[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Spoiler

"I never feel bad about defeat or victory. My job is to test, and I will always do it to the best of my ability. When it comes to a life-or-death battle....I do not lose."
Her accompaniment of Magnemite buzz threateningly.
She sprays a Full Heal.

"Go! Lairon! Metal Burst!"

Mach Punch 1
(6)(1)(4)(5)(3)

The two Pokemon meet, and the explosion makes the metal gym ring out! When the dust clears, Michael is the only one on his feet. He's rubbing the knuckles on his right hand. Soon, purple ooze has healed his bruises as Dagny wheels forward to congratulate you.

Ventus gains 22/11XP and $800.

"You and your friends are getting stronger, forged in the fires of adversity and adventure. I do not think your party will struggle in defeating normal trainers any longer, and soon even Gym Leaders will be a cakewalk. You've reached a higher tier of strength and experience. Take this Ankerite Badge to prove it!"

"Well said, Dangey. Well said. I follow a similar philiosophy in my life: whenever something you care about is on the line, do whatever it takes to ensure its safety. Fortunately for us, this in neither here nor their to test our ideals, so let us simply enjoy this battle as you said it was: a test of our skills and dedication towards our Pokemon!"

As he said raised one hand, clenched it into a fist, before throwing it and re-opening in an explosive fashion! This was it! The penultimate clash of wills, the Steel Wonder vs the Natural Sage!!! Who would be the one to prevail?!

(...)

When the dust settled to revealed his brother Michael was standing proud and tall, a fierce grin of utter happiness appeared on Ventus's , before he rushed over to scoop his shroombro up and gave them a great big fist bump to congratulate them on then knock out victory, and a solid friendly thump on the back while he was at it! "Michael, you Strength has one more brought us triumph on the battle field! Once I've healed Abaddon, I'm taking you both out somewhere nice to dine for all hard effort the both of you put forth till this moment, and hopefully beyond! You've earned that much and more my brother, and I grateful I have you as a part of my family! Thank you!"

Once that bro moment has passed and his other stern but still very much appreciated friend amply rewarded him with both material and mental wealth, which he took with a firm nod and a toned down but still delight smile. "On behalf of myself and my friend, I thank you Dagney. For trusting us with so much responsibility, for being so patient and generous, and for simply for being a wonderful person. I suppose that's why the people call you the Steel Wonder, eh?"

Ven left out a small chuckle at his friendly batter as he took all that was giveness and safely tucked away, before his expression became a bit more.....serious.

"Dagney, if you have the time, can I request a private, secure meeting with you? I wish to consult with you about something that should be relevant to both our interests, the information of which best remains.....quiet."

"Very well. Follow me." You're back in her office once more.

[Iron]

"Excellent work on the instruments!" +1 XP for Shiva.

"Let's test them out! Hm...Ariados will try the drums, Persian can bat the rainstick around until she's tired of it, and Hypno can take over with his hands. We'll see if we can entice Tentacruel or Cloyster to use the chimes!"

Shiva and Marill are happy to see that the instruments work! Chikorita has pride in her eyes as the chimes ping from Tentacruel's splashes...until he drags them underwater with his tentacles and has to be withdrawn into his Pokeball to get them back. Then Cloyster gets a turn. Braixen tried out the drums with his stick, but Ariados plays a slow, wise old rhythm that calms all the other Pokemon. She is smiling as only a spider can smile. And Persian quickly gets bored with the rainstick, but Hypno claims it for himself. He doesn't really join the band unless enticed, but mostly keeps it around for his personal use.

"Ah, let us go tell Gothitelle of the good news!"

When Shiva arrives at Gothitelle's nook, the line on the ground is fading before her eyes! Gothitelle has her eyes closed, but she is smiling.

Shiva shares a very quick vision of a binary star system, and her eyes droop closed of her own accord. She feels someone hug her, but when she opens her eyes Gothitelle is a comfortable distance away (maybe a meter) and smiling directly at her.

Gothitelle
3 Happiness
1 Loyalty
3 Disobedience
Frisk ability
Play Nice, Tickle, Heal Block, Psyshock, Flatter, Magic Room, Future Sight.
Telekinesis is a 20XP move for her.

When Gothitelle reaches 5 Happiness and 5 Loyalty, Shiva will be able to perfectly share visions with Gothitelle.

[Lord Windos]

"Very well. Follow me." You're back in her office once more.

The researcher was silent for a period of time once he entered Dagney's inner sanctum, as he mulled over how to broach the topic he wished to discuss with her, his expression uncharacteristically serious and stern the whole time, until finally he found his voice.

