[Game Thread] Pokerole Mystery Dungeon: Primal Shadows

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

No rolls required for anything here!  Gallade already knew about the Sky Plate since he was present when it was received.  Keldeo, Zeraora, and Haxorus are intrigued by Platina's mention of the artifact and how it needs to be protected.  Quagsire and Delphox are rather hard to get a read on though.

Keldeo is looking at Kogeki curiously, but doesn't say or do anything in particular that would indicate they got the letter.  Maybe he'll say something after the meeting.

Delphox, Ampharos, and Haxorus all listen rather intently to what the two teams' members have to say about the events that happened.  Ampharos is the first to speak up.

"Goodness me, Ho-oh and Rayquaza made an appearance?!  That is worrying if whatever is going on is drawing even powerful Legendaries into some kind of larger conflict...if Ho-oh is involved, it likely ties into why the Lord of Thunder was attacked as well."

Haxorus nods.  "Keldeo and Emolga mentioned that Sue had noticed the Rainbows of Hope were starting to fade again.  If the Rainbow Pokemon has been corrupted, that's likely to be related as well."

Delphox is silent for a moment longer, eyes closed as she ponders something.  It's almost uncomfortable, waiting for her response.

When she opens her eyes, she nods. 

"Thank you for finding Braixen, Daxter.  And thank you for confiding in us about the Sky Plate, Platina.  When we're done here, I'd like to talk with both of your teams about our next steps.  Haxorus, I trust we can leave the search for the Ivory and Obsidian Peaks to Paradise?"

Haxorus nods.  "We'll have those mountains mapped out faster than you can construct a building."

"Ampharos, we'll need some map data to coordinate these searches, both for the twin peaks and for Lord Raikou.  Can the Expedition Society supply it?"

Ampharos salutes.  "Absolutely, Guildmaster.  And if I may make a suggestion, I remember hearing that there was a particular individual on the Grass Continent that's spent a great amount of time searching for Ho-oh and the Legendary Beasts.  Maybe they'll know of some way to track them down."

"That sounds like an excellent suggestion, Ampharos.  As you are from that continent, Team Raiders, could I ask you to look into that for us?"

"I think I might know who you're talking about already.  They've been a bit of a fixture in Treasure Town for quite some time now.  Gives us a chance to go say hi to Wigglytuff as well, assure him we're okay.  Don't need him leveling his guild because he's upset."

"Very good.  I think that gives us a good grasp of the situation now.  Is there anything else you needed clarification on, Haxorus?"

"Think I've got the gist.  We look for the twin peaks and Kyurem, Expedition Society coordinates the mapping, Team Raiders questions this eccentric about Ho-oh and the Beasts.  All doing our part to figure out what the heck is going on here.  Though...what's your guild gonna do?"

Delphox takes a deep breath, a tension surrounding her despite how confident her words sound.  "We'll be on the front lines.  As soon as we know where to go."

It's what she says next that comes as a surprise to some, though. 

"As the only guild with humans currently among our number, we don't have much of a choice."

Ampharos blinks, seeming to be the only NPC not in the loop by now.  "Excuse me, humans?  As in, multiple?"

"Ah, right.  Hadn't been able to get around to telling you that yet, boss.  Yeah, there's humans at Delphox's Guild."

Madame Twintales nods.  "And it will be them and their destined allies that will end this conflict.  The future may not be clear to me, but I have seen their power for myself.  They can fight the Legends and dispel the Darkness.  A task which no normal pokemon would be able to accomplish without assistance."

"And assist them we shall."

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With the initial meeting finished, the organizations split off to discuss their individual plans, with Madame Twintales going with Paradise and Zeraora talking to Team Raiders and the Expedition Society.  

Delphox takes TNW, TOS, and Braixen aside for a quick chat.  After the shock reveal that she knew there were humans among their number already, it seems pretty obvious what she wants to talk about.

"So, you all defeated Landorus with the help of Gallade.  I'm impressed.  Very impressed.  For Bronze ranked teams, you are quite capable.  You can expect that to be reflected in your teams' ranks later, though I'll have to keep some of the details concerning why discreet.  It would be rather inconvenient for the public to panic at the thought of another worldwide calamity being potentially imminent."

She sighs.


"I know you all don't particularly trust me.  And I do not blame you.  I assume that you heard about the reputation of the Sand Continent's inhabitants, and chose to hide your identities.  I believe you were wise to do so.  However, if this conflict grows in scale, it may be become difficult to continue to hide your identities."

Delphox looks at Braixen.  "Sheena, I believe it would be wise for you to join one of their teams.  As another human, I believe you will be key to the coming conflict."

Braixen looks very confused.  "...huh?  Hang on, you're not lecturing me?"

Delphox shakes her head, seeming to have dropped all pretense at the drop of a hat.  "While I don't approve of you running away to go adventuring without explicit permission, there's clearly more going on here than I initially suspected.  The time for you to find your purpose is now."

Braixen is left speechless at that.

The guildmaster then looks at Platina as she addresses everyone else.  "If you are all wondering how I knew you were human, the answer lies in something that I found long ago.  Something that not even Sheena was aware of."

The Guildmaster reaches into the fur draped around her arms...

...and pulls out something quite curious indeed.



"Platina, are you aware of how to utilize the Plate that you were entrusted with?  It is a powerful artifact, but mastery of it is demanding.  I can teach you what I know, if you so desire.  I am not fully in control of everything this Plate is capable of, but there are ways to influence the effects it can have, direct them towards achieving your desired goals."

