[Game Thread] Pokerole Mystery Dungeon: Primal Shadows

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

 
The fiery demoness' smile widens at their acceptance of her deal, clapping her claws together in delight at her success.

"Excellent, most good for us, and very well, Hissing Chimical! My thanks to you all, much gratitude for your acceptance, yes yes!"

She spent a few more seconds thinking of what questions she wanted to answer and how to phrase them, before she settle on just three.

"My first question, to you Chimical and Solosis too: Why are you so hostile and aggressive towards my companions and group? That, and Marcus too? Know not anything we or bone craftsmon Marcus have done to earn your ire and scorn, save for my friends lack of tolerance and......feistiness towards you and your own, so I am most curious as to the why and how of this mater, yes. Unless our (Team OS) association to Marcus is the reason for that?"

"My second question, to you Solosis: What Knowledge do you know that can help me understand and work with others, my friends, strangers, or unfamiliars? You seem to be wise and toughtful, indeed, so I wish to learn what Insights you can share on how to most cooperate with others."

"My third and last question, for now, to you Chimical: What interests thee, motivates you to be who you are, your own goals as an Adventurer , and as the Leader of Team Artificer? Unlike my friends, nay, I yet hold no ill will towards your attitude, nor to your expressed views. Curious I am about them, want to understand what made them and what will come of them, I most definitely am-do, so if you can enlighten me I would be grateful to thee."

Spoiler

Chimical continues to circle Pyra's personal space, the snake tail hissing and snapping all the while, and Solosis makes no move to stop the hybrid pokemon while the questioning is going on.


"Oh, that'ssssss an easssssy one to anssssswer, little flame.  You're new here.  And very obviousssssly inferior to the great Team Artificersssssss.  And you will alwaysssss will be.  As for Marcusssss...well, why don't you go asssssk him yourssssself?  You ssssseem to be rather chummy with him, after all."

"I'm afraid we can't help you with your second question.  Your personal interactions are of no concern to us, so long as they do not involve us in some troubling manner."

"Yesssss, quite, Ssssssolosssssisssss.  And as for that third quesssstion...well, Team Artificersssss is greatly interessssted in the old wayssssss.  Though I do believe my floating asssssocccciate here can explain better than I."

"With pleasure, Chimical.  You see, there's a great many things that pokemon kind has either forgotten how to use or has yet to realize the full potential of.  It is the goal of our team's industrious leader to discover such things and put them to good use.  However, Chimical is not the leader of the team, and who actually is is classified information.  Just know that we are only a small part of a larger whole in the guild."

Stealth: (5)(5)(2)(3) 2 Successes
Alert: (4)(3) 1 Success

At this point, Chimical stops pacing around the Devimp, and Pyra suddenly finds that Golett moved at some point during the conversation while she was focused on the other two, resulting in her being surrounded by the trio from Team Artificers.

"Now, we ansssswered your quessssstionsssss, sssssso I believe that'sssssss enough talking about usssssss.  It'ssssss time to pay up, little flame.  We have one quesssstion for you, and one quesssstion only."

And what a question it is.

"Thossssse lights that were seen in the skies above the Ssssssand Continent sssssshortly before we encountered you in the Dry Foressssst...you and your friendsssss wouldn't happen to have ssssssomething to do with thosssssse, would you?"

Quite the hole Pyra's dug herself into, it seems.

Pyra continues to not care a Lick at the chimera cat's invasive posturing, still smiling cheerfully all the while. His first taunting answer fails to penetrate at all, with her simply looking thoughtful and nodding back. Not because she didn't care about it, but because she honestly didn't find it to be something to take offense to. She was not the most competatitve of Pokemon, let alone the type to measure herself against others. So long as she and her friend grew, improved, and made progress at strengthening themselves and accomplishing what need be done and wished, she was happy and content as a Meowth with a bowl of Moo Moo Milk.  

However, she does have something to say when they turn the matter of Marcus back at them.

