[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

"Most certainly, my friend. While I could have him tell me the details of the conversation later at my own discretion, I find it much more efficient if I just came and listened into your proceedings. I'll let you two do most of the talking, but if something interesting comes up in the discussion, I might pipe in a word or two," Ventus said, clapping his hands together in affirmation. Getting information in the group had recently been a fraught affair, so why go through hoops when he could just as perfectly well join the meeting for the details?

'I also did happen to hire his services, so his activities is technically beholden to me- or I'm at least responsible for them. We'll have to write up a formal contract later to complete our deal, but for now this informal arrangement will do,' he thought, still serenely smiling as if nothing uncomfortable was going to happen. Turning to address Valder, he said "Well, it looks like we will have postpone introduction to a later date. My companion wishes to discuss some things privately with you, so if you please follow us to the back."

[Iron]

Nurse Joy directs you to the Daycare Center east of town, just before Route 02 crests Vapor Falls.

From the split rail fence around the pasture, where a dozen Pokemon of various species play, you can see the magnificent Falls. Rainbows sparkle up its 200 foot height, and Swellow/Taillow swoop from rock to rock, playing in the water. The crashing sound is audible even here.

The Route Gate is on a terraced mountain level below the Daycare and to the east - a little fork of the Great River trickles down the stones and splashes off the roof of Route 02, so a trainer must walk through a thin sheet of water to continue that way.

The Daycare Building is fashioned after a thatched roof cottage. Bird Pokemon nest in the roof, and a sign of twigs names the building: "Golda and Wir's Pokemon Daycare Center." The split rail fence starts at the building, after a couple gates.

You're greeted by Golda and after introducing yourself, she goes over the terms again: $900 each day for three days. She asks you some basic questions to confirm your knowledge and, given your background, you are able to answer them all to her satisfaction.

"You can begin your work tomorrow. I will have a few set challenges for you. For today, you are welcome to play with all the Pokemon and explore the facility."

The backyard has terrain of all types, of course. You meet a Cyndaquil, a Sandshrew, a Jigglypuff, an Eevee, and a pair of Rattata.

"Why is a Rattata here, you ask? Well, it has a recessive Cut gene! We're trying to see if we can breed it back in to a usable move. More on that tomorrow!"

[Dragonstrike]

'Welcoming' the new party member: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltCygj2y6CQ (Note: this track perfect loops on repeat)

Nathan leads Valder and Ventus to one of the back rooms in the Center. Nathan sits down at the table in it, and makes sure Ralts is in view of Valder. He knows exactly how he's going to start this little questioning session.

"Alright, first off, don't call us kids. Only one member of our group can be called that, and he's outside enjoying the festival right now. Second, I'm sure you've noticed by now, but I have a ralts. He'll know if you're lying or telling only a half truth, and thus, I'll know as well. And third, no funny business. There's two of us in here, and you won't see any mercy from me if you attack for any reason. Got it?" Nathan's stare is cold and calculating. He means serious business right now since this man will likely be traveling with them for awhile. Ralts is more than willing to help Nathan with this as well, and is staring at Valder in much the same way as Nathan.

[Lord Windos]

"As your employer, it would be remiss of me not to give you any sort of directive on this matter, so let me do so right now. I want you to answer Nathan's inquires honestly and in complete detail. I've already hired you, so rest assured that your interests are safeguarded as long as you don't act...uncivilized," Ventus told Valdar, smiling with arms crossed on his chest.

Unbeknowst to him or Nathan, he had both Apsis and Michael Pokeballs concealed in his hand, having palmed them there on the way to the back room. 'I have no desire to harm my mercenary, but if he gives me even the slightest reason...well, I'll have some explaining to do to the local Officer Jenny,' the researcher glibly thought, his smile not breaking even once as he was contemplating such a grim outcome.

Ventus face brightened suddenly, as if he remember some important detail. "Oh, and I will also know if your lying as well. I'm an empath," Ventus casually says, tapping his head meaningfully. "So any mistruth or malicious emotion you contemplate will be loud and clear to me as well. Well, now that we've Defoged the air between us all, let the interview begin!" The research then gave a polite nod towards Valder, signaling to him that he should start talking.

[Nylon]

Valder tucked the money away with a sly smile pasted on his face. But then the talk came.

