[Game Thread] Pokerole Mystery Dungeon: Primal Shadows

[Dragonstrike]

(Firstly, Karen's Theme)

To Team Gallop: "I'unno if he's here, but I can feel some sort of psychic energy that may be Xatu"

Karen can sense the relative nervousness of Rolycoly; she walks up to him and, in an attempt to help calm him, says "It's okay to be nervous, I can't quite explain it, but I know the feeling of setting off on your first adventure" Whether she fully remembers or not, she can *feel* the emotions from starting her journey in Johto, as she is saying this, she's subconsciously rubbing the Steel Octagon.

"So, we can either sit out in this blistering sun all day, which I'm sure some Pokemon here prolly wouldn't mind, or we can hurry and do something."
With that, she motions for Team Gallop, the senior team here, to take point for the dungeon!

Rolycoly stops rolling back and forth for a moment and nods to Karen.  He doesn't say much, but the comfort is clearly appreciated, and something that he wouldn't have gotten from the Carkol that was bossing him around previously.  Rolycoly's Loyalty increases by 1.

Ponyta blinks, surprised at the amount of authority Karen is displaying.  Up until now, every time he'd seen the Ralts, she'd just been following whatever group she was in.  And she's also deferring the lead position to his team?!  Is this even the same Ralts that had gotten trapped by those Trapinch when her team first joined the guild?

"I think she's got you there, Ponyta.  Come on, let's get going."

"Yeah, let's go!  Ooh, this is so exciting!  What do you think Xatu is going to be like, Blitzle?"

"I'm not sure, but there's only one way to find out, right?"

Ponyta shakes his head.  "What am I going to do with you two?  We need to stay focused, remember?  Alright, let's go find this mysterious Sand Dune of Spirits.  Just be on the lookout for wild pokemon."

With that, Ponyta begins leading the group towards the dunes, and their surroundings being to inexplicably warp and change.  The red rocks become tall cliffs, the sand seems to stretch out into the distance forever...

There's no mistaking it.  This entire desert is a Mystery Dungeon, and that Mystery Dungeon is the secluded Sand Dune of Spirits.

The Mystic's Haven: Sand Dune of Spirits - Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon

Sand Dune of Spirits 1F

Ponyta starts by leading everyone up a tall sand dune, finding a winding path through the endless sand.

   

*rolls*

The equine pokemon initially have some trouble with finding their footing, their hooves not particularly well adapted to traveling in these conditions.  Ponyta is stubborn, though, and doesn't seem to be particularly bothered by the heat, so he just keeps on trudging up the dune.  Mudbray's right there with her leader, and the two help keep each other standing.  Blitzle struggles with trying to climb the sandy parts of the dune much more, but manages to find some large rocks that are lodged in the dunes and nimbly jumps from stone to stone, careful not to upset their precarious balance as he ascends.

Karen and Rolycoly have some difficulty climbing the dune as well, struggling to find stable footing.  Karen, being the klutz that she is, stumbles and falls more than a few times.  She eventually makes her way to the top, but not without getting a face full of sand.  By contrast, Rolycoly's wheel lacks traction on the sandy surface, but he barely manages to avoid falling over.

They keep climbing until they've managed to reach the top of this particular dune...

   

...where they find a wild Pupitar and a wild Lunatone squabbling over a pile of rocks.

*rolls*

Karen can see the sunlight reflecting off of something shiny in that pile of rocks. Rolycoly seems to be eying the rocks hungrily, too.

Blitzle may have found a way to the top of the dune that didn't involve slipping and sliding, but that doesn't mean he's not getting worn out by the climb, as he's panting by the time the group reaches the top.  "...why did...it have...to be so...big?"

Mudbray seems completely unbothered.  "Oh it wasn't that bad, Blitzle.  Where's your Stamina gone?"

"...not to interrupt your little chat, but I think we've been noticed."

And as Ponyta brings the two chatterboxes attention back to what's in front of them, the two Rock types take a defensive position.  Ponyta looks at Karen to ask her a question.

"Alright, 'expert negotiator', you seem to be pretty popular with my team and that Rolycoly of yours, so how do you want to handle this?  If you ask me, I think we should attack.  Looks like those two are rather aggressive, but we outnumber them substantially.  I'm pretty sure we could handle a fight with them.  And we have to get past them somehow if we're going to get any further in this dungeon."