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

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

You can feel Leaves discontent with your own interpretation of The Goal and Mission. Individuals matter little - it's the whole [SYSTEMS] that do, Right or Not. Like you, though, She leaves it well enough alone. Such a difference of opinion, while at times troublesome, was within Acceptable Parameters so long as the Risk accrued from it did not exceed a certain threshold. So long as you both did your best to Succeed She would not object to your methods. Besides, you were her Wielder and Partner. She trusts that you're doing a Right Thing, disagreeable and flawed as it was, and would do Her best to follow through with the trust you have given her.

If you want Goodra can also give you a ride by place you on their surprisingly not Sticky shoulders - such a thing would be laughably easy for them, and riding a Pseudo Dragon would add some serious style points to go with that roguish cowboy look of yours.

---

The skeletal man 'Hehs!' along with you, not yet getting your humor but easily falling into your 'vibe' , his massive gun easily carried along with his mirth. When your wrathful blade mistress level her baleful gaze upon the man, however, he stopped and took note of her.....before a look of shock and contrition appeared.

"Ah! My deepest apologizes for the unwarranted disrespect, Miss Ceruledge. Such crudeness was not meant for one of your Standing."

He then bows his head and.....offers his arm to your Blade?

"Still, an unintended insult is just that - an insult. One that needs correction, to a fine Family Friend like myself  from a Lady of your caliber. Please, take your Retribution and Anger out on me in recompense. I insist."

Ceruledge looks Astonished at the implicit offer too....mutilate him for such a minor slight. And yet, after the stress of the last few days building up without proper release and having to put up with that most despicable old curr.... 

Loyalty: (5)(3)(5)(3)(3)
Disobedience: (1)(5)(5)*(4)(2) Welp.

*Slice !*

Her flaming sword passed through his arm, the portion between his elbow and wrist. Surprisingly it does not damage the suit itself, but from the smell of cooked flesh the blade still found its mark. She leveled a even look at the pinstripped man....before offering a single nod, feeling....satisfied and more at peace than before. The man simply gave them a most respectful smile and nod back and lowered their arm back down, seemingly disregarding the injury and considering the matter Fair and Done.

He then turned back to you and started chatting, as if what just happened was no big deal.

"Heh, you're right. Don't know what motivated the Zero Dragoness to send one of her best and brightest stars, but know that at least the Family Friend here 'ppreciate it most gratefully. *Grins* Respect the Hustle you got there too - I like a man that knows his Worth and is willing to get every bit of Poke he's Due. And you, I say, are worth millions. Not only 'cause of your Standing, but the company ya keep too. Heh...Lopzu is proof alone of that - her Master doesn't just give her leash to anyone. Wonder what you did to earn such a Favor...."

The silent swordswoman has nothing to say still to anything so far - she just keeps even pace with you, lurking just a few steps behind and in your shadow, almost to the point of fading away.

---

You're doing some snooping around about these Native critters? Let's see how ya do then!

Investigation Roll: Land Whale
INS (3) + Knowledge (2) + Lore (2) - 1 Success (Malus) + 1 (Upcoming Researcher)
(2)(4)(3) (3)(2)(1) (2)(2) 1 Success...

Investigation Roll: Masked Wolf
(5)(3)(2) (6)(6)(4) (5)(3) 5 Successes!

You git almost zilch about the Land Whale, as it seems like every is either too on edge to openly speak about one of THEM or are just too dang busy trying to prevent one of them from succeeding in Ambushing a part of this area. About the only thing you managed to find out was their Typing: Ground / Dark , and that the ones observed like to Dig dig dig.

Asking about the Masked Wolf, however, proves far more fruitful: you find a Native shrouded in dusty, black robes wearing a white porcilin mask willing to tell you all about them....for a price.

"$3000 Poke, or Your Word in Helping With the Mirage Wolf (Group 3). *Bows head* I can not Freely Offer such Zir'Nof about Teo'Rbo - it is against my Sacred Vows made with Them. To Make Teo'Rbo Known to Others is not done lightly...."

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*Later On, During Assault/Infiltration/Scouting Prep*

"Going hitman on the Bosses? *Whistles* Ballsy. *Grins* I like it, but it ain't going to be easy - elevated beasts like them are seldom easy to take Unaware like that. 'Specially if they're Intent on causing as much suffering as possible - probably got a good bead on Detecting any Human activity in their Territory and responding lightning quick....

"Heh....unless you got a good enough distraction or bait to lure them in and get their guard down nice and easy. I could lead a direct assault on that group with my fellows with or without the Magi, while you or Lopzu can use the chaos to get a better STAB in with those hidden blades of yours. *Shrugs* Or that Air Scim could try some air raids with my Deicidueye and any other fliers we have - hell, if they or us can keep out of Range that'd be a fine way of dealing with these demons even without any saturation style attacks. Not as stealthy, but not as risky too if we can pull it off right and easy to fall back on if things go to complete shit."

Lopzu is mostly silent, though she does grudgingly nod along to the points and ideas 'James' is spitballing. Her own words are brief but clear: "I am specialized in such matters - Stealth or Bold Kills. *Looks at You* ....With my help, concealment and presence denial would be most doable for you, my Lord, if you wish to join me in quietly dealing with the Leaders."

You get the sense this swordswoman is used to working alone or with her own 'resources' , and would rather have 'her Lord' out of such a danger prone gambit. She has discerned your own talents and Skill in sneaking into places you shouldn't be, though, and seems.....accepting of you joining in Stealth with her aid.

Seddi politely declines Goodra's offer of a ride.  As impressive as it may look, he much prefers the shock and awe factor of summoning a surprise Pseudo Legendary mid-battle.  Festival's not over yet though, so maybe they can ride around after everything is said and done with this Malefic.

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Seddi doesn't comment on the 'recompense' either.  He has no reason to chastise Ceruledge for something the pinstriped man invited upon himself.

Pinstripe's just lucky it was Ceruledge that sought justice for that comment, and not Kusanagi.

As for how Seddi managed to secure Lopzu's help...he just shrugs.  Heck if he knows.  Though he could maybe guess based on the very few things he's done around the city for specific residents, he doesn't like guessing.

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Seddi will pay the native the requested $3000 for the information on Masked Wolf.  He values this information both as a combatant and a researcher of these types of creatures.  Fortunately, he just so happened to get a bit of a windfall thanks to a certain bounty he'd collected very recently.

"Little easier to part with that information with the appropriate compensation, I reckon.  And any and all information is helpful right now."

Seddi pulls out a rather strikingly colored scarlet notebook and a pen, ready to take notes.  He may have struck out on learning about the Land Whales, but this is an opportunity he won't miss!

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During the scouting prep and tactics meeting...

Seddi gives the drone a thoughtful look as they review what little footage they got and the damage dealt to it.

"Not much to go on, and they know we're coming now.  If we're going to try and eliminate the injured one quickly, we'll either have to do so directly or have a really big distraction."

Seddi will shift his gaze to Mr. Pinstripe and the two mages. (@PhantomUnderYourDesk)

"Whatcha think?  Able to make a big enough ruckus that Lopzu and I could slip in unnoticed?  I could have Goodra summon some rain to maybe obscure our approach that little bit more and power up any Water type techniques y'all got."