[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

"Hm. What are you going to do if you don't participate? Just watch? Do some camping? Hey, I'll go on a hike with you - there's trails."

"I need to be watching it at the very least.  There's a particular pokemon I'm trying to keep an eye out for.  And I'm worried it's going to be causing some trouble soon, or trouble's going to follow it.  I don't know what's going to happen, I just have a REALLY bad feeling about it all..."

[Iron]

"Your hunches were always good. Hey, cuz, maybe there's something I could help you with from inside the race? And yeah it's actually pretty easy to hop the barriers. Sometimes Runners do it to escape. Sometimes Pokemon follow, yikes! You could definitely do it to cheat your way in, assuming no coppers were there to stop you. Corporal Wake is here."

[Lord Windos]

Tramp: "Camping out here is great! It's probably a more chaotic place than the Running grounds, haha! Mr. Mime puts up Barriers to keep the completely drunken idiots out. But he lets in friends, so welcome, welcome!"

Belle: "We got a special order for a bit of Moomoo Milk in case some Pokemon needs a lot of treatment. Miltank will probably be on the roof of the Center during the Running. She likes high places. Well, what rare Pokemon have you seen in your journey?"

Ventus gave the duo a bright and beaming grin, quite pleased that abscene DID make the heart grow fonder in this specific case, before he took a seat near them, and began to talk about about the unique and odd Pokémon he had seen/acquired. "I'm glad to be counted among your inner circle Tramp, and I'm certainly grateful that Mr. Mime didn't let me run into a invisible wall! That would have been...embarrassing, not to mention completely befuddling and somewhat painful experience. Hmm...Moomoo Milk certainly would be quite the desired community during Ginger Town's annual stampede, since there is more than a good chance that some unfortunate participate will run afowl with the agitated Pokémon. If you can spare any bottle of for my companions own wellbeing, that would be greately appreciated; I'll even do some errands for you in exchange, just to be fair," he said, pausing for a moment to catch his breath to hear their response, before continuing on with his encounters with rare/colorful monsters!

"As for the Pokémon I've encountered since we last meet, I've seen seen a couple of rare Bug types, such as a rather vexing Vespiqueen and a Scyther that almost sliced me up like ribbons, and certainly ruined at least one set of cloathing! I managed to catch them with a little help from Nathan, but I later traded him away for a Niobat, as at the time some...complication arose within my life, and I didn't think I could handle another Disobediant Pokémon at the time. He was a former miner Pokémon that searched for gold, so I named them Lucifer and he's been a playful devil, spicing up my life in all sorts of creative ways! My friend Shiva caught themselves what we thought was a mutant Roggenrola, but was actually a rare Tandorian species called a Comite! Come to think of it, I need to pay her a visit, and give her my extra Hard Stone; she would certainly get more use out of it than I am right now. I've also seen plenty of rare Water types Frokie, a giant Poliwhirl, and Corsola I caught that I named Ariel! She's a bit fiend and rather touchy, but I love and treat her as family all the same...even if she wants to houses me down half the time for it. I also saw an odd Azuril, and it eventually came into Shiva's possession as well. I've also managed to capture a Shiny Stunky and traded them for quite the profit, and ran into an orphaned Wobbuffet that I subsequently adopted. His name is Abaddon, and I hope one down that he'll grow up to be an exemplar of his species under my tender care. I've also had the fortune of battling against a Honedge in Corsage, and a thrilling, smashingly good battle against a Gyarados. All told, I've certainly have not been found wanting of Cheshire's Pokémon population, even if most of it has harried me one way or another!"

Upon reflection, the empath was quite surprised (Though he didn't show it) at the sheer number of rare, odd, and dangerous Pokémon he had run across on his journey thus far, and he gave a silent prayer of graditude to Reshirim for this great blessing, and wished that he would see more to come in the future. "That's about all the rare one that I have encountered myself, though I'm certain that they will not be the last ones I see! Hmm...how about yourselves? Have you seen any unusual or strange Pokémon, or perhaps some other bizaare event or occurance that drew your attention, like a Volcarona to a flame?"

