[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

"Oh, you just missed the Chief Ranger. He left for the woods with a contingent of officers just a bit ago. Shall I try to raise him on his radio?"

[Dragonstrike]

"Oh, you just missed the Chief Ranger. He left for the woods with a contingent of officers just a bit ago. Shall I try to raise him on his radio?"

"Yes please.  There's a lot that needs to be said.  Though, the other thing is that my companions said they were at the Healer's hut when they found him.  Maybe the Chief Ranger can meet them on their way back.  They need to report what happened, and for some reason, they decided to let a complete stranger who's with them currently take the Pinsirite instead of Teleporting it over here with Pinsir to be turned in..."

[Lord Windos]

If the battles he'd endured were surprisingly difficult, and the emotionals backlash he endured was surpinsingly frightening to others, then seeing Apsis return with the Burn Drive was an welcome surprise indeed! Upon receiving it from his snake, he did a quick but thorough expection, he finds that the drive had undergo a bit of water damage and had some slight stress marks on it due to his Arbok's tender ministrations. From what he knew of the Drive system, however, Ventus thought that the Burn Drive was in functional condition.

'Hmm...its a little battered from its time in the pond, but it should still be able to function if I slot it in the Genesect statue. Some excellent news, but I wish I could have obtained it without having to be maligned by one disaster or another. I must not lose hope and succumb to pessimism, though, or I am no better than that vile bastard I just fought,' the researcher though, shoving the Burn Driving into his bag of holding, with it somehow able to fit in it without any visable parts sticking out! What the...?

Giving Shiva one more quick hug, he departed to the small hut to check of the medicine man's progress. He found Valder passed out in one of the reclining chair using his most power Snore, Shelmet's Pokeball, the potion, and a note from the doctor, Scanning the note, Ventus shrugged his shoulder, before he retrieved both items off the table and waking up his mercenary. Come to think of his merc, the researcher hadn't really talked to him since they first, a fact that caused him some confusion.

'I would expect that we would interact more, given the nature of our arrangement, but he seems content to remain slight in the background. I do wish he'd open up more and speak with everyone, but that is not his job, and I won't force anyone to do something that discomforts them, barring extenuating circumstances,' he though, before leaving the residence with them in toe.  Helios had made it back safely to Shiva's side, Sage's still appeared to be thinking over his advice, and Apsis was curled up besides the entrance, guarding it from any threat.

Going over to his snake, Ventus rubbed her eye ridges in gentle affection, before returning her to the Pokeball. "You have done so much for today, my sister, so take a long rest. When I summon you once more, we will be on the hunt for prey of one sort or another," Ven said, staring lovingly at his sister's Pokeball, before stowing it away on his person. With his business concluded here, he returned to Shiva's side once more, looking tired, exaushted, and just about ready to pass out. "Shiva, I believe every task I came here to do has been completed, so let's return to Wineberry. If its possible, perhaps Helios can ferry all of us to the Pokémon Center, instead of us having to make another tiring treck through the woods. Of course, if Sage doesn't want to accompany us, we should not force him to. He's his own man, after all."

After he was done speaking, the young lass chimed in with what she had to say, and he could feel that she was concerned about him. Glancing at his bag, he just let out a sigh, before answering her. "The Drive got damaged a bit, either by Apsis or being stuck in the pond for Reshirim knows how long. It still is in functional order, though, and it should have some reaction if I swap it with the Normal Drive in the Genesect Statue."

Order: See if Helios could not teleport Ventus, Shiva, and Sage (If he wants) to the Pokémon Center in sequence, so as to save time and energy better spent elsewhere. Upon arriving at center, give Apsis Pokémon to station nurse for heals and wait for her to fully recover from her ordel. During this time, Ven is mostly likely going to be confront by Nathan, so he'll insist that he get his earlier business done before such an confrontation occurs.

[Iron]

Abra is too tired to do so much teleporting back to back. He's limited to two or three total round trips.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

... Why did Ven hugged her now? Just a random fast one... Uh... Maybe he was just glad to have her by his side just now. Or he was happy over receiving the Drive. Or both. She didn't manage to return te hug though, simply because it came unexpected. Still appreciated of course! But... Ven hasn't fully dried from his trip to the pond yet... Ugh. She'll need to change clothes later.

Shiva waited outside alongside Apsis and Sage while Ventus payed the Helaer's shack a quick visit - to see how things has wrapped up meanwhile. She did not mind being alone with him, at all. Her feeling's told her he's no harm, but a good person instead.... Didn't take long for him to return with Shelmet and the Secret Potion. Oh, and a note in his hands.

So... The Healer's gone, Ventus told them? Hmm... Her spirits rushed high almost immediately upon hearing these words. Glancing at Ven with that infamous shimmer in her eyes behind glasses that occurs usualy at the sighting of a rare valueable Pokemon, she only had a few words for him before she rushed away. "If that's the case, give me a few minutes. I'll pay the shack a visit by myself once more."

