[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

"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?"

"You certainly can my friend, for the more eyes that are seeking for it, the sooner we might be able to uncover it and foil those wretch Scimitar's diabolical plans once and for all. *Tone suddenly turns chipper again!* I prefer sweet fillings myself, so can I have on those?

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"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."

"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.

At hearing this, Shiva actually keeps her gaze fixated at Heart for a little longer than usually, definitelly and visible frowns, then looks away and somewhat amused and nervously adjusts her glasses. "T....That's not what I meant, Heart. Hehe..." *slight smile*

She also gives Ven's hand she's still holding a squeeze, as if to say 'you know what I mean, dear. Right?'

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

"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?"

"You certainly can my friend, for the more eyes that are seeking for it, the sooner we might be able to uncover it and foil those wretch Scimitar's diabolical plans once and for all. *Tone suddenly turns chipper again!* I prefer sweet fillings myself, so can I have on those?

"Sure! Here. I have peanut sandwiche and sweet jaw ones." Then Heart the sandwiche to Ventus. "I can't denied I kinda curious about one thing: You people once told you have meet the Scimitars a time ago. What they are exactly? They are some kind of crime team like Team Rocket or Team Plasma? They someway remind me those groups. Sorry if I lack of information but I don't know to much about that. I kinda prefer journey thought regions. You think that might be a normal library with knowledge of the time of Saminarok? Or some kind of TM library according to Dagny machines?"

"If I recall right Dagny once told me she have detect some sort of metals in the deeps in the Skull Ruins. I once believe it would might be the drill created by the Almacs I heard from the steel workers."

"And according to another information I get some steel workers and scientists who was employed by Almac simple... vanished. I don't know you guys but to me this smell suspicious. This information would at least make Dagny do something and make any investigation about that, but...until now I didn't heard he do anything about that."

"Also there is another thing who made me wonder: How the Scimitars get such advance technology as these gauntlets? They not supposed to be, I don't know, mystics or something? Who with might help them... that is strange. And there another thing. They after that Library place of Saminarok and the Almanac have that drill machine I heard dangerous close to the Skull Ruins. You guys think the Almanac and the Scimitars is working together? Any theory Ventus? Shiva?"

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

"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."

"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.

At hearing this, Shiva actually keeps her gaze fixated at Heart for a little longer than usually, definitelly and visible frowns, then looks away and somewhat amused and nervously adjusts her glasses. "T....That's not what I meant, Heart. Hehe..." *slight smile*

She also gives Ven's hand she's still holding a squeeze, as if to say 'you know what I mean, dear. Right?'

Heart stop to think then he punch his hands together realized about what she meant! He understand what she meant. He noticed she and Ventus was more closely to each other. He is not a Sherlock Holmes but he is enough smart to have a suspicious. He decided not to say anything because he don't want to make Shiva blush hard or feel embarrassed. He will ask Ventus later.

"Well uh mind if I ask you two something? How much time you are together? I mean in the journey thought Cheshire. You two, Ventus and Valder. I in the group for a little time and I almost didn't ask about your previous adventures."

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan starts by examining the archways.  They were once part of the palace...yes, he figured the Skull Ruins hd many, many, many underground entrances...all that space underground was likely needed for rooms, dungeons...and probably escape routes.

What interests Nathan the most though is that Cleanse Tag Keystone in the final arch...

How old does that keystone look?  The Skull Ruins weren't ALWAYS infested with ghosts, so when this keystone was placed could hint at its original purpose...

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Nathan takes a look at the cave paintings in the Candelabra room next.  That's what is the most interesting to him in that room.

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Oh, and since everyone is at least still semi-together, and Heart mentioned the Skull Ruins, Almanac, Scimitars, and Dagny...that barely catches just enough of Nathan's attention for him to comment on it.

"Sarimanok was known to make many things, out of many different materials.  Metal included.  Some think he has a massive TM library hidden away down in the Ruins, though that metal could easily be machines of some kind as well.  Nobody whose delved deep enough to look has come back in their right mind.  If at all.  Not even the Champion would carelessly head down into the Ruins, so Dagny's caution is warranted."

"As for Almanac...they're working with the Scimitars, I guarantee it.  The Scimitars insist they aren't an organized crime group, and they're small in number.  Their tech is far too advanced for a group like that, though."

"And I doubt Dagny cares enough about Almanac and their...'research' (notably, theres a brief flash of intense anger from Ralts when Nathan says that word) to do anything about a few missing workers.  Particularly if they disappeared in the Ruins.  Almanac isn't the kind of company that Creshire's best would support."

[Iron]

Raphael sweeps into the room and reports back an eerie feeling around the Candelabra itself. The art on the walls doesn't seem to bother him. Ramiel finds nothing of interest at all.