[Dragonstrike]

"Your hunches were always good. Hey, cuz, maybe there's something I could help you with from inside the race? And yeah it's actually pretty easy to hop the barriers. Sometimes Runners do it to escape. Sometimes Pokemon follow, yikes! You could definitely do it to cheat your way in, assuming no coppers were there to stop you. Corporal Wake is here."

"I could, but I don't know if it would be better for me to actually officially participate or not...and if anyone were to catch me in the act of getting into trouble, it'd be Corporal Wake...I'm almost certain he's developed some sort of sixth sense for it or something..."

Another sigh.  "Look, I'm going to level with you because I have a VERY good reason to be concerned for your safety this year.  More than usual.  It's a little more than just a hunch that something's going to go wrong."  He gestures to Kirlia.  "This is Kirlia, my friend and partner."  Kirlia bows in greeting, much like how a Gallade might.  A friend of Nathan's is a friend of his.  "If you're not familiar with the species, they have the ability to show their trainer vague but very accurate visions of the future."

Nathan looks around to make sure nobody's eavesdropping (with Kirlia assisting him), then leans in closer and says the next part quietly.  "I have reason to believe there's going to be an Absol showing up this year thanks to a vision Kirlia had just yesterday, as well as one around a week before that.  It's a very specific Absol that Kirlia I happen to have business with.  One with a scarred left eye.  I don't know what its intentions are, but I need to corner it and find out what it's doing here when it shows up.  I've got a Ponyta I can use to keep up with it if it runs, so that shouldn't be an issue.  The problem lies in actually getting to it, and not starting a panic over a premonition that disaster is coming."

[Iron]

Tramp: "Oh, we haven't been up to much. Just traveling around, not doing too many battles. If you want Miltank to use healing moves she'll be willing to, but we'll need all our bottled MooMoo Milk for the Running. Two Pokemon is about all our lifestyle can handle, so we don't seek out rare Pokemon."

Kory: "Wow, an Absol? I've heard of those showing up in the herd of Running Pokemon, but it's never happened while I was here. You're right that it would probably cause a panic. I might panic a bit myself - I was never really quite confident that Absol are safe. Seems like too much of a coincidence that they always show up right before a disaster."

[Dragonstrike]

Kory: "Wow, an Absol? I've heard of those showing up in the herd of Running Pokemon, but it's never happened while I was here. You're right that it would probably cause a panic. I might panic a bit myself - I was never really quite confident that Absol are safe. Seems like too much of a coincidence that they always show up right before a disaster."

"I really recommend that you don't.  Kirlia and I are worried enough about it as it is, and panicking during the Running is only going to cause things to escalate more quickly.  The species usually shows up to try and prevent disasters, but it's become associated more with being ill-intentioned harbingers of doom because everyone panics at the sight of one.  The problem here lies in not knowing Absol's intentions.  As far as I can tell, this particular one has been following me for a year, ever since I found Kirlia as a Ralts.  Why it's choosing to show itself now, I have no idea, but I guarantee you it's going to be looking for Kirlia and me.  Which is why I need your help with this.  You know how this event works a lot better than I do."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"Well, yes, it is a tradition. I come here every year from Corsage Port. BUT, it's not Ginger Town's choice to make! The Pokemon come Running whether you like it or not, down from Mt. Molten, at approximately the same time every year. Supposedly something agitates them, or they sense some cycle in the nature of the planet."

"If Ginger Town didn't prepare for the Running, funneling Pokemon through one particular street, putting up safety measures, fortifying the Route Gates, having staff on hand... the whole town would be chaos."

That fascination in the words 'cycle in the nature of the planet' could not be overheard. It was not openly, but Shiva quickly picked that up. ...and couldn't help but to feel awe for this. The whole time since she heard about The Running, she thought it was nothing more than a sporty event, a festivity, somewhat on the same level as Shuckleball but in a way more dangerous outplay, that it's people of the town who once started to get some Pokemon running though the streets and passed this on to the following generations as traditions until today. But not once did she thought that it could actually be, to put it bluntly, the Pokemon who are holding this event in the first place and on their own will, while the town just addapted to it and built an event out of it...

No more dislike against the Running. Rather...peaceful acceptance.