 Valder wasn't especially happy about this, but he didn't actually care. 'They can ask whatever they want. I can be honest about most things, and I feel confident in my lying, but a ralts might have something on me' he thought.
 Officer Jenny didn't really scare him either. He wasn't going to get caught again, never.

 "Okay, as you know already, I'm named Valder, my age is unimportant", more correctly, he didn't know his age.
 "Theo my Pawniard is my partner, and don't worry, he's not aggresive... at least not to team members. I'll tell you straight away that he does have a steel-type move since you like honesty so much".

Valder had gotten quite tense in the last five minutes and now tried to relax.
 "By the way, can you tell me if I'm lying or not now?" Valder said almost childlike. 
   "What I'm saying now is a lie. Okay?"

[Dragonstrike]

(@Nylon Note: Ventus was only thinking about the contract part, he didn't actually voice it. Gotta pay close attention to the formatting)

Nathan's unimpressed with that last part. "Enough games. Time for the meat. Who the heck are you, and what do you know about those 'magic' users? As you overheard, we encountered one on our way here. I managed to drive him off, but he was...well, not taking it seriously, to put it bluntly. He apparently created that whole swamp out there on route 01. Sounds a bit like he has some way to manipulate the earth, a detail which you happened to know about despite the very light description given. And as potent a threat as that is, not just anyone would talk about such things being possible so casually. Who would even believe such claims?" Nathan's tone and stare are ice cold, and his words are double edged, aimed at both this newcomer who seems to know more than he should and the one who so casually revealed potentially dangerous information to a complete stranger.

[Lord Windos]

(Eh, I'm fine with this slip up on the contract/ Officer Jenny thought, @Nylon . It gave me something interesting to write about, so just pretened Ventus was mumbling to himself those parts, and only Valder overheard him~)

Before Nathan started his interrogation, Ventus interjected for a moment, before letting the conversation happened. What the merc said between the line of his answering was...intriguing. It also showed that he had rather sharp ear on him. 'Quite a nice trait to have,' Ventus thought.

"Hmm...well, we can at least discuss the terms of our arrangement later. Can't be business partners without sharing some information about each other. Getting to know your new boss is an very important aspect as my mercenary," Ventus said, giving Valdar a knowing smile. While its been a long time since he dealt with underworld elements, contracts in those circles were de rigor (or the norm), either a formality between parties to start off whatever negotiations, or a vital element in interpreting and setting boundries between client and contractee.

'Now's not the time to press him for his own personal details; what is important is what knowledge he has on the earth mage, and how accurate it truly is. Their is a high probability he's lying to use about the info, but then again its our own fault for providing it in the first place. Besides, we need the extra man power with Vincent....gone,' the researcher thought to himself, a small frown briefly forming on his face as he thought of his old pal. 'I never go the chance to make up to him before he vanish...I hope wherever he is, Vincent is doing well there.' The frown quickly vanished, and was replaced by the sly grin he had earlier.

He tilted his head forward, giving Valdar a fairly innocent expression when he began playing games with them. "Well, I can tell your quite nervous under the project swagger, yet feel confident that you could handle us if our meeting goes sour. To the former, you are being interviewed, so nervousness is natural. All I have to say to the later though...well, let's just hope we don't have to find out, shall we?" Ventus said, no rancor detectable in his tone of voice. Despite the calm and serene tone, the implied threat is still clearly evident. 'Beware'.

[Nylon]

"Scimitars" Valder spat the word out. 
 "The wizard you met is most likely one of the ruthless scimitar. Do you know much about scimitars? They're an organized group of competent, self serving people. As you probably expierenced first-hand, they have quite a few strong sorcerers able to call upon forces of different kinds. If there are many of them, they can even construct landscapes. This however, is where your story didn't quite make sense to me, you only met one single wizard, right? It doesn't matter, but there might have been more than just one."

 Valder was a bit exhausted, he hadn't talked this much in months, maybe even years. And these two, at least one of them seemed to be pretty suspicious to Valder.

 Valder looked over to Theo to see what he thought of these two ki- boys. Theo seemd bored. Valder realised that the situation was indeed quite... dull. Why was he so tense? 'It's not like this is any dangerous.' Valder thought to himself as his expression grew tired and maybe bored.

"That's right," Valder remembered. "The scimitars have two favourite types of pokemon to use, but they often use their magic instead of their pokemon. I'll tell you what types they like using when you've finished this interview".