"Dagney, what I am about to disclose to you must not leave this room under any circumstance without first inquiring about it with me, bar unusual and extraordinary circumstance. If words spread about this.....matter of mine, it will most likely have severe reprecutions upon myself and my comrades, or makes us targets of less than scrumplous people. I trust and respect you my friend, but it would ease my heart greatly if I had your word that this conversation will be kept between us, and those that already are 'in the know'."

[Iron]

"Very well. Follow me." You're back in her office once more.

The researcher was silent for a period of time once he entered Dagney's inner sanctum, as he mulled over how to broach the topic he wished to discuss with her, his expression uncharacteristically serious and stern the whole time, until finally he found his voice.

"Dagney, what I am about to disclose to you must not leave this room under any circumstance without first inquiring about it with me, bar unusual and extraordinary circumstance. If words spread about this.....matter of mine, it will most likely have severe reprecutions upon myself and my comrades, or makes us targets of less than scrumplous people. I trust and respect you my friend, but it would ease my heart greatly if I had your word that this conversation will be kept between us, and those that already are 'in the know'."

"This steel trap of an office holds secrets that would make your head spin. You have nothing to worry about. So, what's the intel?"

[Lord Windos]

"This steel trap of an office holds secrets that would make your head spin. You have nothing to worry about. So, what's the intel?"

That comment caused Ventus to ease up substaintly, as his body language and expression become less guard and stiff and let out faint chuckle. "I whole heartily believe, my friend. The intel, if you would allow me to be a bit indirect with it......what have you heard of 'Genesect?' "

[Iron]

"Genesect? A Steel type, of course, so I have done my research. I know they have a fancy Genesect statue in Wineberry Town. I know the Scimitars idolize the thing, apparently. I know Sarimanok researched Genesect constantly. I know Genesect's fossil records precede Sarimanok by thousands of years. I know about the Drives. I know about Team Plasmas' utterly failed attempt to recreate a true Genesect, and even that specimen was a force to be reckoned with. I know they aren't the first to make the attempt, either, not by a long shot."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Whoah, Shiva has never seen a spider Pokemon smile like that before, and it certainly still fills her with awe to see this particular Ariados so peaceful...so calm. Not what she'd be used to from this poisonous spider. Hypno can gladly keep the rain stick if it likes. Generally, it certainly warms Shiva's heart to see the Pokemon having their joy with her creation as well as have Director North's approval - that's the sort of feeling of achievement she's subliminally looking for. On the other hand, it made her a tab bit melancholic as after today, she likely won't see any of them for a while.

...Not all of them though, as today she won't leave the Shelter alone.
She's been working towards what was about to come and waiting for it since days - today, she felt like all this effort was very much worth it as it not only granted her with some more practical experience in the handling of adult Pokemon, but also a new companion that could hardly fit better to her. Was this what people (her included) call 'destiny'...?

Huh, but it seemed that any worry Shiva had about how to get Gothy to cross her selfdrawn line was pointless as to Shiva's own and big suprise, Gothy already handled this on her own - and she was smiling. Smiling! Bet she must have known already that today will be the day where she can exit the Shelter she came to on her own with a human that would one day arrive to take her with her, deemed ready to attempt to be that 'special Trainer' she requires... That faint hug also, while it came completely unextepted and not similar like any of the other hugs she alread received, it was not at all uncomfortable or weird - it felt good. Startling at first, but definitely not to cause her to flinch - alongside the Binary Star System shown, it finally dropped on Shiva that Gothy must be at least giving her a chance to be her 'Master'. If not accepting her? They had a long way before themselves - but it's not like someone's rushing them.

Wondering about Gothy's smile which was so DIRECT at her as if she wanted to tell her directly that she's giving Shiva a chance, she eventually returned it faintly but subliminally happy. As if for a short while, a glimpse of Nightshade's Sunny Day was brightening the sky representing her emotional pool, stealing away the shadow of downcasted mood and overhadowing behind her. Shiva too kept her distance, as she was pretty sure Gothy won't really obey her at first, and because it was slightly eerie to stand so close to a Unovian Pokemon that was known to know thelifespan and fate of death of her trainer... Same

"Welcome, Gothitelle again... After a while we meet again, but now we can spend every day together if you'd like... Isn't that a pleasant thought...?" *moving just a tab bit closer so that only Gothy would here Shiva's following words* "Stay with me, and I'll be looking into becoming this 'special Trainer' for you..."
"I've already told you how I'll adress you most of the time, maybe sometime later I can tell you why as well, Keep your given name, 'Lilith' in awe...
"I, hm, also couldn't get the actual Pokeball I wanted you to be contained in, so in return I got you, well....this purely white Premier Ball - they're traditionally used to commemorate an event or similar, soo hehe...
"Besides, actually you could stay outside of the ball as long as you'd like"except when you're clearly pained or otherwise not too well. It wasn't a purely white Premier Ball though that Lilith got registered to, it was one that was decorated with stars and occasionally a made-up constellation - seems like the prepared piece of wood for the Cleanse Tag was not the only thing Shiva has painted lately.


