[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Ventus can easily find night work unloading cargo. He can get $400 a night on mundane cargo, or he can interview for a position that pays $600 a night. This position requires a background check (which Ventus can still pass even with a demerit) and has heightened security: they have a silent Shuppet running security, Frisking each worker and each of the worker's Pokemon. This cargo is more expensive, things like jewelry and other valuables, so they pay better but they have more to lose taking a chance on a shifty character.
Ventus will probably have to explain to them that Noibat is not a risk, or just put Noibat in the PC.

[Iron]

Nathan wanders along Murkrow Cove. Kirlia is a bit bothered by multiple things, not just the negative feelings of this city. As a Psychic type, he is used to getting certain amounts of despair from the humans around him. This is something else. It's not the same feeling of personal agitation Kirlia gets around things related to Scimitars/Almanac; it's something pervading the whole city but not targeting Kirlia personally.

As soon as Pokemon and trainer are out of sight, Kirlia's powers go off. The terrain around Nathan changes, becoming a dark and rocky landscape with sparse, dry grasses, and many cinders lying crispy and dull where plants used to be. He finds himself on a mountainside, with a view of a forest below. There is no sound in this vision; in fact, he can hear the sounds of the Port far off. He can still feel beach sand beneath his feet.

This must be one of the strange psychic visions experienced by Kirlia (or by Ralts on very rare occasions). They can relate to the past, present, or future, and they are not always literal interpretations. Terrain is an especially common manifestation of this power.

[Lord Windos]

The old man looks at the sandwich and money like it amazes him. He wasn't asking for handouts and no one else has volunteered any in a long time. He runs back after Ventus and presses something into his hand.
Upon examination, it appears to be a broken pair of black sunglasses. They are missing a lens and the frame is cracked where the lens fell out.
Then he runs away, as if afraid Ventus will try to take the sandwich back.

*Flashback Time!*

Ventus tensed up as the homeless man rushed up to them, but when they in fact gave them a set of broken Black Sunglasses, they looked just as surprised. Looking at them, he very gently put them away in his satchel, and silently nodded to the man as they ran off. Then, he slowly made his way to the docks, now looking for work in a somewhat better mood. He never expected to get anything back for his generosity, but its always nice when it occurs.

*Now, back to the Present!* (This part of my post now exists, @Iron ! )


Soon enough, after talking with some of the sailors, he came upon some information about a job detail that involved guarding valuble items, so he made his way to the recruitment office that was specified. He was warned that it required a background check, but Ventus was too bothered by such a requirement; he is a Pokémon Researcher of some repute, and knows how to spin his...criminal record in a positive light. He has experience in such matters, so it wouldn't be too trying of a task. As he was walking towards the office, he palmed Lucifer's ball and returned them to it, before stowing it away...somewhere on his person. 'I trust that my little devil wouldn't do Kuyrem's frosty will upon the ship, but the security detail might not see eye to eye with me. For now, Lucifer will just have to stay in his Pokeball, unless I can manage to get him a job as well.'

Order: Try and get the higher paying job if possible; otherwise, Ven will have to stick with Low paying jobs and try to make ends meet that way. Either way, he gets paid for his trouble, so let the job interview commence!

[Iron]

At the Pokemon Center, Shiva finds a different culture altogether. The wallpaper is a brighter color than most Pokemon Centers, and the decorative flowers are in a much less mournful context. The staff are cheerful, and even the trainers - this is a place where death is delayed, not a place where death is anticipated.

The blinking, fizzing healing machine is also brightly paneled, and Nurse Joy is happy to let your Pokemon rest. For the Ronin Spearow, she recommends a full night's rest after a stint in the healing machine. Spearow nabs a tongue depressor and uses it as a practice sword until the Nurse tucks him into a tiny bed.

Next to each bed in the dorm rooms is a glass of warm milk or a thermos of chamomile tea. "Some of the citizens of Corsage Port have been complaining about restless sleep. These drinks help!"

[Dragonstrike]

Huh?

A mountain?

Wasn't he just on a beach?

Well, so much for that plan...

He could still feel the sand under his feet though...

