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

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Oh boy, I LOVE going through Da Bullet Points!

- Normally I would say that Seddi wouldn't recognize Royal Jelly of the top of his head, since he's neither a Native Tandorian, a proper Researcher, OR a Bug Ethusiast like Darron, but even with his Limited INS he can put two and two together once he sees the unusually LARGE and Mature Smore that is still clutching the RJ rather possessively, even when Fainted. The Nurses are understandably scared shitless about what you shared, but they didn't let it stop them from giving Darren and his adorable ant the best treatment they can get. Heck, they get Elite Deluxe VIP Treatment since, regardless of what they did was FUCKING MORONIC, they did help catch and Contain the Flutter Mane that has been terrorizing the city.

- Linking into that: Once Seddi is able to Confirm that the Flutter Mane has been successful Contained (using his own Legal Powers, + maybe Bern sending his own confirmation), EVERYONE that participated in said Situation gets $10000 Poke, while Oz and Vernax get $5000 each for their own contributions. The Bounty on Containing the Flutter Mane was $50000; if Darren had actually managed to somehow limp out of the Hidden Ring with his 'prize' he'd would've been able to claim it all for himself. Alas he didn't, so his rescuers and relief team gets their share of the profits.

- Glinda is rather surprised you're not angry at her for essentially kidnapping you away from Kusi, but if you're not making a fuss out of it then she isn't either.

- Continuing off from Confirming the Containment of Flutter Mane, the Nurses and a Ranger grimace but quickly assent to your request to temporarily detain FM from Darren. 

...But when you try to put your hand on it -

I  S E E   Y O U  : )    
T A K E  M E   A W A Y ? : ( 
O H
N O
N O 
N O

- you stagger away, vomiting up a rank gooey glob that is pitch purple and pink, which REEKS of Cursed Ghost-Fairy Energy. You had to be held up by a Nurse for a moment to recover, and you could feel Iron Leaves alarm, ready to burst out of her Ball to aid you, secrecy be damned. You take 1 More Than Lethal Damage for trying to Take Away FM from Darren.

- You try calling the Professor....only to get sent straight to Voice Mail. Then, a minute later, you get this text:

[Seddi, I am currently occupied myself at the moment resolving this: somebody tried to break into the IC and GTS to sabotage it again. Unfortunately for them I was there fixing them. They have been dealt with. Unfortunately they committed suicide rather than be detained, and their Pokemon subsequently went brain dead - I suspect a psychic link facilitated that. They were plain dressed, but had this on them.
                                                                                                                                                                                             
Sada sent a Photo to you....which came out heavily corrupted. However, you could barely make out a familiar old symbol: 

 
/|
/-|
   |-/
   |/

-Aaron would end up contacted anyway, since Darron has them listed as their Primary Contact for Medical Emergencies, but he also can't come either, for some madman just so happened to try and kidnap the people of the Center he was aiding and working at. He's fine - the ones who did it are not. However, they opted to....disintegrate themselves with personal explosives when defeated; nothing of them remains, and Aaron got critically injured but is still alive from the blast. From what he later texts to the group, though, is that they looked like a cross between midevil paladins and clergymen, and they looked VERY surprised that Aaron was both there and salient enough to Resist....whatever they were doing to Bewitch the Center.

For the Time Being, Aaron is too Out of Action. Mentor like Mentee, eh?

- Kusangai just....sighs and shakes their head. Then....

"S-s-s - no. M-m-monster.....r-r-rworse."

The Old Blade of Glory spat that in Common to you, though it was....rather poor, gravely, and tinged with their 'native' tongue. From the flash of Pain on their face....that small effort alone was NOT easy or comfortable.

- Though you don't see them, you can FEEL Muse settle right down on your shoulder; looking over would reveal nothing. They're Invisible.

"*Sighs* Sorry about Bernhard....abandoning you. I'll be speaking to him about that. But please....don't be too harsh on them. They're...we're just not used to working with others. Equals. It's...been a long time for us, and our life....didn't allow for such jolly cooperation. *Snorts* Well, until recently. *Sighs harder* ...If you have any requests, I'll try to fulfil them. Won't really make up for what my Partner did, but..."

She falls silent, but you get the sentiment she's trying to share: I want to do right by you still. The lil' artist waits to here your reply (if any), before you feel her leave; going back to the wizard, no doubt.