"Besides, I wanted to go meet someone today after I'm done with the workshift, a little outside of Stair City... I wanted you to come too. Would you be that kind, Lilith?"

Oh right, before Shiva and Lilith would leave Director North not only got his thanks to agreeing to the work-for-your-Pokemon, Tropius and Nightshade got picked up as well and the first got sent to the PC then after fruit and Nanab Berry are harvested, Shiva also paid the room where all the smaller Pokemon are kept, especially looking out where that Stunky was... If it's still there, Shiva would get the chance to bit farewell to it, gifting it a VERY VERY CAREFUL strokes over his back of course only with the poison-restience on (these made her feeling a little better); as well as another cookie. "I cannot adopt you, small one, but I'll be silently cheering on you to obtain a decent new Master soon."



----------------------
Mechanics:
Rejoice for task fulfilled decently, before welcoming Gothitelle in her party, way! Next, thanking Director North for all hoping to may become back again and bid farewell to small Stunky, before Shiva would head to Route 4 with Lilith beside her, Spritzee still on her shoulder, and Cottonee floating with them all. Is the person Shiva wanted meet there still there?

[Lord Windos]

"Genesect? A Steel type, of course, so I have done my research. I know they have a fancy Genesect statue in Wineberry Town. I know the Scimitars idolize the thing, apparently. I know Sarimanok researched Genesect constantly. I know Genesect's fossil records precede Sarimanok by thousands of years. I know about the Drives. I know about Team Plasmas' utterly failed attempt to recreate a true Genesect, and even that specimen was a force to be reckoned with. I know they aren't the first to make the attempt, either, not by a long shot."

Once the Steel Wonder gave the cliff note's of her own intel on the Mythical Bug Pokémon, Ventus nodded his head and continued, this time in a formal tone of voice. "So you have a thorough enough understanding of Genesect then, and are familiar with.....Team Plasma's own recreation of it. Good. That will make things easier to explain."

The researcher then let out a deep sigh he had been holding in, suddenly looking much more old and tired than he really was.

"While my knowledge of Cheshirian Genesects accounts are lacking, its far from it in regards to Plasma specimen. For you see, several years ago my home region's government and military managed to capture it, and I once assigned as a Pokémon Researcher to study them myself. More specifically, I was their handler and primary form of human interaction among the research staff and Unovian government officials assigned to oversee the study and containment of the primordial Mythical Being."

As he said this, the sociologist reached deeply into his bag, and withdrew a familiar journal with the words 'Project Sliverfish ' , before walking forward to hand it to Dagney.

"This book contains all the personal interactions I've had with Genesect, as well as all the research and information about them that I'd obtained over the length of time I was aboard the Research Assignment, before I was relieved of duty for 'letting my feelings' get in the way of 'experimenting and monitoring it,' Ventus said, the last part with a distinct note of distaste at the end.

"I'm giving this to you so that you can verify and confirm that my claims are true, and because, if what I suspect is true based on my own group's investigations....."

Another sigh, this one more grim and pained. "......then its likely that the Scimitars or some other organization affliated with them have capture Genesect, or are associated with it in some capacity, as you have mentioned. I believe Nathan might have more information concerning their interest in them, but due to the adversity our group has faced  until this point he has not had the time nor opportunity to disclose it to us."

[Iron]

Someone you know is on Route 04. I don't know if it's the one you're looking for.

"Oi! Shiva, right? It's me, the Fortune Hunter! Where are you traveling, up to Ginger Town?"

She's wearing her two hats again, as well as a dress that is the exact color of the ancient stones. She has a backpack on, covered in little treasures. Gothitelle moves in front of you suddenly, forcing you to quickstep or fall! As you recover, you look up at just the right time - and you happen to see a Flute much like the one the natives used in Arrowroot!

[Iron]

"I find it unlikely that the Scimitars possess a Genesect. They would not be able to keep it a secret from me. But some affiliation? Some desire? Absolutely believable. IN fact, I think that might be one thing they seek in the 'Library' they're looking for."

"Is it then your recommendation that I call Nathan and see if he's willing to come in?"