[Meta Thread] Lord Windos' PokeRole Adventure 2: The Wild Lands

[Lord Windos]

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Wild Lands World Lore Part 2 -  Zeta and Beta

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Music: Legend of Zelda: LttP Opening Theme

Time - Beginning of Skull Ruined Campaign

From here, the telling of Events shall differ, mainly focusing on the difference that occurred and the consequences thereof, with some Scripted Scenes interspersed between. We've already experience the original version of Events, so recapping it so thoroughly shouldn't be necessary - or so I can only hope.

In Heart's book (and accompanying Audio-Book), The Ruinous Times, he tells his version of how The Heroes of Cheshire journeyed through their lands, detailing all their adventures and the tragedies the struck them all to the best of his ability, citing from others the parts he was not in and trying to offer his own opinion on what happened and, more importantly, why.

'(...) I suppose the first problems arose during The Group's first trip to Ginger Town, when Ventus nearly died after killing the Vespiqueen occupying the area and the Hypno that control them,' The Shaman begins.

' (...) Ven ended up getting separated and lost from Nathan and Shiva in the Hive the queen bee made - that place was a sticky labyrinth to get through, or so I heard. A swarm of Combee manage to divide the group part-way through, and he ended up making it all the way to Vespiqueen and her controller. Few moments after that the entire hive became a buzzing hell for a few minutes before all the Bugs buzzed off in a hurry, very distressed and scared.The group was able to quickly find the tweed loving researcher - on the verge of death, painted in blood and swollen from being stung all over, but standing defiantly over Vespiqueen, her throat garroted opened by the Hypno Loop he was holding. The Hypno was a feet feet away, eyes slashed out and a knife burried in his heart. To this day I wonder how in Arceas' name he managed to pull THAT off - he wasn't talking, other than saying 'It was for the best, in the end. The Queen was a lost cause, thoroughly bewitched and deluded, and the Hyno...the less said about his vile schemes, the better.'  From what I can tell this nearly caused Nathan to lose his shit and quit his journey entirely, while Shiva ended up vomitting and passing out. Somehow, though, they managed to get through to each other, though things were very rocky for some time after. Ven didn't help any with his sister Apsis scaring the shit out of the Shuckle Ball owner - though at that point their was hardly anything do to top offing the queen's head (...) 

From there the story meanders for a bit, as Heart tries his best to piece together everything that happen. He mentioned that Ventus managed to scare a Ranger stiff after they tried to fine him for 'unnecessary force' against a Scimitar bastard - ' Frankly I wish the guy's sister manage to chow down on them and his stupid Bugs.' - and around this time was when the beginnings of his romance with Shiva started. 

'(...)He he...those two were blind as Zubats to each other feelings for the longest time. Took waaaay too long for those two to finally get together, in my opinion. *Sighs* Then again, Ven certainly didn't make it easy for him to steal her heart - she and her Fenniken probably would've roasting him alive after he decided to destroy the fox's ol' home in Fireweed Forest if Nathan didn't come to his rescue. I can sing my praises for the guy all I want, but the fact remains he was the biggest paranoid magic hater I know, and was positively ruthless to anything that he considered 'Wicked, Evil, and Foul' . To say nothing about what he does to any that threaten to harm his beloved friends and family - the less said what he does to those that actually succeed, the better. *Sighs* Arceas, I wish Nathan could've manage to put a cap on that wrath, but I guess that was a tall ask considering how wonky things were between them all. Especially with the Love-Hate thing that Ven and Shiva had going on for awhile after that - she became a real whipcracker after all that for awhile, but Ven somehow manage to Charm his way back into her Serene Graces again.(...)'

Around this point the Benoited Earth Magus reveals something - Ventus was cursed for what he did. 

Music: Gloom Spawn

'(...)He screwed up big time with the Guardian Legend watching over the place - why he thought it was a good idea to piss them off on top of salting and burning those 'unholy' grounds is beyond me to this day, but that is just Ven being Ven I guess. 'May you lose what you love most dear. Once, twice, thrice, 'til you make amends for your sins,'  is what he said 'The Wretched Spirit' 'tried' to Enspell him with. Made a real enemy out of Fennekin too - she was always raring to have a go at him, and did everything in her power to drive Shiva away. *Sighs* She got her way, in the end, but that's for later. *Beat, then Heavy Sighs* He never did repent, and he lost it all. Over and over again. Started with Raphael - Ven's razing of that place was the straw that broke their faith in their father. They fell into a deep, deep depression - and if you know anything about Togekisses is that too much negatively is literally killer for them. Ven had no choice but Trade them away for Helel 'fore they went to the heavens for real - he was hurting real bad after that. Heh, that lil' Devimp, though, managed to cheer him right back up with her silly antics...though the fact she only enabled his temper tantrums was always a sore point 'tween him and the rest of the group. Oh well - such is life.'(...)

