[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Chewing through the tunnel wall comes an enormous Durant the size of a Heatmor. This one would not go down to its natural enemy so easily!

Ventus couldn't help but be a tad stunned as that Durant exemplar was as it emerged from craggey walls, slightly boggling at just how massive it was and how easily it grinded stone into dust, and suddenly gaining a appreciation for Hanael's being intimidated/aducted by them. If this population had adapted such formidable size qualities to survive in Mt. Sentry, it was no wonder that even a Fire type like his sister had trouble in handling these reinforced ants! Raphael, meanwhile, kept himself up and faaaaaaar out of reach of the Durant for the time being until their father ordered them to engage them while eyeing it with a leerly experssion, as the LAST thing it wants was to taste their cold Steel should they raise its ire. At the very least it won't resist its Air Slashes if push comes to shove, though!

It wasn't before long that the researcher managed to snap out of his shock, however,  he sloooooowly approached the ironclad insect, a kind engraciating smile on his face while holding both hands out in front of him, showing it that they meant it no harm and had nothing up their sleeves to surprise them. "Greetings, Durant. My name's Ventus,this is my Togekiss Raphael, and we come to you with no ill intent or terrible designs on your being. I only wish to speak with you, if you would hear me."

His archangel backup it their father's statements by letting out an affirmative chirp while also emitting its characteristic soothing aura, and, if they felt it wouldn't provoke hostility in the big ant, tried to further persuade it to hear them out by looking especially Charming and friendly! While befriending a Steel type was a little out of their comfort zone, every Pokemon deserves the chance for friendship!

Order: Introduce Ventus/Raphael to Overgrown Duant, and if its possible have Raphael use Charm in a non-threatening way to further persaude them to hear them out/like them a bit more. Depending on how things go, I'll moddle Ven's behavior/response accordingly. Let's see if this ants can be as friendly as its Fire type counterpart in Tandor!

Durant isn't at all afraid of Togekiss or Ventus. Nor are you its typical prey. Really, it mostly ignores you and continues tunneling. It's Digging a deep trough across the tunnel.

[Iron]

Valder/Shiva also find the ashen remnants of an invigorating herb on Dizzy. Shiva thinks it was likely in the Power Herb family.

[Lord Windos]

Durant isn't at all afraid of Togekiss or Ventus. Nor are you its typical prey. Really, it mostly ignores you and continues tunneling. It's Digging a deep trough across the tunnel.

'....Well, this being ignored wasn't the reaction I was hoping to achieve, but at least its not hostile towards us,' Ventus thought, looking somewhat put out by that fact while his child glided down to pat his back a little in a 'there there' gesture. Usually his natural empathy and charisma garnered at least some attention whenever he decided to employ both in his conversations with others, but being almost outright ignored was an offputting rarity by far. The researcher shakes his head at such dreary thoughts, dispeling them and fortifying his resolve to get the ironclad insect to pay him so mind! To that end, he reached into his bag an pulled out a couple of apples, before rolling one towards the direction Durant was tunneling. If that failed, then Ven will bring out his bottle of Honey and uncap it, wafting its scent into the air in order to lure it away from its task and finally pay them some mind, darn it! If that failed, have Ventus let out an exsperated sigh before shaking his head and just deciding to leave the giant ant alone and to its own devices as he return to the group, where upon he would re-meet with Nathan to inquire about what he found in his excavation and (if they let him), try and indentify that Toenail Fossil (This happens regardless if the conversation goes well with Durant or not, but hey, might as well put this here just in case). While he liked the Durant species for its typing and natural strength/fortitude, he didn't want to risk confrontation with it while his beloved archangel is out and about, and he wanted to save up on healing supplies/Pokeballs on more Rare/worthwhile targets /crucial moments than a bigger a Disobedient and bigger than average insect!

Order: Try to lure it with Apples to grab its attention, then Honey if that doesn't work. If neither work, just have Ventus leave entirely and return to the group to do as described/ready to move on, as he's unwilling to needlessly molest the Durant since he doesn't want to antagonist it and has no desire in gifting Valder with a overly Disobedient Insect. He's learned his lesson about being a meanie to Pokemon if its not called for, so why not demonstrate it if Durant just wants to do as its pleases?

[Iron]

When Ventus gets to the Honey, Durant's attention is definitely captured.

It takes the honey and apples and sets them on the far side of the path. Then it rapidly finishes up its ditch, glancing back occasionally to make sure its treasure has not moved. Upon reaching the far wall, it breaks through to a larger cavern below your current level. Water begins flowing through the narrow ditch, fairly slowly, and dripping down into that cavern.

Satisfied, Durant begins following Ventus around, hoping for more food. It hasn't joined his party by any means, however!

