[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Turning into bed rather late, Ventus woke up feeling particularly groggy in the morning. The researcher always woke up earlier than most, a trait the he both enjoyed and despised. On one hand, it enabled him to get started much sooner on a day's research and preparations than a vast majority of people (Without some form of caffeinated beverage, that is). The downside, of course, means that if he doesn't head off to bed early, he'll end up getting far less sleep than a normal person would, since his internal alarm clock cares not if he had to pull an all nighter.

Mumbling sleeply to himself, he head off to the bathroom to give himself a cold shower (Always shocks himself awake!), then gets dressed as quickly. While pulling his pants on, the Hard Stone that he received from the treacherous Shuckle Ball game fell out of one of the pockets. Crouching down to pick it up, he stared at it for a couple seconds, before an idea hit him (He was still a bit sleepy, so cut him so slack!).

"What is this thing...? Oh, its the Hard Stone I won at that blasted game. I don't have any Rock types that can take advantage of it, so its not going to be too much of use...wait. Raphael can learn Ancient Power, if I recall correctly. Its possible I can use this stone to help accelerate the learning process! Well, it will be a while before the rest get up, so I'll take the time to execute this idea with my little angel!" Ventus said to himself, already pulling out the chicks Pokeball. Fastfoward a half hour later, and he was having a bit of a struggle teaching the little guy.

'Mechanically, using Ancient Power is similar to summoning the energy require for Metronome, but it appear that it must be sufficiently different enough to give my child trouble, even with the study aid. We'll try again at a later date,' the researcher though, patting Raphael on the head and giving them a Razz-Bulk Poffin for the good effort on their part. Returning them to their Pokeball, Ventus got himself a hearty breakfast, before meandering over to the lobby. Sitting at his usual spot he waited on the others to get up, reading the notes he has already taken on the Pokémon of this region.

He could, at the very least, tell that Pokémon and people here had a far more personal relationship here than in other regions, even counting Unova. 'I wonder what could have sparked such close bonds and strong affections between people and the creatures here? In Unova, Reshirem, Zekrom and Kyrum guidance help facilitate our attitude towards our Pokémon, but what is the source here? Further research is required before I find that out...' Ventus ponder, writing down his thoughts in the margins of his notes. Not entirely professional writing technique, but who was watching?

Eventually the whole group reunited. Nathan seemed standoffish, but he didn't feel any particularly hostile feelings from him, so he decided that his relationship with him was fine...mostly. Shiva felt cheerful and energetic, though she hid it behind her usual demureness. Larry seemed rather eager to get going, for reasons he can't quite understand, while Valder was standing to the side, waitng for everyone to move out. 'That reminds me, I have to work on getting more money to pay him, otherwise he might decide to take leave of us. Hopefully I won't get trapped in a money sinkhole in the future.'

With everyone together, he was ready to set out in whatever direction the group wanted to go.

[Super_trainer_Larry]

"Larry is most certainly NOT from Trillium. I don't know why he thinks he can be some kind of hotshot just because he's May's cousin and apparently is friends with a whole bunch of people around the region. His mom's in Corsage with his 'talking' Zorua. I don't even know if he's even from this region originally. From what I can tell, he doesn't sound like someone from Creshire. I can't hear the very, very slight accent Creshire natives tend to pick up...well, actually, he sounds kinda like how you and Ven speak, thinking about it...

META: Larry is from a different region that speaks a southern accent (its American with a blend African and british) if you don't know what it sounds like just google southern accent

"I don't sound like any of y'all as a matter of fact my way of speech is more fancier than yours" Larry said as he sat there on his pokedex
(im leaving so i'll fill this out later)

[Iron]

You step out through the Route Gate onto the plateau from which Vapor Falls springs in all its glory. The Great River Greenbriar continues above the Falls and below.

Bird Pokemon flow in and out of the Falls, dodging its barrage of water. One particular daredevil catches the morning sun and your eye: a bright red Fletchinder, already in its evolutionary plumage. It takes great care never to get struck by water, but it lives for the rush of coming dangerously close. Sometimes the other birds mob it. This glorious specimen wheels over the group curiously at one point.

Other Pokemon in the Falls can be glimpsed but not encountered unless you can figure out a way to get in there safely. There are small caves known to be behind the falls, but the force of the falls can knock someone off their feet. There are roosts and strong swimmers higher up in the falls, but gravity is a harsh mistress.

