[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Listen: (2)(4)(1)(2)(1)(1)(3)(4) With just one success, all he hears is something about Shiva and Ventus.

[Dragonstrike]

"Understood. Just to make sure nothing bad happens, bring some Water or Eletric Pokemon with ya. I will find a way to get rid a bit from that Disobedience. At least I hope..." Then Heart stop talking. "Well, I going now. I will wait in the East Pokemon Center. With a little help I might be able to see Shiva when got the chance. See you later Nats."

"Got plenty of those.   See ya later."

...and there he goes, off to evolve Viktor into a scary tree...

"...it's Nathan...*sigh*..."

Nathan looks at Furret next.

"...Furret, can I talk to you about something.  You want to help me find a comfortable spot where we can do so in relative privacy?"

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

After finishing his conversation with Nathan Warren, Heart enter the Pokemon Center, waiting for Shiva to return and say the results of his battle against Tanuki and his wish to try again. And ask her help to evolve Viktor to his next form as Trevenant since he cant teach worry seed later. Since Trevenant learns Horn Leech when evolve, that ofencive move might help. And ask her to help teach Phantump to learn Worry Seed.

Heart would probably run into Shiva at the PC in the Eastern Pokemon Center around dusk, where she is busy with arranging something on the screen. Her mail boy is also open - but her father has not replied to her message from this morning yet. Either he's very busy, or the connection to Unova is simply bad via Cress City's internet.

Shiva does look up when Heart approached and greeted her, and took a sip of a nice hot cup of caffee latte in the process before she brought some of her attention to him to listen what he said. His talking about how his Gym Battle against Tanuki was rather suprising for her, as she may have not expected Heart to forfeit a match. Naturally, she wondered why, and her mind spun some thought that all said roughly the same: 'Has he underestimated sweet Tanuki?' 'Hopefully not because she's young and from my impression of her a bit like in some aspects' 'Normal Type is a very versatile one'. Nothing of that was very visible on Shiva's outside, however.

(...) "Huh, you...want to evolve your Phantump now? Sure, I can help you on that, as promised. Let's see, I'll send that Oddish I received as a gift instead." Shiva points to it with the tip of a pencil on Bill's PC onse she opened the Storage System. "Are you sure this time? Trevenant are no easy Pokemon to handle, I already shared my...well, thoughts on it earlier, and the evolution cannot be made undone. "We can get started on Tutoring Worry Seed when I'm not occupied with the Secret Library and everything that has to do with it. K? Priorities!"


Any last words or actions towards Viktor before we'll approach the Trading Machine, Heart?

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Litwick is affected even more than Malphena - in fact, Litwick hides behind Malphena!

(...) It seems you've done a fine job constructing that charm, my love. Pray tell, do you have plans to make more for the rest of the group? I myself desire to have one in the future, but I have no pressing need for one now at the moment. Hopefully that won't change as we journey through Mt. Sentry or the Graveyard and leave me suddenly wanting for one, though....." (...)

Oh. Maybe only a second after Shiva has summoned her candlestick spirit onto her hand, he - not too suprisingly on the second thought, as she will realize - gave her a startled look that silently screamed something like 'Bad vibes. I sense BAAAAAAD VIBES. NOT GOOD! Screw you, I'm outta here! ', before he leaped off from her Master's presence to rather stay with the other Ghost nearby that was luckily just there. 'Nope, not comin' out! ' What has Master done that has caused him to back off, what was overwriting the delicious nature of his Master's very own life force?!!??

Said Master could only chuckle over this. Awww... Away was the disappointment over the Cleanse Tag not working. To think about how she worried, mulled over it, and eventually had to distract herself there at the Celebi Park the whole time to not become dishearted despite knowing she has done anything wrong - it seemed so long ago although it was only a few hours ago.

She'll let her Litwick stay out and with Malphena if she herself and Ventus allow for the whole trip, as Shiva would appreciate to have her Litwick out during the trip to the graveyard, both for him enlighting things with his flame and scenical reasons. "Worry not, dear Litwick - that was a subtle test. You passed. I needed to test an object I created that'd allow me ward off way more malicious and dangerous Ghost Types than you, dear one, you'll notice that I'm only that 'scary'in combination with somethingelse on me. Now come, we'll head to the graveyard... Yes, you can certainly absorb the life force of anything we may run into there, Litwick."