Valder drew a deep breath as he awaited reactions or more questions.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Chreshire Daycare Theme - because why not!


Shiva stood at the rail fence of the Daycare's backyard, enjoying the view from this spot. She was nervous during the whole introduction and questioning, but to her luck and delight, everything went smoothly. She'll be accepted to work/help out here. Indeed. You will be fine. First-hand experience in the care and breeding of Pokemon... You'll be allowed to have it. Now to think about it, she almost couldn't believe it that she's about to get much closer to her aim...

From what she caught up, the owners here know their business. Many different spot/areas for the various Types of Pokemon. Multiple spots for different needs and levels of activity of Pokemon. She didn't spot any Ditto so far... Maybe they follow the old saying among the more experienced breeders 'Do not breed involving a Ditto unless it's absolutely unavoidable.'

Challenges, Golda said... Wonder what this means? What will await her tomorrow? Wait and see without worrying too much is it then... Recessive Cut gene... That reminded her on what Tramp told about HMs in Chreshire. Does that mean they have the disk here...? 

Out of the corner of the eyes, she picked up a motion aside from her - the Eevee she spotted while walking through the backyard was sitting a few meters right from her, coiled up as in rest. Earlier, it avoided the new person that appeared in the Daycare. Now, Shiva could see that the small Evolution-Pokemon was casually watching her from those few meters. ... Carefully and slowly, she approached it. *Insert GM's reaction of the Eevee here*


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Once Shiva got an insight of the place and made her farewell for today to Golda and Wir, thanking them for their time and kindness, she set off to meet up with Nathan and Ventus again. Maybe they have finished private talk with ...what was his name again? Valder, right?... meanwhile. He said he's willing to serve as a merceneary to us... Well, given that Vincent was still out somwhere on Route 1 and it was unsure when he'll return, the offer was tempting. For some reason, Shiva didn't felt weird or uneasy around Valder, she wouldn't mind having him travel along. Having a mercenary on hand surely wouldn't hurt as well. Plus, he seemed to know something about the Wizard that was causing them trouble earlier... 

Only thing that made her think was that he said he owns Steel Types. Steel and Fairies... Good thing Nathan has with Swiftfire a good Fire Type on hand. Getting her own seemed like a good idea, along with a Psychic Type, maybe. Just in case that Pawniard was getting any ideas. 

As she arrived back in Town, she walked across the edges of the ongoing Festival... those she didn't cared about before because her Plusle was in need for Medical Care. Considering... Maybe... Ah, the others wouldn't mind if she would be a just little late, wouldn't they...? And, now that she was here anyway... Just for short... 

Upon walking a few meters, a Snivy offered her a pamphlet. Oh my! It was wearing a small suit, with bowtie! That surely explained the look of the plushie Ventus got her~ So adorable! She couldn't help but to gently pet the Grass-Snake as she accepted the paper out of its hands. While studying it, though, she didn't noticed that Cottonee was moving away from her Master...

[Dragonstrike]

"Scimitars" Valder spat the word out. 
 "The wizard you met is most likely one of the ruthless scimitar. Do you know much about scimitars? They're an organized group of competent, self serving people. As you probably expierenced first-hand, they have quite a few strong sorcerers able to call upon forces of different kinds. If there are many of them, they can even construct landscapes. This however, is where your story didn't quite make sense to me, you only met one single wizard, right? It doesn't matter, but there might have been more than just one."

 Valder was a bit exhausted, he hadn't talked this much in months, maybe even years. And these two, at least one of them seemed to be pretty suspicious to Valder.

 Valder looked over to Theo to see what he thought of these two ki- boys. Theo seemd bored. Valder realised that the situation was indeed quite... dull. Why was he so tense? 'It's not like this is any dangerous.' Valder thought to himself as his expression grew tired and maybe bored.

"That's right," Valder remembered. "The scimitars have two favourite types of pokemon to use, but they often use their magic instead of their pokemon. I'll tell you what types they like using when you've finished this interview".

Valder drew a deep breath as he awaited reactions or more questions.

"That doesn't answer the other question I asked, though.  Who are you?  How do you know of these, 'scimitars?'  They don't seem like the kind who would be known to just anyone." Nathan could see Valder may be avoiding answering this question. He was determined to get some kind of answer, though.