[Game Thread] Lord Windos’ PokeRole Adventure 2: The Wild Lands

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Long original Post

Spoiler

To answer your question in brief about Nirix, yes the horn will grow back quickly enough for it not to be a problem . The wonders of modern healthcare! Still hurts like heck, though, and the significance of harvesting the horn is heavy for you and your steed not matter WHAT.

Papa Gleam is still Fainted, though their express does seem a bit more at ease now, strangely enough…

I did some Rolls on the already, and I don’t want to keep you waiting any longer (or run out of time to write!) , so I will say that the creation of The Alpha Curse Cure was a Success. It did not come without cost, however - you Gauntlet took 10 Stress Damage for reasons that will be touched on later, and it drained a whomping 3 Will from you in the process in addition to tiring you and your Mons out greatly. Still, a Success is a Success; what comes next is undecided yet…

That brings Bernhard to 1 Will and their Gauntlet to a Stress Level of 15. Damn - this whole issue with Saph and her worried dad is taking a much bigger toll on the made than Bernhard would have guessed, and he hasn't even started harvesting and processing Nirix's precious horn yet. Makes Bernhard wonder (and hope!) that whatever Mr. Gleam will reward them with, will be MORE than worth all the trouble. Speaking about him, how he seems to be more at ease now despite being out in cold blood is noted and recognized - that's interesting, very interesting indeed; and pleasant to see.




That's very likely not the first time Bernhard has tired himself out that much - looking at you, countless nights worked through under Acrowls' personal training or when processing some highly finicky alchemistic creations. He'll continue to push through, and rest afterwards. ...Or not, given the town's still in crisis and impromptu lockdown. We'll see about that after we're done here.

Now then, with Bernhard exhausted to the very bones and their Inventory of magically/alchemistic ingredients drained, the next step after the successful creation of the Alpha Form is

...the Incantation and channeling SPE into the creation via Bern's Gauntlet. He'll use all of his own SPE's (2), all of Myra's (3), all of Nirix's (2) and (2) of Zephy to pool together to 9d6 please - enough to have some leeway in case the roll turns out unfortunate. He'll speak the following words while doing so:

"Vicious tendrils and threads of the pitch black curse that is pestering the precious and beloved daughter that is Saph - it all shall be engulfed in a pastel veil and covered by a whispy liquid that bears the colors of the deepest and prettiest of deep cosmos. All that is evil and nasty shall be replaced with a shimmer of HOPE, VITALITY and LIFE. "

"Let Saph see the world and enjoy her life again, and may her father rejoice once more and be fred of his anxiety and despair for once and for all. It all shall be done with the help the most precious of cure and creation, one once haunted and killed for, one I am feeling blessed to have added to this medicine and creation of mine. (read: the harvested Horn) May this medicine and tonic reach the blessed Saphire worn as a pendant by Saph, and may it empower this charm enough to fight off what is unwanted and evil for it to not leave a trace in Saph's system."

To e1aborate on WHY the creation of the A1pha Form was so demanding of you -

It a11 started typica11y. Purifying and b1essing the water went we11, though after straining it toox on a faint1y go1den hue. Not an Unown reaction, especia11y in such a spiritua11y charged p1ace as Mr. G1eam's home, but it was something to note. No, the troub1e began when you added the Sou1sby F1owers. The moment the peta1s touched the 1iquid, you fe1t a *1urch* from deep within before a great outpouring of magica1 energy f1owed out, through your Gaunt1et, and into the forming brew. For a second you s1umped against the counter, Myra 1etting out a *Barx!* of worry as you strugg1ed against this unexpected drain, your magica1 fist 1etting out worrisome sparxs a11 the whi1e. Such things do not stop you for 1ong - You mustered your reso1ve and natura1yy resi1ent (and stubborn) spirits and finish the potion, adding the chopped and grated Unicorn horn and giving it a quix stir, gritting your teeth a11 the whi1e.