"Huh? Oh, eh.... th-thanks, dear! It seems that the Cleanse Tag needed to be 'activated' at first. I, well, forgive me being so directly, but I have no plans to make more for now. I CAN do, I guess... But only creating one was already tirering and time consuming, you see? I lack more materials serving as the base for the crafting process also. But I do remember Heart had one or two of these." Shiva would not pay the Medium or spend some of her own money to make Cleanse Tags for the others though. Give her the needed cash, and things look different.

With that said, Shiva gave at first Yena, then Furret, then Ventus a meaninful look as if to show that she's ready to go, but probably only Ventus sharp empathy would notice that deep inside, Shiva was scared. Not of the graveyard itself, these are spiritual places where calmness, eternal peace and a felt connection to the afterlife linger for her, but more of what they'll find there and how things go. Therefor she...held eye contact with her dear oddball of sociologist a little longer than she did with her two Pokemon, and silently took his hand into hers to walk to their destination together. Time has come for some Graveyard Investigations. Do they have to pass through the Violet Tent necessarily, or can they avoid that for Ven's sake?

What Shiva actually wants at the graveyard and why

For the most part, simply seeing a graveyard in Chreshire. As all the other places are into crematories, she's carefully curious to see a traditional cementary here in this region, maybe they have other rituals, tradition and art on gravestones in contrary to Unova. Shiva is not afraid of the place itself, but she's very respectful towards a visit of it. So far, she has never lost a dear Pokemon herself.

I'd also like to battle something here for my last Encounter, please - preferably something that Shiva's Cleanse Tag does not ward off, doesn't have to be a Ghost Type in the first place. Nothing super-weak either, around medium difficulty sounds decent.

[Spiritmon]

Along in the way Heart was thinking about a few things. Viktor was along with Heart for couple a time. They fight against some crazy things in the past, and the little tree was along him. His memories float a bit in the past, in the day he have meet the little tree pokemon.

Spoiler

Heart was walking in some stone path alongisde Rose when she was a Monferno. Familiar trees was in the path, prepare to bloom. Heart look a bit in the horizon and his own heart froze with both nostalgic and sadness. A old mansion, burned until the ground. Heart couldnt resist but let a little tear flow though his eye. Rose confort his training and holding his hand. Heart smiled a bit, recovering a bit of his will. "Thank you Rose. I...I can continue." Heart say and follow the path.

There was once a time this house could be consider beautiful and fancy, but nothing was left in that place. All chairs, tables and everything else have a big color of black, almost like the house itself was still trying to hold together. When walking in the remains in the house, something catch the vision of Heart. Was very much quick but it was enough to be see. Rose stand beside his master, ready to defende him. The little thing scare and try to hide. Heart then stop Rose and talk again. "Wait Rose. I think he is scared." Then Heart came a little closer and order Rose to stand a little back. The little thing was a little scared when he see the human but Heart try to calm him. "There is no reason to fear little one. I have any wish to harm you." Then Heart open a smile and take out of his bag a little berry. He put in the ground in a good distance. The little thing was a little suspicious but he was looking very much hungry and finally get out of his hiding place.

It was a little tree pokemon, a Phantump. The little ghost pokemon delight eat the berry, almost like was the best thing in the world. He was very much happy eating the berry. "You was very hungry isn't?" Heart feel compasive with the little tree. He take out a few other berries and offer to the little tree pokemon. The pokemon eat and eat happy to finally get rid of starve. "Heh, I gadly to be able to help ya little one." Heart could feel a bit of the sadness of the little tree. "Are you...alone?" Heart ask the little tree. The little Phantump stop eating and look a bit sad. Heart feel bad then ask the little one. "Do you...want to travel with me? You can travel the world with me and meet many other people. How it sounds." The little Phantump face then shine with happyness and he see the trainer. "You deserve a name little one. I think I call you...Viktor. Thats a good name."

When Heart finally wake up, he takes Viktor pokeball and release him. He looks to the little tree and ask him. "Heya Viktor, how are you? Listen, I want to make sure this time for real. You really want to evolve? Shiva already agree to help you reach the peak of your evolution and become a Trevenant. We know each other for a long time, and evolve its something all pokemon do. But you have a choice. Once you evolve, you will never turn back to be a Phantump. You will be a Trevenant, a powerfull and scare tree pokemon. The evolution is something you want Viktor? I will not force you to evolve if you dont want..."

