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

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Spoiler

Ohhh, the room with all the utensils and equipment for magical crafting is perfect!~ No comparison to Bernhard's own and personal lab at his quarters on the Magecracy, nope, but more than gratefully taken and pleasantly approved + taken note of. Yeah, he does enjoy this place. Thank you, being a Scimitar of high ranks and political importance! Maybe the latter isn't as much of a mild inconvenience as they always claim it to be.


Drowsy Zephy is, as much as Bernhard is reluctant to openly admit, incredibly adorable to see. So much that he lets the artsy birdmouse that is his destinied partner get away with taking us his bed without asking first. ...And gently nuzzle her cheek with one hand, none's around to see that open display of affection anway plus she deserves it after having done marvelous during Ianai's test yesterday without exhausting herself like Nirix and Spritzee did. "That's pleasant to hear, truely and utterly so, dear Zephy. Sounds to me like Saph is doing well after all that happened, and now proceeds to savor being gifted a second chance of roaming the living world." Bernhard does not mention it, but Zephy speaking about 'Ghost friends she made' sounds a tad bit worrying to him - but on the other side, if she sees them as her friends and they do so likewise, it should be just fine, or shouldn't it?

He waves off Zephy having had to cut off time to paint. "Oh, that is of no issue. Do not rush perfection, and rest assured that we will pay the Gleams another visit or visits for several reasons. *glances at the hurricane outside* Maybe not too soon, but soon enough. Wish to speak with them, inquire about things while you may continue to paint..." Bernhard's modest and humble of calling what occured 'a miracle' like Zephy does, even if it does rightfully count as one in his books. One that will be fondly and proudly remembered, as costy as it was on his side, and one that gives him quite the food for thought still (and quite likely continues to do so for a while).

'Kings ransom'? Yes please, gimme! Sweet loot, yay! They (the Gleams) may take any time they need and be as secretive about as needed, and Bernhard will humblly accept it with open arms.

Myra, our trusty and affectionate kitsune, being in high spirits after anything that occured yesterday is very pleasant to see indeed. Bernhard will redirect her attention back to her Master and Wielder whenever she gets startled or distracted by the thunder and splattering rain outside. "You doing quite well? How dear and utmost pleasant to see. *gently petting her neckfur* Now then, do listen closely now..."

Here's what we'll do, in that order. If anything of it needs to get rolled, go for it, if anything is downright impossible or doable only with notable negative consequences, please do tell and I'll edit accordingly:

- Cut off a tad bit of her fur, bonus points if it is one of her tail's fur. Not too much but more than just one or two hairs, in total to gain at least one unit of clipped off Ninetales Fur.

- Applying utmost care and caution, make a tiny prick or cut to one of her foreleg's cephalic vein to draw a bit of blood from her leaking gently in a trinckle. Think taking a blood sample vets and doctors do, but on a more 'amateur's' approach. Enough to receive a small vial full = 1 unit of Ninetales Blood, not enough for her to suffer dire negative effects (bar potentially discomfort of mild pain). Have our other Pokemon help if needed (for example have Zephy cool Myra's foreleg with her ice skills, cast Protect from exhausted Spritzee over Myra via Evocation).

- Patch up the wound, as best as a Bernhard can. If not safely possible for him, say that he'll bring her to Oz to do so professionally.

- If needed, cast a Heal Pulse from exhausted Nirix or Aromaterhapy from exhausted Spritzee to dispell any pain or discomfort of Myra.

- Ask Myra to 'imbude' or 'infuse' the fur clippings and blood with some of her psychic powers or affinity to the spectral world in any way she can and is willing to do. Bonus Points if making use of her held Spell Tag. Bernhard can and will aid her on doing so if requested.

- Reward her thoroughly for having allowed and endured it all with whatever she desires - pets, treats, cuddles (which Bernhard somewhat begrudingly allows), the promise of a battle for her, another visit to the foxy Cafe, downtime etc. Thank her greatly so, and let her know what he plans to do with the gained Items if she wishes to know.

Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!

Sell it on the Black Market once we visit it. 

I need to stock up on cash to properly buy enough Healing Items for the fateful fight against the Wandering Hurricane and for the first bit of the journey through Sutalör ahead. Bonus points for making use of the x1.5 mod on earning money.

