[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Ventus stares back at Nathan silently, before looking down at the Ralts hugging his leg. Another sigh escaped his lips, and he soon stood up again. Pulling out Raphael's Pokeball, he returned the now sleeping chick to its confines. He then walked a little past Nathan, and called out to his Ekans. "Apsis, come back to me. You've had enough time to relieve your stress on the Weezing; we have a friend of mine to save now."

The Ekans in question was resting a little bit beside the Weezing. She looked up at her master, appearing much calmer after venting its fury upon the defeat spewer. The Weezing in question...well, it had seen far better days before Apsis had her way with it. Now it will never experience any day, forevermore. Apsis soon heeded her master's call, and slithered over to his side. She eyed the Ralts curiously, before looking up at Ventus expectantly. Ventus shook his head at her; the little Psychic type was not her prey. A little disappointed, Apsis none of the less obeyed her master, and ignored the tiny little morsal.

Turning towards Nathan again, he just looked so very tired of the days events. Still, one could see the resolve in his eyes as he made up his mind to finally go out and retrieve Shiva from the dark depths of the swamp. "Once again, you are right Nathan. I'm letting the events between us get in the way of accomplishing important task, something I shouldn't allow to happen. I can't to expect to help anyone if I let the past hold me back so. ....I hope you do not take this the wrong way, but you are far wiser than I first thought," Ventus said to Nathan, smiling very slightly at both the trainer in question, and the feelings he detects from him. 'A strong, valiant soul...he'll become an Ace Trainer, that's for certain,' he though, before he stretched his limbs onces more, getting ready for the long treck to come.

"I'll be heading off now, so I entrust the safety of the people here to you. If you need me to return immediatnly, call out as loud as you can. Or send a message through your strong bond to little Ralts; he'll certainly get my attension if you are in distress," he said, before he turned towards where Shiva departed from his company. He then set out, into the darkest depths of the swamp. May Reshirem guide his path: To Shiva, and to Safety.

[Iron]

You make it back to the RV with Shiva safely, after she concludes all her business with the Murkrow (which I don't know what it is yet).

It is still dark and misty, and directions in the swamp are hard to come by. Miltank and Plusle are still out cold, of course, but Larry is coming around nicely.

[Dragonstrike]

"Ah, good, you made it back. I trust things didn't go too badly, Ventus?" The question was not just about the trip too and from wherever Shiva had been. Ralts was quick to return to Nathan, but there wasn't any real urgency or panic in the little pokemon's steps or feelings right now from what Nathan could tell. He still felt the need to ask though, since Ventus was feeling uncertain about it earlier.

"Welcome back, Shiva. Did you have fun venting on that Murkrow? I assure you, Plusle is fine. He's looking a bit better now."

Nathan had taken the time to patrol the grounds around the RV with Swiftfire, making sure the light from Staryu's pokeball was always pointed in the direction Ventus had walked off in. He'd finally had time to notice the now dead and brutalized Weezing, and it...well, he wasn't happy with that. It reminded him too much of what could have happened to Ralts had he not found him and rushed to the pokemon center immediately...he didn't entirely get why Ventus would just his pokemon kill another one so mercilessly, either...well, okay, maybe he could understand in this case. That Weezing did nearly kill Shiva's Plusle, after all. But he still didn't think that was grounds to brutally murder the poor thing after they'd already beat it to a pulp.

The patrol had been rather uneventful, at least. The exeggcute had stayed well away from Swiftfire, as he'd expected. And nothing seemed to have been attracted to Staryu's narrow beam of light so far. He'd even taken a moment to check on Plusle. He was still hurt, but he was doing just a little better after some rest.

"Alright, so that's all said and done. Now, which way do we go from here? Ideally, we want to head towards Ginger Town, but out of this swamp would be a good thing in general too. Any ideas, Shiva? Did you see anything while you were out there that could point us in the right direction?"

