[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

I'll need a party decision on where to go next! The various tunnels are quite far from each other and no cell service down here. If you split the party, individual members will be truly on their own.

(Heart will stick along with Shiva and Ventus)

"People. Shouldn't wait for Nathan and Valder before we head to our next destination?"

They're back the way you guys came.    Sentry Shrine was on the way to the Magnetic Cavern.  Finding them won't be hard.

Nathan will express an interest of his own in traveling to some of the stuff down the North branch when Shiva brings up her desire to see the Candelabra.  There's some stuff down that branch he wants to investigate himself as well.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"We'll meet them along the way, Heart, or at least at the spot we have departed from in direction to the Magnetic Caverns, so don't you worry too much!~ I believe they're getting by alright and won't just move on without us. Oh, and thank you once again for leading us to this magnetic spot!" 

Along the way back to meet up with the others again, Shiva couldn't help but to stroke over the shiny surface of her freshly hatched and evolved Magneton, earning a buzzing sound of various pitch from it everytime which in return caused her to rejoice. It WAS a Steel Type, and she would have never thought that she'd own and even LIKE one, but Dagny, by constantly having the group over to discuss things, sharing an awesome Gym battle with her as well as gifting her and Ven Eggs of her personally bred Magnemites must have made her a tad bit more comfortable/less sceptical towards these Types of Pokemon. The fact that this Magneton likes her and definitely won't do anything to harm her or her fairies does add quite much. This polished silverly surface, almost shining in the lamps illuminating the trail within this mountain... "...You'll be called 'Silverbolt', I guess. A fitting nickname for you now being a shining Magneton, and given you're a Steel Type that I never really thought I'd really warm up to, you deserve a nickname that distinguishes you from other kind of your species, don't you think so? You're fine with this nickname?" (Second choice: GlaDOS, although I'd associate this name less with a Magneton and more with a Porygon or such, still enjoy it though)


*after Nathan's opening that he too would like to head down the North trail* "Sounds very fine to me! Now then... Let us get going, shall we?" Frankly, Shiva's silenty rather curious what this 'Candelabra' will turn out to be, mostly because her imagination somewhat finds an end here.

[Nylon]

Valder follows Nathan, Theo and Haunter by his side.

[Dragonstrike]

Valder follows Nathan, Theo and Haunter by his side.

Which is perfect, because Nathan wants to get a look at anything in that direction that seems to be attracting Ghosts!  It IS in the direction of the Skull Ruins, after all.

Though obviously, he wants to avoid the Ruins Path for the time being.  Dangerous place, the Skull Ruins, and he'd rather not deal with a large number of wild Ghost pokemon.

[Spiritmon]

"Okay then. Nathan, Valder be careful you two okay? Don't be lost in these caverns." Then Heart search his bag and take some sandwiches and fruits to Nathan and Valder. "Just in case you two feel hungry. Good luck." After saying that Heart follow both Shiva and Ventus. Along the way he decided to talk with a bit. "So guys...what kind of plans you two have to Cress City? I was thinking about find a job to do there. Perhaps a assistant of chicken perhaps thanks to my cooking skills. Since buying good food for our nights it's not easily. Witch remind me. Any of you people want to eat something? I have plenty of flesh food I have prepared myself."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"I'm fine, thank you~ Breakfast isn't too long ago." Ventus gets a subtle smile and almost sweet glance from Shiva, which Heart may or may not notice. (His discretion)

This time, Shiva felt somewhat comfortable to share her plans to some degree. Planning and coordinating things was the key to get a proper job done! "Plans?... Huh... Uhm... Well, I wanted to...pay the shrine for Celebi a visit with my own Grass and Psychic Types. I highly doubt it'll simply show herself to me, but doesn't matter. Relic Stones, filled with Celebi's power to open a Pokemon's heart - I want to find out more about them - just because Nathan says there are no records of these in Chreshire, doesn't mean there really aren't. (He's not present and she feels she can trust Heart and Ven, so Shiva can openly air her disagreement here, actually). They key to the Secret Library is seemingly a Relic Stone - something is telling me that we'll find answers in Cress City." How she also wants to pay the Medium in Cress for completing her Cleanse Tag she doesn't speak out though, it might put paranoid Ventus on edge and it's her personal thing.

