[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan sits and listens to the story veeeeerrrry carefully. He never thought he'd get to ever hear this much about a Mythical pokemon that had never set foot in Creshire. Supposedly. If that group that built the statue knew about it...hmmm...

"Here, let me see that book. I want to get a closer look at what it can do..."

When Ventus passes it to him, Nathan starts flipping through it. "Wide variety of elemental and physical attacks, ability to analyze opponents and optimize damage output, blazing speed, rock solid defenses...as far as battling is concerned, the thing is an absolute monster...ultimate pokemon? No, probably not...it's definitely strong, though...

"Well tempered when unprovoked, but rather distrusting of any it's unfamiliar with...makes sense...it's a wonder Ventus wasn't blasted apart on sight, really...

Nathan's learning as much as he can about this Mythical pokemon while he still has the chance, and is mostly lost in the reading. A part of him wants to write it down in his journal too, but...that would probably already be breaking the vow of silence...one book with all this information was dangerous enough as it is...

[Lord Windos]

Noticing that something was bothering the young trainer, Ventus gave a slightly worried look at him. "Nathan, if you have anything you want to discuss with me, don't hesitate to ask. Now is the time as ever, as before long we'll be on the move once more. Please, I insist," the researcher said, trying to coax a response out of the boy. He knew that curiosity killed the Skitty, so he want to cure him of it as fast as possible!

[Dragonstrike]

Noticing that something was bothering the young trainer, Ventus gave a slightly worried look at him. "Nathan, if you have anything you want to discuss with me, don't hesitate to ask. Now is the time as ever, as before long we'll be on the move once more. Please, I insist," the researcher said, trying to coax a response out of the boy. He knew that curiosity killed the Skitty, so he want to cure him of it as fast as possible!

"Before I say any more, promise me you won't...explode.  I don't think you'll like what I'm about to say, and with good reason..."

[Lord Windos]

Noticing that something was bothering the young trainer, Ventus gave a slightly worried look at him. "Nathan, if you have anything you want to discuss with me, don't hesitate to ask. Now is the time as ever, as before long we'll be on the move once more. Please, I insist," the researcher said, trying to coax a response out of the boy. He knew that curiosity killed the Skitty, so he want to cure him of it as fast as possible!

"Before I say any more, promise me you won't...explode.  I don't think you'll like what I'm about to say, and with good reason..."

"...I promise I will not overact in an excessively negative manner, Nathan. The fact that you have to extract such a promise from me, however, does not speak well of the news you are about to bring. I rather you say it now, however, than for your questions to plague you, so speak your mind."

[Dragonstrike]

"...I promise I will not overact in an excessively negative manner, Nathan. The fact that you have to extract such a promise from me, however, does not speak well of the news you are about to bring. I rather you say it now, however, than for your questions to plague you, so speak your mind."

"Yeah, what I'm about to suggest isn't pretty...this part here in the book...it details Genesect's 'High-Speed Flight Form' and overall aerodynamic capabilities.  From what I'm reading, it's more than capable of making the trip from Unova to Creshire, and relatively quickly to boot...

"Ventus...do you think it might have finally escaped and fled Unova?  And if it did...

"It might have come here while it was fleeing from any potential pursuers.  You said you worked with it four years ago, and were fired after about a year, right?  That statue of it in town was built around THREE years ago according to Chief Lumin.  That would mean it would have escaped soon after you left the project...and it might have been captured by the ones who built that statue...I can't think of any other reason why they might know about the Mythical pokemon's existence, and were able to build such a perfect image of it..."

(Overflowing emotions in 3...2...1...)

[Lord Windos]

"...I promise I will not overact in an excessively negative manner, Nathan. The fact that you have to extract such a promise from me, however, does not speak well of the news you are about to bring. I rather you say it now, however, than for your questions to plague you, so speak your mind."

"Yeah, what I'm about to suggest isn't pretty...this part here in the book...it details Genesect's 'High-Speed Flight Form' and overall aerodynamic capabilities.  From what I'm reading, it's more than capable of making the trip from Unova to Creshire, and relatively quickly to boot...

"Ventus...do you think it might have finally escaped and fled Unova?  And if it did...

"It might have come here while it was fleeing from any potential pursuers.  You said you worked with it four years ago, and were fired after about a year, right?  That statue of it in town was built around THREE years ago according to Chief Lumin.  That would mean it would have escaped soon after you left the project...and it might have been captured by the ones who built that statue...I can't think of any other reason why they might know about the Mythical pokemon's existence, and were able to build such a perfect image of it..."