There are so many wild Pokemon out this morning! But no time to "catch 'em all."

Route 02 West Encounters

1. Name: Daredevil Fletchinder
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid Start: 2
Challenge: easy
Note: This Pokemon typically has 2 points in disobedience

2. Name: Fletchling
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid Start: 1
Challenge: easy
Note: Fletchlings haven't taken on the fiery traits of their evolutionary family yet.
This one looks like it has recently left the nest.

3. Name: Butterfree
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid Start: 1
Challenge: pretty easy

4. Name: Mantine
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 1
Challenge: moderate

5. Name: Horsea
Cap: 1 (2)
Bid start: 1
Challenge: easy

6. Name: Azurill*
Cap: 1 (6)
Bid start: 1
Challenge: easy
Note: Floating downstream in a top hat, crying out for help!

7. Name: Cooltrainer Duck
Cap: 2
Bid start: 1
Challenge: tough
Wager: $300
Notes: Duck is riding a sledge pulled by three Durant and four Floatzel. When he reaches the river, the sledge keeps going, kept afloat by the weasel Pokemon while the Durant form a raft!

8. Name: Jeff
Cap: 2
Bid start: 1
Challenge: not hard
Wager: $100

9. Name: Valuable Item
Cap: 1
Bid start: 1

10. Name: Festival debris item
Cap: 1
Bid start: 1

Freely available: Magikarp trying to swim upstream toward the falls, Spearow, Taillow, Wingull. With an Old Rod, Goldeen.

[Dragonstrike]

Opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B42-gmjXYg8
Sign Text: The Peaceful River Route.
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHMPnzYNzUk (I know there's probably no Poliwrath here, but where else am I going to use a peaceful river theme?)

"See? What'd I say, Shiva?  There's Fletchling and a Fletchinder making their homes here already!"

They'd stopped by the daycare on their way out to pick up the odd egg.  While there, Ralts started looking and feeling smug again...'What's gotten into him, lately? First with Shiva, and now with the daycare?  What reason does he have to be smug?' Nathan doesn't comment on it, but it's VERY strange.  Maybe he'd ask Shiva about that later since it seemed to be connected to her and the daycare...

"So, that Fletchinder would be immediatly useful for hatching the egg, as I'm sure you know.  Think Plusle and Minun can handle it?"

(Not sure what Nathan's going to choose to do yet. He's also not heard Azurill yet due to focusing on Fletchinder.  Ralts may have noticed, though...)

[Iron]

Ralts would definitely feel the Azurill's distress. He is aware that Azurill can swim, but there are a few sharp rocks about!

[Lord Windos]

"So there are, Nathan! I didn't expect to see them so soon, outside their native region, but Chesire seem to be chock full of fascinating experience. I couldn't have picked a more perfect place to conduct my research, to be honest!"

The Vapor Fall, cascading hundreds of thousand of gallon of water, sending out a massive screen of mist as it as it makes contact with the river bellow. The dearth of Water type Pokémon, roaming up and down the coast, spraying any unfortunate trainer. Surroundings where humid, due to the sheer volume of moisture that was statured both the earth and air. It was quite different from Route 1 and its scenic pastures and easy going creatures, human or not. Overall, it was a pleasant if sticky place through journey through, so the group should not have too much of a hassle (or at least he hopes so.).

'Reshirem bless that this area isn't like the swamp we passed through, though. While this place makes me sweat, its at least not filled with wizards and highly explosive Pokémon. May the scimitar who creature that hell hole rot from his own blast magic!' Ventus though to himself, cursing out that vile arch mage in his head. He knew, somewhere deep in his heart, that the enclave of sorceres would come back to pester them once more. 'Well, now we know who they are, and are better prepared for the type of threat they pose. If they thought Apsis was a problem, wait until they see her regal majesty now!'

As he was about to discuss his plans with the group, his eyes happened to catch something floating down the river. It looked like a tophat, bobbing merrily in the water as it continue its journey to the ocean. The researcher was about to dismiss it, until he noticed a furry blue mouse pop out of the cap. He could, even from all the way over from his current position, feel the fear emenating from it, and could faintly hear it squick in desperation. 'Oh dear! It looks like some poor creature has gotten marooned in the river! I have to tell everyone!' Ventus thought, quickly growing alarmed for the unknown creature's safety.

