaction to such was less than inspiring, though, as the aquatic menace only turned back briefly to acknowledge her master before refocusing on Mason. She had no need for their praise or recognition. So long as he treated her well and kept feeding her the Fights she craves (In both senses of the term), he has her Loyalty and respect as any good and powerful leader deserved. If that were to change or if her master were to significantly be weakened, though, he’ll be following her commands or else.

Her own temperament towards the mock battles was an almost begrudging interest in the whole affair and concept (Fight for the sake of practice was a novel concept for the best Bug, let alone Fights that didn’t involve slaughtering your prey or threats to your safety, status, or territory) , but as it progressed she got into it like any other Fight. Slicing at her foe’s Rocky hides with her razor sharp blades, indiscriminately blasted them with pressurized bursts of water (except against that stupid bird….), and piercing through all hard exterior…..it was a visceral, joyful experience. Oh, if only her master allowed her to kill these welps and eat them it’d be even better!

Then came the last Fight of the mock battle – Arete vs. 4 Crustle, Bug of the Water vs Bugs of the earth. Terra calmly nodded to Mason’s proposal for this last bout, as he thought it’d be an excellent final test for his primitive powerhouse. Arete, however, had a different reaction to the event. She was humoring and tolerating the other human by her master’s decrees, but when they taunted her with his challenge? Oh boy, she became peeved and steamed at the perceived insult. This lowly human DARE mock her, after all the restraint and mercy she showed his disgusting Rock Pokemon at the beheast of her master? Very well. She’ll show him the error of his words.

Being the speedy insect as she was, Arete got to first against the Crustle. As the battle began, the mini-Mythic gave Mason a glare that would get even his spine a-tingling, before she quietly raised a talon – scythe to the air……
….and a huge wall of water exploded into existence behind her, held in place seemingly only by the Will of Arete. All the Crustle, who were a wee bit nervous fighting against what could be considered the most elite of Bug Pokemon, drastically paled as they eyed the Move with wide eyes. Terra looked taken aback by this sudden display of overwhelming aggression from her. And Mason…..well, I don’t imagine he was so chipper staring down a SURF. Arete didn’t pay attention to them all, though, as she only had eyes for the Gym Leader, talon – scythe still held aloft…..

…..before with a low contemptuous buzz she sliced it down, and unleashed the SURF.

*WOOSH CRASH SLAM SPLOOSH*

In an instant, all four Crustle were yanked off the arena by the powerful foamy wave and hurtled into the walls of the training room, the water and impact together cleanly knocking them out. As for everyone else…..Terra managed to remain untouched by the wave somehow, perhaps by the providence of Arete. Nathan and Gallade were spared too…..for the most part, as both didn’t receive any Damage but were thoroughly soaked to the bone by the SURF.

Mason, though? He too went untouched, as the SURF part around him as it crash across the room, leaving him untouched by it like Terra. No, more so even, as unlike the sagely monk, the master architect still was standing on dry land, a tiny circle of the floor barely big enough to hold him. It was deliberate show of power of the primal powerhouse’s part, showing Mason only by her Will was he spared the SURF. The message was clear: do not trifle with her. EVER.

She held her gaze with Mason for a few seconds longer, before she dismissed him, turning away from him a flicking her arm, drawing in all the water she created by the Surf into her as she stalked back over to her master’s side. Well, except for the water on/surrounding Nathan and Gallade – they can remain wet, the food stealing curs.

Terra’s response to all this? A flabbergasted expression, eyes wide and mouth wide open, before in an uncharacteristic display he facepalms and shakes his head in dismay at his mini-Mythic.

“Arete…..that was too much. Too much.”

Arete was completely unrepentant by her action, but she did acknowledge the reprimand with a nod, a gesture she learned from him. She has NO regrets for what she did, but she accepts her master’s judgement, and whatever punishment he decides upon.

Before that though, reactions from Nathan, Gallade, and Mason?