The benefits are indeed nice, but in exchange you're one of the three leading members of your Faction responsible for representing and advocating them, and at time being forced to act as a Judiciary and Governing Official if need be. Combine that with all the work and stress that comes with being a part of the Scimitar Council and you get more than a mere inconvenience when it comes to managing the workload between all your other competing interests (and in the case of Morgana that's all too literal). Still, you've managed it quite well despite being a relatively young Magi; something your Mentor hold no small amount of pride and satisfaction over.

Your fond pets gets you a sleepy bat of the paw from the artistic muse, but the fond smile she has isn't fooling anyone here at how much she enjoys it. 

" 'K.....wasn't going to anyway, but if you insist then I guess I must let my ever fluttering whismy rest for once, te he~! Perhaps the break will give me time to dream up of an even better way to complete my latest great work! *Yawns* Since I don't think you'll be needing my undivided attention for whatcha ever doing, I'll be dozing for a bit. Feel free to use my Power if ya need it though - you know I'm used to giving it no matter what by now."

That said your Partner immediately conks out, snoring cutely on your pillow as she curls up. Daw....

Contrary to your expectations - or perhaps not at all, since you are a Moderate Scimitar - your fanciful kitsune has zero concerns or reservations about you Extracting Magical Materials from her. If fact she's eager for it; seeing Nirix and rarely Zephy provide such has kindled a passion to 'give a part of herself' too for your benefit, no matter what purpose it may be for. You've given her the world, after all; the least she can do is share as much as she can.

For the Harvesting: Fox Fur and Blood, I'll be doing a few Rolls. One Grooming Roll for the Fur, One Medical Roll for the Blood - and further Rolls depending on how that one goes - and one Channel Roll focused on Myra's Stats for her to attempt to Imbue the Fur and Blood with MORE of her POWER and ESSENSE. Here goes!

Grooming Roll!
DEX + Knowledge + Crafts - 3 (Have to be Careful...)
(6)(2)(1)(6) (3)(2)(6)(5) 4 Successes!

You Successfully are able to obtain 2 Units of Fox Fur from Myra! She writhed a bit as you sniped her tails, but with intense focus and determination on her part she remained still, refusing to bend to her instincts to lash out at them being 'damaged' .

Blood Extraction Roll!
INS + Knowledge + Medicine - 5 (A Doctor, you are not...) ; 2 Successes needed for the minimum positive outcome
(2)(4)(3)(5) 2 Successes!

You Successfully are able to obtain 1 Unit of Pure Fox Blood; Myra takes 2 Damage from the procedure, however. It isn't Lethal, so simply wrapping it with some bandages and some rest should she her fit by the next Encounter, if a touch more tired from the blood loss. Bit messy, but she simply licks it clear from your hands and a bit of magic cleaning does the rest.

Infusing Roll: Myra!
SPE + Knowledge + Channel + 1 (Spell Tag) + 1 (Magical Species/Magi's Mon) - 6 (Tired from Blood Loss + Inexperience)
(3)(5)(4) (1) 2 Successes....

*Rolls* Hmm...not good.
*Rolls* Well. That changes things.
*Rolls + ??? + ???* Success.

At first it seems like her attempts to further empower her 'products' were about to fizzle out, but she suddenly grit and bore her teeth as her eyes took on a deep fuchsia glow, her tails rising up and wreathed with ethereal power as she concentration on the Items. They glowed for a moment before the light dispelled, leaving before you a couple of bundles of woven, braided dark ruddy red fur, faint wisps of heat and affirmation whifting off it. Fur and Blood lost: 2 Units of Kitsune's Crimson Rope.

...And Myra promptly collapses, losing 3 Will and Fainting with her half her current HP in the process, the stress of forcing a truly Positive and Successful outcome by herself taking its toll.

You suspect that it's due to both her inexperience and 'newness' of being a Ninetales, but also because she tried to Imbue everything at once rather than doing one at a time, and her drive to not mess up on her first 'offering' to you. Something you would account for in your own Alchemic Creations and Research, but for a Mon that was not ever trained or naturally inclined in such things? One who's devotion is so ardent, who doesn't ever want to fail you? Oh dear.

Lesson learnt: if you're going to have your Mons do a job you typically do, be absolutely clear on what they should do and what limits they have.

Kitsune's Crimson Rope: The blessed and empowered hair of a magical fox, woven into tight braids and dye a deep red. It shines faintly in the light, and gives off a mild heat that is both warming and comforting. Rare Magical Creation; it's uses are many, but using it in clothing to create powerful protective Enchantments or as a potent ingredient to refine other Ritual or Alchemic Creations would be the most desired by your estimation. Price: Unknown, but High.