The Plate gives off a powerful aura of Psychic energy, but none sense it more acutely than Platina, as the Sky Plate hanging off of her taloned leg almost seems to resonate with its counterpart.

Delphox puts the Plate away, then lets her guild's teams take the floor.  "I assume you all have questions for me.  Ask, and I shall answer as truthfully as I am able."

Platina wishes she had a better bead on the two respective leaders of these Adventurers, but with a internal sigh she pushes those anxious reservations down. For now it was what it was, and she didn't get to this point in her life without learning how to Rollout over uncertainty and continue as she may.

To Ampharos she has this to say, a frown etched into her face: "Indeed. I fear all it's retinue may be under the umbral thrawl of whatever evil perverts and puppets them. Call it a mere hunch, but if virtually all the Genies of Seasons succumbed to these Dark Forces and with Lord Raikou's abscene....*Shakes head* ....the signs are not very promising that the Lord of Clear Waters, the Lord of Rumbling Fire, and the Lord of Swirling Seas escaped harm or malice. Best we keep a close eye and closer ear about any unexplained phenomena relating to Them, and be prepared to subdue them the best we can."

The shiny bird merely bowed her head at Delphox, accepting both her thanks and request. Though being around them was now more nerve wracking due to not precisely knowing what they knew about her or her comrades, but that doesn't mean she would be impolite or impertinent with her 'boss'. 

The rest of the discussion goes by without much contributions from her, though the mention of Wigglytuff gets a blank tilt of her head and a muttered 'Who?' . Her Guild Leader explicitly revealing that fact nearly causes her to break composure to gawk and facepalm - just why are they making such a big deal out of it, when as a Leader they should be abundantly clear about the sort of trouble that follows when such revelations become too widely known? Yes, this even includes herself to an extent - if she didn't have her prior Quest and other things to focus on....well, she probably wouldn't be nearly so calm about this news or the Truth about her companion's Hidden Nature, ashamed as she is to admit it. Not negatively - by the Dragon Gods no! - but....well, she'd certainly make quite the embarassing scene, oh dear...

In any case the moment passes and everyone splits up to do as request, with her and her number going with Delphox in accordance to their whims and curiosity. What more could they want from them, now that they had the 'full story' ? Hopefully it was not to further 'grill' them about it and/or engage in more mind games that'd leave her a bundle of jittery feather, oh dear oh dear...!

Thankfully, what they had to say was better than expected. Getting praise and accolades for a Quest above and beyond what was expected was richly deserved, and hearing them grant Sheena their blessing brought a smile to her face. That...was very good of them indeed - she'd fear that they'd end up Cloystering them away after all was said and done like....hmm.

(Un)Fortunately, however, they where not yet done with dropping bombshells when they revealed It .

"The Psychic Plate."

The words escaped unbidden from the Iron Lady's mouth, her composure gone as she gapped at the Divine Relic before her and then at Delphox, a look of clear unguarded surprise plain for all to see.

"How....*Shakes head* No, that is impertinent of me. *Looks at them* Forgive me for my presumptions, but...I take it you are it's Guardian and Caretaker? I must admit I am curious as to how such a Divine Item came into your possession, but if you do not wish to share that is your Right. I doubt I would be so clear about how I earnt 'my' own after everything, let alone reveal it's Existence if most others at the meeting where not already aware of It."

*Sighs, closing eyes, then opens them with a Nod*

"Very well - I do wish to learn more about how to Use the Relic in my possession. The closest I have done to test It's Power is trying to grant a Blessing to Landerous and Enamorous before we had to leave - *Shakes head* and I'm uncertain if it amounted to anything. However, to be clear I would rather not overly use It - I am it's Guardian first and foremost, not it's True Wielder. It's Power should only be used when needed most or the need most dire, and relying on Power not mine own - and one so intertwined with Divinity at that - is foolish indeed. Power can corrupt too, if unscrupulous used - those Befallen to the Dark Forces is a testament to that, if nothing else."

Platina has many questions for the Guildmaster, but not a lot she could ask without drawing undue suspicion or engaging in more intrigue or mind games than she is comfortable at the moment. For now, she settles on three of the most pertinent and least incriminating/arousing questions to give to them:

"First...what shall be your Intentions for Daxter's and mine own comrades? Kee raises a good point - though some of us are more special, what plans and thoughts have you so far about it all? Will you put us on the 'frontlines' , or will we be something akin to shinobi - secret forces to be deployed when the need for our overall capabilities are desired? What protections will we have in place, should anyone with less than Ideal thoughts of the matter make any discovery and try to extort or expose us?"

"Second, what assurances (Read - Prestige and resources, as well as more details and overwatch) can you give us now without arousing suspicion within your Guild and among your peers and associates? Presumptuous as it may be to plainly state it, but the facts are clear and the Legends about these matters do not lie - trouble of all kinds will be coming for me, my companions, and those that have joined them hand and hand, and as such having some degree of safety would go a long way to ensure things remain good for everyone involved. *Shakes head* I rather we not be chased off or persecuted without being abundently prepared for it, at the very least, and I know from word of mouth that their are already other nefarious forces seeking the Plates for their own nebulous and no doubt foul ends - hence my desire for such Relic to remain Secret as possible, futile of an effort that might be."

"Third, and lastly...has anything strange happened to you while you have been Guardian to your Plate? With such Divine Relics and the now apparent brewing Calamity...any Insights we can glean would greatly help us deal with this expediently."