At this point we skip ahead to when, after arriving back in Ginger Town, the Party ends up heading back to Trilum Town, before heading south through Mt. Sentry and arriving and Cress City.

'(...) Ven managed to get a heads up from one of his 'sources' that Almanac - may Giratina damn their souls - was blocking the way to Stair from Ginger Town. After the shitshow that was The Running and him and Nathan nearly having a falling out again - Almost prevent them from getting his Ace Calam - and Ven still on edge after what happened in Fireweed and Corsage, he didn't want to take anymore chances something would go Wrong. managed to convince the group to take a longer detour. Nathan dragged his feet the whollllle time on the way back to his home town, though considering how embarrassed he was after his mom Swaddlooned him and Mother Torchiced him when they got back, maybe he had a good enough reason for himself, he he! *Sighs* Was a good thing he did - after The Vines broke out from the Skull Ruins things went to Giratina's Domain in a handbasket for a long time 'round Stair. Dodged a Bullet Punch there - *Heaving Sighing* though we ended up getting slugged with another instead. Shiva and Nathan wanted to do something about them raging Grassy Tentacles, and the dainty lass got wind of some place called Anthenum, a place that is said to contain the answer for just about every problem. Got the services of a 'Mr. Finder' to help sniff out the place too, - though it was more like she conscripted him for the job. That woman could be scary when motivated, *Brrr*! She managed to convince everyone to make a dungeon dive to try and find the place with the do-dad that she found - a wand that.... *Sighs* That Wand... It helped Mr. Finder and her get us to that pimped out library, but..... *Sighs Harder*  We weren't ready for what was in store for us at all. *Sour Tone* Then again, I don't believe anything could've - not at that point.'

From here Heart details the group's adventure to Anthenum, and all the excitement and heartbreak thereof. Of how they managed to recover ROCK SMASH from the Captain and his crew - 'Damndest thing, seeing Helel literal burn the souls of those Sablewraiths away with her Infernal Blade. For once Ven's and her righteous anger was completely warranted. Good riddance! - to nearly getting Ambushed and captured by the Scimitar scum on the way - 'No thanks to him ' -here , and Nathan managed to get of all things a Diance to join him - 'That lucky bastard, heh! Ven nearly had a heart attack when she surprised him with that 'drop down' greeting!' - Heart finding a that Mega Relic in that Hidden Ancient Grotto - 'I can't tell you how many times that Scepter save us - oh wait, I can! *Beat* Oh wait, I am. *Sighs...* - to Helel finally Evolving into a Beliaddon after Ven nearly died to a swarm of Mushroom Mons- ' Hoo boy, thank Arceas she did! Or is that the right thing to say about an almost literal fire and brimstone devil? ' -  and more.

Eventually, though, he gets to what he calls The First Tragedy. The way the tone of his voice plummets, how hollow he sounded.....it bode no good.

'(...) ....Our Fight against that bitch of a queen Seikamater ended in disaster. Even with Mega Diance's spamming those blizzards of diamonds and Helel razing her forces and turning what was left against her.....we nearly didn't make it out alive. *Grim Chuckle* Turns out having Mythic and Pseudo power with a salvo of ROCK SMASHES only just even the score between us. We managed to beat her in the end, but, but......

Music: Stops

'...She got Lucifer and Kirlia. Lucifer got turned into a popsicle taking a nasty Ice Beam for Ven, while Kirlia...they sacrificed themselves to distract her from targeting Nathan with her swarm of little ankle bitters. That was the opening we needed for Diance to pin her down with her castle's spikes and Helel nail them into her. Fight ended soon after that - not even a Legend can tank a Empowered giant stalagmites to the chest and stay feisty. Ven.....he was nearly inconsolable, and Nathan just shut down after the adrenaline high went away and it all sunk in. Then Ven got the maddest I've ever seen him. Suddenly went stone cold quiet, and when he looked back up...I can't really described what was contained in those eyes of his that moment. Closest I can say is that...that it was like something Old, Dark, and Twisted crawled right out from the depths of his SOUL. He then calmly went over to his big demon, and...took that Infernal Blade of hers. Didn't even know you could do that...but how did he? Then he slowly marched to where Seika had Fainted with Helel and they - '

*Pauses*

'....I can't say. Nothing without traumatizing any kids or anyone else reading this, at any rate. All I can say is that he eviscerated her. Nathan didn't even tried to stop him - he just watched.  I didn't want to stop him, Mr. Finder was Fainted himsef, and Shiva....she didn't look quite right herself either. *Heavy Sighing* Thus Ven slew a Legend and earnt his Title - [Queendom Killer]. We defeated that monster tyrant and stop her reign of terror...and it costed us dearly. Nathan his brother in all but blood, Ven his Second Love, me nearly getting a hand torn off and Koa losing an arm, and Shiva......'

*Pauses, Deep Breaths*

'...She lost all hope. Or gained a new perspective on things. Maybe both. Whatever the case, we didn't realize it at the time, but soon...we would.'

