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

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Dragonstrike

The moment you bring up the Wild Lands the Tour Guide goes pale . Literally - her skin turns chalk white as she froze, a wide, stricken, and deeply unnerved (nauseous, even) look to her eyes now. She gulps and looks away, reluctance clear as day.

“…I-I … can you ask about something else? Please…?”

(Don’t have too much time for a full response, so here is what I think is the most relevant thing you’d be interested in ASAP.)

Seddi will frown.  "...that bad, huh?"



He then shrugs.  He'll just have to find somewhere else to research that place.

"Well, then what can ya tell me about the Safari Zone?"

Having remembered something, Seddi will also look back at the Ferrothorn thoughtfully.  Maybe it'll also help relax the poor employee.

"Need someone to whip that Ferrothorn into shape, huh?  I know someone who would probably be willin' to take that ball of spikes, actually.  How much we talkin' for it?  Might be able to take it off your hands before it wrecks the cell and you gotta drive up the cost to compensate."

Spoiler

Skimming through both books....

The Book on the Calamities is simple and straightforward as it can be - it details what is known about commonly Known about them, the legends surrounding them as a whole and individually, and that which Forces of Nature they govern. Their are Five Known Calamities, as they are known and their Titles, are as follow:

- Relshie: Grandfather of the Cyclic
- Feyette: Shepard of the Æthereal 
- Devoere: Dictator of the Firmament
- ??? : Known to exist, but details scarce; they are said to govern Confluence
- ??? : Known to exist, but details scarce; they are said to govern Exudation 

In depth Knowledge on the Calamities is lacking; you find nothing concrete about their overall capabilities, Locations, and Power beyond the vague but clear 'Beyond You' . From your own experience in governmental affairs, you find this to be more of a deliberate choice on the Powers that Be to keep those Key Details out of the public purview , lest some idiot with more Guts than brains decides to exploit it to literally disasterous ends . If you dedicate some more time and try to read between the lines with a little help from Leaves, though...maybe you could come to some Insightful Conclusions of your own about each Calamity. 

As for the worn journal, you discover it to be a re-bound copy of 'A Madman's Sorre: The Official Guide to Sutalör' by Christian Handerson , detailing the various Locations, Landmarks, Settlements, People (Groups, Organizations, Individuals), Pokemon Classifications, and more. The tone of the writing is blunt as a hammer, critical to the point of scathing, and thoroughly 'done' with the topics at hand and the patently insane and/or idiotic; this writer does not mince words. From the well worn pages, the care put into the book, and that a quick check on the local web showed that the Book has been through at least though 8 different printing waves and sold tens of thousands of copies, it seems to be quite beloved indeed. A handy reference for most of the 'common' stuff found in Sutalor, and a great many other things beyond based on the author's own experiences .

The Discount has been made Indefinite, both on account of the delay and the news they've received of each of yours Good Deeds done the day prior - the expected and unexpected benefits of compensation for Unplanned Interruption and Heroism!

It takes a few seconds to parse everything about that message from the sweet lady, but the moment it al *Clicks* your huggable friend seriously frowns. That....is something it almost never does unless Taunted or it is displeased . The air around them doesn't quite lose it's friendly charm, but it has a edge to now, as if ready to display what happens when one provokes Sleeping Dragons...

The tour guide is rather confused and Unnerved by this commotion - not helped by the earlier Question you posed.

"What...what has gotten you all so Worked Up for? Don't tell me you got an Alert for some sort of problem happening somewhere..."

As mention in the Meta Thread, it'd be easy for you and Akamu to get a private room for yourselves for Training and famaliarizing yourselves with your Pokemon; a quick sweep of the Room show zero signs of cameras or other forms of monitoring.

(Ready anytime for your 3rd Encounter together, Dragonstrike and Redstone ! )

The Five Calamities, huh?  Just at a glance, it's reminding Seddi of the stories about the Treasures of Ruin...though these entities seem to be representing more ethereal and spiritual topics.  Both books seem like they'd be good to look into later when he has some time, so if Seddi can take them, he will.  If not, he'll just have to remember they're here and maybe find some copies to keep elsewhere.

Permanent discount thanks to our recent heroic favors?  Sweeeeeet.

Seddi will frown and enlighten the tour guide.  "Friend of ours just got assaulted apparently.  City's gettin' dangerous.  She's okay, probably got the cops in the area now.  It's not nearly as big of an issue as what happened yesterday.  Still a worrying development though...crime being on the rise before the big festival is definitely not what the suits are wantin' to see."

-------------------------------

Encounter 3: In the private room

First thing Seddi is going to do is check the room for cameras, mics, and ensure any windows into the room have their curtains drawn.  If he's going to properly impress Kusanagi, he's going to need a little more than baseline privacy so he can introduce Leaves to her safely.

Ceruledge is out of her pokeball and helping Seddi make sure the room is secure, as well as making sure there's enough space for everyone to spar.  Safety first!

