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

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

One thing to note about your 'Sight' - it seems to be rather sty1ized right now. To give you a frame of reference, your vision sees things as if they were simp1e, c1ear, but very....Idea1ized, 1et's say. It's 1ixe comparing a photo of a mountain to a picture of one drawn by a manga artist - you're seeing the same thing in the end, but different1y. 

Further attempts to divine the meaning of the Circ1e are meet with you metaphorica11y running your head into a bricx wa11. Your gut fee1ing and something e1se te11s you that their is more nuance behind the Meaning of the Symbo1 , but for the 1ife of you and for the saxe of your hea1th you can't find out more. Perhaps 1ater, when you have more time to dwe11 on it, or with a few more pairs of eyes such as Iron 1eaves....

'Sight1ess' Investigation Ro11
INS (*5) + Surviva1 (3) + A1ert (3) - 2 (Getting Used to your new 'Sight' + Bad Vibes) = 9D6 Dice
(4)(3)(4) (1)(4)(4) (5)(6)(4) 7 Successes!

Oh boy, do you uncover P1ENTY as you go through the Center again, this time with a c1ear mind, 'c1earer' sight, and a newfound respect for the 'magic' befou1ing this p1ace and determination not to fa11 prey to it again.

For starters, you now can see strands of....energy f1owing throughout the Center's air. Fo11owing them, you see the a11 converge on the Training Room with the Circ1e, but otherwise have no rhyme or reason to them. Some are on the wa11s, others hanging in the air, and more sti11 trai1 on the ground, 1ixe writhing, invisib1e snaxes.

What isn't so ambiguous is the other symbo1s you now can see - swir1ing, inter1ooping spira1 shapes that were traced on the wa11s of the 1obby, and a simp1ified version of the Symbo1 used in the Circ1e on the f1oor in said 1obby. Carefu11y tracing your fingers over them and focusing your attention, you get a basic understanding of what they mean - 'Fo11ow the Way to Home . Ward against the Unto1d' .

The empty Ba11s were swathed with that energy, it poo1ing around where they 1ay and s1ow1y disappearing into the air. Sma11er 'trai1s' are found a1ong side some of the persona1 be1ongs, such as purses or Bags. Strange1y, though, no such energy was around where the machinery once was insta11ed - whatever they did to remove and carry it away remains a mystery...

Fina11y, as you were going bacx to the Training Room, something catches your eye. Or rather your hand, trai1ing on the edge of the Front Desx were a Nurse Xoy wou1d norma11y worx - A Pendant. This one ho1ding a Symbo1 that was different yet the same as the Circ1e --

/[
 ]/

Its meaning.....

' S&%$@#!*n'

...Escapes you a1most comp1ete1y, giving you a headache in the process. Sti11, you manage to get something e1se out of it. Or rather, the intent behind it, somehow - It was 1eft as a sign, of sorts. A sight...and a gift , for those receptive to it. Or, you think, the vu1nerab1e and unwary.

+ 2 XP for a REA11Y good Investigation. You have a c1earer Idea of what went down = Hypnosis of some sort and 'Guidance' Magic was responsib1e for the mass disappearance, and he1ped faci1itate the ransacking of the Center(s) in some manner or another. The dreadfu1 FEE1ing of this p1ace is due to said 'energy' as we11 as some intentiona1 'work' + byproduct of the 'magic' used to bewitched everyone. You a1so fee1 that what you went through was definate1y part of a Trap/contingency/something to capture more unwary but suspetab1e and overcurious individua1s and 1ead them to the Circ1e and to Home, whatever THAT is. You get the strong fee1ing you DON'T want to use the Circ1e care1ess1y - not un1ess you're ready for a reception most *&^%$#@#$%

If you have anymore questions on the above text, asx them in the Meta Thread, and I'11 do my best to c1arify or add detai1s - you had a REA11y good Ro11, as per usua1 these days....

And on that note, Seddi will remove the bandage from his eyes (or if he cannot do so on his own due to magical interference, get Veluza to cut it off of him), then walk back over to Sylvia and Randy.

"Well, I think that's all we're going to learn from this place for now.  Magic was definitely used to entrance the folks who were here, convince them to follow whoever decided to visit.  It's all over the walls, the pokeballs, the floor...but weirdly, not where the healing machine was.  It all leads back to that circle as well, which likely also doubles as a trap for those not expectin' it.  Someone behind the counter had a pendant with another magical symbol on it.  Maybe something that had some minor influence or that acted as some kind of signal or somethin'.  Gettin' a clearer picture of how parts of this were planned in advance, but still missin' a few key pieces of information.  I need to contact an expert about this.  And also get the cops to look for these clues in the other affected locations.  And maybe get the building locked down even more tightly since that circle is still active."

He'll hand Randy a business card with his contact information on it.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////

Seddi M. Entary

Paldean Elite Ace and Survival Specialist

(insert phone number here)

/////////////////////////////////////////////////

"My card.  You two have been a great help.  You need somethin' from me or learn anything more about this investigation, gimme a ring or a text.  I've got a little influence 'round these parts as far as workin' 'round the lockdown goes.  Doin' the suits a few favors, so I get a few perks, if ya catch my drift."

After (presumably) exchanging contact info with Randy and Sylvia, Seddi will head back outside to update Dodger on the situation.

"Should probably lock the building down even more tightly, Dodger.  There's an active magic circle in there, and it's got a hypnotic effect on anyone who focuses on it for too long.  Would have probably gotten me if it weren't for the folks accompanying me inside snappin' me out of that stupor.  Might have caused me to vanish too if they hadn't.  If you can get the teams at the other Centers on the same page, have them look for a pendant like this one at each location.  Found this one behind the main counter.  Varmints probably used these to start small before makin' their big move.  And while you're doin' that, I'm gonna go have a sit down and see if I can get some more magically adept help involved.  We might be findin' ourselves at a dead end sooner rather than later without some more suitably skilled individuals."

And with that, Seddi will find a bench somewhere and send a very short and blunt text to Bernhard, asking the question that's been on his mind the entire investigation.  Time to stop beating around the bush and figure out what's going on with that mage. (of course, what Seddi doesn't know is that Bernhard is out cold at this current time)

Bernhard, did you hear about what happened this morning?