[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

No one else is here. You dump the KO'd Patrat onto the floor and find a good shadow to hide in. Though the flames go off every now and then, no Chandelure appear. Adding Honey doesn't help, so you move to slay 'em. Still nothing. Now the chamber floor and Ventus are covered in rodent blood and smelly corpses. Ventus' empathy feels some kind of horrid presence to the north, though, along the path that eventually is said to lead to the Skull Ruins. 

Phase Two does not turn up any Chandelure.

(Huh...I would have thought you rolled for the chance for each, but apparently your just not making this nice or easy on me or Ven, huh? *Sighs* Oh well.....)

The now blood spattered and masked researcher was sorely tempted to start spewing even more vile curses and start threatening to cave in the place with Hanael, but he was distracted from as such when he felt that terrible, malignant thing along the north path to the dreaded Skull Ruins. Ventus twisted and oriented himself in that direction, invisibly cringing and gritting his teeth at the sensation as he stared long and hard in though....before he let out a frustrated *Sigh* and summoned Apsis to his side, who briefly let out a sniff and *Hiss!* of approval at the corpse filled scenery around her before he caught her attention and began issuing orders.

"Apsis, the Operation has failed, or at least has not yet proved fruitful. However, I detect a sinister force along the path to the Skull Ruins, so for now we'll head towards it together slowly and with utmost caution. Before that, however, I want you to devour all the Patrat corspes here, before liberally using Acid Spray to chemically scorch the area of blood/DNA. I'll summon Hanael afterwards to set the acid on fire with Ember , and I'll request that Ao Guang finish off scrubing the area clean with Brine.  Understand?"

Order: Since Chandelure is a no show and I don't quite feel like cave in the place out of spite JUST yet, have Ventus and Apsis head towards the unearthly/negative presence together CAREFULLY/Vigilaintly to investigate. Before that, have Apsis devour all the corspes, Acid Spray the place down, before Hanael is sent out to the Ember scrub/dry all the blood, before desummoning both Apsis and Hanael and Summoning Ao Guang and ask them if they could kindly wash everything left over with Brine, bribing them with a Jar of Honey if necessary. If he still goes 'Shan't!' , just politely return them and summon Apsis again before proceeding to the presense. Can't leave a messy place if place if possible, so clean and get out!

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

...Oh right! "Eh, one more thing, something a Nurse Joy told me when I checked on my wounded Pokemon after... Druddigon. Well, ehm..." That was when Shiva visibly perked up, a tad bit excited. Bill is residing in Chreshire, seemingly! Yes, that Bill from Bill's PC. He's residing during spring and summer at a small lake called The Jetty on the outskirts of Rounte 12, west from here. Yes, I'd be happy to see him as well... " This time, she opted to share her thoughts first before it'd get lost and she would have to adapt to the others. "But, listen, he's there the full spring and summer. I don't feel like paying him a visit is very...well, urgent? Finding the Secret Library before these ...Scimitars can has somewhat priority to me, then meeting or even facing Tanuki. But we should visit him as a group, or so I feel." (...)

(...)

"So, that guy's an elusive man, as he calls himself 'Mr. Finder' and offers a service of finding things. Actually, sniffing them out. That's pretty cool! Yes, he gave me a proof of his skills. We've talked a little, where I eventually asked him about finding the Secret Library - he'd agree to sniff out a path to that location through Mount Sentry, but of course it's not free. So, uhm, if I remember correctly, it'd be 5000$ plus expenses, how high I don't know, it'd cost more if 1. someone prevents us from finding this place, likely the pestering Scimitars and 2. if it's dangerous. I, well, think we can work together with our Pokemon to make it a less dangerous search and keep any 'foes' at bay... Yes, I'm feeling postive that he can help us. But we'd have to share the costs please, fair-minded."

Phew... Shiva turns quiet again, let the others ponder about her words, and reaches up to give Cottonee a dear stroke over her cheek, simply because it felt nice and calming to touch her white fluff.

Shiva's next announcement of the Pokémon Maniac and PC Designer Bill himself was in the local came as another shock to Ventus, though this time it was a much less......nerve wracking as her not-a-date-but-practically-is-one offer. It caused him to immediately tilt his head back up and look the mystical lass straight in the eyes with a look of wonder and slight eagerness/excitement, his previous meekness forgotten for a moment.