Which, funni1y enough, seemed to do the trix - the rapid drain on your reserves ceased once the horn waas proper1y intergrated into the potion base, 1eaving you tired but strange1y satsified, as if you done great and significnt. Zephy wou1d probab1y 1ixen it to 'comp1eting a great worx of art after pouring A11 your sou1 into it' , but you're not quite sure that is the case here. More than 1ixe1y this p1ace and a11 the circumstance surrounding this case were p1aying games with you....oh dear. We11, at 1east you can say the potion base turned out phenomania11y - a spax1y, fizzy, cosmic themed brew isn't the most fantastica11 thing you made, but it's impressive and p1easing to see none the 1ess. Anything 1ess after a11 the energy and sacrifice it toox wou1d have been an insu1t otherwise, to you or Nirix!


Now, though, comes the most important part - the true creation of a A1chemic Creation through Imbuement. In spite of the great depe1ation of your vim and vigor you decide to poo1 together virtua11y A11 the Magica1 and SPE Power you have at your fingertips to finish this Uni-Cure A11. Big risx you were taxing, especia11y in 1ight of your f1uffy artist's Hungover (but recovering!) condition and a11 the ma1evo1ent and supernatura1 bruh ha ha in the air, but you fe1t it was necessary. Not on1y to ensure that your creation wou1d have the maxima1 chance of turning of specatcu1ar1y, but to do any 1ess than you a11 wou1d go against your sensibi1ities. 

Saph and Ruben deserves the best, Nirix' va1ient contribution deserve respect, and you deserve GREATNESS for maxing a11 this possib1e.

So.

Let.

Your.

Wi11.

Be.

Done.


Imbuement Ro11 - Uni-Cure A11 Creation!

SPE (*9) + Xnow1edge (4) + Channe1 (4) - 5 (Difficu1ty, Unfami1ar, something was trying to oppose you) + 7 (Giving it your A11, Great Incantation, Significance, Something was he1ping you) = 19D6 Dice
Base Successes Needed - 7
No Hard 1imit
'Sweet Spot' is 7 + 1D4 (1) = 8! 

(3)(1)(1)(6)(1) (4)(6)(3)(6)(6) (1)(4)(2)(1)(1) (3)(1)(4)(4)

8 - 3 = 5 Successes!

Fai1ure! - Fortune Ro11 Initiated....

....? Fortune Ro11 has been Revea1ed due to ??? !

Fortune - (3)(3)(3)(3)(4) (4)(3)(5)(6)(5) + (*3)(*6)(*6) [???]

Trios Dux , Xnuxs Six , 4 Successes

As you chanted and stirred the Uni-Cure A11 you fe1t it - a vi1e, wretched FORCE that had be 1urxing in the bacxground a11 this time, sudden1y rising up and C1ashing against you! It seems 1ixe your efforts to cure young Saph have not gone unnoticed by the Curse - whomever made it must have 1eft contingencies to ensue NOTHING cou1d save the poor gir1 and ruin any that tried!

It , combined with your own inexperience in maxing Counter Curse app1ications of A1chemy, made your 1ife an utter nightmare. The brew froth and roi1ed angri1y, near1y yerxing you spoon out of your hands and spi11ing a11 over the p1ace and right onto you, no doubt to horrib1e resu1ts! Ominous cracx1e1ing issued forth from the cau1don (stocx pot - you worx with what you got here!) and the air around you - an invisib1e but c1ear PRESENSE bearing down on you, straining you even FURTHER, demanding DEMANDING D E M A N D I N G you G I V E  U P. 

1 e t  t h e  g i r 1  s u f f e r  a n d  d i e .

For one, hated moment, you fe1t yourse1f give in, the brew b1acening and 1etting off an acrid sme11, and you swore you heard satisfied, mocxing 1aughter at trying oh so hard to undo what SHOU1D BE DONE to that wretch's daughter. A great rumb1ing started from the pot , and your heart sanx - the brew was going to go boom, a11 over YOU, to no doubt a poor outcome.