Shaking Nathan shoulder, he pointed over to the river, right as the trapped Pokémon was making it way across. "Nathan, there is a Pokémon stranded in the river! Someone needs to go save it, but I don't know who! I could try myself, but I'm not the best swimmer in the world, and the currents look awfully strong..."

(Waiting for your Reaction, Nathan. Ventus is always ever vilgilant!)

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"So, that Fletchinder would be immediatly useful for hatching the egg, as I'm sure you know.  Think Plusle and Minun can handle it?"

Ah... there's the fighter in him shining through.

"Hehe. You were right." Maybe it was just the luck of the charm, but there they were, those fierely birds in all their beauty. Even a Fletchinder flew by, leaving a shimmering trail behind it. It looked...so strong... yet somewhat proud and stern...

"I'm...sure Plusle and Minun might handle it, given their Electric Type. But... youknow, I don't want to beat it up and then cramp it into a Pokeball just because I like it... See how proud it circles the sky there? I feel that it really enjoys its freedom, and wouldn't like have it stolen by a Trainer." Indeed, it might...not obey her... And she has enough to do with her Abra right now.

"... I think I'll go and see whether I spot any younger kinds of it rather..."

[Dragonstrike]

"Hehe. You were right." Maybe it was just the luck of the charm, but there they were, those fierely birds in all their beauty. Even a Fletchinder flew by, leaving a shimmering trail behind it. It looked...so strong... yet somewhat proud and stern...

"I'm...sure Plusle and Minun might handle it, given their Electric Type. But... youknow, I don't want to beat it up and then cramp it into a Pokeball just because I like it... See how proud it circles the sky there? I feel that it really enjoys its freedom, and wouldn't like have it stolen by a Trainer." Indeed, it might...not obey her... And she has enough to do with her Abra right now.

"... I think I'll go and see whether I spot any younger kinds of it rather..."

"Fair enough.  To be honest, I'm not fond of just doing that myself.  Never have been, never will, regardless of what kind of pokemon it is.  I would have likely tried to convince it to join, instead, and only forcefully captured it if I had a very good reason for doing so.  Like with Staryu for example."

At this point, Ralts is tugging on Nathan's pants leg, and Ventus is pointing at the top hat in the river.  "Eh? What is i..."  He's cut off by Ventus's worried exclamation.  "Arceus dang it.  A pokemon stranded in the river?!  Alright, Staryu, the combee, and I have got this, then. I'll be right back!"

Nathan rushes off with Ralts to try and save Azurill!  He can't just stand idly by when he has 3 pokemon that could help!

[Lord Windos]

Watching Nathan sprint off put Ventus' heart at ease. Ever since his heart to heart with that Skunktank, he's had problem with vigerous sports, such swimming or running. The scars on his chest always gave him a sharp tug when overworks his body, and the trace amounts of poison left by the weasel drastically lowered his constitution. Before, he could have participated in a triathlon with relative amount of ease (Even in his prime, he could have never hoped to compete against the real bodybuilders).

Now, such activities wear on him hard, and if he didn't stretch enough in the morning or afternoon, he wouldn't be able to move properly. 'Traveling to Cheshire and exploring the region has done wonders for my health, though it has rather strenuous at times. That run in with that Mankey right knackered me, causing me to black right out! Despite that, I'm starting to regain the strength I lost years ago, but jumping into the river to save an...Azurill was it? I don't think I'm quite ready to test how fit I am...' the researcher though, unhappy that he's unable to assist Nathan. Even thought the boy has Water, Psychic AND Flying types to fish the mouse out of the river, every little bit of help mattered!

"Haaa....well, its best I find some method of making myself useful. With everyone having gone of to do their respective activites, I think its time to find someplace where I can talk to Apsis personaly I need to deal with her new vicous streak ASAP, before anything catches her ire...." Ventus mumbled, looking for somewhere to privately chat to his Arbok. Spotting a secluded grove near the falls, he sets out there, hoping that he can make some progress with his snake!

Order: Going to pick up that Valuble item, then start a Trust Building Session with Apsis. Sooner rather than later, this needs to happen.

[Iron]

Then we are waiting on Valder and Larry.