Seddi was afraid that might happen, but he'd figured it was worth a shot anyways given the Flutter Mane had behaved so far.

Once he recovers from that brief defensive action from the FM, he'll wave the nurses off.  "Just make sure Darren's okay first.  He needs the help more than me.  And make absolutely sure that pokeball stays in his bag.  Or hand, if need be.  I don't want that critter causing any trouble here.  I'll talk with Darren about it when he's up.  Looks like someone's stuck with this ghost whether he likes it or not."

...

Glinda's puzzlement is met with a shake of Seddi's head.  "Ya did exactly what I asked ya to, Glinda.  Kusanagi's the one I need to talk with if she survived.  Hopefully she has enough sense to retreat if she can't handle it alone.  Not much glory in battle if nobody's there to witness it, victory or defeat."

He'd also return the medical supplies Oz had lended him. He hadn't needed it, thankfully.

...

Two instances of this mysterious group showing up during the festival to continue what they started?!  Gosh darn it, he can't catch a break today, can he?!  So much for trying to relax today with Oz for a little bit...

...

Kusanagi's statement gets a frown from him.  Oh great, it got worse.  Joy.

He sighs, then nods.

"Don't strain yourself.  That was a lot.  Certainly more than I was expectin', and even more besides from what you're sayin'."

He pauses, takes a breath, lets it out.

"And no, I'm not mad, in case you were wonderin' at all.  Not surprised about what ya did either.  Doesn't mean I liked it, but I understand why ya did that."

He's not going to let this create a rift between them.  Not on his end at least.  Hopefully Kusanagi won't be bitter about that attempted tactical retreat against the power of a Malefic Monstrum.  If this partnership is going to work, they need to have an understanding with each other, of the limits they're both willing to go to in service of accomplishing both their goals.

...

"Might have a little project I'd like you two to help with later.  And I intend to look into the source of your newest friend and would greatly appreciate your cooperation with that. Not right now though.  Right now, I'd just like to know that I can rely on you two if things get dicey.  And they're going to get dicey.  Much as I hate to say it, that's all but a certainty, Muse."

Spoiler

On Seddi's and Bern's Phone -

On the Televisions in Centers all across Bayhama -

On sirens that blare throughout the city -

WARNING WARNING WARNING
(Watch between 2:58 through 3:04 for the Sound Effect)

Then, a MESSAGE pops up across ALL Devices/Televisions:

WARNING WARNING WARNING!

MALEFIC MONSTRUM LEVEL THREAT DETECTED AND SIGHTED AT BAYHAMA'S SOUTH BEACHES

CODENAME:  HATEFUL SANDLOSSUTERGEIST

THREAT LEVEL: MAXIMUM. Potential to escalate to CITY WIDE THREAT

PLEASE SEEK SELTER IMMEDIATELY AND EXIT THE AREA ASAP!

THIS IS NOT A DRILL. 
REPEAT THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

CURRENT STATUS: ACTIVE AND AGGRESSIVE
Military Inbound
All Active Rangers and Ace and above Class Trainers Please Assist in the Take Down of This Threat!
Rewards, Aid, and Compensation Shall Be Given

Current Casualties: 7 -> 13

WARNING WARNING WARNING!

**Suddenly, everyone feels Invigorate, as if a Second Wind has been granted to them**

Major Encounter Added: The HATEFUL Wraith of the Beach
Danger Level: MAX
Death Risk: High
Rewards: Great
Consequences of Not Being Involved for the City (If No PC Joins): HIGH and SEVERE

Anyone interested in JOINING, say so in the Game or Meta Thread; You'll be given a Extra Encounter to do so. You'll suffer some Exhaustion and possibly other Penalties for Day 8, but not during the Major Encounter itself.

There is no shame in not doing this Encounter.
You do not have to be heroes if you feel the danger is too great.
Do what you feel is right in the end.

May Fortune Be Ever In Your Favor.

Well shit.

That went to hell and a handbasket faster than a Toedscool tryin' to sprint to the nearest shady tree.  So much for the festival continuing uninterrupted.

Seddi will look at Kusanagi.

He knows what she wants.

And he agrees with her.

"Time to finish what we started.  Let's get patched up as best as we can and go kick some Malefic Hate to the curb."

This time, they'll be ready.