"Indeed? That's remarkably fortuitous, I must say! I've always wanted to meet the man himself and discuss how exactly he set up the various PC networks, and inquire his Insight on the various rare Pokémon behaviors he no doubt has encounter and categorized in the course of his work! That, and who wouldn't want the chance to become at least aquantices with him? Still, you are right that our main focus should be the...Antheneum was it, Valder? Yes, we should put our collective energies towards discovering the place before the Scimitars do and unleashes horrors that should remain buried in the past."

The researcher pauses for a moment to reach into his satchel to pull out that extra bottle of tea earlier to take a sip of it (earning him a whine from Azrael in the process) to wet his throat, before putting it away once more and resuming his petting/speaking (to his dark little angel's pleasure!) with a more professional/serious air about him.

"To that end, I say we seek out and accept Mr. Finder's services, as the more help we have in locating Antheneum, the greater our odds of finding and securing the location, for better or worse. I'm personally willing to set aside $2000 Poke as my part in covering the costs, as I have enough supplies to last me for quite some time, and can manufactor more if need be with what I have on hand. That, and I can always engage in a few Pokémon Battles in Stair or do some treasure hunting with Lucifer to quickly recoup the expense. What does everyone think of this course of action?"

When he noticed Nathan had spaced out during the later half of Shiva's explaination, the empath bit back a sigh and resisted the urge to shake his head, before patiently summarizing it again to them. Sometime a reminder is all that someone needs....

[Dragonstrike]

When he noticed Nathan had spaced out during the later half of Shiva's explaination, the empath bit back a sigh and resisted the urge to shake his head, before patiently summarizing it again to them. Sometime a reminder is all that someone needs....

@PhantomUnderYourDesk

"Ah...okay...ummm...forgive me for being skeptical, but...how exactly do you think he's going to find a library that probably doesn't show up in the history books, Shiva?  I'm not really sure how much I can contribute, really...I mean, yeah, if he does somehow find it, I'll be happy to help with paying him, but...does he still charge for his services if he doesn't find what you're looking for?"

[Iron]

Spoiler

No one else is here. You dump the KO'd Patrat onto the floor and find a good shadow to hide in. Though the flames go off every now and then, no Chandelure appear. Adding Honey doesn't help, so you move to slay 'em. Still nothing. Now the chamber floor and Ventus are covered in rodent blood and smelly corpses. Ventus' empathy feels some kind of horrid presence to the north, though, along the path that eventually is said to lead to the Skull Ruins. 

Phase Two does not turn up any Chandelure.

(Huh...I would have thought you rolled for the chance for each, but apparently your just not making this nice or easy on me or Ven, huh? *Sighs* Oh well.....)

(The Ruin Maniac told you exactly why your plan didn't work).
Cleaning the cavern is no problem. Even Ao Guang goes along with it, seeing what kind of mood Ventus is in and seeing it as a relatively small task.
To the north, you keep getting closer and closer to that presence. Then you begin to feel it as multiple presences. When you walk across a certain spot, a chill goes down your spine. Above you, in the dark and wet tunnel ceiling, small threadlike tree roots break through into empty space. Among them, you glimpse the white of bone. Human bone. You've come to the border of the great Barrow Downs of the Skull Ruins. Horrifying presences are all around you, at least on the surface. You begin to be glad you didn't bring Raphael, because you're not sure even his angelic presence could cleanse this place.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

(The Ruin Maniac told you exactly why your plan didn't work).

Cleaning the cavern is no problem. Even Ao Guang goes along with it, seeing what kind of mood Ventus is in and seeing it as a relatively small task.
To the north, you keep getting closer and closer to that presence. Then you begin to feel it as multiple presences. When you walk across a certain spot, a chill goes down your spine. Above you, in the dark and wet tunnel ceiling, small threadlike tree roots break through into empty space. Among them, you glimpse the white of bone. Human bone. You've come to the border of the great Barrow Downs of the Skull Ruins. Horrifying presences are all around you, at least on the surface. You begin to be glad you didn't bring Raphael, because you're not sure even his angelic presence could cleanse this place.