It took a little until Shiva replied at all, she stared somewhere into the distance not really hearing the crowd preparing for the event. But when she finally did and managed to face Xiani again, her tone was respectful over the forces of nature, calmer. "Does that mean...that it's actually the Pokemon who strated this event on their own? Whoahw....Like it's in their genes to run through the streets, fueled by mother nature. ...You know where they run to after they passed Ginger Town? Oh, and if you come here every year, what kinds of rare and hard-to-get Pokemon did you already saw running?" (Tandorian Unicorns? More of the Nidoran-lines?)

"Oh... And, me and the group came from the direction of Corsage as well, coincidently... If I am allowed to ask this, did you too suffer those sleep issues and bad dreams that lurked the city for a while? I surely did while I was there... It even made us camp outside of city to get some restful sleep for a few days. Then, one day, the situation rapidly got better for a reason I don't know."

Actually, Shiva had no real idea why she was even telling this all to a woman she met there at the flower field. But for some reason, she felt comfortable to do so.

[Lord Windos]

Tramp: "Oh, we haven't been up to much. Just traveling around, not doing too many battles. If you want Miltank to use healing moves she'll be willing to, but we'll need all our bottled MooMoo Milk for the Running. Two Pokemon is about all our lifestyle can handle, so we don't seek out rare Pokemon."

"I'm both glad and gratified that things have remained peacefully uneventful for you two for the most part. My own jounery through Cheshire is beginning to feel like a heroes quest's of some diabolical variety, as their has been no end of dramatic happenings, spectacular combative exchange, intrigue of all kinds, and at least one arresting or provocative events with each treck of it. I'm not liable to get board or go unstimulated during my research work, at the very least, but more serenity every now again would be rather lovely."

"Hmm....well, could you spare any bottles left over for my group after the Running transpires? We'd appreciate greatly, and of course can compensate you appropreitely for the valuable and nutritious dairy goods. Regardless, I'm still completely willing to complete a few tasks or errands for you, if you need or desire the assistence. Originally I was going to participate in this event myself, but some...unforeseen events made me reconsider such a risky, if quite euthusiatstic and sporting, endevour, so I have plenty of free time on my hands with nothing in particular to spend it on. It be no bother to me, really; I do honestly enjoy helping people when able, especially good friends like you two!"

[Iron]

Kory: "Sure, Nathan. You know you can count on me. What help would you like, exactly?"

Xiani: "Yes, I had very strange dreams while I was in Corsage Port. I would run and run and get nowhere. It was hard to fall asleep, knowing that was waiting for me. Very unlike the Running, which is stupidly dangerous but extraordinarily free-spirited and unrestrained. After Ginger Town, the Pokemon flee to the Great Divide. Then they work their way slowly, individually, back up to the northern mountains where they live most of the year. So you may be seeing the same Pokemon two years RUNNING. Oh, there's some Pokemon that are almost extirpated in Creshire who participate in the Running. The rarest I can think of are giant Tropius, strong-willed Aron, furtive Kangaskhan, enraged Bulbasaur, and bold Piloswine. There are indeed Nido Pokemon in the Running, mostly Nidorino. They're one of the common ones, but they aren't very fast or aggressive. The bulk of the crowd will be Tauros, Stantler, Ponyta, and Doduo - which is really funny to watch in particular, that one huge bird Pokemon keeping up with all the quadrupeds."

Tramp: "Ayup, we'll be selling the leftover Milk after the Running, so of course you can buy some! If you get really bored, you could take Geodude or a shovel and go dig around for Belle's favorite beaded trinket. It's a pearly Miltank bracelet that she treasures, and she was sad to drop it into a huge mud puddle. We couldn't find it and we gave up. If you find it, keep it a secret so we can surprise Belle with it! I'd be in your debt if you found it. It's about an hour's hike from here, but heaven knows your chances of actually finding it are really low."

[Dragonstrike]

Kory: "Sure, Nathan. You know you can count on me. What help would you like, exactly?"

"Well, like I said already, I, uh...don't know the rules of the event very well...so I don't know how I should do this...how do you think it should be handled? Should I enter or not since I'm looking for a very, very specific pokemon that I can't afford to miss?"