[Lord Windos]

"No, everything went rather swimmingly in my search, surprisingly. Between me and Ralts empathetic abilities and the trail she left, we were able to quickly track Shiva down and bring her back with minimal fuss. Though, there was this strange symbol etched into the ground where should stood. She was just staring at it, until I came and shook her out of that stupor," Ventus replied, looking a bit dinged from his hike through the bushes. He appeared healthly, and Ralts seemed perfectly alright from his time with Ventus. 'The little guy should be; I took pains to make sure he wouldn't be molested by anything, least of all myself,' the researcher though.

Apsis, meanwhile, quietly slithered up to her master's side, and decided to curl up at his feet, looking a bit famished. Her last meal was about to run its course, and she wished that it had better luck hunting out their with their master. They were also a bit sad that they wouldn't let them eat that juicy Fairy by their side, but what he says goes, in the end. Noticing that his Ekans was a bit sluggish, he smiled at her and patted her head. "Don't worry, I promise I'll get you something to eat soon, my snake. Now, why don't you get some rest? You certainly deserve it, after all you have been through today." Flicking his wrist, he retrieved his Pokeball and recalled Apsis, before stowing the ball away once more.

When Nathan began to ask Shiva directions towards Ginger Town, Ventus scratched his head a bit in confusion. "Nathan, don't you have a Pokedex? If I remember correctly, they have a built in map and GPS, so charting a path through the swamp shouldn't be too difficult. The hard part is getting this vehicle through all the muck without it becoming completely stuck in," Ventus commented, before noticing Nathan's discontent. Something was bothering him, he could tell that much,but what could it be? He seemed alright, and everyone looked to be in relatively good spirits. "Hmmm? If you don't mind me asking, what is the matter? Has something caused you distress since I've been gone?" he said, looking a bit worried and confused at the same time. Has yet ANOTHER thing gone wrong that he doesn't know about. Sheesh....

[Dragonstrike]

"No, everything went rather swimmingly in my search, surprisingly. Between me and Ralts empathetic abilities and the trail she left, we were able to quickly track Shiva down and bring her back with minimal fuss. Though, there was this strange symbol etched into the ground where should stood. She was just staring at it, until I came and shook her out of that stupor," Ventus replied, looking a bit dinged from his hike through the bushes. He appeared healthly, and Ralts seemed perfectly alright from his time with Ventus. 'The little guy should be; I took pains to make sure he wouldn't be molested by anything, least of all myself,' the researcher though.

Apsis, meanwhile, quietly slithered up to her master's side, and decided to curl up at his feet, looking a bit famished. Her last meal was about to run its course, and she wished that it had better luck hunting out their with their master. They were also a bit sad that they wouldn't let them eat that juicy Fairy by their side, but what he says goes, in the end. Noticing that his Ekans was a bit sluggish, he smiled at her and patted her head. "Don't worry, I promise I'll get you something to eat soon, my snake. Now, why don't you get some rest? You certainly deserve it, after all you have been through today." Flicking his wrist, he retrieved his Pokeball and recalled Apsis, before stowing the ball away once more.

When Nathan began to ask Shiva directions towards Ginger Town, Ventus scratched his head a bit in confusion. "Nathan, don't you have a Pokedex? If I remember correctly, they have a built in map and GPS, so charting a path through the swamp shouldn't be too difficult. The hard part is getting this vehicle through all the muck without it becoming completely stuck in," Ventus commented, before noticing Nathan's discontent. Something was bothering him, he could tell that much,but what could it be? He seemed alright, and everyone looked to be in relatively good spirits. "Hmmm? If you don't mind me asking, what is the matter? Has something caused you distress since I've been gone?" he said, looking a bit worried and confused at the same time. Has yet ANOTHER thing gone wrong that he doesn't know about. Sheesh....

"It's nothing you need to worry about right now."  Nathan's words from earlier hang heavy in the air.