"Because I think-believe they would be hesistant to answer, not desire nor want to reveal his past history with your or the Guild. Seemed very relucant and unhappy to have anything to do with you or this place, yes, so I thought it would be for the best to get answers out of you. As for being.....chummy, you mean that I am friends or close to him, indeed? *Shakes head*If so, then that would be most untrue. Grateful for his help, for getting me and my friends here to Sahra, interested in the services and art he provides and practices, and owe him a Favor for kindness given, yes. *Shrugs* Beyond that, though, aside from what I have stated, I do not care much or feel anything special towards Marcus, consider him a friend I do not. He is just another Pokemon to me, like most others. Useful, nice to chat with, but not much else."

.....Well then. How would they take that little revelation?

Solosis' non-answer annoys the brimstone imp somewhat, but she doesn't let it show so easily, nodding back to them too. Besides, in a way they DID give her some Insight about the matter - namely, not to seek help from them on the topic, and that being polite doesn't mean a person will be especially helpful or nice.

Their third answer is what REALLY gets Pyra's full attention, causing her to perk up and grip her claws together in plain interest.

"Really, truly you say? So am I! Very much interested in history, the past, and all things beholden to its grasp! Amazing and admirable goal of yours, it is, Team Artificer! Must have discovered and put to use a great deal of lost-hidden Knowledge and Artifacts, information on old legends about things and places, you have, yes, so perhaps you would be willing to share some tales of such with me? If not for free, then for something you desire for thee?"

As for the discovering herself now suddenly surrounded by the team of lore seekers, her reaction was.....probably not what they expected. Instead of looking afraid, intimidate, or hostile, she looked only slightly surprised at first, and then gave all of them an expression that just screamed befuddled.

".....Why have you surrounded me thus, encircled me together, Chimical, Solosis, and Golett of Team Artificer? No good reason I see, for such a gesture and activity, indeed. Have come in peace, to deal with you fairly, so again I ask why you felt this must be done so stealthily?"

She says this in a somewhat elevated tone of voice, loud enough to overcome the general dine of the mess hall and perhaps attract the attention of others nearby. That, and maybe between that and the delay in her answer would give her friends time to notice the situation she inadvertidly gotten herself in?

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Original Message

- A group of Drilbur are casually chatting amongst each other over their vittles as well

If they let him, that is. He doesn't appear very agressive nor looks like he's seeking to fightfightfight tonight, immense curiosity is what leads him instead. He'll greet them in a singsang voice: "Huh, hi there. Haven't seen yar lot 'round here yet! I take ya're adventurers too, are ya? How's yar day been?"

They don't seem to mind, but they do start to laugh.  All of them.  Loudly.  One of them eventually stops laughing long enough to actually speak.

"Ahahahaha!  Oh, that's a good one!  You must be new around here, laddie!  We're not adventurers!  We're the ones diggin' all the bloomin' tunnels 'round these parts!  Ahahahahaha!  Ahahaha...haha...ha...*deep breath*...yeah, tunnels don't dig themselves.  And someone's gotta make sure everyone who's comin' and goin' isn't on some bloomin' wanted list, eh?  Been a quiet day so far, can't complain.  Though the shift times were doubled recently.  Somethin' 'bout doublin' the security.  Don't know what that's about, but we have no complaints with followin' the leadership's orders, eh?  Don't get much time to rest, even on a normal day, and we aim to enjoy every minute we do get to relax.  Speakin' of which, what brings you to our humble little gatherin' while we're on break?"

Huh. Ziggy Kee finds himself STAAAAARING and GLAAAAARING at these Drillbur with his deep-red eyes narrowed to slits as an initiate reaction, their loud laughing having triggered his aggression. For mere moments he looks as if he'd enjoy nothing more than pouncing at the moles, slamming his sharp teeth into their flesh for laughing like this...!!

But this only lasts for a second or two as he very quickly joins to laugh with them; being amused and chipper about having managed to make them laugh. Phew, lucky (?)! All that laughing together so heartily kinda loosens the atmosphere, it seems to do wonders to the previously heavy heart of the furry raver.