"A-Aside from that, you saw Tanuki during Little Cup, Heart! I somewhat like her. Oh... you.... you also somewhat promised that we'll go - HANG out for dinner at some point when time allows, Ven. And go hunting, maybe."


(Plus, battle Heart-vs-Shiva can also happen outside of the citylimits of Cress if time allows~)

[Lord Windos]

(...) "So guys...what kind of plans you two have to Cress City? I was thinking about find a job to do there. Perhaps a assistant of chicken perhaps thanks to my cooking skills. Since buying good food for our nights it's not easily. Witch remind me. Any of you people want to eat something? I have plenty of flesh food I have prepared myself."

Ventus, not one to ever turn down free food when it was offer, politely requested a sandwich for latter, saying as he did so: "I would indeed like one, Heart, so long as its not made with any unverified plant life that is! Kidding aside, your meals are always amazing when you stick to the recipie, so I've save one to snack on later! What is good now is just as good later, as some might say!" Ramiel (who Ventus elected to keep out with them as security/company) was a bit curiously as their master stored the food stuff away, as while it knew it didn't need nor could even have regular meals like most other organic beings, that didn't stop them from speculating about the topic. Oh, to have taste buds and a functional digestions system.......

As for their response towards their plans upon arrival in Cress, the researcher didn't have much to say on the topic, as he honestly didn't have any! "Hmm.....my current desire is to meet with Tanuki and discuss how to traverse the depths of Mt. Sentry more safely and expediently in order to find the Secret Library, or ask her advice on the matter, but besides from that I have no standing plans in Cress. Perhaps challenge the Gym, see if their are any TMs or Items there that were unavailable in Stair, and work with my Kingdra Ao Guang to help restrain his more....destructive impulses. That's all I have thought out, currently...."

He returned Shiva smile with a content one of his own, distracted just enough by it not to notice she had more to say, but didn't. Nice save there!

[Iron]

You head North. This tunnel branches out a lot more than the others, and a sign warns you to stay only on mapped trails. Branches head off in all directions, even straight up or straight down. Sometimes there are manhole covers over vertical pits - sometimes not. Nathan has to use his light sources constantly. (Starmie is happy to help light the way.)

First you come to the entrance of an oddly shaped tunnel, leading west. You can hear the sound of water in that direction. What's so odd about the tunnel is that the upper half is a typical Furret tunnel, about two Furrets wide, like a double barrel shotgun. But the lower half has been widened by man into a broad wedge shape, intersecting the natural tunnel design above. This wedge shape is about chest high and an armspan broad. According to a nearby plaque, this widening was done by Captain Bridge to allow mine carts in and out. The tracks have been torn up by wild Pokemon, though, and the carts are no longer operational.

Another plaque describes the exploits of Captain Bridge, who quelled a minor violent Royalist rebellion in 1475 (over 150 years after Sarimanok fell). He was the first military man to explore Mt. Sentry after Sarimanok. He intended to use it or tactical warfare, but found the maze of shifting tunnels too unpredictable and complex. Instead, he ended up using it to fill the League treasury from his gem mine.

"This way to the Gem Mines! 500 meters."

-----

The Fallen Arches once marked the outer limits of the palace's vast subterranean vaults. Mostly, this palace expanded underground by digging up ancient tunnels and expanding them to meet royal needs.
The Arches, all twenty four of them, were once nice masonry, but now they look a lot like Route 04 - just organized rubble. A plaque explains that all the keystones went missing in the 1600's, leading to the collapse. The rubble is all in different colors and nicely preserved stonecutting - a layer of resin lies over the rocks to preserve their historical placement.

The final arch never fell - instead of a keystone, it has a thick metal Cleanse 'Tag' filling the gap. Pokemon like Ralts can feel an aura of power in that doorway. Haunter actually refuses to pass through it!

Beyond, you can see what must surely be the Candelabra. In a big stone chamber you can see what appear to be cave paintings. In the center of the room is a formation of solid yellowish stone, looking a bit like a fossilized termite mound (sometimes seen at the entrance to Durant burrows). At least the base does. The rest preserves that termite mound texture, but whorls out into six distinct branches at random angles. The shape reminds you of a Malamar, tentacles writhing, though of course they have now gone still. Or perhaps a saguaro cactus.



It's about three man-heights tall, and it's a stone's throw from the final Arch.

You see no other civilized paths on your way here.

These two locations are within shouting distance of each other, if you shout loudly enough.