(A reaction of Viktor backstory and his resolution @Iron?)

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

After finishing his conversation with Nathan Warren, Heart enter the Pokemon Center, waiting for Shiva to return and say the results of his battle against Tanuki and his wish to try again. And ask her help to evolve Viktor to his next form as Trevenant since he cant teach worry seed later. Since Trevenant learns Horn Leech when evolve, that ofencive move might help. And ask her to help teach Phantump to learn Worry Seed.

Heart would probably run into Shiva at the PC in the Eastern Pokemon Center around dusk, where she is busy with arranging something on the screen. Her mail boy is also open - but her father has not replied to her message from this morning yet. Either he's very busy, or the connection to Unova is simply bad via Cress City's internet.

Shiva does look up when Heart approached and greeted her, and took a sip of a nice hot cup of caffee latte in the process before she brought some of her attention to him to listen what he said. His talking about how his Gym Battle against Tanuki was rather suprising for her, as she may have not expected Heart to forfeit a match. Naturally, she wondered why, and her mind spun some thought that all said roughly the same: 'Has he underestimated sweet Tanuki?' 'Hopefully not because she's young and from my impression of her a bit like in some aspects' 'Normal Type is a very versatile one'. Nothing of that was very visible on Shiva's outside, however.

(...) "Huh, you...want to evolve your Phantump now? Sure, I can help you on that, as promised. Let's see, I'll send that Oddish I received as a gift instead." Shiva points to it with the tip of a pencil on Bill's PC onse she opened the Storage System. "Are you sure this time? Trevenant are no easy Pokemon to handle, I already shared my...well, thoughts on it earlier, and the evolution cannot be made undone. "We can get started on Tutoring Worry Seed when I'm not occupied with the Secret Library and everything that has to do with it. K? Priorities!"


Any last words or actions towards Viktor before we'll approach the Trading Machine, Heart?

(Just want waiting for Iron make a scene reaction and see if Viktor still agree with the evolution. Heart care a lot his pokemons well being)

[Lord Windos]

@PhantomUnderYourDesk

(Ven's perfectly okay with Litwick staying with him/Malphena, and has nothing but a nod of his head to her response about not being able to make more Cleanse Tags now. He also takes her hands immediately and squeezes it in comfort, offering her a smile that hopefully soothes her not so hidden fears. Besides that, he has nothing else to react to until the Graveyard Encounter [He'll 'want' to deal with a Medium-Hard Level Ghost himself, if Shiva's busy warding off her own ghost or multiple come out of the graveworks]!)

[Iron]

"Understood. Just to make sure nothing bad happens, bring some Water or Eletric Pokemon with ya. I will find a way to get rid a bit from that Disobedience. At least I hope..." Then Heart stop talking. "Well, I going now. I will wait in the East Pokemon Center. With a little help I might be able to see Shiva when got the chance. See you later Nats."

"Got plenty of those.   See ya later."

...and there he goes, off to evolve Viktor into a scary tree...

"...it's Nathan...*sigh*..."

Nathan looks at Furret next.

"...Furret, can I talk to you about something.  You want to help me find a comfortable spot where we can do so in relative privacy?"

Furret takes you to a big culvert in a dried up creek. There are a few offerings of dried berries, which she eats while she waits for you to get comfortable.

[Iron]

It's not necessary to go directly through the Violet Tent.

Shiva and Ventus reach the graveyard as night is falling. Each gravestone has a carving of up to six Pokemon on it - the subject's partners. The artwork is quite good. Some have no unique Pokemon - instead, a carving of Furret is wrapped around their name. This seems to be for those who had no Pokemon on hand.

Judging by the number of stones, not everyone chooses to be buried. Also, some people have family stones instead of individuals - these have a Kangaskhan on them. Whoa, you catch a name you recognize - "WARREN."

The place is deserted. No ghost Pokemon are around at all - they would not be permitted. However, two Marowak have sighted each other from across the boneyard, and they look ready to clash over who gets to make this their territory, perhaps.

[Iron]

Phantump gains 1 Loyalty. He's thinking about how cute he thought humans were back then! Now he knows they come in good and bad, malicious or caring - and he's glad that Heart is one of the caring ones. He makes a fierce face, showing he's ready to evolve!

You don't think he understands that the energy of the Trading Machine will be the way to evolve him, though.