While checking and preparing the room, Seddi will strike up some idle chatter.  "So, what'd you make of Sakura, Akamu?  Thinking of followin' up on her offer at all?"

The guide can't bring herself to look at you. 

"....Yes. The Wild Lands.....they....."

You could see them bite their lip so hard it bled.

"Nn! They...they are not a place one should go unprepared. It has...Rules. Rules that must be followed. Or....or...."

A defeated air hung about her as she hung her head, shame and guilt clouding what little you could see of her face.

"You'll lose. Greatly. Me....I broke one. 'When the Stars Turn Red: Do Not Stand. Bow, Neal, Go Beneath the Sacred Land. Beware, Those That Do Not: Starlight's Judgment Must be Withstand.' I...I couldn't resist staring at them. Was Blinded. Burning. Until my sister....shielded me...and...."

She falls silent.

Then, she takes a deep breath, and lets it out. Slowly. Then turns around and bows to you, looking chagrined and remorseful.

"I'm...sorry about that. The Wild Lands...I'm not the greatest one to talk about them. The Lepia have more Insight on them - each Tribe Knows a couple of Rules. Their are also Guides, but they are few and their demands are great, odd, precise, or arbitrary. That's...that's all I can say without....reacting like that again."

Yikes.

Goodra does his part in comforting the dear, reaching up to give them a worried smile and a pat on the head, to which earnt him a giggle and soft smile in turn. Good ol' Goodra - the Cure to Woes of all kinds.

They appreciate the Segway into a different topic altogether, trying their hardest to regain their former pep (and succeeding somewhat, thanks in no small part to Goodra) as she gave a brief-ish overview of the Safari Zone.

"Oh, yes, yes, the Safari Zone! Hmm....its rather dangerous compared to other ones in different Regions, but if you hire the right good Safari Guide or bring excellent Partners and read up on the local 'Patterns' and 'Shifts'   you should be fine! You absolutely need to do your research and be prepared - individual Safaris last at least 3 Days, no exceptions. Typically a 'Hunt' or 'Expedition' consists of 2-3 'Goers' and 1-2 'Guides' . You're expected to help your fellow Safari goers and your Guide on their hunts too, and abandoning them could lead to you being banned from the Zone, if not face legal action depending on what you agreed on. You do what the Guide says, unless it puts you in unnecessary harm or risk. Or you get one of the wilder Guides that wants to make the Hunts a 'true experience to hook ya '. You get 15 Safari Balls and a bag of Basic Bait, at least - what else you get to help depends on what your Guide offers or what you can bargain for from the staff. On the plus you're allowed to bring in your own Weapons and Tools to hunt your quarry, and to my knowledge you can also rent Pokemon that are trained to aid in general or specific hunts! You also can take Bounties, Requests, or Challenges on offer to reap even more rewards! They also host weekly 'scrims' for fresh catches, and a monthly competitions for battles, specific hunts, and more! Finally, you can also sign up to become a Guide too for great discounts and other benefits, though you're required to 'prove' you're both competent enough to be one and 'committed enough' to it. 

"If you're interested their isa company that has a Pokemon that can FLY - yes, that FLY - you to there and back, though the waiting times are long and trips are pricey. Still worth it if you don't want to risk or bother with a long journey on foot!"

The Ferrothron costs only $7500 Poke; though after a specific 'Heroes' Discount it is brought down to $6250 - it's quite Disobedient and unruly, it's unTrained (though plenty Tough!), and the Survival Center basically wants to get rid of it ASAP by selling it cheaply as they can to cover its costs + the fees owed to the Bounty Hunter that caught + still make a decent enough profit. Compared to the +$10k minimum for similar and generally inferior iron durrans in other Regions....it's a bargain! 

"*Rubs back of head* Sorry we can't go any lower, but we all have to put bread on the table and keep the lights on here! Our Conkeldurrs would appreciate the break from having to fix their cell and keep the durran from getting too unruly or understimulated, so if you can promise they'll have a good home you can take'em!"

You can take the book on the Calamities (she's confused as to WHY it's there, but is fine with you Snatching it up), but the Guide says that copy of the Guide Book is someone else here. The Survival Center does sell the newest print for only $500 Poke, however!

The lass face tightens at the news, her eyes hardening like a Diamond Storm Diance.

"I see. I'll be sure to pass the word up and out. We got connections to a lot of place and people - if the police are too overworked right now to catch those bastards, we'll do our part in picking up the slack. Promise."

===

E3 - Private Room!

There are No Windows in the LARGE Room (All internal, baby!), and you don't find any recording device at all - Ceruledge confirms after phasing in and out of the walls to double check, as well as using her Ghost heritage to pick up on any trace 'odd vibes' or electronic signals (think of all those Ghost Shows IRL, and work backwards!) . She gives you a smart salute - All Clear!