[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Mind if I ask what their ability was as well in turn, friend? Oh, and yes, I'm new to the area. I've stopped here to gain some respite from my cross region research journey with my friend, and was exploring the city with one of them just now! Do you know any areas of particular interest we can visit later, as I rather not miss out on what Stair has to offer to a wayward, worrisome wanderer like myself!"

"Just Flash Fire. They were bred to have a few unique moves, like Detect. I'm not much into it, though - it takes a particular kind of trainer to time a Detect just right. My other Pokemon have much more aggressive special moves. In the end, it's the trainer who earns the victory, not the Pokemon! Well, credit should be spread about more than that, actually. But really, that bond, you know? Better bond, better battle."

Firestone tells you about the place where Valder is training right now, but warns that it's a secret. He can also answer any questions you have about the places listed in the first post. And he gives you some cafe recommendations, such as the Technophile Cafe, where every surface is a fully programmable computer screen and your waiter is a Porygon.

[Dragonstrike]

"The posters say he's just here to showcase Tandor's steel. But *I* heard a rumor he came to look for meteors. He's visiting here first, and then Alola. So that was scheduled since months ago. Now that he's here, I'm sure he'll advise Dagny on her projects, and maybe this Skull Ruins thing."

"Speaking of Dagny, do you know if she's around?  I actually came here to try and speak with her, but...well, I don't see her here...probably super busy, right?"

[Lord Windos]

"Just Flash Fire. They were bred to have a few unique moves, like Detect. I'm not much into it, though - it takes a particular kind of trainer to time a Detect just right. My other Pokemon have much more aggressive special moves. In the end, it's the trainer who earns the victory, not the Pokemon! Well, credit should be spread about more than that, actually. But really, that bond, you know? Better bond, better battle."

Firestone tells you about the place where Valder is training right now, but warns that it's a secret. He can also answer any questions you have about the places listed in the first post. And he gives you some cafe recommendations, such as the Technophile Cafe, where every surface is a fully programmable computer screen and your waiter is a Porygon.

"Ah, I was wondering if it had that or its species Hidden Ability Guts, given the tenacious spirit and power I felt from them, but I suppose I was mistaken in the end. I also tend to dislike Protection style moves, unless its blocking a fully Lethal Move or something like a Hyper Beam, the later of which I've had the dubious honor of being pelted with them by Gyarados. I agree with you fully: the stronger the bond, the better results you achieve with your Pokémon! After all, my dear, cute sister wouldn't be as lovable as she is if it were not for me nurturing her strength and her connection with myself!" Ventus said, patting the scales of his slightly singed snake, who slithered to his side once she had finished basking in the cheers of the crowd and her victory of the fiery fox. She fully leaned into his comforting touch, enjoying her master's praise and affection with a fanged smile and a happy *Hiisss!* , thankful and very much appreciative for her trainer's hard work and dedication towards them! No one can beat her him, not with a long, drawn out, and grueling fight, and she excels in those.....

"(Hearing about the Secret Training Grounds and Cafe) Oh my, now those are some interesting pieces of news, and I thank you for sharing it with me! I'll keep it in stricted confidence between us, alright? Oh, and my thanks for providing me with more info on Stair City, my friend! Hmm....what can you tell me about the Disobediance Shetler? One of the areas I specialize as a Researcher are Disobedient and unruly or viscous Pokémon, so learning more about the place that care for them would both sate my curiosity and find enlightening! Some information about what unique Items (Ones that pertain to Pokémon Training/Battling) being offered at the Department Store would also be nice to have as well!"

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Will Shiva switch Pokemon?

(Nope, she won't. Curious what he who hasn't given me his name yet will send out as his fourth Pokemon!)

[Iron]

"The posters say he's just here to showcase Tandor's steel. But *I* heard a rumor he came to look for meteors. He's visiting here first, and then Alola. So that was scheduled since months ago. Now that he's here, I'm sure he'll advise Dagny on her projects, and maybe this Skull Ruins thing."

"Speaking of Dagny, do you know if she's around?  I actually came here to try and speak with her, but...well, I don't see her here...probably super busy, right?"

"Yes, she's in her office. You can buzz her secretary at that desk over there. But you'll get your head bit off if it's not something important!"

[Iron]

"The Disobedience shelter has Pokemon eggs, adult Pokemon - all with unruly behaviors. Some are mild species that have gone a bit mean, some are vicious species that are just acting according to their nature. I've picked up a Pokemon or two from there before. They ask for donations relative to the cost of keeping the Pokemon, but if you ask to speak to Director North you can claim financial difficulty and they'll defray it, if you can prove you'll be a positive change in the Pokemon's life. You can also drop off a Pokemon, anonymously if desired."

"They sell common elemental stones, items that do nothing but help with training such as weighted vests, vitamins (very expensive), and ingredients for crafting your own tools. They also have all the Common held items. They have some experimental devices built by Almanac, too. 12th floor."

[Iron]

An adorable, tiny, perfectly round Makuhita is sent out. (4)

[Dragonstrike]

"Yes, she's in her office. You can buzz her secretary at that desk over there. But you'll get your head bit off if it's not something important!"

"Thanks.  I'll keep that in mind."

Not that he needed to be reminded about Dagny's legendary temper...