To Nathan's investigations, the Keystone looks like it was probably placed here around the time the arches fell, not long after Sarimanok was ousted.

The cave paintings, on the other hand, are faded to the very limits of recognition. Once again they have been swabbed in resin to protect them. You see the shape of the Candelabra repeated over and over. There seems to be a theme where that same shape is depicted against different backgrounds. Eventually, you realize what the pictures are trying to tell you: the Candelabra has existed downwards from this location in the past, somehow elevating itself upward to its current location.

You also see paintings of surprising sophistication: a big metal box covered in flashing lights, a drill, a Klinklang. That stuff is mixed in with older technology: Apricorns, spears and the hunting of Piloswine, manpowered tools like a spinning wheel.

A plaque explains some of this: these paintings and the Candelabra itself are known to be associated with the First Technical Society, of which extremely little is known. Historians don't even know if the paintings were performed by FTS members or by later inhabitants. It's possible they are not an accurate depiction of life at the time. The FTS actually predates the arrival of the Mamo, and faaaar predates the era of Sarimanok/the Kings. We do know their populations were clustered around central Creshire.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Huh, with somany paths branching out in every direction imaginable and even verticale pits, sometimes uncovered(!), Shiva began to feel a tab bit fearful over having choosen this path, but now the group was already on their way and she personally was not that uninterested in a bit of sightseeing within Mount Sentry... WITHIN!~ Something one doesn't see or do very often if you've been living and growing up in a big port city. She sticks close to the others, not letting go of Ven's hand once on the way, and silenty thankful for Stamie enlighting the way. If it weren't for evolving smol Magnemite, she'd take Litwick with her instead to have her own portable light source, him filling the near sourriundings in an eerie bluish-purple light would certanly look cool. At least for her.

The oddly shaped tunnel as well as the distant sound of water (How neat! Fesh water or even a small river around here? That was something new to get to know for her!) do certainly catch Shiva's interest and gaze somewhat, not only because she noticed the upper half as a typical Furret Tunnel, which somewhat exited her. The Gem Mine did as well, but right now there was somethingelse that she somewhat desired to see...


...Since everyone was somewhat caught by the Arches and stopped to admire and investigate them, Shiva silenty decided to move on to actually see what was beyond these archs - The Candelabra! She can only see the gist of it, she wants to see it fully though! Certainly she noticed the Cleanse 'Tag' up there and takes a curious look at it, but she's currently working on her own Clean Tag and the historian background of the Arches doesn't really thrill her. With that, she nudges Ven on the shoulder to catch his attention, motions that she'll be moving on to the Candelabra, and then be off her way alongside Silverbolt and Lilith, eventually even summoning Braixen as soon as she was out of the sight for the others in order to enlight her way a little more.

She didn't spoke a word along the way, only mustered her surroundings carefully and looking out for more hints of the various Pokemon living down here ('whatelse than Furret could call the inside of this mountain its home?'), almost enjoying the bit of alone time and silence. With three decent Pokemon by her side, she doesn't feel too afraid.

The Candelabra itself, once having arrived...well, to but it bluntly, it awed her. Indeed reminds her on a vicious Malamar, and very faintly on a Chandelure! But maybe only because the name of this attraction. She has seen entrances of Durant burrows already, but only in books. Damnit, with cell not working she couldn't take a photo of this interesting formation of yellowish stone, the Almanac couldn't either because lacking the camera upgrade, and she highly doubted there are souvenir shops within a mountain, so for now she'll just enjoy some time here and make the encounter of this Candelabra a pleasant one to think back of later.

...This means, croaching down by the base of this very high stoneformation to take a detailed look at the texture of the stony surface and eventually even stroke it a bit if it's save to do so, investigating it from various angles and wondering whether a very bold or mad person would dare to climb the Candelabra to the top. Braixen was always near and happy to bring his enlighted basswood stick a little closer whenever Master asked him to do. "...That's what they call 'The Candelabra', Braixen', she eventually told him because a fox cannot read signposts, "reminds me of an actual candelabra, warmly enlightening the room with its flames. Even if this is just quite an interesting stone formation. I wonder whether it has formed itself naturally, whether nature has played artist here, or whether mankind somewhat helped? It feels warm to touc, but maybe it's just my imagination. Say, you want to touch it too? Also, do you smell any other Pokemon here within the chamber?"

