[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"Hmm..." Well, alright then. Going to wait for the others then. Shiva placed herself rather casually near Nathan, but not directly 'next to him'. No reason for that, it was just where she was currently standing. Slightly tired from the day's events by now. Just staying here now, watching Ralts playing around with what seemed to be a Clamperl's pearl and enjoying the fresh air and cooling breeze splasing Greenbiar provided. It's going to get dark soon...

Though, it's been quite an eventful day, she had all reasons to be exhausted. Being duprised by an RV crossing their path out of the blue. Gaining two new companions that were sparking with energy (literally) as she was nothing else but helping herself on those berry bushes. Shortly after having them finish off a Shellder from atop of mentioned RV while being surounded by some Hoppip.

Quite exciting, indeed.

[Lord Windos]

Clapping his hand in delight that the battle was now over (and that his Pokémon were only relatively unharmed), he walked over to the Pokeball and picked it up. Hefting it a few times up and down in the air, he turned towards Sochi with a pleased smile on his face. "Well, that was easier than I thought it was going to be, my dear flame. We make quite an accomplished team, battling together with Ekans and Goldeen, do we not? I'm glad I got the chance to see you in action, because I wouldn't want to face you in battle after seeing you preform today," Ventus said, cracking up the flatter as a result of their victory.

Despite his easy going attitude, he didn't savor any loses he experienced, since more often than not his Pokémon get beaten half to death because of his poor judgement. 'Live and learn from you mistake, but they never said you have to like the process,' he thought, before he remembered something important. "Ah yes, about this oversized clam. I did promise you that I would give it to you if we went hunting for it together? Do you still desire it, my graceful battler?" While he was talking, he noticed that his satchel was vibrating like crazy. It must have his phone, as its the only thing that does that when it gets a message.

Perhaps he should get back to camp quickly, and read it there in more detail. Not only the information might be more private in nature, but whatever prompted the message must have long happened by now.

[Iron]

"I'd love to own a Shellder that size! I'd sprinkle a little sand into it every day, ahhh, hoping it would start working on a pearl. I'd feed it to make it grow even larger. Maybe someday when I'm rich I'll build a massive aquarium for it."

[Lord Windos]

"Well, here you go, my dear. Make sure you get it to a Center right away, as its not doing so well right now, due to the...roughing we gave it," Ventus said, sweatdropping a bit at how they stomped on the overgrown Shelldar. Maybe he overestimated its potential danger level. 'It WAS huge, but that doesn't mean it necessarily going to crush my Pokémon. All that girth was good for was its defense, so it seems,' he thought, taking mental note of how the encounter went down for further self reflection.

Handing over the Shelldar's Pokeball to Sohci, he rubbed the back of his head, smiling but looking a little regretful at the same time. "I'm afraid that I have to get going now. My friends apparently have be texting me about something important, and I can't keep them waiting any longer than I already have. I hope you enjoyed our time together as much as I did; do keep in touch, my smouldering flame."

With that said, he bowed to Sochi, and quickly departed to the Van. Jogging back, he noticed tell tell sights of an explosive damage as he got near the van. 'There was an explosion? Why didn't I hear it? ...Perhaps Sochi drew more of my attension than I thought. I need to take head of my surrounding in the future for now on,' Ventus thought, frowing to himself on how he missed something so loud. Now getting worried, he picked up his pace and raced back to the van, and found everyone was alreadly there, plus the now unconsous Juggler from earlier. A bit flabbergasted by the scene he was witnessing, he simply said (to no one in particular) "What in good heavens happened here?" Taking a second look around the gathering, he noticed something , or rather, someONE was missing. "....Where is Vincent at, my comrades?"

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan looks away from Ralts, who takes the opportunity to try lifting the pearl again. He sort of manages it...if falling over afterwards counts.

"That's what I'm trying to find out. He went after a Voltorb that wasn't supposed to be here, and he's not responded to my texts since he did so. We have no idea where he is, so we're just waiting for him to respond to what I sent." Nathan takes extra care to not mention the Deyo Flowers.

Nathan looks back over at Ralts after updating Ventus in as brief a time as he can manage. "Ralts! What did I just say about lifting that pearl?!" Ralts just stares sheepishly at Nathanin reply.

Swiftfire is still laughing at the situation. This was fun to watch.

[Lord Windos]

"Oh, fuck . Why couldn't he have waited a bit longer for all of us to go with him? It wouldn't have hurt his chances any, and we wouldn't be causing such a panic." Ventus said, looking both distressed and exasperated by Vince's chase after the Voltorb. While he's not on the best terms with him right now, he didn't wish he would do something so reckless as this!

Just as he was about to ask more questions, he suddenly stopped for a moment, as something caught his attension. Tilting his head down, he though about it for a second, before realized that what was bugging him was Nathan's response. 'Something was not..right about Nathan's told me. Now that I think about it, I feel that he was...leaving something out. But what?' he thought, before looking back at the young trainer oddly.

"....Do you know where Vincent went after the Voltorb went blasting off? If I know where he started his search for it, I could track him down based on the trail he left and rendezvous with him. I know we are not on the best terms right now, but I need to find him ASAP, before something terrible happens again!" Ventus urgently said, carefully studying Nathan at the moment. He needs to find Vincent, and fast, and the young trainer is his only lead to him.

[Iron]

Dies Irae said he might be busy with work, so I think y'all get a text saying Vincent is considering exploring some of the Divide for now. He'll rendezvous with you later.

I'll be back in a bit to type up what happens.

[Iron]

Upon hearing about the text, Belle laughs in a motherly way. "That ex-cop can take care of himself. He knows more about fighting than the rest of you put together."

Tramp agrees. "Guess we'll get a move on then. We want as much time as possible at the Festival. Belle is going to sell beaded Pokemon keychains (I'm sure she'd make you one if you asked nicely, maybe gave her a backrub)."

After a few false starts, the RV coughs her engine to life and trundles down the road. There are less and less trainers, and the road is not in great shape. Nathan is sure this is not Route 01's normal state.

At one point, you reach a stretch of road dotted with puddles, where the paving has been completely torn up, revealing the mud underneath. Mr. Mime stretches out a horizontal Barrier across them - seems he's done this many times before. Geodude never stops trailing you, but remains mostly out of sight.

You meet a trainer on the road, a guy in huge boots. They're covered in mud, and he looks exhausted.

"Road is pretty much out up ahead, fellows," he says. "Basically just one big, grassy swamp. They're saying it's been that way for 2 days, which is odd because it hasn't rained. It came out of nowhere! It's gone all misty, too. I barely made it through. I heard tell the hiking trails to the north are still mostly open, though that would add a couple days to your route. Worth it, though!"

"Hm," says Tramp. "Which way should we go? The RV could go on some of those hiking trails, but much slower, I think. We definitely can't take her through the swamp."

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan's worried. Why would Vincent head off to explore the mountain range all of a sudden? Did he really have to travel THAT far to find the Voltorb? And now the road was swamped too? And now he's also in the back of the RV with everyone, including Ventus...Gah, this day just kept getting better and better, didn't it? Both Nathan and Ralts are rather uncomfortable, not just because of the tight squeeze, but also because of Ventus's presence. Swiftfire and Staryu had it good, being in their pokeballs right now.

Before the hiker leaves though, Nathan approaches him. Quietly, he asks, "Does there happen to be any strange looking flowers with translucent petals in that swamped area?" His response could heavily influence which way they go...

[Iron]

Haha good question.

The hiker replies: "No, I didn't see anything like that. Just lots of weird grass types - Exeggcute and so forth. Being around all that psychic energy kinda felt weird, especially in the mist."