What a fortune moment... None was there... Let's hope the Healer wouldn't mind if she'd collect just a few twigs of that red and golden herbs hanging in the parlor. She wanted to ask if she could have a few of those, and what kinds they are since she couldn't determine by herself. But... the owner was gone, and it was unsure when he'd return. And the others are waiting for her, on top of that. Better take the opportunity, you don't know when you get a chance like this again... Oh... and while picking a few of those, her glance fell on that booskelf on the wall... Maybe there's something intersting to 'lend'? In fact, where would be a better place to find something about the Lore of Fire-Magic in this forest than a shelf full  of old-looking yet valuable books?



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Mechanics:
Obtain a few of those herbs! And maybe one or two books that catch Shiva's interest.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Once that has been wrapped up (@Iron - so curious what I obtained!), she returned to Ventus and Sage outside. Ah... he withdrew Apsis by now. Meaningful silence dwelled on the place where formerly the Mega-Pinsi battle took place.

Though, upon hearing Ven's suggestion, she frowned a little. Just a little. You barely notice if Shiva shows distress. "Ven... I... don't thing Helios can teleport all of us... His powers are not strong enough to do do. He's exhausted already. One or two round trips are alright, but nothing more. I don't wish to drain him or his powers unneccesarly."

He looked... so tired... The events of the day surely begin to pay off on Ventus. Don't think she doesn't notice.

[Lord Windos]

(Makes sense, and it lets me have a chance to encounter a Wurmple for that other job!)

Looking briefly downcast at Helios' tired refusal, Ventus quickly sprang back to his happy old self. Well, as happy as he could be after everything that occurred around the pond today, but it was better than him being bloody happy at least! "Sorry for pressuring you, Helios. You have done an excellent job so far today, and I am sure that Shiva will reward you appropreiately, if she has not already done so," the researcher said, before turning to face the group. The maniac look and feel was no longer present on his person, but their was a distinct feeling that it would come all back if that trainer decided to cross them once more.

"Well, it appears that we have to hoof it across the woods once more. Fortunately, we all have several Pokémon to fight on our behalf, if trouble decides to cross us, so let us depart immedianlty! I wish to return Shelmet to their owner, and we all need regroup to discuss what each of us had to endure, respectively. Let us be off, then!" Ventus said, trying his best to mask the sheer bone tiredness he felt. Hiking, Battling, Diving and more...it was all taking its toll on his body. He didn't thing he would pass out again from it all, but Ven didn't want to needlessly worry the party about his condition. After all, he had to appear to be in the best condition possible to protect his friend, even if he was not!

[Iron]

Shiva pulls down some red and yellow herbs. They smell sweet and astringent.

She only finds one book that concerns her, but it's an extremely interesting text on earth lore - what some might call earth magic, though the author doesn't use that word.

It's all about the relations between points of power in the Fireweed Forest, a sort of supernatural geometry. The author says that mystically inclined Pokemon can be located using this geometry - if you use the book to calculate using the variables of the moon phase, the weather, the time of year, how long since the last eclipse, distance from the nearest meteor crater, and so on - you can actually determine where mystically inclined Pokemon are most likely to be at this exact moment! They tend to travel between multiple nests or dens, you see.

[Iron]

Ventus, on the trek back, you indeed encounter a Wurmple! It doesn't seem to be special in any way, and of course there is no way of knowing what sort of cocoon it will become.

It's simply crawling around on a tree branch, upside down.

Here's the initiatives if you decide to engage:

Ventus: (4) + bonuses
Wurmple: (2) +3 = 5

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"Well, it appears that we have to hoof it across the woods once more. Fortunately, we all have several Pokémon to fight on our behalf, if trouble decides to cross us, so let us depart immedianlty! I wish to return Shelmet to their owner, and we all need regroup to discuss what each of us had to endure, respectively. Let us be off, then!"

So be it then. Return to town, after all the happenings here. A secure place again... let's hope they won't run into more shenanigangs alongside the way. It was getting dark meanwhile... The chatter of nearby Bug Types increased...

However, Ven was clearly not doing okay. Don't think Shiva does not notice. Don't blame her for that... But...she decided not to comment on his state, or worse, ask if 'he was okay'. She'll just stay close to him instead, to provide silent comfort if he needs. She was somewhat sure he'll appreciate that more than being all worried about him because he was pushing himself to the limits (again). How neat... just shortly, she was the one in need for protection... And now they switched sides.

Before they left, though, Shiva turned directly to Sage. She didn't wanted him to fall back. "Sage... You can join us as well. I'd appreciate if you do." In the end, it was his own choice though.