How Nathan and later even Raphael eventually entered the chamber as well and the first taking a look at the cavepaintings she too has noticed (she'll pay them a closer look before leaving the chamber), she mostly ignores after having given them both a welcoming wave.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Along the way to the Arches and Co., Shiva also eventually stopped speaking and opted to listen instead after having shared her plans for Cress City when he asked for them. What he had to say about the Scimitars, how he compared them to Team Rocket and Team Plasma (which Shiva now did too - and decided the Scimitars don't feel like a real 'crime organisation' or such at all in her view), wondering how the Secret Library will be different from a normal library, metal in the depths of the Skull Ruins (Ohhh! Ore? Treasures?), vanished Scientists and Steel Workers (Mental note, maybe not accept a job offer from the Almanac) and how he was wondering about the Scimitar's technology and gauntlets, was all interesting to hear and she made sure to not miss a word.

Yes, Shiva had a bit of own thoughts, careful theories and opinion about this, and she was pondering about how to maybe phrase things to share it a little - before Nathan already soft-sniped and shared his opinion in a pretty clear manner, although  Heart was adressing her and Ventus directly in his last sentence. Now, Shiva doesn't feel that much like sharing her thoughts and Ventus might probably have nothing to add anymore, so she remained silent for now. Not sad, angry or anything, just 'meh, fine then, moving on'. This doesn't earn Nathan any sympathy points from her though, and reminds her on what she and Ven were i.a. talking about last night.

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Nathan starts by examining the archways.  They were once part of the palace...yes, he figured the Skull Ruins hd many, many, many underground entrances...all that space underground was likely needed for rooms, dungeons...and probably escape routes.

What interests Nathan the most though is that Cleanse Tag Keystone in the final arch...

How old does that keystone look?  The Skull Ruins weren't ALWAYS infested with ghosts, so when this keystone was placed could hint at its original purpose...

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Nathan takes a look at the cave paintings in the Candelabra room next.  That's what is the most interesting to him in that room.

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Oh, and since everyone is at least still semi-together, and Heart mentioned the Skull Ruins, Almanac, Scimitars, and Dagny...that barely catches just enough of Nathan's attention for him to comment on it.

"Sarimanok was known to make many things, out of many different materials.  Metal included.  Some think he has a massive TM library hidden away down in the Ruins, though that metal could easily be machines of some kind as well.  Nobody whose delved deep enough to look has come back in their right mind.  If at all.  Not even the Champion would carelessly head down into the Ruins, so Dagny's caution is warranted."

"As for Almanac...they're working with the Scimitars, I guarantee it.  The Scimitars insist they aren't an organized crime group, and they're small in number.  Their tech is far too advanced for a group like that, though."

"And I doubt Dagny cares enough about Almanac and their...'research' (notably, theres a brief flash of intense anger from Ralts when Nathan says that word) to do anything about a few missing workers.  Particularly if they disappeared in the Ruins.  Almanac isn't the kind of company that Creshire's best would support."

"You mean that Saminarok guy was a... Alchemist or scientist? The ancients may have a rich culture but they kinda crazy in my opinion. But that's just my opinion. Other times, other habits I guess. Imagine what kind of TMs might exist there! Perhaps some TMs who might not exist yet in our time. No wonder the Scimitars is so eager to get Saminarok legacy."

Heart sight when hear about the possibility connection between Scimitars and Almanacs. "Man, why there people who want to make that kind of connection to cause pain and destruction. There is something a wise man once say: "Power always corrupt. And absolute power is absolutely corruptor." Or something like that. Crime organizations always exist: Team Rocket, Team Magma and Aqua, Team Plasma. Some of them begin with noble cause, but when they get a great power, they became corrupt and twisted. A shadow of a old self."

"Humanity have many flaws. They born with darkness and light inside. Good and evil. A white shadow and a black shadow. And everyday that two sides fight against each other." Heart stop a little and see his own image in some water. "Some more than others." Then he made such different face. Almost regret and... sadness. But he decided to stop that.

"But inside of each one there is the power to change. And to have hope. As much there might have a swamp filled with doubts, there might have a garden with something better: A better future. At least this is what my soul says." And Heart finish his monologue with mantra phrase.

[Dragonstrike]

"Sarimanok wasn't an alchemist himself.  Being a king with access to the region's wealth has its perks.  And the respect Legendaries had for him gave him access to all manner of things no other could even dream about.  Sarimanok had the ideas, and the resources to make those ideas a reality.  For example: our modern day healing machines in the Pokemon Centers were his invention."

Nathan remains silent as Heart monologues.  He turns back to looking at the arches and drawings instead of responding.

"...hmmm...so this cleanse tage keystone...it doesn't look as old as the stones of the arch...it was probably put here after the collapse...which means it was probably put here specifically to ward off the Ghosts that started showing up in the Ruins Path after the palace was destroyed...seems to be doing its job well, even after all this time...the only questions left are who put it here and how they made it so powerful..."

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The pictures are outright fascinating for Nathan, but lack the same clear answers as the keystone and the arches.

"...the First Technical Society...why are they being referenced here of all places?  Did they find this rock formation interesting for some reason?  Questions upon questions, and very few answers..."