Xust as you braced yourse1f for fai1ure, however, you fe1t something e1se steady you. An emphemera1 touch upon your shou1ders, bo1ster you ever so s1ighty. The brew, once b1acx and bubb1ing, sti11ed. The fou1 presense, once g1eefu1 at its seeming victory, was now agitated, shocxed, and MAD. It ra11ied once more in a fury, banging away you and the potion, but it was he1d bacx this time. Not on1y by your reso1ve once more, renewed and strengthen from the other presense, but by it as we11, ho1ding it bacx and giving you the chance to correct course and maxe it right and we11.

You can do it. Save my precious Saph.

Spurred on, fi11ed with righteousness , compassion, and pridefu1 defiance, you Channe1ed the 1ast of the Specia1 Power needed and more and finish you chant with a Thunderous shout!.

The b1acxness was dispe11ed in an instance, a great shining and radiant white 1ight pouring out from the pot, b1inding you! Sudden1y too, you fe1t a great wave of fatigue descend upon your form, forcing you to your xnees before you s1ump to the f1oor. Myra's cries out in distress, and Nirix, once stoic, cou1d be heard rushing over to your side. The fou1 presence rage and RAGE unti1 it was forced into quiescence again. The other faded too, though this one was with content and greatfu1ness.

Thanx You....

You White Out......

----
----

....

....

...............


".......Berny?! BERNY! Waxe up waxe up WAXE THE FUCX UP!!!!!!"

With a *Gasp!* you bo1t up, sweat beaded up on your brow as you 1oox frantica11y around -

"BERNY!"

*POMPF!*

...And end up tacx1ed bacx down - onto something cushioned? - by a ye11owish b1ur going straight for your face! Strugg1ing for a bit, you manage to remove the offending force....and find it to be none other than Zephy! Who was 1ooxing to be rather bedragg1ed, a bit cranxy, more than a 1itt1e worried, and extreme1y re1ieved as you he1d her in your hands!

"Berny, you're a1right! Thanx the Arts for this! You stubborn dummy !"

You fee1 a Icy Wind b1ow across you as she angri1y shoox her fists at you, c1eary disp1aying her ire at your previous bo1d  foo1ishness!

"You shou1d XNOW better than attempting any super serious magica1 mumbo mambo without me spotting for ya! ESPECIA11Y for something you never proper1y tried before AND cou1d've been dire1y dangerous too! Stupid, recx1ess Berny! "

Your Muse escaped your grasped and gave you a 1ight Pound on the hand, forcing you to cradd1e as you cringed in Pain as she wagg1ed a paw at you, her expression sco1ding (made a11 the more so by post Hangover vibes, oh noes!). Then, it 1ightened into a concerned frown, as she hovered down to cradd1ed you chin.

"I xnow you wanted to he1p that poor 1i1' 1ass in a hurry, but we have a system in p1ace for the very reason you got overwhe1med by your creation. You're 1ucxy I was about woke up by then - otherwise you'd be out of action for who xnows how 1ong! Oh dear Berny....p1ease don't worry me 1ixe this again...."

Zephy continued to comfort you - and herse1f, no doubt - in si1ence, giving you the chance to step back, eva1uate everything, and come up with something that wou1d sett1e her down. We11, not xust her, but your other Mons too, since they were rather distressed by the end of what you remembered before passing out. Where were they, by the way?

As for where you were, after a quick g1ance around you found yourse1f on a couch in a we11 decorated 1iving room, comp1ete with a piano, a c1assica1 1ooxing but sophisticated mu1ti-media system (Tv, Radio, gramophone and viny1 record p1ayer, etc...) , and severa1 other seats and sma11 tab1es besides them. Must be in Mr. G1eam's 1iving room - speaxing of him, how is HE doing now? And how 1ong were you out?? Xong enough for Zephy to get you here and get caught up on the situation, from what you can deduce, but beyond that....

