[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

(Yes he is. And he has Starmie's pokeball ready in case any more Houndour show up.)

[Iron]

Chance: (6) - Heads!

Nathan reaches the ridge where it looks like a battle was fought. He can see an unusual number of burn marks and churned ashes, more kicked up material than elsewhere on this bleak landscape.

And he also finds the shattered corpse of at least one Houndour. He can see some living Houndour coming from the sides of the ridge, ready to bear the body away.

Further up on the ridge is a bright red light and the sound of more Houndour, and some quick footsteps (but not running).

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan has to pause and look.

A dead Houndour.

And whoever had done the deed was still nearby.

Hmmmm...he has an idea, but he is certainly grieving over the dead dog as well.  These hounds didn't deserve such a final fate, did they?

Still on Swiftfire, who is ready to bolt at a moment's notice, he says, "I'm sorry for your loss, Houndour...I'm certain that one was a great friend of yours...your pack is a strong one.  It's admirable, that strength and loyalty.  So I'd like to ask if one of you would like to come with me, meet whoever did this to your friend.  If not, I'll just leave, and you can attend to him in peace.  I can promise that you'll be raised to be strong enough to avoid and prevent such fates if one of you does join, though."

(If one decides to join, Nathan will put it in a Flash Ball and maybe get a picture of this strange land.  Regardless of the result, he'll leave the remaining Houndour to clean up the mess and continue after those footsteps.  No need to push his luck further, after all...)

[Iron]

Nathan's Insight: (6)(5)
Houndour's Will: (1)(1)(4)(4)(4)(1)(1)

A single Houndour breaks off from the pack and follows Nathan. The rest converge on their dead. You don't see what happens, as they kick up a Smokescreen. When it clears, they are all gone - but they could be back!

Nathan puts the Houndour in a Flash Ball, though he's not sure it will stay loyal to him. *FLASH* The landscape lights up for a moment, and Nathan can see all the details of the blasted land scorched into his retinas.

Then Nathan continues up the ridge. To his surprise, he finds Ventus there! They are only a few hundred feet from the massive red light, which seems to be coming from a very large cave at the crest of the ridge.

[Dragonstrike]

There he is.  The one who brutalized those Houndour...

Ventus.

Nathan wasn't really surprised.  Of course he was asleep too.

Nathan's determined to catch up.  

"Ventus!"

He sounds rather angry.

[Lord Windos]

There he is.  The one who brutalized those Houndour...

Ventus.

Nathan wasn't really surprised.  Of course he was asleep too.

Nathan's determined to catch up.  

"Ventus!"

He sounds rather angry.

The researcher violently jerked to a screeching halt, his eyes widening in surprise and horror at the familiar voice. 'No....no.' Rapidly spinning around, Ventus worst fears had come true: the person who called out to them was none other than Nathan! 'What in the Tao Trio's name is he doing in this wasteland?!' he though, speedily closing the gap between the two.

"By Reshirim's name, why are you here, trapped on this nightmare infested plane full of demons?! No matter, no matter, come hither to me! I've been trying to find a way out of this abominable place, and this bright red light seems our best bet of departure! We must make haste to it, for who knows how long those monsters out there will be cowed by my slaughtering of their wretched ilk!" Ven said, his eyes frantic and filled with concern born of terror. 

It was clear to the boy that the normally placid (if eccentric) researcher was not in the most stable of moods, which was not helped by suddenly seeing another of his friend showing up in this most undesirable place. Shiva, still peacefully slumbering in his arms, was gently held by him, though; looks like he still has enough control over himself, but just how much?

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan stops.

Shiva.  Ventus has Shiva.

The anger quickly melts away replaced by relief, and then worry 

He dismounts Swiftfire and runs over, summoning Kirlia ahead of him.

"Kirlia! Shiva's here! She's here! Is she okay?!"

[Iron]

Kirlia waits a moment, then nods. He mimes sleeping.

[Lord Windos]

Ventura takes a shuddering deep breath, before calmly exhaling it and holding up a hand to stop the young psychic. "No need for that, Nathan. Our friend is fine...if not stuck in a comotose state. I believe that it's has be somehow caused by her being kidnapped to this hellish world, so the sooner we find rapture from this place, the better for all of us," he calmly said, his eyes glimmering with distress and concern. He could not afford to lose control like that again, especially now that everyone is with him on his exodus out of this wretch, demon filled pit of misery.

Noticing that they disregarded his advice, he just shook his head positively while sighing. While this was wasting valuable time, he could understand the need to absolutely sure of someone else's safety....

[Dragonstrike]

Ventura takes a shuddering deep breath, before calmly exhaling it and holding up a hand to stop the young psychic. "No need for that, Nathan. Our friend is fine...if not stuck in a comotose state. I believe that it's has be somehow caused by her being kidnapped to this hellish world, so the sooner we find rapture from this place, the better for all of us," he calmly said, his eyes glimmering with distress and concern. He could not afford to lose control like that again, especially now that everyone is with him on his exodus out of this wretch, demon filled pit of misery.

Nathan shakes his head.  "Ven...there's plenty need for it.  She's not comatose because of...."  He waves his arms around in the air, indicating everything around them.  "...this.  She collapsed from overexertion after my battle with her.  I was worried it was what caused her to come here...though I quickly discovered that wasn't the case.

"Ven.  We're ALL asleep.  Kirlia and I fell asleep to try and find her.  Get her out of whatever mess she was in, maybe even stop these restless nights."

Nathan is DEAD serious right now. There is no chance he's joking.