(Yes he did, but it doesn't change the fact that all that prep work was permitted for little or no recourse/accomplished, Iron. There challenge and finding the right solution to a task, and then their is just being outright stonewalled with little else to go on or done.)

Ventus violently shudders and almost gags as he was suddenly bombarded by the cursed and wretched energies of Barrow Downs , and it took an immense amount of his Will not to bunkle under it or stagger back and make a beeline in the opposite direction fast. Sweat started to trickles down his neck despite the bone chill the area is trying to stab into him, and his hidden expression scrunches up into a scowl as he focus on his own reserves of anger/negativity to ward of the fell outside influences.

Apsis for her part was NOT happy being here either, letting out a low and menacing *Hiiiiisssss* as she twisted and craned to fully scope out her surroundings with a scalely scowl of her own. This place.....this place is pure evil. Nothing good is here, and their never will be......

After standing stock still and contemplating his next move- his mind briefly dwelling on how Raphael would have faired in this place, before scrubbing THAT dreadful train of thought out of his mind- the now fully Alert researcher pulls out an incense and lights it on fire, holding in one hand and mummering the same ritual prayer he spoke in Chuckle's battle so long ago, before he pressed on ahead into Barrow Downs. He's come this far in his search for that blasted Chandelure, and he wasn't going to abandon midway until he has scoped out that area. At the very least he may run across another foul Ghost he could do something about....

Order: Head deeper into Barrow Downs with incense in hand and prayer under his breath, and scope out the area more to try and find Chandelure/SOME bad Ghost that Ventus can take out his anger on. I don't want this day to be a TOTAL wash, so onwards we go, no doubt into perilous danger....

[Iron]

(Knowing the Pokemon's motivations can only help you. And Ventus knows that the Chandelure did not come from the Skull Ruins.)

But Ventus' desire to take on SOME ghost is soon sated, as two Haunter descend around him! Their glowing eyes and grasping hands can only mean trouble. They have physical, humanlike teeth in their horrid mouths. The effect is extremely unnerving.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Well, Ventus may have forgotten his meekness in almost an instant for a moment, but Shiva hasn't; so when he suprisingly made eye contact with her in that look of wonder/excitement, she returned the gaze in a pretty stunned expression, before somwhat timidly averting her gaze before replying.

Though when he openend that he was very fine with hirering Mr. Finder, almost in an instant she had her gaze locked on him again, this time in a shy thankful smile. She'd probably hug him now, would the setting be more private. Because it isn't, they have to go without exchanging a hug though, for now. "T...Thank you, Ven! You're help's appreciated." The mentioning of treasures and Lucifer reminded her that Gothitelle has Frisk Ability as well, maybe she would turn out valuable when searching for treasures and loot as well? Or did she frisk interesting locations instead, lke than ancient grove of trees?

She doesn't begrudge Nathan for being sceptical, she's somewhat tested in her patience again that he wasn't paying attention and needed a summary dear Ven kindly brought up however. "HOW, he's going to find it, is entirely his call. Mr. Finder has that amazing sense of smell that he was able to correctly describe the Medium dwelling in the Violet Tent to me, though it's somewhat...true that he can work faster if he has something with the smell of the Library. Doesn't matter though, he said he can find a path through Mount Sentry to the Library for us when I asked him about it, and whether he still charges when the search turns out not fruitful is something I can ask him later, as I wanted to head to the Tent today again anyway." (Player's Note, to trade Druddigon and meet the Medium) ..."Oh, and simply IF he'd try to betrayal us or something, it'd be us five against him, it wouldn't be that smart to rebel in such a situation."

Shiva was pondering, hesitating, considering... Before, she was positive that M.r Finder would be a great help to find the location of the elusive Library sooner than thought. She was VERY curious what knowledge, secreats and treasures this place beholds aside from the desire to not let it fall into the Scimitar's hand, as only Reshiram knows what would and could happen if it does. N......No way she'd want that to happen if she can prevent it!