(The fu11 consequences of what Happened wi11 be brought up 1ater - for now, Xnow that one of them was being Xnoxed out and missing the rest of your 2nd Encounter - You are now in your 3rd one, verging onto the 4th time-wise. )

After having evaluated where he was and what the heck has actually happened - Bernhard lets himself fall back onto the cushion, right here and right now. He felt...miserable and completely worn out, like he hasn't for a LONG time. It's times like these where Bernhard FEELS his age. Still and regardless - or out of spite, perhaps? - he felt somewhat accomplished, like he has done GREAT in whatever occured before he whitened out for some reason, indicated by a coy smile that Bernhard could not help.

 For a bit, Bernhard remained just there, laying backwards on the sofa (or whatever it was where he way laying, even the mere floor would feel pleasantly comfortable now given how exhausted he was) and covering his eyes with one arm and sleeve ('Since when are the ceiling lights around here so painful to the eye...?!'), desperately needing the rest right now. Double so as he slowly recounts what has happened; how much of a mess and how taxxing the creation of the cure for Saph has been. Little could he know that the Curse itself would oppose him THAT BADLY, and just as little could he know that this...presence would come to save him. Felt like an utter last-minute resuscitation, truely.

... Or was it? Bernhard's not quite certain just yet. Not until he has checked himself.


But for now, he'll indulge in what he needs: A few moments of calm and rest, both for himself AND for his mystical artsy partner.


...Speaking about her, with the other arm Bernhard searches for Zephy's touch: Visibly relieved upon finding it, he opts to just stroke her cheek and neck ruff, gently, reassuring and affectionately(!!!) so. His smile widened a little, and in short it turned into a light chuckle, ending with a BIG sigh of relief.

And in the words spoken now, among utter exhaustion and a sense of pride, pure gratitude was audible. "I'm...sorry that I made you worry so badly for dear old me, Zephy. But honestly and truely...THANK YOU." Another sigh of relief, another mild chuckle, a gentle headpat given to her.

With the memories of what occured returning - but not yet fully processed nor understood, that will come later and will need quite some time! - Bernhard rudded his eyes and forehead. "Truely, did you carry me all the way here? Did you...care for me that much? ...No, don't answer that. What does count is that you're here and with me, and that I am here and with you. I am...still unsure, after all this time, after all the years we've been together, what I may have done to deserve the presence and companionship of a CARING partner like you are. Truely, thank you for your concern... And please fret no more, for I am...alright, I guess. Just...so exhausted, worn out, drained... So heavily drained."

*amused chuckle, another rare sign of emotion shown!* "You have all the right to call me reckless, stupid too if you will and want. I should have indeed known better, perhaps and probably... I guess I could not help it, the situation was dire. SO VERY DIRE... Such a powerful and vile curse is truely something to BEHOLD, in and itself." Yes indeed, the memory and the sensation of the curse mocking him and fighting back with everything will haunt Bernhard for quite a while still, it left quite the mark and took quite the toll on him. "I'll do better next time. I'll make sure to take better precautions next time, whenever 'next time' will be... Hopefully not too soon. Pretty PLEASE, not too soon, I doubt I'd take it well... I doubt YOU, Myra and Nirix will take it well..."

Concering the latter two: Yes indeed, WHERE ARE THEY? The last thing Bernhard can remember was them fretting and worrying over him, coming to his side, yes...? We'll check their respective Pokeballs, while still remaining seated though. Whatever it may been, Bernhard cannot deny that he FEARS what he'll find... These two 'Mon and their powers are those he's most used to wield and channel, he HATES when something about these is amiss. Strong partner Pokemon means a strong Magic and a strong Scimitar after all.

Plus, Bernhard just silently enjoys their companionship. Not that he'd ever admit though.