"Also, we're in a swamp that shouldn't be here.  Filled with psychic energy.  We could go one way, and end up in a completely different place than what we expect.  I'm sure you know how tricky psychic energy is, Ventus.  Visual clues might be our best bet.  So, see anything that might help with that while you were out there? If you did, then we can compare it to the pokedex's map and go from there."

[Lord Windos]

"You know yourself best, Nathan, but don't you don't have to bear all that negativity. Others can share the burden too at times, if you let them," Ventus said, looking a bit worried about the young trainer's gruff refusal, before focusing on what else he said. He didn't need someone elses emotion getting the better of him now!

"Well, I saw a ravine/clifff where Shiva was at, so if there is one on the map, we can use that as a landmark. I also happened to spot what looked to be a campfire in the distance; don't know why anyone would want to stay the night in this wretched place, but more power to them. Otherwise, you might want to ride ahead on Swiftfire with Ralts to scout the path ahead as the van drives along. Your Ponyta's heat could help bake the mud beneath it, and Ralts should be able to steer you, and by extension us, clear through the Psychic Zone," he said, before looker over were Belle was. "Is Mr. Mime and Miltank ready to hit the road yet? I don't like this place better than you, so the sooner we get out, the better." Given that he despised the swamp and everything in it right now, his statement might be a little biased. '#$%^&@ this abysmal mire!' Maybe just a bit.

[Iron]

Miltank is still KO'd, but if the plan is to go to a Pokemon Center in Ginger Town ASAP, that's something the RV's drivers can get behind.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Happily - No, rather 'relieved', there is no room for happiness now - that nothing bad happened, Shiva picked up Minun. Lil' one was brave, probably more brave than her Master will ever be, but it's fine now. No more. Enough. Nevermore.

Murkrow seemed to make good use of the follower being distracted for some moments... It started to flap away...

"... ... ...NO! Stay! What... What do you mean by the words you told me?"

"Where is your Master?!"

[Dragonstrike]

"A campfire? That's odd...but I agree that there's no need to investigate it. We're taxed enough right now as it is. Anyways, Mr. Mime is ready as long as he doesn't lose focus like before. I'll try and scout ahead with Swiftfire to give everyone some proper warning ahead of time if another pokemon like Weezing shows up. Hopefully the cliff is distinct enough as well that the map is of some use. Did you see the River Greenbriar at all while you were over there? That would be an amazing reference point."

[Lord Windos]

"Mr. Mime is ready as long as he doesn't lose focus like before.  I'll try and scout ahead with Swiftfire to give everyone some proper warning ahead of time if another pokemon like Weezing shows up.  Hopefully the cliff is distinct enough as well that the map is of some use.  Did you see the River Greenbriar at all while you were over there?  That would be an amazing reference point."

"Now that you mention it, yes I did. I was a bit distracted doing a check up on Shiva, since she was practically catatonic when I found her, so it must have slipped my mind. Thank you for reminding me, Nathan!" Ventus told him, before going over to the Miltank. With great care and not a little strain, he manage to get it inside the van beside Larry, before covering it up with the blanket. " I hope you don't mind cramped conditions, Larry, because this Pokémon needs the shelter and care. Me, Shiva and Plusle are going to ride with you in the back as well, since they are not doing so well too, and I need to keep watch over the Pokémon's condition.," Ventus said to the boy, before he went over to Shiva.


She looked very morose, like the life had gone out of her, and the feelings he got from her...
Ventus scowled at the painful abrasiveness of them. 'Just what did that crow do to make cause her this much despair?' he pondered, before getting a little closer to her. Then, very slowly, he gave her a very gentle hug, trying to leech some of the misery she was feeling at the moment. He knew that it was impossible to get take all of it, but he could try and take as much of her burden as he could. "Its ok, Shiva. I'm here for you, so if you need anything, it will be done," Ventus said soothingly, before motioning her to the back of the RV. Once she's ready to go, they'll get and Nathan will lead the way.

Yesterday was terrible, and Today was bad; Tomarrow, however, still hold hope for a great day.