(Overflowing emotions in 3...2...1...)

Ventus was silent for a few moment, before he reached over to his satchel. Pulling out a tall, black box, he opened it up, upon which an pungent lavender odor began to fill the room. Reaching in, he pulled out a long stick of incense, exams it closely, before sticking it in his mouth and lighting the end of it. Taking a long, deep breath, he let it all out, releasing a wave of lavender smoke. Closing his eyes, he huffed on his incense for a few second, before he spoke once more, in a town of sullen weariness. "...I assumed that Genesect had finally escaped, given the statue in Wineberry, but what you said sounds is all too true. Reshirim damn it...from one captor to another, never having the freedom it truelly deserves. Silverfish...." Ventus said, before he placed his head into his palms into a double facepalm. He wasn't happy by no mean, but it appears that said news sent the researcher into a state of depression, rather than rage.

[Dragonstrike]

Ventus was silent for a few moment, before he reached over to his satchel. Pulling out a tall, black box, he opened it up, upon which an pungent lavender odor began to fill the room. Reaching in, he pulled out a long stick of incense, exams it closely, before sticking it in his mouth and lighting the end of it. Taking a long, deep breath, he let it all out, releasing a wave of lavender smoke. Closing his eyes, he huffed on his incense for a few second, before he spoke once more, in a town of sullen weariness. "...I assumed that Genesect had finally escaped, given the statue in Wineberry, but what you said sounds is all too true. Reshirim damn it...from one captor to another, never having the freedom it truelly deserves. Silverfish...." Ventus said, before he placed his head into his palms into a double facepalm. He wasn't happy by no mean, but it appears that said news sent the researcher into a state of depression, rather than rage.

Well, at least it wasn't rage.  Nathan could deal with this a lot more easily.  He stands and walks over to Ventus to put a hand on his shoulder, and Kirlia comes over to give Ventus a hug.

"Hey, Ven.  If we keep encountering that group and they do have him, we'll probably find him eventually.  We'll free him if they have him in captivity.  I even have an idea where we can start looking once we have the time. 

"It sounds like you two were close.  I take it Silverfish is your nickname for him?"

[Lord Windos]

Well, at least it wasn't rage.  Nathan could deal with this a lot more easily.  He stands and walks over to Ventus to put a hand on his shoulder, and Kirlia comes over to give Ventus a hug.

"Hey, Ven.  If we keep encountering that group and they do have him, we'll probably find him eventually.  We'll free him if they have him in captivity.  I even have an idea where we can start looking once we have the time. 

"It sounds like you two were close.  I take it Silverfish is your nickname for him?"

Feeling Nathan and Kirlia's comforting actions, the researcher slowly withdrew his head from his damp hands, and gave the two a grateful smile. "You have the uncanny ability to continuously disarm me emotionally, for good or ill. Yes, me and Sliverfish were quite close, despite the frequent warnings I received for holding such a level of affection for the big bug. They were, at the time, one of my best friends, and I always mourned the day I had to part company with them. Now, perhaps, I have a second chase to rescue them, unlike before," Ventus responded, letting out another cloud of smoke before waving it away.

"Sorry about the incense, Nathan. I only burn it when I need to conduct meditations, and rarely do I ever smoke it unless I need to calm down quickly. Lavender is quite a soothing scent, and though its gain a degree of potency when you inhale it, I don't suggest you start the habit," Ven said, smiling weakly at the young boy, trying to lighten the mood a bit. He didn't want to depress  everyone on his account, after all. "Can you perhaps share your idea with me, my friend. Even a little hope would do me good right now..."

[Dragonstrike]

Feeling Nathan and Kirlia's comforting actions, the researcher slowly withdrew his head from his damp hands, and gave the two a grateful smile. "You have the uncanny ability to continuously disarm me emotionally, for good or ill. Yes, me and Sliverfish were quite close, despite the frequent warnings I received for holding such a level of affection for the big bug. They were, at the time, one of my best friends, and I always mourned the day I had to part company with them. Now, perhaps, I have a second chase to rescue them, unlike before," Ventus responded, letting out another cloud of smoke before waving it away.

"Sorry about the incense, Nathan. I only burn it when I need to conduct meditations, and rarely do I ever smoke it unless I need to calm down quickly. Lavender is quite a soothing scent, and though its gain a degree of potency when you inhale it, I don't suggest you start the habit," Ven said, smiling weakly at the young boy, trying to lighten the mood a bit. He didn't want to depress  everyone on his account, after all. "Can you perhaps share your idea with me, my friend. Even a little hope would do me good right now..."

