[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Encounters: Route 01 North End Part 2

1. Name: Caterpie*
Cap: 1 (2) - One can catch, one can assist
Bid start: 3
Notes: There will be something special about Caterpie, but you don't know what until you stumble across it. Could be a rare move, a funny size, or even shiny!
Challenge: Easy


2. Name: Amphibian nest
Cap: 2 (4) - two catches will be available, if two people take the slot.
Bid start: 1
Challenge: moderate
Note: Random water types with the ability to move on land


3. Name: Picnicker ♀ Vork
Cap: 1
Bid start: 1
Bet: 400$
Challenge: tough
Notes: "I hate ants! Always interrupting my picnic! I've made it my life goal to uproot as many anthills as possible!"


Pidgeys and Rattatas are still freely available to encounter. You may spend your encounter slot looking for berries too, but I will impose a penalty of 1 to the Survival check because of how fast you'd have to search around compared to your automatic daily.
As usual you may hold a training session instead.

Actively looking for Ponyta is also a slot.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Soon as Ventus finished off that Poliwag, Shiva approached him. Cottonee and Togepi still safely in her arms.

"Nice battle. It's good to see that you're able to keep that snake somehow under control. And a lovely nickname... Aspis, right? Reminds me on our pet-Eevee, Spectral..."

Well, she was an Eevee. Until she once kept Shiva awake a whole night in early January and decided to evolve into an Umbreon on her room's windowsill without warning. Thinking about home pained her a little... How was Spectral and her patents doing? Did they miss her as well... Ah, she brushed that thought off. She was here, in Chresire for reasons, and luckily she was not here alone. Not to disappoint anyone by feeling homesick and stuff, the least herself!

She paused a little before continuing speaking to Ventus, keeping the usual soft tone in voice. "So... What now? You mentioned sightseeing, if I'm not mistaken... I'm down with that! Might as well find some berry trees or swarms of Hoppip along the way. Or that stray Ponyta. ... That is, if you're not too tired from battling."

She carefully looked over to him, waiting for a response and decision from his side.

[Lord Windos]

As the Poliwag fainted, Ventus let out a sigh of relief. A smile appeared on his faced as he clapped his hands together in pleasure, attracting Apsis attention away from the knocked out tadpole. Given that it was eying it with apparent hunger in its eyes, this was a very fortunate distraction. "Great job on subduing your prey, my Apsis! Now, I know you are in pain, and that eating the Poliwag would be rather fitting revenge, I don't believe that would be very conducive to you getting along with the rest of the group. Now come over here so that I can tend to your injuries, and give you the treat I promised," he said with a patient yet authoritarian tone of voice.

Ventus then frowned a bit, thinking some things over, before he added decided on what to say. "Of course, since I don't plan on catching this Pokémon, and its likely to be eaten by other predators while its knocked out, not eating it would be a waste. I'll leave the decision up to you then, Ekans. I won't be disappointed with you, regardless of your decision," Ventus said, voicing his opinion on the matter. While he might be a kind and caring soul at heart, he's a rather pragmatic person as well, and he knows quite well what Pokémon do in the wild.

'I don't exactly savor the thought of the Poliwag being eaten, but its likely not to survive long enough in the state its with the  hungry Pidgey in the area. If it dies, it might as well provide substance to my Ekans, rather than the other wild Pokémon in the area,' he thought, carefully watching for what Apsis decides to do. Meanwhile, Raphael was still cuddling up with Shiva and her Cottenee, chittering happily as it waved its arms to and fro in her arms. As Shiva walked up to him to congradulate him for the fine battle, and ask him what he wants to do, he thought it over for a bit, before answering, " I think doing some berry hunting would be a lovely idea, Shiva. What better way to enjoy this pictersque day then finding some delicious berries, and taking in all the sight. We might find a few Pokémon while we are at it, so lets get on with it."

[Iron]

Wow, brutal.

Ekans swarms right up to the Poliwag and starts engulfing it whole.

Togepi is rather disturbed and shields his eyes. -1 Happiness to Togepi.

+1 Happiness to Ekans though, and +1 loyalty.