Wait...there was something familiar about this sensation..."Kirlia, are you doing this?"

Kirlia doesn't respond.

'Guess that answers that question...alright, let's see here...mountain, forest at the base...cinders on burnt plants...is this Mt. Molten? Why's this location appearing in a vision? There's nothing on that volcano, right? Guess I better see how much I can explore this, and figure out what's going on here...carefully, though...wouldn't want to walk into the ocean or a lamp post...'

Nathan's gonna take a look around to see if he can spot anything interesting. Considering he can still feel the sand and hear the port but is seeing an alternate landscape, he's going to have to be careful to not walk into obstacles he can't see.

[Iron]

Nathan discovers that the landscape has a very small radius. Once he has walked maybe 20' in any direction, he is back on the beach. He can re-enter the vision.

This rock is much darker than anything on Mount Molten. If it's the same place, the very rock is changed.

He does find one thing in his searching - a small trail, possibly made by people or by Pokemon. It goes from one end of the vision to the other without encountering any more clues.

[Dragonstrike]

'Hmmm....this is weird...it looks like Mt. Molten...but not quite...what's up with this trail, though? There's nothing else here within the scope of this vision...maybe something's about to come down this path? Guess I do have the time to wait...'

Looks like it's time to play a waiting game to see if there's some sort of movement from..something. Something has to happen in this vision, right? And if Nathan can't search much more than he already has due to the boundaries of it, there's little other choice...

[Iron]

Nathan waits about 5 minutes, and the vision subsides. Looks like this is all that Kirlia had to offer! Of course, the poor Pokemon is not entirely in control of his psychic powers. They arrive when they arrive, and leave when they leave. Kirlia is a bit shaken by the forces pouring through his head, but he recovers quickly.

[Dragonstrike]

Well...that was odd...it was just one more thing to think about...time for the original plan to get back on track!

Staryu gets to play in the water, Swiftfire gets to play away from the water, the bugs do whatever they're gonna do...and Kirlia and Nathan get to have a chat. About several things. Before that last one kicks off though, there'll just be a moment of silence as Nathan thinks about what's happened and what he'll say...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

At the Pokemon Center, Shiva finds a different culture altogether. The wallpaper is a brighter color than most Pokemon Centers, and the decorative flowers are in a much less mournful context. The staff are cheerful, and even the trainers - this is a place where death is delayed, not a place where death is anticipated.

Whoahw... What a contrast... It felt like she just entered a totally different world. The city itself had death and gloomyness dwelling in every corner, which had a certain flair on its own - but this felt just like a place who refused to follow this. Death is a very serious matter, indeed, but there was no need to have it omnipresent. Blurres only the vision and prevents enjoying that life one has, in Shiva's view.

Just as she expected, Spearow will need the rest of the day+the night to fully recover. How nice to hear! She agrees with Nurse Joy to come back and pick the bird up the next morning, before accepting keys for a free dorm to stay and headed upstairs. How adorable to find preparations for a pleasnt rest - It seemed that not only was this town fond of darker sides of life, but also plaqued by Insomnia. No wonder though, given the thought of awaiting one's husband being out there on the sea while a storm has been forecasted...

After finishing taking a look at the room and placing her stuff there (mostly the egg in incubator and the Iron Ball, no need to carry those around now) she went downstairs again to just dwell a little in the Longe Area, recovering from the hasted walk to town and thinking about what there is to do before trying to get some sleep. Dusk was falling meanwhile, increasing the gloomy atmoshere in town. Even from the window, the fog hanging in dark corners was clearly visible... Nope, not going to leave the Center until next morning. The others were stil out there... While Shiva was indeed a little worried for them she also knew that they are able to take care of themselves. Even Larry - he must be somewhere here in town, but she had the feeling that he was well and somewhat safe. In case trouble arise, they are always free to message her.

Indeed... Gotta inform them... So she typed up message to send to Vventus, Nathan, Larry and Valder (she hasn't Sage's number yet). It reads: "Found the Pokemon Center, I'll stay here for the rest of day. I trouble arise, don't be shy to inform me about it. We'll see one another again probably tomorrow, take care and stay safe."