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

[Iron]

"That was an insightful guess," says Vernon when he feels a moment of silence has served its purpose, and his thoughts have organized themselves. He's starting to realize he got himself in deeper with Cruz than he thought. "Sounds like you might have experience?"

"All I want is to hear some of those experiences, and learn from them. Why?" He marshals his thoughts again, careful not to misstep. "Honestly, I could say something deep to justify it. Maybe there's more lurking beneath my surface, like the draft of a ship, but that isn't how I make decisions. I've always liked big Pokemon - felt a bond with them - ever since a certain experience I had on my farm as a child. It's that bonding that drives me in all my journeys with Pokemon. I like to watch them grow, literally and metaphorically. And I like to watch how they handle themselves on their literal journeys. To me, riding a Pokemon is as intimate as cuddling or battling. I see how they shoulder burdens, handle adrenaline and I share in that adrenaline, how they care for their rider, how the two become one."

"So at first I asked for help finding a Cufant, to watch it grow into a Copperajah, and I had an Oversized Lotad already, but when that became an opportunity to obtain a Cruferrophant..." Vernon stopped himself from telling the whole life story to someone he sensed understood the value of every singular word. "...Well, it's probably obvious why I jumped at the opportunity. And it's actually been wonderful so far, for all the reasons I expected and more, but I need to learn to mitigate the danger."

He let the words fall into the sea and be absorbed by them. Then, "Why do I care? In a word... Trust."

Vernon enters the calm state he feels when riding a Pokemon, and it lets his urge to fidget fall away. He's found the same comfort in stillness that the salty woman is accustomed to.

Now that is a the sort of wisdom anyone can get behind - including this old woman as she listens intently to your small tale, not missing the slightest detail nor what you're trying to convey....

Vernon's Charsmia Roll!
INS + Survival + Emapthyy (*3) - *1 (Jaded, Cynical, Tired) + 1 Success ('Trust')
(1)(5)(3)(4)(3)(6)(2) 4 Successes

Another moment passed, as the Lady of the Sea took another drag of her cigar, letting everything sink in like silt to the bottom of the ocean floor.

"....You do understand. In your own way...but you do. Trust. Growth. Camaraderie . Many reasons. Good reasons. More than most have when they chart their own course. Learn the Trade, learn the Lore. Find their own Destiny in the World. ....If they ever do at all. "

She lets out a long, thick plum of smoke, it curling and twisting in the air let eddies. A tinge, the very slightest, or melancholy was in her voice.

"....Very well."

The lady puts out her cigar and stuffs it inside her coat pocket, leaning up and crossing her arms as she looked at you.

"I'll teach you The Trade. Share my Stories of the Sea. Just enough to dry those ears. Ready you for your own voyages....in this part and the next. In exchange..."

She points to you, her already stern expression turning sharper.

"Tomorrow, I put you to work. Your entire crew. Run you through your paces, and help my crew get theres. Pay too, if you and your own sweat for it."

The salty sea dog opens that same hand to you.

"Deal?"

"Will there be a little time to check out the festival? If so, deal! If not, I'll have to think about it a second, maybe ask what hours you plan to work."

"An important question... should I bring Cruferrophant? He's far from fully trained. He does love to be a boat, but honestly I can't truly promise obedience even then."