[Spiritmon]

"I'm fine, thank you~ Breakfast isn't too long ago." Ventus gets a subtle smile and almost sweet glance from Shiva, which Heart may or may not notice. (His discretion)

This time, Shiva felt somewhat comfortable to share her plans to some degree. Planning and coordinating things was the key to get a proper job done! "Plans?... Huh... Uhm... Well, I wanted to...pay the shrine for Celebi a visit with my own Grass and Psychic Types. I highly doubt it'll simply show herself to me, but doesn't matter. Relic Stones, filled with Celebi's power to open a Pokemon's heart - I want to find out more about them - just because Nathan says there are no records of these in Chreshire, doesn't mean there really aren't. (He's not present and she feels she can trust Heart and Ven, so Shiva can openly air her disagreement here, actually). They key to the Secret Library is seemingly a Relic Stone - something is telling me that we'll find answers in Cress City." How she also wants to pay the Medium in Cress for completing her Cleanse Tag she doesn't speak out though, it might put paranoid Ventus on edge and it's her personal thing.

"A-Aside from that, you saw Tanuki during Little Cup, Heart! I somewhat like her. Oh... you.... you also somewhat promised that we'll go - HANG out for dinner at some point when time allows, Ven. And go hunting, maybe."


(Plus, battle Heart-vs-Shiva can also happen outside of the citylimits of Cress if time allows~)

"No problemo Shiva! Yeah when we got the chance we should hang out for dinner. All of us of course: You two, Nathan and Valder.

(...) "So guys...what kind of plans you two have to Cress City? I was thinking about find a job to do there. Perhaps a assistant of chicken perhaps thanks to my cooking skills. Since buying good food for our nights it's not easily. Witch remind me. Any of you people want to eat something? I have plenty of flesh food I have prepared myself."

Ventus, not one to ever turn down free food when it was offer, politely requested a sandwich for latter, saying as he did so: "I would indeed like one, Heart, so long as its not made with any unverified plant life that is! Kidding aside, your meals are always amazing when you stick to the recipie, so I've save one to snack on later! What is good now is just as good later, as some might say!" Ramiel (who Ventus elected to keep out with them as security/company) was a bit curiously as their master stored the food stuff away, as while it knew it didn't need nor could even have regular meals like most other organic beings, that didn't stop them from speculating about the topic. Oh, to have taste buds and a functional digestions system.......

As for their response towards their plans upon arrival in Cress, the researcher didn't have much to say on the topic, as he honestly didn't have any! "Hmm.....my current desire is to meet with Tanuki and discuss how to traverse the depths of Mt. Sentry more safely and expediently in order to find the Secret Library, or ask her advice on the matter, but besides from that I have no standing plans in Cress. Perhaps challenge the Gym, see if their are any TMs or Items there that were unavailable in Stair, and work with my Kingdra Ao Guang to help restrain his more....destructive impulses. That's all I have thought out, currently...."

He returned Shiva smile with a content one of his own, distracted just enough by it not to notice she had more to say, but didn't. Nice save there!

"That's not a bad plan Ventus. If you permit I would like to accompany you in the research in that library. If we work together we might find something! Also what kind of sandwich do you want? Salt or sweet?"

[Lord Windos]

Gem Mine Causeway Description.

You head North. This tunnel branches out a lot more than the others, and a sign warns you to stay only on mapped trails. Branches head off in all directions, even straight up or straight down. Sometimes there are manhole covers over vertical pits - sometimes not. Nathan has to use his light sources constantly. (Starmie is happy to help light the way.)

First you come to the entrance of an oddly shaped tunnel, leading west. You can hear the sound of water in that direction. What's so odd about the tunnel is that the upper half is a typical Furret tunnel, about two Furrets wide, like a double barrel shotgun. But the lower half has been widened by man into a broad wedge shape, intersecting the natural tunnel design above. This wedge shape is about chest high and an armspan broad. According to a nearby plaque, this widening was done by Captain Bridge to allow mine carts in and out. The tracks have been torn up by wild Pokemon, though, and the carts are no longer operational.

Another plaque describes the exploits of Captain Bridge, who quelled a minor violent Royalist rebellion in 1475 (over 150 years after Sarimanok fell). He was the first military man to explore Mt. Sentry after Sarimanok. He intended to use it or tactical warfare, but found the maze of shifting tunnels too unpredictable and complex. Instead, he ended up using it to fill the League treasury from his gem mine.