"Well, those strangers who built the statue came from the villages around Chicory Lake according to Chief Lumin.  Considering you found a hidden door really far south of the village that probably leads into that same passage or base the Genesect statue is covering, I'd say it's a fair bet that those strangers might have made it as an easier way to get past the mountain ranges without having to go all the way around them.  We could go and check that out when we're in the area of Stair City.  I'd definitely feel a lot more confident if we had more evolved pokemon and those of us taking the gym challenge had 2 or 3 badges each.

"We could also check out the entrance to it that's over here...but I'm still hesitant to do so right now.  For one thing, we could end up trapped down there.  For another, I still don't think we're strong enough to try infiltrating that if it's a base or leads to one.  And third, you have a court appointment in Corsage, for what I can only assume is a demerit on your trainer license for what happened earlier.  We don't have time to dally around here currently if you hope to make that.  And you also can't afford any more of those if you want to help Silverfish.  

"There's another issue now, as well...how much do we tell Lumin?  I'd like to see him track down this organization, but if they have enough power to capture Genesect when it's holding nothing back...I'm not sure the Rangers would even be prepared for that.  And we can't warn them about that either because it might alert the Unovan authorities....the group might not know we have a key to that passage now, though...and we have to revisit this town on the way back from Corsage if we stick to the main routes, too...hmmm..."

The gears are turning now.  Nathan's thinking of a plan.

[Lord Windos]

"Well, those strangers who built the statue came from the villages around Chicory Lake according to Chief Lumin.  Considering you found a hidden door really far south of the village that probably leads into that same passage or base the Genesect statue is covering, I'd say it's a fair bet that those strangers might have made it as an easier way to get past the mountain ranges without having to go all the way around them.  We could go and check that out when we're in the area of Stair City.  I'd definitely feel a lot more confident if we had more evolved pokemon and those of us taking the gym challenge had 2 or 3 badges each.

"We could also check out the entrance to it that's over here...but I'm still hesitant to do so right now.  For one thing, we could end up trapped down there.  For another, I still don't think we're strong enough to try infiltrating that if it's a base or leads to one.  And third, you have a court appointment in Corsage, for what I can only assume is a demerit on your trainer license for what happened earlier.  We don't have time to dally around here currently if you hope to make that.  And you also can't afford any more of those if you want to help Silverfish.  

"There's another issue now, as well...how much do we tell Lumin?  I'd like to see him track down this organization, but if they have enough power to capture Genesect when it's holding nothing back...I'm not sure the Rangers would even be prepared for that.  And we can't warn them about that either because it might alert the Unovan authorities....the group might not know we have a key to that passage now, though...and we have to revisit this town on the way back from Corsage if we stick to the main routes, too...hmmm..."

The gears are turning now.  Nathan's thinking of a plan.

"I do believe you are on to something, Nathan! I would love nothing more than to storm those blasted wizards sanctum right now, but doing so without plenty of supplies and an fully trained team is just suicide. Given the fact that I haven't even gotten the chance to start disciplining Uriel, I am far away from ready to challenge them so directly. Then there is my court case I have to handle...I will have to get in contact with my Lawyer and the Ranger Union, and see if they can't bail me out. While Luman said that other branches don't hold sway in Cheshire, it might be possible to get the charges dropped through indirect means," Ventus responds, muttering a bit under his breath about paying unnecessary fine for defending himself.

"As for the matter of informing the Ranger Union of this matter, I believe that it would be a good idea. While this branch might not be powerful enough to subdue this wretched cabal of wizards, it is a global organization, so the Leaders of it could just authorize reinforcements from the world over to contain such a threatening presence. For now, though, informing Lumen about the statue and underwater entrance is just liable to get him captured or killed, or prevent us from investigating both later if he decides to swamp the whole case in red tape. We need to gather more evidence of the Scimitar's activities first and grow stronger ourselves before we can make an comprehensive report to the Union. Right now, the people of Wineberry won't believe us if we tell them that these robbed stranger are the bad guys, so we need to start building a case against them..."

"For now, I say we leave town as soon as we possibly can and continue our journey. I need to gather more money to pay of my fines, and we all need more time training our Pokémon, two problems that can't be addressed if we stay here any longer. That, and I rather not get into anymore trouble with the law around here..." Ventus says, looking briefly abashed for a second before coughing out a cloud of smoke. Yech!