"...Sleep safely and soundly then, dear Zephy. You do deserve to rest up more than anything before the day fully unfolds and promises to be eventful once more..." Not a single soul is around do see it + Zephy catching some Z's is an incredibly adorable view, so Bernhard allows his mindfully-concealed soft & tender side come forward by gently tucking Zephy in with the blanket and giving her another nuzzle with one hand  („• ᴗ •„) Almost immediately Bernhard mind scolds him for this action - 'You fool, since when are you such an affectionate softie?! Mind your self-composure, WILL YOU!' - which he does best to ignore however (still causes some embarassment for having get his emotions the better of him). Oh to be a mythical and magical birdmouse sleeping in a soft bed that's several times bigger than she is without a care in the world, safe from the storm outside...~ We'll also cast some minor Spell to shield the bed/sleeping Zephy from any noise reaching her to not disturb her rest. ('minor' because it's been utilized several times already when working on something highly finicky that requires utmost concentration, or discussing some strictly confidential things with business partners - or so I guess, at least.)


...ENOUGH of sappy things, back to BUSINESS!

Hah, now anything with Myra went off without any trouble indeed! Utmost care and caution is used when snipping some fur off her tail/tails, and with great awe Bernhard watches as Myra proceeds to imbude the obtained Items with her powers. He's alarmed upon Myra collapsing from the whole process, and quick to intercept/catch her fall to prevent her from hurting herself even more. A proud smile is given to her as Bern gently holds his foxy-partner's head and neck in his arms, regardless whether she can see it due to being fainted with half HP. "...Outstanding. Truly oustanding what you have pulled off here..." *glances at the the TWO(!) units of Kitsune's Crimson Rope* "My genuine and heartfelt gratitude for having, well, 'given a part of yourself' to me. For the first time also notably, you have done MORE than SPLENDID. Such devotion, not wanting to fail me and even willing to overstress yourself ...How extraordinairly lucky I am to call you one of my magical partners. A good use of it I will make of your offerings for sure, yes... For now, please do rest up, I will have you treated in a PKMn Center later on properly, once we DO step outside at last." Aaand Myra's recalled.

Still seeing such devotion from Myra does not come with a flip side - Bernhard can see something like this (her overstressing herself) happening again if he doesn't teach her to restrict herself accordingly. Or if he does not give absolutely clear instructions. ...Or both, definitely both, yes. Well, that's something to be worked on while traveling perhaps; Myra is still new to being a Ninetales perhaps, that too.

As for the Kitsune's Crimson Rope itself: With great pleasure it is picked up and observed from all sides, taking pleasant note of the deep red color, its faint shine and mild heat. Quite a valuable and rare Ingredient/Creation, no doubt will Bernhard find a buyer for it he feels. ...However he's quite tempted to keep one unit for himself, heck knows when and whether he gets to make good use of it in future creations. We'll decide on that on the whim.


That concludes Bernhard's Encounter No.1 of the Day! To pass the time until Darren stops by, he'll do the following few things:


1. Write another letter to his Mentor, once more on the finest parchment paper, in the blackest ink there is, and using an expensive looking fountain pen made of a Pidgeot-feather. It gets brought downstairs to the Embassy's reception to be delivered as soon as possible; and it reads the following:

Genuine greetings and praise to you Acrowls, Magus Supreme and mentor of mine during my early years as a member of the Scimitars.

Please do excuse me for sending you this second letter in short notice, for I am aware that you are occupied enough with keeping everything on the islands that are the Mageocracy in check. Speaking about that, I value and appreciate the no doubt hard work you are putting and continue to put into it, and am pleased to call these islands my home.

 The reasons for why I am writing you... I wish to share with you a very recent success of mine, one that I hope will make you proud of me. Me, who you have invested a great amount of time and effort by personally training me on Magics, and who you throughouly tutored in the Scimitar way of life. A request to help a man in despair and distress given, I have created something I normally could not make with my current level of expertise in Alchemy. What has occured during the brewing process can be called a miracle, a gift from heaven, a divine happening that fortune has made possible. I have managed to brew what many practitioners of alchemy pursue, though what most find to be simply a myth.

I am speaking of the Panacea, the remedy that is said to cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely. No, I am not lying; and yes, I can barely believe it myself. Yet I have a very limited amount of it in my posession, still it is the utter truth, there is no denying it.