[Dragonstrike]

She doesn't begrudge Nathan for being sceptical, she's somewhat tested in her patience again that he wasn't paying attention and needed a summary dear Ven kindly brought up however. "HOW, he's going to find it, is entirely his call. Mr. Finder has that amazing sense of smell that he was able to correctly describe the Medium dwelling in the Violet Tent to me, though it's somewhat...true that he can work faster if he has something with the smell of the Library. Doesn't matter though, he said he can find a path through Mount Sentry to the Library for us when I asked him about it, and whether he still charges when the search turns out not fruitful is something I can ask him later, as I wanted to head to the Tent today again anyway." (Player's Note, to trade Druddigon and meet the Medium) ..."Oh, and simply IF he'd try to betrayal us or something, it'd be us five against him, it wouldn't be that smart to rebel in such a situation."

"...if you don't mind, I'd like to come with you then and hear what he has to say myself.  Besides, there's something I wanted to ask you as well, and I wanted to see what they have in stock at that place anyways.  I've heard it's able to rival the Department Store in some regards."

[Lord Windos]

(Knowing the Pokemon's motivations can only help you. And Ventus knows that the Chandelure did not come from the Skull Ruins.)

But Ventus' desire to take on SOME ghost is soon sated, as two Haunter descend around him! Their glowing eyes and grasping hands can only mean trouble.  They have physical, humanlike teeth in their horrid mouths. The effect is extremely unnerving.

(Fair enough, Iron. Chandelure could have possibly fled to the ruin, but that really doesn't matter at this point, does it?)

"By Reshirm's bloody fucking flaming tits of Truth!!!" Ventus screams in fright and surprise as the twin Haunter specters descend from on high, no doubt to try and devouring his and his sister's lifeforce, before he scowls even harder under his mask as he violently snaps his wrist downwards to summon Michael right by his side and begins to growl out his orders with all his previously contained WRATH and FURY unleashed squarely on THEM.

"Apsis, Leer both these spector with all your HATE, and begin spraying Acid on both of them before tearing into one with Bite! Michael, put both to Sleep with Spore, before jabbing them with lighting Strikes! You two think you will take ME and my FAMILY'S LIFE!? Let me educate you otherwise,YOU FOUL SPIRITS!!! "

Order: Apsis is still out, so she's going to Leer both the Haunter, before trying to Flitch one with Bite. Meanwhile, Michael's job is to put both to Sleep ASAP, and then help wearing them down with Strikes. Apsis will also try to keep Michael shield from danger while he puts both Ghosts to sleep whenever possible. Ven also has plenty of Chesto Berries to use if they go for the checky Hypnosis, and will prioritize using it on Michael if they are possible put to Sleep, and will Super Potion Apsis if she falls below 1/2 HP if Michael isn't Sleeping. Once those two are Fainted, Apsis and Michael will Grapple onto each to prevent them from Escaping (Typeless Block, and they can't break free/resist if they are Fainted!), while Apsis Glares at them, and then Ven uses one Steel Ball on each to gauge how strongly they'll resist capture (Assuming they don't end up disappearing). Alright, time to do some Ghostbusting, staring a FURIOUS Ventus!!!

Moves:

Leer
Accuracy: 7D6 Base Dice - 4 Actions = 3D6 Dice
Effect: Known

Acid Spray (One for each Haunter)
Accuracy: 9D6 Base Dice - 5/6 Actions = 5/4D6 Dice
Damage: STR (3) + 2 + STAB - RE (1 Damage) - Vitality (*1) = 5D6 - 1 Damage
Effect: Lower Target's STR by 2

Bite (On the stronger/more HP Haunter)
Accuracy: 9D6 Base Dice - 7 Actions = 2D6 Dice
Damage: 4D6 + 1 Damage
Effect: *Flitch 5*

Spore!
Accuracy: 9D6 Base Dice - 4/5/6/7 Actions (Depends on how long it takes to put them to sleep)
Effect: Known

Strike
Accuracy: 9D6 Base Dice - 6/7 Actions (If both fall asleep by this point)
Damage: STR + 1 - Vitality (2 or 1) = 3/2D6 Damage
Effect: None

[Iron]

I'll get to the battle tomorrow. Let this be a dramatic cliffhanger!