*after having laughed themselves to tears* ""Hmm, what brings me t'yar lil' gatherin'...?" Kee shrugs casually. "...Mere curiosity. Bein' one of tha new folks 'round here. Nat havin' had tha pleasure t'meet ya people yet. ...The others leavin' me hangin' at the table." He whispers the last part. And is intrigued by the mentioning of it being THEM who dug all these tunnels! "So YA PEOPLE made all thes' tunnels? That's.... pretty cool! (✧ω✧ ) Does that mean tha WHOLE GUILD has been dug by ya? Must have taken quite a while, hasn't it? Was this Guild always b'low ground level like that?"

Something about their words is bothering Kee though, making him frown. "Doublin' tha security? Why that....? Is there reason t'be on guard an' on edge? *cough* Uh, well, MOAR on guard an' on edge than usually as an 'dventurer, that is."

[Dragonstrike]

Kogeki:

Liepard addresses the first question non-chalantly.  "Oh, I don't know what's going through the guildmaster's head, honestly.  Doesn't bother me, though, so long as everyone stays out of trouble.  And the guildmaster is a 'she', Kogeki.  You'd find yourself in a bit more than hot water if you got that wrong at the wrong time.~"

Her expression and tone are much more serious for the second question.  "They're one of the most skilled teams in this guild and they know it.  I would advise you to stay away from them if at all possible."

Back to nonchalance for the remaining questions.  "Oh, there's always rumors going around.~  Ladies do love to gossip, after all.  I doubt there'd be much of interest I could tell you that you haven't heard already, though.  Whole town's been buzzing about those supposed sightings humans, after all.  Skarmory feathers, though...hmmmm...no, I can't say I've heard of any Skarmory showing up recently.  They do like to stick to their reclusive mountain homes, you know.  And as far as strange pokemon go...well, you're the strangest pokemon I've seen lately.~  Afraid I can't help you there."

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

Kee:

"Oh yeah, we dug all these here tunnels.  Always diggin' more of 'em, too.  Guild's gotta grow as it recruits more members, after all.  Most of the deeper tunnels are the residences for all the recruits.  The main founders of the teams live up top, and everyone else lives further down.  And yeah, the guild's been like this since it was founded.  A lot more livable space down here than there is up there, that's for sure.  Doesn't take as long as you might think when you and your mates were all born to dig though.  Some of us even have cousins at a coal mine on the Water Continent, in fact."

"Eh?  Why'd we double the guard recently?  Well...all I really know about that is that it was an order straight from the guildmaster.  We take those real seriously, ya know?  She didn't tell any of us why, though.  Not our place to question it anyways.  Oh, you're one of the newer members of the guild, right?  I think one o' my mates saw ya you're first day here.  A warm welcome from all of us, eh?  Hope the tunnels are to you're likin'.  It ain't much, but it's home."

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

Pyra:

"Oh, is that how you feel about Marcussssss?  Well well well...tell you what.  With that interessssst in the old waysssss and your mannerissssssmsssss...I think you'd actually fit right in with usssssss.  We'd be more than happy to exchange information if you were to join our team insssssstead."

"And really, no hard feelings, but we really do feel we must take precautions with how and why we ask questions."

"Yesssss, that'sssss exactly it.  We're just being...cautiousssssss.  We had a deal, after all, and we wouldn't want you to skip out on fulfilling your end of it.  Ssssssso, anssssswer our quesssssstion."

Insight + Survival + Alert Checks (need 2 successes to notice what Team Artificers is doing):
Daxter: (6)(5)(5)(1) 3 successes
Karen: (2)(1)(1) + (6*) for being a Ralts = 0 successes
Kogeki: (6)(3) 1 success
Kee: (4)(4) 2 successes

Kee (@PhantomUnderYourDesk) and Daxter (@no one) hear Pyra raising her voice to try and make herself heard over the crowd, and see Team Artificers currently surrounding her for some reason.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

(...)