Welp, time to try and talk with Dagny about those vines.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Little 4x4 Round 4

Poochyena at -2 Pain with 3/6 HP
Kyuu first in Init Order, as fresh as Makuhita


How relieving it was to see both that Oddish and the ghostly Pokemon being recalled as they expressed an inability to battle on. It was weird with that Poochyena... Of course it reminded Shiva on fairies, both the Pokemon and the 'real' fairies, but at the same time that dog-hyena had openly visible vicious fangs he seemingly knew well how to use all while being a Dark Type. 'A Fairy Type can be as nasty as a Dark Type, while a Dark Type can be as good as a Fairy Type'...

"What a neat Lucky Chant from your Oddish! I enjoy that move. Now, you have one Pokemon left, have you?"☆ *after seeing that a neat Makuhite is sent out* "Oh, a Fighting Type? Good call! Now, what do you say if we make this a match between my Espurr and your Makuhita? I still have one more Pokemon left to send in if you defeat my psychic cat. Fighting vs Psychic, both unevolved, exciting!" ... "Yena, come back to me please. You did great during your first battle!" *kneeing down to the Poochyena to give him a gentle appreciating carressing behind the ears if he allows, he can also rest in his Master's arm if he desires* ... "Hey, Kyuu, no need to give me such eyes! You'll be petted as well of course. Right after you defeated that Makuhita with enough psychic power!~"


Orders: From now on, Kyuu will use SE-STAB-Confusion three times in this 4th Round and then two times starting with Round 5 until either Kyuu or Makuhita is defeated or somethingelse occurs that would need Shiva's intervention. Use an action to evade if Makuhita uses Fake Out. Poochyena can be counted out of this fight as I won't send him back to the battlefield, but just as Windos desired, he isn't recalled so that Ventus can see that dog when he comes to Shiva after the battle/near the end of it.

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

After putting the pokeball and the potions, Heart decided to walk for a while. It seems he couldn't get much information about Almanac, so a idea came to him. He decides to go to the library and get some ancient information. Perhaps anything about ancient history and about what might be inside the Skull Ruins or about anything that king Saminarok. 

Action: Go to the library and get information and books about King Saminarok, the Skull Ruins, and anything about the Ancient history about the city.

There's a whole room of books about that stuff. 

"The Depths of the Skull Ruins, by Fossil Maniac Occi"

There are layers upon layers of ancient construction in the Skull Ruins, much of it predating Sarimanok. This historian believes that to go as deep as it's possible to go, one must explore not the city's center of commerce, but the fathomless dungeons of Sarimanok's castle.

We know of the seemingly endless Barrow Downs, haunted with ghost Pokemon (and possibly even by ghosts!), where lay the valiant dead of the revolution. 

We know of the weird subterranean halls, akin to the Ruins of Alph in Johto, where strange hieroglyphs sometimes appear. Despite needing a permit from the League to enter.

We know waters run beneath these layers, where oh-so-very few have dared to explore.

We suspect more masonry and artifacts could be discovered below our radar's reach if we could but find the paths.




"Stepping Stones: A Collaborative History of Stair City"

Stair City can't truly be considered ancient, for it's less than a millennium old. There was a small villa here before the first masonry was erected. However, the stairs carved into the mountains are from civilizations preceding anatomically modern humans. We know almost nothing about them.

From the beginning of the new Pokemon League, Stair City served as a capital of innovation and excitement. Crime is kept low despite the large population, for Team Rocket and its ilk never made much ground here. The class struggle takes its place, from the old "robber barons" and "bandit kings" to today's technovariety of upper crust. Always the working class of Stair City have both admired and simultaneously clashed with the heiresses and self-made landowners. 



"Inside the Skull of Sarimanok the Great"

A complex figure to be sure, Sarimanok. Surely Creshire was never wealthier than under his rule. Pokemon were stronger. Inventions came more rapidly. Much of the current League technology owes its origins to items invented by King Sarimanok and his unique Pokemon. 

Yet there are many today that spit at the very sound of his name. King Sarimanok came to believe the ends justified the means. As one might expect, this lead to glorious ends, at the cost of the citizens he came to see as resources. 

Even when his power was at its peak, Sarimanok was revered in song, story, and poll. It is said he never made one man sad unless it made two men happy. 

Personally? I think the source of King Sarimanok's power was leverage. Or the multiplication of force. This lend to nigh-endless resources for the man, and we benefit from that philosophy today. When was the last time your Pokemon was infused with bounteous healing energy, all for free? 

What benefits do the Trading Machines offer, even to providing us with unique species not seen before Sarimanok's time? Granted, some species such as Alakazam and Steelix can appear in the wild, but what of Scizor and Electivire? They would not exist without the trading machine.
Even more interesting are species such as Politoed, who were never seen in the wild until Sarimanok's reign, and are now almost plentiful.

Though seemingly all-powerful, Sarimanok voluntarily crafted a functioning parliamentary democracy, and even sometimes did what the Prime Minister said.

"Huh. That Sarimanok must be a great ruler in his time. Consider that ancient times, he must be great. Hmm, if I recall well, three thousand years ago, there was the great pokemon war, who many pokemon die in Kalos. I must know if Sarimanok reigh was before, during of after that era. Perhaps I should take a look the lineage of Sarimanok to see if he have descendants or something. That way I can find someone to undestand what is truly inside that ruins. And perhaps theres might a old map from that ancient times, to compare with actual, and look that small villa. I have a feel there might secrets behind that villa, I just dont know why. And I might begin to search something about the Pokemon League history, so have references from the present time."