"This way to the Gem Mines! 500 meters."

-----

The Candlabra!

The Fallen Arches once marked the outer limits of the palace's vast subterranean vaults. Mostly, this palace expanded underground by digging up ancient tunnels and expanding them to meet royal needs.
The Arches, all twenty four of them, were once nice masonry, but now they look a lot like Route 04 - just organized rubble. A plaque explains that all the keystones went missing in the 1600's, leading to the collapse. The rubble is all in different colors and nicely preserved stonecutting - a layer of resin lies over the rocks to preserve their historical placement.

The final arch never fell - instead of a keystone, it has a thick metal Cleanse 'Tag' filling the gap. Pokemon like Ralts can feel an aura of power in that doorway. Haunter actually refuses to pass through it!

Beyond, you can see what must surely be the Candelabra. In a big stone chamber you can see what appear to be cave paintings. In the center of the room is a formation of solid yellowish stone, looking a bit like a fossilized termite mound (sometimes seen at the entrance to Durant burrows). At least the base does. The rest preserves that termite mound texture, but whorls out into six distinct branches at random angles. The shape reminds you of a Malamar, tentacles writhing, though of course they have now gone still. Or perhaps a saguaro cactus.



It's about three man-heights tall, and it's a stone's throw from the final Arch.

You see no other civilized paths on your way here.

These two locations are within shouting distance of each other, if you shout loudly enough.[/b]

Upon arriving into the chamber that hosted the Candelabra with Shiva, who had insisted they explore the surrounding caverns much to his bemusement yet eventual acceptance ('Its not like such diversion will delay us overly in reaching Cress, and its goodness knows she can use always use the good cheer!'), Ventus could help but cast his gaze on the ruined arches and amazemed and a certain sense of melcancoly. Here, where the castle of yor stood, housing the royalty of the land and all sorts of fantastical knowledge they wielded to shape their world however they desired, now gone, forever lost to the marches of time and the machinmation of man and Pokémon alike. Such sights reminded the sociologist distinctly of the Ruins in Unova's Desert and the undersea temple in Undellia Town, and briefly causing him to ponder the connection between them all.

'Cheshire's and my home regions ruins.......one magnificent structures that must have earned them great reclaim and reveration in distant times, now naught but crumbling relics of a bygone era scarcely anyone but historians and loreseekers remember, and even they only know bits and pieces of a greater whole. .......It makes me wonder what could have lead to such catatrosphey, decay, or stagnation that rendered these once epic structures shadows of themselves, and why......'

Such contemplation are soon dispelled, however, for he didn't want to overly distract himself or grow too dreary over the subject matter on display. A little philosophy is good for the soul, but too much can poison you just as readily! The Great Big Metal Cleanse Tag and the other Pokémon's reaction then came as a surprise to Ventus, as now that he could see it he could also feel the tangible protection and warding aura that clocked the camber ahead containing the Cadlabra. "Increadible.......seldom have I perceived such radiant and stalwart auras of protections, and fewer still as powerful as this one! Hmm......." he replied as he stared at the Tag, before he whip out his camera and took several photo with it, all with the zoom and right filters on in order to get the exact design, details, and.....other qualities of the Cleanse Tag! Ven also released Raphael into the room, who quickly looked around its surrounding and hovered over to their father's side to give him a happy if uncertain smile and brushing their wings against his arms in support, as if recalling distant memories of when they carried them as a hatchling. While it certainly love to spend time with his father, doing such in a confined and Rocky space such as Mt. Sentry's bowls was far from what they called ideal!

Being the empath he was and highly in tune with his first Pokémon, Ventus right away knew they didn't exactly want to be out here, almost causing him to recall them with an apology on his behalf before he got ahold of himself and tried his best to become his archangel by lightly petting their head, earning him a croon of peace and their attention as he asked them something.

"Raphael, I'm sorry that I released you in this less than ideal environment for you, but I have something I wish to ask of you. This goes for you too as well Ramiel *Catches the triploid lodestone attention and clinical curiosity*, so please listen. I need you both to explore this room and see if you can detect anything that feels similar to that Cleanse Tag or distinctly different  that stand out to your senses. I'm curious to see if this room has other secrets that are hidden beyond what's apparent, but I'd also like to investigate this warding presence a little more indepth, so either way nothing is lost in this venture! What do you say, my children?"