From there he continues with the rest of the story, cheer absent from then on. He doesn't dwell on what he wrote, and gets to the point - Everyone found Anthenum. Found the Gauntlet of Time. Passed the Trails and gain entry. They found what they were looking for within, of how a Wise Eremit on one of the mountains peaks, The Claw, could reverse this Vines Disaster. Found out more about Genesect, and where to possibly find some remains and prevent them from getting into Scimitar hands. Found out where to track down the HMs, Mega Stones, and other treasures. Found out all about Legends, and how to bargain with them them properly....or force them to fight fair. They found out all that, and......

Music: Midna's Lament

'.....Shiva found what she was looking for: a way out. A way to fix this mess...but only for her. From what I gathered myself after the fact..... while we were looting and getting book smarted, Shiva made another trip back to the Guantlet of Time, Summoned Celebi, and made a Request of Her. In exchange for personally becoming the caretaker of Their Egg in the Anthenum, and for becoming a 'Guardian of Time' ...Shiva would be sent back. Back to an alternative timeline, right at the start of her journey, so that she could prevent all the strife and tragedies that occurred. The catch? Only she would go, and it was a one way ride. And that was....fine with her. After everything that happened, what she took away from our death match against Seika....it was a 'necessary evil' . 'To undo what went Wrong and make things Right, for one World at least.' ....That's all she wrote for us with the notes she left behind, anyway. Maybe she explained more of her reasoning to Ven with the private letter he got from her....but I'll never know. He burnt after reading it, and he just looked.....done Done with everything. 

'Thus Shiva left on her own journey, leaving us all behind. Thus Ventus lost his Third and last Love. Thus was the Second Tragedy.'

At this point, Heart sound just about dead, but still he continued to tell his tale. He refused to let himself quit and leave things go untold - for the sake of the world, and for the sake of himself.

The stories continues with what is left of the Heroes leaving Anthenum behind and journeying to meet The Wise Eremit. It was a relatively quick journey, knowing now were to go and using a secret path through the underground to get to Them, but it still took time. Time that was costing Stair and Ginger Town dearly all the while - many died or feel under the fiefdom thrall of The King's Claydolls as they waged war against the domains of Humanity.

Soon, but not soon enough, they reached the Wise Eremit. Who proceeded to try and lecture them about the whole matter and the mess they made with Seikamater and her Domain, instead of helping , and tried to force a unfair Deal on them all in exchange for any kind of support.

Ven snapped .

Music: Majora's Mask

Using his newfound Title and all the Knowledge and Lore he learnt together with Helel's Power and the Bane of Djins he found in Anthenum and hide away, he used his Infernal Blade to strike down the Eremit in a surprise attack, crippling Them and revealing Them to be none other than Landerous. 

'(...) And then, with that flaming sword of his, burning hot with righteous indignation,  and a cold look that promised The End, he pointed it directly at Landerous' throat, pressing firmly against it, and simply said thus: "No. No more games from you Legends. No more grand-standing. No more sitting from on high and telling us what to do, telling us what is right to do. No more. Now, you're going to do what we want. What is right by us. Grant us our Rightful Wish, Landerous, Djin of the Earth, with no plans of trickery or revenge or any plot against us. In fact, send us safely on our way and Void your Memory of that we ever exist too, and prevent yourself from ever learning we exist again, and to never bother us poorly again regardless if you Know us or Can Know of us. Swear to all this thrice on Your Name, Your Power, and Your Legend. Do it now, or I shall take what I need by Conquest and unmake you." '

Music: Stops

'...Landerous had no choice but to agree, or He'd loss everything. We got what we wanted - a permeant end to The Vine Crisis - and He sent us  to Cress. By the time we came back, it was over - the Vines were beaten back and eradicated, the Claydoll destoryed, and the section of the Ruins and what Control them sealed away once more. Before then, half of Stair was lost to the Vines, and Ginger Town....gone. It was all gone. 

Music: Sad Angel Choir
SE: Cheering

'....We were first hailed as Heroes then. The Cheshire League, wanting something, anything to restore peace and order quickly and save face from the unmitigated disaster they failed to handle in time, exposed us all as the Heroes of Thorns, directing attention our way and using us as idols to bolster the hopes and dreams of the peoples. We were richly reward then, but the attention, the praise, the adulation....none of us felt it deserved. None of it. Looking back, I can admit we were Heroes, but at the time....after everything we've been through....we couldn't find it within ourselves to take credit. But credit was earnt, and credit we got, and we would soon use it to further future adventures - though none of us knew more was in store then. *Dark, Dark Chuckle* Sure wish we had Future Sight like Delphox, but then again between those Visions and whispering all sorts of things in Shiva's ears throughout their journey....perhaps it was for the best we went in blind.

*Abrupt Music/SE Cut Off*

'....No. I can't say that. Not after what they did. What HE did.'

'Not after that fucking Traitor screwed us all.'

END OF PART 2
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