[Lord Windos]

Ventus stoically watches his Apsis consume his prey, neither happy nor displeased with her decision. "Hmm...well, waste not want not, my Apsis. Enjoy you meal, but do not assume that you will always be allowed to eat your opponents. It not exactly polite, not to mention legal, to consume a Trainer's Pokémon, but wild ones can be hunted at my discreation. Now come over here," Ven commanded, once his snake had fully engulfed his prey with a look of contentment in its eyes.

Deciding that his new master was worthy of her attension, Apsis slithered over to him, looking expectantly at him. Pulling of his bottle of Potion, Ventus began to treat his Ekan's wounds, carefully apply it to most brused area of its body. Once he was finished, he patted Apsis on its head, and let it stay out of its Pokeball for the time being. 'I think letting it stretching its muscles will be a good thing, and it will allow it to further familiarize itself with me, so I'll let it remain by side for the time being,' Ventus though, serenely watching Apsis lounge by his side. It didn't seem like it would go off on it own, given how close it remained by his side.

Suddenly, though, he detected Raphael distress. 'Huh? Something is bothering Raphael? What could it...oh.' he though, slowly realizing the reason why. Seeing a predator eat a wild Pokémon for the first time would certainly be a traumatizing experience, especially for a relatively newborn Togepi no less. With a worried look on his face, he gently reached out and took Raphael from Shiva's arms. It flinched at his touch, and looked fearfully at him and the Ekans. Very slowly, he gently petted it, soothely muttering to it. "It's alright, my little angel. This is just the way things are in the wild, but that doesn't mean it will happen to you. I'll never let Apsis eat you, and I promise to always provide my most heartfelt care, so don't be afraid..."

Slowly, Raphael calmed down, its eye fluttering under Venuts' gentle caress, until it fell asleep in his arms. Taking out its Pokeball, he return it, and look at Shiva. "Now, while it may seem heartless of me, I have my reasons for allowing what transpired. I've seen Pokémon being hunted down and eaten regularly during my research project at the Uninversity, so such a sight does not disturb me much," he intoned, faintly looking unhappy at his familiarity of some Pokémon's eating habits. Before he lost his nerve, though, he pressed on with his rational. "Its the way of the natural world, and nothing we do will ever change that. The Poliwag would have mostly been eaten by another Pokémon, so I decided to leave it up to my Ekans to decide its fate. You don't have to agree with my choice, but I do hope you understand," Ventus said, looking sad but adamant in his reasoning. He waits to see her response, hoping this doesn't ruin his relationship with her...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(Lolz. Windos, didn't you want to increase Togepi's Happiness...?)


What a pretty look. Not. Shiva might have read a thousand times about the habits or carnivorous Pokemon, but seeing one directly in action was a little...new to her. On the other hand, that was pure nature. And Mother Nature wasn't always a bright and jolly being.

She gladly let him take his Topepi out of her arms, and felt some relief deep inside... Some that she could not explain to herself yet. Maybe it had to do with how relatively easy he managed to soothe his angelic young Pokemon.

"Nevermind. That's nature." That was all she could bring up just now. She understood his reasons, indeed... She just didn't know how to respond properly to make that clear to him.

A few minutes later, where only understanding silence dwelled - with the splashing of the Greenbiar River and the occasional cries of wild Pokemon interrupting it from afar - she looked up him with a slight smile and an expression that seemed to say "I'm okay with that. Where did we stop again...?"

"Ah, Berries... Well, great! If you're sure that you need no rest for a few minutes... That guidebook the Professor gifted me as we were there for buying that tent mentiones a lot of Berry Trees in this area..." Maybe there'll even be the opportunity to see one or two Hoppip along the way.

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

After they walked for a few minutes together through the pretty wilderness of Route 1 - casually with a Pidgeon audible and visible in the tree tops above - Shiva began to feel her insecurity increase from inside her. She surely had a bunch of questions to Ventus, mostly out of curiosity - once again he mentioned University! - just wasn't sure how to bring them up towards him. She did not wanted to overrun him. She decided to start loosely instead.

"Eh... Listen... You like Fairy Types? Because... that Togekiss?"