The details of it I prefer to, if you wish to know more, lay out to you in private, whenever we happen to have the pleasure to meet and speak in person. For now, I need to properly rest as the brewing process took quite the toll on me. Costy is has been no doubt, the consequences I faced were hard and my exhaustion afterwards as wide as the ocean. And yet, I do feel utterly accomplished and pleased of having suceeded.

Do take care, there's a hurricane blowing over the city of Bayhama currently.

Signed, Bernhard Samsara, your former apprentice and nowadays Master Sky Scimitar, Council Member for that Fraction and Wielder of the mythical Pokemon Zephy.

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2. Send a note/letter/word/message/whatever works best to Morgana - yes indeed, you read that right. After everything; that suprise-visit of her at the Gleam's house - in hindsight, Bern's highly suprised and just as thankful that he did NOT get anime-styled nosebleeds from her having wanted to 'suprise' him! - with lovely Spritzee around and out of his Friend Ball to provide some calm company and pleasant aroma,  Bernhard's exhaustion from the test yesterday, Zephy sleeping all soundly, the storm and Darren about to visit him in a bit = better not leave the room at the Magi Embassy... Combine all of that, he does allow himself to carefully(!) reach out to her, reluctant and not without some mild embarrassment however. AND not without some business-related reason however, nope!

Note/letter/word/message/whatever works best reads the following - note how it's a bit less formal that the letter to Acrowls, but still polite and non-nonsense overall.

Greetings and a good morning to you, my fae and fair lady ~.

No, this is NO request to see you. ...'Not right away', that is - I have a business partner stop by in a bit and am incredibly exhausted, so please do spare me a personal visit just now, I doubt I'd take it well for multiple reasons currently. I'm free later this day however [read: after Encounter No.3], then I'll happily meet up with you. I do desire to talk to you, inquire about something indeed. I will contact you once I'm free and available for you. Please also have your fairy-kin available - as well as your private quarters for some shared togetherness~ overnight please; I am not going to break my word [of avoiding the Isle of Magi for a week] to you and risk getting caught up in whatever 'ploys for many Magi' you have in store.

...Either way, that is that and now is now. Little Spritze is doing just fine, he appears overjoyed over having me as his new Master and Wielder. He has proven to be quite capable indeed, as expected for it to be. I have yet to test and try out his special skills and unique talents fully and utterly [read: using Spellbound and look for gemstones with Spritzee's help], but him proving to be an utterly able and skillful magical partner is without a doubt - I would have not expected anything less from YOU, my dear and fancyful lady, however. You do deserve the world and everything I can give you for a deal carried out just splendidly.

There's quite the storm raging through the city, a miniature hurricane to be specific. I do hope that you are safe and sound, I myself will display utmost caution once stepping outside.

Please do take care of yourself, though I do know how capable you are. *heavily scribbled-over and crossed-out thing, obviously having made quiiiite the effort to render it unreadable* [It would read a simple 'love you' that just appeared on the paper due to utter exhaustion and daydreaming, muuuuch to Bern's embarassment and anger at himself]

It too is delivered as soon as possible; not without some looming dread over she taking it as an invitation still. Once more Bernhard's mind scolds him heavily for having fallen for sweet traps and beguiling words of her, that goes without saying - while a small and timid voice in his mind reminds him that this plus 'Morgana being Morgana' suits him just fine and it is all worth it. Humm~


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3. Drink more black tea with too much cream and sugar and observe the weather outside from the window. Burn and smoke one or two incense sticks of Lemongrass too. Bernhard takes some quiet pleasure in doing so, seeing that storm 'only' as an inconvenience that he has to work with than as something that hinders him from stepping outside still.


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4. Send a message to Seddi to inquire about something. Something that Bernhard aimed to do yesterday after the test already, but it must have slipped his mind or there was no time or the right opportunity to do so.

It would read the following:

Greetings and a good morning to you on this stormy day, Seddi.

Please do allow me ask you a question, something that should not be forgotten nor neglected in order to make it 'official', so to say.

Say, do I need to...handle or sign any papers concerning the upcoming warding off of the Wandering Hurricane? An important agreemnt like THIS would not come without any paperwork from either side, I feel. Least to have physical proof shall there be any legal issues.

I will not sign anything unless being given proof that the promised Philosopher's Stone is a real and pure exemplar, so expect me to ask the other side to provide it.

Do take extra-care if you happen to step outside today.