Pyra:

"Oh, is that how you feel about Marcussssss?  Well well well...tell you what.  With that interessssst in the old waysssss and your mannerissssssmsssss...I think you'd actually fit right in with usssssss.  We'd be more than happy to exchange information if you were to join our team insssssstead."

"And really, no hard feelings, but we really do feel we must take precautions with how and why we ask questions."

"Yesssss, that'sssss exactly it.  We're just being...cautiousssssss.  We had a deal, after all, and we wouldn't want you to skip out on fulfilling your end of it.  Ssssssso, anssssswer our quesssssstion."

Insight + Survival + Alert Checks (need 2 successes to notice what Team Artificers is doing):
Daxter: (6)(5)(5)(1) 3 successes
Karen: (2)(1)(1) + (6*) for being a Ralts = 0 successes
Kogeki: (6)(3) 1 success
Kee: (4)(4) 2 successes

Kee (@PhantomUnderYourDesk) and Daxter (@no one) hear Pyra raising her voice to try and make herself heard over the crowd, and see Team Artificers currently surrounding her for some reason.

Chimical's response actually takes her aback, her eyes widen and mouth gapping ever so slightly.

"Truly, really.....?"

Then, she.....was actually seriously considering their offer? If that thoughtful, conflicted expression was anything to go by, she was. Team Artificer shares many interests with her. They seem to not mind her 'mannerisms' all that much, and perhaps even approve if she was 'reading' things right. Finally, she was and has always been at odds with her own Team, always getting into trouble and whipping up discomfort and discord among them with her various actions and comments.

Perhaps....perhaps it would be for the best for everyone for her to switch Teams. But.....not without some concessions. After a short but tense silence, she spoke.

"....I am open to your offer, willing to accept you invitation, on two condition. One, you leave Team Omega Seekers alone, no longer harrash or antagonize them unless they make serious effort to engage in such conflict with Team Artificer. Two, I would be allowed to still associate with my own time, and assist them great tasks and huge consequential matters. Will compensate you or your Leader for my absence in clause two's case, with weregild or Items you seek, if I have to leave at times most inconvenient to all of thee. My Loyalty, my devotion otherwise, would be soly towards Team Artificer, and anyone you deem worthy of it and more. Well?"

As for the she-demon's reaction to the Team's rational in circling her, she tilts her head at the lot curiously/skeptically before slowly nodding her head.

"That is understandable, somewhat reasonable precaution to take, so I suppose I am fine with this, yes."

She takes a moment to consider Team Artificer's/Chimical's question, trying to ponder what she knew about The Lights and how to phrase it to them. It was a.....delicate topic for the group, from what little she could recall about it, and she was not entirely sure if she and her friends were responsible for that phenomena. Just because they appeared around the same time they did in this world doesn't mean one caused the other. Correlation does not equal causation, as the old saying goes. She also didn't want to put her friends in a bad position, but neither did she want to give Team Artificer reason to further antagonize her and them, and perhaps prompt them to outright try to beat the answers out of her here or later on. Indeed, this was a rather tough question to ponder...

Finally, after a few long seconds of though, she gave them what she hope was a satisfactory answer.

"Truthfully, I....am uncertain about this topic of Lights, I regret to say. We never saw them ourselves, no, nor did we have a willing, knowing hand in their creation and spectacle. But they did appear around the same time we finally arrived in the Sand Continent, so that could point to some connection between it and us. So, in the end, the only answer I can confidently give to you is that I do not know."

Hmmm.....a rather Wishwashi answer, but Chimical asked if the group had something to do with them, not their relationship or possible connection to them. If they wanted her full thoughts and theories on the matter, they should've asked for that instead!

(The plot thickens......)

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"Oh yeah, we dug all these here tunnels.  Always diggin' more of 'em, too.  Guild's gotta grow as it recruits more members, after all.  Most of the deeper tunnels are the residences for all the recruits.  The main founders of the teams live up top, and everyone else lives further down.  And yeah, the guild's been like this since it was founded.  A lot more livable space down here than there is up there, that's for sure.  Doesn't take as long as you might think when you and your mates were all born to dig though.  Some of us even have cousins at a coal mine on the Water Continent, in fact." (...)