When Ventus rejoins the group, it's still following him!

[Dragonstrike]

Well, this is certainly a...weird situation.

When Nathan meets back up with everyone, there's KOed Spinda EVERYWHERE around Valder and Shiva...

...and then Heart walks in with a pair of KOed Gligar in his bag...

...and then Ventus walks up with a GIGANTIC Durant following him?!

...

...what on earth was everyone doing while he was digging through that wall?! Nathan has NO idea what to say to all of this...

Ralts is staying behind Nathan, keeping him between himself and Durant. Nope, he's not taking any chances with that Steel type! Nope nope nope!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Phew. What a dire situation, but things have been cleared... Or, to say it differently, Shiva herself managed to clear the situation. That mob of Spinda was defeated, seeing how those that were still standing against her grassy sauropod and gothloli Psychic Type decided correctly by fleeing - she didn't want to defeat them by all means when it could be prevented - caused her to visibly relax for the first time in this encountering of a horde of spot pandas, she hasn't even realized fully that she was holding her breath when that last mighty Psyshock rushed over the battlefield.

Adjusting her glasses with one hand and running it through her hair to throw it back then to release some anxiety, she threw an appreciating and thankful glance over to Lilith, and just when she averted it Shiva had to take another look. Lilith was looking back at her, still bearing no wounds and no other visible pain at all, IF she was exhausted from this battle, she hid it VERY well. ...Truth to be told, the more seconds she kept her gaze fixated on that particular Gothitelle feat. a tinfoil hat, the more Shiva got the feeling that it returned some of the appreciation she held for the Unovian stargazer.... Was it enough that she'll lay her faith in battle into the hands of this young Unovian female? Likely, very likely. Will she listen to what Shiva will order her in battle? Her senses told her that this Pokemon will indeed do. How lovely.

Lovely..... Ah! Now, Shiva also managed to find and pick up the Steel Ball containing her LOVELY own Spinda!~ It's not quite one she'd associate with the lore of the one with the heartshaped spot, but it's neither one she'd not associate with it, awww! <3 Warm feelings increased within her, and she gifted that Spinda in its Steel Ball a kind and just as warm smile, enjoying how calm it now looked as it was away from any chaos. Honestly, Shiva would enjoy to keep this Spinda with her now, but before venturing down to Mount Sentry she has decided on a Team of Six on her hand, following her heart's desire to replace one of her current team members with this Spinda would be...maybe not THAT much of a smart call... Sighing impercibly while her smile grew a little sad, she sent this (for her) semi-legendary Spinda to Bill's PC - how this worked without limitations even within a mountain was fascinating.

Now that Shiva had a moment to rethink things also, she couldn't deny that this dealing with the horde of Spinda was tirering, exciting, timidly awesome, and it took alot of her wits to stay alerted, keep watch over where exactly the Spinda she wanted to catch was within the mob, and overall keep her cool to prevent herself from making any decisions that may backfire or, worse, end up being confused herself with barely a chance to give reasonable orders and requests to her Pokemon. This, and all that was related to it, caused a rare moment of being proud of her own success without feeling as if she wouldn't deserve it. Finally, Shiva gains her 5th point in Insight Attribute, 40xp are spent. She already has a mature mind, but she feels that traveling through Mount Sentry's tunnels, where there is no day and night nor weather and you only can rely on your Pokemon and familiar people, has honed her senses. What this means for her empathic senses, will show one day or the other.

Now that the air feels free from tension again and the Spinda have left, Shiva managed to approach Tropius without having to fear that the pandas will run up to her. A sad expression flashed over her upon seeing how wounded the grassy sauropod was, how he lowered his head as if it was too heavy to hold and how he struggled to keep his leaf wings up in the air. Though with a just as sad but hopeful smile, she stroke over her Tropius' forehead like she always did, not speaking a work for a while and simply enjyoing him shyly leaning into her hand until Shiva has drawn him closer in silent support, sadness over his pain, but also in honest thankfulness that he managed to pull himself through.

"Return to you Pokeball, dear one... You deserve rest. We'll camp soon, where you can enjoy HOURS of rest. Let me just...collect your fruit, as always..." That was all Shiva calmly told her Tropius, his Pokeball already in one hand and shortly after a Nanab Berry and a batch of fruit, freshly picked from his neck, in the other. Tropius let her pick these fruit... But before he returned to his Pokeball, she perked up and took a bite of the Nanab Berry in Shiva's hand, then another! At first, she was startled over the suddeness of this, then she smiled and eventually...chuckled to herself in delight. "Oh you... Not having lost your heart, it seems... Fine, keep a hold of this half-eaten Nanab Berry for a while. Now though, back with you!~" Tropius gets withdrawn. Am I right in the assumption that he'll still grow more Nanab Berries, or can't I pick more until he used the half eaten one, Iron?