[Lord Windos]

Ventus eyes closed as he sighed in relief, glad that Shiva understood. Still, he had a feeling that her answer didn't express her complete feeling on the matter, he'll let them explain their full reservations in their own time. 'Its fine that she has trouble talking to me. We hardly know each other, besides what little snippits of information we have gleaned from each other conversation, after all. Hopefully, as we bond together on this journey, all of that will change,' he though, as he walked with her in their search for berries.

While enjoying the sights and sounds of nature, he heard Shiva ask him a question? 'Do I like Fairy types? ... that is a complicated answer,' he though, his happy mood instantly dissipating. Still, he hide his feelings well, and with a smile on his face explained his opinions. "...It might surprise you, but I'm not particularly fond of Fairy types. I have a slight phobia of them, as a matter of fact. Now, don't doubt that I love Raphael with all my heart, and don't think that I hate your Cottenee or Ralts. Its wild Fairy types, or ones that I'm unfamiliar with that make me nervous," he said, searching for bearies all the while. "I prefer Steel and Dragon Types, personally, though I'm partial to Pokémon that evolve via Friendship, for obvious reasons."

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan and Ralts have walked up to Vincent and company now, and Nathan's looking...well, gloomy. Ralts isn't much better currently. That metal finger was very off putting, and they have no idea what it is. "So, what'd you get up to while I was in those berry bushes? You certainly look happy about the outcome of whatever it was."

[Dies Irae]

Iron:
Lets go horsing around. Vincent's on the Ponyta search party.

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

"Find what you were after, Nathan? Judging by appearances, not much luck with the Ponyta." He nods in the younger trainer's direction as he approaches. "And how's your Ralts doing? Looks a mite antsy."

"I just wrapped up a trainer battle myself. Guy I asked about your horse sort of insisted on a fight and since he'd done me a favor by providing directions, I figured 'why not'. Got to put a few things I'd been thinking about to the test - worked surprisingly well too. Amazing what you can extrapolate from your own training really." He gives his cane an experimental swing for effect.

"Anyway, if you want, we could go look for your horse now, unless you've got something else planned. Either way, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that no matter how good you think you are, having someone watching your back is never a bad thing."

Something about the situation is itching at the back of his mind. An incongruity perhaps, or an unanswered question.

He pauses for a bit. "For my curiosity though. Judging from how fast your Ralts learned confusion, you're a talented Pokemon handler and judging by the Ponyta situation, you've got ranch experience. Those skills would make you a hell of a trainer, that's for sure, but there's plenty of ranches out there who would basically kill to hire someone with your skillset. Why take the trainer route? If you don't mind me prying."

[Dragonstrike]

"Find what you were after, Nathan? Judging by appearances, not much luck with the Ponyta." He nods in the younger trainer's direction as he approaches. "And how's your Ralts doing? Looks a mite antsy."

"I just wrapped up a trainer battle myself. Guy I asked about your horse sort of insisted on a fight and since he'd done me a favor by providing directions, I figured 'why not'. Got to put a few things I'd been thinking about to the test - worked surprisingly well too. Amazing what you can extrapolate from your own training really." He gives his cane an experimental swing for effect.

"Anyway, if you want, we could go look for your horse now, unless you've got something else planned. Either way, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that no matter how good you think you are, having someone watching your back is never a bad thing."

He pauses for a bit. "For my curiosity though. Judging from how fast your Ralts learned confusion, you're a talented Pokemon handler. Those skills would make you a hell of a trainer, that's for sure, but there's plenty of ranches out there who would basically kill to hire you. Why take the trainer route? If you don't mind me prying."

"Like I said, just a bunch of pokeballs.  No more metal pieces of...whatever that thing came from."

His expression doesn't really change, but Nathan's glad to be talking about something else. Something about that metal piece just felt...wrong to him.

"You heard what I might be up against.  A rancher isn't going to be able to do much about that.  Besides, I was never really that interested in being a rancher.  Never really was interested in being a trainer either, to be frank, but then this all happened...I'm sure you've at least heard the story about how I found Ralts from Mallorn, yes?

Having said all he wanted to on the topic right now, Nathan shifts the focus back to his main goal.

"Anyways, we should find Ponyta as quickly as possible.  Who knows what trouble she might be up to by now..."

Time for a ponyta search!