As the Drilbur explain and elaborate on the tunnels, Ziggy Kee finds his piecing gaze wandering around the tunnels; imagining and admiring all the work it must have taken to dig aaaall these tunnels. Even if you - as they say - were born to dig through stuff, it's quite impressive! "...Ya people really did a fine job on diggin' all of that. It's comfy!~ *warm and honest smile* An' stable, that's 'mport'nt. Hehe...~"

(...) "Eh?  Why'd we double the guard recently?  Well...all I really know about that is that it was an order straight from the guildmaster.  We take those real seriously, ya know?  She didn't tell any of us why, though.  Not our place to question it anyways.  Oh, you're one of the newer members of the guild, right?  I think one o' my mates saw ya you're first day here.  A warm welcome from all of us, eh?  Hope the tunnels are to you're likin'.  It ain't much, but it's home."

"'n order straight from our noble Guildmaster...? Humm." He mulls over it for a bit trying to fathom and reason this upping of security, but eventually just shrugs. "Nat my place nor task t'question it either. If she feels it's needed 'n a wise choice, then it very likely is 'ndeed!~ After all, more security isn't a baaaad thin' per se, isn't it?~" A reassuring smile follows. It's true, more security down this Guild feels nice and allows him to sleep with his mind less on ease, BUT Ziggy Kee still can't help but to wonder why it's a necessary thing according to the Guildmaster. Whether it is out of worry that this has anything to do with them or out of sheer in-species curiosity, he doesn't know for sure.

"Hehehe, thanks for yar welcomin' words, how dear of ya!~ These tunnels ARE t'mah likin', yes they are, much less burnin' heat an' nasteh sand in mah fur down here!~"


It's NOW where the furry crittercoon would notice something that causes him to involuntarily stiffen, his fur to ever-so-slightly bristle and his gaze to ever-soooo-mildly intesify. Nononono, not good, not good AT ALL, his deep red eyes fiercely wander from Pyra being in the center of Team Artificers over the members of said team to the Drilbur he's just to neatly chatting with as his mind starts to accelerate. With a sweetish~ smile to the moles, Kee kindly bids them goodbye. "Well, would ya people 'xcuse me then?☆ It's been a PLEASURE t'chat with ya lot, but it seems like I gotta go, b'fore a fellow team member ends up in trouble. Happy further diggin' I do wish y'all, 'ntil we meet again, k?"

With that said, Kee leaves the table of the moles, takes ONE step into the direction of Team Artificers, and takes a HEARTY and EAGER leap straight onto Pyra's head. Given how she's bigger than him, it shouldn't hurt or knock her off, BUT it should be enough of a suprise to  get her (and possibly Team Artificer's) attention!~ He looks down onto the she-devil with the sweetest~☆ and softest~☆ bedroom eyes, appearantly only paying attention to HER now. "Pyra, mah dear, whatcha doin' here, hum? Ya've been missed over at our table, an' I was worried t'see ya leave just like that without a word. C'mon, w'all finished dinner, it's gettin' late an' we got a busy day ahead, it's 'bout time we head back into our quarters for some weeeeell deserved sleep. Shall we? May we, pwease?"

Doesn't appar to pay much attention to Chimi, Solosis nor Golett, Kee's primary and perhaps only goal is to GET PYRA OUT OF HERE without creating a fuss. And oozing charm to do this is his prefered method of doing so!

[no one]

Daxter responds to the Mudbray with a nod and a smile. "Oh, yeah, definitely. You guys-"

Daxter trails off as he hears Pyra raising her voice. He swivels his head in panic, until he eventually sets his eyes on her. Oh, shit. Time to think fast. He couldn't just attack them, that would just get him in more trouble. Maybe he could just call a little more attention to it? "Sorry, guys. My friend seems to be in a bit of a sticky situation. It was nice meeting you again."