With a waving handgesture and a tired yet delighted smile, she asked Gothitelle to return with her to the others, collecting Dizzy along the way, stroking through his white headfur as a welcome. Oh, of course she'll keep an eye open for more precious Power Herb!~

She's so calm and content at the moment that she's not horribly startled by that massive Durant following her beloved oddball of researcher, though that does not mean that she's trusting it or wants to be near it. If it leaves her alone, she'll do so as well, but she has a loooot of food the steely bug will probably like when it's still following the group by the time they'll set up camp for rest.

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Well, this is certainly a...weird situation.

When Nathan meets back up with everyone, there's KOed Spinda EVERYWHERE around Valder and Shiva...

...and then Heart walks in with a pair of KOed Gligar in his bag...

...and then Ventus walks up with a GIGANTIC Durant following him?!

...

...what on earth was everyone doing while he was digging through that wall?!  Nathan has NO idea what to say to all of this...

Ralts is staying behind Nathan, keeping him between himself and Durant.  Nope, he's not taking any chances with that Steel type!  Nope nope nope!

When Heart meet the others in the camp, he waved his hand, still walking back with the pair of Gligars in his bag. "Hey everyone! Gladly to see your encounters end well! You will not believe what hap....OH MY GOD VENTUS! THATS A DURANT FOLLOWING YOU?!" Heart was startled with the giant metalic bug following Ventus, and almost summon Rose right away. "Stend back Ventus, I take of this."

[Dragonstrike]

When Heart meet the others in the camp, he waved his hand, still walking back with the pair of Gligars in his bag. "Hey everyone! Gladly to see your encounters end well! You will not believe what hap....OH MY GOD VENTUS! THATS A DURANT FOLLOWING YOU?!" Heart was startled with the giant metalic bug following Ventus, and almost summon Rose right away. "Stend back Ventus, I take of this."

Ralts is more scared of the bug once it starts clacking its mandibles in self defense!  Eep!  No no no no no!

Nathan and Ralts stay close to Swiftfire, careful not to make any aggressive implications and avoid getting involved in a potential fight themselves.  The bug's attention is on Heart, not them, and they're gonna keep it that way if at all possible!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

When Heart meet the others in the camp, he waved his hand, still walking back with the pair of Gligars in his bag. "Hey everyone! Gladly to see your encounters end well! You will not believe what hap....OH MY GOD VENTUS! THATS A DURANT FOLLOWING YOU?!" Heart was startled with the giant metalic bug following Ventus, and almost summon Rose right away. "Stend back Ventus, I take of this."

Ralts is more scared of the bug once it starts clacking its mandibles in self defense!  Eep!  No no no no no!

Nathan and Ralts stay close to Swiftfire, careful not to make any aggressive implications and avoid getting involved in a potential fight themselves.  The bug's attention is on Heart, not them, and they're gonna keep it that way if at all possible!

(Windos said he's busy, so I'll take care of that if it's okay.)


Huh? While Shiva remained calm and confident (but silently distrustful and keeping her Gothitelle a little at bai) over that huge Durant and wasn't afraid at all to keep Ventus' side like she mostly does, the others were...less in tune with themselves over this steely ant. How slightly annoying, yet she couldn't blame them for reacting the way they did - Shiva herself is simply not up for any more fuss or excitement today unless something REALLY catches her attention along the way, she'll keep a small gate open for that sake.

She doesn't mind that Ralts desires to stay as far away from the Durant as possible, naturally for the psychic-fairy he still is, so she doesn't blame or scold it or Nathan for reacting the way they did. It's not wrong to be scared of this steely ant when you have good reasons to be, as long as they don't cause problems she'll leave them alone. However, feeling an urge to calm Ralts as best as possible for her, she shoots him a glance and expression that somewhat told 'Be calm. Stay away if you like, don't do anything to provoke this Durant." Staying close to Swiftfire just in case was a good call.

However, Shiva DOES blame Heart not for his reaction, but for his potential to cause a ruckus or at worst start a battle against this Durant when there was no need or reason to! He gains a friendly, yet dunning glance from the female fae-enthusiast. "Heart, please stop. There is no need to 'take care of it', it didn't look hostile to me at all until you raised your voice. Stay calm... Moreso, I guess this Durant has been following your for a reason, Ven, it doesn't look like....", rather boldly, she makes carefuly eye contact with that huge Durant in a non-intimidating way, "...you shared a battle with it. What did you do?"

[Iron]

Tropius grows his berries pretty much no matter what. As long as he's out of the PC for a time between harvests.

Ventus quickly explains that this Durant is a Pokemon he'd like to try to catch, and it is following him hoping for another picnic lunch.