[Game Thread] Pokerole Mystery Dungeon: Primal Shadows

[Dragonstrike]

Everyone makes their way to Paradise, and they're greeted by Quagsire at the entrance.

"Hmmmm, I see everyone is here now.  Haxorus has been waiting for you.  Guilmaster Delphox arrived last night as well, hmmmmm.  Follow me."

Braixen gives Quagsire a questioning look, seeming to find something that he said a little strange, but doesn't immediately say anything.

Quagsire leads everyone to the northern end of Paradise, where a small house stands in the middle of the large plot of land.  Haxorus can be seen talking with the Guildmaster, the two of them sitting on piles of hay that have been laid out in a circle.  Keldeo and Emolga are there as well, whispering among themselves.

Delphox notices everyone wandering into the area first.  "Ah, there you all are.  It is good to see you all unharmed."  Her eyes briefly dart to Braixen, whose ears flatten as she looks away from the older fox.  Her gaze also briefly lingers on Platina, and the shiny birdy almost feels like...there's something more to the Guildmaster that she couldn't sense before.  She can't quite place a talon on what it is, though...

"Alright, everyone take a seat.  We've got a lot to discuss.  Quagsire, kindly make sure that we don't have any surprise visitors or eavesdroppers."

"Hmmmmm, very well."

Quagsire takes up a position at one of the paths on the edge of the area, making sure to have a good vantage point of all the possible entrances.

Everyone then finds a seat, and the discussion begins.

"Right then.  To start with, one of the more immediate issues: how long you were all gone for.  I was under the impression that you would be back in maybe 2 days.  3 at most.  The Great Glacier is a pretty far off place, after all.  However...it's been a week.  A bit strange if you ask me."

Strange Happenings: I Saw Something Again... - PMD: Explorers of T/D/S

This comment from Haxorus immediately gets everyone from Paradise, the Expedition Society, and the Adventurers' Guild talking.

"A week?  No, that can't be right!  We were only in the Glacial Ruins for a day at most!  ...right?"

"Maybe I messed something up with the Entercards?  It's possible they could have warped space-time..."

"A week?!  Ampharos, why didn't you tell me that yesterday?"

"You sounded tired, Dedenne.  I didn't want to worry you further.  You needed to get some rest."

"Maybe so, boss, but strange things are happening.  You know what happened last time..."

*AHEM*

Everyone quiets down as Haxorus clears his throat.

"As strange as this is, we have more pressing concerns right now I hear.  And we have guests that I hear have some insight on the movements of involved parties.  Madame Twintales and Zeraora, yes?"

"Indeed."

Zeraora just grunts in acknowledgement.

"Would you mind filling us in on how your masters seem to be involved?"

"Certainly.  I am a disciple of Master Kyurem, a seer training to see the future as clearly as they can.  Master Kyurem appears to have foreseen these recent events, events that I could not perceive, and has seemingly made moves to account for them."

"The directions to find the Obsidian and Ivory Peaks if I remember correctly.  And what about you, Zeraora?"

"I am a guardian of Lord Raikou's domain.  Though in that task, I have seemingly failed.  Lord Raikou was spirited away by an unknown, shadowy power that had taken over one of the Forces of Nature.  I must find Lord Raikou as soon as possible."

"Hmmmm...so the all-seeing Legend has hidden themselves away, and another has been kidnapped by an unknown force."  Haxorus looks at Team Raiders next.  "And you three.  The legendary team Raiders, yes?  How'd you all get wrapped up in this?"

"Guildmaster Delphox asked us to investigate the cause of the strange storms that have been increasing in frequency and intensity lately.  Our investigations gave us cause to believe that they were originating from the Island of Storms just south of the Water Continent."

"We ended up gettin' separated once we got there.  Then this lot all showed up."

"And were it not for them, I believe we would have met a very grim fate indeed.  The island challenged us in many ways that we were not expecting."

"Like that giant Sandaconda Keldeo and Emolga mentioned to me, right?"

"Yes, pokemon like that.  There was an unusual number of Monster Houses on the island as well."

Delphox appears to be deep in thought as she ponders all of this.  "...and yet, they aren't the most worrying things you encountered, are they?"

Gallade shakes his head.  "No, we encountered something far worse, far more foreboding.  Landorus, the Spirit of the Land and Emobodiment of Summer, had been corrupted by the shadowy energy that was looming over the island like a dark, ominous cloud.  I was barely able to hold him off until your guild's members arrived."

Delphox nods, glancing briefly at Braixen, Team Night Wardens, and team Omega Seekers.  "Very brave of them to aid you in fighting a Legendary pokémon."

"It would not have been possible without them, ma'am."

Delphox nods thoughtfully, seeming to make a note of that.

Haxorus looks to Teams Omega Seekers and Night Wardens next.  "I'd like to hear your takes on what happened in that fight.  And what happened afterwards, if you don't mind.  If you know anything that might help us determine a course of action, now would be the time to tell us."

All eyes are on the Bronze ranked teams, the air tense with anticipation.

Guildmaster Delphox is looking at Platina thoughtfully again.

*rolls*

Platina can tell that the Guildmaster knows something.  Even with as little as they told her last night, the Guildmaster still knows...

...but knows what?

And is it related to that feeling she had earlier?  That there's more to the Guildmaster than meets the eye?

The Guildmaster nods to Platina, then turns her attention back to the group as a whole.

Time to report what happened, and hopefully figure out a plan for what to do next.