He clears his voice and calls out, while hurrying towards her. "Hey, Pyra! What are you doing there with those guys? Come on, we've gotta get going. Lots of things to do tomorrow, love. We should all get some sleep. No need to waste time, talking to these so called big shots. Let's go."

As he gets closer to their table, he hisses in a low, quiet voice. "Didn't I fucking warn you arseholes about pulling this intimidation bullshit on us? It won't work, so fuck off. Unless you want to cause a scene in the middle of the guild, that is."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Ziggy Kee, still stuck to Pyra's horns or close by her side (whatever works best to avoid the flame on her head), raises a clawed paw and nudges Daxter with it. Not hard, but enough for him to definitely notice. The expression on the furry crittercoon is NOT a very amused one. "Dax, mind yar language, may ya? It's clear as heck that ya don't like 'em, but callin' fellow Guild Members - however ya may think of 'em - isn't needed, it'll vereh likely only lead to trouble. ...K? K, thanks!~ Letcha just head 'nto our chambers for rest then, please." Kee says that last part in a calm manner, but there's still a strict undertone to emphasize that it's better in his view to just GO now.

[Dragonstrike]

"Huh?  Daxter, what's going...oh.  Uh, well it was nice meeting you guys.  Looks like something's definitely come up."

Karen walks over to Kogeki to go fetch him, while Team Gallop just looks a little confused at first before turning to face each other and talk amongst themselves.

"*ahem*...uh, sorry to intrude on your conversation, Kogeki, but I think everyone else is wrapping up for the day now.  Looks like it's just about time to go."

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

Intimidation check:
3 Tough + 0 Contest + 0 Intimidate
(4)(3)(3) 1 success

Will: (6)(4)(4)(2)(1)(1) 2 successes

Chimical just gives Daxter a smug look, having no reason to take that threat seriously.  "Intimidation?  Why, it wassssss nothing of the sssssort.  I believe the one causssssing a sssscene is you, blue lizzzzzard.  Issssssn't that right, little flame?  But no matter.  If you want to continue our little chat later, you know where to find ussssss.  Come, Golett, Ssssssolosssssisssss.  We have to prepare for tomorrow'ssssss work asssss well."

"Farewell for now, lesser life forms."

And with that, Team Artificers takes their leave.

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

Team OS eventually makes their way back to their room in the guild, where I presume everyone is going to want to have a chat with Pyra about what just occurred in the dining hall.  Karen's certainly curious about it.

"What was that all about?"

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(...) "Farewell for now, lesser life forms." (...)

THIS. THIS..!11!! This sort of bidding goodbye has struck a nerve within the furry crittercoon as his head SNAPS into the direction of Solosis to GLAAAARE at them with his deep-red eyes. "I'm no lesser life form", he snarls and growls in a very low voice.




Back in their own chamber, Ziggy Kee seems to be glued to Pyra. This means that he is sticking to her side, leans into her with just his furry head every now and then and appearantly just wishes to be and stay near her; occassionally he even softly purrs to her. Seems somewhat worried and sad about what happened to her, and by sticking close to her he hopes/wishes to comfort both her and himself. He isn't mad or angry in the slightest, just... sad and down from the way he hangs his head. The reason for this? ...Easy, it's what just happened in the dining hall. Damnit, DAMNIT, he and the others are official Adventurers for mere days now, and they've already made some enemies(?) with a different Team?  That's not really how he imagined his career as a respected and successful adventurer of Delphox' Guild to start off.

BUT he's keeping quiet, asks no questions or anything.

[no one]

All Dax can do his grind his teeth in anger when Team Artificers walks off. "I've got no idea why I hate those guys so much, but one day, we're gonna end up fighting. And I'm telling you now, someone'll have to stop me from beating that Chimical to death with his own tail. You alright, Pyra? Please try and stay away from these fuckers. They really aren't good company.

Well, I'm exhausted now. I'm gonna tuck in for the night. We've got that thing for Marcus to do tomorrow, so we can meet up with him then. Seeya, guys."